We like to party
We like, we like to party
We like to party
We like, we like to party
We like to party
We like, we like to party
We like to party
...but we also work purrrrdy durn hard around here! ;-)
What a strange day in Reston.
Just about everyone is gone today, or so it would seem. Up here on the third floor, the absence of SKJ and HLS means that things have gotten especially quiet for me (i rely on both of them to keep this place lively--and goodness knows--they never fail me! :-)). So here I am, aaaaaaaaaaall by myseeeeeeeelf, don't wanna be aaaaaaaaaaall by myseeeeeeeelf...
haha
Boo.
In other news, the past two weeks of Government Relations & Outreach Department birthday celebrations have been a real hoot. HLS's b'day activities last week consisted of a surprise morning brunch (normally I would put air quotes around the word surprise, but i actually don't think that she had any idea--it was incredibly well-executed), and a very pleasant, well-attended luncheon at Cafesano. I think it's fair to say that just about anyone who works at MENC develops at least a mild affinity for Cafesano--it's delicious, fairly priced, and it feels very chic and trendy (oh come on, like THAT matters, right??). To get a better idea of what Cafesano is really like, just try to imagine the last time that you ate at a Cosi...
There.
Got the image?
Now try to imagine that the experience wasn't horrible.
Congratulations.
That's Cafesano.
Meanwhile, SKJ (who is currently livin' it up in NYC right now--grrrrrrr!) had her office b'day fun this week, with an equally well-attended (the Government Relations & Outreach Department is seriously just like Hansel - SO hott right now.) and delicious lunch affair at Champps restaurant and bar. While the experience was a total blast (amongst other topics, PF and I discussed the subtleties of Barry Bonds' tainted home run chase and the horrors of traffic in the Commonwealth), I have two lingering questions regarding Champps:
(1.) Why the two P's? "Hey guys, I'm headed out to Champpppppppppps! Catch ya later!" I mean come on! Where does this sort of thing stop?! Do they think that they're being novel by having two P's instead of one?? Me thinks no. No, no, no, no, no.
(2.) Is this the same Champps as the sports apparel store where I used to buy my Reebok "Pumps" as a kid? Because there was definitely a sports apparel store downstairs beneath the restaurant--and if so, then that's a pretty weird combination. I mean, what would inspire someone to start a chain of sports apparel stores slash restaurant/bars? That would be like me waking up one morning and wanting to open a petting zoo slash space camp. Or, SKJ deciding that she wanted to form a band slash medieval performing arts troupe (whoops! forgot all about the Renaissance Festival!), or, HLS wanting to work at an animal rescue shelter slash FBI call center (although, to be fair, the way that our government operates these days... that's actually probably not all that far off). Anyways, hopefully you see my point. Oh, and if you're thinking to yourself, "Jeepers creepers! If he's so durn curious, why doesn't he just Google the two different Champps brands to see if there's any joint relation between them??", well, it's because I'm short on blog material this week.
Obvi.
Anyways, the last portion of SKJ's b'day fun was an afternoon treasure hunt that concluded with her discovery of yet another gathering in her honor in the sun room (which was, at that point, brimming with her smiling colleagues, and some delicious birthday goodies, to boot!). The clues (which by some miracle, SKJ was somehow able to decipher) would have been completely lost on me. I'm not exaggerating (ok, maybe a little) when I say that I would have been wandering around outside in the woods for hours upon hours on end trying to figure out where it was that I was supposed to go. Let me give you a few examples of what these so-called "directions to your birthday party"-style clues were like:
(1.) Black is black and blue is blue! Happy Birthday to you to you! To find your party just jump and shout, jump and shout and eventually you'll figure it out!
(2.) I like birthdays, yes I do! I like birthdays, for me and you! We've thrown you a party, it's exciting and great! We've thrown you a party, let's gather 'round and celebrate! To find your friends just think real hard, just think real hard while holding this note card!
(3.) Happy Birthday! We've thrown you a party! Now find it, we're hungry!
I'm telling you. I would have never found that party.
As a quick update, we're working on several exciting new projects up here in the Government Relations & Outreach Department! I don't want to give away the farm, but ch-ch-ch-changes are a-brewin', as Mr. Bowie would say! So stay tuned!
And now... here are the Friday...
"Government Relations & Outreach Department Album Picks of the Week!!!"
SKJ: "I forgot to send CBLW a pick!"
HLS: "I forgot to send CBLW a pick!"
CBLW: Jesse Malin - Glitter In The Gutter
