A Nearly Perfect Night Out

At the beginning of a weekend in which I suddenly, wonderfully, find myself with a social life, I've just had the most wonderful Friday night out. First, an hour or two of pretty lively chatting with Jackie, an Aussie with the most beautiful dark red hair I've ever seen, about travels, relationships, beer, hiking, religion, teaching, and culture shock. Then, her husband Dave (an engineer) shows up and there's more beer and we trade some hilarious stories on engineer stereotypes, Japan, and families over a delicious roast lamb dinner. About halfway through, as the pub fills up, 10 or so people with instruments show up, sit at the front tables, and just start playing Irish jigs like there's nothing to it. Live music, without the fuss and bother of having a stage or expecting people to sit and pay attention quietly (although the music was good enough for us to frequently interrupt our conversation to gawk at them).

After dinner there was some chatting at the parting of ways, with a rather embarassing end on my part when the light changed, the bus rounded the corner, and I took off running down the street (arms flailing) to catch my bus. I really hope my new friends don't think I'm too much of an oddball from that performance. But catching the bus was worth it, since I was among hilariously tipsy university students having a terribly serious discussion about how knowledge is finite but imagination is infinite (my witty reply when I was appealed to as an impartial judge? "That's true... if you're an arts student.").

A quick walk home and here I am, revelling in wireless high-speed and enjoying the thought of many more good pub nights to come.

Oh, and the beer? Oatmeal Stout. Yum.