A post in which we go to a party

What a beastly day at work.  Every time I thought things were going to ease off, they failed to do so.  Part of it was my own disinclination, but part of it was it's just been rough.  I eat lunch late in the day on purpose to make the afternoons shorter (among other reasons).  When I got back from lunch today I found a $14,000.00 dispute waiting for me, AND a new and incredibly complicated audit procedure.  It seems that our current auditors aren't evil enough, and we are now subjected to even more evil auditors.  Yergh.  If I could find those lying bastards from Enron, I'd strangle them myself.  As usual, it's the peons that are left to suffer the consequences.  If you work in accounting, Sarbanes-Oxley is your own personal hell every quarter.  By the end, pretty much all I could think of was crawling out the door.  And I still don't know how to do the new stuff they want done.

After work, I limped to RBL's house, grateful to be out of the office.  I joined Billy and Logan with their Friday night already in progress.  I stripped down naked and lay in the living room floor for a while in mute appeal to the universe for some mercy.  It's nice to have friends where you can do that in their house if you need to.  Eventually, though, I got up and got dressed because they had company coming for the weekend.

I had met Sabrina in Atlanta at Frolicon this spring, and had been pretty fascinated.  She was bigger than life, but surrounded by people vying for her attention, so I moved along.  She and her partner Wendy are both t-girls, and I have always had a soft spot for all varieties of same.  What a terrible burden to have to carry to be yourself.  What a transition to have to undertake.  I amazed by the courage and strength that would be required.  I've been struck by it ever since I first read Second Serve in college.  The first time I read it, I did so entirely in the library at school - I was afraid to check it out for fear of the library records.  But I digress.

Sabrina came in pretty much full of p & v and filled the room.  She had her partner Wendy and two dogs in tow, and generally just filled the room.  Some time was spent getting RBL's (three) dogs and the new (two) dogs roughly accustomed to each other before we started getting ready to leave.  Billy was dressing up, because we were, after all, escorting two exotic creatures this evening; but I had brought only shorts and a t-shirt.  Logan joined me in the decision to sport a rather more casual ensemble.  After way too much discussion about clothes, I just decided to wear what I brought (which turned out to be fine).

We left for the party.  I adore Vince and Brian, but they generally run with a different crowd of folks.  Vince fits in pretty well with the bears, despite being conspicuously beautiful, but Brian runs with theatrical people because that's what he does.  Theatrical people are a breed apart, for a variety of reasons.  Central to me tonight though was that they tend to be big personalities and they tend to be LOUD.  Frankly, given my exhaustion from the week (which was more mental than physical) I really didn't feel like a party period, but the idea of being closed in with a bunch of loud dramatic people really didn't appeal. 

I was pleasantly surprised.  There were plenty of bears there, and the theatrical people kind of segregated themselves out.  I did meet a very nice woman named Harmonie, though (I didn't know how she spelled her name until later), and since she was content to talk primarily about me, I found her charming (you'll note that I didn't say anything about the tendency of theater people to need a lot of attention and stroking, living in the glass house that I do).  I was one of very few people smoking (I really need to quit - still), and so when it got too much, I just nipped out onto the balcony for a cigarette.  There were three decks, so there was no problem to take a breather, although it was hot, wet, and muggy outside. 

I was ravenous.  After much kerfuffle and discussion about supper, the decision was that we would go to the party first (there were reported 'tons of food' on offer there) and then get a late supper if warranted.  Well there was food, and it was pretty good, but it was only 'tons' by skinny people standards really.  But the theater people sure weren't gonna be scarfing, and the bears all pretend to eat like twinks when there are other people around, so I dived right on in there.  There were only little plates on offer, but if you load them up enough times they do the job.  Plus, as long as no one is watching how many times you go up there, they only see you with a little plate of food.  There was a big beautiful key lime pie on offer that looked as if it came from a bakery, but it seemed that everyone was too shy to take the first piece (despite the fact that it was cut), perhaps because there wasn't a serving implement put out next to it.  That didn't phase this intrepid bear.  I found a scoop and went at it. 

Eventually though, it was just too much for me.  I know them well enough that I didn't think they would mind, so I just nipped down to the bedroom and lay down on the bed.  I contemplated the house.  I have never cared for their place, frankly.  The floor plan is kind of chopped up (it's on three levels) and poorly laid out to me.  It's very modern, and really just feels unwelcoming.  Everything is very stark and clean.  Straight lines - organic shapes are at an extreme minimum, and I find the artwork sparse, spartan, and depressing.  Brian and I have pretty much opposite taste.  One of the purposes for the party was to show off all the remodelling they had done.  It was very much granite tiles, hardwood floors, and dramatically minimalistic light fixtures.  No expense had been spared, and it was all in excellent taste - I just didn't care for it much.  But since I couldn't have afforded the place in my wildest dreams, it hardly mattered what yours truly thought.  Sadly, they just finished the place up in time to put it on the market.   

Vince found me lying on the bed, and we spoke briefly.  He is such a nice guy.  I really, really hate to see him go. 

We were in two cars to better accommodate schedules.  Russ had to work tomorrow, but he wanted the ladies to be able to stay and enjoy the party.  When he was ready to go though, I was way ready.  I left with him and made my way home.  It had been a long day.