Happy New Year!

Well, New Year’s didn’t go quite as planned but that’s ok. I went up to the northern Kyle’s on Friday. The original plan had Mike coming up with me and Valerie joining us there. Well, since Mike had to work hard all week, he was exhausted by Friday night and the drive just didn’t seem like a good idea for only a full day’s gathering. I’ve done it and so I understand. So, we agreed that I would head back down a day early (today) and spend all day today together since he has off. Sounds like a good plan to me. Valerie had some things come up that made her cancel driving up. I was disappointed but understood. So, it was just going to be me with Kyle and his new boyfriend, Paul. No problem. I admit to wondering if I should just head back to SC on Sat but I hadn’t seen Kyle in forever so. . . .

Friday was a good day for the most part. My exhaustion kicked in early in the evening. Probably because I was relaxed. Being around Kyle has that affect on me since we’ve known each other forever. And Paul is a very nice guy and totally cool so I could easily be myself and just relax more. I think I was a combo of exhausted and dehydrated because I was just drinking down glass after glass of water without feeling sated. We ended up going over to Paul’s relatives’ house. They were nice but I wasn’t feeling particularly energetic enough to be ultra social. Afterwards we went bowling. Considering that I wasn’t feeling well, I did pretty well. Started off the first game with three strikes. Lol I just know that I won’t do that well when Mike and I go (we’ve been talking about it for a while). Got a 166 and that’s the best I’ve bowled in ages (haven’t been in about three years) and then a 126. We then played darts (Kyle and Paul won one each) and then pool (Kyle beat me because I scratched after sinking the 8). Two of Paul’s friends joined us at one point and they were both smokers. This caused me to ask Kyle how smokey he thought the parties were gonna be because it was really irritating my sinuses (and I’ve gotten really sick in the past from too much smoke hitting me when I’m trying to fight off something). Kyle said that the parties would be pretty bad so I asked if he minded if I just chilled at his house. No but Paul wouldn’t hear of it. It made him feel bad that I had come all that way to see my friend and then sit home alone. Well, I didn’t want him to feel bad and since I’d planned to leave on Sunday anyway, I thought that I might see if I couldn’t join Valerie since we both wanted to see each other.

So, in the end, I went to Baltimore. Got there about 10p. I was feeling better after having slept for about 9ish hours. Still a little exhausted and stuffed up but better. Val’s plans had all gotten changed on her again so we just stayed in her apartment and talked. It was a good time and I am very happy that I was able to hang out with her. I called the farm as usual at midnight while Val called her parents. Then I left Mike a message and called Jonathan since he was alone for the evening. Valerie and he have each other’s numbers now. Uh oh, that’s gonna be trouble: my little sister and little brother being able to talk to each other and plot against me. (Sigh) Such is the fate of all big adoptive sisters. (Grin) Lord help me.

Anyway, hanging with Valerie is always a good thing. I wish we lived closer together but, well, c’est ma vie. Kyle had said that it was amazing how long I maintain close friendships considering how busy I always am. (Shrug) Guess it’s just one of my talents. Maybe one day I’ll discuss it on the blog.

I got to meet Valerie’s new boyfriend, Ben, before I left. He is really nice and I think that they fit well together. It just “feels” right between them. We had a lovely, relaxed lunch and then I drove back to SC. It was an ok drive but for around DC (I hate 95) but I made pretty good time anyway. Hit rain down here and it’s still going. Ugh. So doesn’t make it easy to wake up. Mike is on his way over so I better finish getting ready.