Entries this day: Bicycling Felix Happy_Antiques Swimming deconstructing_harry

Bicycling

12:33pm PST Monday 9 December 2002

Sally and I bicycled around the main big loop of Peter's Canyon. Up and down big hills with 10mph speed limit signs at the top, indicating the max speed one should allow on the way down.

I didn't make it up one of the hills without getting off my bike, but I was able to restart and almost make it all the way up.

Sally saw a fox. I didn't see it.

A bit tired after going around once. I could go around again, but I would be pretty darn tired, plus we haven't eaten yet today.

Felix

11:09am PST Monday 9 December 2002

Ate at Felix's in Orange, California with Sally. Sat outside side by side under a heater thing, facing the traffic circle, the interior of which featured a decorated christmas tree, palm trees, magnolia tree, and tall pine trees.

We laughed a lot.

A woman in a Subaru pulled up, waited around a bit, got some coffee at Diedrich's then left. Sally said that my next car would be a Subaru cause it's so practical and is four wheel drive.

I was like, "actually, I'm going to get a gas/electric hybrid."

Around that time a white truck drove around the circle with its system bumping.

"Sometimes I wanna get a system like that for Scott."

"You can.."

"Naw man, I'm not going to drop a thousand dollars on that.."

"You can at least just get an upgrade for a couple hundred."

Interesting point. "I'll get a system in my hybrid car. Ita be all bumping around the street, jumping from lane to lane cause the bass is so big. I'll get me some twenty fo, no make it thirty six inch speakers. Can you imagine.." I held my hands out at three foot diameter, "speakers this big. Hafta be made out of wood, or metal... piece of glass, or plastic. sumpin like that."

- - - -

One of the waitstaff came up to us and asked in espanol, "did you just win the lottery?"

I didn't understand him and could only pick out lottery and was all, "lottery?"

Sally understood, said no we didn't.

"oh you are just in love..."

:-)

Happy Antiques

9:23pm PST Monday 9 December 2002

virus download complete

We went to Happy Time Antiques Mall, just 90 degrees clockwise around the circle from Felix's and Sally looked for a ring for herself and a pin for her mom. I wandered around the store, found an old brass/copper fire extinguisher like the one I gave to Maggie some years ago.

Chatted with Pat, the owner and told her about my website and about my Japan plan. "I'm not going to get a virus from your website will I?"

"It's just text. You'll be fine."

"I've gotten a virus twice now..."

"You will not get a virus by visiting my website."

- - - -

On our way out, Pat and I were talking about my intended trek to Japan. She was amazing! And by amazing, I mean the only person who has reproved my intended adventure with such zest and gusto as if she had been locked in a Japanese prison for years. Okay, not that bad, but damn..

"Have you spoken with someone who has actually worked for Nova?"

"No - only the recruiters who I've met."

"You've got to talk to someone. Are you going to have enough money to live? to eat? will you have electricity?"

"Either they are completely lying, or I will " she cut me off before I could say "be quite fine."

"I'm not saying they're lying; I'm just telling you what I know."

I thought, you've never been!!, for she had already told us she had not been and had no intention of ever going.

"I can do anything for a year."

"No, you can't."

I was amazed by all the fear she seemed to have of my trusting attitude of just going.

"Have you heard the horror stories?"

I'm thinking, Stephen King? yeah. "ummmm"

"I'll say 'I told you so!'... "

Wow.

I was basically in astonished shock, just laughing my ass off at how nutty her soothsaying seemed, compared to all the other stories I've heard.

"Do you know how much a steak or egg costs in Japan?"

I don't know, but replied, "good thing I don't eat steak."

"But you see my point..."

"I'm quite unlikely to talk to someone [who has worked for Nova] before I go. I hear what you're saying, and I'll be fine."

Sally tried to come to my rescue, saying I was pretty resourceful or something.

"Are your parents wealthy enough to bail you out?"

snort. "no.."

So funny!!

- - - -

Outside, we were like, "oh my god!" and basically making fun of her, just in shock that, just that... man!

Once we had gone another 90 degrees around the circle, I was all, "YOU'VE NEVER BEEN!!!" just releasing all the pressure that built up during that single conversation.

Wild.

So, Pat, I'm likely to go in March. Check back here in April or June and see how I'm doing.

Oh, and just kidding about the virus message above.

Swimming

10:13pm PST Monday 9 December 2002

Went swimming. Started in the hot tub cause the pool would certainly be too freezing.

"Too hot for the hottub! yeow!!"

Once we got too hot for the hot tub, we visited the pool, which felt surprisingly not too hot. Sat on the rope and held on with my toes as Sally tried to shake it to knock me off. Too tight for the tight rope!

Saw a U shaped piece of plant hopefully, that when I pulled it out of the pool, looked a lot like a rat tail. Totally gross, but hey chlorine should keep us safe, right?

Got cold after a while and went back to the hot tub.

After the other people left the hot tub, we made a whirlpool out of it. Fun.

Freestyled a song about "snot's not a loogey," which was quite funny and quite good, if one likes songs about snot and loogeys.

Back up to Sally's apartment, cleaned up, ate, watched Deconstructing Harry.

deconstructing harry

12:26am PST Tuesday 10 December 2002

I've never seen a Woody Allen movie before. I appreciate how he strings scenes together, not hiding that they throw a lot onto the cutting room floor, keeping the best for us.

Some of the scenes were just hilarious - Cookie, his best friend, his son, all going to the honoring ceremony.. then his friend dying without a sound. Therapist bitching him out while she's got a patient on the couch. "You can't scare me like that! I grind my teeth.."