One Night in Berkeley

First of two nights in the Bay Area...

Got out of town about the time I would have guessed (1030ish) and made really good time on I-80. Took one break in Colfax to stretch, and stopped in two traffic jams and only for a few seconds each time. Got into the Berkeley Holiday Inn about 1430ish.

We headed over to E/M at 4:30 and gave Uncle Frank a ride. For an older guy and a stroke-survivor, he's pretty damn impressive. We did a quality visit with E/M, but learned Natalie's got an ear infection, so Bev and Nat won't be joining us. Got to watch the A's win and the Cubs lose (*sigh*).

Darn it. There was something I want to write here...but it's gone. Maybe tomorrow.

A quick one

Going to the Bay Area. Got up at 0500ish and rode to Denneys for a veggie omelette. The SF Chronicle reviewer called the Dukes of Hazzard movie, "the worst movie of the 21st Century," and that is was so bad, "it was in an elite class of bad movies." It'll still make back more than enough money, especially in overseas theaters and DVD sales where they "love" Americans.

Got some more packing to do.

I should have been a cowboy

In the morning: Another perfect sunrise (aren't they all) with equally nice temps. Straight down Telegraph, had the $3.21 breakfast, then mosied to work. Nothing energetic.

The way home: the usual trip up Roop, then Stewart. Spouse was working late, so I threw a pen at her window on the second floor, hoping it wouldn't knock down the building on impact. We played on the phone for a few minutes, then I lackidasially sauntered home.

The important task of the day and tonight was what I'm going to say at Grama's memorial on Saturday (8/6/05). After spending a few hours on it, I was pretty much bawling. It's not that it's good; it's the memories that took my knees out. It's medium long, but I'll probably post the final version.

I'm wrung out. Good night.

Today w/Fruit & Yogurt

In the morning: Woke up way too early (<0500) after going to sleep way too late (>0000). All stuffed up and I cannot sleep if I'm all stuffed up. Puttered around the house then left. Pedaled north on Mountain and east on Washington to Smiths, then generally south to work.

Got bananas, fruit cocktail, and yogurt for breakfast. Filling but not satisfying.

After work: Much too wasted for biking. Got a ride and picked up pizzas. Took forever in the August heat. New life rule: if they deliver, let them.

News: Liz's presentation went as well as expected. Trina spent the whole day outside, liberally used sunblock, and still came home looking like a lobster. She's going to Reno with a dude to look at cars. I must learn his name and social security number. [Edit: She must have learned he was in danger because Trina met him someplace else. Again, outside looking in.] Danielle is supposed to get her senior portrait today. We'll see. [E: She did.] I finally broke down and got an IPod Shuffle. It's already half full of tunes (or half empty of available space). [E: It's full now.]

Random Thoughts: None. Very fuzzy right now. Fourteen Marines on patrol were wiped out. How many more will it take before we make the sensible action of leaving? Not a symbolic gesture. Really leaving?

Today's Ride, News & Thoughts

In the morning: Rode up the tiny hill in front of the Governor's Mansion, then east until Roop, then south to Fairview. Weather was clear with a slight chill in the air: absolutely perfect. Tried the saddle bags for the first time. With the gallon of water, the rear of the bike is much harder to lift.

Going home: The weather was nearly perfect. The temperature was below 95, a gift for this time of year, and the headwind was a good challenge. Took the usual route crossing the DoT parking lot to go up Stewart. Deposited a check at WF, then drifted home up Telegraph. Stinking Californian buzzed on through the intersection with everyone else stopped and me in a crosswalk.

Personal Goal: More hill climbing. Need to play with the lower gears.

News: Liz is at a job interview as I write this. Today is her one-year anniversary in the hellhole. Trina got her final ship date of October 17. This is set in stone, for all practical purposes. The butterflies in my stomach are working, again. We're making final plans for the trip to Berekley. Emptied a jug of water at work which doesn't sound like a big deal, but it gave the ol' bladder a work out.

Thoughts: President Bush's recess appointment of John Bolton smacks of political arrogance and will negatively affect his approval ratings, if that's even possible. Rafael Palmeiro was a first- or second ballot HOFer, but his suspension will delay his entry in the HOF, if he gets in at all, no matter how he reacts. I'm actually praying for the shuttle crew and the families of the seven Marines who dies in Iraq today. Thank God all the souls on the Air France flight got off that plane.

Biking is Fun

No, it is not...

Bought this $200+ two-wheeled machine a couple of years ago and like most of the world, it's been accumulating dust. Until this year.

Now I'm riding to work and all over town...and when I'm not riding, the spouse is trying to kick me out of the door to go for a ride because I got ants in my pants.

Even though I travel the same geography, every day is a different ride. Some days I feel I could crack walnuts with my calves; other days, I feel like my nuts ARE cracked.

But damn, it feels good...

I'm as Big and Fat As...

I am The World The World represents the moments when we feel fulfilled and blessed and all that goes into them. It is a very positive sign that you are in a position to realize your heart's desire. What that is for you depends on the situation, but it will always feel great. Remember, though, that Card 21 is a symbol of active contribution and service. To hold the World in our hands, we must give of ourselves to it. That is the source of true happiness.

Seriously, this is quite the laugh. And check what the opposing cards are.

My bill-paying phobia is in full gear this morning. It's fascinating how multi-faceted people are. We can be so brave in so many ways, but we focus on the few chinks in our armor. One of my favorite quotes comes from Mr. Sammy Davis, Jr., who once wrote he was losing the joy of life because he was listening to the drum instead of the entire orchestra.

This provides a little transition. Luther Vandross passed on yesterday from the aftereffects of a stroke, but it was his battle with diabetes and weight that killed him. It irritated me, I thought, because of the potential lost, but I look in the mirror and realized I'm borderline...everything. Reality sucks.

An incredible weekend

This was a good one...which started as a bad one.

Woke up Friday (6/24/05) and my guts were a mess. I was in the bathroom for half an hour cleaning things out (no further description needed) and was so wasted when it was done, I stayed home from work. Spent the day between talking Lara to work, playing on the PC, and continuing my subscription to Unbelieveable Bathroom Odors.

Saturday was better as we went to get our first family portrait in 15 years. Nobody was forced kicking and screaming, and only one family member focused more on herself, forgetting that it was a birthdat present for the spouse. We have eternal pictures of her self-involvement which are going up on the site the second we get them.

Sunday was the spouse BD and we did okay. Eldest was incredibly imaginative, replacing the LPs that were destroyed by meldew. Wow.

And I can't even talk about the most incredible event of the weekend. Suffice it to say I have to find a new mystery of the universe to solve.

Does God Care...

...if a sparrow falls?

There's a carcass of a dead nestling in my "usual" parking spot and it's bothering me more that it should on many levels.

In one sense, it represents lost potential. It will never fly and be free.

In another, it's rotting where I park. As a man, how should I care? Should I care.

Thousands, perhaps millions, of things die everyday. Why is this one little carcass bothering me?

Can I Be Any Stupider?

I was so out of it yesterday...I created a new blog place because I couldn't remember this one. OK, I forgot my name yesterday. I get it. DOH!

Yesterday, All My Troubles....

Yesterday was a total wash, having only gotten about 4 hours of sleep. Barely remember anything from work and class, so I hope I behaved myself. The significant happening of the day was the 19-year-old who tried to rob a local bank with a preported bomb on his back. There was an off-duty police officer in the same line and he ended the crime; it was a Cops moment. There was no bomb and the dude be incarcerted, probably, until he's 40-something. He may even end up in one of my classes.

Liz's alarm didn't go off this morning, so got to sleep in until 6:35. Amazing how a few minutes can make such a difference. Got here by 7, but had no breakfast, no shower, no nuthin'.

Trina is quitting her job because they're (probably) going to promote her to a position she doesn't want. Danielle was sick so we hardly talked, and I didn't see Lara at all yesterday. She'll grow out of this someday. Liz is sore.

Random memory:
Leprosy....all my skin is falling off of me
I'm not half the man I used to be
Since leprosy took hold of me...

Oatmeal

My mind is mush this morning, but the body wants to do 20 laps. A strange by-product of exercise.

Blahs

First weekend in March and the semester blahs are about to hit. The symptoms are clear: no energy to do work, finding little tasks (like blogging) to eat up the time, a general laissez faire attitude.

Blah.

Spent twenty minutes in line at McDonalds because they were all backed up. Drove away without food and got something from Raleys.

Blah.

Ann's son is a cutie.

Every room an adventure...

Quick note: got a taste today of what it'll be like in the house when the daughters move out. The chance to exercise in the living room in peace and quiet was magnificent. I could get used to it.

All Blogs Are Selfish

I want to be a writer. To be a writer, I must write.

A professor in an old creative writing classes I took said potential writers have to keep a log or a notebook. This was BWB (before web blogs) and the thought have carrying that kind of baggage didn't work for me. Today...there's no excuse.

In my eyes, my life is not only incredibly boring, it ain't been much, but it is a life. So I'll use this space to practice my first-person perspective and perhaps some good will come of all this. Perhaps even a little catharsis will happen (look it up).

Random Memory:
I teach computer classes at the prison. Monday night (2/28/05), an inmate not in my class decided he was bored with his skin and took a razor blade to himself. He didn't do any real damage to himself, but the van he was in became useless. The janitor in the HAZMAT suit told the shift supervisor they'd have to replace all the seats.

Edit:
At today's lab, there's a student who is completely lost in this class. He doesn't seem to have the initiative to do the assignments on his own, and he's leaning on his peers and me to do is work. This is occupying my mind...