10.23.98

    I saw the strangest thing today. I was coming up a sidestreet after depositing the check for the temp work I did (yea!) and there was a firetruck parked next to the curb. Actually, it looked like an ambulance but the wording on the side read "City of Los Angeles Fire Department" so I'm taking their word for it. Next to the truck was a guy in blue pants and a blue shirt, kind of like a uniform, and he was stepping into the fireman's pants and boots. They were those big, heavy, yellow pants with the thick suspenders.

    Keep in mind that this is several blocks from the firestation and there's no appearance of a fire or any other emergency vehicles. I thought it was strange that this guy was getting into fire wear while standing next to his vehicle. It seemed more likely that he'd be getting out of them after a false alarm and then driving back to the station.

    I turn right in front of the vehicle and onto the main street. I stop at a stop light and behind me I hear the wail of sires. It's the firetruck! Two other cops happen to be near the intersection where I am and they turn on their sirens, too. All traffic stops so that this truck can get through the intersection. It turns left at the intersection and towards the firestation. Is that not the weirdest thing?

    It seems to me that either something really fishy was going on or those guys in the truck were just lollygagging around and then used their siren because they didn't want to wait at the intersection. Sometimes I really hate cops. (Yeah, I know, they were firemen—but they acted like cops.)

    I'm back to working at home. This time I'm working for people I trust and that I am happy to do work for. This weekend T. and I will be window shopping for some ergonomic furniture. I really need a proper desk chair and I'd like to try and figure out something for my mouse. It's just not in the right spot for me. Hopefully, next weekend after examining our funds we'll be able to purchase some stuff. Don't tell T. but I'm also shopping for some filing cabinets. I don't know why he doesn't want filing cabinets but right now all of my papers are in milk crates and are hard to get to. I need drawers so that I can keep track of all my new clients and projects.

    The apartment is a mess. I keep thinking that I should clean it up during the day but... I'm working during the day. I just have the unfortunate problem of having to look at it. I'd like to get it all spiffed up tonight and keep it that way so it's not so depressing.

    Across the street is a fairly large and ugly apartment complex. For the past two weeks they've been re-tarring the roof. I just love the smell of burnt rubber in the morning.