Monday, Monday

Not much happening. The computers were wonky all day at work but other than that, everything's pretty normal for a Monday. Weather's fine as usual. Probably heading out to the library in a few minutes to see if I can find something to read. Other than that, nothing else to say. Have a nice day.

It's the end of the world as we now it....

Don't want to alarm anyone but the end of the world is nigh. What great portent of doom do I refer to you ask? Josh actually had a different flavor of ice cream at Baskin and Robbins yesterday. I know that doesn't sound like anything momentous but you have to realize that for the last 13 - 14 years he's gone into B&R and sampled several flavors and always, always ends up with World Class Chocolate and/or Gold Medal Ribbon. This time he actually had something different. Okay, enough of the hassling the Monkey, it was just a surprise to me. Other than that nothing much has been happening around here. Just a typical California weekend. That is all.

Welcome to the Hotel California

Just got back from shopping with Jae and we had fun. Getting used to taking our own cloth bags to the stores with is the hardest part. We hit Trader Joe's for cheese, almond milk and other stuff then went to Ralph's for lunch stuff for work. Ralph's is the equivalent of Gerbes or King Soopers or Krogers - all owned by the same corporation and my old King Soopers key chain fob works there. Also, my Safeway card works at Vons. Oddly enough, the shopping is just as good as I remember but the restaurants aren't. Most of the wonderful little hole in the wall gems we used to go to have gone out of business. Oh well, guess we'll just have to find new places. We have found all the really good malls/shopping centers around so that's good. We have Costco instead of Sam's and the closest WalMart isn't. All in all, both of us have discovered that we still have a definite love/hate relationship with California in general and LA in particular. Oh yeah, we've given up and admitted we're here for awhile by getting the car insured and registered in California and getting library cards for the Los Angeles Library. Next week, we plan on getting library cards at the Burbank library. Know that sounds odd but believe it or not, depending on the subject or genre you're looking for, one can be \better than the other so you really need both. The other thing I've done to admit I'm staying is get a bank account here and get my checks direct deposited. Now all I have to do is find my own place that I can afford and get my stuff and babies from Wyoming.

June gloom in August?

So it's been cool and overcast in the mornings lately. What they usually refer to around here as "June gloom", the problem is it's August! Work's going okay. What can I say? It's a job. Nice people to work with and a pretty good company to work for. I'd like to make more money but then who wouldn't? I'm not sure I like working from 7:30 - 4:00, at least not the 7:30 part. Means I have to get up in time to walk a couple of blocks to catch the 6:30 a.m. bus. That's right, the 6:30 a.m. bus. Take about 50-55 minutes by bus to get there. Doesn't take that long if I drive but the trade off in gas and aggravation makes it worthwhile.

Been exploring Burbank a lot lately and I like what I see. When I do finally get my own place, I want to live in Burbank not North Hollywood. It's a much nicer area and doesn't cost that much more especially now that the NoHo Arts District is moving this way and raising prices as it goes. Nothing like a little Urban Renewal to raise the cost of living in an area.

It might turn out that it's easier and cheaper to buy something than rent so we'll have to see what's what when the time comes. The major experts say there are signs that the California real estate market is finally bottoming out and stabilizing. That means this summer is the best time to buy into one of the foreclosures. We'll just have to see what happens. In the meantime, I'll continue to work and play the lottery. One of them is bound to pay off someday!