I guess I'm revealing my US-centricness, but I think if you said "Americans," I would have assumed you didn't mean South Americans, Central Americans, or even non-US-North Americans. Since this is such a US-specific holiday and all, I would have assumed that "American" was shorthand for "citizen of the United States of America," which does after all have the word "America" in its name.

It's hard for me to grok anyone but people from the US thinking of themselves as "Americans". "North Americans" or "South Americans" -- but a Canadian and an Chilean describing themselves as "American" is like a Dane and a Thai describing themselves as "Eurasian".

Argh. Dear friend B, when you suggested I watch the fireworks from your place I expressed worry about the parking and congestion after. You said you could take turns scooting me and your gf home on your vespa. I did NOT say I wanted to walk four miles home at 11:30 pm. Jesus.

(note: instead I'm pissed off, he refused to get on the scooter even though traffic is mad baked up and he couldgo around, and I walke a mile an change to the bus which will only get me to within a mile of home. Grrrrrr)

WTF, B? Dude should have manned up and revved up the scooter.

Was he too drunk to drive? That's the only reason I could think of to refuse...and then he should have called you a cab.

I have been in a hellacious funk all weekend, most likely the birthday blues (turned 45 on Saturday). I ended up blowing off two events Sunday and Monday that I'd been looking forward to because I. Could. Not. Deal. Apparently, wallowing in my bad mood was a better option than sucking it up. Thank God I had already scheduled today as a vacation day, because I would have hated going into work (though, sadly, I think I could deal with that better than either of the social events I didn't go to). Still feeling foul today, and I have zero appetite and really need to eat. Bleh.

Anyway, I just needed to get that out there. Sorry to be a bummer.

Aw, I'm sorry you had such a crap weekend, Frank. I'd wish you a happy belated birthday but it sounds like such a thing is not happening right now... I wish you an awesome year going forward, though!

Yes,hope that 45 turns out to be so much better than you have feared.

Thanks, Nora, I appreciate the thought. I probably didn't help my cause by (1) drinking too much the last few days and (2) not eating terribly well, and the self-sabotage is finally getting really apparent today. It's funny (in a not fun way) how easy it is to slip into bad behavior and not realize the fact until later when it catches up.

Oh well, I always preferred making resolutions around my birthday rather than at New Years and I think I have a couple I have to work on now.

Anyway, I need to start simple, like with a shower. Maybe get laundry done so I feel like I've done something constructive this weekend. I need to eat, but I'm not feeling remotely hungry right now.

probably didn't help my cause by (1) drinking too much the last few days and (2) not eating terribly well, and the self-sabotage is finally getting really apparent today.

Ugh, I know this one well. Hope today is productive and helps bring you back up to baseline. I recommend watching some fun TV on DVD and maybe doing some cooking?