How to enjoy International Derek Day, liveblogged

8 am: Roll out of bed

8:30 am: Report to outpatient lab for blood work (per regular doctor) and chest X-ray (per oncologist, it's a once-a-year precaution) at Summa. Had a blood test at onc's office earlier in the week, but phlebotomist opts to make a second hole. As I am being drawn, another patient enters; she's in a wheelchair pushed by her daughter, who is wearing a huge ICP t-shirt and is pierced and inked something awful. My phlebotomist complements the colors of the girl's evil clown tattoos, and rolls up a pant leg to compare her colorful vine tat to the clown.

9 am: Pick up new boxes of contacts.

9:30-11 am: Pump aaahhhrrrrnnn at the gym, followed by a swim and extra time in the whirlpool and sauna. Nice not having to rush! Mostly retirees here at this hour.

11:15: Retail therapy! I pick up the new Jetfire & Jetstorm TF:A figures at Target, tres chic. I also browse the Hobby Lobby, which I've never been to. They have a decent model rocket selection, which gives me some ideas.

12:15: Lunch! Restaurant seems to have the A/C on. Manager says the system is computerized and cannot be over-riden. Boggle.

1:30-3:00 pm: Kenmore Komics! In peace, I pick up some TPBs (Nextwave Vol. 2, Secret Invasion, and Battle Angel Alita Vol. 2) and some comics.

3:30 pm: Home. Read comics. Read comics again!

6 pm: Order Chinese. Tomorrow we're going to Lockview for gourmet grilled cheese for lunch!

A very nice day indeed!

Foundation grind

I have my used copy of the Foundation collection, and I'm slogging through it. I'm a few chapters into Foundation and Empire, and for the most part, the whole series consists of men sitting around discussing inevitable things in the most pompous way they can. Every once in a while there's a nice 'gotcha' moment, but for the most part it feels like work. I have to keep telling myself it's pulp from the 1950s, so the 'futuristic' tech and the generic sci-fi sounding names are part of the show. I hope it gets better.

The good news is that the book also has 'I, Robot' in the back, so I can get rid of the beat-up paperback edition I have been carrying around for eons.