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Love is like the wild rose-briar; |
Saturday, June 6, 1998
One year ago: Recharged For the New Millennium
Today was a rare day, because everything I had envisioned for the day worked out very much as I would have wished!
I drove over to the East side to pick up my former boyfriend Jason, since he was going to spend the day with me. I'm usually early everywhere I go, but this time I arrived about three minutes after eleven AM, which was the appointed hour. I was amused to see him standing out in the parking lot! I thought he was looking at his watch to tease me, but he was really playing tetris, the tiny version he has on his key chain.
We drove back to Capitol Hill, then walked down to the Harvard Exit movie theater. It was a beautiful morning; the haze and mist from earlier in the day had all disappeared. We zigzagged through the street grid so that Jason was disoriented, but I knew where I was. It was such fun to see him! This was only the second time we've gotten together since our breakup, but I felt really comfortable. We chatted and got caught up on our news, passing yard sales and the last of the rhododendron blooms.
The Last Bus Home
I really liked this Irish movie, set in the late 70s. A young girl organizes and manages a punk rock band, starting in the outskirts of Dublin. Annie Ryan was great as Reena, intense, electric and appealing. The movie's biggest weakness was the lack of anger and charisma shown by the guy supposedly fronting the band.
We had some time in between movies, so Jason and I went walking on Broadway, while A--- reposed himself in the theater lobby and read the paper. It was a sunny day and I had mentioned earlier that I needed to get some sunglasses. We walked into the Broadway Market and Jason subtly steered me into a sunglasses booth. I tried on several pairs and picked out one that I liked. I was amazed and touched when Jason bought them for me! He said that this was my belated birthday present! What a guy!
We walked across the street and got a snack at the Magic Dragon cheapo chinese food place, and I broke in my new shades as we sat at a table on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. Then back to the movies!
The Sugar Factory
An Australian drama. Do the weird images that teen-aged Harris is seeing betoken a repressed memory from his childhood? Robert Carter wrote and directed, based on his own novel. The lead, played by Matt Day who was also in Doing Time for Patsy Cline, was excellent! I really enjoyed this.
Jason and I walked back up the hill to my place, after stopping to buy me yet another birthday present. Jason had decided to buy me a CD rack after reading about how I've been having CDs crashing on top of my head while sitting at my desk at work. I guess the sunglasses were an impulse buy, but this he had thought about, and it was indeed a great gift! Something I really do need, but haven't gotten around to getting for myself.
We questioned whether we should wait at the foot of the hill for a bus to carry us up the five blocks (I have a pass, and I'd have paid for Jason's fare!) but decided to walk up. Of course, the bus came by when we were one block from the top! I'm used to this walk, but Jason said it renewed his wish to get in better shape! Of course, he related this to losing weight, but I pointed out the benefits of approaching the project as fitness-related, rather than weight-loss related.
Back at my place, I changed clothes to one of the new dresses I got at the street fair a few weeks ago, checked my email, and we were off again! We were having a pre-Vanguard dinner at an Indian restaurant in the University District. This location had been chosen because Vanguard was happening at an apartment building in the U-district, so we wouldn't have to repark. Jon Singer and Helen were already at the restaurant, Neelam's, and Blunt "Hermeneutics of the Ordinary" Jackson was next to arrive. (Blunt's account of this evening.)
Dinner was a feast, with various dishes of lamb vindaloo, chicken curry, onion-stuffed naan, etc. Jon had a ceramic project to show us, a demonstration of what happens when one of his glaze recipes is severly over-fired. After dinner we walked by Safeway to buy the drinks and snacks that would be our contribution to the party, then continued the few blocks to the funky apartment building where Victor, Sheila, and Ian were hosting.
We divided our time between Ian's apartment (third floor, studio, non-smoking), Victor's and Sheila's apartment (second floor, one-bedroom, smoking), and the outside roof deck (limit: six people).
I was so pleased that Blunt was able to join us! Of course, I really enjoy Vanguard, so I recommend it to people I think would also like it, but it isn't for everyone. Both Blunt and Jason enjoyed themselves, so I was happy.
I drove Blunt and Jason back to the east side, dropping Blunt at the place he is currently staying. Jason and I talked, debriefing, discussing the day and evening and what's been going on in each of our lives. We really do get along well as friends, although I don't consider that I've known him very long. We tease each other and make each other laugh. I feel comfortable talking with him on an emotionally intimate level, and he is great at giving reassuring feedback. Thanks, Jason!
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