Journal entries for January, 2007

I made it back to Covington with no problem. I flew into Miami at 3pm, picked up the car at my grandfather's apartment, and started driving at 5pm. I had originally been planning on staying the night in Miami and setting off in the morning, but I was eager to get back. I figured it was unlikely that I'd manage the full 13-hour drive in one sitting, considering I was starting at 5pm and I had only gotten two hours of sleep the night before, but I decided any progress I could make that day would put me that much closer the next day. I'd just have to find a motel or something to stop at when I got tired.

[Entry Continues...]

Tonight I met up with Andrea and some friends of hers at Starbucks. Andrea is flying to Spain tomorrow for a semester abroad, so I wanted to spend some more time with her before she left. We had a good time. She seems to be one of those rare people with whom I always seem to have things to talk about, so we don't need to have something to do — just sitting around and conversing is always pleasant.

[Entry Continues...]

Paul Van Dyk played here in Puerto Rico again last night, but this time I opted not to go. Several of our friends (Michelle, Isa) were going, so Andrés went as well, but I remembered my experience last time, where I found myself bored and wanting to go home from nearly the moment we arrived. With such loud music, it doesn't really matter how many friends you've got around you, because you can't talk with them — you're stuck with nothing to do but bob your head to the music for seven hours.

I knew I'd be bored at home too, so it wasn't a clear-cut decision, but in the end I opted for the choice that involved less effort and not spending $30. I didn't really regret it — I enjoy spending time by myself sometimes too, and when Andrés got home later that night he confirmed that there was a lot of just standing around.

I kind of felt bad that I had missed out on so much time hanging out with him on his last night here, but we did get to hang out for a bit after he got home around 4am. We prepared a feast (consisting of veggie burgers, veggie corn dogs, and veggie buffalo wings), watched Scrubs, played some more PS2, and then headed for bed around 630am. He had to get up again two hours later to pack and get ready to leave for the airport. I slept two hours longer than him, getting up just in time to ride to the airport with the family and see him off. Then, of course, it was back home for a few more hours of sleep.

Last night Mairym showed up at our house with an unusual request. She had been moved by a large graffiti mural done in Old San Juan, and had prepared a poem in response. She requested our help in putting it up, so we all got in the car and drove out to San Juan.

The closest parking we could find was in a dark alley, populated by four or five other cars, all with drivers sitting and waiting for ... something. We carefully ignored them. One of the cars, an old Mercedes, drove off as soon as we arrived, eying us carefully. During the few minutes it took us to take our stuff out of the car, he drove back around three more times. Nope, not creepy at all.

[Entry Continues...]