1 a.m.

Just went to the Shell station (Calle Real-Turnpike) to buy a small spliff of tobacco ($0.75). Walked by the freeway entrance; saw some guy smoking a cigarette; asked if I could bum one; I offered him two “Forever” stamps in return. (He probably would have given me a cigarette me for free, but I felt sorry for him.)

Apparently, he had just been released from County Jail, at 1 a.m., after having served two months for an armed robbery at the CVS downtown.

The funny thing is, even though he was missing teeth and mentioned having “jacked” one of his “friend’s stuff,” he actually seemed fairly nice.

I don’t know what is scarier — that the cops release armed robbers at 1 a.m. and let them sit on the freeway, or that the guy seemed so nonchalant about having committed an armed robbery and was just anxious to get back home.

Ummm … yeah … don’t pick up hitchhikers any more … we are not in the hippie days …