Firsts...

I'm experiencing a lot of firsts, it feels appropriate to share...

- Shorty's : I actually stepped both feet into this place. It was strangely comforting in it's seediness. I loved the sound of the pinball machines, and the fact that my shoes at one point were stuck to the floor. I also had the BEST Bloody Mary in my entire life. Definitely worth blogging about. And Yelping... I need to do that.

- I hung out with an ex girlfriend : On Friday night, I had dinner with my long lost ex. To some people in my life, this might be frightening, and for good reason, a lot of you were friends with me when I went through the relationship and breakup. But after 3 years, and minimal communication, it was like sharing a meal with a distant family member that you wish you saw more often. There was nothing weird, or unhealthy about it, and it was strangely comforting to prove myself wrong. That you CAN be friends with an ex. Maybe some ex's, maybe some relationships you just can't come back from. But as twisted as this one was, we were able to share a meal, and recap the last 3 years, and smile at the end of it. Sunday, I met her and her fiance at the dog park, and spent the better part of my afternoon with them. It was nice to see her so happy and so healthy, even if it wasn't with me. I felt nothing but complete love and joy for her. I think that's really something I needed to experience at this point. From now on, she isn't my ex, she's my friend.

- I bought a new phone : While this isn't honestly the FIRST phone I've ever purchased, it's the first one I liked and got a good deal on. After being anti-cell phone for the last 4 years, I realize if I'm to exist in the land of the technologically advanced, I need to have a phone. Not a prepaid phone, no no, an actual I-committed-to-a-2-year-contract-and-am-now-enslaved-to-tmobile kinda phone.

- I'm going to learn to ride a bike: The simplest of life's expressions is "It's as easy as riding a bike." Well my friends, I can't. So, I've never actually been able to use that analogy, and that's a problem. Long story short, I grew up in an overly populated area of CA and was not allowed to ride a bike in our apartment complex, so during my bike riding formidable years, I wasn't doing any bike riding. After that, you just don't want to try and end up biffing it in front of all your 6th grade friends. Probable embarrassment and injury aside, I'm going to do it. This weekend, as long as the skies don't open up and dump more snow.

So there it is, my weekend in black and white, typed out for your reading enjoyment. Come back soon to hear about my misadventures in adult bike riding. :)

*Deep Breath* Here we go again...

Well... life has changed. I'm not afraid of change, so I'm attempting to embrace it. And just take each day for what it is, one more step in another direction.

My Plans

* Camping - 4th of July in Chelan. I'm looking for other interested parties, I already have a site. Obviously, I'd like to go as much as possible... so more trips.

* A trip to the coast - Long Beach

* A trip down to Portland - Long overdue visit to see friends.

* KEXP BBQ - Yearly, can't stop now.

* LA Pride - Again, a long overdue visit to see friends, and experience Pride in a different city.

* SF Pride - If I'm lucky, this will pan out and I'll get to see Pride in SF as well.

* A trip to Chicago - I'm throwing around the idea of going in the autumn months.

I thank my friends, every last one of them, for being in my life, and loving me. I am a better person because of each of you.