California Pride

copyright Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times

It is so wonderful to see joyous faces in the newspaper. Hooray for justice and equality.

Science!

Today Bill & I visited NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratories at Cal Tech, which are, incidentally, not at Cal Tech.

It looked a lot like the set of Real Genius, but I didn't see Val Kilmer. When we toured various labs and saw things that were more or less like lazers, I kept thinking, gosh, how come all scientific equipment looks just exactly the same as it did in 80's movies. Suffice it to say, some of the exhibits were a bit beyond my Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry comprehension level.

However, we did get a fair amount of free stuff-- namely stickers, bookmarks and even a notebook!

Also, I will note that NASA sprung for the deluxe port-a-potties. Literally, the word "Royale" was emblazoned on the side. I mean, the port-a-potties were larger than high school classroom trailers that fill the playgrounds of the LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District, for my non-resident readers). Let it be known that I would prefer my tax dollars go to classrooms, not deluxe lavatories.

Finally, the labs are located in the city of La Cañada Flintridge, a lovely part of Los Angeles I had never visited before and indeed, assumed to be La Canada as many listings omit the tilde. So I'm glad I visited, saw the "Welcome to La Cañada Flintridge: Home of the Nasa Jet Propulsion Laboratory" signs, noted the en-yay (!), and remembered to look up the correct pronunciation (la can-yadda) upon my return home.

Officially a Los Angeleno (a?)

Today I saw Morrissey in a bar and kept my cool.

While I did take a gratuitous bathroom trip to investigate this sighting and, let's say, let my eyes linger, I did not scream, squeal, or express in any way my excitement in a way that would have been apparent to the Moz. Fortunately, my friends & I were on the patio and the Pope of Mope was seated inside (shockingly, with his back to the mirrored wall) so I could manage a little squealing here and there.

Spotted today

Very old (80+ for sure) man carrying a reusable grocery bag with a bumper sticker: Impeachment is Patriotic.

I love old liberals.

Hi, World.

Dear Blog,

I'm sorry that I have been so neglectful of you over the past year or even two. Part of the problem is that my life just isn't terribly eventful. I can't even think of the last time I saw a stranger jerking off, attempted a bagel-making project, or outed my roommate as a total freak!

Ah, but the truth is, my boyfriend still eats stuff for breakfast that is so predictable it's hilarious.

And, I still make exciting stuff to feast upon. Just yesterday I put yogurt into my macaroni and cheese! This is all part of my total infatuation with European or Greek-style non-fat, plain yogurt. It makes literally everything more delicious.

So, blog, I vow to try again. And try harder. And be totally awesome in every way. Especially since unemployment looms in my future. Thanks for that, President Bush and your war-mongering. That's right, folks, I may soon be a victim of the not-quite-recession. Fortunately, we have my boyfriend's graduate student income to sustain us.

And here we go, looking forward to a future of awesomeness.

Warmest regards,

Ruth

Happy May Day

Just received this email from my boss and felt the slightest pang of sadness that my work situation will soon change:

"Pause for a moment to consider the irony of your boss wishing you a happy May Day, which, of course, I do.

Now, get back to work!

The Management

"