Throwing salt outside the windows

It's been a while since I've blog-ed, but there's been activities in which to partake, so I've been a little busy.

Fourth of July was nuttiness all around. Did some things around the house and then went to the Sutherlands for food and conversation. Basically it consisted of eating about 34984 cherries and talking to the Manfredies, Bobby and Kristen for two hours. Then Bobby lit off the extremely lame firework remnants that Fred had in the basement from about 3 years ago. They were severely mocked. Brian and I got coffee at Buck's in Vienna, talked about how bad a driver I am (John puts it this way: "You're black, asian, a woman and a teenager. That's the worse possible combination. Seriously-- you could be blind and that'd be the only way it could be worse") and about the recent break up of he and "Allison" (still trips me up when he calls her that). It's weird how Brian sort of morphed into being an awesome guy. LP and David showed up when we got back. I ooo-ed over David for a bit (I'm totally obsessed, the boy is 14. yikes.) and Lauren's dress. Then it was decided to go to Bert's to light of fireworks that didn't suck. High comedy. John rode with me and I, for some strange reason, decided to spill the entire sordid tale of my last semester, post Matthew. John was, shockingly, really quite amazing about it, and sweet and encouraging. I took mad Polaroids of everyone and we watched fireworks. I spent my fourth of July with my head on John's shoulder, feeling surprisingly benevolent towards all of mankind. When he walked me to my car to say goodnight he asked me to go on a date with him when I got back from New York. I shouted "no" in his face and told him to go get in the car with Brian. It was a little ridiculous. We talked about it a little when I got home, but nothing was resolved.

The next morning I caught a train to New York. Red met me at the station and we walked around the city for a bit before catching a train to Huntington. That night we ate Schnitzel and went to see Evening, which was both disturbingly sad and excellent. John and I texted each other into the late hours. On the way up to NY, I had decided it might not be such a bad idea after all, to see what a date with JC would be like. He was confused, but consented. Friday was all shopping and the city. Red's sister Jackie came home from summer classes at Brandeis. We ate chinese, watched We Need Girlfriends, and talked. This morning I caught the train home, changed into a dress in the bathroom and met Mom, Fred and Kathryn at Zola's for dinner and then saw Hamlet at the Shakespeare theater. It was pretty good, although the set reminded me of a Flock of Seagulls video, and the lead, while intensely hot, shook too much. Ophelia was terrible. But still-- pretty good.

Tomorrow is Sunday. Church, which will be good, b/c I feel a little estranged from God (too much world and not enough Jesus in my system ) at the moment.

I've begun writing another story, that might actually turn into the beginning of the first-- both stories I really like and am excited about-- and decided (finally) that I'm going to be reading Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon, Pulitzer Prize winning author for his novel (which I loved) The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (a big thanks to Rosie for making me read that a few years ago). I'll read the book and then rent the movie, mostly b/c I think Robert Downey, Jr is in it and I love him.

Summation: I love New York, but could never ever live any where but in the city, cheaply, b/c taking the train from other places makes me anxious, and also I hate the NY metro. I don't completely suck as a writer, though I do have my midnight terror moments. Red is amazing and so is her crazy Romanian family. I might start seriously dating John.

Ah me, what a piece of work is man.

-H. <3

Basic Updates

I'll do this in bullet points, which are uniform and nice, I think.

• Fred is an AWESOME stepdaddy and got me the gym hookup. I now have four trainer sessions and a summer membership to the gym (complete with membership parking sticker) for way less than previously thought of, due to my student status.
• I'm having a comma splicing issue of late.
• I had a complete writerly meltdown today. It was ugly. Mom laughed me out of it. She's good at that. Also: I read bits of Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, which consistently has the power to make me feel better about being a) a human and b) a writer c) a woman d) completely neurotic.
• Working a lot this week, but still one hour less than last week. Woop-eee. Come visit, please!
• Went back to reading On Writing by Stephen King today. I don't care what anyone says: he can write the hell out of a story. Not that I've read any of his novels ever, or ever intend to. It's just a good book and I highly recommend it.
• Last night's sleep over at Kathryn's was much needed. We made popcorn and talked and talked and prayed and she read me some sweet verses and I felt better about my life and about being home. Then we ate, or attempted to, mango in her kitchen. I ended up exploding the mango everywhere. It was high comedy, followed by English muffins and cheese. Then Elizabeth town on folded out sleeping bags in the living room.
• Church this morning was absurdly applicable. If I didn't already believe it, Kathryn and I today confirmed that God is hysterical and probably a little sarcastic. Especially because I was sitting next to Matt.
  
• Matt, Mike Holmes and I had lunch at Panera today. Everyone is asking me if this is a good idea, considering my state at present. Answer: I haven't a galloping clue. I'm thinking "no", though. "Guard your heart..." and all that. Never really been my strong suit with M.C. Peterman. We'll see.
  
• There are people I haven't heard from lately and I'm missing them. But there's also people mising me I don't particularly want to get in touch with and so I'm faced with a little hypocrisy.
  
• I saw the Ward parentals today and was so delighted I *squeed*. Sami comes home in two weeks and I couldn't be more please. I miss her so much. I read her blog and it's like "Today I climbed a pyramid", "Today I rode a stallion through the desert", "Today I created peace in the Middle East", "Today I defeated the flaming lion of eternal doom in an oasis in Agrabah and saved a thousand virgins from brutal death" and I'm thinking the whole time "SHE USED TO BE AFRAID OF DIRT AND SPIDERS!" My friends are so cool that it makes me feel lamer by comparison.
  
• Don't work til 5 tomorrow. I'm thinking of a late morning, a good time of Bible readin' and tea. Then probably cracking open one of the novels I've got going now, or if I've gotten up the courage, I'll make myself write something real, possibly based on the short assignment sketch I made myself do today. Maybe.
  

SO. That's that.
H.