The EDO, perhaps better known as the Earned Day Off. After a week of furiously paced work, road trips, meetings, and research I was awarded a break. A long weekend.

I got home from work on Thursday and collapsed on the couch. Too tired to cook, too grumpy to make a pilgrimage downtown, I ordered a pizza and watched TV, heading to bed after a less than impressive episode of CSI.

I woke up after noon on Friday feeling as if God had revived me, giving me limitless energy. I guess almost 13 hours of sleep will do that. Sadly when the evening rolled around, the best thing I could find to do was Trivia. Refusing to stay in on a Friday after such a week I gave in to the second call of team recruitment.

I headed over just passed 9pm wearing the usual 'asshole' Jeans and 'offensive' Pink T-Shirt to take in the musty and Dank engineering bar that I love to hate; Of course I was counting on there being no one there worth impressing. (ding! Correct)

I got there and the bar was half empty (not to be mistaken for half full). I saw the beckoning wave from the guys I was to meet. I was late, as expected, they had politely held the game for me.

I looked to the empty bar, then back to the Trivia board, then back to the bar, "fuck this.. Hey! 2 Stellas Please!" I said, throwing 5 bucks on the bar, grabbing the economically priced bottles and heading to the game.

"Thanks." N said extending a hand. I laughed, drinking from both bottles to make my point.
"Figures, wearing the 'asshole' jeans." J said to Sam's laugh, with a familiar looking Girl sitting next to him.

"Colum, This Is Chelsea."
I smiled. "Pleasure Chelsea, you know you look really familiar"
"Ya, Our mom's know each other, plus I'm in biological, we see each other around."
"Oh right, I remember now, in the airport coming back!." I said, drawing a few looks, but no one followed up.
"That's her." She said, looking somewhat offstep suddenly.

The game began and soon after I remembered why I hated Trivial Pursuit: Original Flavor. The questions were better tuned toward my father. So I continued to order beers and bare the experience, focusing more on chatting with other non-involved players than the game.

The trouncing of my team was soon completed and the bar was still running at half steam. "dome?" Sam said suggestively.

It had been a while, but why the hell not. "That sounds like an awesome idea." I said standing up to head to the bathroom. One step... Two.. And I fell over, being caught by N.

"You're fucked." N said, setting me back upright.
"Fuck off, I'm fine." I said, now concentrating on balance and walking to the bathroom.

Moments later we started our pilgrimage, and moments later finished it, huddling in the employee's entrance and skipping the line. I'd forgotten what It was like as I stepped in; my glasses instantly fogging, hundreds of people dancing like fiends.

I checked my coat and made my way to the bar to cope with the stress. I turned from the bar to find everyone else and behold, trouble.

"Colum, have you met Chelsea?" Sam said, slurring his words, more fucked up than anyone I'd seen that night.
"Yes Sam, you've introduced me to Chelsea 3 times already." I said, "Chelsea, I trust you're still doing well?"

"Want to dance?" She said; Sam smiling like a fiend; it all making sense, she'd finally gotten the balls.

" Well aren't you going to get a drink first?"

"Sure, wait?"

"I'll be right here." I said as she moved to the bar and I grabbed Sam. "Will you fuck off, I'm not looking for anyone, alright?"

"I'm just trying to help out man, that'll never work and this girl won't stop asking about you."

"Sam, I am not looking for anyone and I'm sure as hell not looking for your advice. End of story; but I will dance with her just so I can hide myself better in a dancing crowd."

He laughed. "Remember man, a shot of jack and the ladies will always go home with you."

Chelsea Came back then smiling and we headed off, leaving Sam there smiled as I mouthed "Fuck you" to him. I didn't take long to find everyone else and soon we became part of a highschool like circle dance, dancing until my legs began to scream.

4am came and went and I was on emergency power, my stomach screaming.

"Colum, you alright man?" Were the last words I heard, before I colored the sidewalk of Brunswick street.

"Fuck, he's done." Sam said, Grabbing my shoulder and keeping me from slipping into my own artwork, N came up on the other side and our long stop-n-walk began, I being more carried then walked.

"Stella, I enjoy you so much... Why do you treat me like such a bitch." I was told I said.

The aftermath of my EDO, my day of rest, my recovery from work; I'm a peppermint tea sipping wreck; waiting for good company to watch Trainspotting.

Not quite the weekend of relaxation I had planned.
But lessons learned all the same.