Afterthoughts: This Past January

It's a new year.  Honestly, 2023 felt like it went by like a blur.  Let us see what comes this year.  As for this month, here's the update.

Monday, January, 1, I went to the market yesterday and I saw that there was a new yogurt from Haagen Dazs.  A quick internet search shows that the yogurt came out in July of last year.  I only saw the vanilla and chocolate flavors, but apparently there's also a strawberry flavor as well.  I bought the vanilla one and tried it.  It was pretty good.  I might have to try the other two flavors.

Last week my aunt REALLY wanted me to get pizza, on Christmas day.  I knew nothing was going to be open, so I didn't even try to go anywhere.  One check online and I could see that everything was closed.  Today she says she wants pizza, but not directly.  She does that game where she says she doesn't know what she wants, but then throws in pizza as suggestion.  I have food in the fridge, I tell her.  But she insists.  So I get on my app and order up a pizza from Wolfgang Puck located inside Gelson's.  Last time I ordered the pie it was OK.  This time it was better, but it does need a little doctoring up.  Like the first slice I just ate out of the box.  The second slice I warmed up a little in the toaster oven and boom, it tasted better.  A little Tabasco and cheese and it turned out to be a nice slice.  Not a great slice, but good.  I hope this shuts up my aunt about pizza for a while.

Last night I was jerking off while the ball dropped on a new year.  The above image was the one I saw when the clock struck twelve.  That's what I was jerking off to when the new year came.

Tuesday, January, 2, Today was another long day at Casa Verdugo branch library.  The children's librarian is still out on vacation, as well as the full time library assistant.  Which means we're down a pair of people that would usually work today.  That meant that my partner today was Alex.  We both worked from 9:45am to 7pm.  I was there a little earlier, at 9:30am, because I ran an errand and had to piss.  Fine, whatever.  It was a long day, and not just because of the long shift.

My aunt called me around midday to tell me that the faucet was leaking a lot.  I got on the security camera and could hear that it wasn't a drip, it was a steady stream.  I told her to shut off the water outside, but she couldn't do it.  She wasn't strong enough to move the valve.  OK, that meant that when I got home I had to deal with the leaky faucet.  Everything I tried failed.  That is until I literally used a cork to stop the leak.  For now.  The handyman is coming this weekend, so he can fix that.  As soon as I finished corking up the leaky faucet something else happened.

The water heater died.  I've had issues with that water heater for years.  It turns out that if there are a lot of minerals in the water they are going to make the sensor think that it's too hot and it shuts down the pilot light.  That's been a problem for years.  I've mentioned it here, and my solution.  But it was a solution that bought me some extra time.  A year or two.  That's all it bought me, because tonight the water heater finally died.  I tried all my tricks to get the pilot light to stay on.  No dice.  I went online to check what the blinking lights code meant.  I could not find what a continuous light meant.  I did come to find out that if the pilot light is off for a long time the little chip inside the control unit will not have power.  I went online and a video showed me how to reset the unit.  But, for all my attempts the pilot light would not stay lit.  That's when I threw in the towel and bought a new water heater online.

When I checked the website it originally said that the earliest scheduled time that I could expect to get my water heater was January 10th.  That's over a week?  I bit the bullet and bought the damn thing, knowing that any delay would cost me time.  Well, it did cost me time, another week's worth of time.  The delivery date magically turned into January 17th.  Fuck... Me!

I had to think fast.  I went online and bought one of those camping shower bags that you can hang from a tree and if it's in the sun it will warm up the water.  The sun is SUPER low in the sky, and besides, I take my showers in the morning.  No sun at night.  But, I can still warm up some water and put it in the bag.  I ordered it, and it's arriving on Thursday.  Which means I can't use it until Friday.  Oh well, at least I can use it to shower until I get the new water heater and the handyman can install it.  Which is likely to be on the 20th or the 21st of the month.  Today is January 2nd.  Where is the rolling eyes emoji when you need it.  It will be three weeks from now that I'll have a new water heater installed.

So yeah.  2024... you ain't off to a great start.  Fuck... me!

Wednesday, January, 3, My water heater is dead.  I could just take a cold shower, but that would not do.  I boiled some water this morning and put it in a bucket.  Taking a shower wasn't easy, but it was better than not taking a shower at all.  ARGH, I hate that I have to endure this for two weeks.  This is some bullshine.  But, what can I do?  I really need to make enough money that I never have to worry about these little shitty things that happen.  Like if I had money I would go and buy a water heater yesterday and have it installed today.  This... is... some... bullshit.

I got up to Montrose and when I was there the manager asked if I would like a cup cake.  Her husband's birthday was this weekend and at first they were going to have some guests over.  So she quickly went to the market and bought a dozen cup cakes.  But, then he said that they should just celebrate alone.  So she had a dozen cup cakes with no one to eat them.  She brought them to the library.  But no one in her group wanted to eat any, for various reasons including one is a vegan.  So she gave them to me to distribute among the branches.  I basically distributed them to Grandview and Brand.  At Brand the train stopped and I just left them the balance of the cup cakes.  Good eats.

While I was finishing up my shift there was a knock on the door to circulation.  One of the pages, Brian, went to the door and opened it.  Within a few seconds he turns to us and says, "A lady just gave me this bag full of candy, and said thank you for all you do."  We took the contents and poured it out on one of the desks.  It was a collection of Christmas candies, like candy canes and chocolates.  The thing is, they were not of the best quality.  The M&Ms looked old and like they had a film on them.  No thanks.  I didn't look at the expiration date because why bother when they look that nasty.  I just threw those out right away.  No thank you.  We come to see that the whole lot was bought from the bargain bin at some market.  Often markets will have a shelf in the back of the store, usually at by the back storage area, where they will have bargains.  They are usually stuff that is the last of that item, or a special seasonal item that is now discontinued.  Or just stuff that might be a little damaged, like a can of chili, for example, that might have a dent.  I'd be surprised if any those items are taken by anyone.  No thanks.

Three days into a new year and it seems that very little is going my way.  What with the water heater dying, and me having to take a shower via buckets.  Oh and still no raise.  I needed a good meal tonight.  TheGirl and I went to the Smokehouse, in hopes that they would let us sit inside with Cheyenne.  We've been there a million times, so they know us.  So of course they let us in with Cheyenne.  I need some booze, but quick.  That's because stupid me forgot my "Wednesday bag," which is the bag that has my change of clothing and my flask.  So no pre-game boozing before dinner for me tonight.  Thankfully they got us our drinks quickly.  I needed the booze to forget the bullshit that's been happening to me lately.

After dinner we went on our traditional walk with Cheyenne.  TheGirl put her new bright light on (see above).  I'm glad I got her those lights.  I hope they actually help Cheyenne be seen on her walks in the dark.

Thursday, January, 4, I went to get the books out of the bookdrop this morning only to find this religious crap inside.  I really hate this shit.  If you want to worship a magic sky daddy, then that's your business.  I'm always surprised that patrons come in asking for a bible.  While the collection does have bibles, we don't have bibles in every location.  I figure that if you're worshipping you should already have your own bible.  Central has a bunch of bibles, but it's not a huge collection.  Again, if you worship you should already have a bible.  And giving these stupid little bibles to the library is useless.  We're not going to put it in the collection.  As a matter of fact, I put it in the trash.  Bye.

One of our regular patrons came into Casa today and said she wanted to thank us for always being so helpful and nice.  She then gave us a proper thank you gift, Godiva chocolates.  Yes!  Finally someone who understands.  No bargain bin here.

The shower bag arrived today.  My aunt and I filled it up with hot water and my aunt tried to take a shower.  She couldn't get it to work, but to be fair it wasn't ideal.  See, it works on gravity, so it has to be placed up on a tree to be above the head of the person using it.  That's what makes the thing work.  My aunt couldn't get it to work.  At first I thought it was her just not getting it, but she was right.  I didn't realize it has to be higher than head level to work.  I'll try to make it work tomorrow morning.

Friday, January, 5, I was walking to the morning huddle when I got a call from Misa.  She tells me, "Kati Baumann died."  Wow.  I immediately texted TheGirl.  She didn't know anything about it.  Eventually she got a call from Kati's daughter who confirmed that she had passed on December 29th.  I told TheGirl that they were saying the cause was cancer, but TheGirl didn't know she had it.  Apparently her daughter didn't either.  How sad.  I'm reading "Meditations" and there is a part where Marcus Aurelius says that no one owns the past nor the future.  All we have is this moment.  Truth.  We want to think we can manipulate the future, and in some ways what we do right now will have influence on the future.  But someday is is all going to end for all of us.  Like it has forever.  Rest in peace, Kati.  She was a character.  In life you meet people that are characters and they bring you joy.  That was Kati.  She was a nice lady, and I know her family is hurting right now.

I was sitting at Brand when I got a buzz on my watch saying that my heart had been beating at over a hundred and twenty beats a minute for over ten minutes.  And it added that it was a warning because I seems to not be moving around, which is true.  I had been chillin talking to TheNewCute.  My heart continued to beat fast even after I got home from work.  The nutty thing is that I didn't feel different.  In the past, when my heart was beating fast it would make me feel lethargic.  But today I felt completely normal.

When I got home my heart was still racing.  I had dinner, and took a lie down.  But still my heart raced.  I let my food digest a little and then I took my pill and thankfully in just over half an hour I checked and my heart had slowed down.  Thank the maker.

Saturday, January, 6, After my heart slowed down I went to bed and I had a stunted night last night.  I woke up about every two hours, having to use the restroom.  I usually sleep on my stomach, but last night I slept on my back and my right side.  I felt warm, but I didn't have a fever.  When I woke this morning I didn't have the warm feeling that I had last night.  As strange nights go it wasn't the strangest.  But it was one where I just wanted to sleep, but couldn't because of a restless feeling, along with wanting to pee every two hours.

I got a phone call from Sears telling me there is a delay in the delivery of the water heater.  I did't know the phone number so I just let it go to voicemail.  But when I called Sears back they told me there was a delay.  The new delivery date is going to be January 24th, a full week after the previous scheduled delivery.  And, two weeks after they initially said I would get my delivery.  Originally online it said delivery date January 10th.  Then it was the 17th.  And you know the rest.

The news today is that the actress Cindy Morgan has been found dead in her home.  Here is part of the report from Entertainment dot-com.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's office confirmed to People that Morgan's roommate discovered her body at her Florida home in Lake Worth Beach on Dec. 30 after returning home for the holidays. Officials were not able to specify when she died, though they do not suspect foul play and think she died of natural causes. Morgan was last seen alive on Dec. 19.

I followed Cindy Morgan on social media.  It's sad to hear of her passing, as it is sad to hear of anyone's passing.  But in my life she was special.  She is one of those ladies that I remember from my youth as being the "it" girl.  She was so pretty.  It was a shame I didn't see her in more movies.  I loved her in the movie Tron, even more than in Caddyshack.  It would have ben nice to have met her, but alas.  Rest in peace.

Sunday, January, 7, The handyman came by and installed a new faucet.  He told my aunt that he couldn't find a faucet like the one we had that was leaky, so he could modify the pipes so that he could use a regular faucet.  Boy, was the replacement mickey mouse (see picture above).  I really wish I had the money to just redo the entire house from the ground up.  I'd have all new stuff and the best of whatever.  Sad.

Monday, January, 8, I walked up to the library and I found that there was a bunch of guys bringing out some shelving.  It's the new shelving for the children's room.  They're going to move the collection there after having moved it downstairs.  Somehow I know this is going to be another clusterfuck.  To be continued.

TheDesire told me the other day that her promotion has been made official.  She is the manager at the County's West Hollywood library.  Here is a rare social media post about her personal life.

Who knew that about an hour after seeing the most beautiful double rainbow I would find out about my promotion to the helm of the most beautiful and progressive library in Los Angeles.  I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity and look forward doing what I love the most - to serve others.  West Hollywood Library, you are exquisite in every single way.

Tuesday, January, 9, Today just flew by.  I know I worked a shortened day, but even still the hours passed so quickly.  Everyday is flying by.  Here it was just New Years and boom, now it's the ninth!  It was just Christmas and suddenly it's the middle of January.

I was checking on something online on the city's payroll website when I clicked the wrong button.  The incorrect page was entitled personal information.  In the corner it had something strange.  It was the words, Hourly Full Timer.  Oh, is that so?  I told one of the union reps about it and she asked if I was getting any benefits.  Nope.  I am working nearly forty hours a week, every week.  You think they would just make me a pseudo full timer.  Well, I guess they have.

Wednesday, January, 10, I worked with a girl named Elen.  She was so pretty.  She left the library a few years ago, and I haven't seen her since.  I have her cell phone number, but I didn't keep in touch with her.  A few weeks ago I was talking to my friend Ani at the parking garage when a pretty lady walked by.  Ani mentioned that the girl was Elen's sister, and told her to come by.  That's when I was introduced to her.  Now I see her when I go up to the forth floor of the Perkin's building, when I go up to the treasury department.  It's nice to know a pretty girl.  I mean, it's just a hello wave relationship.

On my way to the freeway to travel to TheGirl's place I believe I saw TheLooker driving down the street.  Could she have seen me?  I'm 100% sure that she had a chance of seeing me.  Now, did she see me?  That, I can't tell.  But yeah, eventually I will run into her.  It's kinda funny that I am treating this like some sort of break-up.  I don't know where we would be if we had gotten to hang out.  Would we be lovers?  Friends?  For sure I'm neither now.

My friend sent me a post from social media tonight saying that Pea Soup Andersen's in Buellton had closed its doors.  The post didn't mention anything about why this was happening, only that it was a done deal.  How sad.  At least I got to visit the old place this past year.  I went up the day before my birthday and I was up there when I went to Carmel during Thanksgiving.  It's sad because I have so many memories of that place.  I don't know how many times I passed through there on my way up north on so many trips.  Well, the dream is over.  The place was looking a little worn, and it seemed like they weren't very busy.  Years ago I was coming back from a trip up north and I stopped off for lunch.  I ordered the Monte Cristo, but it wasn't very good.  But the last couple of times I was up there the food was good, especially when I went in September.  Oh well.

Thursday, January, 11, I checked online about Andersen's closing.  It turns out that there is a sign outside the main entrance that gives us hope that the place will return.  The sign says, temporary closed for redevelopment.  Now the word redevelopment does make one thing that it could be something else.  But it does also says it's a temporary closure.  So, there's that.

I can't wait until January 24th for a new water heater.  I went ahead and ordered another one from a different store.  It's going to be delivered on Saturday.  That's more like it.  I really wanted to support Sears, but I can't be without hot water for nearly a whole month.  That's just insane.  I don't know why they are taking so long to deliver the damn thing.  At first their website said I would get it delivered by the 10th.  Then it was the 17th, and finally the 24th.  That is some bullshit.

We have a couple of people that use latex gloves at Casa Verdugo.  When I got to work today I noticed that the last person to take a glove just left the empty box on the shelf.  Like why?  This is who I am dealing with at work.  It's so simple to toss the box, but they didn't.  Why?

I could buy a new pair of jeans, but I also decided to fix the pair I have now.  The belt loop broke the other night.  I'll end up getting a new pair, but I like this pair as well.  Why toss it when I can quickly repair it?

Friday, January, 12, This is a major get for the library.  Shepard Fairey, best known for his Obey Giant series of art, is going to exhibit his work at Central.  This is a huge deal, because this guy is a legitimate well known artist.  I'm truly impressed.

Mala asked me to work on January 20th, but I wasn't sure what that was until I checked.  It's the opening night of the gallery opening.  But, then I'm not scheduled on our online scheduling app.  So, what do I do?  How up anyway?  I was planning on going anyway.

You know, the people I deal with at work really don't know what they're doing sometimes.  The vets know, but some of the new people just don't get it.  Today it was an issue with the bin labels.  Some bins didn't have any labels.  It's hard enough keeping things straight when everything is labeled.  I've missed things that were clearly labeled.  And now there's no excuse for any bins to not have labels.  TheNewCute and I made new ones, so everyone should have an abundance of labels, especially here at Central.  But, somehow people still manage to not put the label in the bin.  Dumb.

I was up in administration when one of the marketing workers came into the office with a truck piled high with boxes.  The boxes contain new library cards designed by Shepard Fairey.  It's part of the collaboration that's going on with the Reflect Space.  Jacqueline opened one of the boxes and Lessa, the new assistant director, did the honors of opening the box.  And there they are, the new cool library cards.  Yes, they are cool.

I didn't want to eat any more meatballs for lunch, so I picked up a can of Chef Boyardee beef raviolis.  I remember them tasting better in the past.  Oh well.

Saturday, January, 13, I ordered the replacement water heater for one from Sears that won't arrive until January 24th on this past Thursday.  I bought it from Lowes, and they said they could deliver it the next day, meaning yesterday.  But what's the use of that if I can't install it until Monday?  So I made the delivery date today.  They sent me an email yesterday saying it would be delivered from 9:30am to 1:30pm.  OK, I'm going to be at home most of the day anyway.  We usually don't get up early, but I set my alarm to give me enough time to get dressed.  Well, these Lowes people did a great job getting me my water heater.  It arrived BEFORE 9:30am.  Matter of fact, they were outside calling me at 9:24am.  Now that's service.  Now what I have to do tomorrow is drain it of as much water as possible.

I woke up with a nose full of snot.  I blew my nose, and it was green.  An online search later I found out that I was fighting an infection.  Duh.  Strange thing is that I didn't have any snot the rest of the day.  Does that make any sense?  At work they sent me an email saying I may have been exposed to someone with Covid on Tuesday and Thursday of this week.  I wonder who it might have been.  Mary was "sick" last week, but most of us have sniffles.  They said I should get tested within three to five days after last contact.  I hate that they won't tell you who it is, because then you could make an informed decision.  I guess I'll have to text today or tomorrow.  I don't know if I have any more tests.  I have some from work, but they are now expired.

Sunday, January, 14, I spent the day getting the old water heater ready to be taken out.  The main thing that had to be done is taking all the water out.  But, I had to first disconnect the water supply.  I told the handyman he should just plug those new pipes so I could get the water out, but he misunderstood me and connected the new lines to the old water heater.  That's OK, I thought, I can do it.  I went to the hardware store earlier in the week, but I could not find the plug.  That's when I said, oh forget it and just bought them online.  Today I plugged up the mains and started draining the tank.  As I write this it's 8:08pm and there's still water in the tank.  I've been letting the thing drain all day long, but the water is coming out in a trickle.  It's literally taken all day for the water to come out.  The last bucket I poured into the trash can outside bought the level close to 2/3rd filled.  That would still mean that there is still a lot of water in the tank.  I'll keep it going until I got o bed tonight.  After that I figure I can wake up early tomorrow and drain what I can before the handyman comes out and installs the new water heater.  It should go rather fast, since I disconnected the water and drained the tank.

Monday, January, 15, Yesterday I did a bunch of prep work to make today's installation of the new water heater easier.  I plugged up the pipes and drained the tank.  Today was the payoff.  The handyman came and I helped him lift the water he's into place.  But I wasn't all help.  I didn't get a good grip on the darn thing, so my hand started to slip.  I told the handyman so.  Next thing I know my momentum is pushing me back until I just feel back like a turtle.  I felt so dumb, but we got it in place.  After that it was just a matter of connecting the water and the gas lines.  Once that was done I turned on the water and it started to flow into the water heater.  After a few minutes I had the pilot light lit, and off we were to the races.

Obviously it takes some time for all that water to warm up.  By late morning I tested the water, and it was warm.  Not hot hot, but warm.  I don't remember the exact time, but I can check what time I took the above to see when I took my shower.  It was grand to be amongst the living again, so to speak

Tuesday, January, 16, It's taken me some time to get my 110 film processed.  I tried finding a place locally that would process the 110 film, but I could only find one practical place.  So, instead I sent my film to a lab down in San Clementine.  Mainly it had to do with the file options that I had online compared to the local lab.  I don't know if I'll be able to shoot another roll of 110 film, because that camera isn't working now.  I do have another roll of film, but oh well. 

I've chronicled the many shelving mistakes that I've found at Casa.  I'm not the only one that has told our manager about it, but he doesn't want to accuse any one person of anything.  And to be fair, it could be that it's patrons that are making these mistakes.  But still.  Something, or someone, needs to be checked out for this.  Ah, what's the use.  One person makes big mistakes and the rest of us have to fix it.

I usually get off work at 4pm on Tuesdays, but lately I've been staying later because a lot of people have gotten sick.  Today was no different.  Only difference was that I worked late at Pacific Park, not at Casa Verdugo.  Hey, I need to make up a few of the hours I lost due to the recent holidays. 

The above picture is of a former coworker named Mary Rose.  She was cute and had an amazing figure.  When she was working at the library she mentioned some book of poetry and I bought it for her since the library didn't carry it.  She was nice about it.  Even asked me to sign the darn book.  But then Emma told me that she thought it was strange.  I mean sure, an older man gives a young lady a gift it automatically means something nefarious.  Yes, I wanted to sleep with her.  Get the dragnet and put me in cuffs for wanting that, I guess.  Look, I knew there was no chance with her.  Not just the age thing, but the I'm hideous thing.  As well as the, I'm not Armenian thing.  But I guess buying her a book was just too much.  Oh well, I still follow her on social media, but we don't have any contact.

Wednesday, January, 17, I know I comment a lot about the weather lady on Fox 11, Maria Q, but it's because she's just so amazing looking.  I say it all the time that she seems to look more curvy everyday I see her.  Today it wasn't her hips that looked bigger, but rather her chest.  I know that breasts can look different sizes, and are different sizes throughout the month, but man today.  And yes, it could be the bra she was wearing was more flattering.  Ultimately she is just a great looking lady that I lust after.

TheGirl hung out with a friend of hers, so she didn't get home until 6pm.  That meant a late dinner for us, if you want to call 6:30pm late.  It's late for us, I should say.  But, it was good times.  It did mean that I got home later.  I usually get home by 9ish.  Tonight I didn't get home until past 10pm.  That's way too late for a school night.  It's OK, because I had good food and good times.  I figure I'll polish off my leftovers from tonight in the morning.

Thursday, January, 18, The headline in today's Daily News was that Vroman's bookstore is up for sale.  The article goes on to say that the owner just wants to quit.  He's close to eighty years old, and he feels that he needs some "Me" time.  I understand fully.  I'm not sure what this means for the future of the store though.  The owner wants to sell the store to someone that will not make many changes.  He wants the new owner to keep the staff that's there now.  It's easier said than done.  And what obligation other than a handshake can make the new owner keep any of these promises that the current owner is making?  In six months the new owner can just say "Oh well" and make choices that are opposite what the old owner wanted.  Unless the old/current owner is on a board or something like that.  But that doesn't always work.  So yeah, maybe the store will stay around, maybe not.

Last night's dinner with TheGirl started late, and that pushed my whole evening back.  Not only that, when I got back home I drank a little more whiskey.  So I was feeling nice and toasty last night.  This afternoon I was paying the price for yesterday.  Some days I'll get sleepy in the middle of the day, but today it was the entire afternoon.  I will usually get sleepy for about an hour after lunch.  Today that sleepy feeling would not let go of me.  It's the worse.  At one point a patron came up to the desk while I dozed off.  Later I was trying to journal and every other word was misspelled, or the wrong word, or it was just gibberish.  I finally just gave up trying to journal.  What's the use if I'm writing gibberish?

Friday, January, 19, Tomorrow night is the big gallery opening.  It should be pretty fun.  They never followed up with me about working tomorrow night, but I think that's for the best.  I rather just go and not have to deal with having to work a certain amount of hours and being tired.  Still, Grigor and I had to go to Pacific to pick up some stanchions for the event.  It was good times.  I asked if he wanted to come help and he jumped at the opportunity to leave the office.  He asked me if he could drive the van, like old times.  Sure, I told him.  I mentioned that I was planning on making the pick up part of the route, so we needed to get gasoline and go to the Perkin's building.  He was happy with that.  We picked up the stanchions at Pacific and went back to Central.  I could tell he was happy to have had that time away from the office.  Poor guy, they should let him take over the route for Tony.

Last week I was asked to move Grimace's chair back to Grandview.  That was last week.  I couldn't do it last Friday and on Monday we were closed due to it being MLK day.  Tuesdays I don't drive, my coworker Tony does.  On Tuesday Grimace and I looked at the chair and we both said that Tony would not touch the chair.  Sure enough he didn't.  Wednesday I had to move some pedestals to Brand from Central, so I didn't have the room.  On Thursday Tony once again didn't take the chair.  That meant it was here for me today.  Whatever, it's fine.

When I got to Brand TheNewCute was in the kitchen having lunch.  She quickly put on her mask because she was still sick.  She left so I could have my lunch in peace, but when I finished my lunch I went to the front desk and she was just not feeling it.  At one point she just curled up in the desk chair (as seen above).  You could tell she was just not feeling well at all.  Everyone at Brand has been sick.  Misa is the super spreader, because she doesn't wear her mask correctly.

Saturday, January, 20, Before going to the event tonight I figured I would get some things done today.  First on the agenda was going to pick up my developed film.  I picked that up and I figured I would get some booze before getting a pair of pastrami sandwiches at The Hat.  I used to go to the Vons on Sierra Madre and Colorado all the time when I used to work at San Marino.  I'm pretty sure I've only been there once since I stopped working there.  To get to the point, I noticed that the former deli area by the Starbucks is now all drink filled refrigerators.  I like the change.

The actual Shepard Fairey event tonight was kinda just meh.  I didn't know what to expect, but it was a'right.  I'm glad I went, but I didn't get to meet him or anything.  And then there's the little matter of running into TheLooker at tonight's event.

A couple of times in the last few months I've almost run int TheLooker at work.  That one time a couple of months ago was the closest I got to having to interact with her.  That is, until tonight.  She showed up for the gallery opening, and it was inevitable that I run into her.  It's been about a year and a half since she ghosted me, so yeah it's all water the bridge now.  I don't care to hold any grudge on her.  She's young and didn't really want to spend time with an old man like me.  Friendship or not.  It's fine.  I gave her a hug, but I don't expect any other interaction from this point forward.  It's all water under the bridge.

My old classmate from CSUN posted a picture of herself as a new profile picture, and I think she looks really good.  I mean, I do like the curvy girls these days.  My buddy sent me an article about how during hard times, economic and other, such as dealing with the pandemic, men will often drift towards being more attracted to woman that might be more considered curvy.  Something to do with our instinct that looks for wider hips and more meat on the bone.  It's like our brains think, oh that lady can survive childbirth and a hard winter, hard times finding food.  And even though I don't have to worry about food or shelter my brain still has those instincts inside of it.  I always found Nicole to be attractive.  When I first met her I could see she had a great figure.  I don't need science to tell me that.

Sunday, January, 21, My aunt came into my room tonight to have a "heart to heart" with me about my drinking.  She accused me of drinking before going to work.  She also said that she knew I was spending $600 a week on alcohol.  I don't now how she can be so stupid.  I drink, it's true.  But I never drink before work.  I always drink at night, when I'm at home.  She's nuts.  She's just making up things.  How could I be spending that much money?  How could she think that I'm drinking before going to work?  It's laughable.  I don't like my aunt.

Grigor invited me to his house for a barbecue, but I told him I wasn't going to go because it was too late in the day.  He said it would start at 7pm.  Dude, I told him, I'm ready for bed at that time.  It's true.  Well, it turned out it was a good thing I didn't go, since TheLooker went.  Not that it would have been awkward, but at the same time it's clear that she doesn't want anything to do with me.  Yeah, I guess I'm such a terrible person that no one should be within a hundred yards of me.  Especially since I'm a masher, and clearly want to jump TheLooker after slipping her a Mickey Finn.  Oh well, maybe next time.  If she's at that BBQ I'll just deal with it.

Monday, January, 22, The rain made the route a little harder than usual.  But, I also got lucky.  Every time I stopped at a branch library the rain would stop or would be super light.  Like a drizzle.

The best was having lunch at Brand today, since everyone was out and I get to eat lunch by myself.  The other part of the rain is that no one came out to the park, so there wasn't the noise of some dope trying to open the door when the location is closed.

Other than that I don't have much to report about today.  It was a pretty standard work day, despite the rain.  Today actually went by pretty fast.

Wednesday, January, 24, I looked out the window of the library and I noticed that there were workmen at the site of the museum next door.  By the end of my work day I noticed a bit of the main structure being erected.  I guess they found some money to continue building.  It's been over a year since they have done anything to that site.  But now they're going.  I wonder if they'll finish the building before they run out of money again.

I checked online to see if my raise finally went through.  It hasn't.  Just great.  The union representative told me to check, but if I don't get it I should email Mala to update me.

Thursday, January, 25, There isn't much to report on today at work, but I do have some little items that I wanted to mention.  The first is when a patron came in looking for a live scan office.  The address they had was just up the street, but the strange thing is that the map they had online did show that the library was the location of the live scan office.  Hmm.

Today also saw a Lyft driver come into the library thinking his ride was in the library.  I looked at his app and it clearly showed the rider was down the street.  With the live scan lady the pin was clearly over the library, so I can understand why she thought we were the location of the live scan.  Despite the fact that the address was different.  But on the Lyft driver's app it showed the person down the street.  I went out with him and I pointed at a lady not more than a hundred and fifty feet down the street on her phone in the location of the dropped pin on his app.

Sometimes I wonder if people have any common sense, and clearly these days people don't.

The library was actually busy today, but by the time we closed it was dead.  I realize now much time I have to get some projects done, but I just have to give myself that permission to work on other things while there.  But also, I need a computer that isn't the work computer.  I thought about getting a Chromebook for a while.  I almost got one a few weeks ago, in order to have it to write this journal, but also to work on the book I want to write.  Working on the iPad is perfectly good for working on graphics, but I also need to type.  When I type on the screen using the old iPad I have it tends to go south really fast.  I think I hit a certain character, but then I don't and the problem cascades from there.  I need to get something small that I can still type on.  Maybe I should get a small keyboard.  But I have one and it's not that good.  I bought it for cheep, and it shows its cheapness when I try to use the touch pad.  The curser goes all over the place when i'm typing.  TYPING, not even when I'm using the pad.  I mean come on.  If I have to spend on a good keyboard then why not just get a Chromebook for a little more?  We'll see.

Friday, January, 26, I took one of the Shepard Fairey library cards and sent it to TheDesire.  I don't know when she will get it, but I already texted her that I had sent her something.  I hope she likes it.

Earlier this week they finished paving the parking lot at Chevy Chase branch library.  It's been a couple of weeks of work, but the parking lot looks good.  They redid it, and they also redid the parking spots.  Now the handicap spots on on the far side of the parking lot.  Which t me doesn't make a lot of sense.  But, perhaps it works because that side of the lot isn't sloping down, like the other side that's closer to the library is.  Oh well, whatever.  Hardly anyone visits that library.  And far less handicap people do.

While I was delivering stuff to the Pacific Park branch I noticed a bike "parked" in one of the parking spots.  It was not chained up to anything.  As I walked up a little more I noticed what looked to be a delivery guy walking up the street.  I thought, why would he just leave his bike here?  He made his delivery to someone standing by the walkway to the library/recreation center.  I mean, it's probably not going to happen, but there is a likelihood that some dope will steal his bike if he has the habit of just leaving it unlocked.  Not my problem.

One of the curators of the Reflect Space gallery at Central wanted my help with some packages.  She needed me to help her take the boxes to the post office.  I finished up the route early in order to have time to do this.  I basically gave myself an hour and a half.  The post office took so long that I left work at 4:35pm.

Saturday, January, 27, I didn't have anything planned today, but then TheGirl sent me a text asking if I was busy.  She added that she wanted to try Hail Mary pizza in Atwater Village.  Sure, why not?  I've been wanting to try that place out for at least a couple of years.  I first saw it when I went down to Atwater Village one morning to get a breakfast burrito at Tacos Villa Corona.  They have really good breakfast burritos.

Well, I now have a favorite pizza, and it's Hail Mary.  To say it was good is to undersell it.  It's amazing.  I ordered the Mario and Rose(mary), which had sausage and mozzarella as its toppings, along with onions and rosemary.  It was soooo good.  What was especially good was the dough, which was crispy but also soft.  I've had pizza that's like eating a crispy toasted mess.  Thankfully this was perfectly done.  TheGirl ordered the chicken BBQ, which was really good.  It came with a side of ranch dressing, which must have been made in house, because it was so good.  I bought my aunt a cheese pizza, but I didn't try it.  I didn't ask her, yet, if she liked it.

I literally don't want to have any other pizza ever again.  I mean, there are supposedly some good pies in town, but this one is by far the best pizza I've had in years.  Since the time of D'Amore pizza in Sherman Oaks, and I think this pizza is better.  I will make the drive out there, because I can't take eating Pizza Hut, or any other of the pies around me.

Sunday, January, 28, It's been weeks since my bathroom clock died.  I ordered the battery, but I couldn't get it to work.  I had to place some papers in the battery compartment to make it work.  So I finally got it to work today, so I was finally able to return it back to the bathroom.  It's about time.

Monday, January, 29, I had a lot of bins going out on the route today.  It almost felt like old times, but not quite.  In the old says the bins would be two tall, not single bins.  As you can see in the picture many bins are two high, but not all of them.  But yeah, it was almost like old times.

I got to Brand, ready to have lunch.  When I walked up to the back door I noticed something strange with the lock.  The keyhole was upside down.  How the fuck did that happen?  I tried opening the door with my key anyway, but of course it didn't work.  I thought of going through the side door, but I was afraid to set off the alarm.  I figured I would text Mala, but she took too long to answer.  I was about to go and open the door when I thought I should just wait a moment for her response.  That came later, but just at that moment, Matt, the city locksmith, drove up.  I told him, "Look what some joker did to your lock."  He saw and started cursing the dummies.  Apparently he was there in the morning to give the elevator contractors a key to the library.  They were supposed to start working today, but when I arrived there was nobody around.  I told him my part of the story as he tried fixing the problem.  He said he would have to take the whole thing apart, but he needed access to the inside.  So, I told him we could try the side door, but I wasn't sure that it wouldn't immediately set off the alarm.  But, we had no choice.  We went through the side, and thankfully it didn't set off the alarm.  Matt went about fixing the lock.  He had called his supervisor to tell him what these contractor jackasses had done.  He was not happy.  I ate my lunch and did my route thing.  By the time I finished Matt had finished fixing the lock.  I checked if my key would work, and it did.  We're saved... for now.  Who knows what this elevator contractor is going to do, if on the first day they're fucking up locks.

I often wonder what my coworkers are thinking and processing of the world.  Case in point, the use of broken book bins.  This one was ripped open on one side of the bottom of the bin.  I mean this thing was moments away from spilling the books on the floor, but I swapped it out for a better bin.  I then tossed the old bin, because if I don't some of these jokers will continue using it.

I'm often asked to say late these days because some coworker has fallen ill.  I'm happy to do it, for the money.  I don't like spending so much time at work, but I need the bucks.  Gotta make more if I want to get some of my plans going.  I want to pay my debts faster.  No way to do that if I don't have more money.  And besides, this isn't even extra time, because I'm just trying to make for some of the I lost during the holidays.  So I worked at Montrose tonight, and it was chill.

Tuesday, January, 30, How is it that so many times at night my aunt is in the bathroom exactly when I need to go?  It happens so often that I had to buy a bottle to pee in when I can't hold it in anymore.  It's awful having to have this jug, because it sits in my room until I can dump it.  I only wish I had my own bathroom.  Perhaps some day.

I thought about getting Talia some flowers for Valentine's day.  I know I don't even go over to her place anymore, but I do want to maintain a friendship with her.  As crazy as she is.  This year I found a better gift, for my wallet.  I got her cookies.  There's a way to customize them online.  I went ahead and put her portrait on a cookie.  I think she's going to like it.  And I like that it didn't cost as much as flowers.

Wednesday, January, 31, A new wrinkle, or should I say hold, has been added to the construction this week at Central.  The contractor has made a series of holes on the wall of the children's room.  In the plans for the new room that wall is gone, replaced by a wall of glass.  I'm still not sure what the purpose of the holes are, but at some point a small wall is probably going to go there.

The weather has been so nice lately, but it is still getting warmer.  To the point that I had to turn on the A/C in the delivery van today.  I mean it's only in the mid seventies, but it was getting warmer.  Oh, how am I going to survive the summer if I'm already hot when it's not even hot out?

A few weeks ago TheNewCute and I made some routing slips for the branches, because we really needed them.  But, in the last couple of weeks I've noticed that I was encountering the paper slips again.  Where did the laminated ones go, I wondered.  I told TheNewCute that I would look into this today.  Sure enough, no one had the slips.  But, when I got to my last stop, Adams, that's where they all were.  So I left a few for Adams to use, and took the rest back with me so I could redistribute them among the branches.  Mystery, solved.