Realization of the Day

Xander banged out the door and jumped off the porch. Stalking away aimlessly across the muddy yard he almost ran into Iolaus as the other man wandered around the corner of the house. Xander asked him impatiently, "How long do I have to keep proving myself?"

Iolaus didn't need to think about it. "Forever."

Xander stared, not exactly thrilled with that response. "That was a rhetorical question," he protested.

"I had the answer, so it couldn't have been all that rhetorical." Iolaus planted his hand s on his hips, looking away with a wry smile. "People want you to be what they expect, not what you are."

"Crap." Xander knew the ring of truth when he heard it. "What do you do about it?"

Iolaus shrugged. "Ignore it, or beat them unconscious. Depending on who it is, sometimes both." He gave Xander a clap on the shoulder and walked away.

Xander stood for a moment, contemplating that prospect. He nodded to himself and muttered, "I'm going to have to start working out."

From: When Hellmouths Collide

She swims with the fishies..

Well...not exactly. But I did go to the Aquarium. Had an old pre-paid pass that I thought to again check yesterday, just in time to discover that it was going to expire...today. So I went down and spent the afternoon. Was fun, if tiring. Half the amusement factor's noticing how the people, especially the kids around you react as they stare at the sharks or gigantic sea turtles ambling along in the central tank, the fantastically-colored specimens in the side wall exhibits, or the various types of penguins whoshing by in the water on the lowest level. I actually got over to the specimen handling exhibit to check out a sea urchin and a starfish, as well as saw the sea lion show, which I hadn't seen in some years.

Ay carumba, I never did have much stamina for braving the tourist crowds, though, and today was no exception. Worn out after a few hours, partly because I hadn't had anything to eat today beyond a breakfast shake, I went over to Faneuil Hall afterwards and had a cheese/chili/onion dog and a lemonade.

And then, instead of back to an over-priced hotel, back to the blessed relief of my own place, some public radio Sunday evening blues/jazz, and my fan..