sucker for work, huh?

After a week of blissful Euro Chic Bum life and I got a call. Something interesting came up and I'm back at work, consulting. It's only a temporary thing... once the fire's been put out, the client gets its legs, and I hire someone for them to take my place, I'll be back trying my hand at the Euro Chic Bum life again.

I spent the 4th of July with Mark and his family, watching the nieces and nephews in the pool, playing beach ball with everyone and having a blast. Then we pulled an all nighter to a casino and back. It was fun. I hadn't gambled in years. I was never much a gambler really, but I enjoyed the company if not the venue. We went with Tiff and Sammy and Mark and Mike (Mark's brother in law).

I missed the Fillmore Jazz Festival and was bummed out about that. I did make it to Zeytini and dined and drank and laugh away. Nick came by to gimme back my stuff I had left at the previous client's. Then he bounced after I flirted with a biker dude sitting nearby at the bar. I did it on purpose to see how he would react and sure enough, he withdrew himself nicely. He's way too fucking passive, way too young in the head. For some reason I find that a guy starts penny pinching around me and I lose all interest in him as a potential anything. What's a dollar or twenty between friends? I just can't stand people like that. And it's not just guys. It's women too. Sure we all work hard for our money, but it better not be fucking more important than our friendship. A few thousand dollars, okay. Lunch, dinner, a few drinks? Fuck it. I gave Nick his 2 dollars back and happily wondered if that's the last of him. I despise people who count pennies in a relationship. I owe you this, you owe me that. You know what? Take your fucking money and shove it. I don't owe anyone a goddamn thing and never will.

Should I ever owe anyone it is because out of the goodness of their heart they took me in and did me favors. The shit that money can't buy. And I will love them for it. Forever. That reminds me, I owe Jason money. But I don't owe him a goddamn thing else, like appreciation, respect, honor, or loyalty. But Mark G, Mark M, Mark K, B... they all did me favors, put themselves out on a limb for me, beyond a checkbook. Jason couldn't even bother giving me a ride home at night. How can I respect that? Nick never even bothered to wait with me for my train. He took care of himself first. Jason did too. I don't think I'm selfish, not overly anyhow. But when I see others offer me the courtesies above their own regard, I respect it, appreciate it, love them for it. And whatever I amount to in this life, I will try my damnedest to return those favors tenfold.

Oh and I befriended a little cat named Luna. She's so tiny and cute. But she's skittish. You can't touch her, you have to let her come to you. Then you can pet her. I can relate to her very well. She's an outdoorsy cat, very independent. I respect her. So now when she sees me, she comes running to me to be petted. But even then I still have to be careful. No sudden movements, no loud noises or she'll run away. I can really relate to her.