smirkingatyou

First, some happy news. Friday I went to Athens. John and Heather gave me a place to crash. For dinner, they humored me and my addiction to Taco Stand's cheap and wonderful food. That night, we hung out with LadyL and Bruce at their new house. We tried to play a new board game. However, no matter how much we drank, it was too difficult to make it risque so we gave up. Then we all watched The Beastmaster. That's right, baby. The Beastmaster! The alcohol flowed in and the smartass comments flowed out like the life-sustaining breath of a beautiful (and drunk and beligerent) child. It was magical. Saturday, I attended the wedding of a family friend. The ceremony was short and the reception comfortable. I proved (once again) to my family that I clean up well; I played with my nephews; I also enjoyed the company of friends I haven't seen in a long while. The highlight of the reception was this exchange with my older nephew (6 years old):

-Nephew: (loudly) Uncle [S], I remember the hand sign you taught me.
-Me: [a cold sweat materializes over my entire body]
(externally) What hand sign?
(internally) Jesus H. Christ! What did I teach him?
-Nephew: [thrusts his hand into the air, extends his index and pinkie finger]
ROCK AND ROLL!
-Me: (externally) That's right, buddy. Good job!
(internally) Oh, thank God. That wasn't too bad.

Afterward, I went back to la maison de John and Heather to relax and collect my things before leaving. We hung out for a while. Heather and I discussed her graphic novel in the works. Then LadyL showed up with her baby. I made goofy faces and noises at him which made him coo and giggle. (I might have done the same in response, but that doesn't mean I won't attack and curse you if you bring it up in public.) All too soon, I was forced by normal-life's commitments to make my goodbyes and return home.

***EDIT***
I decided it probably wasn't a good idea to leave the rest of this post open to public consumption.