Who's here? Jon B., Jon B's new lady friend, DX Machina, Matt the Bruins fan, Nutty, Emily, vw bug, Topic!Cindy, Ellen S., Theodosia, Victor, thessaly, Tom, myself, and of course, the ever Nilly-est Nilly.

PARTY!

Nilly is very huggable. Who wants to be my witness?

It's the "absolutely, I'll be there at ten to six, no problem", get there at ten past eight, find a crowd of people shivering on the kerb and glaring and an additional ten bucks parking fee added, and the response of "what's the big deal, just be mellow, man, you're all trying to control my time!" 'tude that gets me.

I wouldn't have waited on the curb, shivering. I'd do whatever it was I intended to do, without said person. Don't show to get me to take me to the airport? I call a cab. I'm always prepared to do something independently, in case of flakiness. Because I'm flaky.

I hugged Nilly a whole lot. I don't ordinarily hug folks. Airports, because I assume I'm going to die in a fiery crash, I hug the person who took me to meet my doom.

Nilly, because she's a hugger. And also a talker. The thing I'll remember most about Nilly's stay is long philosophical conversations, and her talking me down from the ledge, twice. Poor Nilly.

I'd do whatever it was I intended to do, without said person.

Damn, I wish. Not always possible, though. Iin the case of Toby and the missed plane, it would have been child abuse; Margot was maybe six at the time and there was no place to take her and no one to leave her with. But honestly, we were less furious about the not being there to get her daughter when she said she would than we were about how clear it was that Toby was using time as a weapon and a power trip, and wouldn't cop to it. It's an extreme example - OK, every single dealing we had with her was an extreme example, to the point where her own kid called it "living on Toby Time" - but she hung a lot of people out to dry, and always demanded a pat on the back ("See? I'm humouring you by paying attention and you ought to be congratulating me!" was the most-often heard comment) when she was less than an hour late.

She lost at least one teaching job that way, as well; why she chose a profession in which the clock rules the universe remains a mystery.

Oh, and Nilly is extremely huggable, although I didn't do nearly enough of it, while she was here.

We are partying.

Hooray.

Seconded. Also, I miss Nilly already.

Erin on the phone is being passed around. That beautiful Buffista phone slut!

Nora! Dude! You are rocktastic!

Yeah, lateness can be a weapon when there is no option but to wait. I figure coming late on your own time is cool (I often am myself) , or if you tell the others involved in the event, but making other people wait is unkind.

Very sad not to have gotten to enjoy the Somerville festivities, but looking forward to meeting Nilly tomorrow. Also very sorry to miss meeting Cindy.

However, I am wiped, and the news from my friend was bad, so I was glad to be there for her. I hope Nilly has a blast touring Boston tomorrow.

I should really go to bed soon. 5:30 is going to come dang fast.

Waves at the Nilly party.

You know, I was suspicious that there was no way that anyone could live up to the Nilly hype.

I was wrong.