I went walking around in the warm morning sunshine in just a tee shirt. I wanted to experience a little of the day before having to wall myself into Comet for an eight hour shift. At Higher Grounds I ran across Angela's boyfriend Aaron. He was preparing himself for a day of work too, as a bartender at a Main Street restaurant. He was haggard from a fitful night of wondering about his relationship with Angela. He hadn't been able to find her anywhere and doesn't know where he stands with her. The situation apparently totally fell apart in the space of three days. It had seemed as though Angela and Aaron were a good couple; certainly better than Theresa and Persad. But, according to Deya, Angela is known to seduce random guys when she gets very intoxicated. The fallout from such events invariably leads to crisis.
Deya came by while I worked as I'd said she could. I was hungover and cranky though and really would have much preferred to be alone. But I almost never tell Deya to leave me alone. And for some reason she sticks with me even when I'm completely ignoring her for hours on end. It seems like an unhealthy relationship to me. I find that when I'm around any one person for too long uninterrupted, I start feeling like I'm drowning.
I took a couple "cigarette breaks" at work to enjoy the warmth of the day. Not that I actually smoked any cigarettes mind you; it's just that the smokers at Comet have to occasionally take breaks to go outside and fuel their addictions. Normally I can stay inside for my entire shift. But on a nice day like today I figured I should take the "outdoor" breaks that my smoking coworkers normally take. If you put all the cigarette breaks that I would have taken had I been a smoker and put them end to end, it would probably add up to a fairly substantial vacation. I also walked with Deya to Hot Tomatoes at one point to get a slice of chicken barbecue pizza.
After work, I decided to drive down to the Downtown Mall just for a little variety in my meagre little life. On a whim, Elizabeth joined me. We went into the Mudhouse and had a few drinks. She ordered a shot of "wheatgrass" for $3. What she got for her $3 was less than an ounce of electric green fluid that smelled like a freshly used lawnmover blade. It occurred to me that if someone wants to drink grass juices there is plenty of free grass to be had in just about any East Coast suburban community. Elizabeth contends that wheatgrass is especially health-inducing but I have my doubts. Since it seems she really has quit smoking, such indulgences are probably deserved.
Then Elizabeth and I picked up a 3 litre bottle of Almaden Mountain Burgundy at the Barracks Road Kroger. I blew all but the last dollar in my wallet on this investment in the evening.
Back at the Dynashack I found myself watching Cops and America's Most Wanted while Elizabeth went out with friends to eat sushi. I find "real life" cop shows entertaining for their dopey blustery ambiance.
Deya came by and started drinking vino. Then came Elizabeth, Liz West and a number of complete strangers. And then Monster Boy appeared as I knew he would. He and I smoked some kind bud in the bathroom since he didn't have enough for the others. What exactly we were doing in the bathroom was a subject of mildly humourous debate amongst the excluded ones.
Deya had a revelation today that friendships are all about common ground between people. This struck her as a profound idea just about the time Monster Boy and Elizabeth were revelling in their mutual love for the Dead Milkmen. Of course I agree that common ground is important for friendships. What I need now is for her to elaborate in essay form on this subject so I might understand why she found the idea to be such a revelation.
Monster Boy picked up Cecelia the Brazilian Girl at midnight from the C&O. She came with her own bottle of Cribari white vino. We'd been eagerly awaiting her arrival since the Almaden ran out.