Today was a relative-intensive day, culminating in a dinner with 13 people. It was all very nice, though I'm starting to wonder what I'm doing back here. San Francisco feels very very far away, both geographically and temporally.

I've been listening to Joanna Newsome, a harpist and singer who's got a strange voice. I got her CD from Dan, son of Brenna, whom I stayed with in Dublin. It had been lying dormant in my music collection for most of the intermediate time, or occupying space on my mp3 player, my own attempt to get me into it, but it wasn't until right before i left for san francisco that i connected with the music, and it's kind of great, except for the fact that no one can stand to listen to it. both anna and my dad found it so grating that they had to beg me to turn it off in the car. maybe they have bad associative memories with voices like that, but i think it's cute and sweet. i don't know, i'm probably crazy.

anna stalked out of the living room earlier while we were watching the end of a basketball game and chatting. mom had broken out the limoncello (she managed to consume a healthy amount of alcohol at dinner) and offered all the of-age (or virtually of-age) family members a wee glass; the drinking prompted anna's exit. i know how she feels, and i must confess that i have no idea how to make her feel better. i guess this is one of many, many dissilusionments she'll go through over the next ten years, and it's scary to realize the complete powerlessness we exhibit in face of it.

back to manhattan tomorrow, via westchester. keep breathing, keep breathing.