Frate
a term used to describe a date with friends. It combines the
words, "friend" and "date." A friend date.
I was incredibly blessed to have best friend Becky with me for a 4-day frate my first weekend in the city. (Sidenote: "Best friend isn't a person, it's a tier." --Mindy Kaling) I also met her boyfrand Andreas, the ticklish chemist. He's adorable. They're adorable. Insert cute asian-inspired emoticon here.
I love Becky because she is unapologetically who she is without being insensitive and I think this is a difficult balance to master. Examples: She knows it drives me INSANE when she kisses people's hand upon meeting them, but it's one of her quirks so she does it anyway. She tells me when she's tired or hungry or bored or not in to something. However, if put in a situation she does not want to be in and then asked to complete a task she does not want to complete, she will be and complete in a heartbeat if it means making my life easier.
Saturday consisted of lunch in central park, drinks @Parkside, and a very disappointing football game. I did have the opportunity to witness Ryan's charms in action when he got us a barrel at American Whiskey, after being told they were all full. I'm looking forward to UGA games at this bar, if for no other reason than the Clayton Street Cocktail which was pink and delicious.
Sunday started at Gallery Church which was very nice, but not the scene I picture myself in for this time in my life. Wow, that sounded pretentious. I just mean the seats were cold metal, the sermon was a little long and unfocused, and the songs were from the 90s. I was a little distracted, however, with thoughts of Becky and my next musical engagement with First Date.
First Date felt very much like a semi-successful middle school dance. There were moments of unexpected creativity, some awkwardly placed profanity, and many grasps (not all successful) for profundity and personal reflection. But at the end of the night, the same typecast characters showed up, someone got kissed, and in the truest of middle school fashion, the transitions between emotions were sporadic and awkward.
Zachary Levi was flawless. Though not a powerhouse, his vocals were spot on and lovely. His movements and inflections were always with intention and he absolutely dazzled the crowd as a completely believable and charming boy next door. Though, I'll confess I was sweating even more than usual during his solo number. After the show Zach and the rest of the cast came out for meet & greets and pictures. Zachary Levi is an absolute doll. He said my name and that it was a pleasure to meet me and God bless. I'd like to skip over the rest of the story in which I spoke a million miles an hour and attempted to be funny...unsuccessfully.
On Monday, we visited Trader Joes where Becky and I waited in line for over an hour and argued about whether organic was actually worth an additional 34 cents. I found out my monthly allowance for rent; it's definitely not. Becky then taught me how to prepare delicious veggie tacos and I learned how to pronounce quinoa (KEENWAH). Yes. Crushed it.
Becky was indispensable with all her help unloading, cleaning, constructing, and organizing my apartment. But, I obviously enjoyed the frate more than the freight...baha. We spent time a lot of time this extended weekend in coffee shops and diners, and I think those times were my favorite. We never discussed anything especially special, but I remember having moments where I realized I was so happy. I was so happy to be sitting in a simple place, eating good food, and enjoying the company of someone who gets me completely and loves me all the more for my flaws.
IKEA came on Tuesday and turned our stairwell into a cardboard jungle so that was extremely inconvenient. Fortunately, 20 unnecessarily huge cardboard boxes make for great conversation pieces and I did chat it up with some neighbors. Though I missed Friends Trivia and a frate with my roommates/neighbors, I did get my life in a kind of order and Skype with Laura--a friend I'd neglected amidst the hustle and bustle of the weekend. I can't believe I'm the type of person who'd use the phrase hustle and bustle...and who'd write about it instead of deleting it.
I start work today and classes tomorrow. Let's hope I make friends.
Also, Melissa Bene leaves the country for 3 months tomorrow.
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