I work a lot. I’ve worked in the bar scene since I was 18. My weekends have always been spent getting paid to watch other people get shithoused, and I’ve always been okay with that. That said, I always work on Saturdays. Always.

And then this Saturday I was off. What the heck am I supposed to with myself.

Might as well celebrate.

Happy Helena does not have to work on a Saturday Day!

I began my celebration with Mark + Bryant + Chad, as we had discussed our plans to celebrate this glorious day in detail the night before (see my last post).

I arrive at the Ashe Estate to find the trio dressed quite festively. Basically adorned in whatever they could find around the house. Every belt and boot and jacket and hat and accessory they could possibly attach to their body. I grabbed a spare hat and sunglasses and the holiday commenced.

Previously unknown vehicle driver/now best friend Will soon came to join, and brought even more hats. The day just keeps getting better.

Fast forward a few hours. Cookout at Chad’s glorious abode. He resides on one of the most fantastic pieces of property I have ever encountered. I want to bring his porch with me to San Francisco.

Dinner consisted of mexican corn + bbq chicken + bratwurst + zucchini + squash + pineapple. Lovely.

Bryant brought a goodie bag to the party. Full of action figures, passports of people we didn’t know, baby photos of people we didn’t know, and mini shampoo bottles. We don’t ask questions.

Bryant wanted to shampoo everything. it was not long before everything was covered. Most of the PBR cans were tainted with shampoo for the remainder of the night.

We then ran out for a bit of sober Raleigh bar hopping, then went to pick up my car that had been sitting in the nearby deck for a couple of days now. Attempting to drive 8 people home in a passat was a daunting task, especially when Bryant refused to ride anywhere but the trunk. We eventually coaxed him out with blueberries.

Day 2 END!