Afterthoughts: This Past Month

This month has felt like it flashed by, but then I look at what happened just a few days ago and it's like it was months ago.  When telling a story I will often say, "About two weeks ago," and then I double check this journal and it's more like two months ago.  Time flies... on to the update.

Thursday, May, 1, There is a meme that I posted in last month's journal referring to the show Adventure Time, but also to the death of a pet (see above).  I saw it about two months ago and did a screen shot of it, but then I couldn't find that screen shot.  It's significant because of Cheyenne being sick.  If we out live her there will be a time a year from now... two years from now where we will talk about her.  Probably every time we go out to dinner for the first year.  I'm super glad we had this year together.  It's been hard, but nothing is going to be harder than losing her.

I entered a contest to possibly see Sarah debut new music.  I would love to see her in person again.  Especially if it's for free.  Ha, ha!  No seriously, I hope I win this.  I don't even know where and when this would be, but I need to win.

I woke up nearly forty minutes before my alarms went off.  That's just too early.  The good thing is it didn't make me super sleepy during the day.  Which is a good thing, because silly me forgot to pack that little shot of espresso in with my lunch.

I woke up feeling slightly better, with less pain from the area to the side of my right armpit.  But, I'm still in pain.  If I move a certain way I still feel pain.  This is why I didn't walk around the neighborhood during my lunch break today.  I just couldn't muster the energy to do so.

There's a guy that I used to see in the stacks at Central when I was a page.  This man would go to the mystery section and take out a bunch of books.  He had a suitcase that he would use to carry the books.  Yes, it was that many books.  I don't see him at Central much anymore.  These days he's a regular at Casa Verdugo.  He never checks out a book anymore.  Now he just comes in, plugs his phone in, and passes out in one of the chairs.  Today I heard him snoring.  First time.  There was a staff meeting on Monday where his sleeping was discussed.  I would assume that he's homeless, since he spends so much time at the library.  He's at Casa from mid afternoon until closing.  He doesn't say a thing to any of us working here.  I don't know what his story is, but I've seen him while I'm on my route all over the mid part of Glendale close to Casa Verdugo and south of the freeway.

I talked to Cindy E yesterday at Adams, because she runs the bookmobile at Monrovia.  I wanted to pick her brain about how Monrovia runs the bookmobile.  Like for one, does the Monrovia bookmobile have a mission statement.  I even exchanged phone numbers so I could text her, since she's only at Glendale once or twice a week.  Today I talked to Katie about wanting to write all this out.  As I was telling Katie about Krishna's less than enthusiastic response to a couple of suggestions in my debriefing I came to the realization that my words would absolutely fall on deaf ears.  I wrote Krishna an email, in it I mentioned that in future events we would definitely need more than two people.  It worked out this time, but if I had to check out books it wouldn't be good.  She went on to say that having the bookmobile is like having a whole other branch.  Ah, yeah!  I'm sure it's a lot of work.  When they bought that thing they didn't think about this part.  As my buddy says, they just wanted to check off a box.  There, we did that.

The more I work this bookmobile job the more I'm glad that I didn't apply for the job.  I want my weekends off.  I may write that paper for myself, and not share it with anyone.  But, then what's the point?  I've already written the problems here in this journal.  I think I'm good.

Friday, May, 2, The other day I was at Brand and I took one of the Surface computers home with me to see if I could make it work better than the stupid laptop that I've been given.  But I've been doing some thinking and I don't want to put that much effort into the bookmobile.  I wanted to leave it better than how I found it.  That's probably still the case.  But I have to remember not to go the extra mile when it comes to anything at the library.  So, I returned the computer without even turning it on.

There is some activity at the Armenian-American museum next door.  They putting the wrap around the building.  I forget the actual name for that membrane that is the first layer in modern construction.  There is a lot of progress lately for only five guys working on site.  Ha ha!

When I started to sit down for lunch at Brand Stephanie told me that there was a new hummingbird in the tree.  I checked and yes indeed there is another bird in the tree.  Following the naming convention of using character names from "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," I said we should name the new bird Bernadette.  The nest is probably the most accessible of all the nests because it is at eye level, and I can see the egg by looking down.

I got an email on Monday telling me that my Godmother's grave tablet had been installed.  I have to go down there and check it out.

We are pleased to inform you that the memorial tablet you ordered has been delivered and placed at the interment location.

We invite you to visit the memorial park at your convenience to view the memorial tablet. We sincerely hope the memorial will bring you comfort on your future visits to the park.

Thank you,
Memorialization Department
Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries

I'll have to go check soon.  It took me nearly five years to get my godmother her tablet.  I feel bad about that, but I'm the only one visiting her.  But at least now she has a name.  So maybe some stranger to wonder about her life and think about her.

Saturday, May, 3, Another Saturday in the park with the bookmobile.  This time we attended the annual Kiwanis club duck race.  Officially called Kiwanis Incredible Duck Splash.  It was OK.  We were about as busy as last week, but I think last week was more fun.  Mainly because I didn't have the task of checking books out last week.  This week I was manning the check out table, and boy was it exhausting.  This assignment is exhausting.  Mainly because of that horrible computer I have to deal with.  I'm so tired of that computer, and the excuses that come along with the computer.  After finishing up today I was saying how glad I was that I didn't apply for this job.

Working the bookmobile is exhausting due to having to deal with that stupid computer.  I'm hobbled EVERY FUCKING TIME, because of its inability to do the most common and easy of tasks without a fucking pop-up showing up EVERY TIME I scan something.  Patrons not having accounts and then me trying to make them a card is torture.  I've had it.  I want out of this assignment ASAP.

Jaclyn and I went back to Central before I was to take the bookmobile back to the city yard, because Jaclyn needed to put more books in the vehicle.  I parked the bookmobile in the area in front of the trash bins that clearly says no parking.  Being a city vehicle there is no way I can get a ticket.  However, the dummy that parked in front of me sure can, and did.  The parking enforcement guy just happened around and I joked with him that I was only going to be a minute.  He went right to the car parked in front of me and wrote him a ticket.  As I was getting ready to leave Central the dummies in the car got in and drove away.  They didn't even see the ticket.  Sucks to suck.

I had plans to pick up some fish and chips from a local place called Fish King in Glendale.  Everyone I ask tells me it's really good, so I wanted to try them since I was close.  But those plans had to change because Fish King is under renovation.  So, I ended up going to El Pollo Loco by my house.  The cute girl that works there, Abigail, was near the front door as I walked in.  She said hi with a nice big smile on her face and mentioned that I was usually there in the morning.  I told her that I had to work today.  It's the best interaction I've had with her since she started work there.

Sunday, May, 4, While I was at work yesterday my new Mac Mini was turning my TV on every time my aunt would make a noise in my room.  I didn't know that it was listening.  I can't leave my computer on if I go out, because for some reason the computer keeps turning on my TV if it hears a sound.  That's OK, the new computer boots up in seconds.  Nice.

I went on a fact finding mission today to Smart and Final.  I wanted to see if they carry the regular Tyson chicken nuggets, and the chicken patties.  For some reason my market doesn't, but neither does Jon's.  Thankfully Smart and Final does carry those items.  Now I know where I can get them.

I was at the market when I saw a woman that looked like TheSilmarillion.  That's neither here nor there, but it does bring up the idea of what happens if I ever bump into one of these ladies I knew way back when.  I guess I won't have to worry, since this is a huge city.  It's been nearly twenty years since I last saw TheSilmarillion.  And for sure I'll never run into TheNewCute ever again.

One of my routines on Sunday night is to get my aunt's pills into the pill holder in order.  But, when I went to get the pills and noticed one of the bottles missing.  I looked around the table, but didn't see anything.  I now dummy took them and probably threw them out.  I have more pills, but I if she doesn't want to take them I'm not going to fight it.  That's on her.

Monday, May, 5, This past Friday I drove up to the gasoline pump behind city hall and one of the mechanics called me out and told me that the van was overdue for an oil change.  I told him I was packed with delivery bins, so could we do it next Monday.  He said yes, but I also asked him about having a loaner vehicle.  He told me I would have to talk to his manager.  Today I show up first thing and there's no loaner for me, so Neil, the garage boss, tells me to come back on Wednesday.  As the day went on Tony told me that our boss wanted us to move the desk that Kvon bought and take it to Grandview.  I told him about the oil change, and he said that we could go after moving the desk.  Then there's the bookmobile, that also needs to be moved back to Central.  Now the plan is to move the desk first thing, followed by Tony taking me to the city yard to pick up the bookmobile and take it back to Central, while he goes to the garage and drops off the delivery van.  Whew!  That's a lot to even write.

I drove up to the Brand library and I saw that someone was there.  It turned out to be a crew replacing the glass door that shattered last week.  They had everything all set to replace the glass, but then after I arrived they mentioned that they would have to do it next week.  Something about missing a hole to anchor the door to the door mechanism.  They said they would come back next week on Monday when no one was around.

I carried my tripod with me today to try to get some good pictures of Bernadette.  I figured I could also shoot some video.  I think it came out good.

When I got to TheGirl's place today she told me that Cheyenne was limping, and sure enough she was.  It's not that she hurt her leg, it's that she's getting older and she has arthritis.  Poor thing.  TheGirl is now giving her pain meds twice a day.  It sucks getting old.

I was hungry after getting home after my Monday visit to TheGirl's.  I haven't eaten before going to TheGirl's in a few weeks.  Thanks to that horrible McDonald's making me wait for my order.  And because it's not good for me to eat that slop.  When I got home I polished off the balance of the lentil soup my aunt made, with a little fish sandwich.

Tuesday, May, 6, Today wasn't about having a Tuesday Adventure, it was about getting some things done.  I've mentioned that I ordered my Godmother's grave plaque in previous entries.  Last week I got an email stating that it had been installed.  I wanted to see it.  I went over to Forest Lawn and went directly to her grave.  And there it was - after five years - her name.  I got emotional thinking that at least now she had her name back.  It's a small victory in this world.  And I'm the only one that knows about it.

On a day of practicalities I decided to next go to get my car smoged.  The place I go to in Pasadena offers a discount if you pay cash.  It used to be $40 total - but of course like everything else the price went up.  It's now $50 if you pay cash, but that's better than paying $59 if you pay with credit.  No thanks.  I'll keep that for myself, thank you very much.

I was craving the tacos from Cielito Lindo after the smog check, so I made my way downtown.  After parking the car I noticed that the pizza place, Lasorted's, was open.  That made me change my plans to now go there and get a slice.  I walked up to the Phoenix bakery, which was recently on the news.  Because of the rising cost of eggs they have been having a hard time keeping prices reasonable, since they use so many eggs.  I have been going there since I was a child, so I want them to stick around for a while.  So many places are closing due to the economy and the after effects of the pandemic.  The places that stayed open have not had it easy in the years after the lock downs.  And now with dumb dumb Donald choosing to tank the economy, things are getting more difficult.

I never liked the cake with almonds on the side of it, and I was delighted to find that they had a version without the almonds on the side of the cake.  I asked for a slice, and told the lady behind the counter that I was glad they made that version, because I was never a fan of the almonds.  She asked me if I didn't like almonds, and I told her that I loved almonds, just not on the cake.  She mentioned that as we get older our tastes change, and that got me thinking that I should get the original version of the cake as well.  Just to see if I liked it now.  Also to help out the store.  Well, I'm still not a fan of the version with almonds on the side.  But now at least I have a choice.  I didn't see a full cake with no almonds, but I think I could probably special order it.  I've been going down to Chinatown more often these days anyway.

There's a cute Latin au pair that comes in on Tuesdays, bringing with her an adorable young lady named Brooklyn.  Today I was handed a flower that Brooklyn made for me.  She handed it to me to keep.  So cute.  I will cherish it.

Wednesday, May, 7, Today was delivery van oil change attempt, take two today.  On Monday I didn't get an oil change for the van because the garage didn't have a loaner for me to drive.  Neil, the guy in charge, mentioned that the Sierra van was engaged, and full of things from some department.  But, he said that I could have it today to run the route.  Well, that turned out to be a lie.  The van was not ready, and I had to drive a pick-up for delivery today.  Super sucks, but I've had to do it before with that same pick-up truck.

I was able to get more footage of Bernadette sitting on her nest today.  I didn't have my tripod, but I used the umbrella pole to steady my shot.  She's SO cute.

It's been over a year that the area which is known to us as where the KIC (kick) machine is located, has had working lights.  The city electricians were at Central working on the lights.  They successfully got the KIC area lights working, and they got the lights in Circulation working.  There are still a couple of lights that they need to work on in the gallery hallway, but the majority of lights are now on.  Of course there always has to be some wet blanket in the bunch.  Junior didn't like the lights, because they are too bright.  So she says.  Then she mentioned that Achee gets migraines due to bright light.  I'm not sure about that.  I'm just happy I can see.  It's a small victory.

Tonight for dinner we went to the Don Cuco's in Burbank.  TheGirl prefers going to that one, because her drink of choice now is mimosas.  She says they don't fuck her up like the margaritas do.  Fair enough.  The food is good at both places.  Cheyenne was feeling better, but the weather was a little warmer.  The Toluca Lake location of Don's has a smaller patio, but it's also in shadows thanks to being oriented to the south.  Meaning that it's cooler.  I grabbed my hat and was feeling good on the Burbank Don's patio.  They do have shades, which I wish blocked out more of the sun, but it's fine.  I had my hat, and cold water.

Thursday, May, 8, When I got into Casa Verdugo today I noticed that the label printer had a slip sticking out of it.  Printed on it was the routing information that usually goes on the routing slip.  I don't even know how they picked that printer.  Dumb.

I haven't gone on a lunchtime walk in I don't know how long.  Today I finally did, and it was good.  Despite the temperature not being over 74 degrees I was huffing and puffing.  I'm sure I won't walk during the summer.

Around 6pm tonight I sat down to check my work emails.  There was a new one from the library director. 

In it she states: As shared, the City of Glendale is in a hiring freeze and current vacancies will not be filled. LAC vacancies that will not be filled include our Library Assistant/Bookmobile & Branches position and the Assistant Director position. Future vacancies will be considered on a case-by-case basis in discussion with Finance, HR, and the City Manager's Office.

That means I'll be driving the bookmobile indefinitely.  ARGH!  I'm the one person that doesn't want the job and yet I'll be stuck doing it indefinitely.  How is that fair?  I texted Grigor and he tells me he was told to go to the office and that's where the director told him that the job didn't exist anymore.  This after finding out the other day that he ranked first among the potential candidates.

Friday, May, 9, Tony said that he tried calling Neil from the garage to see if the van was ready, because when he went yesterday morning they had the van on the lift, but they said they still needed to get it smogged.  OK.  Come this morning we still had the pick-up loaner.  I went to the garage first thing, and Pedro tells me they still haven't had the van smogged.  But, he said he could go right away and I could have the van by 10am.  OK.  So I decided to do part of the route with the pick-up and then pick up the van.  Mission accomplished.  We finally got the van back, and they changed the bad tire pressure sensor to boot.  Nice.

The rest of the route was pretty much standard.  Even with all the van stuff in the morning I was still on time for lunch on the route.  I still had to finish a little earlier due to my other commitments for the day.

After the route today I didn't get to go home, because I had to do the next bookmobile event.  This time we went to Cerritos elementary for their fundraising night.  Sad that schools even have to have fundraisers.  We arrived pretty early, but the good thing is that the event was popular.  We got to interact with a lot of people, and that's good.  Jacklyn was telling me that the reason why the bookmobile is mostly supposed to go in areas in south Glendale is because they know from statistics that south Glendale has the lowest rate of library accounts per capita.  If the library is to fulfill its mission then it should be known to not just the affluent.

I was exhausted after this long day.  I didn't get home until just before 9pm.  I briefly talked to Krishna about the loss of the bookmobile position.  She said that it wasn't a problem.  They would carry on.  But, Jacklyn showed me the breakdown of items that they are considering putting on the chopping block for next fiscal year's budget.  It included the bookmobile.  Which probably doesn't mean no bookmobile events, just fewer.  Or who knows.  It's still very fluid.  For sure they can get rid of those stupid 222 concert events.  Those are pretty useless.  Other items on the chopping block are the Brand concert and dance series, as well as Dia de los Muertos.  Dia's budget is $3,000, which is nothing in the grand scale of things.  And it's SUPER popular.  It easily draws a couple of thousand people.  In the current environment who knows if there is anything they are willing to keep in order to lower the budget deficit.

Saturday, May, 10, There's a homeless guy that lives under the 405 underpass on Ventura blvd.  He caught my eye a few months ago when I noticed that he was wearing white and black make-up.  He looked to me like a member of the band KISS.  Today I was finally able to get a decent picture of him as he sat in his usual spot.

Other than I'm pretty much sure he's homeless I don't know anything about this guy.

Laurel and I had a brief love affair something like fifteen years ago, when I first started working at San Marino.  She was a little older than me, but I didn't mind.  She took an interest in me, and I in her.  Through the years I've kept in touch with her, even when she was married.  A few years ago she split from her husband, because he was cheating on her.  Now we send each other voice memos on Facebook Messenger.  She will sometimes send me some nice pictures, and I appreciate that.  I don't know, I still find her attractive.

She wants me to go visit her in Minnesota, but things are tough now money wise.  I have savings, but I also want to pay off some bills.  Also, I'm not sure what to expect when I show up there.  Another love affair?  There's no future in that with me living here in California and she in Minnesota.  I would like to visit her, but there are currently a lot of obstacles in the way.

I've been trying to get FTP to work on the iPad, because I wanted to upload stuff from work using that supposedly faster internet.  I wasn't getting something crucial incorrect, but I finally figured it out today.  Nice!

My aunt says some really silly things to me nearly every day.  Today's silliness came in the form of my aunt telling me that tomorrow is a second Yom Kippur.  First off, no.  There is no such thing.  And of course she claims that one doesn't toil.  All her stupid made up holidays are celebrated by not toiling.  I fucking hate her guru for feeding her this tripe.

Another thing she does that makes me wonder about her mind is that she will go to the sliding door that is our front door and look out.  Like she hears something, and wants to investigate.  Only she never actually hears anything, she is just investigating.  Then, she will do this move where she will kiss the mezuzah that she hung next to the door.  I don't think that's kosher, but what do I know?

Sunday, May, 11, I did my usual Sunday things, such as the laundry and grocery shopping.  After cooking up something simple for work I retired to my backyard and passed out.  It was warm today.

Monday, May, 12, I hadn't seen the girl at the Broadway bus stop since last week.  Today I saw her as she crossed the street from the west side of Brand blvd.  She looks nice... I wonder what her deal is.

I got a message from Next Door telling me that the Jinky's in Studio City has closed.  The Jinky's in Sherman Oaks is still open.  I went there last year after my aunt had to go to the DMV.  I remember that the price for breakfast for two was something close to sixty bucks!  Online people were saying that this location wasn't very good.  Someone else pointed out that they lost their lease.  Who knows.

I arrived at the library this morning to find that there was trash all over the front and the side.  As I was getting the bins into the van I spotted a lady throwing trash out of a plastic bag.  She threw it all on the floor and then walked away.  The lids of a couple of the trash cans were on the ground.  I think it was this lady that made the mess.

I was at my last stop of the day, Adams Square.  I pulled up and parked in the red, because there was a car in the last legit parking spot.  I gave myself a lot of room between the next car and the van.  Too much room, it was seem, because some dummy parked right next to the van.  They were so close that I couldn't go between the car and van with the book bins in tow.  I mentioned it to my coworkers, and some lady comes up and checks out a book. She leaves and I go back out.  It was that lady that parked super close to me.  Like why?  Next time I won't leave so much space between cars.

I checked and it looks like the website Diaryland is back and working.  I can post my pictures there again.

Tuesday, May, 13, I had plans to go to two parks today for my Tuesday Adventure, because I wanted to be close to Hollywood.  Why Hollywood?  Because there was a burger that I wanted to try there.  I took myself to Franklyn Canyon first, only to discover that the northern entrance was closed.  I think the sign said there was some repairs going on.  All I know is that the posted sign said I could use the south entrance to visit the park.  OK, I figured I could go to my other stop on my way there.  Wattles park.  Well, that park turned out to be small, and the part that was part of the old mansion that is still on the property was closed until noon.  So made my way back to Franklyn Canyon.  But by the time I got there, I had spent so much time in traffic that I just went around and got out of the park without setting foot outside of my car.  That's OK, the main attraction was going to be the burger today.

There's a burger joint named Win-Dow burger that I've been wanting to try.  The location is in Santa Monica, but they just recently opened a location in Hollywood.  This is why I wanted to stay close to Hollywood.  I have to say, it's a good burger.  I don't like pickles, but I asked for them on the side.  Gotta say, even with the pickles the burger tastes super good.  Not going to say it's the best burger in town, but I think I can say that it's at least in consideration in my personal top list.

I've said it before, the Maple park bookmobile gig is a waste of time.  But, in a way it's better than going to a popular event.  Because, I don't have to do much.  I pretty much sat around for four hours.  My fortune notwithstanding, it really is a waste of time for us to go to Maple park all the time.  We usually only get about ten or a dozen people to come up to us.  I think we are better off taking the bookmobile to events like the duck race, because at least we have eyes on the vehicle.  Maple park, not so much.  Like I said, it's a waste of time, but they will continue to have us go to that park.  All because they are clueless to what they want to do with the bookmobile.  They had no plan going in, and they certainly don't have a plan as of right now.  Dumb.

Wednesday, May, 14, I had to park the van on the other side of the civic center.  As I drove up I saw TheLooker on the sidewalk.  I went over to her and talked to her a bit.  She asked if I was going to the work BBQ, and told her I didn't realize it was this weekend.  Then I said I would go.  She then said she was going too.  OK.  Every time I run into her I think about the fun we could have had.  And not just in bed, though I would have looked very much forward to that.  I'm just not realistic when it comes to women.  I must think that they are all dumb for not falling for me immediately.  But now I know that I am just not desirable.  I've come to terms with it.

The route was pretty standard today.  I didn't get to photograph Bernadette, because there was a patron sitting next to the tree.  The best day to view her for me is Monday, because there's no one else in the building.

Huell Howser visited Tallyrand over a decade ago.  TheGirl mentioned that they recently added a covered patio, which meant we could take Cheyenne with us.  So, with Chan in tow the four of us went to Tallyrand.  On Huell's show he spotlighted a turkey sandwich that was smothered in gravy.  It looked really good.  TheGirl mentioned that they were famous for their turkey dinner.  I love me some turkey, so I ordered the sandwich.

Cheyenne is getting thinner, but her appetite sure doesn't seem to have left her.  After dinner she did have a little fall back home, which I filmed while filming her jump around.  She lost her footing and went right to the floor.  She was OK, but still.  She jumped up and continued begging for a treat from TheGirl.  TheGirl mentioned that cancer might not cause her to put Cheyenne to sleep, the arthritis might.  Sad either way.  I don't want her in pain, but I don't want her to die.  This sucks.

Thursday, May, 15, Vivian came to work not feeling 100%, so she left at 1pm.  That meant that after lunch it was just Mary and me on the desk by ourselves.  That's five hours of a nine hour shift, just sitting.  I did write this journal entry during those hours, but it still didn't make the time go by any faster.  Sigh.

I failed a cyber test last week when the city sent a simulated phishing attack email.  They got me good, because I was quick to hit a link and boom - this was a test.  Because of that click I had to do an hour of remedial training.  Today was a good day for it, since it was slow at work.

I know that Victoria Justice lives up the road in the Encino hills.  I've never run into her, but she posts many a picture of her in the neighborhood.  Like this one above, which was taken at Anajak Thai.  It's up the street from me on Ventura blvd.  It's supposed to be really good.  I wanted to take that girl from the market there.

Lola is a lady I follow online.  She's a singer, actor, director; etc, etc... and a looker.  Today she posted the above photo in conjunction with the release of her new single.  I'll have to check it out.

Friday, May, 16, I went up to the auditorium to find some mic stands for Chevy.  Earlier in the week I was sent an email asking for some items for some event on Saturday.  Well, it wasn't just sent to me, but my coworker completely ignored it and that meant I had to get all the items ready.  While in the auditorium I had to turn on the lights, but the switch didn't work.  I had to go into the control room and that's where I found that the fuse boxes had been tripped.  Of course.  As soon as I would hit all on the fuses would trip.  What a fucking mess.

Today was a busy day on the route.  Not only did I say I would go get the bench that was supposed to go inside the bookmobile, but then Gitmo asked me to move the little library on wheels to Grandview for storage.  Mission accomplished, I was able to get those two items off my list of things to move.

There was a sign that was placed on one of the light boxes on the corner of Pacific and Riverdale.  I saw it a few weeks ago, and I even took a picture of it on May 2nd.  Well, someone didn't like the sign and today I saw that it was ripped (see above).  Guess someone didn't like the idea of the poster.

I was at Adams when I spotted an old Mac Mini behind the printer.  Those Mac Minis were used about eight years ago when we had the iPad minis as e-readers.  The Mac Minis were used to wipe the iPads when they were returned.  They were never that popular.  It's funny to see the computer in the wild, because they haven't been used in years.

A few people told me the details of the meeting that was had with the library director about the budget.  She pretty much said that she didn't know much, but that she would know more in the coming weeks.  So, basically the meeting was useless, because she didn't have any answers.  Thanks for nothing.

Saturday, May, 17, My new bag arrived today.  It's perfect for my needs, and it's a pretty red color.  I was formally using a tote bag, but things just go everywhere in the bag.  And then I can't find things.  Like earlier in the week Misa said to take an avocado that she brought in from her backyard.  Well, I put it in the tote and I didn't find it until yesterday.  Not good.  This bag will solve some other issues I had with the tote bag.

My aunt finally planted the seeds, about one and a half weeks ago, that I bought her about two months ago.  Well, I checked on them this morning, and the plants are germinating.  Not sure which vegetable it is, but we will soon.  How cool.

Sunday, May, 18, There was a work picnic today and I attended.  The food was good.  Grigor is definitely the grill master.  Someone brought some falafel from this place called Massis.  I'll have to go there and get some falafel.

TheLooker was at the picnic.  I didn't try to interact with her too much.  At one point I overheard her talking to the security guard that just retired.  He said something about her not returning his text messages, and she mentioned how busy she was with school and work.  Yes, she's doing both.  However, that's always the lazy excuse for people who don't want to answer you.  I walked away from both of them at that point.

After coming back home from the picnic and my errands I was ready for a nap.  I went to my backyard and I was out like a light for about two hours.  When I woke up I felt like I could continue sleeping, but I didn't.  Instead I got up and got my lunch ready for the week.  I had a lot of food at the picnic, so I wasn't really hungry.  I made my lunch and then went back to my backyard.

I'm a super lucky guy.  I'm able to just sit in my backyard all weekend long.

I foolishly forgot to pay my Chase credit card last month, and come this month I got an email saying... hey stupid, pay up.  I had to pay a little over $300 for the penalty and last month's payment.  But, with that payment I officially paid off that credit card.  It does have a reoccurring charge to it, but for now it's paid.

Monday, May, 19, Last night I was about to get my aunt's pills ready for the week when I found myself feeling strange.  Anxious.  Like I felt something bad was going to happen.  I went straight to the bottle, and the booze did its work well.  After having a couple of shots I was feeling good.  I'll have to ask the doctor about this anxiety thing.  I've had to endure its effects for the last five years, at least.

I have this notion to sell my photographs online as a side gig.  I used to have a website that hosted my images, and sold those prints as well.  I never actually sold a single print, but I did buy a bunch of prints from that site.  Well, I checked to see if it was still around, and I come to find out it's gone.  There is a holding page on their website that just says, "Imagekind.com is temporarily unavailable due to ongoing technical issues. We apologize for the inconvenience but warmly wish you all the Peace, Joy & Happiness during this Holiday Season.  We hope to return soon!"

A Wikipedia article says that, "As of 2025, the Imagekind website is non-functional."  Yeah, it's not looking good.  But, I've been doing research to other companies that can also sell my prints.  I'll have to see if it's worth my while.

I overdid it with the booze last night, so today I was feeling tired and sleepy because I boozed it up and stayed up late jerking off.  As I write this it's now 11:40pm, and I'm not sleepy.  I was so sleepy about three hours ago.  I'm trying to tire myself out by journaling.

Tuesday, May, 20, I have a bookmobile event on May 31st, which means that Tuesday before that, May 27th, I'll have off.  But I also get May 26th off, because it's Memorial day.  Four days off!  OMG!  How did I not see this before?  I could have planned a little trip.  Maybe there's still time.

Growing up I loved going to the Natural History Museum downtown.  That and the science and industry were so much fun back in my youth.  I still like going to both, but today was kinda more to film around the NHM to chronicle it for myself.  I do miss a couple of the exhibits they used to have, like the abyss.  Today that is now something called the discovery center.  It's no longer marine things, it's everything.

My usual at Tommy's is a single cheeseburger without pickles or tomatoes.  When I was eating more, I would order the same, but make it a double.  I don't remember how many years ago, but a few years ago Tommy's introduced a burger they called the California classic.  It had no chili, instead it had 1,000 island dressing and lettuce.  I've never had it before, but in the spirit of the Tuesday Adventures I decided to give it a shot.  I ordered chili on the side.  The burger tasted good without chili, but was much better with the chili.  Now I know.  I did have it with tomato, and pickles on the side.  The 1,000 gave the burger a different taste that was pretty good.

I've been adding stickers to the back of my car, representing some of the places that I've visited over the years and especially during these Tuesday Adventures.  Today I added the NASA sticker along with a hummingbird sticker.

Today was another quiet shift at work.  My desk-mate, Kerri, was saying that she didn't know why four people were scheduled for today.  I don't know, but as long as I get my hours it's all good.

Wednesday, May, 21, Time is flying.  TheRose posted on her social media that she has graduated with her Masters.  Good for her.  In another universe, perhaps....

The route was busy today.  These jokers always wait until the last minute to send things out, and then they start scrambling to send things out.  Today it was the summer reading thingie of the day.  I think the boxes contained the prizes for the summer reading thing.

So the budget was talked about at city council last night, but I didn't get a chance to watch it.  But, it is on YouTube, so I watched it after getting out of work tonight.  Well, I listened to it in the car as I drove to TheGirl's place.  They went over a lot, but the things pertaining to the library were glossed over.  The proposed cuts, as of right now, are to just not hire four positions.  Two are librarian positions and one was the assistant director position, and lastly the bookmobile person.  The total would result in a savings of about $731,000.  Not nothing, but certainly not that much.  This is the first of about three rounds of talks, so it's way too early to say the library is getting off easy.

Originally TheGirl suggested we go to the Dog Haus in Toluca Lake for dinner tonight.  Specifically the Toluca Lake one, because that area is cooler, but also that location doesn't get any sun in the afternoon.  The building next door is four or five stories high.  I did tell TheGirl as I went to change my clothes that she should have a plan B, just in case it's too warm down there.  Well, we didn't even go down to the Dog Haus.  As we were leaving her place TheGirl turns to me and says, "Let's go to the Smoke House."  I'm always down for the Smoke House.

TheGirl mentioned how Cheyenne has become more aggressive when it comes to food and treats.  And yes, tonight Cheyenne was taking the fish from my fingers in an aggressive fashion.  As long as she keeps wanting to eat I don't care how aggressive she gets.

Thursday, May, 22, Shineson, my coworker at Brand, took a short video of our newest hummingbird.  We named it Fiction.  Shineson was able to capture the moments after the egg hatched.  Amazing!

Today was another quiet shift at the library.  School will soon be out, so it's likely to get quieter.  Some people mind the quiet, but not me.  I usually catch up on my journaling and making Cheyenne videos.  I don't mind the down time.

Gitmo texted me that Tavasha was going to leave at 6pm, but that he couldn't make it to the library until 6:15pm at the earliest.  Which would mean that I would be alone on the desk for fifteen minutes.  This seems to be the new normal nowadays.  It's not OK, but we all live with it.  We live with it because we all have to eat.  We all know how good we have it at the library.  It's chill, for the most part.  I get paid well, and on Thursdays I get paid to sit around all day.

Friday, May, 23, My coworker Shineson recorded the hummingbird chick coming out of its shell the other day.  That video is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.  Today it was my turn to get a video of Fiction, the hummingbird chick.  It was wiggling around in the nest.  It's so tiny, and fragile.

My buddy Vagabundo mentioned earlier in the week that we should go out and get something to eat.  He suggested a place called Ozzy's Apizza in North Hollywood.  We met up there today after work.  First off, I've always said that Los Angeles is not a pizza town.  A lot of people have been trying to prove me wrong.  I think this place proved me wrong to the Nth degree.  I ordered the cheese pizza, which is the classic cheese pizza.  Boy - it was amazing.  I told Vagabundo that I've been going around town having various meals.  I told him how I went to that Weirdough pizza in Burbank and that it was so tasteless that I wondered if I had Covid again.  Because, the time I had Covid I lost all sense of taste.  Tonight Ozzy's vanquished that idea that my tastebuds are dead.  More like not one knows how to make a good pie.

Saturday, May, 24, I went to Wattles park a couple of weeks ago, and I thought it was kinda a tease, because the mansion was closed.  But, what I didn't realize is that there is a lot more park to see.  The other park entrance location is just about three hundred feet up the street from the entrance I used.  Technically the mansion and the park are two different things.  When I checked last night I saw that the park is actually above the mansion.  I was thinking of that park because I was trying to figure out what I was going to do next Tuesday.  I have Monday and Tuesday off, but I couldn't get out of town.  So I thought of going up to the Griffith Observatory on Tuesday.  The observatory doesn't open until noon, but that's OK.  I can still do something before going up there.  Hence me rethinking Wattles park.  But now the actual park.  We shall see.

I was out in my backyard when I got this itch in my nose.  It was very annoying, because it wouldn't go away.  I then felt something like a hair.  So, I grabbed it and pulled it out.  ARGH, it was the longest nose hair ever!  I don't remember looking in the mirror this morning and seeing this super long hair.  It's not right.

I was chillin in my room, writing in this journal, when I heard a loud sound.  Two boom-like sounds in a row.  It turned out it was a SpaceX launch.

Sunday, May, 25, I went to get some water from the pitcher only to find that it was empty.  Because my dumb dumb aunt didn't refill it.  She always does that shit.  She always does stupid things.  On weekends she is constantly dropping her cane.  I have no idea why she switches between the cane I bought her and another cane.  The one I bought her has a large foot, so that it can stay standing.  The other cane is a regular cane.  But does she think about just sticking with the large footed cane?  Nope.  She mostly spends her time around the outside of the house with that other cane.  She has lost it several times.  She leaves it outside somewhere.  That's another thing, if you are forgetting things like that perhaps play a trick on yourself and do the same thing every time.  That way the cane is always in the same place.  Not a new place every time.  Another reason to get a job on Saturdays is to get away from her.

I forgot to comment on this, but I was told by Karla a few days ago that Linda, the woman that ruined my San Marino job, is now gone.  She was hired by some other library to ruin that library.  With her leaving I've considered asking to see if they can have me come back as a page on Saturdays.  Just so I can make some extra money and pay off some bills.  I was told that the page position was eliminated, but with her gone maybe they can put it back.  I'm still not sure I'm even separated from the city.  Cathi, the director, claimed I was separated, but no one sent me a letter.  She said HR did.  Bullshit.  Maybe one of my Tuesday adventures should take me to San Marino to see if I'm still employed there.

Liquid Death sells a drink called Dead Billionaire.  It's their version of an Arnold Palmer.  I heard it was good.  It's not bad, but it's a bit too sweet.  I had to add water to make it taste better.  Even still, you can really taste the sweetness.  Never again.

I've come to the conclusion that I see women as sex objects.  Case in point... I want to sleep with Lisa from the market, but I don't care if it's a relationship.  Oh sure, I would like to do some things with a lady.  But it's not a priority.  I think that's why I've "given up" on dating.  One, no one wants me anyway.  Perhaps they sense that sex is all that I'm interested in.  Certainly if I was handsome I would probably be trying to sleep around.  Oh well, the ladies of the world don't have to worry about me.  I've been forced into retirement due to my actions, or inactions.  I won't be bothering them anymore.

Monday, May, 26, I think I need to not be home on the weekends.  Years ago I used to go to San Marino on Saturdays in order to avoid my aunt.  I've been wanting to make some money, so I think I'll look for another job.  I won't be home, and I'll make some extra money.  But, I'm not sure where I could apply.

I have a couple of photo apps on my iPad.  Today I got a notification to check my Google photos app.  The app featured photos of TheNewCute.  It was a freaking carousel of her photos.  And suddenly I missed her... a lot.  I told myself I wouldn't think of her again.  I unfollowed her on social media.  She never posts anything there anyway.  I had a stupid idea to get drunk and contact her.  Because that's always a good idea.  Yeah, I missed her today.  She was strong.  She never cried with me when she told me her father was dead.  I was the one crying.  Now I have to follow her and not cry about this.

Today kinda felt like a wasted day.  I didn't do anything today, except binge watch the show Man Men.  I finished season one, and now I need to find how I can watch it online.  Pluto TV only had the first season on for free.  I could get it on DVD, but then I can't watch it while in my backyard.

Today is the eighteenth anniversary of my last day at Oviatt library at CSUN.  That was a lifetime ago.  I can't believe it's been that long.  I wish I could have stayed.  I think I would have had fun at CSUN.  Oh well.  The time I had there was amazing.

Tuesday, May, 27, I had plans to go to the Observatory today, but it doesn't open until noon, so I figured that I would try going to Wattles park again.  I didn't realize that there is the park and the mansion portion.  Well, the Algorithm got me good today.  I show up and get my hat and walking stick all set, only to walk up to the other entrance and find that the park is closed.  I didn't see anything on the city site that said either were closed.  Bullshine!  I later checked again and found that there was something at on the site for the mansion that said it was closed.  WTF?  That message wasn't on the top of the website, it was down towards the bottom.  I mean come on people.

At least the Griffith Observatory wasn't a bust.  I wanted to check out a short film that I saw, and slept through, the last time I went up to the Observatory a few months ago called Pacific Standard Universe.  It was part of the Pacific Standard Time thing the Getty did earlier in the year.  I also grabbed my Polaroid and took some pictures of the Observatory.  Good times.

I didn't realize until sometime around midday that since I had Monday off I didn't need to take today off from work.  Which is what I usually do when I work on Saturdays with the bookmobile, so I don't go over my hours.  Dope.  Oh well, I didn't catch it and Gitmo didn't catch it either.  My next paycheck is going to be a little lighter.  Damn.

Wednesday, May, 28, The pretty aid from Montrose was in front of the library this morning.  She wore a nice pair of jeans that made her figure look really good.  Sigh.

I went to the Brand courtyard to check up on Bernadette.  But when I go to the nest I saw that the chick was gone.  I couldn't see anything on the floor, or in the planters.  I feared something bad happened.  I figured that I would have lunch and check to see if Bernadette was going to come back to the nest.  I ate my lunch and checked on the nest, but no Bernadette.  She probably abandoned the nest after whatever happened to Fiction happened.  I hope she comes back, but I'm not holding my breath.

I have no idea who designed these flyers for the library.  There is a marketing team but I don't know exactly who is the one that actually makes them.  I have pointed out their errors in the past.  And here's another.  The placement of the comma is just not OK.  Also, the city logo seems to be way too close to the side of the card.  These might be nitpicking, but these are mistakes... plain and simple.

TheGirl told me that her grandson Elisha would be joining us for dinner tonight.  He's a good kid, and he likes Chan.  Who doesn't like Chan?  We went to Don Cuco's for dinner.  Fun was had.

One thing that happened is that Cheyenne cut TheGirl's finger when she was biting on table scraps.  She mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Cheyenne has become much more aggressive when accepting table scraps.  TheGirl does have thin skin, and the bite was enough to cause TheGirl to bleed a little.  I have tougher skin, but I also noticed that Cheyenne was being aggressive when taking the food out of my fingers.  I joke that TheGirl never feeds her, but I know she does.  Cheyenne is just who she is, an older lady.  She's going through a lot of changes.  Like we all are getting older.  At least she's still here with us.

Thursday, May, 29, Vivian had a class visit early this morning.  When I arrived they had already been at the library for a half hour.  I immediately saw one of the ladies in the group who was attractive.  Turns out she was the teacher.  Of course.  Anyway, it was nice to have some eye candy in the morning, since storytime is on hiatus.

There's a patron that comes in that I find to be pretty cute.  I've mentioned her before.  She reminds me of a character from an old Three Stooges film where the trio plays doctors.  Arpi looks, and sounds, like the nurse (played by Jeanie Roberts in that short Men in Black).  The trio plays doctors that are constantly called by the hospital's PA system, Dr Howard, Dr Fine, Dr Howard.  Jeanie has a high pitched voice.  Early in the shift I got a phone call from a woman with a high pitch voice.  My coworker Katie knew it was Arpi when she arrived and started talking.

I went on my lunch time walk today and I think it's getting too hot to walk around much.  Maybe if there's a nice breeze, but for sure in a few weeks I'll just stop walking altogether.  Until it cools down after Summer, at least.  It sucks, because I do like walking.  I guess I could just go to the Ralph's up the street and walk around all the aisles there until someone starts getting suspicious.  If it's hot next week I'll try that.  See how long that lasts.

I was telling Gitmo that I didn't realize it, but I didn't have to take Tuesday off since I had Monday off.  Neither of us caught it.  I told him it was OK, since it was no one's fault.  Both of us said that we would try to be more mindful.  Then that's when it came out about my July schedule.  I can't see that on the client the city uses.  I can only see the month that's published, not the one that hasn't been published.  The full timers can see that advance schedule, but part timers can't.

There are a bunch of stupid Maple park events scheduled for the bookmobile in July.  Fuck this shit.  Going to that park is such a waste of time.  I've said it a bunch of times.  But, in a system that's bereft of ideas, their one idea is the one they go with.  Never is there a process to get to something that works.  It's always whatever we brainstorm first is the winner.  This is why we are married to Maple park.  Bullshine!  I'll have to grin and bare it.

Season one of Mad Men is free on different steaming platforms.  I watched it on Pluto TV.  But of course they give you a free taste, but if you want more you have to pay for it.  Pluto TV doesn't have the rights to the other seasons, so I went out looking for another platform.  The problem is that they expect me to pay for subsequent seasons.  The prices vary, but it seems like Prime has the best deal - $10 for the entire season.  But, with there being seven seasons today, that means I'd be paying $60 for the balance of the seasons.  I don't want to spend a dime.  I looked into DVD rental joints, because the library doesn't have the complete run of the show.  It only has half of the DVDs.  Probably lost through attrition.  The rental places I saw cost $5 per rental.  For the second season, being four discs, that would mean paying $20.  Better to just watch it on Prime.  Other libraries could have the show.  I tried the County, but I'd have to go to WeHo to pick the DVD up.  It's not far, but I would spend gasoline getting there.  So where's the savings?  Lastly I checked the Pasadena library, and bingo - they have the complete season two as a set.  I'll have to aim for the following week to pick up the DVDs after I go home and place a hold on them.

Friday, May, 30, I was about to take my shower this morning, when I noticed that my toiletries were moved.  I'm sure my aunt moved them, because there's no one else here in the house.  It's like she can't help but mess with my stuff and my life.  She's always in my room checking my desk for information she can use against me.  Fucking idiot now moves my toiletries.  Like why?  Oh yes, to find my drugs, no doubt.

Yesterday all the branches got totes.  Except for Chevy and Casa Verdugo.  Not sure why Casa didn't get any, but I know that Vivian asked marketing for some.  They said they were going to put the totes in delivery.  Chevy didn't get their totes yet, because Tony doesn't go to Chevy on Thursdays.  When I got into circulation I found a huge pile of totes for Chevy, but none for Casa.  Of course no one from marketing were in today.  So, I just made an executive decision to take the Chevy allotment and give it to Casa.  Then I went upstairs to admin and took a like three dozen totes for Chevy.

After dinner I retired to my backyard.  I was going to turn on the fan that I use to deflect my neighbor's smoke away from me, when I noticed that the fan had been moved.  I left it pointing towards my neighbor's backyard, but when I got there tonight it was pointing towards me.  I mean really?  My aunt has NOTHING else to do but to be a thorn in my side?  Fuck her.

Saturday, May, 31, Today is the first of two consecutive Saturday bookmobile events.  There isn't much to report, except that it was super busy.  Oh, and that my little experiment with using my iPad instead of the dumb computer failed.  It wasn't the iPad's fault, it is the web version of Sierra's fault.  That program on the desktop is trash.  The web version is extra trashy.

I tried the iPad and failed, so I had to go back to the computer.  At times I would scan a barcode and I could see the lag and extra numbers coming up on the screen.  I called it hallucinating, because it feels like the computer is making up numbers.  Like how can a barcode that is fourteen digits long when scanned outputs a number that is twice as many digits long?  Hallucinating, I tells ya.

All in all we did good, despite the computer issues.  We interacted with about four hundred people, and I issued about thirty new library cards.  That's easily a record.  I had a feeling that we would be busy today, but I didn't think we would be this busy.

Next week is going to be difficult as well.  The obstacles put in front of us already make me just want to run away.  When I went back to Central to kill the rest of my shift, I decided to work on checking my work on the cards I made today.  Sure enough, almost all of them had mistakes.  But the knowledge I can use is that when I logged in on the bookmobile account that same "No printer" pop-up came up.  But this time I was on one of the computers at Central, which are connected to printers.  I then opened another occurrence of Sierra and logged into it as Central.  The pop-up didn't come up.  Which to me means that that specific login for the bookmobile does not have a printer option.  Because, I tried using it on the iPad, which doesn't have a printer either, but I thought it wouldn't bring up that error.  But it did, and so did the computer at Central.  This is knowledge I can bring to maybe at least fix that thing.

Even when I'm at work my aunt bothers me.  Today she Facetimed me.  When I didn't answer her she called me on the phone.  I went behind the tent to answer her call, because what if she wasn't feeling well or something?  I should have known it wasn't anything pressing.  My aunt asked me to help her with Facetime, because she wanted to talk to her sister in Mexico.  Ah what?  I told her, I'm at work.  I can't help you from a distance.  She wasn't too happy, but what did she to do?  I mean come on.  She is so unreasonable.  I fucking hate that even when I'm at work she's still bothering me.

Wrap-up: May was a pretty good month.  Nothing special that will make me say, Oh, I remember May 2025 being such and such.  But, it has been a good month.  The big thing that happened was the hiring freeze at work, because it means I'm going to keep driving the bookmobile.

There's a line in the movie Batman Under the Red Hood where the Joker says a line that perfectly fits this situation with the bookmobile.  He says, "You managed to find a way to win, and everybody still loses."  That's how I feel about this whole bookmobile thing.  I didn't want the job, but I'm the one doing the job.  I think if I didn't have to deal with that stupid computer it would actually be OK.