The Comfy Corner

So I had a strug today that probably out-strugged my struggest strugs all summer. My friend Anthony left a bottle of whiskey in my car (we had made a trip to New Hampshire where there is no sales tax on liquor, and when in Rome, right?) so, like a good friend, I thought that I would get it out of my trunk and bring it to him. Only trouble was, I was going to have to carry it while I was biking. I have a basket on the back of my bike, so I thought, "No problem, I'll just put it in the basket."

At first, there wasn't any problem. I successfully biked to the diner where I had a lovely strug-free breakfast (with this giant bottle of whiskey sitting right next to my chair. After all, I couldn't leave it with my bike! Homeless people don't mess around with free alcohol.), and then, after I left the diner, I attempted to re-mount my bicycle. I put the bottle in the basket, I threw my bag over my shoulder, I threw my leg over my bike and then the worst thing happened - the basket fell off the back of my bike and the whiskey fell to the concrete. All of this happened in front of Toro, the most hoppin', people-packed tapas restaurant in town. Everyone was pointing at me and staring at me and laughing cruel laughs (that's how I remembered it anyways). I could see there eyes just judging and questioning my every move "Why is the young man carrying around a big bottle of whiskey at noon?" Amazingly, the bottle didn't break, but the cork did come out and as I was struggling to get off my bike and run around it to put down the kick stand, expensive liquor was pouring out onto the hot pavement. All I can hope is that some dog or some desperate homeless man was able to drink it up before it evaporated.

I finally got the bottle up, corked it, and put it more securely in the basket and successfully mounted the bike without another spill. As soon as I biked a few meters, however, I realized that I left my bike lock lying on the ground of the crime scene. I went back to whiskey puddle and the cruel laughter and picked up the lock. When I looked at the patio of Toro, everyone was looking at me. The air reeked of hot whiskey, my hands reeked of hot whiskey, my face...reeked of shame. I got the bottle to campus only to realize that I wasn't allowed to bring a huge bottle of whiskey into the dorms (I stupidly forgot that was a rule...) I handed off the bottle to Vanessa who was heading back to her apartment and I accepted my defeat...I had failed. Anthony, if he ever gets his whiskey back, will not be getting much back.

1) walking in the frog pond- In the Boston Common there is a little man-made pond that is about ankle deep and little kids and adults alike frolic about in the cool water on hot summer afternoons. The other day, I was passing by and my friend Vanessa was like "We should walk through it!" but when we got to it, it was closed. We asked the "lifeguard" why and she said, "Some kid went to the bathroom in the water and it'll be closed until 5:30." This got me thinking - who knows how much fecal matter is in that pond! Who knows how many kids use the bathroom in the pond every day and no one knows! Perhaps homeless people bathe in the pond at night! So walking through it in bare feet: a good idea that just sucks. Especially if you have to put on socks and shoes afterward. Ick.

2) having class outside- ugh, kids are always begging to have class outside but it's just another one of those good ideas that suck. Having class outside is just so horribly distracting. For one, I am a musical theater major and the last thing I want to do is perform my weird, emotional scene or do ballet dancing in front of all the randos in Boston. Also, I get so easily distracted and I'll spend my time tearing up the grass and watching the pedestrians instead of listening (not that I can hear my professor over the traffic noises anyway). Lastly, I need forewarning before a day out in the park so that I can dress appropriately. No white pants on the grass for me!

3) eating on the patio- It always seems like such a nice idea to eat outside when you go to a restaurant but quite often you end up wishing you had decided otherwise. The wind picks up and your napkin goes flying, the sun is right in your face and you start to wish you had brought sunscreen to the meal, flies and other winged creatures land on your food, loud ambulances and trucks interrupt your conversation etc. etc. So many reasons why this idea just sucks.

4) getting day drunk - Sounds like so much fun - until you have a hangover at 6pm. Solution? Keep drinking until you are night drunk as well and then just go straight to bed. Hangovers are for the morning.

5) getting high in a dark forest - Did this a couple of nights ago and I actually had a great time. But now, my back is like a war torn nation of bug bites. Bugs love their Chinese food, I suppose (or they are sort of half and half on the subject, HA!). The other dangers that come with this great idea? Getting lost in the forest, getting paranoid about being in the dark, losing the greens etc. etc. Solution? Bring a flashlight and lots of bug spray.

The other day, during our weekly mac and cheese night, I had a conversation with my friend and future roommate, Vanessa, about nest-making. Now, perhaps this is yet another thing to add to the long list of strange things girls do (a list that grew so long I had to start dating boys) but in this particular case I am intrigued. She has a corner of her bed that she piles high with fluffy pillows and soft blankets thus creating a corner of utter comfort and relaxation. She terms this "the nest." I tried sitting in her "nest" and I must say, my bum has never felt anything more snug or cozy. I felt like all the comforts of home were built into the walls of that nest and were being manifested in the soft fabrics my body was fortunate enough to enjoy. I suddenly turned into a small, hungry chick nestled in the cozy nest, waiting for Vanessa, the mother bird, to bring me my mac and cheese dinner. I didn't want to leave and needless to say I am quite excited for her to move in (as long as she brings the blankets with her). We will have nests everywhere.

So I tried it, I loved it, so I've adopted it and made it my own. And don't hate on me for stealing ideas, changing them slightly and calling it my own because we all do it. I mean just give YouTube a visit and type in "me singing paparazzi by lady gaga." (lack of capitalization necessary). I now live by the "comfy corner" policy. It typically involves me coming home, throwing on my pajamas and dancing around in a little circle singing "comfy corner, comfy corner" and then plopping down on a pile of pillows and blankets. So in this initial entry, I would like to invite you all to my comfy corner. Throw on your pajamas and join me as I rant about the silliness of life's annoyances, joys and confusions. The road is bumpy but my corner's comfy. ; )

For those of you whose minds are more philosophically driven, I haven't left you out. Think of this blog in relation to all of the other things floating out there in cyberspace waiting to be discovered. You could be stalking people on Facebook, you could be checking your email for the 100th time in the past ten minutes, you could be brave enough to leave your cyber-fate to such dangerous things such as Stumble Upon or Chat Roulette. But no, you are reading this blog. You are among a very small group of people looking at this one lonely little page tucked away in the corner...this...comfy...corner. So cuddle up and enjoy.

Coming soon...the Silver Line Chronicles Part One