Enough with the transitions, already!

More retirement celebrations on Friday — 14 people who work for me in one fell swoop (many more to come), and in the evening, a celebration for the person who gave me my first job in Albany. That one was interesting, a bunch of Senate Fellows from various years (and all our class pictures up on the wall), some people I hadn’t seen in a number of years even though we’re all working in roughly the same circles, and a bunch of people I see fairly regularly. Had a very nice conversation with a fellow I’d never met before that led to a moment when I realized that he lived in one of the communities that is most polarized over the Hudson River cleanup, which I’m suddenly involved with. Happily, for the sake of our conversation, he turned out to be in favor of it. Many aren’t. Anyway, it was a very nice event to honor someone who made a tremendous difference in a lot of lives, and who quietly populated the State Senate and eventually the administration with a lot of qualified professionals.
Last night, the pseudonymous Dirck Toll was performing in Albany, so friends and extended family were gathered once again, which pretty much only seems to happen when he performs. His act may be best described as “high-speed, phenomenally witty social commentary,” though none of those terms really apply. But he’s very funny, and has a commanding presence. Afterward, this circle of friends who have known each other for various parts of nearly 30 years descended on the Ben & Jerry’s and had a lovely evening of conversation and heavy-duty ice cream. Mostly we spoke of children, skiing and vacations, which makes us adults, but not of insurance, which would make us boring adults. One of the children was present, an adorable little thing with a wispy topknot, and another was in the oven. And having a night out was such a success, we’re going to try it again. Gotta try to get those Marshall Crenshaw tickets today.
It is once again cold and windy. Mazzy Star is playing, which fits my mood — slow, full of ployes and syrup, letting the coffee take effect and hoping that in a little while I really can’t figure out what to do about the periodic leak under the tub so that I have no incentive to rip down the dining room ceiling, which would really be more than I’m up for.