At Least They're Committed

7-11 guy was sweet this a.m. as I picked up a soda and a coffee while D got gas in preparation for borrowing my car for a much overdue guys’ day out with his high school friend Gabe from New Mexico. (Run-on!)

I kept thinking 7-11 dude was saying “gage,” but he was saying age and when I finally figured it out I couldn’t help but wonder if there was suddenly a minimum “age” for coffee. He said, “You know, like, 30?” And I was confused and he said slowly, “How old are you?” I said 52. He said no way, I look 35 maybe, and my figure was “very good” and my husband was “very fortunate,” and he asked if I had children and how old they were. And I wondered why the hell if the 7-11 clerk saw something lovely and youthful in me why someone else doesn’t feel the least bit blessed to have inexplicably captured my veneration! Aaaaaa aaaaaaa AUUUUGH!!!! (Sad attempt at Sam Kinison trademark scream.)

I’m exhausted. As usual, knowing I had to tread into unfamiliar transportation and human relations waters I didn’t sleep and when I did it sucked. Gabriel has been with me always always always these past days because I’m spent. Three hours, maybe — if I was lucky — that’s all the rest I got.

The day was full of hands-on getting-to-know-you stuff and standing up in front of everyone telling your life story — in other words, shit that makes me pray for death. Networking was fruitful. At the first break after we all introduced ourselves I had a few people rush up to me to ask my advice, thank me for helping to promote their work in the past and let me know what they have going on that I might be interested in. I’m great one-on-one and I made new friends and the info was good and it was time well spent. Still would rather have had my head lopped off than be there.

D and Gabe are out partying at the Rockies. I met them downtown for a drink and a bite. I’d intended to take the day off, but the event was important. Anyway, yay. I so hope they have fun. A LOT of fun.

In the meantime, we’re still playing Scrabble when the mood hits us. One board, dozens of letters, getting nowhere. I just asked if he wanted to keep going tonight. He said nah, it’s a beautiful night. Think we’ll just sit. Yes, we’ll just sit.

ADDENDUM: D couldn’t find the bus even though I’d given him explicit directions to the 120X if they couldn’t find the Rockies Ride. Gabe says they ended up at a construction site. I headed down at 11:30 p.m. to get them.  Aaaaaa aaaaaaa AUUUUGH!!!!