The Ballad of Independence

Aug 07, 2008 22:06

 
July 3rd, 2008.
Previously...
     Yes, I was a miserable old sod for several weeks.  I was alone again.  Sure, surrounded by friends, but no one close enough.  I put up a near impenetrable barrier around myself.  I wasn't going to allow the past to ruin anything, and a big part of that was insulating myself from anything that resembled what had happened before.  The Ex wasn't going to win again, and for that to happen, there couldn't be anyone who could be considered future exes.  So that meant no relationships, no chasing, no flirting.  Just me being me, dancing the nights away while struggling at work on a nearly impossible deadline, with not the best of backup helping me out.
     That didn't matter, at the moment.  Gina and Jose had their first bit of drama, as she really, really got worked up over the prospect of living in Washington State.  I convinced her that things would be easy once she got settled.  That was her thing, though-getting worked up over everything, then calming down when reason set in.  It was her personality.  Highs and lows.  She'd be okay, in the end.  Still didn't like the fact that she was moving so far away, though.  But what was I worried about?  In then end it was all big brother paranoia.
     Oh-barely got on about work back there earlier.  Lots of working weekends, working odd hours.  I hadn't had a weekend off since the wedding, and that's only because I put my foot down on that.  I had maybe another week or so left on this project, which was a good thing.  Because while I quit drinking coffee, I got into smoking a whole lot more cigs than normal.  I mean, a whole lot.  It was either that or melting down in the office because in one week someone on my team accidentally overwrote crucial files, someone else didn't do what they said they'd do, and then to top it all off someone totally threw me under the bus at the last minute by completely screwing everything up.
     The lives around me seemed to be falling into place.  Mine?  Well, that was becoming very debatable, very quickly.  That said, things couldn't get any worse, could they?
And Now...
     I was stuck in the office by myself again.  Well, not by myself really.  There were the cleaning staff, but all they did was sing salsa, kumbia, and meringue-which I didn't get because I had house music on full blast throughout the place.  No one important enough to complain about it, so it was back to business.  More typing, more humming away of random ideas in my mind.
     But that didn't last too much longer.  The office was now just me and the music.  It was time to change that.  I logged off the computer, chucked my laptop in the car, and ran off Downtown.  There was time for work, but this was time for play.  And play I would.  It was all that I had left, considering recent events.
     It was a good night to be out.  Loud everything.  That was the world.  Just loud and brash and happy.  In fact, that's all that I needed.  Usually I'd hang out at Pine, but it seemed like a good night to steal away from there and check out I-Bar.  I was a creature of habit, that much was certain.  But who could deny that stomping good industrial wasn't the cure-all for a particularly crappy week?  Clue for the crowd: Nobody.
     There was even some dancing involved.  Okay, very little.  But I at least tried for once.  And why I did I rarely dance?  There was no answer.  I hadn't a clue why ever.  When I was younger (ha!), sure, I danced all the time.  Till my feet burned, my knees ached, and my back gave out.  But...I don't know...the music made it everything all numb.  I didn't care.  The morning would come along and it would all be gone.  These days, though, that ache would take a while to go away.  So yes, maybe I was aging.  But least it was somewhat close to graceful.  Well, mostly.
July 4th, 2008.
      I technically had the day off, but I still had loads of work to do.  It was a lot easier since I was home alone.  Red was out hanging with her family, and I was definitely avoiding mine.  After a good few hours of work, I turned on the telly and gave the remote a spin.  Nothing on, of course.  That didn't matter, I had other ways of entertaining myself.
     Grand Theft Auto IV.  Whoever invented this game was a bloody genius.  I could do whatever the hell I pleased, shoot up things, blow things up, or just tool around town doing whatever.  It was nice.  Very relaxing.  Sort of, anyway.  Okay, whatever-it was just fun.  Besides, there was nothing on the telly.  The Premiereship wouldn't begin again for another month or so, so no futbol for me.  And let me tell you, what I wouldn't give for an Arsenal fix.
     The day came and went, with me fixed in front of the telly and enjoying just getting into whatever was on.  The sun set, though, and it was time to head downtown again to check out fireworks.  I called up one of my new mates, the Grad.  I'm not entirely sure how I ever met her, and quite frankly that didn't matter.  That seemed to happen to me a whole lot.  She was a new hanging partner, and that's what I totally needed right now.  I had arranged to meet her somewhere down the line that evening or in the future, but still, I was only on I-4 and pretty much too late for whatever was going on at Lake Eola.
     Well, not entirely too late.  Along the way, I had stopped on the I-4 overpass to check out the fireworks display.  It was honestly quite spectacular.  I mean, it was amazing.  Much better than what it had been in years past.  Maybe it was so good this time because I had actually stopped for once to take a look.  But I'd never know.  I never remembered.
     I got to Pine eventually.  Got a fantastic parking spot, as the thousands who were around the lake were now marching the streets to find their cars.  Families and whatnot,  Americana at its best.  Everyone around and happy, kids carrying sparklers, that sort of thing.  The something that I'd never have, but something I would always appreciate.
     Lots of billiards followed.  Played like a champ, for once.  I had a really good night, save for the lady that I had met who totally threw me 'round the bend.  Still, since I hadn't bothered to be chasing, it didn't matter.
     I-Bar was next on the list.  Friday nights weren't usually my type of night there, but I tolerated it sometimes for a change of pace.  Plus, classes hadn't started yet, so the college crowd hadn't completely infested the place yet.  I could deal with that.  I met up with the Grad and a few of her mates, and we had a jolly good time.  We laughed and danced and drank and it was all good.  That's what life was all about now.  The happy.  I had it, and I wasn't about to let it go.
     Next: Well you say you want a Revolution?  What does it mean?  Exactly what it means, literally!  Plus, more work, more GTA4, and more random causality.
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