cookouts and such

Normally, I don't do cookouts, but Jess was adament of my being welcome back in 2012, so I went. Awkward not knowing people aside from Jess while everyone else knows Jess from work or from the neighborhood, thus know a handfull of people. Jess has two daughters, one is about B's age. B has been to all three of the Schmidt's Fests I have attended because she likes playing with other girls. I treat the occassion like going to the park. It gives me a focus away from mingling with strangers.
I will never feel comfortable at other people's houses, I guess but I need to try for my children's sake. They need not grow up to be social misfits with their lack of exposure of parental social endevours as a lame excuse.