I do so enjoy fun weekends.

Ali arrived just before 7 on Friday night, and we promptly went to what is fast becoming my favourite pub on the North Shore, the Queen’s Cross. Gillian couldn’t make it, but the rest of the gang was in full force. We ate and drank and it was a good time, but then I played a mean trick on the remaining bar patrons. As I waited for Ali to finish with the ATM, I wandered over to the Digital Jukebox on the wall. As I started poking buttons, I realized there were three credits in the machine just sitting there. Naturally, there was only one thing I could do – use the credits to have the three worst songs I could think of play throughout the bar.

• Song 1: (Everything I Do) I Do It For You – Bryan Adams
• Song 2: Hit Me Baby (One More Time) – Britney Spears
• Song 3: Take a Chance On Me – ABBA

Okay, the ABBA song isn’t that bad but we were leaving and I had to make a quick decision. While I didn’t get to stick around for the reactions for the second song, the uproar over the first song was frankly hilarious – people did NOT appreciate the croony ballad where there had previously been a rather excellent selection of rock. I am a bastard. I readily admit it.

The weather wasn’t spectacular on Saturday, but we had a late brunch on West 4th with the gang (again minus Gill, who clearly hates me). Ali tried to introduce me to the wonders of geocaching, but we didn’t have much luck. We did find an awesome community garden along some scenic train tracks, had some coffee, bought some rain gear, and just hung out enjoying the company. It was great seeing Ali again – it’s been far too long, and we’re not going to let that happen again. Hopefully Ali will be free when I go to Seattle in December to see Amanda Palmer, but if she’s out of town, we’ll just have to schedule a weekend visit some time in November.

Speaking of traveling to Seattle to see things, all my friends lost a huge amount of nerd cred this past weekend. I was beyond excited to learn that Jonathan Coulton is playing Seattle in January, but when I shared my excitement, I was met with many blank stares and general confusion. Disgusting! They are not nerds at all!

I’m going to the show anyway. Perhaps I will find myself a new gang of real nerds instead of hipsters just disguised as nerds. :(

stand by me