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Winter Blast
He gave me a long, reproachful look, similar in its essentials to that which a black beetle gives a cook when the latter is sprinkling insect powder on it.
-- P.G. Wodehouse, "Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit"
Saturday, December 19, 1998
I conferred with Luke and Jane about turning over the paper goods for the feast. I'd bought these for last year's solstice feast! They'd been riding around in my car for a year(!), and I wanted to make them my donation. Jane stopped by this morning and we transferred paper cups, bowls, napkins, and plates, and plastic spoons, forks, and knives, from my car to hers. She brought me candy for the Santas to distribute at the Santa Rampage later in the afternoon, which saved me going out.
This was especially nice because it was so cold and windy!
I dressed myself in my Santa-themed gear, with multiple layers underneath: purple long underwear shirt, red ribbed knit top, black fleece pullover jacket (my normal jacket) and a red fleece big shirt-jacket trimmed by me with white and gold lace. I have a red fleece, lace-trimmed mobcap too, made by me last year. I added two pairs of gloves. I was still cold on my legs, though. I should have worn two layers of tights!
By the time I got downtown, I was hoping that no one else would show up, so I could get back inside (what a weather wimp!). My wish was granted -- I waited by the pig at the market from 1:15 to 2 pm, and no one appeared. I took the bus back home again. By this time it was snowing, a light snow, but it was enough to cause traffic problems all over town, apparently. It's too bad that we won't have a Seattle Santa Anarchy this year, but Wally (who was the driving force for this event last year) has a bunch of things to deal with right now, so this event didn't get the attention that he might have given it otherwise. I'm sure the extreme cold affected us as well.
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In the late afternoon I went over to my sister's for an open house type gathering. She'd invited families from her neighborhood, so it was an extremely kid-dominated event! I had a good time. My nephew J--- had wanted to play charades (he'd loved this last year at Thanksgiving), so there were slips of paper with book and movie titles to be drawn from a hat. The kids really got into playing this! But the activity level was high enough that it was probably good that Jack wasn't there. I hadn't heard from him since late on Thursday, which was on my mind. He wrote me once, "Being in crowds gets on my nerves, but crowds of children really set my teeth on edge (my idea of hell is eternity locked in a Chuck-E-Cheese full of screaming toddlers)."
I left after a few hours and drove back home with no trouble. (Other seattle journalers weren't so fortunate!) Going out dancing had been a possibility, but I decided against it. I just wasn't in the mood. I pulled out an old afghan to keep me warm while watching TV. I was saddened and guilt-ridden to see that it was much more moth-damaged than I'd thought!
The movie I watched was a fun confection, "My Best Friend's Wedding" with Julia Roberts. It definitely has some flaws, though. She's thrown into a panic when a former lover and long-time friend says he's getting married and asks her to the wedding. We never see why she should be so obsessed with him. I like Dermot Mulroney as an actor, but he can't compete with Roberts for adorableness. Some dopey car chase scenes (yes! in a romantic comedy!) detract towards the end. Endings of comedies are tough!
Rupert Everett got all the good notices, as Roberts' gay editor. He has the most fun and energy of anyone in the movie!
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I finally got email from Jack. He'd been away from home and had his cell phone turned off, working on a project with his friend Brett. I'd been hoping to see him this weekend, though there wasn't a firm plan. But that won't be happening.
So this was a disappointing, uncomfortable day -- bad weather, a bust of a cacophony event, and all. I hope I'm not coming down with something! I was teary and headache-y sitting at my computer. I wiped my eyes and nose, then looked down and realized I'd grabbed a paper napkin with phone numbers written on it to wipe with! I burst out laughing, and yes, I did have ink on my face! I still needed to take strong measures to improve my mood, though. I pulled a P.G. Wodehouse book off the shelf.
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