(1) Am apparently a natural at the shooting range and could already basically "qualify" to be a cop. We even did SWAT drills. Aside from swearing in fear during the first few shots, pretty badass.

(2) New discoveries in the 'hood. First, the street signs a block away are in English and Chinese. This means... a chinese grocery store. Not yuppie version using 'import' parlance, but a down and dirty sirachi source, priced like my Chinese friends would actually shop there. They put my assortment of stuff in a box instead of a bag. Rice paper rolls and sushi supplies suggest the magic ahead.

I finally visited the Italian deli down the street and discovered the famous sandwiches which lived up to the hype and I will now eat once a week. The guy at the till said, in an Italian accent, "heyyyy, you're looking good!"

T. opened my door to pick me up and immediately said "Hey, way to move to the hood!"

(3) It's been about two years since a legit cold-call date. The kind where you get food and don't really know each other yet. I don't know how it went. He was intelligent and funny enough that if he calls we'll do it again. Hanging out with someone else was really good to try to start figuring things out...regardless.

Small world. T. lived in the same dorm as my highschool ex. My ex ended up being an RA. Apparently the ex did things like try to petition to keep T. and his friends from socializing at the dorm after they moved out. And they all think he's a jerk. I have yet to meet anyone in this city who doesn't feel the same way.