Ups and Downs and Everything In Between

I’ve been kept rather busy as of late and have not been able to keep very up to date with this blog. However, I checked up on it today and noticed what appears to be the strangest comment spam I’ve ever gotten. In a nutshell, on one of my past posts that talk about email security, there are a couple of comments hailing the security and reliability of Microsoft Outlook Express.

The reason this is interesting is because they are clearly spam messages. I have to wonder, then, why spammers would want to leave comments raving about how secure Outlook is. The thing is, Outlook (and especially Outlook Express) is one of the most unsafe pieces of software you can have on your computer. In my experience cleaning and repairing other people’s computers, more viruses and other computer nasties arrive on a machine via Microsoft Outlook than any other program.

So why are spammers hailing the security of this program? Are they trying to get people to use it? Do they think people will switch their email program because they saw some comment on a blog somewhere?

Strangest. Spam. Ever.

As much as I tried, I have been unable to prevent a decidedly powerful shift in the focus of my life away from professional pursuits back towards personal ones. That’s a little frustrating because it means I’ve been lax in my committments (mostly volunteer efforts) and have not continued setting up the various new components of my home network as I would have liked. On the other hand, some months ago I had been riding a wave of professionalism instigated by the break up with Danica, so this shift back both makes sense and is very much needed.

I can just be with that right now.

Recap of Last Thursday (the 12^th)

• Met with Cal: Of all the things we talked about, two things struck me strong enough that I remember them now.

  1. There are three different components to most sorts of “success” the majority of people seek. These are health, wealth, and relationships. For practical reasons, it is often most important to focus on nourishing relationships because through these come opportunities to make money, which, once obtained, allows one to more easily manage and deal with health costs.
  2. In the context of social networking, there are at least two but possibly three kinds of people in a network. There are people with information, talent, or skills in some arena. These people can be seen as end-points in a mesh network. These people know other people who also know other people, connectors, who act like networking hubs. Identifying the connectors within a social circle is an important skill in order to be able to network efficiently.

• Picked up my single-tail whip: Last week, my father informed me that he purchased a single-tail for me so after the meeting with Cal I rushed downtown to meet him and his friend, the purveyor of said whip, to pick it up. As it turned out, I was actually given a choice between several single-tails. I chose a green and black one specifically because it looks funky.

  The three of us went out for a late lunch of falafels and hummus where my father’s friend (who goes by the name “Nickeesir”) gave me a quick crash-course in the care and maintenance of a single-tail. The kind my father had gotten me is made of nylon, which is great because the maintenance of a nylon single-tail is apparently infinitely easier than one made out of kangaroo or another leather. I learned about the whip’s make, how to change the popper, and generally about what it can do.

  Note to self: get some pictures of the thing up. Also, get those videos which my brother took of me cracking the thing up, because that’s really pretty awesome. In them, you can see the whip unrolling smoothly. It’s quite beautiful.

• Nightclub with Sara: For a short while I sat down and surfed the web, did some (very little) work, and checked up on my email and newsfeeds at a new WiFi café called Snice near 14^th Street, near where I used to live in the Village. Sara came downtown and joined me for a walk as the café was closing. I showed her the single-tail, we walked down the Hudson River Park, and sat on a bench in the park for a while.

  Later, we headed back towards 14^th Street to see Rachel’s gig at Club Rare. Unfortunately, her set time was moved up and so she performed at 8:45 PM instead of at 10:45 PM, which is when Sara and I arrived at the club. We entered anyway, hoping to see her, but she had already left for the night.

  Sara was exhausted and so the two of us ended up plopping down on a couch for a good three hours at least. She put her head in my lap and I stroked her hair for (almost) the entire time. She fell asleep for a significant portion of the night, as I watched the other clubbers talk and flirt and get each other drunk. Relevant snippet of conversation from that night, recalled from memory and thus possibly not accurate:

  Me: I’m just watching them as if they were ants.

  Her: If I were to draw Howard Roark, I would draw him like you.

  We left the club sometime approaching two o’clock in the morning. We had dinner at Istanbul Grill, the first time I’d been back there since moving out of the Village. Then we went back to her dorm, and I slept there with her.

Recap of Last Friday (the 13^th)

• Taking Sara to Chelsea Market: Together, we headed back to the Village for a very late breakfast. We went to Chelsea Market for Thai Food, because I had promised I’d take her back there someday. We each bought a Fat Witch brownie and juice, carrot for me and orange for her. She had never before had a Fat Witch brownie nor carrot juice, and I took pleasure in introducing both things to her.

• Stroll down Bleeker towards Washington Square Park: We left Chelsea Market at around 7:30 PM and headed towards Saint’s Alp Teahouse on Bleeker Street and Sullivan Street (which has evidently closed down). We passed Chocolate Bar on 8^th Avenue and, since this was another new thing to Sara, I insisted that we buy some hot chocolate. We also passed Magnolia Bakery across from Bleeker Playground, but seeing as how we were pretty overloaded with sugar and sweets as it was, I figured I’d save that for another time.

  When we got to Sullivan Street we saw that Saint’s Alp Teahouse was closed, and so this meant that the WordPress Discussion Group and Rubik’s Cube Meetup was simply not going to happen. No one had RSVPed for either meeting, however, so I don’t feel bad about neglecting either.

  Sara and I then turned North, bought a bottle of water at the corner bodega to quench our thirst from the rich sweets we’d been having, and then walked to Washington Square Park. We sat down on a cement banister of sorts for about an hour until the sun had set. We talked and leaned against each other. Still frame of a single strand of her hair over her lips in the foreground and an intense blue sky with puffy, turquoise clouds behind her.

• Napping at Barnes and Noble: When it started getting cold I suggested that Sara and I head to Barnes and Noble and spend some time browsing books there. I noted that the sci-fi section and the computer section happened to be right next to each other in that bookstore. Sure enough, this proved helpful because she started browsing the sci-fi section and I, of course, hit the computer books. I made a point to show her Dave Shea and Molly Holzschlag’s new book, The Zen of CSS Design.

  Then she picked up the hardcover and newly-revised edition of Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles. We sat down against a bookshelf, I rested my head on her thigh, and she read me a story. I don’t remember it all because I think I fell asleep through a few pages of it.

  That scene repeated itself on the subway ride back to her dorm, where I slept that night as well.

Recap of Last Saturday (the 14^th)

• Morning pit stop at home: I think, though I’m not sure, that I woke up early on Saturday morning to head home for a bit of personal maintenance. Emails needed to be answered, showers needed to be taken, and things of that nature just had to take place. I stopped off at my mother’s as well, though I can’t remember why.

• Scheduling and shopping with Shir: My brother, Shir, had come home from college for the week, so the two of us caught up a lot at my mother’s as well. We planned a great many games of squash together and made it a point to remember to fix up some of my ailing Rubik’s cubes. Then the two of us went downtown to get him a squash racquet and squash shoes.

• Meeting with Sara, again: I didn’t stay with my brother for long because earlier that day I had made plans with Sara to attend a workshop. After we had picked out a squash racquet for Shir, I jetted towards the workshop where I met with Sara. The workshop ended a little early, prior to eight o’clock, and so we thought that we would have time to grab a bite to eat with several of the other attendees, but between everyone’s dawdling and all the socializing we ended up having to cut out early.

• Housewarming party: Sara and I did grab a bite at Chelsea Papaya right before we hopped on the uptown 1 train and headed for Chris and Jen’s new place near Dyckman Street, mere blocks away from where our apartment is. Emily joined us on the train and the three of us made our way to Chris and Jen’s new apartment.

  The party consisted of a rather low-key night with a few very, very good bottles of alcohol (I tried a weak Jello shot, as well as something by the name of Alizé for the first time), incredibly good home-made ice cream, real roast-your-own-marshmellow smores (which were also a first for me), and several fun party games. Crap! And I just lost the game again.

  After 1,000 Blank White Cards and some sort of Telephone-Pictionary-storytelling, Chris served an excellent chicken and rice dish, which I am kicking myself for not having the recipe for. Then, while watching Family Guy on DVD, Sara, Sarah, Emily, and I all crowded onto an air mattress. Eventually, we all fell asleep.

Next Time…Stay Tuned

That’s all I’m going to be able to get through for now because I have a squash game with Shir in just over an hour. I need to go and get ready for that. Next time I have the chance, I’ll finish up recapping my week, so you’ll be able to read more about:

• going to Central Park with Sara, Rob, and Paul to throw whips and juggle on Sunday,
• monday, which I am sure existed but can’t remember at all,
• Sara moving into the apartment, my amazingly challenging squash game with Shir, and introducing Sara to Shir and Shir to Sara on Tuesday,
• Wednesday’s spectacular evening at Manhunt,
• meeting Melinda for squash and a quick dinner on Thursday
• and everything in between all of this.

Calendaring had always been something I rather adamantly avoided doing. Now I’m finding so many tangential benefits beyond the whole planning thing to calendaring that I’m somewhat pissed at myself for not doing this sooner. Case in point, I haven’t written one of these “document my life” posts in a while, and the only reason I remember what to write about now is because I’m looking over the past week in my iCal, where everything I planned to do is recorded.

So in order to make writing my life’s memoirs much easier when I’m on my deathbed, and so that you all know what the heck I’ve been up to lately, here’s a recap of the past week or so.

Weekend Walks

On Saturday, Sarah invited me along with a number of her other friends to visit her at the hotel bar at which she works. I met up with Sara and her “bro,” Aaron, and together the three of us headed to midtown.

Rather atypical bar talk ensued that night. Jeff joined us a little later, and I got to meet three new people. I tried some drinks (sipped at them) and ate piles of breadsticks. Interesting thought of the night: “When one speaks of alcohol, one only uses a single word. That’s deceptive, because none of the drinks I tried tasted anything like each other.”

Afterwards, four of us went to eat dinner at a nearby diner and after that, I crashed at Sara’s place for the night. I don’t think I slept for too long, however, since I had intended to come back uptown to return the MetroCard I had borrowed from my mother to her. Nevertheless, I had plans to join Sara and her “Sis” later in the evening back around midtown.

Sunday evening included a lot of walking around, coffee, and pie. I met up with Sara and Chelsea (future address), Sara’s “Sis,” near Manhattan Mall. Soon after, Aaron joined us and we walked around for a while, making a pit stop for drinks at a Starbuck’s.

That night Sara, Chelsea and I watched an hour or so of Adult Swim (the most television I’ve watched in months, now) at Chelsea’s sister’s place (her biological sister). Later, Sara and I left for dinner at the nearby Skylight Diner where we talked before walking all the way back up Broadway to her dorm. I crashed there again that night.

We walked through Times Square that night and saw a new Coca-Cola advertisement. When I pointed it out to her, Sara said, I wish I had a picture of that.

Okay, I replied and without missing a beat I snapped these two pictures.

• 

  Walking through Times Square late at night, you can see the advertisement for CocaCola pictured here. The silouettes of construction workers are actually digital images. It’s part of the ad, not actually construction.

• 

  Another shot of the CocaCola advertisement late at night in Times Square. I was walking through here with Sara when I snapped this photo.

Weekday Warriors

We both slept late on Monday. We woke up in the afternoon, and didn’t get out of bed until much later. (Actually, I stayed in bed longer….) Then, at around six o’clock or so, we both went back down to Chelsea to meet Chelsea for lunch. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) We ate at the Skylight Diner again, which was super convenient because that was where this month’s Bipolar Disorder Meetup was taking place.

Sara and Chelsea spent a good deal of time reminiscing over LARP stories and battles and quests. Watching the two of them do that convinced me that LARPing is something I definitely want to experience, though I still have no real clue how to go about that. I also had a good time at the Bipolar Meetup; two new folks showed up and stayed for the whole thing. One has emailed me about possibilities for temp work, which I think I’ll look into at my earliest opportunity.

Three for Tea and Tails on Tuesday at Two

On Tuesday, I met Rob and Sara for lunch at Alice’s Tea Cup (charming little restaurant). After we had downed our tea and salad and scones (oh my god, those scones!) the three of us went to Central Park where we all practiced throwing single tails. Rob mostly practiced with his twelve-footer, Sara picked up his four-and-a-half foot long whip, and I practiced mostly with Sevina’s three-and-a-half foot long whip. By the end of the session, I had finally managed to learn how to crack them and aim them consistently.

Shortly after six o’clock, we packed up and said goodbye to Rob. Sara and I headed downtown to the Mac meeting I organized. This time it was much smaller than last month, though still fun. I was happy with Sara there.

Afterwards, the two of us went for ice cream (well, gelato and sorbet, really) at Cones on Bleeker street while walking and talking yet more. We took the subway up to her dorm so she could pick up her laptop. Then she joined me in coming back to the apartment where she crashed with me. :) I snapped a photo of her through the short hallway of the apartment while she was working in the bedroom.

Even though I was really enjoying having the apartment all to myself, I think I’m going to enjoy having her here as a roommate through the summer.

Today, Tonight, and Tomorrow

Sara got up early and had to go to work (for the last time at her current job, congratulations!) today. I saw her to the door and then collapsed for another few hours until about four o’clock in the afternoon.

Tonight I’m going to another “no more school” party—really ironic if you ask me, since I’ve not been in school for years. I need to return Sara’s sandals to her, schedule a date to hang out with Lori, with Blaise, and with my father (each individually).

I’m going to meet with Cal tomorrow, still have to do laundry, might go to the MetroMac meeting, and then later tomorrow night will get to see Rachel when she performs at the Crash! show.

Update: Turns out, if you remove mentions of the word ‘ad’ from the previous search, my PHP test page jumps up to the sixth spot. Makes sense, since it’s mostly marketing folks who are interested in “increasing ad relevancy” and the like. Come to think of it, why can’t my technique be used to place ads? Now there’s a thought….

I have been feeling good for what seems like an abnormally long period of time. I still feel the mini-swings between lulls and bursts of activity, but dare I say that everyone experiences these things? Yes, I dare. Am I really approaching normal?

My father is understandably concerned. I am keeping a close eye on myself as well, and I’m doing my best not to let things swing too far in either direction. I’m also trying to do my best to maintain that balance between work, socializing, and personal time that I was so adamant about earlier.

Being Social

The past couple of days have swung heavily in the social direction. I suspect this has more to do with the fact that, all of a sudden, most of my friends and acquaintances are actually of college age and, not surprisingly, are graduating college this year. (Just my luck, right?) They all feel it too; everyone seems to be in this bittersweet melancholy mood, bracing for change.

I’ve spent a lot of time with Sara lately, which, of course, meant profuse amounts of introspection and self-reflection and conversation about introspection and self-reflection. Sin City on Thursday night was a lot of fun, but more fun than the movie was the hand-holding and the various other forms of cuddling.

End of the Year College Party

Friday afternoon and early evening sported more conversation between Sara and I over breakfast (which, for me, was a cobb salad that is probably still in her suite’s refridgerator). Later that night, starting from about ten o’clock, her suite hosted an end-of-the-year party. Several things struck me about that party.

• I knew way more people than I would have thought. Not just knew of them but was, sort of, actually friends with many of them. A surprisingly high number, actually. Of all the things going on for me right now, realizing that I’m actually social will be the hardest to get used to. Here’s a list of folks off the top of my head:
  • Jeff was there, and—get this—I actually first met him back when Juliana had invited me to be a naked extra in The Naked Show several years ago. We really connected when I started talking about my old office/tech support job, since that’s what he’s currently escaping.
  • Sara, Sarah, Sarah, and Sarah were all there. Yeah, that many Sarahs. One Sarah I had first met (extremely briefly) the night of Hamlet last week. Another was the one Sara and I took to see Sin City the day before. The other Sarah was one whom I had wanted to get to talk to for some time because she’s a new kind of techie I do not yet know well—I biomedical engineer, I think. Anyway, conversations with all four were nice.
  • Tall German guy who apparently knew more about me than I did about him. The party last night got that sorted out (we talked and whatnot) so now I can actually say that I know a little about Oliver.
  • Emily, another person who knew more about me than I did her. We joked about Judaism, parents (nothing too bad, Aba ve Ima), and alcohol. (Mental image: hyper Jewish girls. ‘Nuff said.)
  • I also got approached by another fine young man whom I vaguely knew but had not really spoken to before. We conversed about CV, its future, and my suggestions for the organization.
  • Melinda attended, and so did Al, whom I know because Melinda got me to attend the Columbia Philosophy Forum discussions. It was when Al walked in that I felt that familiar “It’s a small world” feeling.
• Parties are fun. Let me repeat that, and this time remember who’s blog you’re reading: parties are fun. Of course, I had a great time because I was with friends, but the point remains; I think I can finally relate to all those “normal” kids who really enjoyed partying. Sure, it wasn’t exactly my kind of party, but it was still fun.
• I’m an incredible lightweight and for many reasons (not least of which is safety) I don’t drink alcohol. Nevertheless, I downed a small bottle and a half of Woodchuck (which is evidently not a bird) and still actually had a good time. For the record, yes, thoughts such as “I’m buzzed; that means I need to be extra careful now” were front-and-center in my head.

Back to Work—Sort’a

Today I met with Jon about one of the side projects we’re working on together. I have a bunch of templates to design and build now, which is good because it gives the work aspect of my life something fun to latch on to and be excited about. I also exchanged emails with Dana about the NYCwireless web site, though I’m not as clear about what needs to happen on that project.

Also, yesterday I met with Cal (the man who emailed me after seeing me on 43 Things) and he spoke a lot about business, as well as several other things. He seems to be a really remarkable person and I readily admit that I’m pleasantly surprised by that. I’ll be looking into a suggestion of his, namely to get myself a “Doing Business As” form for Maymay Media.

Tonight, I’m headed down to a bar (a bar!) to meet with a friend (one of the Sarahs). Before that, however, I’m going to hop into the shower because after Squash today (my uncle and I played 7 games; I won 3 of them!) I desperately need it.

There’s just not enough time anymore. I’m doing too many things or, rather, so many things are happening that I can’t hope to record them all on “paper.” It’s all unforgettable, however, and that is comforting.

Yesterday morning I went to see my father, and the two of us brought back two computers for me (an old G3 tower and an ailing PC with a broken fan), a nifty high-tech fan (technically an “air ionizer”) and a few other odds and ends. Interesting conversations throughout the morning. I realized how much he misses me, how much I’m enjoying the distance, and how much he really doesn’t understand about certain parts of me.

Afterwards I went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens with Sara and we walked for hours. It’s such a small world when you’re social; we ran into someone we both knew (I knew him first from juggling with the Carmine Street Irregulars), and then later I said hi to Michael from the Sci-Fi Meetup (for the second random time this week). That night, I saw and briefly spoke with Zoe, a classmate from elementary school. (She lives in the Village now. I can’t believe we recognized each other.)

For the entire evening, we walked for miles around New York City just talking. I took her to see Chelsea Market and promised to return with her when the shops were still open. I took her to Venierro’s for dessert, Bus Stop Café for dinner. She shared so many memories with me. I felt like the conversation didn’t stop even during the contented silences.

I spent the night and finally got a good night’s rest for the first time in a long time. She let me sleep so I woke up today at three o’clock or so. We went for breakfast at Toast and spoke of life, happiness, and the future. I want to prove to myself that I’m not stuck in New York City, that I can go and be elsewhere.

The rain felt right. The coffee tasted right. The company felt right. I felt right again. I’m okay; I feel alive.

I first discovered this quote years ago, when I was going through the home instruction process thanks to the ineptitude of the New York City Board of “Education.” I find it equally relevant now, and always.

“When we adults think of children there is a simple truth which we ignore: childhood is not preparation for life. Childhood is life. A child isn’t getting ready to live. A child is living.

“The child is constantly confronted with the nagging question, ‘What are you going to be?’ Courageous would be the youngster who, looking the adult squarely in the face, would say, ‘I’m not going to be anything; I already am.’ We adults would be shocked by such an insolent remark, for we have forgotten, if indeed we ever knew, that a child is an active, participating, and contributing member of society from the time he is born.

“Childhood isn’t a time when he is molded into a human who will then live life; he is a human who is living life. No child will miss the zest and joy of living unless these are denied him by adults who have convinced themselves that childhood is a period of preparation.

“How much heartache we would save ourselves if we would recognize the child as a partner with adults in the process of living, rather than always viewing him as an apprentice. How much we would teach each other—adults with the experience and children with the freshness. How full both our lives could be.

“A little child may not lead us, but at least we ought to discuss the trip with him, for, after all, life is his and her journey, too.”

— John Taylor, Notes on an Unhurried Journey

Thursday, Friday and Saturday have gone by in a whir of activity. The fact that my 365 Days of Duct Tape desk-top calendar is stuck on Thursday, April 28^th despite my best efforts to keep it updated is proof of this. That’s pretty much how these last three weeks have been for me.

To Be On Thursday

On Thursday, I woke up late and barely made it out on time to my CSS meeting in midtown. I met with two other web designers there who I had first met at the Web Design Meetup several weeks ago. The meeting was cut short because I had wanted to rush back up to the Columbia Univeristy area to hop into the final Philosophy Forum of the year. (And also to grab free pizza.)

I caught the tail end of a discussion on selfishness, what it is and whether or not it’s good or bad. Philosophy Forum is one of those intensely enjoyable sessions of intellectual masturbation, and everyone’s always got an interesting opinion on this or that. Melinda and Hannah were both there so I took the opportunity to further impress upon them how much I wanted to see them at Friday night’s party.

Genevieve, a girl I’m acquainted with via the Games Club and who I encouraged to come to Philosophy Forum (because it’s her sort of thing), was there as well. After the discussion had wound down (late as usual) and I said my goodbyes to Melinda and to Hannah, Genevieve and I meandered around the campus and talked. It was the first time I’d really gotten to speak to her in person and, as I’d suspected when I first met her, she’s quite the intelligent person.

By the time we had made our way to the bank and back again it was past 9:30 PM. Hamlet, a production being put on by a group I’d later learn was the King’s Crown troupe, had already started an hour earlier and I had plans to meet with Sara to watch the show. Genevieve decided to come with me and the two of us met Sara near the steps of the library, where Hamlet was just beginning his famous To be or not to be? monologue.

Genevieve left not long after, but I stayed with Sara to see the end of the show. Two other friends I know were in the show in supporting roles, and I had a lot of fun watching them. It was, however, rather chilly so after the play finished a group of seven of us went to Pinaccle for the warmth and the food. There, over discussion of renfaires and theater and recent events, I had a slice of pizza and a cup of vegetable soup for dinner.

It was well past two o’clock in the morning by the time we disbanded. I lent Jamie my camera, made Megan and Sara promise to take me to renfaires over the summer, and said goodnight to everyone else. Then Sara and I hopped into her studio to prep her thesis painting a bit and, after that, finally headed to her dorm for the night.

I watched a few episodes of Penn and Teller’s Bullshit while Sara finished sewing my costume for the following night’s party. (Oh, right, did I mention it was a toga party?)

Playing Hitchhiker and Guide on Friday

On Friday we woke up at about 2:30 PM and within minutes were dressed and walking towards the Broadway gates of the Columbia University campus. We met up with a large group of Sara’s friends and friends of her friends to go see The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy at 3:30 PM near Lincoln Center. It wasn’t until I was at the theater sitting with my hot dog and watching previews that I felt truly awake. Nothing like a cinema’s hot dogs for breakfast if you ask me.

The movie was a lot of fun and I’m sure I didn’t really understand half of it since I’ve never read the books. Still, it was finally nice to understand some of the references everyone was making on the train ride down. Six of us chose to eat “lunch” at Deluxe after returning to the campus area. The wait staff took forever and a day to get us seated and served. I had macaroni and cheese. Yummy.

After lunch, I picked up my bag which I had left at Sara’s for the movie and left for home to shower, change, and get ready for Friday’s “College Night” party. Angelique, who had expressed interest in attending, sent me an email which said that she had decided not to come out that evening. I managed to do a little bit of catching up in the two hours or so that I was home, showered, cleaned the kitchen floor and did the dishes, and then put on my costume (a red tunic with black stitch hemming) for the party.

I made a quick stop at Mom’s apartment before heading down because I had to get the mail and water her plants. When I was done with the routine maintenance I called Sara up and planned to meet her at her dorm since she was still waiting on her friend to get ready. On the way to her dorm I stopped at Games Club to say hi (and subsequently to say bye) to everyone there. Then Sara, her friend, and I headed downtown to the party together.

Toga, Toga, Toga

At the party, I got to see a lot of old faces, some not-so-old ones, and a few totally new ones. I spoke with a woman I had not met before, caught up a lot of old acquaintances and some friends with my life (answering such questions as “What have you been up to?” gets routine after the twentieth time or so) and had a fantastic evening myself. I guided Melinda and Hannah around for a while, but they quickly found their feet and were well enough on their own.

Afterwards, as the sun was slowly rising, a group of us went out for breakfast at a nearby 24-hour restaurant. I felt like we were at an ancient tavern somewhere in nomadic Europe because a couple of guys sitting by me kept telling stories, some I’d heard a thousand times before, to Sara and the other new folk.

I was reminded several times throughout the night of my various past experiences, both good and bad. That night’s party, however, was different than any I’d ever been to before because of how different I am now in contrast with two years ago. I amazed myself again that night, and I’m proud of it. That said, however, I still stick to what I said on my audio blog about keeping different parts of my life in balance with one another.

Quick Saturday

Sara and I spoke a bit on her bed before sleep took us. I couldn’t sleep well, however, and I woke up just prior to eight o’clock. I went to shower and checked my emails and surfed the web until Sara woke up at 9:30 AM. She had to leave to hang her thesis at the gallery and I tried to nap a while longer. Ultimately, however, I couldn’t sleep so I left for home and spent the rest of the day milling about while trying to rest. (Unfortuantely, I had to cancel my squash game, too.)

Also, I cut my hair rather drastically after a shower. That’s probably worth noting so you guys aren’t too surprised by the difference in how I look.

Plans for Today

Sleep has been fitful tonight as well. I made plans with Aba (my father) to meet early this morning (Sunday) so I can pick up the computers he has for me. After that, I want to go to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens with Sara to see the Sakura Matsuri festival (that’s the Japanese Spring cherry blossom festival) and to talk to her about recent events more.

I also need to go buy more milk, because something tells me coffee is going to come in really handy today.