Sometimes things go as you planned, other times, oh well.

I went to the Gardens today. I did not, mind you, go in. Because after 15 minutes of circling, I could not find a parking space in the Gardens' lot, the public spaces along the street, the Rose Garden lot, or the parallel parking spaces along the road down past the playground (yes, I considered them!). Unless you count the spots it is legal but pointless to park (at least, it appears legal) because you would have to hike up the roadway itself to get to anything (no sidewalk, hardly any shoulder to speak of). I should have left sooner: the sheer number of people circling the park should have clued me in, and I know I don't care for the Gardens when crowded, but this was my last chance for almost three weeks (I'm on call the next two weeks/weekends, and it simply isn't possible to get to the Gardens after work and before they close once they switch to winter hours at the end of September).

It's just a pity that the last day I could make it, when I decided to head over in the afternoon, was clear and beautiful and unseasonably warm. Well, a pity for me - I'm sure everyone who found a parking space was doubly pleased!

Fortunately, the "and do the shopping on the way home" part of the plan did work well. Wild Oats (used to be Nature's for those who know the area) is not easy to find parking at either, ever, now that they moved, but I got lucky today and while I only saw one space open that wasn't handicapped or 15-minute, the one space was close to the front and I got it. (It could jolly well have been at the very back and I'd still have been pleased, mind, but this was even better.) I am not normally fond of the location of this store (to put it mildly), but I was curious to see if they had anything interesting. Actually, it looks like their selection of what interests me is worse since they moved (though if the fat-free cheese I picked up is any good, they'll have my business, as nowhere else has this type and everything so far tried has been vile). Interestingly, there is a Whole Foods going in across the street now. Bet they love that.

Processing some more photos (mine, recent-ish, this time) to post. Including last weekend's photos from the Gardens. At least I made it over then!

Zoo photos

Photos from the trip to the zoo last weekend are up at Flickr. I stopped there because it's late and I need sleep, but I did get a bunch of other photos processed, I just need to upload them. Hopefully tomorrow. For now, g'night!