From the soapbox, the mighty stand tall

I'm feeling a bit grouchier now than I was earlier today; I don't feel well, which is likely a result of too many little sniffly children cuddling with me yesterday.  Mind you, I never pass up playing with the baby, or smooching on my nephews, but they've all been sick, and now I think I am too.  Furthermore, I get frustrated about the pressure to do "something" for New Year's Eve, like it's not just any other night or something, which it is.  I'd rather just stay home in my pajamas and do a puzzle, as lame as that is.  Going out on New Year's is just too much pressure to have any real fun - I find it amusing that it's the night we're ~supposed~ to have tons of fun drinking and kissing and hanging out with friends, but it never turns out that way, does it?  If you stay in, you're likely staying in alone because all of your friends have something going on (and ironically it looks an awful lot like what you're doing - scrambling to be doing something for the new year), and if you go out, you have to shell out a ton of cash to get into any bar - even the crappiest one - and then you have to fight major crowds of other people who are also pretending to have fun.  If you drink enough for this scenario to be entertaining, then there is the issue of how to get home; in our situation, Jamison and I only have fun when we're drunk together.  One of us sober only makes one irritated with the other.  Guh.

So I've opted to go back to my happy space today, which is reflecting on the good stuff.  In addition to the aforementioned great events, there is the issue of my getting to spend almost two weeks in London this fall.  I went alone (though I had some friends living there), and there is nothing more liberating than being suddenly free of all responsibility save yourself.  As a woman, I think it's especially important to push the boundaries of the comfort zone.  I can go to the movies by myself, I have no problem eating in a restaurant alone, and I have traveled to conferences and such by myself, all with no fret whatsoever.  Traveling alone abroad is quite another matter, and while it made me nervous, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life to walk and travel throughout England all by myself and meeting new people and figuring out cultural norms and such on my own.  It sounds silly, but I feel like a whole new person emerged during that trip, more confident and more self-assured.  I am excited to get back there and explore some more.  I miss it, in fact; I was there just long enough to feel comfortable there, and I have to say that the lifestyle suits me perhaps more than the one here at home does.  At least while I'm still young, I'd like to spend some time living in Britain; London is fast-paced and energetic and full of life in such a great way.

There, I feel less grouchy already.