end of an era

so ever since i started group therapy a year ago, i've been having sushi in a cheap little family place across the street beforehand. i've become enough of a regular that they just ask, "the usual?" when i come in. it's a fun place to sit -- the owners' kids are usually running around asking the customers questions. the youngest daughter, who's around five, likes to pass out menus, and she'll come over and solemnly hand you one and stare at you with these huge dark eyes.

today i went in just for soup (can't afford sushi), and after i was done eating the wife came over and said, "i'm so sorry, starting next week we'll be closed Mondays." oh no! she said she hoped i'd come in some other days, and asked if i live in the neighborhood. i told her i have an appointment across the street on Mondays, so i've been coming in before that, but promised to make the trip to come by sometimes on other nights.

then she showed me the sign she was writing in magic marker and asked if i could understand it. she wasn't sure her English was clear enough. it said, "STARING NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE CLOSED MONDAYS". <sic>

i told her it was perfect. hey, i understood it.

also

it's 10 p.m. on a January evening.

i have my windows open and the fans running.

it's warm out there.

that's just not right.

what i learned today

ok, it's not exactly earth-shattering, but today i learned that when you take a rubber band out of a cat's mouth, it's really, really gross.