There isn't much use in saying a lot.  This month has been jammed packed with bullshit, but also good times.  On to the update.

Sat June 1, AD emailed to say that the credit card machines were not compliant with other credit card machines in the city.  In other words, they are not safe.  Someone could steal your information.  Yet ANOTHER fail for AD and her technology dopes.  Every attempt to do anything with "technology" always ends up a failure.  It's because they always do everything on the cheap.  These dopes always buy the stupidest technology as well.  Because why did the self check-out machines need credit card readers?  Not many people even use the self check-outs, and even fewer use the credit card readers to pay for fines and such.  It's such bullshit.  I just love that they failed again, because they always fail.

TheGirl posted some pictures of Cheyenne yesterday to commemorate her officially adopting Cheyenne five years ago.  It was five years ago today that TheGirl introduced Cheyenne to me.  Cheyenne was not too friendly, to say the least.  She wanted to tear my head off.  But TheGirl knew that Cheyenne would need to get over her fear of men.  She had been a rescue, which means who knows what was done to her.  She has some scars on her chest from where she was in a restraining harness of some kind.  The scars are deep enough to know it wasn't pleasant to have that harness on.  Yes, that first time five years ago I was worried, but I knew we would be good in the long run.  I like to think that I played a small roll in helping Cheyenne trust people again.  Cheyenne is my buddy now.  I love her.

Last year I bought one piece of stock for a company that helps with weight.  They had a big celebrity buy in to the company and TheGirl mentioned wanting to buy some of the stock.  She didn't, but I did.  Just that one piece.  It was a wild ride watching it go up from where I bought it, roughly $45, to where I told it, $90.  I made some money, and then I watched the stock plunge.  I too the screen shot above yesterday and as of that day it was at not even $18.  Mind you, at its peek the stock was over $100.  But the company had a bad second half of the year and the stock price showed that.  I'm just glad I got out when I did.

Mon June 3, Today is the first day of summer reading, and it's also the first day of T's maternity leave.  She usually runs it and is quickly pulling out her hair, since it's always a clusterfuck.  Like everything we do at the library.  Well, this year she's not going to be around for summer reading.  Us peons are going to have to take care of it, and that's what I did for most of my shift this morning.  Not only that, I had to juggle the duties of the desk.  There are a lot of dopes this morning wanting some help.  One patron pissed me off because she wanted a study room and I was by myself trying to juggle the teen summer reading.  And best yet, when I asked the boss why we didn't have any bags of teen summer reading material ready she just said, "Oh the teen librarian is really disorganized... she doesn't have anything ready."  Ah, what?  I love how everything is permitted without consequences.  Hey, the same can be said for me though when I now walk away from things.  They can't pin it on me either, since I'm just doing my job.  Apparently simply showing up is good enough to constitute doing a "good job" these days.  And so I will show up and do the minimum.  Because why should I try any more.

I bought some new containers for my lunch.  I broke one a few weeks ago, so I went online last week to find something similar.  Mission accomplished.  Today I got to try out the new container, which has a vent.  It was perfect.  Woo!

I checked my email from my Glendale job and I had to do something I never do, which is check the desk schedule.  Good thing I did, because I noticed that in a seven hour shift I wasn't given a lunch break.  Let alone any other kind of break.  Ah, yeah, no.  I wrote Mala and as I write this she has NOT gotten back to me yet on my break time.  Fucking shit.  I'm taking my break, no matter what.  Under law I'm allowed a half to an hour lunch break after working five hours.  I'm schedule for seven hours, as I said.  That means a lunch AND a fifteen minute break as well.  I fucking hate that I now have to worry about what time I'm supposed to have lunch.  Oh, but I'm for sure taking my lunch at noon.  Fuck these dopes.

As the tradition, I went to visit TheGirl and Cheyenne tonight.  They are both so special to me.

Tue June 4, Slaughter desk, week two.  I somehow managed to be the third person on the desk and yet somehow end up having to take over for the second person, who was supposed to be on the desk.  Yeah, it's like old times.  Old times when I was abandoned to fend for myself on the desk.  I fucking hate this assignment.  I wish a fire would burn this building down.

It was nearly time for work to start when I checked my work email and FINALLY I found that Mala had changed the schedule to include my lunch period.  Jeez, not sure why it took nearly twelve hours to fix such a thing.  Fucking idiots.  I'm so ready to tell HR about this shit.

After lunch I was on phones, so I went to circulation only to find that SirLuna was already back from the route.  The fuck, I thought.  I'm not even sure how you can DRIVE the entire route in that short of time.  Achee was assailing him after SirLuna left, saying that he didn't do a lot of things correctly.  Of course.  He doesn't give himself enough time to do that.  Whatever!  I don't own the route.  I don't give a shit.  If this guy wants to cut his throat by working three hours that's on him.  I'm am certainly not my brother's keeper when it comes to anything to do with these damn libraries.

After my short lunch I was on the phones.  Being on phones used to be so much different, but in a way it was the same.  The same as in I answered the phones.  I checked in a few books, but almost none, because SirLuna didn't bring back many bins.  As I said, this is what happens when you rush through the route.  The branches aren't ready.  Being on the phones was pretty chill.  I have seen how other handle the phones, and I just followed their lead.  I slacked off like the best of them.  I even had my iPad and watched videos online.  Fuck doing more work than others.  If no one else puts in an effort, I'm certainly not going to kill myself doing that.  This place is such a bullshit zone.

had to "help" with the set up of the auditorium.  The set up took like ten minutes, tops.  After that I just sat around chatting up one of the cuter coworkers (see insert in picture above).  I'm pretty sure it's wishful thinking, but she has come close to my face where I thought she was moving in for a kiss.  She always stops and smiles.  It happened again today.  We were sitting close and she got into my face and once again seemed to be going in for the kiss.  We had a third wheel, which I'm going to say is the reason why she didn't.  Though, I'm sure it's because she's actually not interested.  Her actions would seem to mean something different, but as I said, I think that may be a product of wishful thinking.  Still, it's nice to just hang out with a cute girl.  At one point my hand was molecules away from her butt where she sat.  I could feel the warmth of her body on the top of my hand, and instead of pulling away when she hit it she simply lingered and the touching continued until the third wheel made a comment about something.

Cute coworker mentioned that she wanted to hang out.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.

Just before going to bed an email arrived.  It was from the Brand library saying thanks but no thanks.  They were not interested in my photos.  Oh well.  I knew the photos I submitted were not the best.  I partially did it to prove a point to myself.  I'm just not that good.

Wed June 5, TheGirl and I went to the meh Italian restaurant.  I need to fine ONE item that they cook right, because every time I go there it's been meh.  TheGirl even let me taste a little of her chicken dish, and frankly it was meh as well.  Tasted too much of lemon, and was bland.  I ordered sausage and peppers and basically got a big mess of tomato sauce on top of some bland peppers and flavorless sausage.  I mean how do you make sausage flavorless?  Damn!

Still, the company is always nice.  The nights are super nice now.  The wine was flowing and all the troubles of the week were all gone at that moment.

Thu June 6, When I got into the van this morning I noticed a piece of red tape on the passenger seat.  It read, "Please put the dolly in the back when you're finished.  Thank you."  This was a note from Tony Driver to SirLuna.  Because of course he was in too much of a hurry to put the dolly in the back cabin of the van.  What a dope.

I don't have much hope for SirLuna to shape up, but I do hope that Tony Driver's little note is just the beginning of someone doing something to correct this guy.  SirLuna isn't detail oriented, so say the least.  Fucking idiot.

Kvon hasn't returned from jury duty.  He's been out for five weeks.  This is some next level bullshit.  One of my coworkers mentioned that she doesn't think Kvon wants to be there.  My buddy said, "Understatement of year," when I told him what she said.  Absolutely.  I've known from day one of this job that he didn't want to be the circulation manager.  They took away so much of the power from that position.  But, he also didn't flex his muscles, so to speak.  He's a "senior" administrator.  That still means something.  But he never fought for us.  And now the department is shit.  Typical.

A very old picture came up on my feed today.  It's a picture of my Grandmother at the washing machine in the back room.  I honestly don't know what I was doing when I took this picture.  When I took this picture she had less than a year to live.  Of course none of us knew that at the time.  She's been gone for so long now.  My life is completely different from that time.  I like to think that I have acquired some necessary skills.  I can't say I've acquired wisdom, because clearly I haven't.  I have certainly acquired age, if not beauty.  I miss her.

Fri June 7, Today is the last day at school for my cousin's kids, and of course they show up super early.  7:04am to be exact.  I mean come on.  How many times have I talked about this shit, and yet somehow it gets worse.  At least no more of this early shit for three months.

I had a special pick up today, courtesy of the head librarian.  She had some books I had to pick up in Westwood.  On Tuesday she asked me if it was OK, and I told her that it was as long as she let Mala and Kvon know.  Yesterday she confirmed that it was go, and sent me an email with the address and some information.  As always, I had to figure out where in the route I was going to make this drive out to Westwood to make this special delivery.  I thought about going in the morning, but then the traffic is a mess.  I thought better to do a couple of the branches and then go.  I ended up starting my way over there around 11am.  I figured I could get something to eat in the area.  More on that later.  Suffice to say, I knew that at any time I were to travel on the 405 it was going to be a struggle.  But, I did make good time, even considering all the usual slow downs, like by my house.  I got back to right by my house in good time only to be crushed in the transition to the 405.  But even that wasn't super bad.  The freeway wasn't wide open, but the slow downs weren't super bad.

I decided not to go to the bookstore right away, but instead decided to get some lunch at the famous Apple Pan on Pico.  I heard that they might have to close in the future.  I figured I would visit it and get some good grub.  The place was packed, but I got lucky there too.  Three people got up and two people waiting before me sat down.  The man behind the counter called out, "Single?"  I looked at the other people waiting and they were all coupled up.  Only one guy was standing alone.  I pointed to him and he said that he was waiting for someone.  Just like that I got a seat, only about two minutes after arriving.  I ordered the specialty of the house, a hickory burger and some fries.  The burger hit the spot.  I wolfed down my meal and headed to the store.

I arrived at the location of the store and found parking in the back ally.  It wasn't pretty, but I made it.  I went out front to the street to get into the building, since the back entrance didn't seem to be accessible.  When I got there I found that the store was closed.  But on closer inspection I was actually not at the right address.  I walked up the street and found the address and found nothing but an empty storefront.  I checked my email to see if I had the address wrong, but no such luck.  I called Central to see if they knew anything, but everyone was out to lunch.  I then called the number they gave me in my email for the store.  They told me that the store wasn't located in Westwood anymore, but rather that it was in Pacoima.  It was a good thing I had my lunch before going to the store.  Of course I now had to make my way to Pacoima.

The drive to Pacoima wasn't so bad either.  I made good time getting there, and when I arrived in the area I found that it was not so easy to find the location.  I finally figured out that it was in this one industrial park.  The people there were nice.  There was a pretty lady there.  I picked up the books and went back to the route.  I made good time getting back to Glendale as well.  All in all, I did a lot of driving, but I also made it to the various locations pretty quickly.  And I got paid.  Yes, I was dead tired at the end of the day, but it was cool, because I got to eat a hickory burger.

Sat June 8, Something close to twenty-five years ago I was sick one night and I couldn't sleep.  I stayed up with my Grandmother, who had trouble sleeping.  I remember looking at the clock and seeing that I was up until past four o'clock in the morning.  I was pretty much exhausted after staying up that late, and I was finally able to go to bed and sleep.  Last night/today, I eclipsed that former "record" of mine by not going to bed until close to 6am.  I took the above photo at 5:45am.  I was surprised at just how bright it was so early in the morning.  I didn't plan this.  Now that I think about it there were two other times when I didn't sleep all night long.  One was a night in which my tooth was in so much pain that I couldn't get to sleep.  The other was the night my mother died.

I checked my work email to preview my Tuesday schedule at the slaughterhouse.  Sure enough, I found a gem...  I'm to be given mockery space training.  I should say, "training."  No idea what that involves.  I was told by someone that works in that room that they have mentioned the hours being cut.  Well yeah, no one goes in there.  That's why it's perfect for me to work there so I can work on my own projects there.  Mwahahaha!  I sure hope it works out that way, because that room is most likely the equivalent of "Room 101" from "1984."  We shall see.

Sun June 9, Some punk kids changed the letters on the signs outside.  These dopes talked about having the new giant TV would mean no more signs.  Granted, this is for the stupid passports, but still.  The letters the punk kids took off broke, probably in their hands.  The sun and elements pretty much break those things down and then they break the moment you touch them.  They really have to get rid of these signs.

This past week the weather has been super nice.  In the evenings it's been cool but not cold, with a nice breeze.  Today, it was fucking hot.  It's like it suddenly became summer.  But yeah, no, it's still Spring.  The worst part is I can't imagine how hot it's going to be during the Summer this year.  I'm certainly not looking forward to it.  This is going to be some bullshit.

Mon June 10, I was on my way to work this morning and around just about the point where I was about to merge onto the 134 East I turned to look at the seat next to me and I noticed that Chan was not seated next to me.  I immediately yelled out, "Oh fuck me!"  For a split second I thought that I would just continue, but that thought was quickly overtaken with the thought that I HAD to go back for Chan.  I got off at the next exit and made my way back home.  I slipped in and out in a few seconds and was back on my way to work.  I know it's silly to care so much for a stuffed monkey, but he's not JUST a stuffed monkey... he's Chandaka.

Just before opening the library for the day my coworkers and I observed this idiot sitting in a chair in front of the front door.  This is just wrong.  She didn't leave the chair where it sat, but she didn't put it back where it belonged.  Fucking idiot.

Tue June 11, I was asked to come into work "early" for a training session on I don't know what.  When I arrived the nature of the "training" came to light.  It was to show a small group of us how things work.  By things they meant the copy machine, the self checkout, and such.  It was complete bullshit, but at the same time I can see that some dopes do need some training.  I thought I didn't know much, but it turns out I know a lot of this shit already.

After I went on the slaughter desk and barely felt like a human while working there.  Fuck that desk.  Fuck the bullshit!  I'm only three weeks into this fucking gig and I already despise it.  Fuck this place!

I certainly don't put any faith in any of these managers, so it was no surprise that when Kvon came back today he was all smiles from his trial.  He mentioned how it was an interesting experience.  At one point he says, "I have over a thousand emails."  I asked him if he didn't check them while he was out, and he responded, "No, I was on jury duty."  Ah, you're still the manager of the fucking department.  Some things are beyond the work hours.  As managers they are always on.  It's part of why they make the big bucks.  I tell him, "What if I had emailed you that I needed help?"  He didn't say anything.  Fucking bullshit.  I really just have to stick to the plan I always say I'm going to stick to.  The plan that says keep my mouth shut and get in and get out.

After lunch I had the "pleasure" of getting mockery space training.  LittlePage, as my buddy named her, has been working in the mockery space for about a year now.  Her talents should not be hampered by having to be in that horrible room.  It's bad enough that the fucking A/C doesn't seem to work in that room, I also had to deal with this one dopey patron that had really bad body odor.  I knew the mockery space to be a total shit show in theory, but now I have first hand knowledge that it's a fucking waste.  A blowtorch should be taken to the whole thing.  I wish I could light the match.  Fucking hate this shit.

There's a new girl working for Krishna at Grandview and Adams.  She showed up at Central for some training today, and so I officially met her.  I saw her last week at the branches, but no one found it necessary to introduce us.  She seems nice.

Wed June 12, Wednesday is the best day of the work week, since I get to visit with the ladies.  I know I say that every week, but it's true.  We visited the burger joint on Riverside a couple of weeks ago, but it's a good place to have a nice burger and some wine.  Boy, I do like that Fess Parker wine though.

A few years ago I told TheGirl about a book idea.  Of course nothing ever came of it.  Tonight TheGirl tells me, "I have a title for your book... Chandaka aka Chan.  Now go write it."  If it were that easy I would have already done it.  I really should get my ass in gear.  I had a thought that I should do it while I sit at the stupid slaughter desk at Glendale.  Ha!

Thu June 13, On Tuesday I mentioned that I had a pointless training session.  Today I saw a group of my coworkers going through the same pointless training.  Later Leech told me that the whole thing was pointless.  Confirmed.  Not that I needed confirmation.

SirLuna drives on Tuesdays, and the other driver drives on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Well, the other driver has found the hand cart we use in the front seat of the van after each of the last three weeks that SirLuna has driven the van.  This is why he felt that last week he needed to put a sign up to remind him to put the damn thing in the back of the van.  Well, today I found it on the steering wheel.  In talking to him later he told me that he actually put it on the steering wheel last week, but that SirLuna had taken it and put it on the passenger seat.  This is why he felt compelled to replace it on the steering wheel this week.  SirLuna didn't move it, but the other driver told me that he STILL left the hand cart in the cabin rather than in the back.  Idiot.  After I talked to the other driver I saw him in Kvon's office.  When I got back from city hall the other driver mentioned that he talked to Kvon about SirLuna.  I told him at the end of it all Kvon doesn't care.  He won't do anything about it.  Especially after Kvon told the other driver, "Could you make a list of the things he's gotten wrong?"  Fucking bullshit.  He's gotten everything wrong.  I have given up.

When I arrived at Adams TheNewCute told me that she hoped they could get some extra bins, since SirLuna left them only one on Tuesday.  Fucking asshole.  Not even a month into the gig and this guy is fucking up left and right.

I get that I'm unusual among the part timers, because nearly all of them work just a few hours, so they don't merit a lunch break.  I'm the only idiot that works 8:45am - 4pm.  Having that strange start at 8:25am is super unusual.  Still, as someone said to me, it's literally their job to make this stupid schedule.

Let me digress for a moment to point that out that when I first started working at San Marino I was the one person that had a five hour shift on Sundays, but also the only clerk during the week that had a lunch.  I've always been the avant guard.

Back to this no lunch thing.  I know that this is the first week that Kvon has returned to his post, but when you look at a schedule and see that one of your employees is covering a major part of the morning and afternoon, you would think that some old thoughts come to mind.  Like it's the fucking law that someone that works a certain amount of hours have a lunch break.  But these dopes have literally nothing to do during an eight hour shift.  You would think that ONCE a fucking week they would take an hour out of that time to figure out the schedule not only for the next week but for the next few weeks.  But what am I saying, these idiots aren't smart enough to do such a thing.  This is why I have had to remind these dopes two of of the last three weeks that I'm due a lunch.

Kvon had an interesting response to my email reminding him that I was due a lunch period.  He wrote, "I didn't see it noted in W2W and sure we can squeeze it in."  Point of order, I know that these idiots put lunch times on when to work (W2W), but they do that for the full timers.  Which get an hour lunch by fucking law.  So go choke on that schedule, Kvon.  I am due a lunch break.

Fri June 14, The dopes in administration must really think we're all a bunch of idiots that will automatically participate in any bullshit they invite us all to attend.  Their latest idea is a "End of Summer Celebration Staff Picnic!!"  When I typed that quote I put a period at the end, instinctively putting it there.  I didn't realize that these dopes had TWO exclamation points at the end.  ARGH!  I forget how they do that to create the sense that things are exciting and fun!  Bullshit!  They can suck my dick.  Wait, they can suck my dick!!

Sat June 15, On the advice of a friend I checked out the movie "The Two Jakes."  A movie that is infamously bad.  I can tell you now that it lives up to the bad reviews.  I could barely watch the darn thing.  To paraphrase one review I read online, it made good actors bad.  I agree.  It's funny because I haven't watched a movie in a long time.  I can't even say that this movie was fun to watch.  It was just meh.

Mon June 17

Tue June 18, Week four on the slaughter desk was fairly chill.  I have zero motivation to put any effort into working hard on the slaughter desk.  Mainly because I see my coworkers on the same desk and they appear to simply be seated.  Therefore, I have deemed it "OK" to do the same until told different.  But you know what?  I won't be told different, because the managers have already established that it's OK to "slack off" while working the desk.  I DARE say that if you compared me to anyone else that works that "Third desk," that I would STILL run circles around their efforts.  But, at "The end of the day," what does that all matter?

It feels like this lunch break thing is going to be an ongoing theme with me on my Tuesdays at the desk.  I don't know why these dopes, after missing my lunch period AGAIN, don't just put a note in their work schedule planner and fucking figure out that I need to have a lunch?  I guess it's better to dick around and forget my lunch, only to have me point it out to them every week.  Unless they think I'm not going to complain about not having a lunch.  Because that's certainly not going to happen.  I'm starving by the time they give me my lunch at noon.  On the route I usually eat lunch about an hour earlier.  But whatever.  They will keep forgetting, and I'll keep reminding them.

I really don't want to interact with SirLuna, because why should I bother.  I've washed my hands of the whole thing, since it seems that no one except the other grunts care that he isn't doing the job correctly.  I'm not going to sit here and get an ulcer over this guy.  Fuck it.  But something funny happened today.  He came in while I was in circulation talking to the other driver.  He was carrying the box pictured above.  He comes up and says seriously, "Anyone want some popcorn?"  He goes on to ask, "Where does this go?"  The other driver, Tony, looks at the box and says, "I don't think that's popcorn."  I also look and say, "It's books... they're donations."  SirLuna says, "Oh."  I laugh internally while Tony tells him where the "donations" go.  What a mess.

Vagabundo and I had found out that the administrators were considering cutting hours at the branches for a while now.  DrDeath has been saying budget crisis for some time now.  He says nothing else, but this he has been saying.  Not to us, but we've been hearing through the grapevine that during the manager's meeting he's mentioned more than once that they are "short" on money.  I'm not sure how this is, because the city increased their sales tax last year.  They touted how the increased revenue would add at least $10 million, and potentially up to $30 million, to the city coffers.  But of course this money isn't going to the library.  What it's going to we'll never know.

Wed June 19, I'm still a little uncertain if I'm going to go up to San Francisco for Thanksgiving this year, but I still have to make plans just in case.  I want to visit Coit Tower, and so today I bought reserved tickets to travel up to the observation level.  If it's not too foggy it will make for a great view of the city.

I was checking out the monthly shit show of a newsletter for Glendale when I noticed an interesting thing.  They had some photos of some employees along with some canned question and answers.  I seem to remember me immediately deleting this email.  Some people did answer though.  One was a coworker that works up at Montrose.  His name is Antonio, and when I saw his post (pictured above) I thought there was something strange about it.  The picture looked a little like him, but thinner and younger.  But it also stood out because it seems like he was using a professional headshot for this thing.

I had to mention this to Emma, since she works with Antonio.  And sure enough, she revealed to me that it was a headshot.  And not only that, it was a headshot of a different person altogether.  Emma sent me an image of a web search in which the name of the actual person appears.  Too funny.  I'll have to ask Antonio if he did this on purpose.  He had to.

Tonight TheGirl and I went to dinner at a place we hadn't gone in probably two years.  The reason why we could go tonight is that the place now has an inclosed patio out front.  This makes it ideal for us to bring Cheyenne along.  Oh and after we had finished eating Cheyenne couldn't wait to get back to TheGirl's place before giving me a good coat of licks (as pictured above).  You'd think that she loves me or something.  :)

Thu June 20, I was looking through the book bins and one of them had just ONE book in it.  I took it out and placed it in another bin.  Whoever does the sorting on Wednesday is a bullshit artist.

I went to graphics today and waiting for me was a heavy box of bookmarks meant to replace the ones that were printed a little while back.  These bookmarks had to be printed because the branch hours are changing.  The guy at graphics talked to me about how he was sent the file, but that he had to make some of the graphics smaller, because if he printed them as is the cutter would surly cut something off.  Of course the dummies at Central don't know about cut lines and bleed lines.  So typical.

SirLuna showed up today to deliver the lunches.  I'm so glad that I don't have to do that shit any more.  I later saw him at Grandview.  It's so funny to see his default move is to have his head down looking at his cell phone as he sends a text message.  I've already given up on someone telling him not to rush during the route.  What's the use.  He's going to do what he wants.  And it only makes me all the more willing to do what I want.

With all the cuts to the various branches Grandview has been left untouched.  Not only because of certain circumstances, but because they aren't open many hours per week.  Yet they somehow merit a roster of employees that outnumbers any other branch library.  I'm not sure how Krishna is doing it to keep the branch from losing more hours.  Their circulation numbers, as I've shown many times on this journal, is very low.

Fri June 21, My aunt has this habit of moving the floor mat away from the door, totally defeating the purpose of having a floor mat by the door.  I move it towards the door, my aunt moves it away from the door.  I'm not sure why she does that.  I bought it specifically so that it would be used.  Not sure what my aunt is thinking.

The news last night mentioned that it might rain today.  It's the first day of Summer and it actually rained today.  At least in the morning, and just a sprinkle or two.  Nothing so bad.  It covered the ground with a light dusting, you might say.  Most of the puddles were pretty small.  By the time I finished the route today they were all gone.  But it made for a nice leisurely day.

When they reopened the Grandview branch they installed some new furniture.  One of the things they added was desk that moves up and down.  Why would they, I'm not sure.  But they did.  Well, one of the ladies there showed me how the desk is stuck.  It won't move.  Not only won't it move, but it's stuck on an angle.  They can't budge it at all.  In short, it's busted.  Love this.

I saw Emma today up at Montrose.  She asked me when I was free to hang out.  I don't know why I'm being such a bitch about this.  I like Emma.  I want to be intimate with her.  Avoiding her isn't going to get me to that goal, if it's at all possible.  And yet, here I am.  Still stringing her along.  I guess deep down inside I must feel I don't have a chance with her.  Deep down I just don't think I can go through with making a pass at her.  I should just buck up and go out.  Even if I don't make a pass at her it's nice to hang out with a human female.  Emma did also confirm something I saw on social media, that TheRose quit.  Not only just left the library because she's going to school in Pomona in the fall, but quit quit.  She's not coming back.  Oh well.

Sat June 22, Saturdays I check my work email to see what bullshit is coming down the pike next week.  Today I saw that Kvon added a half hour lunch to my online schedule.  I guess that's better than having no lunch.  Or is it?

TheGirl was going to be out of her house today, going to a gender reveal party for her son and daughter in law.  She asked me to go over and check on Cheyenne today and feed her.  I went over, feed her and came home.  Cheyenne didn't seem to want to play.  And really she can't play after she eats her meal.  I had to go and get food for my aunt and me.

While at TheGirl's place I checked my work email again and saw that Kvon posted the schedule for next week.  Sure enough, I get a lunch on Tuesday.  But, there's a little bit of confusion in that he posted that I get a one hour lunch, and a half hour lunch as well.  Hmm.  I figure I can take both an hour and a half hour lunch.

I'm thinking I don't need to visit certain stops now when I do the route on Fridays.  Like there is zero use in me going to Adams.  As it is there are only a few items in the bins on Friday.  And now that they won't be open on Saturdays there's nothing that will keep me needing to go on Fridays.  I may not even need to go to Pacific either.  I don't know, I have to see what it's like after the first week of driving in July.

Mon June 24, I woke up to a gloomy sky.  But it wasn't just gloomy, it was drizzling this morning.  Kinda crazy that the weather has turned so cool even though it's officially Summer.  But of course later this week it's forecast to be warm.  Dang.  I wish it would stay like this.

Once again I looked ahead to tomorrow to see what my lunch situation is going to be, and once again these idiots fucked my my lunch schedule.  Not only do they have me going to lunch at 1pm to 2pm, but they also scheduled me from 1pm to 1:30pm.  AND... they also scheduled me to be on the desk at that time.  Fucking hell.  This is some bullshit.  How do they fuck this up EVERY week?!

I have this sixth sense when it comes to work email.  I seem to check my email at the strangest times and nearly every time there's some email there that is significant.  Tonight it was the above email from TheLamp.  She's resigning and moving up to Portland next month.  I can't say I'm moved in either way.  I guess I would miss her if she and I had any sort of personal relationship, but we don't.  Oh well.  I wish her well.

P texted me tonight and when I asked her if TheLamp had elaborated about her move up North she said, "Her boyfriend's parents live in Oregon and she leaving for personal reasons and she needs to go with him and if doesn't work out she can always come back home her family lives out here."

As a supervisor she left me alone to my own devices.  That I like.  I'm not sure what the next dope will do, but I guess we'll see.  I can't say I saw this coming, because I truly didn't.  I know she is frustrated at work, and the stupidity that goes on there.  I guess that and other circumstances caused her to pull the trigger and leave.  This is a time of many changes at both my jobs, and in life really.  I kinda wished that TheLamp and I had more of a working friendship, but alas it's too late for that.

Tue June 25, When I arrived and got ready to go to the desk I walked by this area that's normally empty.  I couldn't help but see the stupid copy equipment sitting on the floor (see above).  This equipment looked awful in the "business center," and they look ten times worse on the floor.  This is simply the worst.  I don't even know why this stuff was excited from the "business center."  I kinda overheard the IT guy say something about the literacy dopes using that room.  Oh sure, like they can't use any other room.  Also, maybe they should have planned another room when they were drawing the plans for the renovation.  Yeah, whatever!  Fucking idiots.

Here is a picture of the now empty "business center."  This is so laughable.

Jade came up to the desk and said that SirLuna hadn't arrived for the route, and that I might have to "suit up" and do the route today.  I laughed, but then I asked, "What do you mean?"  "He hasn't arrived yet," he answered.  I had seen that it was past 9am and he hadn't arrived.  Now here it was past 9:30am and he STILL hadn't arrived.  I told Jade that I hoped he would show up, because I didn't have the right clothes for the route.  This idiot didn't show his face until 9:40am.  I'm curious to find out if he "clocked in" at 8am or 9:40am.  What a piece of shit.  I didn't see what time he finished, because I was busy on the desk.  I can ask my coworker on Thursday for some sort of an idea what time he finished.  Fucking shit!

Wed June 26, My car is scheduled for a smog check this year.  I've been putting if off, and now I have to do it, because the payment is due.  If I didn't get it done today it would mean driving around without tags for at least a few days.  Not a good idea.  I searched for a place close to work at San Marino and found a place that was not only close but promised a discount if I paid with cash.  I went to the bank the other day and I drove into the joint.  The guy there told me to drive the car up, he moved it to right in front of the doors and plugged something into the car's computer outlet.  He went back to his computer, tapped on the keys a big, and in about five minutes the test was over.  In the past they had put the car through some paces.  This car wasn't placed on anything, but it did have more done last time.  But, either way, the guy tells me it passed and I was on my merry way to AAA down the street to get my tags.  I waited a little and used the DMV services there.  The first time I've ever used AAA for such things.  I'm glad I have that.

On a side note about some of these things... I'm lucky to have landed where I landed in life.  Sure, I'm not rich.  I'm certainly not privileged.  But in a way I have been prevailed.  I landed in a part of the world where things like AAA are the normal.  Where I live in a nice quiet neighborhood.  There is some kid somewhere in this town that will never know little differences like that I've experienced.  This city is many towns, and they are distinctive.  I've landed in a nice place.  I work at a pair of libraries, and as jobs go I'm certainly not digging a ditch.  I make a semi nice living.  I'm not going to be rich, but I have investments, some money here and there.  I don't travel much, but I take one trip every year.  Certainly it's not perfect.  But I'm lucky.

Speaking of lucky, I'm lucky to have a standing dinner date with the ladies, and of course Chan.  We went to the burger joint on Riverside again.  It's predictable, and they have nice wine there.  The now summer night air was nearly perfect.  A slight cool breeze.  I had my speaker on with some tunes, and it was nice.  It's always nice.

Thu June 27, DrDeath sent an email today... no more fines for brats.  Children's books can be returned late and the patron will not have any fines assessed.  Yet another trendy thing that DrDeath is inflicting on the library.  It's funny that in the email he says how it's still important that patron return the items in a timely basis.  Fines are not meant for punitive punishment, they are more like encouragement to return items on time.

This week has been a real "winner" for the library.  The expulsion of the "copy" machine from the "business center," the change in hours not being announced, and now the no fines.  What a shit show.

Fri June 28, My aunt cooked up some refried beans using a new recipe that she got from my other aunt.  The addition to the beans were chorizo and tomato sauce.  My other aunt told her to render the chorizo and use the pieces and the drippings in combination for some yummy flavor.  Well, I'm not sure what she did, because the beans don't taste any better than her regular refried beans.  Damn.  I really thought chorizo would add a lot of flavor.  But, my aunt refuses to season anything.

I texted TheDesire about the hours cut.  She sent me a text asking if she could just call me, because she was driving to work.  We had a nice conversation.  I don't remember the last time we talked on the phone.  Now I wouldn't mind if we made this a regular call each Friday.

I've been tasked with photographing the interiors of the various branches.  I couldn't take pictures of all the branches today, but I was able to get photos for three of the seven.  Adams was easy because the library is closed.  No distractions.  Same with two other locations.  But, the others will have to wait until next week.

Today is the last Friday that Montrose will be open.  The last Friday that I'll see Emma and the gang there.  Next week that branch will be closed on Fridays.  Emma said yesterday that she would be working Thursdays, which is good.  Today she asked if I wanted to go to Disneyland.  I'd love to go.  Especially with her.  Anything with her.  Especially like to try and kiss her.  We'll see if we actually go.

Sat June 29, Just as I was arriving home yesterday I hit the curb with the passenger tire.  I immediately knew it wasn't a good thing.  Sure enough, when I got out of the car I could hear the air escaping.  It was already too late to drive to the tire shop and have it replaced.  I thought of putting the donut spare on last night, but I had no energy.

Bright and early this morning I woke up and sure enough the front tire was completely deflated.  I knew the tire shop would open at 8am, which meant I had about two hours before I could go.  But, that time would go fast.  I took out the spare, one I've never used before, and proceeded to change the tire.  It went smooth until I started driving to the tire shop.  The car felt strange, and the tire made a strange sound.  To my surprise, the spare was also flat.  I slowly drove it to the nearest gas station to fill it up with air.  After that it was smooth sailing to the tire shop.  They fixed me up with another tire and I was done.  my little tire adventure was over.

Sun June 30, Let us turn the wayback machine to 2012.  These photos came up from my photo feed online today.  Seven years ago I was lucky enough to have my work on display.  Snow's friend gave me the privilege of showing off some works on his pop up gallery in his loft.  That was quite a night, to say the least.  I know that it was a difficult time, what with TheGirl out with TheChisel that weekend.  This was in the midst of her seeing him every other weekend.  I should have bolted, but I was too much in love with her.  I wanted her to be there that night, but she was "busy" with TheChisel.  Fucking terrible times.  Still, I had a good time.

Here I am, feeling pretty good, because I have a couple in me.  Notice the picture of TheDesire to my left.