Brain Cells? What brain cells?

So, this is the second portion of the weekend installment of the "MayDay Weekend" very special episode of Amber's weblog.

When we last heard from me, I was on my way over to the Mifflin Block Party. Having never been to anything even closely resembling a block party (except maybe the McMechen Street Fair, which was of course more of a fair and less of a party), I was not at all sure what to expect. While in lab, typing the prior weblog entry, I had managed to arrange a meeting place for finding Ben--I would walk over from my lab building on the west side of campus, through the center and eastern portions of campus, and then on to Bedford Street to the Greyhound Station, where I would call Ben and regardless of whether or not he could hear me in whatever party he was in, he would know to come to the station for me.

Does anyone remember a short cartoon that used to run on Sesame Street when we were young that involved a young boy going on a journey and kindof getting lost in this strange, trippy world? The boy went on a walk, and the houses and people started off normal. But the farther away from home he got, the more strange and unusual things leaked into his line of sight. Aaaand, basically, this was how my walk from SMI to Mifflin Block Party progressed. Saturday evening on the ag/science side of campus was peaceful, but slowly--as I approached State Street--I'd see a person here or there wearing beads, and students stumbling in ever-increasing groups.

And then I hit the ground-zero blast-zone that was The Mifflin Block. Just hordes and hordes of people wandering around with plastic cups, the police looking very unhappy to have to be there, and pretty much just unrefined chaos all over. People pissing on building walls. Everyone yelling stuff at everyone else. My personal favorite for me was a group of guys on a balcony, one of which exclaimed "THAT is a nice rack!"

ok, so it's not the most well-crafted compliment I've ever received, but I have decided to be proud of it. And also tell everyone I know. Because I'm proud to own a complimentable rack.

Once I found the Ben I was looking for, it was time for the rest of the evening. This included picking up some cheeseburgers, playing a Seinfeld drinking game, and eventually going out to find a dance party. This required walking back out to sortof where we were before, and then finding the correct house. Outside, a couple of guys--including someone dressed up as a side of fries--were setting off firecrackers. We weren't inside for long when the cops showed up (due to the firing of firecrackers) and we were all asked to leave.

As a pack of people, we moved back to campus to Langdon Street for a replacement party, in someone's apartment. Now, a house can easily fit a pack of people. An apartment has much more trouble accomplishing the same task. The hostess insisted her neighbors were "very cool" so we all made due crammed in.

One of the many good things about knowing Ben (the gooshy stuff is not going to make it on here) is that he's let me tag along with him to many parties and such around campus, and I've made alot of new and interesting friendlike beings. This has also helped me to improve my "meet and talk to strangers" skill significantly. I don't know what I've always been so afraid of. Mainly, people are happy to talk to people if they are interested, and happy to recognize you at another party. It is a good feeling, to feel more connected to where you are. Knowing people is good. My brain is sleepy. ehhhh.

At the crowded apartment party, I made really good friends with an art major from Chicago named Janice, who specialized in print-making. She was very passionately respectful of scientists, and I am very passionately respectful of artists (especially when drunk) so we hit it right off.

By the end of the evening, I was completely woozy and ready to go home. Of note is the fac that the fountain near library mall was on, and it was really beautiful. Ben tried to feed me saltine crackers and I could only eat one, and I woke up this morning with crackers all over the bed and floor. I am rather proud of this fact too, that I had such a good saturday night that I could wake up so keenly disheveled at 3PM on Sunday. I spent the rest of Sunday just enjoying the company I had, and running a few errands. The evening was capped off by a Perkins run, and now here I am. What will this week bring?