This weekend included, but was not limited to: four nights at the pub, six hundred miles on the odometron, four picnics, two games of disc golf, two audiobook hours of A People’s History Of The United States (read by Matt Damon), one fancy dinner, one fancy brunch, many boyfriend points scored with the in-laws, one commencement ceremony, several naps, five days without an update, two thunderstorms, one malfunctioning transmission, two parties at Carter’s, lots of drunk parents, two New Yorkers to catch up with, and plenty of friendship. It also marked what I hope will be my last visit to Grinnell for a while. Much as I love the place, the feeling of being an auslander in my hometown causes a lot of cognitive dissonance and emotional stress. I am psyched to be in Chicago for the summer, playing kickball and getting drunk with my friends. Except for this weekend, when I’ll be in Seattle for a wedding. But after that, oh man. Look out.

Also, happy birthday to my all my slices. I’ve been absolved of having to get my brother anything for his birthday because he’s halfway around the goddamn world. For anyone else, I’ve discovered that a bottle of quality liquor is an easy, grown-up, much-appreciated gift that keeps on giving.

Two and a half days, then I’m off to the airport: shortest work week ever.