life is crazy-busy right now.  At least at work & in the social aspect.  So, I went with a co-worker friend to the Kennedy Center (performing arts) the other night.  The 2nd striped-shirt guy was helping a professor, and joined us afterwards. We went to a loud place where a lot of young professionals & college students were.  It was fun hanging out.  It's strange getting to know people forcibly.  The guy is from another country, and I understand most of what he says.  I may have bigger legs than him.  What more is there to share?  I barely know him & am being careful about trusting a stranger.  I've decided to hang out in the younger crowd part of town occasionally.  Hopefully in new libraries instead of bars (except for food specials).

p.s. did you get the reference to a song in the title? 

this may be messy.  As I've said too often today, "That is life."

I'm tapping my fingers as a way to vent anger.  As much as I know it's good to not take things personally and to breathe deep and all that, I'm not doing so well.  I think it boils down to not liking things (noise particularly) interrupting my flow.  This is most apparent on public transportation, in libraries & less so at work.  I think I may even be racist in this regard.  As much as I like people in general & in specific, those I've met, I have a hard time not grouping & stereotyping them.  I make it a point to not look at who the obnoxious drivers are, so I don't stereotype in that regard.  In close quarters, though, it's hard not to observe & classify some things.  I tried meditating on various quiet things while on the bus today.  I wondered what it would be like to be a leaf, etc. but then I heard the abrasive voices even moreso.  I'm sooo glad that I don't have kids right now.  They tend to interrupt flows and as much as I'd like to believe that I'd have more patience and love for them, I don't buy it.  I send too many hate-rays.  I'm trying to stop.  I wonder if they can make a patch for that?  Breathing deeply doesn't seem to help.  Seeing them as a human being, thus imperfect, does not help.  Seeing them as having something unique to bring to society somewhat helps- but I still want to escape the situation ASAP.  I'm sure I'll learn something from all that...

Speaking of learning, I'm teaching myself how to be friends with guys in a different sort of situation.  Normally, it comes from close-proximity due to school or work.  Now, it was a sort of fluke.  I met another striped-shirt guy on the Metro- this one talked to me.  The ball's in my court- I don't want to share too much personal info with him.  We're meeting tomorrow at a public event with some co-worker friends of mine.  The only thing I'm kinda paranoid about is that he said I looked American (as opposed toa  specific ethnic groups I descend from).  That, and the random way we met makes me pray to God he doesn't think I'm easy.  If anything, I'll hang out with him in group settings and become friends.  I don't want to waste his time either if that's what he's looking for.

Anyway, work is crazy, life is good.  Welcome to a new week.

I'm having some minor oral surgery done next month, and I hope to be mostly healed for my birthday.  Also, I might go see/hear the Gipsy Kings.  Anyone heard of them?  I've heard good things and might go with a group.

Also, I'm getting (too?) used to a four-day work-week.  it's rather nice to have a day off in the middle of the week!

Last thought: maybe we should all take turns doing things for others.  I have made much more progress in a relatively short period of time (cleaning/organizing) at a friends' place (than I have my own).  Either that, or i need to become less (emotionally) attached to my own things.  I go off on tangents, such as reminiscing with photo albumns (yet it's so hard to finish the current roll of film!)

 P.S.
God gives breaks sometimes.  For example, before I drove an hour to a door with the wrong key, God directed me to the right one, which was buried under misc items- a place I wouldn't normally have placed a key.
Last week was really tough, and sometimes I think I need experiences like that to see the otherwise overlooked ways God provides & looks out for what's best for me.

I'm very happy right now!

I'm also very busy.  I've decided to start a Bible study online.  Once I have the first post up, I'll add a link here.  For some reason, it's just taken me forever to invite people into a real, in-person study, so I'll give this a shot.

I like that I can be on the Internet, jamming to a piano Christmas medley on a Tuesday night that feels like Friday!