Vegas

"Saratoga is my personal Vegas" and "New Year's Eve is the Vegas of time."

Those are the two mindblowing quotes I came up with in my hungover state on January 1st. Not epitaph-worthy, I know, but true.

My 5-day stay in Saratoga was filled with drinking, talking about drinking and the things that happen when drinking takes place, eating good food (Max's, Gotchya's, Karavalli, ROMA's, Uncommon bagels), eating leftovers, drinking tea, drinking more tea, and cursing my inability to nap.

I managed to go to DA's every night, the Alley, 9 Maple, Chez, Max's and Wine Bar all once. I saw my lovely ladies and gents. I found one new idol and one new enemy.

I lied. My idol isn't new, but I found new reason to support this idolatry. Bob, when Moira couldn't decide if she should call in sick to Starbuck's, unsure of their sick policy, and stay in Saratoga another day, decided he would put in a call to the Saratoga Starbuck's. He called from Uncommon while six of us listened and laughed.

Paraphrased version of that conversation:
BC: Hi. I have a question if you have a minute. I am interested in applying to Starbuck's. I am trying to be clear on all of my options and was wondering if you could tell me a little about your sick policy. Like how much notice does one need to give if he won't make it into work, etc etc.
Starbuck's employee: something.
BC: Oh, but every Starbuck's is different?
(LG commentary: REALLY? REALLY?!)
Starbuck's employee: something.
BC: OK, thanks. Are you hiring by the way?

I love you, BC.

My new enemy screwed over a dear friend of mine in a way that she did not know, so I can't really hate her for that, even though I do anyway. She also interrupted several conversations on New Year's and last night ("This is a private conversation." Again, way to go, BC!), but she really personally irked me last night when, to my friends in my booth, I said something about Chicago, and she heard the word "Chicago" while passing by and decided to take a seat.

Buttface: HI! You live in Chicago? My name is Buttface. I used to live there.
Me: Yeah, I just moved there in August. I used to live here.
Buttface: So you work in the corporate world?
Me: Uhhh, kind of.
Buttface: Well, in Chicago you are either corporate or art, and you're clearly not art.
Me: Uhhh. You're ugly.
Buttface: Where do you live?
Me: Wicker Park/Ukranian Village.
Buttface: Ugggh, you mean "the mall." What street?
Me: Address.
Buttface: Well that's acceptable.
Me: I hate your fedora. You suck. Leave us alone.

Kara: How could she say you are so not artsy? Look at your scarf!