Lovely Friday night out

I stink of cigarette smoke, and I'm tired and full and somewhat manic. I went to Kieran's Pub tonight. Didn't go with any friends this time; just took some old favorite books along. Sat in a corner and gorged on their inimitable pot roast sandwich (with a Guinness-laced gravy that would have made cardboard delectable) as I read and listened to excellent live Irish music. Had Irish coffee, and several hours later, after the pot roast had settled a bit, I ordered chocolate cake, with a drizzle of an Bailey's Irish Creme sauce, dense as plutonium. Kieran's wasn't as crowded as usual, and for a miracle, there weren't any smokers near me for hours, so I was free to just enjoy the music.

Then a table settled right next to me, and about six of them lit up cigarettes. I cursed quietly and then moved to a different table. Then: strangeness. The guy at the next table started flirting with me. Blatantly. I was stunned.

You have to understand, it's been years since a stranger has tried to flirt with me. Seven or eight years, I think. Which is kind of sad. I don't think I look particularly loathsome, but I am getting older, and in our youth-oriented culture, I have been exquisitely aware that my flirt-value in the opinion of most males of the species vanished years ago. This guy wasn't particularly smooth, and he told so many obvious lies that I found myself wondering whether he was so bad at it and scored so rarely that he just flirts with anything that crossed his path, even someone as nondescript as me, out of sheer desperation. The whole experience was rather interesting in a this-is-weird sort of way.

On the other hand, I wonder if guys have flirted with me, and I've just been oblivious because of my naturally monogomous mindset.

I remember one time I was at a convention, talking with a group of friends about sexual mores. I glanced around the circle--there were seven or eight of us--and I suddenly realized that everyone else was either gay or polyamorous. I pointed out that I was the only married heterosexual monogomist present, and eileenlufkin responded with a smirk, "Yes, and we'd really like you to explain your strange and deviant lifestyle to us."

Anyway, it added an interesting frisson to the entire evening. I finally settled my bill, overtipping the waiter handsomely, and left close to midnight, stinking of cigarettes, and very happy. I haven't felt so much pleasure in quite a while. A good sign. I should arrange to feel pleasure like this more often.

Today

I'll be attending Lois McMaster Bujold's book signing at Dreamhaven, at 3:00. Gotta pick up my copy of Paladin of Souls.

I plan to ask her whether she's got the next book underway, and if so, can I read it in MS. I didn't get the Paladin MS back to her before she had to turn it into the editor, and am feeling immensely guilty as a result. I was real depressed that winter and got barely anything done. Hope she'll forgive me.