Congratulations Irene!

I've got to get this down before I go to bed tonight, because some nights are so good that they can't go unrecognized. Nothing particularly earth-shaking happened, but taken as a whole, I took a lot out of the evening.


My friend Irene eloped to City Hall a couple months ago and rather than planning an elaborate, formal party, she planned a happy hour at a local Williamsburg bar.

Today I was feeling sticky and VERY low-energy after the debauchery of Thursday night at CVLT Studio, then going out last night with my friends to see my new Favorite Movie of All Time for the second time.

After a sweaty semi-nap this afternoon I was not feeling particularly festive, and even slightly blue. I think I was just feeling bleh. Maybe enervated from the heat.

After entertaining the idea of just staying home and avoiding the Bedford Avenue cohort altogether, then further rationalizing it with the thought that I don't know any of Irene's friends, so I wouldn't really be missed, I remembered that someone once said to me, "Baby, you just gotta fake it till you make it." I also reminded myself: Sistergirl, it ain't always about you. YOUR FRIEND GOT MARRIED, so show the fuck up.

I also think that I was feeling some of that social anxiety thing that I get -- many, many people would fall out laughing if I were to tell them that in my deepest heart I'm still a painfully shy 4-year-old hiding my face in my mother's skirt.

So I painted on a face, put on my favorite belt (it's my version of Wonder Woman's magic bracelets), plastered a smile onto my face, and went to a party where I knew only one person.

I'm so glad I went.

Rehashing the old trope that a person is judged by the company they keep...you can tell a lot about a person by the quality of their friends. And Irene has great friends. Everyone was so, so nice.


I ended up having the most amazing 2-1/2 hour conversation with a couple that ranged from guns (he is pro and I am anti) to cakes (she is a cake artist, and she made the MOST adorable cake for Irene), to Cayce, to the Hadron Collider to Rupert Murdoch to Osama Bin Laden to Michael Vick. I literally haven't had such a great, rangy conversation with smart people in I don't know how long. And wonder of wonders it was reasonable and fascinating conversation with someone whose political views are about 180 full degrees from mine.

You know how you feel after you get a great full-body massage? Relaxed and energized at the same time? That's how I feel right now -- like I got a full brain massage.

Fantastic party, Irene!