Thanks to Wayne Whitmer for the shopping tip; I went to Valu-Plus in Lexington Market to get a discount winter jacket, thermal underwear, mufflers, and a pair of woolly gloves, all for just $25! Oh, and I lost the Nepalese hat somewhere yesterday (wah!), so I got an insulated ski cap to replace it. (See webcam.)

This is the part where Paulo starts quoting mushy love songs about broken hearts, and Bible verses of comfort and encouragement. Except that all the love songs are 16th Century canzonets, and all the bible verses are from Ecclesiastes: “MEANINGLESS, MEANINGLESS!!!”

Chi passa per questa strada e non sospira, viato quillo chelo poté fare. E dince che c’imprest un po de filo meschino me, quanto mu cuso questa piagha mortale.

I have lost her heart.

This morning we talked, and I realized that I must come to terms with how changed things are. I must stop clinging to the futile hope that things can be as they were before. We are different people, and I do not think we can come together again.

Please pray for me. It is not easy, coming to terms with the loss of the only girl I could ever find to love. My heart is broken, utterly and completely, and I can do nothing but lift these finely ground pieces to God, submit to his will, and pray for his healing.

This is part of life. This is what people go through. Pain and despair come into the landscape, but I do know that the Master Artist still holds the brush, and he will paint this sadness into something beautiful. And one day, I know I will rejoice.

But right now, today, for the first time in eight years, I’m lonely. Cold, sad, and lonely. Please pray for me.

I’m going here tonight to meet up with her, him, and him.

Yesterday’s Foxtrot strip was absolutely priceless. (Via my boss.)

Anyway, I had completely forgotten yesterday that I would be going with my relatives to a distant cousin’s bridal shower / costume party last night, then spending the night at my uncle’s. So I came to Washington with only the clothes on my back, and nothing else. Fortunately a quick trip to Hecht’s and a neighboring CVS Pharmacy provided me with pajama pants and 99-cent deodorant, shampoo, and toothpaste packs to keep me decent and fragrant through the night.

A costume for the party, however, was not forthcoming. But on the Metro to Ballston, it occurred to me that I could simply unfold the brim of my Nepalese Hat and wear it so that it loomed above my head like Devil’s Tower. That, combined with ultra-lowered pants, and suddenly I felt like Jamiroquai.

It was fun. I got pictures.