That was a weekend…

As some of you may know, I was in Phoenix this long weekend. I rolled into town Friday night, watched 50 First Dates with my brother and sister, bought 5 diet Pepsis, enjoyed some ice cream, and found out that my brother put the wrong modem in my sister’s computer when rebuilding it up here, so there would be no internet access while I was in town. Saturday night, between allergies and no allergy medicine, stomach acid and no antacids, and general over-caffeination and/or another drawn-out anxiety attack, I didn’t get to sleep until … after 4, I guess. But I was up around 8 to get ready and go to the Renaissance Festival with my brother and sister. After a quick stop at Fashion Square to fix the birth certificate of a Build-A-Bear, we were on our way and arrived at the Festival only about 75 minutes after we’d originally planned. No problem, as we would be there all day. Had a good time. Saw Zilch a couple of times, saw Ded Bob, saw Art and Callie and their son Charlie and their parents all around. Ate turkey legs, ate chocolate, shopped through all the little shops, saw Don Juan and Miguel’s Weird Show… saw the Wyld Men play music from vegetables… and eventually left. Angela drove me over to and dropped me off at Jen’s house. I gave Jen the aforementioned bear, some of what I hear is her favorite candy, and we went out for dinner … sort of … and after dinner I offered her some jewelry which she turned down. After not too long she drove me home again, since she had work in the morning. I did not have work in the morning, but I didn’t have the internet, either, so after not very long, I slept. Sunday after sleeping most of the day away, I walked the 75 minutes to the Zia where they didn’t have a used copy of Lost In Translation. I did get used copies of Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and the Santa Clause 2 on DVD across the street at Hollywood video, 2 for $20, which was a good deal. After much deliberation I also picked up a “used” brand new, unopened copy of Blink 182’s new album. I grabbed another couple of diet Pepsis and began the walk home. I passed by the movie theatre at just the wrong time to see The Big Bounce, so went across the street and bought a pizza instead, and carried it the other mile home. A little pizza, a little ice cream, a lot more probably-stress-related stomach trouble, the Confessions of a Dangerous Mind DVD, and I slept again, this time passing out before midnight, I believe. Around eleven I woke again, started some laundry, looked up some movie times, and watched some lousy TV while eating breakfast. Went and watched the Big Bounce, which was disappointing because it didn’t really ‘hook’ me (and the ending was sloppy), bought some cookies and crackers and returned home. Worked some more on my laundry, got my stuff together, and then after a time Dad showed up. Later Heath showed up. Eventually we got on the road. Eventually I got home. downloaded over 200 emails that I’d missed, 27 were not viruses or unsolicited messages, zero were manually sent emails from humans to me (though one was from Zoe’s mom to Zoe, which I forwarded on) – the 27 were comments and solicited SPAM (ie: I am subscribed to several ‘newsletters’). And now here I am.

That was a weekend.

Really, in case that ‘little’ description didn’t make it clear, I didn’t end up with any plans past Valentine’s Day. Sunday and Monday I was mostly just waiting to come home. But I hear my brother had a good time, so that’s something. He’ll probably never post a word about it, though, so don’t hold your breath.

Oh, and Iain, I’ve got 7 iTunes codes from the 7 bottles of diet Pepsi I bought, so that makes me … 7 for 7 so far in my “quest for Pepsi/iTunes”. I think I’ll buy some singles from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Jet… and somethin’ else.

Oh, and Jen, yes, it seems I was lying to myself at the time, but no, no,no surprize.

So after the way this weekend went I think I’m just about burned out on the whole Phoenix experience for a while. Actually, whereas in the past I’ve looked forward to the next opportunity to get back, I feel right now that if I stayed in Pine for months at a time it would be okay. More okay if we finally get that shower installed up here, but even okay to a point without it. Something about travelling 100+ miles to sit around in a house I’m allergic to for days and/or to hang out with my brother who I live with anyway (and though hanging out with Angela is good and at least different, it’s still just family) that doesn’t quite satisfy me anymore.

Saturday was okay. Ren Fest was … the same old same-old, really, and I think I’ll be able to skip it next year (unless I find some really compelling travelling companion) without a second thought. Hanging out with Jen was good… in its own way… but she’s not only in the exciting category that the rest of my friends are in, distancing them from me, of being married and/or with children, but she has the added bonus of being one of the people I am attracted to, like, love, want to be with, and who really, actually, just wants to be friends with me. Which makes it a little extra … frustrating? to be around her.

But we are, certainly, friends.

And yet, for the 3.5days/3nights I spent in Phoenix and the around $140 I spent this weekend, somehow it doesn’t quite feel like it was worth it.

I probably oughtn’t have spent so much money. Something about being in Phoenix alone and unhappy and with no ‘plan’ for what to do with myself seems to result in a fair piece of overspending. I’ll balance Quicken later this week and see how I’ve come out. Being in a place where I don’t know where the money will come from to pay my bills next month also seems to throw my spending limits out of whack.

I’m getting sick of this.

I’ve got to sleep. More tomorrow. (today)