Seems like any one of the nights we do a Girl Drink Drunk would be a "girls' night out" but this one was officially a "Girls' Night Out." Like, I got an invitation. People RSVPed. There were boys around once we arrived, but hey, we were at a public bar and it's not like they clicked "Will Attend" or anything. So it was still Girls' Night.
It was also hot in the yard at Lee Harvey's, with an occasional breeze. And there was a jazz band with logo'ed music stands -- which I feel instantly transforms a band into a "big band." As in, big band jazz. People were dancing. Girls in high wedge heels were dancing on gravel (amazing) with guys that ranged from mid-20s to Gary Cogill (we never got ID confirmation, but I feel that the khaki shorts were spot-on, and Marla claims the wispy locks and heat-seeking eye-contact were all Gary, so we'll go with that for the sake of the story, and because it made me laugh really, really hard).
And there were drinks. Marls and I arrived late so we joined Jayna, Kat, Michelle, Kim and others at the picnic table nearest the dog-fence (if you've been to Lee Harvey's you'll understand). There was much discussion on the use of chimineas in sweltering heat, a lady's excessively long hair and teen fantasy fiction. I'm not sure what the punctual were drinking but Marla and I started with some icey cherry vodka sodas to treat our state of schvitz.
Then some of our crew left for other bars, pools, parties and homes and we carried on with Kat and knocked back what might be the best shot ever, thanks to server Tiffany's suggestion. The Lust in the Dust (invented and oft prepared by bartender Roger, according to the staff) contains SoCo, Amaretto, Peach Schnapps, cran juice and pineapple juice but isn't as sweet as it sounds like it would be. It's just sorta fruit punchy and real cold...which we totally needed.
We also split a hamburger and I hadn't had much else to eat that day
(because I plan well), so things got a little fuzzy after the second
LItD. I do remember discussion of the required nudity at a (legit)
Korean spa we'd soon be attending and various ways to distract people
from looking at our nakedness (neon hair dye was a questionable
suggestion, and is a clear indication of our inebriated logic, as,
clearly, it would have the opposite effect). So in between reminiscing
about high school and watching an acquaintance "freak" the unsuspecting
DJ inside (applause for being cool, George) -- during both of which I
was sober -- I really have no clear recollection but of that neat-o,
breezy "You're now entering Drunk. Population: 1" stage. All was well.
We laughed. We took pictures (I know because I looked at them later).
And then I drank a ton of water and phased back into "Damn, I gotta
pee, like, now" and "Ew, I'm all schvitzy again."
The shot was tasty. The shot was soothing. The shot made the outdoors
not seem so hot. The second shot made the band even better -- but not
enough for me to dance in wedges. The third one makes me know we talked
about all sorts of things I'm not recalling. (But I do recall twice
fixing the toilet in the women's restroom. Apparently, I'm Bob Vila
after three mixed shots.)
Indeed, the Lust In the Dusts that came out of Lee Harvey's that night
were the perfect antidote to a long work week, a hot night and that
temptation to just stay in on a Friday. The fruity concoction may
technically classify as a girl drink but it's got the strength of a CEO
in a power skirt, the fun of a good flirt and the ease of hanging with
an old friend...which, in a way, also describes the variety of ladies
at our table that Girls' Night Out.
