I don't like how we don't have time for each other anymore. I am terrible at getting to know people, new people mostly, because I hate small talk, I hate faking interest and I hate that I have to call it that. It's not that I don't find people interesting or engaging or that I want to spend the rest of my life only knowing the people that I know now. It's not that getting to know the people that I know now in a deeper way would be so bad.

I guess it's that I'm torn because I get caught up in the fast pace too, and I almost believe I have to move along with the pace. I was riding in the car with Pat once and he shared his observation that there's something inside all of us that doesn't like it when someone's going faster than us, that when we're on the highway and someone goes speeding past us we instinctively speed up. I don't know if it's competitiveness, maybe it's that survival of the fittest hogwash, who knows. But it's stupid. And I'm stupid because I do it too.

Back to that getting to know people stuff. I like getting to know people, I just hate doing it like in the blink of an eye. I hate having to ask someone where they're from, where they went to school, what they're interested in. Rather, I enjoy company, simmering conversation, conversation that's stewed not grilled. I like it when I find something out about someone by experiencing it, not being told. I think that's why I like God and why I didn't for so long, because I was being told who He was but I wasn't experiencing. If you're like me, don't let anyone tell you who they are, who God is. Experience them, experience Him.

And for heaven's sake, slow down. Especially on the Beltline.

My grandmother loved cherry ice cream - or at least I think she did. I think that because the only time I ever remember having it was when I was visiting her and my grandfather. The more I think about it, the more I think maybe it was one of those deals where she absolutely detested cherry ice cream but he loved it and so she spent the next fifty years of her life learning to love it, pretending to love it because she was in love and that's what people in love do. I think I like cherry ice cream, I just had a bowl and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but then I wonder if maybe I love cherry ice cream because I love my grandmother and it reminds me of her. In fact, it's too crazy to be coincidence that I just caught a glimpse of a music video and I saw an image that reminded me of my grandfather and then like a day later I'm craving cherry ice cream - I don't even eat that much ice cream. I don't know, it doesn't all completely make sense to me, I mean one minute I'm watching a music video, the next minute I'm tappin my finger like my grandfather used to, and then I'm in the grocery store rabidly looking for cherry ice cream. I don't think I spent one second since Christmas thinking about my grandparents and now everything I do reminds me of them. It kinda makes me wonder about the afterlife, about just what exactly is their role up there standing beside God? Are they gradually stepping in to play some part in a decision I'll be making soon? Are they just trying to make sure I don't forget about them? Did they just want some cherry vanilla ice cream on Valentine's Day because it's red and all they've got up in heaven is strawberry? I just don't know.

So I never got around to making that Super Bowl XL prediction, but I assure you I would have gone with Heinz over Starbucks just because, you know, caffeine is good but only in small doses at the right time. Ketchup, though, is right for any occasion and don't, under any circumstances skimp out on it. Besides, how often does the belle of the ball win on her first invitation to the dance?

Speaking of that, (ketchup, not belles of the ball), tonight marked an historic¹ moment for me in my fabled eating career. For the last couple of days I've been craving french fries but haven't really had the opportunity to go out and fetch me some. Tonight I planned on stopping by Moe's before headin over to get Lost in HDTV at the Collinses so I decided to knock out two cravings with one ... err stone? Anyway, I stopped by the local Wendy's establishment (by the way, Wendy's, I'm still pretty mad about your fuzzy menu math) to combat that french fry craving. So yeah, that means I had chips and burrito with a french fry appetizer this evening. I have to admit it's kind of encouraging to see that I still have some of the ole garbage disposal magic. I thought the glory days of 6 hot dogs (with bun) and a box of macaroni and cheese were fading off into the sunset.

¹ This has always bothered me. Yes "an" is appropriate here but it sounds so pretentious. "Buffy had an historic match of tennis today. I do say I was quite proud of her. She handled herself magnificantly".