Beirut

This past weekend the birthday festivities continued on the Right Coast. Jim Malerba, my college roommate, celebrated his 30th just four days after mine. When we were younger Jim always used to forget my birthday. Then, four days later, I'd call and wish him a happy birthday and he'd wish me the same. I really enjoyed this. Now he's all growns up and he actually remembers mine. Sucks.

Jim's ladyfriend, The Lobster, was kind enough to have all his friends over to her family's house in Cape Cod. For me, this required a redeye to Boston, followed by the world's tiniest connecting flight to Hyannis. Cape Air is awesome. There were ten people on my flight, including the pilot, and we were seated by weight. I felt bad when several larger women were placed in front of my badass 130 pounds of muscle. Oh, and this man was behind the ticketing counter...



I'm pretty sure I saw Crystal Bernard working the snack bar.

A great time was had in the little seaside town of West Dennis, MA. We all did our best to out-preppy one another. Despite our best efforts, Jim, Reader and I could not out-pastel the sunset...



For Jim's birthday I secretly ordered him an extra pound of lobster and had the waitress stick a candle in it. We also enjoyed the musical comedy stylings of local legend Rockwell King...



This being his 48th season in residence, he has better memory nights than others, but he's a must see. Imagine if a Catskills guy had gone to a New England prep school. Now pour yourself some Jack Daniels and eat the saltiest popcorn you've ever tasted. Exactly.

There was sun, beach, kayaking, wiffleball, football, and seafood. But the best part was basically identical to college. Sitting in a basement, fighting over whose iPod went into the stereo, quoting movies (for some reason there was an obsession with the guy who pulls out the heart in 'Temple of Doom' and says "Kalima!") and playing Beirut...



Malerba considers it an insult to call the game Beer Pong. In this vehemently paddle-less version, one throws ping pong balls across a table, trying to sink them in a pyramid of plastic cups, like little white bombs smashing beer-filled Lebanese apartment buildings. When a ball lands in your cup, you must drink it. A cup of water is used for rinsing purposes. Do not, I repeat, do not look at the water cup or you will remind yourself of how uncleanly the entire affair is. The late nights were great. I'd say it made me miss the old days, but, in fact, I actually missed doing this in college due to a condition I had... a girlfriend.

Speaking of girlfriends, much thanks to La Langosta for planning and hosting. That's her and Jimmy...



My stepdad, Gary, has gone away for a vacation with his college friends every summer since they graduated. This might not be a bad idea. I'm considering beginning an annual summer one week getaway for team Stern (not just college but everybody). New location every year, but hopefully a similar group. Details to follow, input welcome.