Just about a month
I think I am in that surreal middle ground where the day to day gets wrapped up with micro-managing bunk and it's hard to discern where one thing ends and a new one begins. Admittingly however, there haven't been many beginning and ending milestones in the past month. At work, I haven't had a task that has taken me longer than an hour, so there's been no guiding sense of relief and accomplishment (shy of the "One Eyed Dicks" discovery, long story, but not perverted). At my temporary "home," things are chugging along - softball games, kindergarden graduations, and busy errand-filled weekends.
For a real break and getaway from the sort of mundane New York routine I've been slung in to, I spent five days at home in honor of Kristin's graduation. I kicked off the trip with the first semblance of a social outing I've enjoyed in a while, drinks with Ted. We sat around in this gem of a bar called "Siberia" and talked about the internet and technology like we were 90-yr old geisers ever impressed by kids and their new fangled inventions. It was fun though - rewarding to reconnect - and at the same time shocking that we've been running into each other on the fringes of real life for almost seven years.
The bus ride home dropped me in Hatford around midnight (much to my mother's chagrin). I think I was lucky enough to get the three best days, weather-wise, while at home. We sat on the deck, drank midori sours, and began to make progress on erasing the unsightly polo shirt tan-line I can never manage to escape. Kristin's graduation was nice - the rain and thunderstorms licked at our heels, but stayed away. The speeches weren't particularly impressive, but everyone looked better because the "gold gowns for girls" have been upgraded to handsome maroon ones for all. At some point I brought Kristin to "Xando" (formerly ZuZu's) and I couldn't help but be reminded of the parade of individuals I have taken there over the course of some seven years now too.
The following day I had my teeth and eyes checked at their respective offices and welcomed Jack for the weekend. Let's just say it was a particularly dysfunctional night at the Jasinski household, but entertaining nevertheless. Kristin, Jack and I went "semi-cosmic" bowling and had fun with that. Saturday brought more house guests, seasoned ones; Aaron and Justin. We watched hours of the game show network in the air conditioning and more wispride and triscuits than we should have. Eventually we made our way to City Steam for a boisterous and thoroughly inappropriate dinner, but boy, it was fun. Haven't laughed like that in a while and don't expect to for some time. It's hard to believe that a month has lapsed since we were last together - it always feels like barely a minute at the point of reunion. We stayed for a beer at a nearby pub, but soon traded that scene for watermelon "margsa-ritas," the couch, and a nail-bitting Iron Chef that ended in an unresolved tie.
On Sunday I conned my father into driving me back to Ossining (as to avoid the bus, again) and enjoyed a quiet afternoon with my aunt. Eventually the whole crew (plus my uncle's sister Emily and her two little boys) splashed home from the pool and we BBQ'ed in the sunset. I got to know my uncle's family pretty well last summer on our trip to Michigan, in particular Ian, my new favorite 6 yr old. He's a shrimpy little kid, but sharp as a tack and adorable. We played a game of chess that lasted 45 mins. If I was assured that I was getting an "Ian," I'd rethink my convictions against reproducing.
MoMA QNS PRM on Thursday night - the other social event on my calendar this month. At the last minute, a windfall of tickets came through and Brian, Lauren, and I can all go together. It'll be nice to put a little black dress on again and go and check out the new MoMA facility in Queens, maybe even do a little mingling. The opening is the same day as the Gugg's "Moving Pictures" opening (what a social faux pas!) but I am planning to make an appearance at both. Unlike last year, I vow to take pictures this time around. But it's something to be excited about.
After a quiet month... I am craving a network of friends again, but I think it's starting to come back, naturally. John and Nates will return soon, the social event with the MoMA CRW, and the promise of Midd visitors... I owe a lot of returned phone calls, emails, and the like... they are coming, I just needed the motivation that comes when social energy runs a little low.
posted by lmjasinski at 2:49 PM
