This was a very exciting weekend, which is why there hasn’t been a post for several days. On Thursday, it was Eric’s birthday. The cake did end up being a surprise thanks to a lie about the gynecologist. We just got one from Ralph’s. It was Chrissy’s idea for the cake to be for “Enrique”.

We were the first people to arrive. I brought my own drink to the pre game. I normally do this for several reasons. First, I can make what ever I want. Yes, I’m that girl rolling into pre game turning my noise up to the lemon vodka and drinking a home made dirty martini. Plus, then I have one drink I like and I can nurse it for a while. This week I made the cocktail that Carolyn thought of when she visited (gin, lemon-cello, topped off with sparkling wine). It was fabulous.

Then we also got to try a cake that Eric brought back from his brother’s wedding. Apparently its tradition to give them as favors. It was really good, red bean with some type of nut. So good.

Then we went to the Parlor, but not before almost getting shutdown by the UCPD. Yes, because we are the party. Actually, Section 8 is “the party” with their public drunkenness, vandalism, throwing shot glasses off the balcony. Parlor was ok. It’s like a sports bar type place. We weren’t there long, but it was a good night.

Kal, Chrissy, Me, Eric, Haylee

This was a very exciting weekend, which is why there hasn’t been a post for several days. On Thursday, it was Eric’s birthday. The cake did end up being a surprise thanks to a lie about the gynecologist. We just got one from Ralph’s. It was Chrissy’s idea for the cake to be for “Enrique”.

We were the first people to arrive. I brought my own drink to the pre game. I normally do this for several reasons. First, I can make what ever I want. Yes, I’m that girl rolling into pre game turning my noise up to the lemon vodka and drinking a home made dirty martini. Plus, then I have one drink I like and I can nurse it for a while. This week I made the cocktail that Carolyn thought of when she visited (gin, lemon-cello, topped off with sparkling wine). It was fabulous.

Then we also got to try a cake that Eric brought back from his brother’s wedding. Apparently its tradition to give them as favors. It was really good, red bean with some type of nut. So good.

Then we went to the Parlor, but not before almost getting shutdown by the UCPD. Yes, because we are the party. Actually, Section 8 is “the party” with their public drunkenness, vandalism, throwing shot glasses off the balcony. Parlor was ok. It’s like a sports bar type place. We weren’t there long, but it was a good night.

Kal, Chrissy, Me, Eric, Haylee

There was a lack of posting yesterday, and I am afraid to say, a lame post today, due to Birthday Week. Molly, Josh, and Eric have back to back to back birthdays!

Yesterday I went to see Josh perform at the acoustic coffee house on campus. First, UCLA has the most amazing dorms. Like, I didn’t know that there were dorms this nice. Also, tons of talented musicians! Of course that includes Josh. He is so talented and he writes all his own songs. I admire that because I would be so petrified to write something that other people would hear. The other acts were good too, but Josh was clearly the best. It was a great night and got me to relax after a crazy day with classes.

Tonight is Eric’s birthday. We are going to pre game (with surprise cake, man I hope he doesn’t read this). The we are going to Bar Review. Bar review is a law school institution where students go to a different bar each Thursday. It should be fun cause I haven’t gone to bar review since last semester. Maybe there will be a review here later. In any case, we are headed to Parlor on Wilshire in Santa Monica. Chrissy and I are trying to find a nice girl for our friend Kal. He’s not a player but sometimes people think he is, but he’s not.

I am also wondering how dressed up I should get… it’s basically a monsoon outside (so bizarre for LA). There is thunder and lightning and winds. It reminds me of Sr. Pub Crawl when Carolyn and I walked in the rain to Boylston and declared that we would never return to McFadden’s. We also were sung to by a drunk Red Sox Fan. Ah, the old days.

Tomorrow is Molly’s birthday party which means westsider’s travel to the east side. I am looking forward to it. Molly is an awesome foodie/social justice person and I really like the eastside.

So that is why there hasn’t been any cooking. I will rectify that this weekend. I just had some artichoke ravioli  and I made it without nuts to combat my heartburn. I think it worked! Feeling good!

As you can all see, memo madness is setting in again. This one is about excessive force in an arrest of a UCLA student at a protest. He is anti Marlyn Manson because his music is anti christian.

Since the memo madness is setting in that means that the Pandora station is set to the Temptation. Every time “Second that Emotion”comes on I want to sing “Don’t file a Second Motion”. Thanks prof civ pro!

Anyway, Since this is a busy work night, although aren’t they all?, I am making myself a salad which is quick. I ran out of Brie which is upsetting. I might make another mini pizza tonight since it takes no time and have it for lunch tomorrow. Maybe make the other law students envious? Also, observation: my heart burn flares up when I have nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans etc). Beginning to think that there is something to this. We will see. It was really bad during Civ Pro today. Might have to tweak my mid afternoon snack a bit.

Also, watching very sadly the election returns from Massachusetts. I had the opportunity to see Martha Coakley several times last spring when I worked at the Massachusetts State House. She is an incredible, well spoken women (not to mention, she is a fierce dresser). I am wondering what went wrong. I don’t think its about health care or about Obama, which many national pundits point to. For one thing, Massachusetts already has health care for all its citizens.  I think it probably has more to do with backlash against state democrats, which is sad. At least when I was in the state people were becoming very opposed to Deval Patrick and there were several situations with members of the state senate or house leaving amidst public scrutiny resulting from questionable ethics. These situations slowed down the pace of the legislature. Not to mention that Gov. Patrick seemed to be trying to vie for public favor by fighting with the legislators. I get the feeling that the result in Brown v. Coakley is more local backlash to MA Democrats than many national figures are making it. We have to remember: Obama is not a magic potion. He cannot just show up and make things happen. Him not “winning it” for her doesn’t reflect on him. I think it reflects more on the way her campaign was managed and the fact that Dems tend to take victory over Republicans in Massachusetts for granted.

With all this being said, I’m no expect but I have been around Massachusetts and at least spent 20 hrs per week for a semester in the State House. I am mostly sad that we aren’t getting another women in the Senate. The gender and race disparities in our government are very disheartening to me. If this topic interests you, you might also like this article from Politico http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31680.html.

Finally, Scott Brown’s politics are much more conservative than what I think most MA residents tend to favor. As Keith Olbermann put it: “In Scott Brown we have an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, tea-bagging supporter of violence against women and against politicians with whom he disagrees.”