Neat to see human beings

Well Ben is back from New York, thus ending my 8 days of living alone with two houses and a cat. It was nice a little bit but I'm really glad he's back. I need to have my time alone but I think I'm a much bigger fan of companionship. Sure, I can fill up the days with just me and my own brain but so many thoughts swirling around in there gets overwhelming.

I got the car back on Tuesday night; Emily was gracious enough to drive me to the impound lot after work. The impound lot is the sketchiest, awfullest place in the world.

Don't get your car towed. It's a drag.

Took it easy for the most part this week. Talked on the phone a lot. Practiced guitar. Went for walks. The place I was housesitting is right near the lake. The lake is awesome. When I'm there I feel like I ought to be seeing the lake at least once every day.

On Thursday night Taavo's awesome girlfriend Meredith drove up to Roger's Park to hang out with me. We had chili at the Heartland Cafe, and split a slice of Chocolate Stout cake, with ice cream, for dessert. I am serious now: it was the best dessert I have ever had. Chocolate pound cake, made with Guinness, somehow incredibly rich and moist, with the most incredible fudge sauce, served warm. Just amazing. Amazing. As Meredith said, "...and that was the moment we became best friends." Eating that cake was a serious experience.

That night I watched Follow That Bird. It made me laugh and cry and sing. Sometimes I remember or relive something from my past that seems to include so much of my essence. Maybe it's weird to say that a Sesame Street movie could do so much to make me who I am, but it's a movie about connecting with people, and being away from someone you love, and road trips, and singing, and corny jokes and wordplays. A lot of it just hit me deeply! I love it. Know who else loves it? Meredith. Like I said, she is awesome.

Friday was my day off. I spent much of it inside a coffee shop. I had been invited to watch a short performance by Taavo, Alex and Ben as the initiation of their new theater company, "One Continuous Mistake." It took a long time to get there and I was not early, though I was there just moments before 8. They did not anticipate a big turnout and had stopped holding the door open so they could start the show at 8. So I was locked out. But I stood there patiently in the creepy alley, could faintly hear Taavo's voice and some music, and then 20 minutes later some applause. I sent some text messages. At the end of the show they found me and let me in. We had some beers at Taavo's after the show. It was neat to see human beings.

Saturday, slept late again, coffee shopped again. Packed up stuff, drove back to the other house, gussied up, drove to Midway to pick up Ben. Hooray!

I just realized that we had to do this all the time for four years. Four years of being far away, talking on the phone and online, sending emails, goodbyes, long-awaited hellos. Dramatic, I suppose, but seriously. What were we thinking.

We had a nice night together. Dinner at Earwax, custard at Scooter's, and then since we didn't feel like drinking and couldn't think of anything to do, we sat on one of the six corners at North/Damen/Milwaukee and watched people. Then we moved to Division and Damen and watched people some more. A lovely way to spend a lovely evening.

Kendra and Marc's wedding is coming up very soon. People are making plans to come to town and everything. I have to practice my songs. What am I going to wear? I need a haircut also. I'm waiting patiently for someone to decide to give me $1000 for a new wardrobe, but I'll take it any time.