Torchons de Son

I was sitting outside today, reading (a book of short stories about golf (for fun), and then the book Rasselas for a British novel class). The weather was jaw-droppingly beautiful (especially in comparison to the long harsh Ithaca winter that's ending now) - sunny, warm with a mild breeze. The outsides of the condo-like houses where I live are made of some sort of unfinished, brown pine-ish wood that gives off a pleasant smell when it's warm out (the smell reminds me of new Saturn games). My roommate and a guy from next door were out there with me, studying, drinking gin and tonic, and talking. It got me to thinking how great it is to have guys to hang out with, and how much I enjoy hanging around with other people, especially when those people are just similar to you and just disimilar to you enough to keep things interesting.

After that, I realized that although I'm friends with my housemates and the other people that live near us, I'm probably not going to seek them out next year. I'm going to be living on one side of the campus, they'll be on another side. The best times that I have with friends here are the ones that generate spontaneously - the random Mario Golf and outdoor cigar at midnight, or the sort of fraternity that piles of procrastinated work can create. There won't be spontaneous moments like that when I'm surrounded by one group of new people, and they're surrounded by another. The random moments will happen between that new group and me. I don't know if I'm overestimating the temporality of these housemate friendships or not; I do know that I'm not going to attempt to sustain those friendships - it won't be effective. Natheless, well - I'm always happy when I recognize one of those moments that I know will stick in my memory, despite its relative plainness/uneventiveness. Something the opposite of the first time you have sex, instead, an extremely minor event that sticks out because of its vivididness relative to its importance.

I'm gradually developing a lack of concern regarding my school grades, which is really refreshing. I'm talking about the grades specifically, as I'm still bothered when someone dislikes a paper I've written. The disappointment is just contained inside that one assignment.

Things are happening right now regarding my general existence that are exciting.

It's amazing how much more I appreciate good weather these days. Excellent weekend.

Stun