PulpLit.net

squelch, vanquish, and damage

Is it coincidence that the current issue of pulplit is called The Happiness Issue, and there is, as we speak, a graffiti-ed "go Sox" scrawled up there next to it? I thought not. I get all giddy goosebumps up and down my arms just thinking about it. Bangkok has never felt farther from Boston. My inbox has three messages in a row (from three different lovelies) with some variation on the subject heading "!!!!!"

But don't get cocky!

I am a very exhausted bean for reasons other than Sox Fever, as it seems the life and times of Mollie Margaret are beginning to return to the glory days of yesteryore, complete with exciting travels and new adventures. Christina (the personal organizer) and I spent three glorious days lounging in all earnestness on the sunny Kata beach on Phuket Island. Despite the best efforts of the blazing sun, I managed 3 days of sunbathing without a single painful burn to show for it. We also bought overpriced but moderately functional snorkle sets and investigated some interesting piles of rocks and multi-colored fishes. Good times. We moved within probably a 500-meter square area all together, hitting up three different restaurants (wow!) and generally having an exquisitely perfectly lazy time.

Plus, I saw E.T., which is bad.

Then, after a rather full day of travelling including five hours of downtime in the Singapore airport (which is a nice aiport, and I do like airports, but five hours is a really long time), it was off for four very full days in Melbourne, during which time Steve did not, in fact, hand in the dissertation, but has gotten so dreadfully close he's even mentioned a potential weekend on the beach. We ate at many brightly-colored eclectically menu-ed cafes, and drank much too much yummy strong coffee, and bought cute funkadelic asymmetrical clothes, and generally caught up with everyone in town, and had such a very nice time that it seems rather a shame to be back. But, the personal organizer returns tonight from Angkor Wat, and so all will be well. The truest bonus of Melbourne, apart from the genuine feeling of welcome and homecoming from the friends and fam of the Steve, is the chilly weather. OH! To wear proper shoes and (gasp) socks! Long shirts! To shiver OUTDOORS! These are luxuries you'll no doubt wish to transfer to me as winter rolls round your part of the world...I encourage a hearty embrace of the windy icy world.

Anyway, good times and back to work, if a little sleepy-headed. New Friend Melissa has deserted and so my office was not visited by her tottering down the hall, which lends a little melancholy to the first day back at the office.