New York Update 2

Have completed basic requisite relative duty. Grandma gave me a scarf she made and a beautiful blue and silver watch. These are the best presents I've received in a while. I can't get over this scarf. The colors are subtle and complicated. And sparkly! Also, last night I hung out with a couple high school friends - Ryan and his brother Shawn (Sean?). Ryan seems to be doing great, he's all a technical director at a college upstate with a long-term girlfriend and regular antique shopping. No babies or marriage either. A+ life dude. His brother, who I was never very close with because I didn't know how to talk to him but was vaguely intrigued by his weirdness (I'm a sucker for the hidden subversive kind of intelligence) has apparently been addicted to heroin on and off for the past 5 years but has been clean for the past couple months with a new girlfriend and renewed appreciation for life. I'm glad he's doing better now but it made me kind of sad. I still don't know how to talk to him, he's one of those self-indulgent types who's perfected the art of monologue conversation, so I know quite a bit about him but he still doesn't have a clue about me. Maybe it's for the best.

The 2 of them caught me up on some local gossip and I awake this morning with that strange feeling that comes from dipping too heavily into the past. Zoe got in last night so she'll help shake the feeling once she wakes up. I think my allergies kept her awake last night. Will have to buy her some earplugs today and thank Francisco tomorrow for never complaining about what must be extremely annoying. I don't know how to stop doing it, if my nose is stopped up I'll do anything to breathe through it. I don't think I'm even awake for most of the sniffling and snorting and blowing. I hate these allergies, when are they gonna go away?! What exactly do I have to do Ms. Planet? Our puny medicines don't work. Ever since Rotorua...that place messed me up good. Even now there's a tiny bit of fluid remaining in my lungs and a bit o the ol' sneezin going on.

Today am logging some more Dad time. Tonight is Francisco, tomorrow is Christmas. The pleasure countdown continues.