uncharacteristic Thursday behaviours

I had a fabulous day yesterday. Work sucked, but when doesn't it? I left early, though, and took Tracey to lunch. It was a calm collected time in which we discussed many things, all related to the oddity that has become "us". If there even is an "us". For you see, in making a decision not to do anything, we actually are doing something. The matter of the children is what has held this all together. The kids are extremely important to both of us. Each other, though? I did some pretty shitty things to Tracey. Horrible, in fact. Accused her of things that just weren't her problem. The problems were mine. Now, it's taken a long time to work through that. The therapist calls that breakthrough.

So we had lunch and had a good talk. She will go on with her discovery of being a woman and not just a mom. I will continue on my own to find whatever path mine might be and stick to it.

I goofed around for a few hours and then got the profound pleasure of playing in a soccer scrimmage. Against my six-year-old daughter's team. The second Vivian saw me get on the field, she makes this scroungy face and went "Uh oh." It was great! The parents lost (yes, a gimme game). Vivian's good, too, but didn't know her old man played defense for more than a few seasons in his younger days. I was really giving those kids hell. Not mean or anything, but I wasn't just going to give them the goal. They had to earn it. One thing I did find out: I need to get out and run more.

Afterward, Tracey invited me to pizza at Reginelli's (feta and artichoke heart!) and I helped her get the kids to bed at her house. Then I went home.

Bored. Very bored I was, basking in the cathode glow of my monitor. I decide to call the Dynamic Duo of Liz and Jen (aka defenestr8r and rivetonfire). I mean they are superheroes and all. Anyway, they were sliding down to Aunt Tiki's for a nip and invited me along. I believe a drink was exactly what the doctor ordered. And drinking in the bubbly presence of Miss Andi is a treat in and of itself. During our stay, darkestsunrise popped in from seeing her mum, and the three of them managed to convince me to go to *gasp* 80's night.

I love OEJ's to start with, as it reeks (literally) of old school lounge. It was crowded (like really crowded) and there were some grand sights among the masses. But...they have GOT to change that music. I graduated in 1986, so 80's is totally what I weened my nightlife existence on, so I'm justified in saying the Safety Dance was NOT a song we danced to. The spin was more commercial than danceable. Some of the songs were fun, but the whole mix sounded like volumes 1 through 10 of the Best of the New Wave '80s compilations. All in all it was a great time out, got to see some peeps (doomsy and  yadsendew) and finally met theredpanther , who we missed during Endymion. The bar was starting to clear a little when we decided to take it elsewhere.

Then I decided to look at my watch.

3:00

FUCK. My alarm goes off at 4:45. Double FUCK. Time to go.

Needless to say, the Champagne of Beers helped me sleep right on through that alarm. If robland had not called me at 6:30, I'd have never gotten up. Oozing smoke and booze, I found my way to getting ready and flying out the door, for a wonderfully full day of work. Blech. Don't you know it, the second I walk in the door, I have to go debug a digital projector for a General's presentation. You should have seen that cat and his big-assed brass. Despite my moral objections to what my government is doing, it is very impressive to meet an Army general, especially those of really high rank. And I was pretty rank myself.

Tonight? It's a BBQ meatfest at Casa de Penguin. Pig, bird, and surprises that don't move any more. Who's coming over?

Oh, one more thing for the road. Ta da!