I don’t think I’ll be able to do live blogging this weekend like I did last. I’m headed to Rehoboth (in Delaware, like last weekend) for sunshine, seafood, cocktails and a great time with about 15 friends. Most of these people I know pretty well, some I’ve met a couple of times and there are some newbies thrown in there as well.

We’re all staying at my gracious friends Jeff & Christopher, the same dudes who own the pHabulous pHierce School. They throw a Memorial Day theme party, dubbed “Tiki” and that will the main event on Sunday, but we’ve got a couple days before then to spend some time in the sun and attend happy hours and laugh and eat and sleep-in. Is it okay for the unemployed to take a vacation?

2:42 Passing one of those new Kia Cube cars, or whatever they’re called. It’s white and looks like something off of a Space:1999 set.

3:32 Lady Gaga on the system.

3:53 We just caught some air going thru an intersection. The bike is still safely secured to the roof, in case you were wondering.

3:57 We’re stopping at Elmer’s Produce to pick up a watermelon!

4:13 Quote from Eddy: “Disco is the shit!”

4:53 We’re here!

6:48 Everyone has arrived, four cars. We’re having a cosmo here at the house before heading to Aqua for happy hour before sundown. Cheers!

8:30 Quote from Lana: “Dont be a stranger with that vodka.”

10:26 At Finn’s, just finished a fabulous seafood sampling dinner. Mussels, clams, oysters and shrimps. All fresh from the bay/ocean, the preservatives had not killed the fresh taste of mercury.

1:26 Reliving the nights fun and giggling. How many people are in this car?

3:03 Nite.

Out of the next 24 days, I will be in town for seven of those days. This weekend is a trip to Wilmington, DE, “A Place To Be Somebody”, Memorial Day weekend I’ve been graciously invited to Poodle Rehoboth Beach and the following week I am going to be gainfully employed as an au pair.

Of course I realize this as I’ve already make a trek to the grocery store. I’m thinking of things I should consume at home that are already cooked or produce that will spoil, so this trip is a stocking-up of items that have a shelf life or that I can freeze: chicken ($0.99 per pound—bargain!), boxed & canned goods. I even used the self-checkout. I am a man in motion.

Purchase: $29.16
EBT Card Balance: $193.25
Club Card Savings: $12.25 (30% of purchase)

As a continuation of Sunday’s post…

My good friend from high school, Charlene, did indeed pass away Friday. Suicide.

How far does one have to go down a path to commit suicide? Do you get to a point of no return and is that point unrecognizable to those around you?

I’ve spent this week communicating with, or trying to track down, high school friends. Some are on Facebook, some I have phone & email contact, others I’m desperately googling to find an access point.

Those whom I have gotten in touch with, I’ve told what I know of Char’s story on the phone or through email. The phone conversations are actually best, partly because these are folks that are/were actual friends and it’s easier to have a back-and-forth conversation, but also because I don’t have to sit there and write a long letter to the others who are responding to remote emails. Still, I’ve been writing them and once they respond back, let them know the details. At first I felt odd about revealing too much, too many sordid details, but then this isn’t my story to be told and these are the facts that I’ve been left with. So I’ve given them all the information that I know.

Now I’m coordinating for the services this weekend. There are two viewings on Friday, one from 2–4 and another from 6–8. This must be hell for the family to have two viewings. I remember my mother’s viewing and it’s a weird thing to do, to actually have an open casket. I remembered the role I played there, of strongman, holding up my Dad and welcoming guests & friends, thankful for each person that showed up. Char’s funeral services (as well as the viewings) will be held Saturday at 4:00 at George P Kalas Funeral Home just outside of Annapolis.

Ironically, a previously-planned PVHS 1982 mini-reunion was and is being held this Friday evening. While I hadn’t planned on attending, now I feel compelled for camaraderie with my peers from 25 years ago. I plan on attending the 2:00 viewing and I guess I could came back into town, keep going, to the other side of the ‘burbs and go to the mini-reu. Maybe it’s what I’ll need in between the services.

RIP, Charlene Polen 1964–2009
aka Charlene Kimble, née Charlene Pogue

UPDATE: Char’s obituary can be found here.

We all slept in this morning, although I was up the latest again. That’s fine though; I’m the guest here.

After an omelette breffus made of yesterday’s fajitas leftovers it’s time for car washing. I’m just an observer to this process of scrubbing and hosing. I’m there for the comic relief. And to squish my feet into the green lawn.

I’ve also learned (through Facebook, of all things) that a close high school friend of mine passed away on Friday. I’m reading updates from her daughter which are pretty much pointing to that inevitability. Her daughter’s phone number is there on her info page and I’ll call her when I get home.

Wake up time (for me) is 10:00. I laid in bed last night until 2:30, at which point I decided to take a sleeping pill. I need to start taking these earlier, but I’m trying to not use them every night.

I heard the television on earlier this morn but now it’s been turned off. I guess Eddy & Bass have moved outside to start mowing grass and washing cars?

While the boys were out front mowing and trimming, I decided to get started on dinner. I’ve marinated our flank steaks in garlic and beer, getting them ready for grilling. I’ve chopped and made fresh pico de gallo, and that is now covered and in the fridge. Eddy’s making egg salad & ham sandwiches for lunch and Bass has set out two pitchers of sun tea.

Bam, some tv time later and it’s already dinnertime! Eddy cooked at the grill: fajitas, green peppers and onions, tomatoes. I stayed inside and tended the rice and beans.

After dinner, amidst the Star Wars & LOTR marathons, we managed to pop in the Milk DVD and (finally) get to see that wonderful movie. Turns out Bass & Eddy hadn’t seen it either so we all got to see it for the first time together.

Of course after the movie we all needed a cocktail of sorts and that’s when the vodka was broken out. We started having a couple of drinks, watched SNL and mellowed into the evening.

Bass sleep time: 12:30; Eddy sleep time: 1:10; me 2:00.

My underemployed friend Eddy was over on Wednesday having dinner, watching cable tv and having a cocktail. He mentioned that he was going to visit his boyfriend at the Country Estate and asked if I would like to tag along. I thought about it for three minutes or so and since I haven’t been out of DC since February I thought it was good to accept his offer.

Since we *have* to be in front of a television at 2:00 to watch Ellen, I’m running around this morning trying to get some things done: laundry, packing, filing weekly claim, synching iPhone (BSG series finale, in case I can’t sleep), baking some chicken that I defrosted but hadn’t cooked yet. You know, mundane domestic things.

Fast forward: we’re at Bass’ house now, after a stop off at Jerry’s Subs for lunch—we apparently made the day of Becky, out bored yet giggly counter girl. Kosmo Kitty has immediately taken a like to me, sitting next to me while I ate, and now lounging with me on the couch as we watch tv.

We make a run to the grocery store to get goodies for dindin. Eddy’s thinking of marinated baked chicken for tonight and I decide I’ll pay for the fajitas I’ve picked for tomorrow night. Including fixin”s for pico de gallo, EBT card purchase: $16.66; remaining balance $81.91.

Instead of watching Oprah’s we sit in the driveway on folding chairs and enjoy the weather. Across the street are kids running around and playing on bikes and we both long for that innocence again, and the lack of sense of time passing. Nemo, Bass’ outdoor cat, saunters up for some food and bellyrubs. He’s having a lazy day, too.

Dinner: herb & garlic marinated chicken breasts w/ whole clove garlic, seasoned bread with olive oil and garden salad with squash & green peppers and thousand island dressing.

The rest of the evening consisted of lounging around on the couches watching DVRed television, which was fine by me. Eddy was knitting, I was petting Kosmo Kitty and Bass was munching on Cheerios. By the way, Bass has the absolute largest television I have ever seen. It feels like a Willy Wonka television that people are going to walk right out of and join you in the living room.

Bass went to bed at 11, Eddy at 11:30 and now it’s midnight and I’m turning in (hopefully I’ll fall asleep easily). I think Bass is going to put us to work in the yard tomorrow.