It’s been a strange ride. Friday, against my better judgement, I went to the Beer Festival. Hilariously, I ran into a bunch of people from my residency class. I didn’t know whether to be disturbed or to be comforted that there were at least six or seven physicians at that place.

I feel rather ashamed that my first thought when they said that I had 10 free drinks with admission was “That’s it?” But since I haven’t been abusing my liver quite as much as I used to, it proved to be more than sufficient. I’ve definitely lost a lot of my metabolic prowess over the years.

Somehow, we almost got involved in two altercations. But that is neither here nor there.

The more subtlety entertaining part of that evening was going over to Club Sin. It was β’s birthday (I don’t really know her all that well) and it was J™’s command decision to move our contingent of the party over there. Which was all well and good. I had, however, hit my limit, and didn’t think I could safely drink anymore, considering that I still had to drive home. (Not to mention the fact that I had to catch a 6:40 am flight to San Jose the next morning.)

Of course χ was there, what with β being one of her oldest friends and all. She didn’t see me at first, which was all well and good. She was practically pinned to the wall by this big hulking dude, and I’m all like, hey, let the girl get her game on. I wandered the dance floor, searching for what exactly, I’m not sure.

But I ended up passing by again, and this time she saw me, and waved, and I felt conflicted. Was that a mere acknowledgement-of-my-presence wave? Or was that a come-save-me-from-this-guy wave? Chickenshit that I am, I fled, befuddled. Luckily I ran into J™, who was in fact looking for χ. I led him and D over to her, and when J™ tried to say hi, the dude got all up in his face. I couldn’t actually hear what he said, but his face looked like he was saying, “And you are who, exactly?” After exchange pleasantries, we walked away, shrugging.

I don’t know why, but my soul hides whenever she’s around. She’s never really said more than a few words to me. I find her attractive, but I know nothing about her, and yet already my soul twists in non-specific turmoil. There is clearly something wrong with me.

Going to bed at 1:30 a.m. and waking up at 4:30 a.m. was pretty painful. It was only the first of my mistakes that weekend….