circle the wagons

I don't want to give away too much, because I don't know much yet and the stuff I do know carries with it some seriously bad mojo.

I will say that I am in the midst of a family crisis.

I will also say that the worse feeling I can ever have is helplessness. I can't stand it if someone I know and love needs help and I can't help. Nothing makes me crazier. Nothing makes me angrier. Nothing frustrates me quite like that feeling. Seriously- I could take a million calls from customers who don't know how to highlight text on a computer and still not be as frustrated as I am when I feel helpless.

My defense mechanisms weren't exactly helpful, either. Friday, after I got home, I tried to calm down a bit. Things weren't working, so I decided to play around with my PS2 and see if that relaxed me. Strike two. I was hungry, and I was thirsty, so I went to the Globe. My first order? Ketel One martini, extra dirty. And damn was that martini ever dirty.

My second order? A Ketel One martini, not quite as dirty as the previous one. Very nice. My third order? I don't want to repeat myself. Finally, after 3 martini's, I ordered food, realizing that going out on a piss meant that I had to pace myself, otherwise I'd be in bed by 9, and subsequently awake at 3:30 or so. I also switched to Guinness, because that's my beer. A couple other friends showed up, then they headed home. I got a call to come to Laschett's, so stumbling down the street I went.

I bounded into Laschett's with at least 2 of 3 sheets definitely to the wind. I knew I was there to meet my former roommate's new whatever-their-relationship-status-is. They met when she was here on business and made quite the impression on each other- about 9 days ago he got back from visiting her in Japan.

And I think 550 miles is a pain in the ass.

After he visited her, she flew here, less than a week later. From Japan. I mean, I'm all for flying, but Japan to Chicago? That's what, 14 hours? 15? That's a long way to go. She's incredible, though, smart, sweet, funny, and just damn cute. At one point she looked at me, apparently sensing my depression/unhappiness/frustration and asked if she could give me a hug.

There's a million ways to comfort a person. One of the nicest things you can do is not to ask if they need a hug, but just to offer it as though it really isn't for them, but for you, that's a way to make me happy. I put down my Aventinus and opened my arms and got what I really needed at that particular time.

A really, really good hug.

I promise to write more about this situation when I know more. Tuesday is the day I'll get more information and I should finally be willing to expand on all this.

Until then, my friends and loyal readers.