Contrasting Realities, or, Warm Tea on a Cold Day

So, after a bumpy night of wild dreams, I managed to crawl out of bed in time to stagger through a shorter than usual jog. It's a shame I can't remember the dreams, one in particular that stood out, but the complete memory of which still escapes me. It's the mental equivalent of having a word on the tip of my tongue, but it continues to elude me. C'est la vie. 
Anyway, after bumbling through my morning, it was my good fortune to go to a birthday/bon voyage party at one of my favorite Chinese restaurants. It will be one of my friends birthday on Wednesday, and one of our mutual friends leaves for Hong Kong tomorrow, for a month. So, we celebrated one's birthday and the other's departure today, along with some other friends of ours. And a wonderful meal it was. It also was an opportunity to exercise my ear for mandarin. It's ain't easy training your ear to listen to another language. Two phrases I learned in Mandarin today are: I am full, and Do you know what I mean, among others. 
Being a sunny, but rather cold and windy day, it was exceedingly pleasant to sit in the front window of my friend Tommy's restaurant with friends, eating good food, and drinking hot tea, while outside people of all types, and walks of life, walk by. The thin plates of glass that comprise the windows, seem to separate two different worlds. Days like today make me feel extremely fortunate to be alive. For awhile I can forget my tiny problems, and not dwell on the Republican SOB's that are seriously screwing this country up. Although I did have a brief discussion with the only other American born English speaker, the husband of my friend Hong, about what a man-made catastrophe the sequester will now be for all the social service organizations, including food banks, and all non-profit organizations. It's always the poor and disadvantaged who get hurt the most.
Eddie, my feathered little brother, and Albert, who looks like a glossy black bear rug with the bear still inside (and alive I might add), are both napping, and I am drinking another warm cup of tea. After this, I will be relaxing on the sofa myself.
Anyroad, the world is still here for the moment. And even though I know there are bad things happening in the world, and horrible people doing many of them, for a time I can forget them, relax, and remember that timeless moment sitting in the front windows of a warm restaurant, sharing food, drink, and wonderful conversation with friends. Zai jian.