magicbeans. nothing if not awkward.

NBC Nightly News filmed a segment in my office today about our parent company's 'Work/Life Balance' initiative. (Basically a way to make people feel okay about spending 60+ hours a week in the office by introducing lifestyle sorts of things into one's work life.) Depending on the focus of the camera it seemed like the back of my head might play a prominent role in the story. Unfortunately, the way it was edited, they cut the entire interview for which I was in the background and simply spliced in a few clips of people working, people I work with, but not me.

I proceeded to spill half a bottle of beer on myself, do laundry, watch the second episode of Jack & Bobby (still underwhelming), and the first episode of the third season of The Wire (very good). Also, I talked to Chris, who was playing hooky from work, on the phone for a few minutes.

But, let me jump back to this morning for a bit. MySpace mail from Marisa:

. so .

. i am back from the synchrotron .

. and i would like to hang out sometime .

. if that is something you would like .

. then give me a call .

Around 8 o'clock, maybe a little later because of the whole beer spilling/laundry incident, but before watching the previously mentioned TV shows, I sat myself down and called her.

I woke her up. She's been sleeping odd hours, she tells me, but it's good that she's up. We talked for well over an hour. We talked about art and science and architecture and food. Math and compulsively iterating sequences (of numbers, letters, colours). It appears that we had a number of similar childhood experiences/habits. 'I should go and buy some groceries before the store closes,' she said, 'and make some dinner.' We kept talking for a while. 'I'm glad you called,' she said. 'I should let you go.'

'Actually, I should let you go, since you're the one headed out to buy groceries.'

'Yes. Maybe I should let me go. I'd still like to get together sometime and do.. something. I know I'm being vague.'

'I'd like that. And I'm vague in the same sorts of ways.'

'I don't necessarily like to nail down plans,' she said. I sensed she was searching for the word 'abstract'. I'm not sure who said it first. 'I like that better. It's abstract thinking, not vague thinking. But why don't we both think on it, and I'll call you. Okay?'

I think I heard a smile in her voice. 'Okay.' I hope she heard mine.