Friday, July 4, 2008

Happy Birthday

The Fourth of July has never been much of a holiday to me. I'm not sure many people think much about the fact that we treat it as this nations birthday. I'm sure a fair portion could tell you if pressed in the same way they could tell you Christmas is supposed to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but I don't think people consciously sit down and think about the 4th of July as the birthday of the United States. Maybe it's just me.

My friend Scott really seems to enjoy this holiday. In fact, he has told me that it is one of his favorites. Primarily for its social aspects, the cookouts with friends and the communal fireworks and so forth. And that's nice. It's a good reason to like the holiday and I'm glad he enjoys it so much.

Unfortunately, I'm just a jaded old stick in the mud. I like fireworks as much as the next guy, but it doesn't bother me to miss whatever local fireworks may be going on. They're just fireworks and I've seen them a million times. I haven't even checked to see what is going on locally. I suppose I should have, but it never came up during or after my writing sessions this week. Which is going quite well by the way. Even with the losing of a day this week because I have switched back to a day time schedule (It's one of those living 13 waking days in a 14 day time span thing) I have almost written 5000 words this week. I could likely hit 6000 before I'm done.

I will indeed miss the social aspects of the holiday. Probably for the first time since I've moved out here. Fortunately, I received an email from Charles to rub my face in the fact that I'll get to miss out on tonight's Knickerbocker karaoke. I'm not much of a singer, and that's high praise for me, but I enjoy it nonetheless. Mostly because I like to sing with my friends. Singing by my lonesome is okay, but even I don't like listening to myself. I would much prefer to screw up a song with someone I enjoy passing the evening with. I'm sure I'll miss that.

And, of course, I'll miss the opportunity to put away another session toward becoming an alcoholic. It was apparently unwise to set such a goal in a year when I'd be living alone and not surrounded by friends who can let encourage me to drink once a month or so. Perhaps next year.

I woke up this morning at 3:30am and it is now 2pm. I guess I might even be going to bed before the fireworks start. It wouldn't surprise me. I went to bed at 8pm last night. The reason I mention this, is I don't know what to do with myself for the rest of the day. I've written my 1500+ words and have done pretty much everything else I had expected to do today and now I'm kind of tired. I feel like I could almost go to bed now, but I also feel as though I ought to be going out to find something to do.

On days like today, people expect more than the standard amount of socialization out of other people. I suspect that is more imagined peer pressure though. I don't feel the need to go out and find some strangers to spend the evening with. In fact, I'm sure I would be too tired to put any effort into enjoying it, and thus, would seriously not enjoy it. So I think I will stick to my standard actions of not succumbing to peer pressure and stay in for the rest of the day.

If I had someone to socialize with I guess I would, but I don't, so I'll just go to bed early. I do want to say that I hope all my friends out there have an enjoyable and more importantly a safe holiday. May you all enjoy the day as much as my friend Scott.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

We missed you today Patrick. Karaoke did not have its usual zest and fell limp and flat rather early in the evening. Clint Eastwood was sung in your honor, but we all agreed that it just wasn't the same without you. It was also just one of those days that everything turned into crap, so we all called it an early evening too.

Doc Brown said...

I am so sad to hear that. :(

I was hoping to hear about what a great time everyone had. I get no sense of schadenfreude when it comes to my friends. I would much prefer to hear they had a great time without me, rather than hear their fun was lacking due to my absence.

Be sure to book the karaoke for New Years Eve. I'm looking forward to it. :)

Unknown said...

Already booked! We are very much looking forward to having you come home.

Unknown said...

Hey Pat: While having you here would have made the evening more enjoyable- it wasnt the lack of you that made it crap.

The miserable shrews down at the end of the next block invited (apparently) the one person in the entire city that I had made clear I didnt want here, that French idiot up the street.

This time Kim told him to leave after he decided to start in on me infront of everyone over having the lift on the sidewalk.

That guy either has Asperger's or he is an asshole. Either way there is "ass" involved.