Sunday, May. 15, 2005
Dark and stormy afternoon, posted at 10:09 p.m.
Epiphany in Baltimore has moved to epiphanyinbaltimore.blogspot.com It has been a very long time since my friend Zack and I ventured into Lulu's Off Broadway after a tough brunch shift for some dark and stormy's. I didn't want to, as I'm broke and it's silly to spend $20 of $65 that you make during a shift. But Zack, who was just gifted with a large sum of money from his soon-to-be brother-in-law/NBA player, offered to foot the bill. It was an offer that I couldn't refuse, with an assist from a San Antonio Spur.We watched the O's game while listening to Dwight, the socialist bartender, and the blaring rock of the Dead Kennedy's. The dark and stormy's hit the spot - not too sweet, not too bitter. We relaxed, unbuttoning our stained and sweaty white dress shirts and untying our spotted ties. It was a good time; he's a good friend that I don't see nearly enough.
One funny moment came when a Camel cigarettes guy came in giving samples to smokers. Zack did the survey and got his free two packs of cigarettes, and motioned for me to do the same, so I could give him the cigarettes I got from the survey. Well, I couldn't convince the guy I was a smoker. He started going through a list of questions that he hadn't asked Zack (after all, Zack was smoking so he didn't have to quiz him) and it was very clear that I was not a smoker. I am the worst liar in the world.
I also overheard an old biker chick who used the f-word every sentence talking about being from Michigan. Since I had a drink in me already, I decided to go up to her and ask her what city she was from. It turns out she was from Stevensville, not far from South Haven. That was the extent of our conversation, pretty much, and that was sort of a disappointment because I had overheard her talking about going to Bob Segar and Ted Nugent shows during her youth at some of the bars I know of in the Lansing area. But she wasn't in the mood to talk to me, so I returned to Zack. Then, I told him triumphantly, "See? I can talk to girls in bars." He giggled like a madman. (The woman was a nasty 60-year old motorcycle mama, so of course I'd have the guts to talk to her, but forget it if she were an attractive girl half her age.) (Note to self: the story probably isn't that funny if you have to explain it.)
I have been feeling very awkward socially lately, but I did not feel that this afternoon. Much, at least. There weren't many times when I ran out of things to think of to talk about, and Zack filled in other gaps. It's always a good thing when I don't feel like other people are wondering why I don't say more. I didn't feel that today. Sometimes I worry that I'm not interesting enough to hold conversations beyond school gossip and baseball, but Zack and I were able to talk about my upcoming trip sharing a ride with someone I don't know from DC to Maine, taking classes at Towson, her fiance's student teaching, and movies. Every time I was worried that the silence would feel awkward, the Orioles did something good in their game, saving me.
I think way too much about these things. Actually, I probably just think way too much. There's this new book called Blink that I think I should read, because it's about the power of the split second decision, something that I'm not very good at unless I'm spending money when I shouldn't be.
I need to go to the gym tomorrow morning. My plan to get into beach shape this summer has gone horribly awry. I also know that being in shape helps decrease my social awkwardness, always a good thing.