I'm "off"... in a lot of different ways.

In the first, most obvious sense, I'm off work today. I originally put in for just tomorrow and Monday, but since things are slow and I had the time accrued I figured what the hell.

I'm also "off" in the physical sense. For the last couple of days, I've been feeling a bit weird... like a cold wants to start but can't quite get going. Maybe credit the fact that every day I take enough vitamins to bring George Burns back from the dead, or my renewed love of exercise and eating (more or less) healthy. I hope it doesn't get worse, at least, especially since I'm starting this "mini" vacation.

Finally, I'm "off" in the way my great-grandmother used to say people were "touched by God". But if you've read any of my other posts, you probably already guessed that.

So, day off. I haven't done much. I've been slowly packing for the weekend. Getting some laundry done. I went out to the mall briefly around noon so I could hit the bank, drop off a bill in the mail, and grab some lunch. I asked about the new Super-Hero(tm) stamps at the post office - the clerk said they were sold out. I'll try to find them back at home this weekend.

Lunch was at the BK Lounge. I'm convinced the day is quickly approaching when I will be the only person left in this area who's able to speak proper English.

Since I was at the mall, of course I had to pop into EB Games to browse. This used to be my favorite game store in the area - now, not so much. The clerk started talking to me pretty much from the moment I stepped foot inside and would. not. shut. up. Then he shoved a copy of Prey in my hand, so I ended up walking around with it while I looked at other stuff, then put the case back on my way out.

After I got back and did some more laundry, I took the puppy out. Fuck me, it's hot. Probably still not as bad as it is over in CA, but... damn. (As I type this, weather.com says it's 92, with a heat index of 99.)

Just made up a list of stuff I need/want to do this weekend. I'm not sure I'll get it all done. Aside from dog-sitting, I am ostensibly going up to clean a bunch of junk out of my room, since my parents are having both my and my sister's rooms re-painted when they get back from vacation. Let's just say there are quite a few items I've left up there that I'm happy to be able to remove away from prying eyes...

I should say that, despite my bitching, last weekend was not a total loss. I did manage to find the time to head over to one of the two outlets in the greater Lancaster area. I actually worked at Rockvale the summer after I graduated college (waiting for my job in NYC to start in September) and used to consider it to be the better of the two, but now I've flipped - Tanger is where it's at. To wit: last weekend I bought a polo, "summer-weight" chinos, jeans, and a tie at J.Crew, and two ties at Banana Republic. Total for everything: less than $100 (and clothes are tax-free in PA, too). I just might go back this weekend.

Also on the agenda: Clerks II, finally. And Scoop doesn't appear to be playing anywhere close by, so maybe I'll go see Miami Vice. I've also got a Netflix movie to watch, but it's a bit deviant (just like me) so I'm not going to disclose the title.

Now time for some water, and maybe a quick nap before more packing.