I think there's an independent secondhand bookstore near the Blick I just fell in love with (and there's a Utrecht near that--and an Aaron's near work, but that's mostly a framing store--the art supply section's not great), but it's pretty small. Honestly, other than Vroman's (did I finally remember the name of the store?) I can't think of a competitive LA independent bookstore. I've got more than one Borders and B&N near me, so I'm all booked up.

Most of my doodling is on printouts for work. Every print job is separated by a blank sheet, so we get a lot of blank paper lying around. I grab that. It's going to be tossed anyway--I tried feeding it back through the printed and it just jammed the feed, so no go on that.

I'm much more secure about my photography than my drawing. That I have up everywhere in my apartment. Well, not in my bedroom. For some reason, I'm hesitant about hanging stuff in my bedroom. All I have up on the walls there is the Surrender The Booty flag Allyson gave me.

My parents have up a self-portrait and a portrait of my sister that I'd rather just burn. The portrait of Arthur Ashe I still actually like, and they can keep that.

Nothing will make me a football fan, but I'm listening to my sister yelling at the TV watching the Iowa vs Iowa State game. She went to both.

Apparently the Iowa State team decided to play as the Cyclowns today. They got a 15 yard penalty because one player ran out of his shoe.

Went to the toy store and bought a 64 crayon Crayola box. Coulda gotten it a buck cheaper at Rite Aid, but I'd rather support an indie business. Did my meeting. Picked up a 3 drawer plastic organizer thingie for $10 and because I was riding my Xtracycle, could actually take it home with me. Answered questions about the Xtracycle from a man and his sons. Lunch. Now I'm tempted to nap but I should swim while it's still warm enough for the water to not be freezing.

You've got an Xtracycle, Spidra? How do you like it?

I bought the Free Radical used and then bartered with someone to have them install it on a bike of mine. I've owned it a little over 2 years now. I like it a lot. One regret is that they've since updated the design of the FreeLoader bags to go further up than the original ones. That's something I've been wanting for a long time.

If you're someone who rides your bike for errands or touring, it's totally worth the $$.

Yesterday I said

Tomorrow will be me, a 12-pack of Diet Coke, and a full iPod dedicated to whipping the kitchen into shape.

And now my dishes are all washed (except a few in the dishwasher waiting for it to be full enough to run) and I am not yet out of DIet Coke or podcasts, but I am out of steam, so the remainder of the kitchen will have to bide its time.

f you're someone who rides your bike for errands or touring, it's totally worth the $$.

I lust after one, but don't have the bucks right now. I hope when I get a real job I can invest. I also envy tommyrot's Dutch bike.

So this was the plan for the day: market, go to pool, swim a mile & 3/4, head straight to Target and TJs right after, head home and clean up and head over to Hampdenfest for an hour or so to hear my neighbor's boyfriend's band play, then come home and clean the house.

What happened: market, hung out on porch with neighbors, swam 2 miles and change, headed straight to Target and TJs right after, come home, clean up and went to Hampdenfest. FOUR HOURS LATER, I've met up with neighbor and her friends, seen a couple band plays and the Beardymore contest, had a couple drinks, gone out to dinner with them, warded off an attempt at matchmaking, got a sunburn and declined an invite to a party tonight. The neighbor boyfriend is a ringer for Stanley Tucci. And other friend's boyfriend bears a strong resemblance to Kyle Maclachlan. Which was kinda funny. Walking down the street in Hampden with Tucci-clone is a lot like walking with lisah. He knows freakin' everybody. Came home and cleaned the upstairs. And now I'm here.

Clearly, didn't follow the plan, but certainly works for me.

And I have a numb spot on the tip of my tongue and I have no idea how that happened.

I went and bought fabric for curtains in 2 rooms. Not sure if I bought enough though.

I watched the Federer v. Djokovic match while cleaning all the things, filing paperwork, and decluttering my bedroom. I even dusted everything, and I'm allergic to dust! Then I made chicken vindaloo and started watching Hoarders on Netflix Instant Watch.

Now I'm cleaning all the things again.