n a v i g a t i o n    Home
   What's New   


   Me
   Friends
   Rants
   Gallery

f e a t u r e s
   Computers
   - Dual Celeron
   Nissan Maxima
   Saturn

l i n k s
   Links
   Emperor's
   Hammer


Thomas and Umi's Birthdays

An Thomas and Umi (Francis)'s birthdays at Buca di Beppo. That seems to be a popular restuarant these days, as we just had Billy's birthday there...

The start of the night was a little premature over here. Alicia and I met up early to do some shopping at 3rd Street Promenade, then headed over to the scheduled 7:30pm meeting time. Only we didn't realize the reservation was really for 8:00pm, and the evite said 7:30 just because we've done this enough to know that everyone runs late.

heh. Whoops. So we stood outside and talked for an hour til the first group-- Thomas, Kim, Devin, Nam, and others showed up.

We were seated in the Pope's Room at the Santa Monica Buca di Beppo. Our 14 people turned into 19, which was good-- the table was just big enough. =) Having a bust of the Pope in the middle of the room along with all of the appropriate decorations was rather interesting. The slightly domed ceiling in the room really made for weird acoustics, too. You could hear the person across the room from you loud and clear if you leaned in just right. It made listening to two or three conversations possible! Freaky indeed, particularly after everyone else had showed up and we filled the entire table.

We exercised powers of authority and had Thomas do all the ordering. Three different salads, parmesian chicken, margerhita pizza, garlic bread with cheese, baked ravoli, two orders of tortelloni (sp?), macroni, etc... mmmm... tasty. Plus lots of alcohol. Mohitos in particular were very popular.

Things that happened that night:

  • The 2nd birthday person-- Francis-- was one of the last to show up.
  • We only sang Happy Birthday once. Sorry to disappoint everyone.
  • We had some very odd conversation topics including sodomity, pr0n, and hepatitis B.
  • We ordered one salad... then a second... then looked at the 19 people and ordered a third to be safe. Good thing too, 'cause we decimated the salads.
  • Cutting the garlic bread was difficult. Next time, sharper knives please.
  • Slow service from the bar was compensated by the fact that we just started ordering drinks in advance.
  • How to get remembered by the server, Jeff: wear a distinguishing necklace or something similar.
  • Our server, Jeff, did not actually dance on the table naked if we disliked the food. I think all 10 girls with us were disappointed.

It was fun! I hear there was more partying at Thomas' place afterwards, but I had to be boring and go home, since I had that whole work thing the next day.

Names: I don't remember everyone's name. If someone wants to be so kind as to name everyone in one of the group shots, I'll be happy to update the page.

dscf8980.jpg
People are here!
dscf8981.jpg
First gift is opened
dscf8982.jpg
Jenni's new toy
dscf8983.jpg
Umi's turn w/gifts
dscf8984.jpg
Dan, Nam, Devin
dscf8985.jpg
dscf8985.jpg
dscf8986.jpg
__, Theary, Jenni
dscf8987.jpg
dscf8987.jpg
dscf8988.jpg
Many cameras...
dscf8989.jpg
Kim, Thomas, Dan
dscf8990.jpg
Huge slice of cake
dscf8991.jpg
dscf8991.jpg
dscf8992.jpg
dscf8992.jpg
dscf8994.jpg
Tiramisu
dscf8995.jpg
How do we cut this?
dscf8996.jpg
What are they doing?
dscf8997.jpg
2-person operation
dscf8998.jpg
Uhh...
dscf9001.jpg
Success!
dscf9002.jpg
Hello everyone!
dscf9003.jpg
No comment.
dscf9004.jpg
Brian, Alicia, Kim, Thomas
dscf9005.jpg
dscf9005.jpg