Very routine, but very nice indeed!

Hey all! Nobody's posted in nearly 2 weeks, and I haven't posted in nearly 2 months, so I figure its about time. Things here are going well- nothing too exciting to post about, but nevertheless I'll give you a little update.

December:
- My office holiday party was awesome! It was nearly all of my co-workers at a hotel: buffet, fully stocked open bar, DJ w/ dance floor... my company is just awesome! Work is going great so far and I've gotten a ridiculous amount of responsibility for only being there 2 months! YAY!
- I was a little drunk one night when I was dragged to my first gay bar... it wasn't so bad. Then I got more drunk there and was dragged to a gay club. I danced and had a good time, but some people there were WAY sketchy. It was kinda rank. I don't plan on going back anytime too soon.
- I threw a little Hanukkah party for some friends: I made latkas and Hanukkah cookies and we all played the Manischewitz dreidel game. The Jewish holidays are a great time to get fer shnickered (Yiddish for drunk off your ass).
- Christmas consisted of Chinese food in Chinatown with some friends- I'm glad I can keep my Christmas traditions going strong here.
- New Year's was great! I went to a friend's dinner party and then Della and her roommate came up and met me and a friend and we all walked down to the Space Needle for fireworks at midnight. The fireworks were actually shot off the top of and out of the sides of the Space Needle- I've never seen anything like it- it was AWESOME!

In other news:
- Today is the 27th straight day of rain here in Seattle. The record is 33 set back in 1953. The 10 day forecast shows no sign of dry skies, so we'll be breaking that record next weekend. I don't mind too much- I'm inside most of the day and when it is raining its not very hard at all.
- So this is probably more information about my Saturdays than any of you really care about but I think its cute so I'll tell you anyways: I have this nice little Saturday routine that I do every week. I walk down to the market for lunch- buy a piroshky or falafel and get a latte from the original Starbucks- where, by the way, this VERY attractive gay guy works and I'm dying to get into his line and attempt to flirt- not my best skill but it'd be worth a shot- but its been like 2 months and he isn't on register half the time and the other half I just can't seem to be in the right spot in line to get to go to him but at least it's nice to go in there and look at him. Then I take my lunch and latte over to the little park that overlooks the water (or when its raining this little indoor viewpoint with public seating in the market) and watch the boats and ferries and stuff while I eat. Then I buy some apples at the market and if I'm feeling a little touristy, watch the hot guys who work that the famous place in the market throw their fish around for a few minutes. They have this stuffed animal fish that they occasionally throw at someone in the crowd just to freak them out. Then I usually stop by the big downtown Old Navy on the way home to check for sales. It's nice and relaxing and a good start to my weekend each week :)
- Every week a group of us goes to Sunday Night Pizza... we're up to like week 15 or 16 so far. We try a new place each week in search of the best pizza in Seattle. We've found some good stuff, but nothing really outstanding. The bagels here are also disappointing. To make up for all of this, brunch is very popular here. And there are a bunch of places with really great brunches. I'll be brunching more often on Sundays :) Between market Saturdays and brunch and pizza Sundays, things here are very routine- but I love it!
- To add to the routine- American Idol starts this week and I'm VERY excited!
- And speaking of Idol, I've also discovered that the road to heaven is paved with Kelly Clarkson singles. I love her. Really... my plan is to marry her and she can sing me to sleep and we'll have pool boys. Lots.

So yeah, that's my update. Nothing too exciting going on around here, but life is very good! I hope you're all doing well- and more people should post soon with updates! Even if they have nothing too outstanding to post about!

-Phill

Hi! And your name is...

Derrick. My name is Derrick.

This is how much of my evening was spent on New Years, as I went to a veritable mini-TJ reunion. Apparently outside my group of friends no one actually knew me. At all. It's one thing not to remember my name (though honestly, there were like five black guys in our class of 400 tops), since I myself have forgotten quite a few, but it's the whole reaction. The facial expression of, "Did I really go to school with you? I'm sure I would have remembered. Oh, I do remember you, you must have been on the Math Team or something (which at TJ isn't necessarily intended as an insult, but still- and no I was not.)." It was quite a blow to my ego, since I was clearly the coolest piece of shit at Rice.

Before I continue I would like to preface the remainder of my blog by stating that not everyone from TJ was like that, or not even the people who were like that were horrible people, but still. I mean really. And I didn't have anyone to vent to about it while it was happening so I'm doing it now. So if this is a less than accurate representation (i.e. my leaving out having fun seeing old friends) then just deal with it. I'm trying to be funny, so bear with me. Hence the reference to my being cool at Rice. I continue.

Anyway, I thought I would share my experiences and reflections from last night simply because it is but a precursor to an event that I formerly thought would be fun. The five year high school reunion. As much as I give Lindsey shit about being an anti-social crab and just contrary in general (she just drank champagne on her own while the rest of us were counting down to the new year), I'm starting to understand her refusal to attend this thing. I'm having my own doubts. Here's a list of why:

• Five years? So on average we've only spent one year outside of college, and some people will have just graduated. Not only that, since I went to a dork school a rather sizeable percentage of us are still in grad school so our life is for all practical purposes still on hiatus.
• Apparently everyone from TJ either went to UVA, or is now living in DC or Boston. No joke. So while everyone has been catching up/meeting/re-meeting each other, I'll just be the weird guy from the math team who's been "out there."
• Back to grad school. As I went to a school for science and technology, most people in grad school are in some basic sciences field. When I say public health I get the inevitable "Oh, that's nice." And then they ask me to explain, not out of interest but out of a way to fill awkward silence since they don't remember me or never knew who I was to begin with. And when I tell them that I'm neither fighting Ebola in Africa nor going to create the perfect American health care system but studying behavior, even the faux interest fades away.
• Hi. I'm seeing/engaged/married to this person. Chances are this person is also from TJ (like 75%). I'm happy and successful. But I'm sure being single is great for you. Have fun with that. Nothing like pity to make the food you're eating for the only purpose of avoiding conversation to taste that much better.

And here's my favorite. Apparently I'm supposed to organize this. The only thing I did at TJ was cross-country and track. I agreed to be the "regional representative" when I was at Rice (I blame the lure of sangria). Never mind contacting a class president or anything, let's find the guy who we don't remember but clearly has nothing else better to do than organize an event at which he'll be miserable. Excellent. Though if I do end up doing this I will have a few safeguards in place. List number 2:

• Large space. No need to be stuck around people who you have to pretend you care about. All that pretension is exhausting.
• Many drinks. MANY drinks. I posit that alcohol, not love, is the answer.
• This one I got from Scott. I collect basic information from everyone before they come, and have it printed on t-shirts. We all wear the t-shirts, so no conversation with people blocking your access to booze is necessary.
• A Taboo buzzer. I will be in sole possession of a Taboo buzzer so when people start talking about their happy coupled lives or spouting off pity for those of us who are single, I can press it. It will be wired to some contraption, but I haven't figured out what yet. But I've got a year so I'm taking suggestions.

That's it for now. I know you were all probably expecting some crazy story about my crazy family but I've managed to either avoid or quell any arguments.

Oh. And happy new year. 2006! Rock on! I can only hope it won't be as mundane as the number 2006 itself.