Tortitude

Today is a special day. Wanna know why? OF COURSE YOU DO!

Today is the day that one of my VERY best friends was born.

FOR TODAY IS THE DAY THAT LO MANY YEARS AGO A SARAH WAS BORN!

As much as I hate my own birthdays, I positively revel in the aging process of my friends.

Especially Sarah. Because I have known her since she was wee! A wee little babe of fifteen. Precocious and precious and full of the FIERY VIGOR OF YOUTH! (I was an aged thing of 25, then.)

I thank ye ex-boyfriend, who broke my heart but introduced me to Robert Jordan!
I thank ye Internets, what led me to the Robert Jordan mail thing where we found each other!
I thank ye IRC, where our early chats led to hilarious conversations and genuine luuurve!

I can't say enough what a glorious thing our friendship has been. From the early days of older-sister fawning over her leetleness, watching her out-think people twice her age, and seeing her grow from a rambunctious teenager into the DAMN FINE HUNK OF A WOMAN she is today. It's been a privilege. Sincerely.

TODAY IS A DAY OF SQUEEE! And soon to be festivating and pouncing.

FOR TODAY IS THE DAY OF SARAH!!

(No, I am not drunk at work!!)

Woooooooo!!!

So, back in September, I bought Sarah a 7-cup Cuisinart for her birthday. Shortly after it arrived, I learned about the existence of Rome 2, and went shrieking into the night to buy that instead.

As the enormous Amazonian box sat in my office, tripping me daily, I kept vascillating on whether to just return it or keep it for her Christmas present. Mainly my indecision was based on a vague memory of what Sarah had said about them. I couldn't remember if she desperately wanted one, or if she'd decided she didn't have the kitchen space for it.

When we met for coffee today, I blurted out my dilemma, Sarah juggled with the option of getting a present NOW versus a wrapped surprise in December. Ultimately, she went for curtain A, and I told her, and she was excited!

So she drove around to the front of my office and I heaved the enormous thing at her with a tiny bow on top.

As cooking is a new passion for Sarah, I continue to be vicariously giddy at her enjoyment with it. Also, she's kind of a natural. Her cooking is always terrific. I'm excited that she's excited about a major cooking appliance. I would give anything to give 15-year old Sarah a window into 25-year old her excited about something that will chop, dice, and prepare pie dough.

And giving presents is exciting, and now I won't trip over that huge box anymore!

I think I'm finally doing okay with the amount of sleep I'm getting. Which is weird, because I'm not going to bed any earlier. But somehow now, 7:30 isn't as onerous as it once was. I wonder if it's because it's getting lighter outside. The first thing I noticed this morning was the filtered light coming in through my blinds.

In less happy news, my flat has reached galactic proportions of chaos. It's grown steadily worse and has degenerated to pure mayhem. Piles of papers and clothes everywhere. I try to cycle through the dishwasher every other day, so there aren't piles of stinky dishes at least and I manage to toss kitchen trash out, too. But dear god. Shipping boxes from Amazon, etc, everywhere. The Christmas tree Has. To. Go. Bed: STILL UNMADE!!!

I can only see my keyboard on my desk. I should start a load of laundry before I leave today.

It's CHAOS, people. CHAOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really hate it when my flat gets dirty, but once I get past a certain point, I figure... ARGH. I don't know what I figure. I just pretend the mess doesn't exist and calmly crawl over the stacks of whatever to get to wherever I want to go. Often this is the couch. These days, it's more likely bed. It's a social week for me.

Dinner with Jeff last night, Sarah (the only human I would permit to see the squalor) is coming over tonight and I'm making my favorite enchiladas. Dinner with Judy tomorrow night to catch up since we didn't get to see each other last weekend. And a Jared Diamond lecture with Jeff on Friday night. (I know, two after-work events with Jeff in one week! *squeeee!!*).

Saturday, I predict, will be known throughout history as the Great Collapse. I do want to start churning through all the movies I haven't seen yet, though. Starting with this weekend. So Saturday I really need to clean. Really. I know I keep saying I will, but this time, I have to. And go see a movie or two. Sunday is Sideways with Judy & Co.

I just need my apartment to clean itself. That would make life sooo much easier.

(P.S. Lost two pounds!)