14 march 01

What I Did With My First Three Days of Unpaid Vacation

* Did laundry.
* Rode my bike. Didn't get run over.
* Read up on Brussels, Amsterdam and Paris.
* Tried, unsuccessfully, for the third time, to patronize the new Fish & Chips shop in my neighborhood. Sign said they ran out of food due to overwhelming demand.
* Looked for a dress for Dave's wedding. Didn't find one.
* Bought a pair of rainbow striped socks.
* Went to the bar.
* Went through my underwear drawer and threw out every bra, panty (I never liked the word "panty." what a stupid word), sock and hosiery item that I will never, ever wear again.
* Thought about how many of the people in your life are determined by who your friends do or don't introduce you to (not that this is a revelation, exactly). Thinking not just about the people I've luckily met or all the theoretical friends of friends out there I haven't met, but of actual people I know to exist who I assume to be kindred spirits of one sort or another, similar interests etc, whom I have nothing to do with because we were never introduced. I remember in my high school yearbook Natalie Wortham wrote that for whatever reason we never really connected though she always thought that we could have been friends, and that maybe in the future our paths would cross again. I don't expect to run into Natalie anytime soon, but, well, if I had a point, I've lost it.
* Talked to the Creative Director at work about the status of my supposed job (no new information).
* Met my brother for lunch.
* Looked for a book requested by Sam overseas. Couldn't find it.
* Met up with Rebecca, whom I haven't seen in ages, for a drink. It was good to see her and bitch about jobs and people we've left behind.
* Drove to Queens to spend the night. Rediscovered in the morning what a joy it is to sleep in when there are no cats begging to be fed.
* Rode my bike. Didn't get run over.
* Read up some more on Brussels, Amsterdam, and Paris.
* Tried, unsuccessfully, for the fourth time, to patronize the new Fish & Chips shop in my neighborhood. Sign said they were closed for renovation.
* Stopped at a cafe/sandwich place and had...a sandwich (spicy chicken on peasant bread) and tea (mango). The door to the place was propped open and they were playing the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou? which was very enjoyable. The whole experience wasn't quite perfect however. I walked down the street to the cafe on the corner—you know, couches, candles, mismatched furniture, extensive tea list. But the windows faced the wrong way for the afternoon sun and all the seats were taken, mostly by mothers with their young children just out of school for the day. I walked back onto the street and stood at the corner not knowing what to do. Too nice to go home but not warm enough to sit around outside. And then I knew where I needed to be. I took the subway three stops and found the place. Small, good music, art on the walls, light streaming through the front windows and over an empty table at the front. Perfect. I sat and read my book for a while knowing that later, on the plane, I'd wish I hadn't already read so much of it.
* Talked on the phone with Laura, a friend from summer camp when I was 9. She tracked me down after seeing my name in the masthead of Sony Style. Turns out she takes dance classes with the woman who sits next to me at work. It was great to talk to her after so long (10 years since we were last in touch). Guess you never know who's gonna pop up unexpectedly.
* Now I'm packing for my trip tomorrow. Probably not the smartest time for me to be spending money this way, but I wanna go somewhere new, and Sam and I have catching up to do. Of course, there are people within the 718 area code I need to catch up with as well, but Belgium seems closer somehow.