Happy Valentine’s Day 2005…

I got a haircut today. Though “Bridgette” didn’t cut my hair, she made me laugh with the story she was telling to the guy whose hair she was cutting. She cut my hair the last time, and I really liked her. At that time, she said something to the effect of, “Yes, chile, I tried bein quiet. People say, ‘You talk too much, girl,’ but I got to be me. Just bein all quiet and stuff, that ain’t me. I’m bustin with stuff. I got to talk about it. I just got to be me. If people don’t like that, well, they just have to leave it alone.” I thought she was just wonderful.

Today, she was talking about growing up in a house too full of adults, a couple of whom appeared to have a slight gambling addiction. Her mother played Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” until it wore her (Bridgette) out. Her bedroom was right on the other side of the wall that the hifi was on. Bridgette went on to say, “At first she had to get up and take the needle off and start it again. Then she got one of those Curtis Mathis ones where, at the end of the record, the needle lifted itself and went back again on its own. Lord. I shouldn’t, but I hate that song. I’d be fine if I never heard it again.”

So today, after me laughing, the lady who was cutting my hair laughing, and Bridgette’s customer laughing while she told that story, I said to her as I was paying (we all ended up at the register at the same time), “Bridgette, you are an absolute delight.”

Her eyes lit up, and she turned to the lady who cut my hair, “Did you hear that? He said I was a delight. Call the bossman, and tell him the customer said I was a delight.”

I did 50 minutes on the elliptical crosstrainer today, for a 700-calorie burn, in anticipation of a Valentine’s Day dinner out at 42nd Street tonight.

Class was okay tonight. Dr. Dicks ended about 15 minutes early, and after noticing such on his watch, looked through his notes and said to himself out loud, “Let’s see. Is there something else I’m supposed to be doing?”

I responded, “Yeah, you’re supposed to let us go tend to our Valentines.”

“Okay, go find someone to love,” he said, not to me but to the class, in dismissing us. I thought it was funny. It made me think, “Yeah, just walk outside and pick up someone on the street to love.”

I met the boys at Porters. I had a bourbon and diet at the bar, and then we were seated shortly after 7:00, and waited for the guest of honor. Frank J. arrived at 7:25, and the guest of honor never did. Strange. We had some laughs. Richard was drinking quickly and continuously. Fun to see him in such a state. Hope he left some time to “dry out” before driving home.

I left at 8:35, and went directly to 42nd Street, as I’d checked in with Robert, and he was not going to make it in time to meet at my house first as we had originally planned. 42nd Street was empty, which was unexpected, but good.

Robert arrived at 9:01, and we had a delicious dinner, both getting the Broiled Seafood Platter. Our bill came to $48.70, which gave us $1.30 in change from our $50 gift certificate from Bryan and Jen at Christmas time. Perfect.

Robert gave me a sweet card at the restaurant after dinner. I gave him mine at home. He laughed at the endearment “Sweetheart” on the front of the card, as it’s not something we call each other, and it was obvious that it was made for a guy to give to a girl or a girl to a guy. <bitter>Sometimes I get disgusted with the “assumption” in our society that everyone is straight. Is it too much to ask to be able to buy a card that appropriately reflects the love I have for someone without my having to go to a “special” store to do it.</bitter> Bitter, party of one? Your table is ready!

Robert unwrapped my little “gift,” which was a box of the Caramel Delites Girl Scout Cookies. They were perfect, as we both wanted something sweet after dinner, but didn’t want to get one of the extravagant desserts at 42nd Street. I managed to limit myself to two cookies, as much as I love them.

I only ate half of my meal, too, boxing the rest with Robert’s so he can have another complete meal with the leftovers. My new month’s worth of food should arrive tomorrow, and I’ll get right back on it.

Leave a Comment