If you start to do something for a while, you might notice a pattern.  I think I have a dating pattern.  I might date someone for a while, somewhere on the continuum between casually and not-so-casually.  It fizzles out for whatever reason, then I go back to some form of internet dating, which I swore off the last time I did it.  I do it for about a month, decide it’s basically a waste of time, then go back to my laissez-faire dating scheme, during which I will inevitably meet someone (in person) who interests me.  And so on, and so on.  Right now I’m in the "why am I wasting my time with something as irritating and unproductive as JDate when I barely have time to see my friends and family I actually want to see?" phase.  Next comes laissez-faire.  Sigh.

Last night I got to see a whole slew of beach house folks — Katie, Matt, Kim, Nikki, Marla, Chip (I’m sure I missed one or two — I haven’t had coffee yet, please forgive me) — we all went to see Matty Z.’s band, the Old Nationals, which I really liked, although I didn’t get to see their whole set.  Also got to catch up with Dens, who stopped by after getting my Dodgeball message.  This was quite fortuitous, as Katie and I had just recruited Matt and Nikki to join and they have been having some tech issues.  I told them Dens would take care of it for them (he’s the founder/creator of Dodgeball) — I’m sure he loved that.

Today is Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.  It’s a very convenient thing, really — you can sin all year, it all gets wiped away in one fell swoop, and then you’re all set.  Even though I’m the Jewiest Jew in the family, I actually didn’t manage to get to temple this year for the High Holidays.  I didn’t make reservations at the place I’ve gone in the past, and it’s not so easy to just waltz into a temple on Rosh Hashanna or Yom Kippur (that’s a whole other issue — paying for tickets to High Holiday services?!  Oy!).  So, to observe the holiday in my own way, I slept late, worked out, did some work, did some errands, and am starting to prepare my break-fast dinner.  Yes, I’m fasting, as I do most years (and I’m pretty cranky and ravenous at the moment, not to mention the vicious headache from lack of caffeine).  I figure it’s the least I can do.  Break-fast tonight with my sister and cousin Sara will be an extremely non-traditional meal of artichokes with drawn butter, spaghetti and meatballs, and a salad, with a lemon pound cake that my sister is bringing.  Why spaghetti and meatballs?  Because I had ground turkey in the freezer, and it inspired me.

As I’ve gone about my day, I have taken some time to think and reflect over the past year.  I’ve had some rough times, achieved some goals with patience and hard work, read my writing aloud for the first time, met new people, caught up with old friends, ate well, and thoroughly enjoyed myself in many ways.  As I approach my 35th birthday at the end of this year (gasp!), I recognize some changes I want to make, but all in all, I’m very happy with my life.  I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year, whether you’re celebrating or not, and I hope your fast was as (surprisingly) easy as mine.

If there’s one thing I do well, it’s meeting people and making attempts to keep them in my life.  Many people I know are astounded by, well, the sheer number of people I know.  Recently, two separate friends were telling me how, for various reasons, they wanted to expand their social circles.  "I can help." I offered.    I’m no Yenta — I’m not offering romantic matchups or anything — but I know so many great, fun, interesting people that the least I can do is share the wealth.  I truly enjoy bringing my friends who don’t already know each other together, particularly over a good meal, like I did last night at Scottadito.  Scott, a good friend from college, organized a small dinner and suggested that we invite others along.  So in addition to Jay, Doug, Mike and Alexis, part of the Tufts crowd, I invited Katie and Kim from the beach house, and Gabe, one of my friends looking to meet new people.  Add a tasty three course Italian meal with wine pairings (for the ridiculously low price of $45!), and voila!   I’m already figuring out ways to weave these two a little deeper into my social fabric.  Anyone else out there looking for a little social shake-up?

Yes, I know the weather is crummy, so it doesn’t necessarily seem like the best time to head out to Fire Island, but I decided to come out anyway, just to get out of the city and go somewhere quiet.  All part of the grand plan to slow down this fall.  There are only a few of us out here, which makes it all the more relaxing.  I had intended to bring out my camera — the SLR that uses film (how very antiquated, I know) — but completely forgot to bring it.  Oh well. 

Okay — back to the relaxation.

Gotta love having friends who know how to make you laugh out loud.  I got an email from Rob yesterday about our dinner with Augie and Lauren at the Fatty Crab: "i ate too much last night.  now i feel like this python." (For those of you too lazy to click the link, the headline is "Python Explodes After Trying to Swallow Six-Foot Alligator Whole.")

You start to worry about getting old when you decide to walk home from work (just to see how long it takes — 50 minutes), and you notice that the music playing from the sound system outside of the Marriott is the Cure’s "Just Like Heaven."  I guess, to some people, it would be considered "oldies."  Sigh.

at the 53rd Street subway stop:  "Queens-bound E train now approaching the station."  Pause.  (same voice, singing) "To find I’m king of the hill . . . top of the heap."  Pause.  "It’s up to you, New York, Neeeeeeeeeew, Yooooooooork!"

Smiles all around.