The Fourth

Kirsten's friend Maria came down from New York City and we all went to Baltimore for the 4th of July. Actually, not quite Baltimore but Catonsville, which is a strange place because it has that small town community feel even though it is a suburb of Baltimore. The 4th is a big deal there. There's a big parade and a big fireworks display down at the high school. Then there was a large neighborhood party on the street where Kirsten grew up. All the neighbors were hanging out, eating, and listening to a live bluegrass band.

So that was Friday. On Saturday the three of us went into Baltimore proper to check out the Visionary Art Museum. Being an outsider art museum, they had a bunch of kitschy stuff, which doesn't appeal to me, but also a lot of cool inspiring art as well. One of the most compelling was a series of Post Secret cards about religion. Some were about Christians who hide their doubts; a few were about atheists who are afraid they might believe in god; and many were about duties and obligations brought on by organized religion. Then we had a late lunch on Federal Hill overlooking the harbor area. There were three distinct wedding parties taking pictures while we were there! After that we went back to Kirsten's parents house, packed up, and headed back to DC.

Then was an hour in hell (for me). Maria wanted to go out to her old neighborhood in DC, called Adams Morgan. I had heard about it a few times--how it was the clubbing area of DC and full of drunken partygoers. When we got there, it didn't even seem like DC anymore. It was like spring break or something. Girls in their hoochie dresses and guys with their popped-collar polo shirts milling around like ants. Maria and Kirsten said this was only about 1/3 as bad as normal! I was just completely uncomfortable. We ate at this place called the Diner, which was really good, and then we went to Kirsten and Maria's favorite dive bar, Dan's. It was completely packed with loud drunken revelers, and I was so glad when they decided to leave. Apparently, Dan's had recently been written up as DC's best dive bar in the Washingtonian or something, so the atmosphere had changed from what they remembered. Plus, I think they would go there right after work instead of at 11pm at night. So Maria was supposed to meet a friend at another Adams Morgan club, so we went there, and as we were walking it started to pour. We waited a bit under a McDonalds awning for it to die down, but we finally made it. This club was better--less crowded although still loud. By then I needed a stiff drink, so I got myself a couple vodka tonics and everybody had a round of shots. After that I was having fun. Kirsten and I didn't get to sleep that night until 4am.

Sunday was a day of rest and recovery. Of course we all started pretty late. I drove everybody out to Virginia for pancakes about a half hour before the place closed, and then we went to my house and played some Guitar Hero. By then the day was pretty much over, and I think everyone was equally exhausted from the busy weekend.