11 23 pm pdt   [ the usual ]

I am a big fan of the usual. I like knowing what I like and where to get. I do not feel that it is boring to structure one's life around habit, as long as one is not so rigid as to be unwilling to change when change is needed. Change is constant; try bills. I read that on a tip jar in a coffe house once and fell in love with it. I appropriated it for my digital tip jar.

"The usual time?" she asked.

"Yes. I feel so special to have a usual time."

We both beamed for a minute. I see Alexandra about once a week now. The day varies but the time doesn't. We discuss relationships and computers. We go for Japanese or we go to Chin Chin where we sit outside and are served by Ben. We always order the same thing (partly because Chin Chin is only worth going to for the Chinese chicken salad).

I see Charles at least once a week. I think we've varied from Japanese once, when we went to The Cheesecake Factory. He lets the chef create sushi masterpieces for him while I stick to miso soup, edamame [more salt, please], vegetable tempura, and sake. Japanese is the usual for use, but our evenings are always varied by the adventures we encounter.

My mom and I have a dinner date set for Monday nights. Sometimes we change it to suit our schedules. My dad, surely jealous, has now suggested that we have a Wednesday night dinner date. I know he won't be able to keep the dates more than half the time, but I have accepted. My dad is very much a creature of habit and our usual restaurants will number in the single digits.