august 4, 2003.
Just got back from Javina's
house on Lake Erie and I am exhausted. I had no idea
how much continuous social interaction (not with Javina, with
everybody) would tire me out after 3 days. I haven't been sleeping
very well over the last few days, but that probably has more
to do with pregnancy than anything else. In any case, I can
think of nothing I'd rather do than kip out in front of the
computer for a few hours & write it all out.
On Saturday morning, the
Boy & I woke up to the grim spectacle of our shamefully neglected
house. I had been telling myself to clean up since Wednesday,
but I gleefully ignored myself and this was the result. At least
we had washed the filthy kitchen floor before going out on Friday.
For the next 4 hours we cleaned like crazy, resulting in a surprisingly
nice apartment. I was proud when we were done.
Javina caught the early
train, so we were able to spend a few hours jaunting around
the city before she went to dinner. I grabbed wrapping paper
& a new silver pen from the Japanese Paper Place, two things
I've been needing this week, and also a slice of Amato pizza
to assuage my sudden hunger pangs. Javina & the Boy went to
the Starbucks/Sanctuary for caffeinated liquids in the meantime.
She smoked herbal cigarettes and talked about what had changed
in the city as we gave her the run-down on the New Normal.
She looked much the same
as she did the last time we met, but more fragile and sleepy.
I got the impression that the real Javina was nestled in layers
of cotton like a gift-wrapped crystal figure. I was surprised
by how well the conversation flowed, because somewhere in my
mind I think that I thought of her as a stranger.
The Boy & I puttered around
Mount Olympus for a few hours, filling the time with our interminable
projects until it was time to go to the Garden. At the last
minute, I lost my head completely & started fooling around with
temporary blue hair gel. My mother bought it for the Boy's birthday
with the idea that he'd want to support the Leafs in style;
they tanked and the gel stayed unopened. That night it suddenly
seemed like a good idea. I spiked my very short hair on top,
slicked it back on the sides & back, and dug out an old silver-teal
eyeliner to use on my eyes & lips. I had to use a lot of gel
to get it looking blue, but the results were absolutely formidable.
I'm pleased that this is the kind of pictorial legacy I can
leave to the Sprout.
(you know
the drill: click on the thumbnail for the full-sized version.)
albert, towerbrave,
the boy, myself & the Belly.
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apparently i was channeling the joker at certain points
in the evening.
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my favourite picture:
a very green javina & me.
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the boy flails
at towerbrave.
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We got to the Garden a half-hour late, but not a lot was going
on anyway. Javina, Albert & Towerbrave were all comfortably
ensconced in a booth when we arrived, and we spent several entertaining
minutes taking photos with Tony's digital camera. I was amused
at how the blue showed up under the flash, but disappeared otherwise.
I noticed that Javina was much livelier in the Garden, and I
thoroughly approved. Dirk arrived & we started passing around
a notebook in a bizarre lexicographic Exquisite Corpse that
provided no end of hilarity. I mentioned my pregnancy to Lord
Pale and was floored when he hugged me (he still didn't play
my request, but we can't have everything).
smirking teapot
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love my Belly!
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albert's favourite
picture: disaffected, 80's style!
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green & blurry
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Stacy showed up, sparky as a Roman Candle and bearing gifts
of stuffed animals and a very medieval dress from Goodwill.
These little creatures provided the best joke of the evening:
when Dirk was trying to make a decision, the monkey egged him
into sin while the rooster counselled prudence. "The monkey
of sin. The cock of sobriety." Very surreal.
The Boy & Albert got into a long conversation that included
professional hockey, David Francey & homemade music. I saw Greg
again after an absence of years, and invited him to my birthday
party. Algernon & Gwen showed up with a brace of friends & enjoyed
themselves immensely. The Boy got trashed on Rev. Javina & I
had a few minutes of important conversation near the end of
the night when everyone was elsewhere.
stacy, albert &
javina: bunnies
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the a.v. squad
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gwen & her
boys in rev-vision
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it's blurry but
i like it.
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I barely danced at all.
But I enjoyed myself to the hilt.
"You have the hottest pregnant wife here." -
algernon to the boy
"Small category." - my response.
on to part 2!
long drives! tenty in the rain! fried perch! portraits! tearful
goodbyes!!
all
photos courtesy Chico
Bangs (although I have no idea who took most of them). Kisses!
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