2004-03-22 - 4:01 p.m.

on friday afternoon, drunk on free champagne with my new favorite friend b, from high atop an elegant loft in the chelsea, i raised a glass to the stunning sunset and thought to myself: is this really my life? because if it wasn't actually happening to me, i wouldn't believe it.

i don't know how we got invited to the veuve-cliquot demi-sec tasting and neither does b. but there we were, rubbing elbows with wine writers and executive chefs, nibbling on amuse-bouche desserts and wading in champagne.

i had that thought again as i walked hand in hand with the brazilian all afternoon yesterday; strolling near the river, browsing the artists' flea markets in the neighborhood, chatting about ballet and classic cars and bad breakups. his deep resonant voice lulled me into a quiet contentedness. by the end of the afternoon every wink and smile seemed unbearably attractive.

i'm having that feeling once again as i freeze slightly in a filthy loft in dumbo. my parttime job ressurected itself and morphed into party production coordinator, a role i was born to play. i'm sipping tea and emailing volunteers and shlepping flyers. and then f calls me and asks if i want to get ridiculously and unreasonably drunk this evening.