Yes, Virginia, I Do Have A Social Life

 Normally I reserve Friday nights for hiding in my room and watching TV, because a week of dealing with stuff usually has me too mentally exhausted to want to be around other people. But tonight I was reminded that, yes, despite the shyness and the awkwardness and the social phobia, I am, actually, an extrovert, and being around people is good for my health and energy levels.

I went to microwave something, and ran into a friend in the kitchenette. After we got caught up she shanghaied me into helping her carry some food into the other dorm, where a bunch of people I know were hanging out and having a pre-Thanksgiving dinner/party. The next thing I know it's two hours later and we're down four bottles of wine and have put some serious dents in the vodka and triple sec. Well, "we" - I stuck to apple juice, but everyone else was very much with the fun times. Which I always enjoy because I get to tease people about the stupid stuff they say while they're trashed that they can't remember anymore, and I get giggly and silly enough after a while that you can't actually tell that much difference. Anyway, it was cool - it's been awhile since I've taken the time to just hang out with people and shoot the breeze. I get all wrapped up in my own stuff, my classes and my reading and my work and whatever, and I forget that interacting with people is an important part of college too. Oh self, why are you so dumb?

You'd Almost Think I Was A People Person

 Somehow this is the weekend of totally unanticipated social interaction. I swear, I have spent more time with people in a non-academic way the last two days than I have all month. IT IS SO STRANGE.

This evening I accidentally let a freshman I barely know talk me into going with him to Wal-Mart to buy a comforter - I didn't really want to go, because I hate Wal-Mart, but there was no one else around because of Big Game and I felt so bad for him I agreed to go with.  And we ended up making a whole evening of it! After he bought his comforter, we drifted over into the Daiso across the parking lot to ogle the bento boxes and the random tiny wooden dishes, and I bought myself a key chain that looked like sushi, because why not? And then we took the bus across town so he could treat me to gelato to repay me for going with him. :)

Over the course of this adventure, it turned out that he is a) into sci fi, b) into anime, and c) into slash. So awesome! So most of the bus ride home we traded BL recs back and forth and talked about why Axel/Roxas is basically canon and how hot Daniel Jackson on Stargate is. And I talked him into watching Torchwood. He is basically a really neat guy, and I am looking forward to seeing more of him, since he lives just down the hall from me.

Tomorrow I'm taking the train to Sacramento so I can spend the holiday with my aunt and uncle. Hopefully the travel curse doesn't eat me alive.