I have to fight for my right to party...right?

After all those postings about my cruise memories, anything I post from here on in is going to seem far less interesting…at least to me.

However, I’m seeking some help in this post, as I will be in a bit of a pickle on Sunday and I need some advice. So, as some of you know, I live in South Boston. Every year on the Sunday after St. Patty’s Day, Southie puts on this massive parade to celebrate the holiday. (Southie is a predominantly Irish part of town and the event is an absolute blast).

Anyway, I live directly on the parade route on East Broadway and am hosting my second annual St. Patty’s Day Parade Throwdown. At least 30 people that I invited have confirmed, not to mention how many of my roommates friends will be attending. Parade starts at 1 p.m., but peeps will be getting to my pad around noon.

Massive drinking and partying commences and everyone has a grand old time. Sounds great, right?

Here’s the dilemma: I have a high school hockey team playing in a state championship game a few miles away at 4:45 p.m. BUGGER!!

So the way I see it, I have a few options, none of which are good:
1) Still have the party, but not drink, kick people out at 4 p.m.
2) Still have the party, drink, kick people out at 4, show up drunk to the game.
3) Still have the party, drink a couple of beers, stop drinking a couple hours before the game, kick people out at 4.
4) Still have the party, drink heavily, blow off the game.
5) Cancel the party, have a couple of beers while watching the parade by my lonesome.
6) Cancel the party, not drink, and ignore the parade and insanity outside.

God f’n damn it!! I really don’t know what to do.

The thing is, I NEVER cover hockey games, mostly because I loathe the sport. I know the basics, but don’t really understand the rules or what certain calls mean. In short, I would be lost covering a game and thus, never have in six years of reporting high school sports.

I have, on occasion, written a sidebar piece at big hockey games, like the one on Sunday. (A sidebar is an alternate story—athlete feature, etc.—somehow related to the same event). This is what I would write if I were to attend the game. Sure, I could call the coach on Monday morning and whip something up from his perspective, but this game is about the kids playing it and I would want to talk to them. I could get numbers and call the kids up Monday night, but it just wouldn’t have the same feel as it would if I were there, noting my observations.

I know I shouldn’t be this upset and perplexed about having to give up a day of drinking, but honestly, I am. Because I work at a bar on weekends, I often have to give up going to parties or going out with friends and it sucks. Also, most of my friends work at the bar, so any time we get a chance to all hang out and do something together, it’s a plus. My St. Patty’s Day Parade party presents one such opportunity.

I think I already know what I have to do, but I really don’t want to do it. I’m leaning towards No. 3, that way I’d have the best of both worlds. Still sucks, though!!