best kind of benefits

sometimes relationships and people surprise you.

i never expected my friendship with taz to develop the way it has. i still recall meeting him for the first time at orienation and having lunch at ackerman. study sessions paved way into walk breaks during our second and third year. . . leaving behind taz, eulalie, eddie, and maekre was tough. especially being uncertain of how those relationships would weather distance.

happily, all of these friendships have survived. and taz has become one of my best male friends. needless to say, i was very excited that he'd be visiting nyc for a conference.

wed night he got in and we met up at brother jimmy's bbq for a late dinner. talked into the wee hours. friday night met up with VK, Q2, and taz for dinner at pardo's chicken. (really really excellent peruvian chicken)- after which taz pointed out that he hadn't been given a handle yet. little did he know that i'd tried in the past, but finding a short word to capture or characterize him is extremely difficult. saturday met up for lunch at les enfants terribles (superb couscous with merguez sausage). sunday night went to a nearby sushi restaurant and caught a late showing of "blades of glory".

with taz back on the west coast- who will tell me truths about myself that aren't always so pleasant to hear but cushions it in a way to make it bearable (you know you're high maitenance right? not in a bad way at all only in a good way)? who will help me dissect any scenario, situation, relationship, problem with the patience of a saint and precision of a surgeon?

can't wait til you move back to the same time zone!