I've been taking some time to think about seemingly stupids thing the last couple days since I'm in "introspective mode" due to our heading into the coldest part of winter. It seems like a mental hibernation, but it all started with a trip to NY where I pretended I was someone else and totally enjoyed being on vacation from home and from me. This is something I've always known, being able to do the exercise of the "other" where you envision yourself in the same room with you and begin to pick out what strikes you about yourself. Then it develops into a conversation, then a supportive friendship where you're allowed to be critical and even hurt yourself if you're not careful. The point is to recognize who the "other" you is and embrace him if they are most like you or reject him if he stifles you.

I always dream most vividly when I know I have something to look forward to the next day. It being Sunday, I had the coming week to look forward to, so my dream became a continuation of my thoughts concerning the all-important "3 wishes" question. Here's what I think would be the best 3 wishes, or I should say what I KNOW would be the best because I lived them out in a dream sequence (and they are long because wishes have to be VERY well-explained or they won't be what you want):

Wish the First: To be able to control time to the point where I can come and go to any place and any time, whenever I commit to it mentally through a series of decisions, either alone or with other people as long as they are touching some portion of my body. I along with my group would be able to interact with people and things but not be hurt (physiologically or mentally), noticed as a foreigner, remembered, recorded, or able to leave behind any proof that we were there - we would be observers but able to experience fully all aspects of sensory perception. All devices we brought along would function as normally intended (pace makers, watches, etc) and we'd be allowed to bring back only perishable (not living) things.

Wish the Second: The ability to fly. Flying would be triggered by a slight lift of the chin as well as mental decision to fly at which point weightlessness occurs and hovering begins. Control would work mostly through movement of the head and upper body and can be further defined by what ever motions I decide. Other people can fly with me but only when I'm flying myself and I designate them the capability (to keep a bunch of people from flying around willy-nilly). If for some reason I black out or am hurt during flight, my body would hover until I regain consciousness and land normally.

Wish the Third: This last wish was a hard one. Instead of "be invisible when I want" or "walk through walls" I decided it would be much better to wish that my family and friends enjoy good health, good fortune, ultimately attain their life goals and find love. The benefits of this wish would pass from one generation to another and would flow horizontally as well to friends of my children and their families for as long as it was remembered and deserved.

So there you have it. What would you wish for?

So, Steve and I go to play pool at Lucky Bar in Dupont. We're just a couple of guys out with our group waiting for the next game, and Steve has already made it apparent that he and I are playing the next game. Balls are racked and I'm waiting to get the "all-clear" to break, when this 45 year-old-long-haired-chain-smoking bar-fly comes in with this incredibly sarcastic, "hello, how are we doing," like I'm 5 or something. This condescending tone does not go far with me.

So I explain that we have next game and he says through nicotine soaked teeth, "Oh, no, I won so I play. If you don't like that, talk to the house," and points to like, the full-length mirror or some mermaid carving, or whatever. So, I looked around just to check where we were again, and said, in my kindest "go-f-yourself" voice, "That's funny, cause we're not technically in a pool-hall so really, there is no 'house' and you have no legitimate argument."

So now I know he's drunk cause his eye's roll back and he more forms the words rather than says, "why don't you act like an adult and...see now you're asking for favors, and you're like a child asking his daddy for...for favors." And now we're causing a small scene as my meetin group has congregated to watch what I said next to the "king of the pool table". I said, "Yeah, and we're adults here, and we don't argue over a game of pool." In the end I walked away, making some comment about "playing with himself because that's what he's good at anyways" and rejoining the group.

I tell this story not because I want you to think how awesome I am. I tell it because I want you to see anecdotally what this guy looks like so you can NOT be him. Any rational human being should have the wherewithal and class to be like, "Oh, yeah, sure you can play a game of pool, go ahead," without trying to senselessly pick a fight. Remember that sometimes all people want is for you to cut them a break. I make a habit of cutting people breaks of all kinds and at the end of the day it's a good feeling.

Caller: "Hello, TBS? I just witnessed a guy at a party silently congratulating himself for getting a fake phone number from my hot friend. Wait; now he's dancing - "

Operator: "Big grin? Ricky Martin look?"
Caller: "Yeah, I think - I think he just winked at me? (waves and whispers), 'it's worthless!!'"

Operator: "What kind of a dancer is he?"
Caller: "He's not"

Operator: "Are we keeping time?"
Caller: "It's like watching a seizure patient."

Operator: "Hmm-mm. And what are his friends doing right now?"
Caller: (cups microphone to listen to group of guys) "Leaving without him."

Operator: (clear's throat) "Okay, good. If the disco ball fell on him - ?"
Caller: "We'd spin him into the light."

Operator: (nods) "Excellent. If you could read his thoughts right now?"
Caller: "He'll eventually figure it out, but for right now, he's on cloud stupid. I need to know if this is funny?"

Operator: (typing feverishly) "Okay, caller, we've got an undetected rejection and obvious public humiliation, both within a positive feedback loop so this won't be the first time you'll see this tonight. I'm going to go ahead and give you a 'pretty funny' on this one."

Caller: "Great! It was either that or just - "
Operator: "Pathetic? Hmm, we don't handle that here but I can transfer you to UPN. Thanks for calling TBS."

I'm going to attempt to describe my weekend, although so much has happened that I'm sure I'll leave something out.

So, on Saturday night, I went to the Annual DC MLK Party (6th Annual) that turns out was actually just part one of a double-house party between the group houses Rosemont (Nina, Sibley, Darcy, Kyle and Val) and Delafield (I don't know anyone there yet - maybe Josh lives there?). Nina MC'd the evening complete with a talent show, cherades, and finally an hour's worth of live 60's and 70's cover-music by the 327Across Band (actually just the Rosemonts but so named after a particularly difficult crossword clue from their wall-sized puzzle).

I contributed to the talent show...twice, actually - the first was my "monkey" voice that I did to help out a friend telling a REALLY bad monkey joke. The second, well, let's just say I'm a partial contortionist. With everyone bringing alchohol, we had an entire table of stuff that we didn't even make a decent dent in, even after everyone was sated. I got home around 1:30.

Sunday began at 5:30 at Van Ness where I met up with Rae and Courtney from MeetIn - we fueled up, got some cruellers and hit the road for New York City. I fell asleep several times in the hot car but as we got closer and closer, my excitement reached a fever pitch. Manhattan, or at least what I saw of it (42nd, 53rd, Broadway and Times Square), was amazing - not at all like what we get from movies and tv. If I had to chose a word to describe it, it would be "chill" and not just because it was cold.

The MoMA was simply incredible. We split up and saw what we wanted, I went first to the Film / Media and Contemporary Art sections where I saw an installation by Warhol. I spent the rest of my time in Paintings where I studied works by Paul Klee and Modrian (my favorite painters). We ate at Cafe Europa which is about 2 blocks away.

We left around 6:30 and got back round 9:30 and I tried to go straight to Delefield to attend the second day of the MLK Party but got very, extremely, hopelessly lost in freaking Petworth along Georgia Avenue. It took me 45 minutes to walk to Howard University, realize it was the wrong direction, and then walk back (but only 30 seconds to realize I shouldn't have been there). Well, the party was indescribable, plenty of drinks and friends from past parties - many visitors from Canada (?) and Connecticut, but I suspect it's becuase all the Rosemonts are Swatties (that is, they went to Swarthmore).

I crashed at Kyle's, helped clean Rosemont and had French Toast. All-in-all a simply, undeniably, once-in-a-lifetime weekend.

Rumor is Rosemont is throwing a "High School Prom" in June - complete with dinner and corny cover band. I love these guys - I think I'm going to see about moving in with them or starting my own group house...