2 January 2003: A Cup of Kindness

The December 31st Bone Council having now happened for three years in a row, I suppose it qualifies as tradition.  What I tell you three times is true.  Present in physical form this year: Me, Dragon Lady, my parents, Taarna, Grace, Stagewalker, Zebra, Lexicat, Dreamy, Aleph, Da Rong Jo, Gemrise, Bonky, and Labyrinthine. 

A change of kennings: Aramis now becomes known as Stagewalker in this journal, because that's what he calls himself in his own, and it rings true for me.  As always, my obsession with names has impelled me to go back through this journal and retroactively change the name in every mention of him I've made in the previous year.  This was a fine opportunity to go back and reread all of my entries for 2002, another fine ritual of transition.  While I was at it, I also changed all incidences of the kenning "Stig" to "Opsimath," that being what he calls himself online and how I've come to think of him through our interactions on the Moot Zoo these past months.

Stagewalker, by the way, has finally got his own overhauled website up and running, including a new incarnation of his online journal.  It is, of course, accessible via my "Pack" page.

Parents headed back to Vegas, just me and Bonkydog home today, slouching around in our bathrobes all sleepyfaced.  My sleep cycle is fucked; I will reset it tomorrow by waking up early, stretching, and going to work.  Good new habits for a new year.  It's standard for my good new habits to kick in on January 3rd.  The 1st is the clean-up and wind-down from the party; the 2nd is a day of assimilation, rest, dealing with loose ends and laundry.  Each year I hit the ground lounging, and rise to take off running on the third day.

My New Year's resolution in Bone Council was to play more, in every way (especially by doing more aikido and other moving-type stuff, and by making more art).  At one o'clock this morning, after accidentally falling asleep much earlier than I'd intended, I was awakened by a phone call from the Khan, which turned into an intense two-hour conversation that inspired further resolutions from both of us.  Mine is to speak well of others.  At first formulation it was merely to speak no ill of others, but whenever possible I like my intent to be phrased in positive terms.  And merely "not speaking ill" seems like a commitment to mediocrity, like deciding to become "not too bad" at something.  Aim for excellence!  Merely not being evil does not make one good.  I want to be an agent of Good, not an agent of Not-Bad.

I was one of the first to arrive at Aleph's party this year, and was immediately put to work bedecking the front porch with Christmas lights.  The party was a pleasant one.  Neither hopping nor rocking, but characterized by warm and friendly interactions.  Tui.  I miss the days when Geminica lived there, and the parties involved fluorescent paints and clay and many candles... remember the gigantic Catbus (from My Neighbor Totoro) that Geminica and I painted on the front window one year?  I also miss Star Seven's days as Aleph's housemate, when there was Rock & Roll and strobe lights and Star Seven's bed was the Nitrous Zone.  I missed Star Seven this time, and Hobbit, and Beorn, and Zann, and most of all I missed Moly. 

But it was good.  The party was good.  And Dragon Lady was there (and got properly initiated, when she tried to take a nap in Aleph's bed and fell victim to the dreaded Lesbian Gang Grope).  And Geminica.  Stagewalker and Lexicat brought her in from the airport at around 10:30, when the party was just kicking into gear.  And now she's back in Portland already (Hi, Geminica).  The nice thing about online journals is that she and I didn't have much catching up to do.  All we had to catch up on was the hugging.

By the way, O Radiant Geminica, the titles of the series of Tim Powers books I recommended, in their proper order, are Last Call, Expiration Date, and Earthquake Weather.

So far my friends who have met Dragon Lady are unanimous in their approval of her (including Moonspice, so Dragon Lady now carries the Cool Ex-Wife Seal of Approval).  Must have been at least a dozen people at the party who came up and told me how great she was and that I should keep her.  Which I was already planning on doing.  Among the many friends who tell me I should keep her, there's a good-sized and very vocal contingent (Hi, Lexicat) who tell me that I should keep her but also share her.

Highlight of the party: a small crew of us, arms around each other's shoulders, seranading everyone with an increasingly loud and off-key rendition of "Auld Lang Syne."

We'll take a cup of kindness yet, for Auld Lang Syne...

Highlight of Bone Council: the full participation of Grace, who at last year's Bone Council was still in Taarna's womb and could only participate by kicking Taarna in Morse Code.