Last week for some reason, I had 3 dates with three different guys, one of whom made it to second date within the week. There was C, whom I talked about earlier- you know the one with the consulting firm, and there was also J whom I went out with last Friday on our second date and then on Sunday, I went out with E and we ended up watching the Kansas State and Georgia Tech game together.
This week, J and E have made it to 3rd and 2nd dates respectively. One of the things I love about dating is that feeling about being a girl again. Not the strong superwoman, I-can-do-everything-including- screwing-my-own-lightbulb bravado, but that high school sorta feeling where you know you're being checked out and it's alright to be cute and flirty and a tad bit helpless. I've tossed out the jeans (well except for my red lacy ones) and sneakers look and exchanged them for pretty skirts and open toe shoes. It's time to go fishing. Except now I have to learn how to fish in three inch heels again.

I start being 28 today. Am officially in my late twenties. Or if ever in a state of denial, late mid twenties.

Birthday gifts include:
1 blue dress from K. Beautiful classic Hepburn cut dress with a satin ribbon to finish. The dress was beautiful. Better yet, it was a size 4 and I fit right into it without any belly showing. Yoga classes must be working.
1 poem from Bill, which I will share also. This man's poetry is amazing.
1 homemade birthday cake from M and A. In the shape of a lobster, my all time favorite meat, with lots of frosting to go around.
1 book from M- On the problems of identification in social sciences by Charles Manski. Surprisingly a page turner.
2 birthday phonecalls from HongKong and Singapore. My two favorite males in the world. Couldn't be better.
1 pair of 3 inch heels which I'm wearing today- from me to me!

So happy day :) Drunken tales for tomorrow

This has been a crazy week- what with trying to catch up with work, studying for a midterm and tutoring. I'm glad it's almost over. I still have a speech to write for graduation. I've been nominated to speak, and I suppose I would have been more excited about speaking if it were not for the fact that I have to work the day of graduation, helping other people graduate and then attending the 6pm graduation ceremony that night. I'd be totally stressed out. But I guess I should give it a shot anyway. It isn't everyday that one gets nominated.
This week has also been dateweek. I've gone on 2 dates so far. Date #3 takes place on Sunday. 3 dates, 3 different boys. So far, it's 2 for 2. I like them both, for very different reasons. Rather unlike the dates I've been on for the past 2 months. There was the one guy who got into a fist fight, and the other who was rather like an octopus- hands all over the place. One who was really sweet, but I had no particular interest.
The motivation for all this is really to meet more people. SF is a tough city. And most people don't attempt to even make contact with folks outside their circle. I'll admit to that. And these days, I think my circle is getting a little too small and a little to fragmented. Yesterday's date was with C, who is a partner in his own health care consulting firm. Learned all about drugs and the economics of health care. Was somewhat awed by the research process and the sort of work that he does- reminded me of someone I knew, who would sit for weeks reading research papers and interviewing "experts". Don't think we have any chemistry- I was way too awed by his triathlon obsession and health care debates to make any intelligent conversation- but certainly someone who's brain I want to pick in the future.
This is the year for doing new things. It's my 29th year in the world. When Saturn (if you believe anything about astrology) is supposed to return to the same position the year/ time I was born. Things are suppose to shape up this year, and change must be made, or else I'll have to wait another 29 years for this to happen again.

am on the phone with NYU. They cannot find me in their employment records. Baahhhh. No wait, the student employment office cannot find me, but HR can. I suppose you follow the money. Been put on hold for a long long time. Frustrating.
Crazy woman on the phone started off by yelling at me, but hey... she forgets, I worked there before. I can take the yelling. Now if she'll only get back on the phone. Cannot take this silent treatment.

Wish I could have taken a picture of the weather yesterday, and today too! Am in gleeful spirits because it's 80 degrees outside, clear blue skies and warm breezes! So unlike San Francisco but I'm happy!
Went sailing yesterday- in shorts and a tank top! My knees and nose are slightly sunburnt and I have that racoon look on my face as a result of being outside without a hat, but I don't care! SOOOoooooo happy with the sun.
Talked to a friend yesterday about retiring in the carribean. I could do that. Live half the year in the carribean and the other half in Singapore maybe. Hot weather all year round- hang out in my boat, sail and scuba dive then fly off to Singapore and spend the rest of the year shopping and eating good food. What a great goal to live for! I can deal with the rat race now if that's what's in store after I turn 45. Yes I intend to retire at 45.

My old friend Bill wrote this poem for me. I'm touched, to say the least. I'll let the poem speak for itself.

The straits

adrift in the blue green of the straits
between the bright coral seen below
a girl amid the yellow in the cold currents
she knows her way through the cut in the reef
and yet I lose her in the darkness and now i am alone
in the straits as I drift deeper into the cut.

If I get better by Saturday, I'm going to buy myself a big fat steak, with hella mashed potatoes and sour cream. No more of this BRAT diet. As in: Banana, Rice, Apple sauce and Toast diet. Well, at least you're not puking every 2 hours, says my stomach. This is how I know that the brain really is the organ secreting hunger thoughts. My stomach can't take it, but sitting in front of the TV the last 3 days, I've been watching all these Arby's, McDonald's and other food commercials- food I would otherwise not eat on a regular basis anyway, I just wanted to devour all that junk food off of the tv. Except I know, I'll be throwing up in a couple of hours subsequently.
My stomach has every incentive now to get better. I mean, come on, Morton's? Harry's? Who couldn't get better for big juicy steak?

Oh right, there's the Mad Cow.

Bahh.. can't win.

I've been sick sick sick. Got hit by the flu on Sunday night and today's my first day back at work.
On Monday, could not keep anything down. Then Tuesday, I was dying from cabin fever, as opposed to flu fever the day before. No one to talk to and watching TLC all day doesn't quite help, especially since they keep running shows like, "The Wedding Story" or "The Baby Story". Called almost everyone on my phone list. Thank you to those who had to listen to my feverish proclaimations.
To top it off, we're in the midst of a heat wave. Should be out on the beach but I'm still wearing a sweater indoors in this eighty degree weather. Doesn't bode well for me.

I did it. I put my application in the mail today to be a crew member for this year's Baja Ha Ha in October. Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed that I get a good skipper. If he's cute, all the better, but that's way down on the list from 1) someone who can actually sail 2) someone who can actually delegate 3) someone who owns a good boat. Other than that, I want lots of sun, wind and time for swimming in the ocean as we make our way down from San Diego to Baja. Am a little apprehensive about this, but I cannot wait to go cruising and to be out on the ocean.

This morning, erased all Sarah McLachlan, Dido, Sade, Indigo girl and other sappy lovetunes from my media library. Cannot hang with this depressed pining lovesick tunes anymore.
It's a new day.

But this one, made the cut. Decided to keep it.

Barring the fact that I drank almost 15 cups of Everclear and Redbull punch on Saturday, I think I'm surviving today. Saturday was a blast at my Econ house party. Since it was a 90s costume party, most folks dug out their garb days past and came dressed to the theme. There were the grunge types, the nineties prom queen type, the 90210 type. We danced to Kris Kross, made a bunch of drunk phone calls and talked shit about professors. Engaged in flirtatious activity with one classmate and toward the end of the night... well we'll leave it at that :) I'll just say it was the everclear when I see him next.