crab-peeling, hide and seek with Etch-A-Sketch and a nice, normal first date
November 27, 2007
Thanksgiving was mostly anxiety-free, thanks in part to both sides of my family being rather light on the dramatics. Nobody caused a fuss or a scene, nobody started any fights, nobody cried or went mental. I attended two lovely dinners at two very respectable and generally serene households. Bliss.
My brother didn’t show up this year. I was a little disappointed. Haven’t seen him in a year. It’s okay, though. I know he’s busy.
On Saturday, I went to my uncle’s apartment for a family crab feed. When I first arrived, the first thing that greeted my eyes was the disturbing sight of a newspaper-covered dining room table piled high with cooked crustaceans. How’s THAT for elegance?
This was my first time. I had managed somehow up to this point to remain a crab-shucking virgin. There is no dignity in picking apart a poor sea creature for tiny scraps of meat. Too bad for the crabs that it’s really a lot of fun. My aunts said I was a natural “crab-peeler.” Because I am awesome.
Earlier that day at my grandmother’s house, I had the opportunity to watch a video of my dad delivering his final church sermon before his death back in 1994. It was surreal, seeing hi standing there at the podium just like I remember him…telling jokes, laughing, smiling, telling stories. I’ll admit it, I teared up a little and probably would have cried if there hadn’t been other people in the room.
I ran around yesterday searching frantically for an Etch-A-Sketch. I could not find one anywhere…and I swear I looked all over the place. Kaybee’s. Toys ‘R’ Us. Target. Ollie’s. Big Lots. And they all said the same thing.
“Oh, well, we don’t really get Etch-A-Sketches in anymore. Just Aqua Doodles. Try Wal-Mart. They’ve got those pocket-sized ones…maybe they’ll have a big one, too.”
Damn you, Aqua Doodles!
I ended up having to buy a pocket-sized Etch-A-Sketch…along with some fancy drawing thing for kids…kind of like that Aqua Doodles piece of crap, but not really. Apparently, NOBODY gets the regular-sized Etch-A-Sketches in stock anymore! What the bloody hell?!
And all because I signed up for this Angel Tree Christmas thing at my last job, right before I left. I got to pick a tag with an underprivileged child’s name on it, and a brief description of what they might want for Christmas.
This little girl wanted an Etch-A-Sketch. Sounded so simple when I first read it. So damn easy, right? WRONG!
Oh well. THAT’S finally taken care of. Check that kid off the list.
Went on my first real date in a long-ass time last night…with Kevin’s buddy. The guy who was interested in me way back when…on my birthday. The one whom Kevin kept forgetting to give my number to, because he is a forgetful idiot. He couldn’t even manage to keep my number programmed in his phone…which is where Linda put it.
But it’s okay. We ended up going out. And I gave hi my number personally. I wrote it down and handed it to him all by myself. So now I know he has it. And it won’t be forgotten…or misplaced.
Linda, Kevin, THE FRIEND and I were going to go see a movie, but apparently there was a problem with the projector at the theater, and they had to close down early last night. We went to a bar instead. Ordered a couple of pina coladas…for Linda and me. Tried to play pool, but some smart-ass blond chick stole our table. THE FRIEND and I tried our hands at gaming. We kinda sucked at it, but we only lost a dollar, so whatever…
THE FRIEND wanted to be alone with me, so we dropped Kevin off at his place, took Linda home in my car, and he and I spent a good two hours just driving around and talking. We parked the car and took a walk through the woods near an old cemetery which was, basically, out in the middle of nowhere. Then I kinda had to pee, so we stopped at this gas station that has a pizza place inside it. We had a pizza made, sat and ate and talked.
He said the typical sweet, first-date type stuff…telling me I had pretty eyes, a beautiful smile… But it was nice, since I haven’t heard that stuff in a long time, so I let him compliment me. I also let him pay for the pizza and everything, because he was trying to impress me. That’s a good sign. And something else I’m not really used to. Because I usually date assholes and idiots.
When I dropped him off at Kevin’s to pick up his car, he gave me a good night kiss…on the hand. Very chaste, never tried anything. I was relieved.
It’s not that I wasn’t attracted to him or anything…he’s a nice-looking guy…even Linda thought so…I just didn’t want the pressure of “the first kiss” looming over me…or any of that awkward crap that usually goes along with first dates. I’m sure a lot of you know what I mean. It’s hard enough getting to know someone, initially. Why make it weirder than it has to be?
Going to the doctor’s in a few hours. Hopefully, I’ll be able to go back to work soon. I’m going stir-crazy! I can’t stand not working. It just isn’t me.
Must go to bed now and try to get in the few precious hours of sleep I am allotted before I will be forced to wake up and go be poked and prodded by medical professionals.
