Afterthoughts : This Past Month

What can I say about this month other than that it's been all over the map.  I suppose you can say that about any month, though.

Friday, April, 1, I didn't mention it the other day, but on Wednesday night I came home with an itchy right foot.  I kept on scratching it until I finally checked it before going to sleep.  That's when I noticed how bad the scratched area was (see above).  It was really bad.  I scratched the skin off in some places.  I put some Neosporin on the scratches and then some hydrocortisone.  That helped with the itching.  I don't know what made me so itchy in the first place.  Thankfully the hydrocortisone helped me stop scratching my foot.

Another thing that I forgot to mention was Emma asking me about going to the Dodger game.  I asked her when it was and she told me it was May 13th.  A quick look at my calendar showed that May 13th is the night of the McCartney concert.  Oh well.  I actually thought about possibly of going to the Dodger game with the coworkers this year.  But, I guess it's not going to happen this year.  Maybe next year.

I'm a horny guy, but probably no more or less than the average guy.  But, saying that means I'm a horny guy that wants it all the time, and that likes the ladies.  Anyway, I feel that I'm getting more horny these days.  Also, I noticed that every woman looks really good to me.  Are they objectively attractive or am I seeing it because I'm worked up.  I think I can detach myself enough to say that yes, women are looking better these days.  People in general are taking better care of themselves, (except me) and are working out and are just fit.  The picture above is of the weather lady on Fox 11 in the mornings.  I've watched her on TV since the days when she worked at KCOP 13 like twenty years ago.  She's always been gorgeous, but I think I'm loosing it, because her hips the last couple of weeks look amazing.  It's the proportion of hip to waist that has changed.  At least that's my theory.  I guess a woman can have larger hips while getting a smaller waist since the stomach could be shrinking and the hips could be getting bigger.  Whatever it is she looks great.  But it's not just her.  At work all the girls look super nice.  Am I just going crazy with thoughts of sex?  I suppose it's just me not having a girlfriend for a long time.  Or it could just be I'm focusing on the ladies more.  I don't know.  But whatever it is, I can't seem to look anywhere without finding some random lady attractive.

While on the route today I stopped off at the Adams Square branch and found in the outgoing delivery that there were, amongst other things, about a dozen Snapshots of Glendale books that the library had published years ago.  The whole idea was to sell them for $50.  Yes, each.  Of course they hardly sold any.  They were giving the books away.  I mean they had like a half a pallet of these books, but no one wanted them.  Especially at $50 a pop.  I showed TheNewCute the book and she said she wouldn't pay more than $10.  Well, many people didn't even want to pay THAT.  So, here's a batch they found somewhere in the Adams basement, no doubt.  And now they're going to the so-called "history room."  Most likely they're just going to get tossed.  Yet another library fail.

I drive for a living at Glendale.  Sadly the city is known for its horrible drivers.  I run into many of them on my typical day's route.  One of the things my coworker Tony and I have noticed many of the drivers do while driving around the city is stop far behind the line (as shown in the picture above).  We don't have any idea why drivers stop so far behind the line, but it does seem to be a pattern with many drivers.  Tony thinks that they're taught that by bad driving instructors.  That would make sense, because there would have to be a similar source for this idea.  Unless it's a cultural thing.  Whatever it is, it's stupid and the drivers that do this usually stop far behind the line when at a stop sign, and they think that's a proper stop.  But then they go when it's another car's turn.  They think because they stopped so far behind the line that when it would normally be their turn, if they had stopped at the line, that it's now their turn to go.  But this creates chaos, because other drivers start to go because these dopes stop so far behind the line that they don't properly cue up for the stop sign.  It's very frustrating dealing with these drivers.

Talia was texting me again about her nieces.  Years ago Talia's aunt died.  She left two young girls orphaned, and Talia was one of the closest relatives.  The county came by her house to do inspections of the living conditions, and of course they found that it was a sty.  Talia's mother was a hoarder, and that mentality transferred to Talia from years of living with that.  Also, Talia is smart, but she does have a screw loose.  When I first met her I found her attractive, but soon after hanging out with her I noticed she was a little off.  Not so bad, and nothing that you could call crazy.  Like I said, just a little off.  But, over the years she's gotten worse.  To the point now that she can't see that she lives in a sty, and that child protective services are not going to allow her to raise children in that environment.  This is why she continually thinks that she can appeal the court's decision to have the girls be adopted by another family.  That family probably doesn't live in a house that smells like urine.  They probably don't have a living room that's something out of Sanford and Son's, only worse.  She is delusional to think that the county would allow to her adopt the girls at this point.  She would have to make a TON of changes to her living situation.  For one, clean up the place.  But also, her attitude is bad.  She can't get a job and keep it.  She was working a few years ago, but a friend of hers told her about a job at the school district as a cafeteria worker.  Not high paying, but something.  Talia could not get past the sign up process for a food handling test she needed to take.  I wanted her to get the job, and I even went over to her house to help. But the test was timed and had a specific time when it could be taken.  She had missed that time.  Oh well, right?  She has money.  She doesn't have the purse strings though.  Her brother does.  Talia has more than once said we should get married.  I considered it for a second, because I did want to help her with the children's situation.  Ultimately I thought that the kids were better off without her in their lives.  Harsh, I know.  But Talia isn't in a good place mentally.  She has now mentioned not wanting to live to me several times over the last few months.  I try to tell her life is worth living, but try to convince someone that it's true when they feel it's not.  I want to help her, but there's not much I can do for her.  I thought about asking her to move in with me to help me with my aunt, as well as to have a nice stable life environment.  I know that's ultimately a bad idea, because she's just going to drive my aunt crazy.  And I have my life that she will want to insert herself into.  The only positive would be that she would want to sleep with me.  Yeah, but how will that help anyone but me?  I have my life and she has hers.  I feel I owe her something because she has been abandoned by her family, what's left of it.  And she has no one.  I'm her only friend it seems.

Saturday, April, 2, I was up late last night, so after I had breakfast this morning I was sleepy.  I went to my backyard and started listening to my radio show.  At one point I started to dose off.  My aunt woke me up to ask me some pointless question.  I hate when she does that.  When I woke up I was still sleepy, so I lay down on the bench and passed out in no time.  I woke up about an hour later from a dream.  In the dream I was being chased by someone on a bike.  I was on a bike as well.  I kept the distance from the person chasing me about the same, but I also couldn't pull away.  I finally just woke up as I was stuck in a pattern of going through a door with my bike and finding the person behind me seemingly catching up.

Here is what Dream Dictionary said the dream means.

To dream that you are being chased signifies that you are avoiding a situation that you do not think is conquerable.  It is a metaphor for some form of insecurity.  In particular, to dream that you are chased by an animal represents your own unexpressed and unacknowledged anger which is being projected onto that animal.  Alternatively, you may be running away from a primal urge or fear.

Hmmm... I'm wondering what I'm avoiding.  Also, when I woke up I had a hard on.  Double hmmmm.

Sunday, April, 3, Have I mentioned how much I hate working on Sundays?  Well, I do.  It's just too much for me these days.  Sundays are horrible, but they are draining.  They had me on the desk the entire shift from 1pm to 6pm today.  That's too much.  But, the dummies upstairs don't care if they burn you out.

My aunt has a doctor's appointment on Tuesday.  Normally she would call CityRide and they would take her.  She's been having problems with them.  They either say they don't have any available buses, or they will leave her holding the bag.  More than once they have left her at the doctor's office because she was "late" for the rendezvous.  Sure.  Oh, and the people who answer the phone there are surly, so my aunt says.  Because of that she asked me to get an Uber for her.  I figured I would do it today.  When I was to book the ride for Tuesday I found that the prices were outrageous (see above).  They want to charge over $50 for a ride that's less than five miles?  No thank you.  I went ahead and checked Lyft for a ride and they only charged me $18.

When I went to the market tonight I had zero idea what I wanted to prepare for my lunch this week.  I thought about getting some potatoes and combined with the hot dogs I already had at home create my old favorite dish of potatoes and hot dogs.  But, then I thought about how I didn't want to do that after a long day at work.  Also, I wasn't craving that.  My aunt wanted celery, so I piggybacked off that and decided to make tuna salad.  A few weeks ago my aunt and I went to the market and got ten cans of tuna, because they were on sale.  Ten cans for $10.  I like that price.  My aunt saw the cans of tuna on the counter and asked if I wanted tuna salad.  I told her yes, but that I would make it.  I know that this makes her feel less useful, but I can't have her make super soggy tuna salad anymore.  When I make tuna salad it isn't swimming in water.  My aunt can make the potatoes and hot dogs next week.  Or she can make some lentil soup.

Monday, April, 4, When I got out of the shower I looked in the mirror and noticed that my beard was pretty long, but also that there was a new white patch on my right cheek.  ARGH!  I don't mind going grey, but what I hate is this thing where my grey hair isn't symmetrical on my head or face.  I have a grey patch on the right side of my head, but not on my life.  And now this grey patch is on my right side, but not on my left.  It sucks getting old.

Some dummy called the library yesterday and asked if we took art donations.  One of the clerks said yes.  Naturally the patron came by and dropped off the donations.  I would toss them right into the trash right now, but that's not my call.  Of course the parked the art right next to TheNewCute's desk.  I joked with her about the value of the artwork.  Told her she could retire.  Yeah, that's not going to happen.

I went online to check on Ricky's tacos, and so see if I missed something.  Well, I did.  Turns out that they tweeted a couple of weeks ago that they would be temporary closing to focus on catering.  On another site I found that they will be reopening for business under Hyperion on May 5th.  I guess I'll go and try to get some fish tacos after that date.

Tuesday, April, 5, This morning I thought about eating some beans and rice that I had from late last week.  My aunt made the rice, and the beans were store bought.  When I went to open the containers both of them had a bad smell coming from the food.  Of course.  My aunt hardly eats.  Of course my aunt didn't eat her fair share of the beans and rice.  So of course they went stale.  I didn't have much time this morning to get rid of the food, but I will tomorrow.

This morning I was feeling rushed.  The internet was slow and I had to restart the router.  My computer was trying to install an update and that kept me from going into a shower at the proper time.  I was ahead of schedule and everything was keeping me from keeping that schedule.  Then I was behind schedule.  On top of all that I forgot my water bottle for the route today.  Thankfully I was able to use the water bottle in the car as a back up.

My aunt had a doctor's appointment today.  I think worrying about her made me forget my usual patter of things.  Couple that with the computer trying to install an update while the internet was slow and of course I forgot my water bottle.

I went to the park for my lunch again today, and while I was parking I thought about how I hate that some dope always wants to park behind the van.  Today I thought I would park the van farther up the street from where I actually sit and eat my lunch.  Sure enough, no one parked behind me.  That car in the picture above was already parked there before I got there.  So, for the first test I found no one wanting to park behind me.  Next time, another test.

Apparently it's National Library worker's week this week.  The administration dopes sent out a bunch of bottles for gifts.  Of course it was up to me to deliver them.  Some of my coworkers actually liked the bottle, except for the logo.  Some liked it even with the logo.  TheNewCute said she could print out a giant sticker to put over the library logo.  I like that idea.  But yeah, thanks for nothing admin dopes.

Wednesday, April, 6, OMG, it was so hot today.  I was inside for most of the day, but when I left work at 4pm I stepped outside and was smacked in the face with the heat.  It was 94 degrees in the Valley at my house.  Awful.  The weather liars said that it would get really hot tomorrow and then slowly get cooler, with a possibility of rain come next week.  I sure hope so.

After I got off the desk I went back to my office and I passed out in my chair.  From about a half hour after lunch I was feeling REALLY sleepy.  I could not keep my eyes open once I got into the office.  Outside TheNewCute accompanied me at the desk for a time, and that kept me sorta awake.  I kept yawning, but at least I wasn't actively falling asleep.  ARGH, I hate when I get so sleepy after lunch.  Fucking sucks.

TheGirl and I returned to the Dog Haus in Burbank.  We ate there a few weeks ago after not going there in about two years or so.  It was good, so now we're returning Dog Haus to our rotation of places where we eat.  Nice.  Last time I had at hot dog, but tonight I was in the mood for a burger.  I ordered a regular cheeseburger with pastrami on top.  It made the burger super good.  Tonight for music I found a playlist of worst songs from the 70s.  The funny thing is that TheGirl knew nearly all the lyrics to nearly all the songs.  That's funny, because she isn't one that remembers lyrics.  But she knew all the bag song lyrics.  Ha ha!

Next week TheGirl will be in Solvang, again.  So I'll be left to my own devices again next week.  I'm not sure where I might want to eat.  Downtown?  This time, if I do go downtown, I'm going to make sure to I park the car where it won't be locked behind a gate.  But, then again maybe I should stick to places that are close to home.  I guess I'll figure it out.

Thursday, April, 7, I was at the Pacific Park library today, trying to leave the parking lot, but of course some idiot finds it OK to park their car in the driveway in order to pick someone up.  I don't understand why people ALWAYS park right in front of the driveway to pick someone up, to drop someone off, to just park there for a second.  This is some fucking shit.

I had to move this magazine stand from Casa to Grandview today.  It was big, and a little heavy, but nothing too bad.  When I got to Grandview TheNewCute helped me out with the thing.  We eventually moved it to a corner by the desk.  But, not happy with our positioning of it, Grimace moved it and put it at an angle.  Whatever.  TheNewCute and I just looked at each other.  Grimace sucks.

I think I've featured some of the Link plus art before, but if not here it is for the first time.  Perhaps the first time.  Probably not the first time.  Someone in the system spends time drawing little scenes on the Link plus labels.  We don't know who it is, of course, but it would be interesting to know who is the person that does this.  It's pretty cool.

My aunt called me today asking if I wanted her to make some pasta.  I told her not to make a lot.  But of course she makes a mountain of pasta.  Fuck me.  My aunt is bored.  She has nothing to do all day.  Cooking wastes time that she just wants to piss down the toilet.  Whatever.  I'm tired.

Friday, April, 8, I had a tough time the other morning.  I forgot my water.  I was sleepy and I wasn't motivated to get out of my bed.  I finally got going, but at the same time I was so wanting to call out sick.  I fought through that feeling and made it to work.  This morning I was dealing with some of the same funk from yesterday.  I went into the shower and about two minutes into the shower I noticed that I didn't have my towel with me.  I was fucking pissed off at myself.  I ran and got the towel and finished showering.  I was now behind schedule.  I ate quickly and got out in time for work.  I'm such a dope.  I can't even blame me going to be late, because I was tired last night and the night before I went to bed early.  But, I did wake up twice in the night both nights.  Sucks.

Since last week I had planned on having a special lunch today while on the route.  I wanted to try out Ricky's fish tacos, which is a taco truck that sits on Riverside drive by the Hyperion underpass.  I went there today after hitting my first four stops on the route, which I did in the opposite direction to better closer to the taco truck.  After Pacific I drove down to Atwater Village and made my way to Riverside drive.  I drove up to the place where the truck was supposed to be, but I didn't see it.  I kept driving towards Griffith park.  I passed under Hyperion, which is where the truck was supposed to be.  The city rest ripped the street to include a bike lane, so I figured that the truck would not be there.  I kept going until I saw a truck on the opposite side of the street.  However, it didn't have any markings that said anything about it being the truck I was looking for.  I was getting hungry, and I didn't want to go on that long of a search.  So, I figured I would just give up and go to my back-up plan.  I've wanted to try a place called Giamela's in Los Feliz just across the freeway.  I went over there and bought a combination sandwich which included half pastrami and half pepper steak.  I took my lunch in Griffith park, next to the train ride.  It was hot, but the shade helped me stay a little cooler.  The pastrami was good.  The pepper steak was OK.  I would have the pastrami again.

It was way too hot today.  TheLooker said that she was going to stop by the library today to pick up her books that were on hold.  Saying this means nothing, unless she makes it a point to tell me when she's going to come by.  Or to have me deliver the books to her, like she said she would way back when she was leaving the library.  Oh well.  I know she's a lost cause.

Saturday, April, 9, I was super lazy today.  My aunt wanted blitzes for breakfast.  A quick web search and I was able to find a place that sold them.  I went down there and ordered myself some biscuits and gravy with eggs.  My aunt said the blitzes were good.  I liked my breakfast as well.  After breakfast I pretty mush spent the rest of my day laying down on my bench in my backyard.  What a great day.

The new city librarian emailed us all today to tell us what I already knew... that the part time librarian, Christopher, has found a new job and is leaving.  I think he started some time in August or September last year.  So yeah, he wasn't at San Marino for a whole year.  This is the typical move these days at San Marino.  The pay is low.  The work isn't hard, but they have given people much more to do these days for the same pay.  And, working weekends still sucks dick.  I can't blame the guy for leaving.  The thing is, he was in charge of a few things that I'm sure they will try to pawn off some of them on me.  Yeah, well, I'm only there two days a week.

Monday, April, 11, I was feeling meh yesterday.  When I went to bed I felt pretty tired, and this morning I didn't feel like getting out of bed.  I finally did get out of bed.  I was thankful for having extra time to get ready today, because it took me so long to get out of bed.  Once I got out of bed I was doing well.  I noticed that my aunt had made a mess on the floor by the fridge.  I don't know what she spilled on the floor, but it made a mess.  I had time, so I went ahead and used the new steamer to clean up the mess.  It did a really great job at cleaning the mess in just a few minutes.  Lovely.  I really need to clean the entire house with this thing.

Speaking of being sleepy, after lunch today my eye became incredibly heavy.  I could not keep my eyes open.  I don't know why I became so sleepy.  I had a decent night's sleep.  But, for some reason that's just not good enough.  I really hate it when I'm this sleepy for apparently no reason.  Fuck this.  Thankfully I felt better as the day went on.  But still.

TheGirl wanted to have dinner tonight since we're not going to be having dinner this Wednesday and next Wednesday.  This week because she's going to Solvang, and next week because she's going to have her surgery.  I can visit her that day, but no dinner.  So, tonight we went the Smokehouse.  I wasn't super hungry, since stupid me ate my lunch late.  Not my fault.  My alarm went off, but at that moment a patron came by and I got wrapped up in that.  When I turned around it was past 1:15pm.  I'm supposed to go to lunch at 1pm.  I think I might just go to lunch a little earlier now, like at 12:30pm.  It's the same thing, but I am quite hungry by the time 1pm rolls around.  Dinner was good times.

Wednesday, April, 13, Since I didn't have dinner with TheGirl tonight I didn't bring Chan along for the ride.  It's always strange to go to work on a Wednesday and not have Chan in tow.  I felt like I forgot something all day.  But I didn't forget.  I just didn't want hims to get monkey napped when I went to get food after work.  What I did forget was to put the right pair of shoes on.  I have a pair of shoes that I wear to work when I go to San Marino.  They're like hiking boots, but are not high tops.  And I have a pair of regular boots that are high tops that I wear to work at Glendale.  Well, today I wore the high top ones to San Marino.  And my left foot hurt.  I don't think it had anything to do with the shoe choice though, because my foot hurt yesterday as well.  However, I was wearing the books on both occasions.  Hmmm.

There's a copy room at San Marino where, for some reason, patrons like to sit and study, or read.  Well, up until last week we had patrons in there doing those things.  This week the new city librarian said that we're going to move all the chairs out of there and not allow people to sit in the copy room.  Well, today I saw this one lady who was there the entire time I was on the desk.  I didn't know what to say to her, so I didn't confront her about the new policy.  Let the city librarian tell her.  Besides, she was sniffling and blowing her nose.  I stay away from sick dopes now.  Fuck that.  And fuck these patrons.

Speaking of that, one of the new pages, Carrie, told me today that she was part of a meeting of clerks and pages the other day.  They told them that it was best we don't speak of library business out in the stacks.  Some patron overheard employee talking about how the city has a lot of money and that it's unfair.  They probably heard me say that to Carrie.  I don't know anyone else that says these things.  Carrie felt that it was all directed to her.  But, I suspect that the patron didn't know who was saying what.  Oh, I forgot that the patron that overheard our conversation then went and talked to one of the trustees and told them who then told someone at the city.  Fucking assholes.  You know, I barely do any work there now as a protest against their stupidity.  If there is some way to do less work there I will find a way.  Fuck these patrons and fuck the city for this shit.

Ilsa reminded me about the fact that the people of San Marino have often said that they think the people at the library should be working for free.  Yeah, sure.  Try running anything with an all volunteer staff.

Since I wasn't having dinner with TheGirl tonight I went ahead and went to a place in Pasadena to get a torta.  This time I wasn't going to go to downtown, though I considered going to a place in Chinatown.  After my last adventure I figured I would save that for another day.

My aunt's action never let's me have a "vacation" from her silliness.  When I was eating my torta she called me to ask if I called her.  NO.  When I call home I leave a message.  Fuck.  She's just lonely and want to connect, or check up on me, or some bullshit.  I know she's just doing it to check up on me.  She asked if I wanted anything to eat, and I told her no.  I didn't tell her I was currently eating, that's none of her business.  But when I arrived she tells me that she made me tuna salad.  I told her I DIDN'T want anything made, but she of course says that she thought I said I did.  Not only that, she continues by telling me, "I didn't add onion to it since I know you don't like onion."  Wait, what the fuck?  Don't like onion?  Oh, is that why I made my tuna salad two week ago WITH ONION?  Fucking bullshit.  I tell her that I've never said any such thing.  She responded with, "I guess I heard you wrong."  Ya think?  Now here it is Wednesday.  I usually eat something from home on Thursday for lunch and then treat myself to a burger or something on Fridays.  The the weekend we eat take out.  When the FUCK am I supposed to eat that damn tuna salad?  Tomorrow maybe, but I didn't want tuna salad.  I'm not in the mood for tuna salad.  This is so frustrating.  My aunt CONSTANTLY does this.  I'm good and tired of always having to deal with her silliness.  The hose she doesn't put back on the holder.  The constant making of food I don't want to eat.  The hearing things wrong that convenience her.  I was thinking of a possible trip up to Carmel during Thanksgiving later this year.  I'm tired of just being here.  I want to have some fun.  But I dread that my aunt is going to get sick, or do something stupid and I'll have to cancel my trip, like I had to cancel my trip to San Francisco before the pandemic hit.  I can't keep deferring things in my life for her benefit.  I'm tired of doing that.

Thursday, April, 14, I woke up moments before my alarm went off.  I hit the snooze button and passed out.  When I woke up I realized that I needed to get going.  Just as I was getting sitting up the lights went out.  The emergency lights I have around the house lit up and as I looked down the hall I could see those lights on but not the lights I had on in the house.  I turned on a flash light I have by my bed and wondered how I would warm up my breakfast.  I figured I could either buy something on the way to work or eat the tuna salad my aunt made.  Thankfully about ten minutes later the power came back on.

When the power came back, and I was coming out of the shower, the news was showing that the 405 had been closed up by Skirball drive.  The 405 is one of the busiest freeways in the world.  To have that freeway closed is to inconvenience tens of thousands of people on their way home.  The reason the news finally gave was that there had been a police shooting.  No details yet, but the news showed a car on the side of the road that had been pulled over.  Anyway, when I went out of the house for my commute I encounter a ton of cars on Ventura blvd (pictured above).  It took me about twenty minutes to get to Ventura and Sepulveda, which is less than a half mile away.  Once I got on Sepulveda I was able to take the freeway and get to work fifteen minutes late. Not bad, compared to a lot of poor souls this morning.

I found out today that one of the security guards is retiring and moving to El Salvador in two weeks.  He was the best security guards we have had at Central.  He was the only one that didn't slack off, or disappear.  It's a shame to see him go.  I'm happy for him, but sad for the library.  Everyone good is leaving.

In other news, Emma confirmed that the teen librarian is also leaving.  She told me today that he told her yesterday.  Terrible.

Speaking of library news, TheNewCute told me today that Mala and Gitmo were having a meeting with Grimace today.  I joked that she was going to get fired.  TheNewCute said there was no way, because the part of the conversation she overheard was about her vacation time in September.

Friday, April, 15, Yesterday the traffic on Ventura blvd was bumper to bumper.  What a difference a day makes.  Look at it, Ventura is completely empty.  It's the Friday that no one goes to work, so the streets and the freeway was empty.  This is how it should always be.  Sigh.

I had lunch at Brand park today, because of the fact that I had to help the gallery curator move something at 1pm today.  I promised her I would be there at 1pm, so I notified some of the route to accommodate that.  Brand park is nice to have lunch.  I sat in the shade and just as I was biting into my sandwich (which wasn't very good) I noticed a dog turd a few feet away on the root of the tree I was laying under.  Fucking people.  I moved a few more feet away from the shit.  People are the worst.

My cousin texted me last night before I went to sleep saying she was going to come over to pick up her mail.  She wanted to get some mail before doing her taxes.  I told her it was fine.  I left a note for my aunt, so she wouldn't be surprised.  Well, when my cousin came my aunt had everything ready for her to take.  My cousin was only here for about a minute.  Later my aunt said that my cousin looked thinner and sad.  She always thinks people look sad.  That's her go to.  Problem is she's always wrong about reading people's emotions.  Also, from the looks of the security video I don't see that my cousin lost any weight.  Sadness, that's something else.  Oh well.

Saturday, April, 16, TheGirl and I went to Santa Anita Park today, and it was super fun.  We definitely have to do this again.  I had never been to the race track.  I've seen it many times while going to the mall right next door.  I had seen the commercials, but I had never been... until today.  TheGirl said she would come to the track when she was younger, but hadn't been in years.

Not that I didn't know this place was big, but let me say that this place is BIG.  From the start I knew this was going to be fun.  Just the size of the place awes.  I told TheGirl that we need to do this again.  I was saying this just minutes after arriving.

TheGirl and I bought something called the Farrier's package online.  With that we got the box seats along with coupon vouchers for a free wine or beer as well as a food entree, and a free souvenir cup.  I bought a giant pretzel and had a Manhattan.  Then I also had whiskey.  TheGirl had a super yummy turkey sandwich and wine.

Part of the package we bought entitled us to a pint glass from the gift shop.  We went to find someone that could give us directions and in a few minutes we had our glasses in hand.

As we were leaving we noticed part of a track that said "horse crossing."  We didn't know what this crossing was outside of the grand stands, so we followed a group of people that were walking to this area were they were leading horses to.  It turns out it's a viewing area.  I'm not sure what these betters look at when they "inspect" the horses in this area, but they must think it gives them some idea of how they will race.  Pretty cool.

As we left TheGirl and I agreed that we had to come back here again some time soon.  And get box seats like this time.  It was way cool.  I think that next time we may even place a bet, and not say we will.  Great day.

Sunday, April, 17, I saw in my email today that Sarah McLachlan is going to be in concert.  The email showed Santa Barbara as the venue, but later when I checked I saw that she's also coming to Long Beach.  Woo hoo!  I couldn't help myself, I bought a ticket.  I'm going Sunday, June 19th.  Wow, I'm becoming a concert goer.

Monday, April, 18, Last night my aunt was quite restless.  I was awaken by noises in the living room.  I wondered if I was hearing an intruder coming into the house.  I wasn't sure what I could do, but then I heard the fall of my aunt's metal cane fall.  I was relived to hear that.  But then I wondered why my aunt was in the living room at nearly 3am.  Her movements woke me up at around 4am.  I later checked the security camera and saw that it was around 4:20am.  That's when I heard the front sliding door close.  In the past my aunt has claimed that she couldn't breath.  A few months ago, longer maybe, she did a similar move by opening the window in my Grandmother's old room.  Another time she opened the front door as well.  But, the difference was that on those previous times she did not sleep in the living room, she went back to her room.  Opening the door or window and letting in some air into the living room is going to work, because the living room is connected to my Grandmother's old room and obviously the front door is in the living room.  But to expect air to go all the way back to her room was nuts.  So at least she was more logical by staying in the living room this time.  I don't get her though.  I know she's not feeling well.  Hell, I don't feel well.  But this idea that she can't breath is silly.  Also, it's a wonder she didn't say it was cold, because even when the temperature has been over 80 inside the house she claims to be cold.  Hmmm.

When I woke up this morning for the final time I was not feeling very energetic.  That feeling didn't go away until around the time that TheNewCute came by the reference desk.  She energized me.  But this morning she wasn't around and I had a hard time getting out of bed.  Thankfully I don't start work that early on Mondays and Wednesdays, so I can take my time to get moving on those days.  I took advantage of this today.  I needed to move slowly.

After work I stopped by TheGirl's place, where she was waiting for her recliner.  After her surgery she can't sleep lying down for a week to a week and a half.  Sucks.  The delivery guys had a little bit of a hard time getting the chair into TheGirl's place.  Once the guys left I came out of TheGirl's bedroom, which is where I was with Cheyenne.  I had to help trick her into going into her bedroom.  Once there I stayed there with her.

When I got home I got my lunch ready for tomorrow, and that's when I noticed that my aunt did not eat the Impossible burger I got her from Fatburger yesterday.  She picked at it, and then said that she wasn't very hungry because she drank some meal supplement that her doctor recommended she get.  OK, that makes sense... yesterday.  But what about today?  Shady.  If she doesn't eat it by tomorrow I'll know she just didn't like it.

I was in my backyard after I got my lunch ready for tomorrow and as it was getting cold I decided to go in at around 8pm.  I looked up and had the thought that perhaps I should pain a mural on the back walls in order to make the backyard a little more lively.  I've wanted to improve my backyard for a while now, but I'm lazy and I just want to chill on my weekends.  But still, I would like to do something.

Tuesday, April, 19, Today the CDC lost a court case pertaining to the mask mandate.  Because of that loss the mandate was dropped and people could now unmask in airports and in ride shares.  This brings to my mind this idea that my buddy and I have been talking about for weeks.  Mainly, the idea that so many dopes have decided that, because the mandates are coming down, that this means that the pandemic is over.  Well, it's far from over.  Since the county said that we don't have to mask indoors at the library, I see so many people sneezing, couching and sniffing up running noses.  I've been lucky to not have even had a cold since November of 2019.  But of course here come the unwashed masses into the library with their germs, their unwashed hands, and their uncovered faces.  I'm not saying we have to wear these masks forever.  But, if we had just worn them two years ago as prescribed, we would not be in this predicament today.  So many dopes seem to think that because some of the mandates have been lifted that it means everything is going to be OK from this point forward.  Well no.  That's just a thing someone said.  The virus doesn't know from that shit.  So, I'm going to keep wearing my mask at work.  Even though the likes of Gay Mark look at me sideways because I still wear a mask.

Kvon came up to me as I was getting the van ready for the route to ask if I could cover a couple of hours on the administration desk after 2:30pm.  This meant that I had to rush through the route... again.  This is becoming a regular thing with me.  A weekly thing.  The only good thing is that Tuesdays have been light loads lately.

I finished the route at 2:15ish and went upstairs to relieve my coworker.  the time up in admin was slow.  I did field some questions on the phone, which served to keep my mind busy.  The rest of the time I was basically just siting there doing nothing but watching videos online.  Not bad to get paid to basically do nothing.  Still, the time went slow and by the time 5pm rolled around I was ready to go home.

When I got home my aunt was in bed, as per usual.  I went to tell her I was home and she got up to ask me what I was going to eat for dinner.  I told her I wanted to have the tostadas that I bought the other day.  She got out of bed to "help" me with the preparation of the tostadas.  Frankly my aunt doesn't do things the correct way.  This is why I wanted to prepare them myself.  I told her I would do it, and she could do her tostadas.  She seemed to be out of it.  When we were sitting down eating she just looked super sleepy.  She didn't say much except to say that she didn't sleep last night.  I'm not sure what her deal is this week, but here is another night where she is not sleeping.  Maybe she'e not getting tired enough during the day, because she sleeps during the day.  Anyway, we ate and she sent to bed.  Not a good idea at 7pm, but what do I know.

I was glad that she went to bed because I could not stand the filthy floors another minute.  I took advantage of the fact that my aunt went to bed to clean the floor using my new steam cleaner.  It was a gem.  The steam cleaned the floor super well, and I was able to clean up the mess she made with that horrible mop of hers.

Wednesday, April, 20, My change oil signal turned on my car's dashboard the other day, so I knew that I had to get my oil change appointment for some time soon.  Well, that also meant that I had to get some new tires.  The last time I went they wanted to up-sale me to buy some tires from them.  But, I already had plans on getting new tires.  It took me this long though.  But, this way I don't have to hear the people at the dealer that I need to get new tires.  They were right to tell me I added new tires though.  So, now I have them.  The code I have on my dash reads "A1."  Which means tire rotation and oil change.  I plan on getting out of there not spending too much.  Wish me luck, it won't be for a couple of weeks.

Working with TheNewCute is great.  Working at San Marino... not so much.  She mentioned today that she has considered leaving San Marino and just working her Glendale job as well as her babysitting gigs.  Not a bad idea.  I sure hope she doesn't leave San Marino, but I can't blame her for doing it in the future.  We have a Zoom meeting with the new city librarian all set for Friday at 9am to discuss, "Changes in at the reference desk."  Not sure that that means, but Pseudo Supervisor said that I should be prepared for anything.  And probably I should brace myself for something really bad.

A former coworker sent me a text the other day saying that Temple City was hiring.  Temple City is also way farther out than I want to drive every day.  I checked online and the job was gone.  So I told my friend that the job was no longer available.  Whew.  I was told that I should go after the library assistant job at Glendale.  No way, Jose.  I'm better off in my current position.  I have a good salary and I have freedom on the route.  That's something special.

TheGirl had her surgery today and her daughter texted me around noon that she had returned home.  A little while later TheGirl texted me that she was feeling good.  When I was leaving work I asked her if she wanted me to pick up some food for my visit to her place and that's when she told me that TheHusband was going to come over.  Oh well.  The taint from how our relationship started is still there to this day.  Well, this meant that Chan and I were on our own for dinner.

I didn't know where to go for dinner now that I had to make myself scarce.  I finally decided to go somewhere close by and on my way home.  I thought about going to Chinatown and such, but decided to just go to Bob's Big Boy.  it's too bad the burger was just meh tonight.  The shake was spot on, but the burger was meh.  Oh well.  I had a full belly either way.

When I got home my aunt was asleep, surprise surprise.  I decided to go out to the backyard and chill.  About an hour after I arrived I heard my aunt stirring in the other room, and in the wash room.  She didn't come out to see me, just turned on the light and did something and went back to her room.  I Figured she didn't walk to talk.  Later I went inside because it was getting cold out.  That's when I went to see my aunt in her room.  Her TV was on so I figured she might be awake.  She was, but she was acting WAY strange.  For one, I asked her how her day went and she would not respond.  I kept on asking her and all she would say if, "Did you want something for dinner?"  No, I told her several times to her repeated questioning if I wanted dinner.  I started to wonder what was wrong with her.  I tried asking her different questions and she would not respond.  She just keep looking glassy eyed and continuing to ask if I wanted to have dinner.  I finally said I was going to call the doctor and that's when she said, "Oh, I have a letter from the doctor."  And she got up and went into the kitchen to show me the letter.  I had just called her doctor's office.  They don't have people there, but they will transfer the call to a registered nurse that's online 24 hours a day.  The nurse asked me questions and I tried to get answers from my aunt.  At this point she was answering better, but still not completely focused.  The nurse was afraid she might be suffering from a stroke, and told me to get to an ER as soon as possible.

When we arrived they had us sit in a waiting room while I filled out papers.  There was a lady in the waiting room coughing out half a lung.  I told my aunt we should just go outside to wait.  She and I stood in the hallway until the lady behind the window told us we could not stand there.  I told her I was going to take my aunt outside.  She looked at me sideways and that's when I told her, "There's a lady in there that's hacking up a lung... we'll be outside."  One of the ER nurses followed us out moments later.  Just as I was sitting my aunt in the car the nurse asked if I was leaving.  No, I told him that I didn't want to sit in the waiting room with that lady that was hacking up a lung.  How do I know if she has Covid or not?  Not thanks.  Then then said they were going to get her into a bed.  And sure enough we went straight to an ER bed.  They began treatment of her.  I've been to this rodeo too many times now.  The doctor confirmed what I finally figured out what it must be.  She was having another crisis thanks to her Addison's.  The doctor told me they were going to pump her full of fluids and her meds.  Yup, just like last year.  Funny how I wrote about last year's occurrence just a few days ago and here history is repeating itself.

I finally went home at a little past midnight.  I hoped that she would be in a room by the middle of the night, but the way they were taking it would maybe be until tomorrow in the morning when they get her into a room.  Sigh.  I wonder what takes so long.

Thursday, April, 21, When I woke up this morning I noticed that there was a phone call on my phone showing that the hospital had called me at 5:24am.  Of course I didn't hear it, I was dead asleep.  But, when I got up at 5:44am I called them back.  They simply said that my aunt's insurance had been approved and that she would finally be moved up to a room.  Jeez, too long enough.  But, from what I found out later it was not long enough.  I went to work and went about doing my thing.

As I was taking lunch in the park I received another phone call from the hospital.  I thought it was an update, but it turned out to be a case worker asking me questions about my aunt.  I asked if she had been moved to a room yet, and they said no.  Jeez.

When I got off work I went directly to the hospital.  I arrived and went to the lobby to see if she had been moved to one of the rooms.  Nope.  They sent me to the ER again.  Oh well.  It was there that I saw that my aunt was looking better.  She was understanding me better as well.  One of the nurses said that they were going to move her to a room.  We shall see.  Well, come 6pm she was finally moved to a room.  A little after 6pm they moved her upstairs and she was in her room.  I asked her what she wanted me to bring her and she just said pink socks.  She's not going to be getting out of the hospital for at least a couple of days, I think.  I don't know, because I haven't spoken any of her doctors.  Oh well.  If it's anything like what happened last year she still has a ways to go until she can come home.

Friday, April, 22, Despite working at Glendale today I had to login to a Zoom meeting for San Marino to discuss some changes that are coming to the reference desk.  As I had a little bit of a preview last week, this meeting would be about the one desk concept, and us using it at San Marino.  Sure enough, the meeting was about the stupid one desk.  I don't want to relive all the details, but suffice to say it's going to be the same fiasco that it was at Glendale.  Well, maybe a little different fiasco, but a fiasco nonetheless.  There was a point where a couple of my coworkers voiced some objections about the one desk model, and the new city librarian shot them down.  I texted TheNewCute that it didn't matter what we said, this was happening.  Whatever, I just work here.  Time to throttle down some more.  Not sure how you can throttle down past zero fucks given.  But, I'll find a way.

Since I had a special delivery today I had to do the route a little faster today.  While on my way to from the Adams Square branch to the Chevy Chase branch I got lost in "auto pilot" and instead of continuing straight to Chevy Chase I made the turn that would take me to the Montrose branch.  Half way up the street to Montrose I realized I was supposed to go to Chevy first.  Oh well, I thought, I guess I'm having lunch at Chevy.  And you know what, it was pleasant.  The little patch of grass that Chevy is untrampled.  Since the branch doesn't get many visitors there aren't many opportunities for the grass to be trampled on.  And even less chance of the little grassy area by the parking spots.  I didn't want to linger too long there, because the neighbor that's across the street from the library might be an asshole that could be taking pictures to see if I take too long on my lunch.  So I took my half hour and went on my merry way.

My supervisor told me the Reflect Space people wanted me to move the mail box in the main reading area.  The thing is a real mail box, so that means it's metal and is heavy.  I could not move it by myself and not hurt myself.  So Kvon said to the people who wanted me to move it that it could not be done.  But, they are persistent.  They said they could offer me help to take the mail box to the location.  With help I could do it.  So I we lifted the thing on to a dolly and then took it down the block and a half to the location where it was needed.  Mission accomplished.

After work I went to visit my aunt at the hospital.  She looked much better than yesterday, thankfully.  There's still no talk about when she might be going home yet.  I suspect she won't be going home until Sunday perhaps.

I was starving when I left the hospital, but I could not figure out what I wanted to have for dinner.  I thought about a few places by the hospital, but ultimately I just went home and figured I would find something there to eat.  At first I thought of making some nachos.  Then I saw the salami in the corner of the fridge and thought that I could make a pizza with the sliced bread and the Ragu that I had in the fridge.  Well, I guess I should have gone with the nachos, because my makeshift pizza was tasteless and terrible.  The only good thing was that it at least filled my stomach.  Sad.

Saturday, April, 23, I went to visit my aunt in the morning and asked her if she knew if the hospital was going to let her go home today.  She didn't know.  But then the nurse came by and she asked me a few questions.  Then the doctor came by and he said that if my aunt could walk by herself than she could go home today.  In a few minutes a couple of physical therapists came to my aunt's room to see if she could walk around.  They took her around the entire ward and she did great.  When we got back to the room they said they would tell the doctor that she was ready to go home.  The nurse came back and told me that my aunt was definitely going home today, but later.  She told me I could go home and they would call me.

I went back home, got her clothes ready and then just lay down in my backyard bench.  I was so tired from staying up late last night.  Around 4pm the hospital called me to say my aunt was ready to go home.  I bought her back home and she watched me eat my supper and then went to bed.  She was tired.

Sunday, April, 24, I hate working Sundays.  Hell, I hate working Saturdays.  I just hate work.  Today wasn't so bad, but I didn't want to be at work today.  Fuck work.

The reason I'm in the above picture is because we had an event at the library.  Yes, an actual event.  It was pretty simple, and thankfully I didn't have to do much interaction with the group.  They pretty much took care of themselves.  Thank the maker for that.

As I said, I had to go to work at San Marino today.  Before I left my aunt told me to put the black trash can outside the front door, because she wanted to throw out some clothes that she said were emitting a chemical smell.  When I got home after work my aunt said that she didn't know what she was thinking saying that there was a pile of clothes that smelled.  She said that the clothes she saw the other day weren't there when she went to toss them out today.  Of course.  I told her there were no such things, but she didn't believe me.  I told her I had no motivation to lie to her.

Monday, April, 25, Today is Talia's birthday.  I was going to send her flowers to arrive today, but stupid me totally forgot to order the flowers last week.  I remembered two weeks ago, but the delivery window wasn't open at that time, so I thought I would order it last week.  Forgetting and having to deal with my aunt's illness made me totally forget.  So I ordered her some flowers today so they will arrive tomorrow.  Yes, it's a day late, but better late than never.  Better some flowers than no flowers.  I will have to visit Talia some time soon.

TheNewCute really is cute.  I don't know what else I can say.

Wednesday, April, 27, I used to teach a computer class at my San Marino job.  I think I quit that part of my job about six years ago, give or take two years.  I can't remember, because all I remember is that some dumb idiot lady asked me, "Why are you answering HER question instead of showing us what to do?"  That straw broke this camel's back.  Less than a week later I told my contact at the recreation department that I didn't have the time to teach that class.  Truthfully I didn't have the time for that class.  It was a one and a half hour class, but I never got out of there on time.  That class cut into time that I could have devoted to other things around the library.  But, to this day there are students from that class that still think I teach that class.  Or that think I just finished teaching that class a year or so ago.  One of those students still attends the current class, which is now a smart phone class.  That student thought that today was the last day of the current session of the class, so she went ahead and baked up a pineapple upside down cake.  When she came in she asked me if I could help her take it up the stairs.  I obliged.  For my efforts she granted me a slice of the cake.  It wasn't the best I've ever had, but it SURE hit the spot after my lunch.  I need to find out what ingredient, such as vanilla, would REALLY make that cake shine.  TheGirl baked me a pineapple upside down cake once.  It was good.  Better than this one, but not by much.  Perhaps I need to find the BEST upside down cake in Los Angeles.

Today is the last day I'll be sitting at the reference desk at San Marino, because come next Monday I'll be sitting at the circulation desk.  I'll still be doing reference, but the powers that be want us who work on the reference desk to move to the circulation desk.  I'm not sure this move is a temporary move, but I hear rumblings that this is not temporary.  What a shame.  What's worse is that the powers that be have not give us ONE shred of information or "training," or even direction as to what we are to do once we get on the circulation desk.  Like what exactly are my duties?  What am I expected to do?  I plan on laying back even more than I do now.  Fuck this shit.  This idea is horse shit.  I'm good at dragging my feet when it comes to shit like this.  Time to start dragging my feet.

TheGirl is still healing from her surgery last week.  She did get her stitches taken out the other day, but she still can't drive.  She's able to walk Cheyenne, but driving not so much.  I drove TheGirl's car to the Counter tonight, which meant I couldn't drink too much.  I know, sad.  Still, as per usual, we had a great time at dinner.  I had some burger tonight that had a serano chili sauce.  It wasn't hot, but it was tasty.  After dinner we took our traditional walk with Cheyenne.  I sure wish I could have had more booze.  When I got home I had a little bit of whiskey.  It was yummy.

Thursday, April, 28, Today was one of the guard's last day at Central.  Rene (pictured above) has worked at the Central library for nearly eleven years, since 2012 he said.  He was one of the few guards that actually did their job, and not just did it but did it well.  Everyone that worked with him, including me, will miss him.  He had a good work ethic.  But, as seems to be the theme these days, all good things must come to an end.  And yes, this good thing has come to an end.

We had a little celebration for his departure today.  I made adjustments to the route in order to come back at noon to take pictures and wish him well.  There was a point where he was given a pair of cards.  One of the envelopes had some money.  Rene got emotional over that and the fact that he was leaving.  I know I got emotional when I told him I would miss him and that Vagabundo wished he was there to wish his off.  We all all happy for him in his new move, but sad that we lost a good protector.  I made a joke that by next week some dopey patron was going to stab someone.  Rene himself has had to deal with some bullshit.  Just last year some idiot patron took a swing at him and hit him.  So yeah, he's better off not being at the library and just enjoying retirement.

Just before the festivities died down Kvon had an outburst.  He started saying that it was wrong that no one from admin came down to say good-bye to Rene the security guard.  He's right, but the way he was saying things it was kinda inappropriate.  Kvon was saying that the administration is all white, and that they discriminate against Armenian and others.  He is probably right, but we all know this.  Jokwin said, "We all know this, you don't have to say it."  Kvon was in one of my coworker's face, and I had to get in between Kvon and her, because she was like, "Why are you yelling at me."  Kvon said he wasn't yelling, but he was getting loud.  Anyway, it was awkward.  Later I was trying to talk to Kvon about this stuff and I thought that I may have smelled alcohol on his breath.  It's hard to know, because I was wearing my mask.  Hmm.

I mentioned in a previous entry that I had not heard one thing about any possible training for the move to the "one desk" thingie.  Well, I checked my email for San Marino and found an email from the city librarian that said we were having a meeting today.  This is the FIRST I heard about this bullshit meeting.  I don't know why they would have a meeting that pertains to people who are on the reference desk on a day where only a couple of us who work that desk would be in the building.  Why not have it on a Tuesday or Wednesday... or both?!  Fucking idiots.  I already said that I was going to drag my feet on this.  This kind of "proactive" training is the kind of shit that breaks moral.  I'm pretty sure the meeting was attended by only a couple of the reference staff.  BTW, if you remember we had a stupid Zoom meeting a week ago tomorrow.  They had ALL FUCKING WEEK to tell us about what they expect from us on the circulation desk.  But, they pissed away that time and now I'll show up on Monday without a clue as to what I'm supposed to do while on the circulation desk.  But you know, fuck it.

Friday, April, 29, I had a special assignment today.  Gitmo asked me to come by at around 11am to take a group picture of the Grandview and Casa Verdugo branch libraries.  They were having a staff meeting to go over some stuff.  What stuff, I don't now.  Vagabundo told me a little, and he mentioned it was a complete waste of time.  Oh well.  TheNewCute mentioned that at least she got paid three hours for not doing much.  Amen.  I got there and I took the gang's picture.  It's a good bunch of employees.

The rest of the route was pretty chill.  I had to modify the order of the branches I visited, but thankfully there weren't too many bins today.  I took myself to Tommy's for lunch.  I had chili-cheese fries.  Sure hit the spot.  I even finished up a little early.  Which turned out to be a good thing since my aunt was having trouble with her cell phone.  I tried calling her cell to see if she needed a ride to home via Lyft.  But her cell phone just went straight to voicemail.  Which automatically tells me that her phone is off.  I gave her another phone, but she doesn't know how to use it because it's a smart phone.  Still, having that phone still helped me out.  First off, I used it to track where she is.  And thankfully she thought straight and told herself to just stay in place.  Since she knows I'm tracking her I knew she was there and she knew I knew.  I tried calling that other phone, but no answer.  That was until someone woman answered saying she was with my aunt.  She asked me if it was OK she was going to stay with her until I arrived.  Thankfully I was just a few minutes away at that point.  I picked up my aunt and we went home.  Good thing is that my aunt ate something from the gift shop at the doctor's office building.  She told me that her flip phone died.  It didn't die.  I think that the battery gets loose somehow, and that makes the phone go off.  She just needs to restart it, but she claims she doesn't know how to do that.  I've shown her many times, but she still doesn't get that all she has to do is press then red button the on front of the phone.  I showed her again today, but who knows if she'll remember.  But, again, it was good that she had the other phone.  The lady told me she tried calling me, but I didn't get a call.  Turns out my aunt had the wrong number.  My phone ends in a zero-five combination.  She was dialing three-five.  Oh well.  All was well in the end.

I was on the phone with my buddy Jonathan when I noticed the really cute girl that works in the senior center walking by with two of her coworkers/friends.  They stopped in front of the library to take a selfie together.  She's so pretty.  I said hi to her a couple of weeks ago.  I'm sure she thinks I'm a creep.

Saturday, April, 30, I don't have much to report today, since I pretty much spent the entire day laying out on my bench in my backyard.  I did get some things done, like this journal.  I also started to think about what designs I might submit for the upcoming assignment at San Marino.  We're doing another fundraiser.  After nearly three years we will have a fundraiser in October/November.  It's going to be called "Literary Libations" and will feature booze.  Wine, really.  Oh that reminds me, I was watching a movie called "Sideways" last week about a bunch of drunks.  I think.  I didn't finish it.  I should to give myself some ideas for the event.  People watch a movie like that and automatically want to relive it in real life.  I know this because this movie has inspired a lot of ink in Los Olivos.  When I went with TheGirl to Solvang last year we also went to Los Olivos.  I opened that up to the both of us.  It's a little town that is near wall to wall with tasting rooms.  The movie helped put it on the map for that.  So, if I'm to do a fundraiser with wine featured it's a good idea to get some ideas from the movie.