Re: So I Drink Again, And I Play the Game.

The other night I went to my friend's book launch party. I go to these things from time to time and while I have moments where I'm genuine, most of the evening I'm this version of myself I hate... the one who plays along. I usually go alone, so my real friends don't have to witness my fakeness, but the majority of my friends are writers, so I lugged a small group to this party because it can never hurt to schmooze with people in your industry. Not more than five minutes after we arrived, I ran into that girl. That girl, the drunk one with the loud whiny voice, the one who's too self-involved to ever get the details about anyone else correctly, but just so happens to work at one of the biggest publishing companies in New York City, if not the world, so you kinda have to be nice, all but pinned me up against the wall to give me the this and that of things... but mostly to brag about her engagement, I'm sure:

That Girl: Amanda fucking ______! Shut up! I heard you skipped town and moved to some completely exquisite Provençal!

Me: Nope. I'm still here, barely. But is that what they're saying? That's kinda fun! (insert fake laugh)

That Girl: Yes! I also heard you're going to Amsterdam with our new favorite author! Lucky you!

Me: Well, I was thinking about it, but...

That Girl: So let's talk about the book! Is it done yet? No one takes an entire year to do a rewrite, you know!

Me: Um, well, I changed a lot of it, so...

That Girl: O-M-G! I loved your article on secret affairs!

Me: It was actually about secret sex...

That Girl: And the guy from Finland...

Me: Sweden...

That Girl: And the other guy named... oh, what was it... Leonard!

Me: Well, Liam, but close enough...

That Girl: You scandalous bitch, you! Ah! Loves it! And the metaphor of the couch! Great!

Me: Bed sheets, the metaphor was about imprints on sheets...

That Girl: Now that I'm engaged, I'll have to keep him away from you! You're so bad!

Me: Not really... but...

That Girl: You know he's still waiting to read your pitches for the music column! You need to get on that!

Me: I suck at pitching, so...

That Girl: Shit! I think that's Carly from Penguin! I thought she skipped town! Send me a chapter this month!

(Breathe).

My friend Kathleen: Can we go now? I'd like to hit up Ace Bar on the way home and hang around with some respectable people... like tattooed heroin addicts and shit.

******

Read: new Pomegranate Seeds: Purple Walls

Listen: "Oh, La" by Ra Ra Riot. I'm supposed to be reviewing their new album, but can't stop listening to this song from their last album. It's kinda perfect:

Ra Ra Riot - Oh, La by Kaniballos