al fresco
Walking in Lygon St with DD Wu (whose parents were among the denounced classes in the Cultural Revolution) and just enjoying the sights and smells of lunch world in the spring. Listening to DD who I haven't seen in 15 years. DD is talking about her book and and I am wondering how to get to a more personal conversation - DD is well, hot. And uncommitted. Anyway, there I am in some sort of feeling good place where existentialism doesn't get a gurnsey. Crunch. A froggy phone tone and a breathy voice. "Oh Hi Where are you I am in Lygon street and do you remember when I lost my gold ring" I don't dare turn round, she hasn't stopped talking since she answered the phone, maybe she is able to talk and listen at the same time. But no "It was spooky, I found it, you remember the jeans that I wearing the
the tight ones with the embroidery well it was really spooky I found the ring I didn't wear those jeans for a long time because they made my bum look big" I don't look round, think about how much more interesting DD is - she is now telling me how her dissertation involves a description of how the Peoples Republic is using antiquities to establish a cultural position in the world. This is interesting, I ask if she means as a communist state or a revamped Middle Kingdom. The Middle Kingdom: DD knows but is not completely accepting of my proposition and it seems she values my company enough to be kind. DD is a thoroughly modern chinese person from Shanghi and is a big believer in the 'economy'. Crunch "...spooky.." and I am lost in the crap going on behind me. Talk about an mosquito sized attention span, I just keep getting diverted from the important and intersting stuff. But no, it is the zombies day out and I am morbidly interested. "... did I tell you where I found it, when my diet worked I was going to wear those jeans again because I was going to a BBQ on the Yarra with Brad but they were dirty and I had to wash them and the ring was in the pocket. Spooky. I don't remember putting it there and it was really spooky" I was losing count of the spookies and DD dragged me into Universitas where she asked me if this was ok and if italian was OK with that look that says that you have been sprung not paying attention and I asked you twice. Woops. Didn't take my eyes or ears off her for the rest of lunch and made a good recovery. We shall see.
a blonde moment
And gather round kiddies to hear of a North Carlton/East Brunswick tragic
This morning, coming to work down Richardson St I was fortunate enough to witness a truly blonde moment:
A twenty-something blonde steps on to the footpath and pats herself down, arranging the black rucksack just so over the black string top and charcoal jeans (the new black).
She prances a little as she waits. I slow down, sensing a historic moment.
Her mate comes out, not so blonde, verging on the full celtic brunette, also wearing black and carrying a snappy little black rucksack. They walk to a car where the woman carrying the rucksack opens the back door, puts her rucksack on the back seat and gets into the front passenger seat. Her pal, the prancing blonde goes for the driver’s side, opens the driver’s door and tries to get in. She can't quite make it. Not a big car and the rucksack is in the way. Me - I have come to a complete stop by this time about two meters away from the spectacle. She gets out and leans over and struggles with the seat adjuster for a bit, either the seat is already right back or it is too tricky. She tries to get in. Sort a three quarter fit, can not shut the door when she tries. She goes for the steering height adjustment. Not quite enough. She gets out...
At this point the morning traffic is getting a bit toey about me just parked in the road so I have to move on, wondering. Did she take off the rucksack? Did she get her pal to drive?
I come from a complete family of ex-blondes (those cute children, etc) so that might explain some things. But our hair colour was natural and changed as we matured. Then (for me) it started moving to my ears eyebrows and nose.
follies of age
I must have had a body language bypass at some stage in the last few years. I am sure, in hindsight, that I am missing a lot of non-verbal invitations. And these are from women who seem to be interested in my company. mmmm - I guess I have been a bit dumb this way all my life. But for some reason I am more aware of the importance of relationships as I get older. I have always had a tendancy to isolate myself, to avoid truely intimate relationships. This is not the same thing as being unwilling to commit. Anyway I find myself in a strange headspace where questions like "should I get a dog or a tenant?" become important. I was telling Jane about this the other day and she just looked at me and said something like "why is that a choice?" I could only say that this enabled me to avoid doing either. Maybe I am the great prevaricator. mmmm wll have to change that.
I have recently become a non-smoker and maybe its just that after 40plus years of smoking that I am being affected by subtle withdrawal symptoms.
Until last week I was describing myself as having given up smoking but Mike put me straight. He said "don't set yourself up for failure, don't think of it as quitting, think of it as joining the non smokers. There are times when even a non smoker has a cigarette. Thats not recidivist, its just something that happens very occasionally."
It took me all of 10 seconds to realise the sense of all that. But I tell you that tonight has been bad for my weight.
the follies of youth
my daughter is on the other side of the world getting hammered much to often. She seems to be enjoying herself but I genuinely woory about her liver and her health in general. Still, the bright side is she is probably "to drunk to fcuk" as the Dead Kennedies sang.
