Let me start from the beginning.
However, I decided that, since I have this new DC life that, as part of my new DC persona, I would become one of those people who is totally smooth in social situations. I'll be the one who can just walk up to strangers and make instant friends and then introduce other people and coordinate the social landscape.
Um, yeah, not so much.
I decided to check out the party on my way upstairs from the laundry room. (If this doesn't set it up as a exciting evening, then I don't know what will.) I was especially intrigued because, earlier there was an elderly gentleman, on a walker, dressed in his finest clothes, heading into the party.
I should explain that my fellow tenants fall into age ranges of around 25 - 35 and then 80+. There is no in the middle. The social psychology student in me is fascinated by this. Throw margaritas in there? Sign. me. up.
So I wander into the club room only to find hundreds of people. It was quite a boisterous crowd. This was it. My time to shine in the social scene. Hmm..where to start? There's no better place to bond than in the line for booze.
But, the margaritas were gone. (And, I later learned they bought machines to make 400 margaritas. FOUR HUNDRED.)
I turned to the sangria table. Gone. (I'm thinking we may need to reserve the Club Room for an AA meeting in the future).
Fortunately, my trusty Coronas were there. Hallelujah. Beer-in-hand, I was ready to meet some neighbors.
Unfortunately, they all seem to be really good friends and were laughing and telling stories in large groups. I saw a girl around my age standing awkwardly near the drink table pretending to be on her phone. I know she was pretending because that is my go-to move in social situations. She looked like she needed a friend. So I said, "Hi, I'm Lindsay I just moved in."
She was alarmed, unimpressed, and uncomfortable. I had successfully transferred my awkwardness onto someone else, fantastic. I'm a plague of social uneasiness.
She clearly didn't want to be my friend and I can take a hint so I migrated towards a group of guys and girls having a seemingly hilarious conversation around a cocktail table. It was now or never. Inserting yourself into a large group is ambitious. But, hey, this is the new me, right? Go big or go home.
I stood near them, waiting for a lull in which I could say, "Oh hi! I'm new. Be my friend!" Or something more eloquent and less desperate. But there was never a lull. So, instead I was the girl who stands uncomfortably close to other people. I waited about 20 minutes but the opportunity never presented itself and they didn't seem to notice (thankfully). Well, I most likely waited about 2 minutes, but it certainly felt like 20.
Neighbors, I'm just trying to make friends so that I can borrow laundry detergent when I run out. Or, borrow a cup of sugar when I'm making cookies. Actually, I don't really bake. So I guess I'm hoping that we can be neighborly friends so that when you make cookies, I can have one. Yep, that sounds more accurate.
I decided the Cinco de Mayo party was not going to be time to make neighbor friends. I took my beer and called it a night. But, I did take it as a good sign that everyone else was friends, meaning, there is hope for meeting my neighbors.
My date to the apartment building party. We went home together. |
All that to say thank God for the people I do know. When Friday rolled in, I was definitely excited to hang out with Lauren, Ryan, and Kate. Kate was visiting from Charlotte - a true NC Meets DC moment. I was ready for a small-talk-free evening.
We met at my apartment to have drinks on the roof-deck. You should expect to see many more roof-deck pictures in the future because I plan to be there all summer. I have plastic picnic wine glasses and I'm ready to put them to good use.
Kate and I filling our picnic wine glasses. Right before I spilled wine all over the floor. |
Cheers to the roof-deck. |
Ryan and Kate on the roof at Clevaland Park Bar & Grill |
Kate won the award for prettiest frozen yogurt. Her use of color was impressive. Although, like most artists, she did suffer for her art - she claims the blackberry tasted like cough medicine.
Kate's award-winning frozen yogurt. |
Mmm...Yogiberry. |
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