Darren is out of town and it's so funny because I cannot remember the last time I was home alone. He's traveled before but I don't think since Toby's been in college. It's strange, even though he's often asleep when I'm up working or writing or whatever anyway. I hope he's enjoying his trip to Ocotillo and that his students stay in line. In the meantime, I am looking forward to the weekend, mostly because I have zero plans whatsoever. That is a very nice feeling, to have literally no obligations or commitments and all of San Diego to explore should we feel inclined to do so.

I've been continuing to do these diary posts, with links that catch my attention, but obviously TFG is just so outta control it would be unhealthy to even try to summarize what garbage he wreaks upon us multiple times daily...if you want that kinda content, you should be following Heather Cox Richardson or Anne P Mitchell, especially in light of our local channels being sucked up by Nexstar (though illegally, I might add, and I suspect there could be litigation on it as the State has already sued). Nonetheless, you know our local Nexstar stations were already garbage, so maybe find something else anyway. I hope to make it to some NO KINGS events this weekend, but if not, I hope everyone stays super safe out there. Have fun if baseball Opening Day is your jam. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

Kora, a new SeaWorld Walrus (Taken 3.4.26)

I decided I would get a quickie post up instead of continuing to gather news and links. I have to be real, I can't really even watch news right now. We're bombing the shit out of Iran, ICE is still out here running amok, everyone in the Epstein files is still being protected except for the actual victims, and instead of fearing what TFG is gonna do next, we have to worry about the real ones behind the puppetry who are vying to succeed him when they can't weekend-at-Bernie's him any longer. So instead, I do my days at the Zoo and Seaworld, I bought a new couch, so actually working from home is no longer miserable, Darren and I take every chance we can to drive to the mountains or desert for quick daytrips, and last week when he was sent on a work job in Ocotillo Wells, I joined the group for a night of camping, then a trip out to The Living Desert when they all had to go back to their project. So yeah, things can be good and amazing and then all around terrible at the same time, so I'm just trying to focus on the good and keep my head above water. I hope you can do the same. 

Stay safe out there. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. 

I mentioned that I had a pretty great week last week. After seeing Dan Mangan and Israel Nebeker (Blind Pilot) at Soda Bar on Sunday, I couldn't get their songs out of my head, which gave me the perfect excuse to go to LA. When it was raining on Wednesday morning, I thought it a great sign to drive up to spend the day at the LA Zoo, figuring the rain would drive down crowds. I was correct in my assessment and had an amazing day with the orangutans and chimps, and a little bit of time with the gorillas, too, but they spend most of their time along the rear wall of their habitat, so I didn't stay long. After the zoo closed, I freshened up and changed and made my way to Moroccan Lounge for the show, which was extra magical and my first time at that venue. You can read all the rest, after the jump.