Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Going Out: 21, or 41?

Not that all 40-year-olds are tired, but what's with feeling tired at 21???

Last night one of my girlfriends had her 21st bday celebration at Dos Gringos, still hungover from her power-hour the night before. The bartender gave us crap for paying separately (we're paying in cash too, go figure), and suddenly it hit me after my first jägerbomb--I'm freaking exhausted! I adore my friend, and even her friends are fabulous, but all I wanted to do was bolt and head for the fluffy pillow. So when we changed locations to the seedy-way-too-busy-for-a-tues-night ACME a few doors down, I didn't stay long after some random 5'10" pierced pretty-boy tried to convince us he played for the Cardinals. Not my scene so much.

After peacing-out at around 1:30, it occurred to me that I would have loved hanging with my friends in almost any other setting. I'm over experiencing wild-and-crazy drunken ridiculousness, and more interested in real things. Like people. Like the stupid stories these girls had to tell about their friend's cuddling obsession. Like talking to my friend PBK-Hottie about the struggles and importance of dating men your own age. Like dancing to whatever Brittany Spears is in the jukebox just because it's funny AND fun.

The being tired at 21 rarely has anything to do with health. Clearly, I'm not about to croak, so I could have stayed out and been just fine. And if I had been having a fan-tabulous time, I would have found the energy that was missing last night. But how many times have you or your friends done that? Been out, and complained of being tired when you know they have energy to burn? We take it personally, but all it means is that the tired shmuck made a wrong decision somewhere. At some point I thought it would be a good idea to go out, and then too late realized I had ventured into something I "should" enjoy, and don't. I don't enjoy seedy bars. There, I said it. The dark lights and half naked dancing girls my age do not appeal to me. I feel stupid calling my-ass-in-your-lap dancing, and hate paying eight dollars for a freakin' jägerbomber! The negative energy is enough to drain anyone.

So what do you do? What do you do when you want to spend time with a friend and you've already realized you two have different ideas of fun? Two things: 1, find new friends. or 2, commit to having fun, and call it a night before you resent anyone. And the best way to become AWARE of what you enjoy vs. what you just don't like dammit? Your gut instinct, or the amount of Redbull you feel would be necessary to survive the night.

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