I know, it has been over three weeks since my last post. I kept meaning to, but I just kept finding other stuff to do. My bad, I know.
I suppose I'll start with a fun bit of news. Well, those who see me every day know that it isn't really news anymore, so I guess this is a shout out to the millions and millions of Natiacs out there in the Internet ether, who turn to the All You Can Nate Special as their only source of information for all things Nate.
I have a girlfriend now.
. . .
Stop laughing and pick yourselves up off the floor. I was being serious.
I can understand, though, if it comes as a bit of a shock. I was single for quite a long time. Almost all the way through college, anyway, and a few years into my professional life. Definitely long enough to get used to it. Oh, sure, I did some dating throughout that time, but it was nothing that ever really materialized into anything. People, especially family members, were always trying to set me up, so I even did a couple blind dates that were hilarious.
Well, hilarious if you think it's particularly funny to set up a college-aged bar rat with a tee-totalling, fourth-year med student. (For the record, I think it's pretty funny.) I can almost remember the look on her face when I told her that I, at the tender age of 23, had completed the Old Chicago World Beer Tour. Another time, one of my uncles wanted to set me up with a doctor colleague of his. At the time, I was 24. She was 34. Can you imagine what that would've been like? I mean, seriously, I have to wonder if she'd have tucked me in at night, read me a story, and then made chocolate chip pancakes for me in the morning?
So you can imagine that, when I stopped by my aunt's house the Friday before this past Christmas, I reacted (inwardly) with a healthy amount of skepticism when she took out a picture of someone she wanted me to meet. "Sure, she's cute," I thought, "but really, what are the odds?" I was intrigued, however, and figured that if nothing else, it'd be fun to go out and meet someone new, and I'd have good story material for the blog if it went badly.
I had Nancy (my aunt) go ahead and secure a phone number for me, and called Angie (that's her name, you must understand) soon after that. We arranged our first date for Friday, the 13th of January. I know, I know. That's a heck of a day to choose to meet someone. If you're superstitious, anyway. Which I'm not.
I'll admit to being a little nervous going into the night, but Angie set me at ease right away. When I went to her house to pick her up, her twin sister, Amy, let me in and Angie came walking out of her room with a baby in her arms.
"Hi, I'm Angie, and this is my daughter."
Now, I knew that Aubrie (the baby) was Amy's child, so I thought it was the funniest thing in the world. I love to tease people and play tricks, so I loved the fact that she was someone willing to do the same.
This is where I tell you that Angie turned out to be truly gorgeous. I know it's what you're all wondering, and I'm only too happy to tell you. :)
We went out to eat and then had a drink afterward. Angie hadn't been feeling particularly well going into the night, so I figured I'd give her a few opportunities for an "out." Bless her heart, though, she stuck with me. We talked the whole time and just really enjoyed the night. When I dropped her off, I told her that I really had a good time and asked if she'd like to go out again sometime. To my delight (and bit of surprise), she said she would.
And so we did. Each time I'd go out with Angie, I'd find something new to like about her. (Of course, this still holds true today. ;)) She, in turn, evidently saw enough potential to keep spending time with me. For me, the time went by like a blur, yet at the same time, it felt like months went by. Sounds strange, doesn't it? Anyway, by the end of our Valentine's Day date, I had asked her if she'd be my girlfriend. It was nothing I had planned, but in the end the timing just seemed natural to me. Again, to my delight, Angie was agreeable. :)
So, if you happen to see me wandering around with a bit of a grin and a far off look in my eyes, I guess you'll understand just why that is. I'd have told y'all sooner, but I didn't think it'd be fair to say anything until I had shown this blog to Angie. And believe me, as soon as I get a hold of a pic of the two of us together, I'll be sure to post it here.
So, yeah, life is good. Excellent, in fact. :)
Well, excellent except for this viral throat infection I picked up. Except this is no ordinary virus. In fact, this virus was forged in the lowest regions of Cocytus (the deepest, darkest part of Hell for those of you unschooled in the classical tradition) by the Devil himself and then passed down to mutant aliens, who infected me with it in between cattle slaughtering sessions. Seriously. If I actually knew what it felt like to have gonorrhea, I'm pretty sure this is what it'd feel like to have it in the throat.
I know all of you out there are saying, "But Nate, let's be real. We've all had our share of sore throats. Surely yours can't be any worse."
Oh, but I beg to differ. You see, this sore throat is the sort of thing H.P. Lovecraft would've written about. Swallowing and talking feels like the equivalent of swallowing razorblades and washing them down with needles that have been used by drug addicts. I've had naught to eat these past three days except ice cream and some soup that Angie was so gracious to pick up for me. At night, my sleep is rather a waking state of fever-induced delirium, wherein the lines between dream and reality are inextricably crossed. It is also at this point where it becomes very possible to conduct a lucrative pyramid scheme from the comfort of one's own bed.
Concordantly, I look about as well as I feel. I haven't shaved since Saturday, so I'm rather scruffy. I haven't lifted weights since Friday, and my muscles feel like balloons that have begun to deflate. In a way, I resemble King Theoden from The Lord Of The Rings while he was still under the influence of Saruman and Wormtongue.
In other words, if it has had this effect on me, imagine what it would've done to a lesser man.
Let's see, what else, what else....Ah. Today is Shrove Tuesday, better known as Fat Tuesday. Tomorrow begins the season of Lent, a forty-day (forty-six, counting the Sundays) stretch wherein it is traditional for Catholics and other Christians to abstain from something they enjoy. This is done in remembrance of Jesus' forty days in the wilderness, in which he was tempted by the Devil. This year, I've elected to give up alcoholic beverages. I know, this is going to be tough. But it's something that I've thought about doing for years, and it's time to prove to myself and everyone else that I'm perfectly capable of doing so. It's no trial in the wilderness, of course, but it'll provide me with ample opportunities for introspection and a chance to see just how folks who, uh, don't like beer live. Angie is in on this with me, so that'll make it easier.
And now, I'll leave you with some songs that you should go out and download.
"Express Yourself" by Charles Wright
"Surrender" by Simple Plan
"Hair Of The Dog" by Guns'n'Roses
"Inside Out" by Eve 6
I'm out. Stay on my case so that I keep posting regularly, yeah?
I suppose I'll start with a fun bit of news. Well, those who see me every day know that it isn't really news anymore, so I guess this is a shout out to the millions and millions of Natiacs out there in the Internet ether, who turn to the All You Can Nate Special as their only source of information for all things Nate.
I have a girlfriend now.
. . .
Stop laughing and pick yourselves up off the floor. I was being serious.
I can understand, though, if it comes as a bit of a shock. I was single for quite a long time. Almost all the way through college, anyway, and a few years into my professional life. Definitely long enough to get used to it. Oh, sure, I did some dating throughout that time, but it was nothing that ever really materialized into anything. People, especially family members, were always trying to set me up, so I even did a couple blind dates that were hilarious.
Well, hilarious if you think it's particularly funny to set up a college-aged bar rat with a tee-totalling, fourth-year med student. (For the record, I think it's pretty funny.) I can almost remember the look on her face when I told her that I, at the tender age of 23, had completed the Old Chicago World Beer Tour. Another time, one of my uncles wanted to set me up with a doctor colleague of his. At the time, I was 24. She was 34. Can you imagine what that would've been like? I mean, seriously, I have to wonder if she'd have tucked me in at night, read me a story, and then made chocolate chip pancakes for me in the morning?
So you can imagine that, when I stopped by my aunt's house the Friday before this past Christmas, I reacted (inwardly) with a healthy amount of skepticism when she took out a picture of someone she wanted me to meet. "Sure, she's cute," I thought, "but really, what are the odds?" I was intrigued, however, and figured that if nothing else, it'd be fun to go out and meet someone new, and I'd have good story material for the blog if it went badly.
I had Nancy (my aunt) go ahead and secure a phone number for me, and called Angie (that's her name, you must understand) soon after that. We arranged our first date for Friday, the 13th of January. I know, I know. That's a heck of a day to choose to meet someone. If you're superstitious, anyway. Which I'm not.
I'll admit to being a little nervous going into the night, but Angie set me at ease right away. When I went to her house to pick her up, her twin sister, Amy, let me in and Angie came walking out of her room with a baby in her arms.
"Hi, I'm Angie, and this is my daughter."
Now, I knew that Aubrie (the baby) was Amy's child, so I thought it was the funniest thing in the world. I love to tease people and play tricks, so I loved the fact that she was someone willing to do the same.
This is where I tell you that Angie turned out to be truly gorgeous. I know it's what you're all wondering, and I'm only too happy to tell you. :)
We went out to eat and then had a drink afterward. Angie hadn't been feeling particularly well going into the night, so I figured I'd give her a few opportunities for an "out." Bless her heart, though, she stuck with me. We talked the whole time and just really enjoyed the night. When I dropped her off, I told her that I really had a good time and asked if she'd like to go out again sometime. To my delight (and bit of surprise), she said she would.
And so we did. Each time I'd go out with Angie, I'd find something new to like about her. (Of course, this still holds true today. ;)) She, in turn, evidently saw enough potential to keep spending time with me. For me, the time went by like a blur, yet at the same time, it felt like months went by. Sounds strange, doesn't it? Anyway, by the end of our Valentine's Day date, I had asked her if she'd be my girlfriend. It was nothing I had planned, but in the end the timing just seemed natural to me. Again, to my delight, Angie was agreeable. :)
So, if you happen to see me wandering around with a bit of a grin and a far off look in my eyes, I guess you'll understand just why that is. I'd have told y'all sooner, but I didn't think it'd be fair to say anything until I had shown this blog to Angie. And believe me, as soon as I get a hold of a pic of the two of us together, I'll be sure to post it here.
So, yeah, life is good. Excellent, in fact. :)
Well, excellent except for this viral throat infection I picked up. Except this is no ordinary virus. In fact, this virus was forged in the lowest regions of Cocytus (the deepest, darkest part of Hell for those of you unschooled in the classical tradition) by the Devil himself and then passed down to mutant aliens, who infected me with it in between cattle slaughtering sessions. Seriously. If I actually knew what it felt like to have gonorrhea, I'm pretty sure this is what it'd feel like to have it in the throat.
I know all of you out there are saying, "But Nate, let's be real. We've all had our share of sore throats. Surely yours can't be any worse."
Oh, but I beg to differ. You see, this sore throat is the sort of thing H.P. Lovecraft would've written about. Swallowing and talking feels like the equivalent of swallowing razorblades and washing them down with needles that have been used by drug addicts. I've had naught to eat these past three days except ice cream and some soup that Angie was so gracious to pick up for me. At night, my sleep is rather a waking state of fever-induced delirium, wherein the lines between dream and reality are inextricably crossed. It is also at this point where it becomes very possible to conduct a lucrative pyramid scheme from the comfort of one's own bed.
Concordantly, I look about as well as I feel. I haven't shaved since Saturday, so I'm rather scruffy. I haven't lifted weights since Friday, and my muscles feel like balloons that have begun to deflate. In a way, I resemble King Theoden from The Lord Of The Rings while he was still under the influence of Saruman and Wormtongue.
In other words, if it has had this effect on me, imagine what it would've done to a lesser man.
Let's see, what else, what else....Ah. Today is Shrove Tuesday, better known as Fat Tuesday. Tomorrow begins the season of Lent, a forty-day (forty-six, counting the Sundays) stretch wherein it is traditional for Catholics and other Christians to abstain from something they enjoy. This is done in remembrance of Jesus' forty days in the wilderness, in which he was tempted by the Devil. This year, I've elected to give up alcoholic beverages. I know, this is going to be tough. But it's something that I've thought about doing for years, and it's time to prove to myself and everyone else that I'm perfectly capable of doing so. It's no trial in the wilderness, of course, but it'll provide me with ample opportunities for introspection and a chance to see just how folks who, uh, don't like beer live. Angie is in on this with me, so that'll make it easier.
And now, I'll leave you with some songs that you should go out and download.
"Express Yourself" by Charles Wright
"Surrender" by Simple Plan
"Hair Of The Dog" by Guns'n'Roses
"Inside Out" by Eve 6
I'm out. Stay on my case so that I keep posting regularly, yeah?
posted by Nate | 2:18 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home