Tag Archives: friends

February 12, 2017 · 5:48 pm

Playing Poker

I played poker the other night for the first time in a few years. It was a house game with some friends. I took that shit seriously. I downloaded some poker apps and started playing, studying as many flops as I could. I watched YouTube videos. I developed a strategy. And I dominated. I destroyed. I won the game and made my presence known. I made a hundred dollars. Yeah, a motherfucking Benjamin.

Poker was huge a decade ago. It was the game that kept you home on a Saturday night. You could get laid or you could make money. A lot of dudes chose to make money. For twenty bucks (plus maybe a couple of buy-backs) you can play cards with friends for hours on end and potentially make a profit. That sounds like a fun night. It was. It still is. Playing poker is a tradition for reason. Getting laid is always fun, but so is taking money out of your friend’s pocket. 

Critically Rated at 13/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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December 18, 2016 · 3:35 pm

Home Videos

When I was a senior in high school I bought an iMac and a video camera and started filming my life for the next couple of years. I took my camera everywhere. I brought it when my friends and I would drive aimlessly around town staving off boredom. I brought it to school. I brought it on vacations. I brought it with me when I went to college. Literally everywhere. I would edit the footage and make home videos to give to friends and family. I’m glad  I did all that because I documented some of the best years of my life. 

My girlfriend saw some of my DVDs in my movie collection and begged me to show them to her. I popped one in and got to relive the last few months of high school when I was suffering from senioritis and filming Jackass-inspired stunts on campus instead of going to class. I got to relive my epic trip to Yosemite with twenty-something friends and remembered how grueling the hike to Half Dome was and how relaxing lounging riverside was. 

The memories came flooding back.  I saw friends that I’m still in touch with, some that I’ve lost contact with, and a few that are no longer with us. It was good to see them again. It’s a good thing I was nerdy enough to film my life for a few years. So many good times with good people caught on tape, preserved for as long as I have a working DVD player.

Critically Rated at 16/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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August 11, 2015 · 7:48 pm

Let’s Just Be Friends

I was seeing a girl for a few weeks until we ended it last week. She was being cold and distant, so I called her out on it and asked what her deal was. Did she want to be with me or not? She said no. She didn’t want a relationship, that she just wanted to be friends. I said no. I have enough friends. I wanted something more. She didn’t. So we broke up. A few days later she texted me and asked if we were going to still talk and hang out. I told her no. I don’t know how to be her friend. We were never friends. We met, we hooked up, and we hung out a few times. I was never in the friendzone, and I especially don’t want to be there after we aren’t together anymore. I don’t think that’s selfish. I think that’s realistic. I don’t understand how or why she would want to be friends after such a volatile relationship. Being friends doesn’t spare my feelings from breaking up. It still hurts. It still sucks. Being her friend won’t make me feel better. Being my friend won’t make her feel better. I won’t ignore her, I can’t ignore her. But I definitely don’t want to be her friend. A friend should be someone that you want to hang out with but not put your penis in. That’s blunt but true.

Critically Rated at 6/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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March 30, 2015 · 12:34 pm

Friends with a Liar

I am friends with a liar. He lies all the time, and he will lie about anything. He will lie about the mundane, he will lie about the fantastic, and he will steal other people’s stories and make them his own. You can’t trust anything that he says. He will lie about what time he left the house, what shoe he put on first, and what he had for dinner. He will lie about places he’s been to and people he’s met. I don’t know why he lies so much, but he does. It’s probably for attention, but at this point it’s probably a habit. It kind of sucks being friends with a liar. You have to take everything he says with a grain of salt. You want to believe him but you can’t. He’s still my friend though. We’ve gone through some shit, both good and bad. He’s always been dependable, just not trustworthy.

Critically Rated at 8/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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January 5, 2015 · 4:25 pm

Not Hanging Out Enough

It gets harder and harder to hang out with friends as you get older. Family, relationships, work, and various commitments all conspire to keep you from the ones who just want to enjoy your company. There are certain points in life when you’ll worry that you’re not hanging out enough, that you’re not doing the stupid little things that make life more enjoyable. Sometimes you have to take a few days off work to be irresponsible. Those are the days where you should hit up an old friend and try to relive the glory days and get into some trouble. Not too much trouble, but some. Listen to Scotty’s mom, she knows what she’s talking about. Not hanging out enough is a problem that is easily remedied. Simply hang out more. And diversify the people and places that you’re hanging out with so it’s not always the same people and the same places. That makes it seem like you’re doing more, especially on your Facebook feed.

Critically Rated at 8/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 24, 2014 · 10:18 pm

Orphan Thanksgiving

An Orphan Thanksgiving is a thanksgiving without family. It’s not as sad as it sounds. It’s when you celebrate Thanksgiving with friends rather than family. It’s either out of choice or necessity, but it’s never a bad thing. In fact, it’s often more fun than spending the holiday with family. Quality time with family is good, but it’s less responsibility and less hassle dealing with friends. And your family feels obligated to take you in, so you feel more included when someone goes out of their way to invite you to a holiday meal. Family is important, but friendship is too. You get to choose your friends; you don’t get to choose your family. (Don’t get me wrong, I love my family but I love my friends too, and friends deserve a holiday of their own!)

Critically Rated at 15/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 9, 2014 · 6:19 pm

The Personalities in Every Group of Friends

It seems like every group of friends has the same stereotypes. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, we all have the same types of friends. Some of the personalities might overlap, but they are all represented.

There’s the leader. He (or she) is the most popular one. He’s the glue that keeps the group together. It’s not an event if he’s not there. He’s your best friend but you’re not necessarily his. He’s too busy to have just one.

There’s the funny one. He’s the one constantly cracking jokes and keeping everyone entertained. No party is complete without him. It’s hard to take him seriously, but he makes the group fun to be with.

Every group has its oddball, the weird one who doesn’t quite fit in. He’s the scapegoat, the butt of all the jokes, but he’s still integral to the group. He’s Screech and you keep him around to blame when shit goes wrong.

There’s the intimidator. He’s the one that gets the group in trouble. He’s the rowdy one, the one that instigates fights with other groups. He’s kind of a bully but he’s fiercely loyal to the group, and he’s always willing to take a punch for you.

You have the slutty one. This is the one that hooks up with the most people. He gets around and you live vicariously through him. He’s never in a relationship but he always has somebody to fuck. He makes for a good wingman, so long as he doesn’t want the one that you want.

There’s the occasional. He’s like an alternate. He’s there for some events and he’s not missed for others. He’s a social butterfly and always has another group or groups of friends that he brings together when it’s time to party.

There’s always a nerd. The nerd is the smart one that everyone exploits. He’s not that fun to hang out with, but he’s always down to help you with homework or file your taxes. You kind of use him, but he’s willing to be used as long as he’s part of the group.

The mover is an important member. This is the guy that always comes up with something to do. He finds the obscure events and gets the group involved. He plans parties and outings and always has a connection for tickets or clubs.

You have to have a sympathetic friend. The one that listens to everyone and dispenses the best advice. He’s the one that you can always rely on when you need somebody’s help. He’s there to help you move, he’s there to pick you up from the airport, and he’s there when you need to vent.

Each group has a downer, the one that bitches and complains and brings everyone down. He’s part of the group, but barely. Nobody really likes him but they keep him around for one reason or another. Maybe he has a cool car, maybe he has a family cabin that he lets everyone use.

So that’s my list of the personalities in every group of friends. Which one are you?

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young
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September 23, 2014 · 1:18 pm

Buying Someone a Drink

Buying someone a drink is a simple act of kindness that goes a long way. Buying a girl a drink could lead to a relationship.. Buying a stranger a drink makes you a new friend. Buying a friend a drink ensures he will pass on the favor someday. Buying a coworker a drink shows your appreciation for their helpThe other night my friend had a stressful shift, I caught up with him at the bar, noticed what he was drinking, and bought him another one when I got my drink. Did it pacify him? Slightly. Did he appreciate it? You betcha. And he reciprocated by buying another friend a drink, he instantly paid it forward. Good karma, good friends, and good times.
Critically Rated at 15/17
Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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January 11, 2014 · 9:55 am

Social Butterfly

A social butterfly is a person who can talk to and relate to anyone. They are friendly and personable and instantly likable. It’s a skill that can’t be taught. A social butterfly can strike up a conversation with a complete stranger and they’ll be acting like they’ve known each for years within a few minutes. They float around between different social circles and bring everybody together for awesome parties. They make awesome politicians. The only downside to having so many friends is that it’s hard to form deep and long-lasting friendships. But social butterflies are never bored, they are never lonely, and they always know the place to be. I wish I was a social butterfly and not just writing about them.

Critically Rated at 13/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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January 3, 2014 · 10:01 am

Celebrating With Strangers

My New Year’s Eve wasn’t exactly perfect, but it was one of the most memorable midnights I’ve ever had. I started the evening by trying to decide where to go. A few friends were going to an event that cost about $200 for a ticket. That was more than I was willing to spend. A few other friends decided to go barhopping, but I didn’t feel like paying a $20 cover and having to battle the amateurs to get the bartender’s attention. I ended up going to the dive bar near my work. It was close to the fireworks and I knew that a lot of my friends from work would end up there eventually. Unfortunately, nobody got cut in time, so I decided to go to my super secret hideout at the top of a nearby hill.

My super secret hideout is an overlooked viewpoint at the top of a hill near Pier 39. You have a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, and the Bay Bridge, and you can see for miles and miles if there’s no fog. And this was a clear night, perfect conditions for watching the fireworks. The only downside to my hideout is that you have to hop a gate and hike up a long flight of stairs. I jumped over the gate and started the long climb up. I was almost to the top when I noticed three guys smoking a blunt. They were probably in their late teens or early twenties. I nodded to them and kept on climbing. I got to the top and there was a young couple sitting on a bench. There are only two benches at the peak, so I took over the other one, put down my bag and pulled out a joint. I sparked it, took a few puffs, and offered it to the couple. They politely turned it down, but we started making small talk about how smart we were to come up to this amazing spot. The fireworks were about to start so the three younger guys came up and joined us. I passed them my joint, they passed me their blunt, and couple kept track of the time.

As midnight approached we could hear the thousands of people at Pier 39 counting down in unison. You could feel the energy in the air, an electricity as 2014 was closing in. Three! Two! One! Happy New Year! And then we heard the whistle of a firework rising into the air, we saw a flash of read, we heard the boom as it exploded, and we realized that we couldn’t see the fireworks. Not at all. They were behind a gigantic mansion perched on a slightly higher hill. We could hear the booms and cheers of adulation, but we couldn’t see anything.

And we didn’t care. We just laughed and popped open a bottle of champagne that the young couple provided. We smoked a little more weed, took a few swigs from the bottle, and wished each other a Happy New Year. Then we climbed down the stairs and went our separate ways. I never asked for their names, they never asked for mine. I’ll never see them again, I wouldn’t even recognize them if I do. But I’ll never forget them. Celebrating with strangers wasn’t my ideal midnight, but it was pretty awesome. I learned that it doesn’t matter where you are as long as you’re with good people. Plus I had a good story for my friends when they finally showed up at the bar.

Critically Rated at 14/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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December 29, 2013 · 11:56 am

Imaginary Friends

It seems like every little kid has an imaginary friend or two. It’s a way to stave off boredom and it helps them to develop personality and social skills. But as you grow up, your imaginary friends begin to fade away. It’s tough to say if you are outgrowing them or if your imaginary friends just don’t want to hang out with you anymore. It’s probably the latter. Imaginary friends get sick and tired of having to do everything that you want to do. Maybe they didn’t want to go to the zoo or play Hot Lava, but you still made them do it anyway. They probably resent you for always controlling the situation and never respecting their opinions. You might have listened to them, but you never really heard what they were saying. And so they started hanging out with other people’s imaginary friends and let your relationship fizzle out. Friendships sometimes end. Even imaginary ones.

Critically Rated at 12/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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November 6, 2013 · 8:59 am

House Party

Parties are fun, but it’s hard to top a good house party. House parties are awesome because there is no guest list, there is no dress code, there is no last call, and there is no closing time. You don’t have to get your wrist stamped or worry about reentry if you go out for a smoke break. You get to control the music so you don’t have to suffer through a crappy DJ’s shitty set. The only downside is that you have to bring your own booze, but that still saves you money. A hundred bucks will get a lot more alcohol from the liquor store than it will get you at the bar. People have fun at bars and clubs, but they go nuts at house parties. It’s all friends and no strangers, so you feel more comfortable, relaxed, and less afraid of embarrassing yourself, and that means you’ll be drinking harder and longer than you would if there was a bouncer watching you. There are always a couple fun drinking games going on, a few random hookups to laugh about, and hundreds of random conversations about nothing to jump in to. The night goes on and on, and people start passing out and sleeping wherever they find a quiet corner to disappear in. Eventually the sun starts to rise, the party ends, and you get a smile on your face whenever you remember that night.

Critically Rated at 16/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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October 30, 2013 · 12:07 pm

Top 8

I remember a time before Facebook, back when social networking was still in its infancy, there was a site called MySpace. It was a place for friends. And you would analyze your friends, select your favorite eight and rank them, and then you would display them prominently in your Top 8 on your profile. Most people had hundreds of friends, so it was a big honor to make it to someone’s Top 8. And it was a huge insult if you didn’t make the cut (especially if they were in your Top 8. The Top 8 caused a lot of animosity between friends. So MySpace later expanded it to the Top 16. But by then it was too late and Facebook was already taking over the world. Now MySpace and LiveJournal are living under an overpass reminiscing about the good old days. I kind of miss the Top 8. You knew where you stood in life.

Critically Rated at 11/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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September 16, 2013 · 12:25 pm

Shit Talking

Everybody talks shit about everyone. You talk shit about your friends and they talk shit about you. They still love you and you still love them, but they will start analyzing your flaws the second you walk out of the room and they will make fun of your shirt for good measure. It’s human nature. We are all assholes but we pretend not to be. That’s why most shit talking is done behind your back and behind closed doors. You know that people talk shit about you, but you really don’t want to know what they are saying. Ignorance is bliss, right? Don’t it too personally because you know that you talk shit too and you don’t want to be a hypocrite. I’m not saying that shit talking is a good thing. I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing. I’m just saying that it’s a thing that you have to deal with, so you might as well get used to it.

Critically Rated at 7/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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September 10, 2013 · 1:50 pm

Fighting on Vacation

You’re going to fight on your vacation. It doesn’t matter if you’re on vacation with your friends or with your family. It doesn’t matter if you’re an hour from home or twelve hours from home. At some point there will be raised voices and a heated exchange. It’s inevitable, it’s unavoidable, and it’s going to fucking happen. It’s impossible to be stuck in close proximity with other people without butting heads at some point. Every gets tired and cranky, and it doesn’t take much to rub someone the wrong way. Everyone has their own itinerary; their own stuff that they want to see or do, and not everyone will get their way. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the group at the expense of your own personal enjoyment. And sometimes you have to stand up for yourself and make a stink. Fighting on vacation is a tradition as old as going on vacation. You can’t have one without the other. Just try to resolve things before they get too escalated, because it’s better to suffer together than to suffer alone in a strange place.

Critically Rated at 10/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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September 9, 2013 · 9:09 pm

Afterparty

You’re partying and socializing at the bar when you hear those dreaded words: “LAST CALL FOR ALCOHOL!” The bar is closing, but you’re not ready to stop having fun yet. That’s when you need to find out where the afterparty is. Someone is always down to open their doors and invite everyone to come over to keep on drinking. Everyone piles into a few taxicabs and makes the trek to the new hangout spot, stopping only for more booze and supplies at a nearby liquor store. Everyone shuffles inside and they either make a beeline for the living room and grab a seat, or they head straight to the kitchen to start pouring drinks. Someone will pretend to be a DJ and play music, but they will never let a song play the whole way through. The craziest parts of the night almost always take place at the afterparty. That’s when people are the most drunk and that’s when people get rowdy. That’s when people throw up, when people pass out, when people hook up, when people fight, and when people accidently break stuff.  The afterparty is an essential part of the night, as important as pregaming or the main party. It’s the best and most satisfying way to end the night. It only sucks when you have to clean everything up the next day.

Critically Rated at 16/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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August 15, 2013 · 11:22 am

Holding Down the Fort

You’re with a group of friends at a concert, or the movies, or at the bar, and you mark your territory. This is your spot, and it’s going to be for the next few hours. Whenever you’re with a group and you lay claim to a place, you have to protect your turf. You always have to leave somebody to hold down the fort. It’s important that you always leave one or two people from your group in your spot so that nobody else takes it over or steals your shit. Holding down the fort allows the people in your group to go to the bathroom, get more drinks, smoke outside, or to meet back up with everyone if they get separated. Everyone should take turns holding down the fort, just like everyone should take turns buying rounds. Holding down the fort is an essential part of hanging out with friends in public places. You can’t have fun if you don’t have a place to chill.

Critically Rated at 15/17

Written, Rated, and Reviewed by Brendan H. Young

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