Because of a large protest at the Israeli Consulate this afternoon (which is in my building), they're giving us the option of leaving early. Since it's an option, we'd have to use paid time off to leave early. I figure I might as well. The boss informed us that she wouldn't scrutinize the records, but I figure I owe the company at least that much.

I have a masquerade party tonight. Carp: I need a mask. I may go without one and steal others'. There will most likely be this girl there that I had an awkward crush on while still in school. I ran into her twice at social events this year and I was terribly awkward. I think I will be awkward again. I don't and didn't really care that much or even like her that much, there's just something that dooms me to be awkward around her. I've accepted that for what it is. There are some people you're doomed to make stupid light-hearted jokes about doing cocaine with, some you're doomed to be completely sober with, some you're doomed to consider douches through no fault of their own, and some you're doomed to be extremely awkward with. And some that are unlike anybody you've ever known but are just too far away and the way things are in life make it so you just can't make it work right then, and they end up meeting a guy a month after you decided that and eventually marry the man. I figure I may as well make the most of it if that is my fate. I guess I'd rather have a couple more people to be awkward with.

Have I gotten anything done today at work? Probably not. I started on something and scrapped it after it didn't work: is that progress? I think I will go to lunch. That is progress.

I ran into a former roommate at the gym yesterday. Seemed to be doing well. Good times.

Crap. It's past noon. It's too late to get to lunch anywhere with a short line. Chipotle is impossible at this hour. The falafel joint usually has no line and they're pretty cheap, but I'm not sure I want to take such a terrorist food into the building on such a day.

Fr Richard John Neuhaus, founder of "First Things", is dead. http://firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=5312 Truly an American icon.