UnRoutine Me Time

So as per agreement, Lisa and Johnnie and guests were headed to Pasadena this morning which meant that it would be a waste of time to try to go over and hang out with them for breakfast as per Saturday routine. And so last night I accepted that I wouldn't be seeing Johnnie today which would be the first Saturday in a while, since summer anyway when they were in Maui. And that's ok. It simply meant I got time for ME to do all the other "stuff". For a split second there I thought how things might have been different had Johnnie and I been on our way to Disneyworld Florida today as per my original plan. And then again ascribing to the premise that everything is ME pushed out, I think I need to figure out how I myself derailed that with some other-than-conscious thinking on my part. Did I NOT want to make the trip? Hmmm... And then I heard from Lisa first thing anyway while they were on their way to Pasadena. Turned out they left Claire the dog and she was asking if I could look in on her. Well of course she was. And of course I said I would... not like I had anything better to do anyway. What I did was go over to her house right around lunchtime and pick up the dog and took her to my apartment. And while I was over there I helped myself to some leftovers from last night. There was plenty of mac-and-cheese, plenty of Panda Express and no one ate the chicken I don't think. And so I ended up having a pretty good lunch from my own hand. And then off I went home for the rest of the day. I would end up bringing the dog  back around 9:30 PM and by then I figured even if they didn't get back until well past midnight, then at least the dog wouldn't be alone but for just a couple of hours. And as it were they got there about the same time as I did, and I ended up seeing Johnnie anyway, if just for about 5 minutes. That he was awake was somewhat surprising. I  dropped the dog off and gave Johnnie a big hug as I know tomorrow I really wouldn't be seeing him and they were actually planning to spend most of the day with Dexter anyway.  It was all good. I went home and finished my steps and at least got myself to 10,000+ I had padded steps earlier in the week so no need to push real hard and then I kept binging on the Blacklist. And by now I'm up to Season 5... 

I spent the afternoon actually watching the UCLA-USC football game. This year it didn't really feel too meaningful although the 2 programs are clearly on different arcs this year. USC is in total disarray and might end up having its worst season in a while, certainly in more than 20 years. UCLA was having its best season in a while, certainly since the Mora years 7 - 8 years ago. Back then I have clear memories of celebrating UCLA wins while we were in Vancouver over Thanksgiving weekend, and then while having lunch with Jessie and Henry and crew somewhere in LA. Coach Chip Kelly hadn't had a winning season in 4 years. And so you could say it was sweet to see them hang 62 points on USC today at the Coliseum. I can remember going to the game during the Pete Caroll-Matt Leinart-Reggie Bush years when they hung 66 points on a hapless Karl Dorrell led UCLA team. Man I was quiet while everyone in my row was badgering me and I was seething inside. Seething quietly. Well this.is.payback. Came 15 years later but it did come. And it clinched a winning season for the Bruins in 5 years. And if they win their bowl game, they might actually finish with 8 or 9 wins this year. If you would have told me that at the beginning of the season, I would have happily said yes I'd take it. It's gonna be a good day tomorrow. No commiserating with Scott about another UCLA loss, not this time.  And so I might not have gotten as much ME time or the kind of ME time that I thought. But I did get some R&R in and that works just fine with me.