This weekend hasn’t been a good one for me, over all. Not terrible, just not good.
On wednesday, I went to a meeting for an association of coops (where the name of the organization was decided upon: Federation of Workplace Democracies — Minnesota, or FWD (forward) MN). I wasn’t in step with the people there. Too focused on solving problems, not focused enough on the qualtitative interactions. There was a question of how to determine membership for a planning committee. It was clear to me that they were striving for a solution that was simultaneously open, yet allowed some measure of efficiency in the group. One of the women there proposed that we ask new members to make the commitment to stay with the group, in order to grant them full access. I interrupted her and said that there was an easy solution. Make them demonstrate the commitment first, by showing up to two meetings, then they became members. It was what cmuOUT did. I noticed that something about my response stunned/disoriented her a bit. I think it was interrupting her. Violating social expectations at my first meeting. Heh. After the meeting ended, I felt I’d contributed good ideas, including that one, but not managed to build a sense of connection with the other people involved.
Thursday, I took off from work to walk around uptown looking for apartment for rent signs. Found 11 of them in about an hour and half. Then went back downtown for urban planning happy hour. Friendly people, but I felt lacking in the social footholds. They all knew one another pretty well. I’m expecting things to go better with the new students. I got there before anyone else, sat inside, and switched outside after they sat down without noticing me. After I’d finished my meal, I came home, called numbers, left messages, and what not. And, of course, played some ffxi.
Friday evening I made pizza, and had Eric, the young, talented painter over. I took some new pictures of him (boy, could he use them, and, no you can’t see them unless I get the all clear from him, which I haven’t asked for… yet). He ended up staying the night. I have mixed feelings all over on that one. But the pizza was good, and it pleased a couple of omnivores (Ben and Eric, to be specific). Astonishingly enough, I didn’t touch ffxi the whole evening.
I did the morning run with the vegans around Lake Calhoun. I’m surprised my knee felt as minimally bad as it did afterwards. In the last 10 seconds of the run, I got impatient with the pace we’d been going at and just opened up my stride & took off. Heh. I caught a ride back with Dave. Then
Started off leveling in the Valkurm Dunes. I had the highest level character in the party, exp started slowing down for everyone, and I bowed out. Found another party, which, as it turned out, was heading to the Korroloka tunnel. Apparently, it’s easier and more rewarding to fight stationary enemies. =) Our guide was called away by his linkshell, but we found other people, formed up a party, pounded worms for hours on end. I was doubtless the one to stay with the party the longest. I stuck through some whm-less dry spells, dealt with a ranger with attitude (it’s a game, people, can’t we all have fun, and not be dicks about it?) and made it to level 18 at like 1am or so. Not too long after that, the cool people in the party had to go. So, I bailed too. Ran back to bastok, toured it for a bit. Got the back-alley quest (now done it in all three starting towns). Teleported back to Mindartia.
I already had the wild rarab tail, so I wanted to do the buburimu peninsula subjob quest. Though it seems there are rarely players of a good level for it around.
Today has been filled with ennui. Couldn’t tell ya why. Just has been. In the morning, I went out to Wilde Roast Coffee Shop to hang with Joe, and Justin. Joe would be the guy I met from the running group, and Justin is a dancer from Juliard. Idle chatter. Still not feeling a connection, but maybe that’s expecting too much too fast.
Back home, spend some time with Mesharr, getting her up to thf 6/mnk 3. I think I want to get to treasure hunter point, and then spend a fair bit of time hunting up crafting materials & working on that. Cooking, first and foremost, but also clothcraft, woodworking, and leathercraft. Might want to follow
Did the dishes from friday’s pizza making adventures. And then got all livejournal tastic.