It was *the* place to go at the time because it was the only place in Pasadena (that wasn't a bar) that stayed open late even on weeknights. It had a thriving music and art scene around it. I imagine what happened is that when Pasadena redeveloped its downtown into "Old Pasadena" the rents shot up and they couldn't hack that. Bummer, though. And, yes, I feel like Rip Van Winkle.

What *really* made me feel old was that the workers at the place I was asking weren't old enough to remember it ever being there. They asked an older worker and he knew of it.

People TAKE YOUR VACATION!!!! good gravy.

I keep trying, and having to reschedule because unexpected work that will cause the whole company to collapse if it's not done by me immediately is magnetically attracted to my vacation days. Witness me losing yet another weekend tomorrow and Sunday on a project in which my involvement was supposed to be over by the end of June.

Alphabetization is not a preference issue. There are rules, people!

Seriously. I tried the not hyphenated route before I got married because my great aunt had done so with great success. No one in the world ever called her anything but M C K. I got so many variations, I decided to hyphenate to clear up the mystery. I have never regretted it, despite the fairly constant need for education. Sadly, I don't have Olivia Newton-John or Wilfred Hyde-White to throw out as references anymore. Not even Tiffany-Amber Thiesen! Though, I suppose there is a certain portion of the population that would relate to Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Go msbelle with the whimsy adding! I'm a big fan of whimsy...and whipped cream.

Oh JZ, what a hierarchy of pain you have to deal with. It's no good when everyone is stressed out. Can't they set up a round robin or something? All kidding aside, peaceful vibes headed your way.

eta: Damn. Dyslexia gets even worse, the more tired I am.

So I left work early, at 4. Took the geriatric dog out to pee (he did NOT want to go out. Had to employ a towel under his belly to walk him out) and headed to the pool. Closed for the night. Since I needed, NEEDED to swim, drove up to the Towson one. By now it is 5:30, so can only do a mile and a half n order to get home on time for MK's shot. Since I'm up there, do a quick run in to TJs which looks like a bomb has hit, and they are out of everything I went in for. So came home empty handed. Shovelled food into my face, started a load of laundry, and proceeded to strip paint. Now I need to put the laundry in the dryer and head over to feed the dog. THEN I come back and apply some more stripper and hang up my laundry.

I don't want to do any of it, but I need to do all of it.

I am out of synch with trash pick up. They do trash twice a week, but recycling only once. I need recycling twice and trash only once.

I really need to get grass clippings so I can get my composter going.

The mouse is ... gone. RIP.

I ran to Target and then had a soft ice cream cone for dinner, and I'm exhausted. I don't know how you do it, sara.

I was totally surprised at the people who thought I would change my name when I got married. My SISTER thought I would. I thought about it for like 3 seconds.(His bro's name is Aaron. Too confusing, aside from the fact that I LIKE my name)

But no. And our last names would just be awful sounding, hyphenated: Griggs-Jacobson? Ugh.

Yeah, sara makes me feel tired tonight. I'd actually like to be doing something productive, like unpack the last bookcase of books, but mac insists I stay in this room while he watches a movie on my computer. So I am watching baseball and folding sheets.

I DON'T WANT to have this much to do. It's just a matter of if I don't get this stuff done tonight, the weekend will be even more hellish.

Man, this dog is so physically pathetic. His hips are so bad when he first gets up that you support him with a towel slung under him. And he pretty much sleeps all day, or just lies around, observing. But when he's awake, he's got such a twinkle in his eye. When he saw me reaching for the treat bag, I swear he did that whole cute puppy face and headcock. He won't get up for it, mind you, but this is one mentally happy dog, given his limited ability to move. He pooped on the floor (they've got it covered in tarps with old throw sheets and carpet on top, so not a big deal,) but he would not look at me until I'd cleaned up the evidence, doing the whole shameface thing. Poor guy.

I'm fairly indifferent to dogs, but he really is a sweetheart. He must've been quite a charmer in his youth.