Rachel: [answering the phone] Hello? Vegas? Yes, we would like some more alcohol. And you know, we would like some more beers, too… hello? Oh, wait… I forgot to dial!

[There is a knock at the door.]

Ross: That must be our alcohol and beers! -Friends

Saturday was Match and Chandler’s joint birthday party. It turned out to be such a blast! Where do I start with the shenanigans that was the party. At first, we just had a few people trickle in, starting with LAX Guy and Baker Chick. We got a chance to visit with them before Match’s cousin showed up as a surprise that I had planned. Match was so excited because he didn’t even know his cousin was in town.

Then after about ten minutes, people just started pouring in. All of a sudden I was in full hostess mode, making pizzas, getting drinks for people, and loving every minute of it. Have I mentioned how much I love hosting parties?

Things were a little cramped in our tiny duplex, but we made it work. At one point we were at full capacity, with some people having to stand because there was literally no room to sit. We counted them out the next day and there were 25 people in our tiny living room, dining area, and kitchen!

Almost all of the main characters that I talk about on the blog were there, except for Couple Friends who had other plans. Couple Wife was bummed she missed such a huge turnout too. Old Married Couple came by, but they aren’t too into crowds and left pretty early. Birthday Twin showed up, but he was kind of in a weird mood. We ended up having an awkward conversation about the wedding and how he was bummed he can’t bring his girlfriend (who Match and I haven’t even met). I felt bad, but our guest list is already so long. He left pretty early, and I was kind of relieved. There was just this air of uncomfortable energy around us. Maybe I’m the only one who sensed it, but he did seem to get this shadow across his face when we talked about the wedding. Still, he came out and he was friendly and sweet to Match. He even gave Match a nice bottle of wine which was so nice.

Outdoor Couple came…as a couple again! I was excited, but also a little sad for Outdoor Guy. She left early because she wasn’t feeling well and he told me she hates big groups. I asked him if they were back together and he said, “Are we spending a lot of time together again? Yes. Are all of our problems solved? No.” I wished him luck and told him as long as he’s happy that’s what’s important.

There are a couple of friends in Chandler’s group that I haven’t mentioned before. They are all friends of Match’s that he’s had since high school that we’ve recently gotten back in touch with. They don’t all live close by, so we don’t always get together. There’s our Token Gay Guys (they just got engaged too!) who are hilarious and adorable. There’s Single Gal, who is a total blast and perpetually single. I told her she’s going to have her pick of guys at our wedding to hang out with since I have a lot of single male friends. Tahoe Couple came out too, driving the 3 hour trek in the snow just to celebrate with us. They are hysterical, and can drink us all under the table.

We started the night off with a big group game of Community Cup. Chandler brought the boot!

After a few rounds, I busted out the cupcakes for the boys’ birthday and we sang a very off key rendition of the birthday song.

The cupcakes were rainbow chip with rainbow chip frosting. As I told Tahoe Girl, “Rainbow Chip not Funfetti. Funfetti is the bastard child of Rainbow Chip and if I see it I will throw it on the ground!” Yes, I had a few beers at that point. But Rainbow Chip really is the best.

At one point we played Kings and Assholes. If you were the Asshole, you had to wear the Sock Monkey Hat.

The night lasted until 2am, with 10 people still there at the end of the night. We had a great time, a definite success.

Sunday morning we met up with Tahoe Couple, Chandler and his brother for our hangover breakfast. After breakfast and promises of visiting Tahoe Couple on their turf, we went home to recover and clean up the aftermath of the party. Chandler came back over with pizza and the three of us watched the Superbowl. After the game, which I wasn’t really watching. At that point I was just trying not to puke, Match and I watched the Biggest Loser. I’m not a big fan of reality tv, but I think this show actually spreads a good message. A rare thing for drama ridden reality tv shows. I mean here are these obese people, making a real effort to change their lives and their health, without resorting to bariatric surgery. I found myself so motivated by the show. If these people can work hard and get in shape, I absolutely have zero excuses. Especially after eating about five or six Rainbow Chip cupcakes, and all of that beer… I need to get my butt back to the gym!!

Ted: Come on they just got excited, they’ve been looking for couple best friends forever. Barney:This is a website Marshal already made about last night. It’s called itwasthebestnightever.com -How I Met Your Mother

Well it happened. Outdoor Couple broke up. I think Outdoor Girl realized how hard it was to put the idea of breaking up out there, and then just sit on it. She called me last night crying, and told me she’d finally done it. I felt so sorry for her, because it was an incredibly hard decision. Match was disappointed to hear about the breakup, because we both love them as a couple. We seem to be cursed when it comes to finding best couple friends! First Drama and B (but that match needed to end, and badly) and now Outdoor Couple.

Outdoor Girl said she still wants to be friends, and I laughed and said of course. Match will still have poker nights with Outdoor Guy, and I will definitely continue to hang out with Outdoor Girl. I’ve really enjoyed our walks together and the quality girl time. As much as I love Match, I think it’s good for the two of us to have separate friend time once in awhile. Still, it’d be nice to find a couple we click with that we can hang out with once a week. Couple Friends are perfect, but they have so many other friends and crazy busy schedules. We’re lucky to hang out with them once a month.

So back to Outdoor Couple. The timing for their breakup couldn’t have been worse. Match and I are hosting a Christmas appetizer/cocktail party tonight, and we invited Outdoor Couple and Couple Friends over. It’s sad that they won’t be there, but if they had come, we would have been able to tell something was wrong. When we went to see New Moon with OC, we could just feel the tension in the air. It was painfully obvious that Outdoor Girl was distant from Outdoor Guy.

I just hope Match and I don’t come across as Marshal and Lily from How I Met Your Mother. Here’s a clip from an episode that had Match and I cracking up so hard. It starts about 44 seconds in, where they talk about Couples Night. Enjoy!

Ted: Seriously, where do you see yourself in five years?
Robin: Where do you see yourself?
Ted: Honestly, in five years, I’d probably want to be married.
Robin: And I’d probably want to be in Argentina.
Ted: Argentina?
Robin: Or Tokyo, or Paris. Look Ted, I don’t know where I’m gonna be in five years. I don’t wanna know, I want my life to be an adventure.
Ted: We have an expiration date, don’t we? -How I met Your Mother

A few weekends ago Outdoor Girl and I met up for coffee and to go shopping, and ended up having an all out girl talk/sharefest. I didn’t realize she needed a shoulder to cry on, but I was so glad I was able to be there for her. We’re still new friends, but after our talk I felt a lot closer to her. When I got to the coffee house, I could tell right away she needed to talk. We sat down and immediately her eyes filled with tears as she said, “I think I have to end things with Outdoor Guy”.

She told me how when she first met him, she wasn’t looking for anything serious. She knew she wanted to go to grad school somewhere outside of California, and she didn’t want to tie herself to this place. What was supposed to be a casual thing has now lasted for over two years, and developed into a deeper connection. Before she was with OG, she dated a really controlling and emotionally abusive man who was a lot older than her. He sounds a lot like Crazy Guy, so I could relate.

After finally getting the courage to break it off with her evil ex, she didn’t date for a long time. When she met Outdoor Guy she still had a lot of emotional baggage about dating. Her crazy ex was her only other boyfriend, and so OG was really a rebound that has lasted for two years. She told me she loves him, but looks at him as a companion rather than a boyfriend. She also opened up to me about her trouble with wanting to have sex. She said that her and OG only have sex about two or three times a month, and that she never wants to do it. It reminded me of that Web MD study and it sounded like she could benefit from viagra for women. That, or a good counselor to talk to and work out her issues with. I personally think it’s a side effect from the fact that she knows ultimately he’s not right for her.

I feel so sad for her, because I know a decision like that is so hard to make. When there is nothing wrong with the guy, and they’ve done everything right, but that spark is just missing. It’s a really tough thing to do, and usually you end up losing that friendship because they aren’t missing the spark from the relationship, you are.

After our talk, she ended up having a long conversation with Outdoor Guy. They discussed how she’ll be leaving eventually, so they sort of “scheduled” a breakup. They know it’s going to end eventually, but neither of them is ready to completely let go. To me, that’s almost worst than just ripping off the bandaid. But I can understand their hesitation. Plus on a completely selfish side, Match and I adore them as couple friends and we are so bummed at the idea of them not being together! I swear, we’re cursed when it comes to finding other couples to hang out with. Drama Chick and B broke up and now Outdoor Couple! At least we still have the original Couple Friends to hang with.

Has anyone out there ever been in Outdoor Girl’s shoes? Did you ever schedule a breakup?

With shaky legs, ignoring the fact that my action was useless, I followed [Edward] into the forest. The evidence of his path had disappeared instantly. There were no footprints, the leaves were still again, but I walked forward without thinking. I could not do anything else. I had to keep moving. If I stopped looking for him, it was over. Love, life, meaning… over. -Bella, New Moon

Only 4 more days! The premiere of New Moon! This was my least favorite book of the series, but I’m still excited to see it, because that means we’re that much closer to my favorite book, Eclipse! Can you tell I’m excited? Match and I are meeting up with Outdoor Couple for a double date to see the premiere on opening night. I’ve never gone to a movie on opening night, and I know it’s going to be insanely crowded, but it’s going to be so worth it to see Edward on the big screen.

I have a rich history with the Twilight books, and to me the books represent more than a hugely addictive series about a sexy vampire boy toy. The first book was sent to me by my former friend Coast Sister. I never thought I would be into vampire books, but I trusted her judgment and I was soon hooked. Now at that time in my life, I was pretty anti relationships. I had recently broken up with Unemployed Guy and I was back in the single scene. To say I was bitter and single was an understatement. I wasn’t ready for romance. Then I read Twilight, with Edward and his incredibly romantic sentiments, and I melted.

I met Match just a few weeks into reading Eclipse. The timing couldn’t have been better, because in my eyes, Match was my Edward. Pre-Twilight I probably would have rolled my eyes at Match when he’d make his sweet and romantical comments about how incredible I was, and how he was the luckiest guy on earth. But the Twilight series helped me find the hopeless romantic of my youth, the one that I thought was long since trampled after countless broken hearts.

I can also identify with Bella and her clumsiness, and how she feels during the breakup. I think all of us girls have been there once, with that hollow empty feeling like we’re ripping apart at the seams.

Since meeting them, I’ve gotten both Outdoor Girl and Couple Wife hooked on Twilight, and Baker Chic and I have been talking about the series since we first met. After we both see the movie I’m sure BC and I will sit down and dissect every scene just like we did with the first movie.

Oh, and for those of you that are my loyal readers, perhaps you’ve put together that Birthday Twin just may be a version of my Jacob? He’s a less obsessive version, but there’s definitely that Jacob like quality, especially at the Halloween party! But don’t worry, our household is Team Edward all the way.

As I mentioned, New Moon is my least favorite of the series, so I’m hoping that the directors actually spice it up a bit. I felt like this book was a bit emo, but it was also necessary, to get us to the next book. And we needed to see Jacob and Bella’s relationship develop. Is anyone else going to see the premiere? What are your thoughts on the Twilight series?

Ted: How many days are there in October?

Barney: Ah, thirty?

Ted: Dude, I thought we cleared this up last year.

[flashback to last year]

Barney: [as Borat] I like Halloween very much. Is nice! [flashes thumbs-up]

Ted: [in a Borat-style accent] Is also tomorrow.

Barney: Damn it! -How I Met Your Mother

This is my second Halloween with Match. Last year we opted for a couples costume, the first I’d ever done, and I loved it. Match also had to work that year, so we didn’t get to party it up too late. I had wardrobe malfunctions and an unbelievably tight Alice Costume, while Match spent the night trying to keep the White Rabbit hood on his head. This year we’re doing individual costumes, and instead of sexy, I’m going for silly. I’ll reveal the costumes after I take pictures, just to keep you guys guessing.

We’re headed to a party tonight for Outdoor Girl’s birthday, and she’s opted for celebrating by taking us all to the Haunted Corn Maze. Match and I did the corn maze last year, but not the haunted version. I’m a total chicken so I’ll probably be completely freaked out, but it should be fun. Match is still hobbling, but he is able to put weight on his ankle, so he’s being a trooper and tagging along. I just hope I don’t trip him as I run for the nearest exit when I get scared!!

I’m really excited that Outdoor Girl invited us to her party. Last weekend we went to a party at Couple Friends’ house, where Outdoor Couple were there, along with other people we’re starting to become friends with through Couple Friends. We love hanging with that group, and it’s nice to know we’re a part of it. Match gets along great with the other guys, and I have fun with the girls.

Tomorrow night we’re headed to a party at Birthday Twin’s house. It’s going to be one of those classic college parties, and I’m not sure how long M and I will stay there. We’re not wild partiers and we’re definitely not going the sexy route for our costumes, so we’ll stick out like the old fuddy duddy couple we are. But it’ll be fun to make an appearance, and should be a lot better than battling the crowds at the bars.

What’s everyone doing for Halloween this weekend?