Friday I get home, lift weights, walk Nopesterini (because the Giro d'Italia starts on Saturday), and try to relax. But tonight is Grand Central Station as a number of telephone calls, e-discussions, and visits from people occur. I have another long and good conversation with Person G. Something that I did has pushed Person G over the edge and now I am trying to keep Person G together. Brandon calls and invites me to Fire Island, but Saturday is going to be a long day and so I decline.
Saturday I'm up early to do the laundry and start in on the bicycle ride. After Thursday's two rides on a soft-tired, pack-laden mountain bicycle, today's ride on the road bike feels like I'm shot out of a cannon. It is a good and fast ride. I continue on to mow the lawn and perform other yardwork tasks until it is time to get cleaned up to meet Person Roy.
Person Roy and I have a good walk along the ocean and talk about many things. We agree to meet later to go to Fire Island with the roommate of Person Roy and other people. I go home to take a nap (alone). Person Roy calls about an hour later and there is a complication - we will not be going out tonight. Person Roy will call me on Sunday.
It should be noted that home and my mobile phone are Grand Central station again today. There are well into double digit number of calls from various people. At the end of the day, when I should be getting cleaned up to go out with Person Roy (or just go out after the cancellation), I have lost energy and enthusiasm. I do not feel well emotionally. Over the last few days both Person G and Person T* have been in tears. Now it is my turn.
I go to bed early and try have a good cry to make me feel better. Over recent events, over recent turns of events, over recent disappointments, and over other things. I realize that the upcoming week, when I want to run away to Honolulu or Santa Fe or Boston, will be non-stop action due to the NPOESS orals. This makes me feel worse. But I cannot cry. The night passes fairly quietly with no telephone calls.
Sunday morning I'm up and out for a reasonable bicycle ride. And there is already a phone message for me when I return. It is from Person T* inviting me to a barbeque for her mother. After I make sure that it is not an imposition (on a closed family event) I agree to attend. Person T* goes on to explain that it was her brother, who I had made eyes at a number of times at work, who insisted on inviting me. (How do I cancel now after accepting only 30 seconds before? And what kind of difficulty am I going to find myself in now?)
I watch the Austrian Grand Prix and am horrified by the team orders displayed by Ferrari. The partisan Ferrari crowd in Austria is also horrified - booing the team on the podium for a one-two finish when they should be cheering.
The race result does not take my mind off my emotional state. I feel like a good cry would make me feel better. But it doesn't quite happen.
Armed with two sets of flowers (one for Person T* and one for Person T*'s mother) and a Lego set for Benjamin, I drive to the home of Person T*. The brother of Person T* is there and introduces me to his wife. (Whoa, there, buddy! Put the brakes on the train. What are you trying to do?) But all of the kids running around is fun and I meet the brothers and sisters of Person T*. Just as I am thinking of leaving, the aunt of Person T* arrives along with her son. We are introduced and the son and I spend a few minutes trying to figure out where we know each other from without actually asking the question. After about ten minutes I see the aunt and son talking back and forth as they look in my direction. And then I see the aunt's eyes swelling to the size of grapefruit as she continues staring at me. Oops, I think that it is time to go. I make my exit rather quickly before anything can be blown out of proportion. I still have no idea where I know the son from, but it cannot be good.
On Sunday night, as I'm talking with Person G, the mobile phone rings and I answer it. It is the KM. There is a 29 minute and 44 second call with the KM. A few points made by the KM are well taken. Life is a learning experience.