She got a call from the Laundromat well before her train was due in.  "Um...  I decided that if I rush, I'm going to panic, but I don't want to panic, so I'm not going to rush.  I'll be a little late to pick you up."  She didn't mind and I got there eventually.

We went back to my apartment, settled her in for a few seconds, grabbed the kid and hooked up with Princess to head to the *shudder* mall and see Corpse Bride.

A moment to talk about the movie, if you will.  I think that this is one I need to see again.  It was, frankly, the most bizarre children's movie I have ever seen in my life.  It was twisted and sick and WONDERFUL.  Everything I expect from Tim Burton and then some.  It reminded me, on some level of Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean's amazing children's book, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish (you can read my review of the book at that link - 8 of 8 people found it helpful - lol).  At it's core, Corpse Bride was very much a children's movie, but at the same time, it comes from the twisted mind of Tim Burton, so you ought to know what to expect to some degree.

While I loved it, and I do want to see it again, I don't think it's one of my favorites.  As much as I adore the utterly bizarre, this one was a little strange, even for me.  I firmly believe that Danny Elfman can do no wrong, especially in collaboration with Tim Burton, but the musical numbers will not as amazing as I've come to expect, specifically when comparing (and how can you not?) to The Nightmare Before Christmas.  But it was still a good movie, and I was very glad to have seen it.

The girls talked baseball, despite my assertive statements that the Yankees fan (Princess) and the Red Sox fan (Girl) were NOT allowed to discuss baseball.  Go figure, the Yankees/Red Sox game was on while we headed home...  *shakes head*  You know, I like baseball, I just don't care about TEAMS.  I mostly like sports, but I can appreciate a good play no matter who I'm supposed to be rooting for.

Anyway...

Came back and prepped for a quiet evening.  Girl says "You're my favorite person to get high with" and, after 5 months of being clean, I gave in to smoke up with her.  I have no desire to go back to that, so I'm off again, at least until there's a good party or a specific person that I want to imbibe with.  I'm happy enough with a fridge full of beer or a night on the town.  I don't want the expense.  I don't want the hassle, and I don't want to play with the potential for addiction.  I didn't miss it.  I don't miss it.  But, at the same time, I kind of enjoyed doing that with Girl...  I mean, it's Girl.  That's kind of how we became friends in the first place.

Saturday was supposed to be a shopping day, but we lost the person we were supposed to be going with.  Nothing wrong with that, though...  it was nice to spend a quiet day.  We went shopping for dinner and just bummed around the house.  My Guitar Buddy and his girlfriend came over for dinner and a brief practice, which was nice, but I think that GB is a little under the weather (and I know that he's quitting smoking) so I'm not sure if this week will be a duo week...  we'll see.  I don't mind if he feels like he needs a week off... It might be good for him, you never know.

The rest of the night was playing cards (Spawn kicked both our asses in Rummy 500), drinking Jager and watching the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (which holds up nicely).  Quiet and just hanging out.  That's what I love about when Girl comes to visit, we can just kick back, catch up and be ourselves.  I miss her sometimes, but I think I like that she lives far enough away for our trips to visit each other to be special. 

I started writing a new song this weekend, too.  It's a piece that I have been playing on guitar for months now, but I never knew what I was going to do with it - just that I wanted to do *something*.  All of a sudden, the inspiration hit me, and hit HARD, and I was able to start setting up some lyrics to go with the music.  Girl says she's seen me inspired and writing before, but after listening to me play it OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER (ad infinitum), I think maybe she hasn't before...  she's seen the early stages, but not the overall process.  One more thing you've learned about me, darling.

So I sent her off this morning happy and well-fed.  She'll be getting on the train in a little while, after being subjected to the humor stylings (such as they are) of my father.  She looks forward to that part, almost every time.  I love that.

The sounds from the other room remind me of the *other* important thing about the *shudder* mall.  I bought the Spawn his (late) birthday present.  I bought him Kirby and Girl picked him up Revenge of the Sith.  He's been happily occupied all weekend long.

So, yeah, it's been a good weekend for all of us.  I was less obsessed with all the drama and bullshit that I've been wrapped up in and it's always good to be able to talk to Girl.  She challenges me and makes me think, but she's also a good ear to bend and shoulder to cry on.  And she's tough like me...  and meddlesome (also, like me) and prone to saying things like "I'll just go hunt him down and take matters into my own hands" and, while I know she won't, I also know that if it got to that point, and I actually asked for it, she would.  I doubt I'd ever use that, but it's nice to know it's there.

~FG };^>