And I'm going to tune right in on you

I awoke this morning from a dream of a familiar, comforting place. Once again, I was at a small, secluded beach about one hundred yards wide and walled in on either side by trees - very private. The beach itself reaches up a thirty degree incline to a house large enough to lodge the sizable group of people who are always around and are known to me as friends and possibly family. Yet, when I awake, I can't recall who they are, nor do I have any recollection of this beach.

Nothing significant or eventful occurs in these dreams; last night's visit was mostly about my satisfaction at how deep the water was by the shore now that the tide was in. I was thinking of surfing with the group that was already in the water. That's all I recall. I'm left wondering if I'm visiting a place in another realm that is equally, if not more, real than the one in which I presently reside, typing these words. Real or fabricated, I enjoy my visits there. Beats dreaming about inseminating livestock, like Billy does.
--

Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 40. Only a small part of me shrinks at the thought (I'm oooold!), but mostly I don't care. I'm still feeling pretty chipper, so why freak out? I took yesterday and today off - nice little vacation - and have been enjoying myself. I spent most of yesterday reading. There are three books I've been bouncing between: Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism, A Visit From The Goon Squad, and Sex At Dawn. Each, so far, have been engrossing. I'll read about fifty pages from one then move on to another. It's possible I may finish all three by the end of the weekend. Stay tuned, children.

Janelle came by with  Baby Boy Z last night. While Z hung out at his old pad for awhile, Janelle and I went over to Tu Y Yo for some Mexican cuisine.* I can't remember the names of the dishes we ate, but damn, son, they were tasty. Breaded cactus filled with cheese; rice and beans - me gusta mucho! Add to the meal some beer, sangria, and good conversation, and you've got yourself a grand old time. I'll even go as far to say that it was swell. Spending time with Janelle and Z was a splendid birthday gift. I love them.

On the 4th, I went to my parent's house for a cookout. Spira and Missy D tagged along. We picked up my grandmother on the way. It was a good time. My sister and her family were in attendance and, consequently, there was a bit of chaos. It seemed my niece Colleen had taken up boxing since I saw her last. She used me as a punching bag throughout the day until I got fed up and knocked her the fuck out with a brutal haymaker. No, I did not do that, but it's possible it might have happened if she had continued bullying me. My mother and Spira had a brief argument over the song, God Bless America. My mother has intense feelings regarding it, it turns out. No need to elaborate, but it caught everyone by surprise. Spira offered up an opposing viewpoint and, well, as I said, it was a brief affair and no one, despite the ferocity on display, came out the other end any worse. All of this is why I always remind myself not to talk politics with my mother unless I'm in the mood for a fiery, grinding, and fruitless debate.

Craig stopped by later that night and we hung out for a while on the porch drinking beer and talking about stuff, and by stuff, I mean you. Getting to spend time with friends and family these past several days has been invigorating. Hell is not other people, at least not as concerns the people in my life.

On Tuesday, Jeff bought everyone lunch for my birthday. And afterward, he gave us each two hundred smackers as a token of his, and his wife, Chris's appreciation for the hard work we've been doing. A very nice gesture.

Ok, I'm done with you. Just looked at the clock. Time to get on with my day.


* An interesting thing: Before Janelle arrived, we hadn't talked about where we were going to eat. I gave it some thought after I spoke with her, but not  much. It wasn't a pressing concern; I was confident we'd choose a suitable place, especially given the welter of options nearby. Only two places crossed my mind, neither of which I'd eaten at before. First, I thought of Yak and Yeti, the Tibetan restaurant on Broadway. Next, I thought of Tu Y Yo, which resonated with me more. Usually my thoughts drift to Davis Square whenever I think of places to eat, but not last night. When Janelle arrived, she told me the places she had thought of. Same effin ones I thought of! And in the same order of thought and preference. Interesting when things like that happen. Guess we're in tune, right in tune.