Man, last night was a blast too. I met a bunch of great people and had lots of funny little conversations (commiserating about Nashville's lameness, the scary wild card of raising kids, the joy of dogs in yard, and how the notion Christianity means you have to be intolerant of the queer community is total bullshit...one of the cool ladies even said, once the fire died down and we were cold but then someone found some planks and it roared back to life "I feel like the end of that Saramago book Blindness, like we have hope again"--how many effing parties do I go to where I get to hear someone say THAT?! Awesome!), Meg's house is adorable (including the awesome shed) and so is her sweet dog Peanut (he actually liked me! Dogs never do the first go-round!), and it was smell-wise the best night ever--we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire pit, something I've not done since before college, and the smell of the crackling fire in the cool evening was fantastic. I singed the hell out of my marshmallow--sure to give me cancer, so it's good it's been so long I guess--and the sticky char of it was as evocative as Proust's madeleine, ha. Shane even at one point said matter of factly to me after mentioning offhand when he weighs 140 (he's 5'6) he feels tubby and I protested (I'm built like a Korean soccer player, big calves and thighs, sturdy and stout, and at 5'2 when I weigh 130 I still look fairly small) "No, see, you have curves, womanly curves. That counts for a lot weight-wise. You look good!" No one in my 28 years has ever told me I had "womanly curves" and for it to come from Shane really tickled me pink. (What is it with Blandas and compliments? Ha.) Came home and sat on the porch and randomly went off about theories of public education with R. As usual with him, talking and hearing what he thought made me feel good (I married right...). Anyway. Went to bed, fooled around, woke up at the same sunny instant this morning. Split yet more LB cupcakes--"your secret vice now" he jokes. Hummingbird (the frosting is remarkable, just right balanced with an awesome creamy mouthfeel), Salted Caramel (yes! She is so good at making sure things actually taste as oomph-y as you always hope they will--plenty of sea salt), and ooooh Rosewater Pistachio (again, she is great with flavor balance; rosewater is so easily overpowering but too little and it wouldn't have tasted like anything...you could definitely taste it, like eating the most delicious perfume, but it wasn't strong or gross, just haunting). Love it. Saving our wedge of cream cake to split for later.

About to go to a buncha food and culture festivals around town, woo. R's still listening to the Textile show...it sounds better every time he plays it, I think.