Sharing at Thanksgiving 2006

I just made another loan to someone in the developing world using the great Kiva website. This time I'm helping Boris Jordanov in Bulgaria with getting some equipment for his grocery store.

You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks.  Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the business is going.

The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly. This is my third loan of $25 and I plan to re-lend to other businesses as these three finish their repayments. It's so easy to blow $25 on something stupid that it really feels great to instead put that money toward making a real difference.

Boris still needs another $1700 to complete his loan request of $2000.00.  You can help him out too or just visit Kiva.org to find another business you'd like to give a little assistance.

It's really cool to actually do something about poverty - using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they're using it for - and that the money really goes to helping that small businessperson.  And most of all, I know that I'm helping them build a sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate their family long after my loan is paid back. Plus it's just great to build those connections. I am a lender to people in Uganda, Honduras and Bulgaria now. This totally beats collecting stamps!

Join me in changing the world - one loan at a time - and spreading some of your Thanksgiving blessings across the planet.

Thanks, Mum! 2005

As my uncle just said in his nightly email:

A very happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there, especially mine.

I had a lovely conversation with his mother, my grandma Susie, on the phone today, and, thanks to the magic of instant messaging, just now wished my mum (who is a night owl like me) a happy mother's day.

Her response? "Thank you! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't qualify..."

Hee hee.

New year coming 2004

Today feels like limbo. I feel unfinished and unstarted.

It's never been one of my favorite holidays, New Year's Eve. So often such an air of desperation in the celebration. And the bars crowded with the once-a-year-clubbers who know neither how to order nor to hold their liquor.

Better to have quieter gatherings of friends. Or just stay home and watch a movie.

New Year's Day now, that's a different matter. Hope it's fine enough for a walk sometime tomorrow. That's always a good way to start the year.

Hallelujah 2004

So here we are at the end of another December. This is a mixed time of year for me. The happiness of time with my family and friends, the warmth of the holidays, time off from work. But also the anniversary of my grandfather's death and the season of difficult contemplations and conversations where it became apparent that relationships were going to end or that a crush was just that and not mutual attraction.

The week between the Christmas holiday and returning to work at the start of the new year is a time of clarity, often uncomfortable, like the weather growing colder and colder but the air getting clearer and the light bright.

With that insight, I do think about my path for the year ahead. I don't always form "New Year's Resolutions", but I do have revelations and wishes.

Always at the top of the list is something about being with someone whose companionship brings out the best in me. There is a line in Michael Frayn's play Copenhagen which resonates very strongly with me (and it's probably good for me to be reminded of the responding line as well):

Bohr I was formed by nature to be a mathematically curious entity: not one but half of two.

Heisenberg Mathematics becomes very odd when you apply it to people. One plus one can add up to so many different sums . . .

Some years it's a commitment to working harder at a relationship or to ending one that is wrong for us both. Many years it has been an effort to throw cold water on a one-sided passion. I have more than once been so in love with the idea of being in love with someone that it took a while for the lack of interest on his part to get through to me.

The hardest part for me is always patience and not putting pressure on someone for whom I begin to feel something real. Oh yes, and patience when there is no sign of someone who belongs with me as I belong with him; patience in the face of the fear of always being alone. There's a nightmare to keep you crying under the covers: the empty side of the bed from now on. The spot that just can't be filled by some warm body with a nice smile.

And why am I such a simultaneous pessamist ("I must cling to this potential as tight as I can") and optimist ("We'd be perfect together!")?

Because the best relationship I ever had began with immediate, simultaneous recognition of our belonging together. Two months after we first laid eyes on each other, we knew so strongly that we were meant to be that we moved in together. And stayed together for about eight years. We're still friends, thank goodness. We may have grown into no longer being a perfect match for each other, but there's too much in common not to remain pals. A good outcome, but unfortunately along with that I am left without an example of my own slow, prudent patience resulting in a good, long-term relationship. I do have excellent judgement in people, in who to get involved with. My instincts are exceptionally solid and so my prudence has come from picking up the clues of someone's nature and knowing my own, but going slowly, being patient is always hard for me.

So there is resolution one:
Be patient. Stop pushing. Let it come or not come as it is meant to.

And the rest of my life? Family, work, health, money? It's all great. I did a very good job in 2004 and things are wonderful. So all I could really plan is to continue:

Keep up the good communications with my family, especially taking time to be with Grandma Susie. Visit the Sanders side up north this year.

Keep up the excellent performance at work and the balance that lets me achieve without great stress. Take a little more preparation time for things coming on the horizon, especially presentations.

Keep up the good work with my eating habits. I weigh 13 pounds less now than in July when I started the Hacker's Diet. Maybe I can weigh another 13 pounds less by this coming July. In any case, don't gain it back and get more exercise. It helps my mood as well as my body.

Keep saving money and spending wisely. Use the cushion my new part-time roommate will provide to push my savings even higher as well as to buy some new clothes that will work with my existing wardrobe to help me get the most out of my investments over the last few years.

Keep enjoying my home and the pleasure it brings me.

Keep practicing discardia and shedding stuff I don't need.

Keep finding the joy.

Sweet silly fun 2004

Thanks to a surprise present from my dear friend Heather, I got to attend the Dance-Along Nutcracker this afternoon. It was a blast. I had a great time and got the best workout I've had in weeks.

It is also a testimony to my shopping over the past few years that even though I wasn't dressed yet when she invited me and I needed to get ready and get all the way downtown to meet her at the SF MOMA Cafe in just over an hour, I was able to attend in fully outrageous costume, properly tutu'd and tiara'd.

To my amusement, this was the second show this week which requested the audience to shout "Yes!" at the top of their lungs. Seems like a good way to round out the year.

Alternate Intoxications 2004

That last post rather made it sound like I was considering drinking two fingers of a big square bottle of whisky alone in my hotel room. Allow me to clarify: I do not consume whisky in large quantities. That's why I drink the really good stuff. I'll always go for quality over quantity. Further, I prefer to do my drinking in social circumstances. When I drink single-malt at home, it's usually about a tablespoon size shot sipped at over several hours - what a light-weight, eh? I prefer to think of it as getting more bang for the buck.

Today I enjoyed some of my mood-altering "drugs" of choice: sleeping in, watching the Pacific Ocean great the beach, soaking in a hot tub, good food, hot cocoa, napping and madly delicious flirtation.

Followed, of course, by some geekery as I catch up with email and chat with pals. Hope you had a good weekend. Mine was great!

My Glamorous Life... 2004

By the time I finish writing this post it will be the glorious 4th and how am I celebrating? By getting a jacuzzi size bathtub to soothe my tired muscles. The universe has made an entertaining counter-offer, which I declined. Here in my hotel room is a bottle of Maker's Mark whisky, still about two fingers full, which was confiscated from the dressing room of a certain long-established band who performed at the festival where I worked today. The already consumed portion helps explain a pathetic and pedantic scene which took place between that band and another, newer, slicker band. Misunderstandings and far from classy behavior all around. I poured myself a little to try it - poured, believe me, there are only certain bands I want to share lipspace with antiseptic properties of whisky notwithstanding - but I could only drink a couple sips before giving up in disgust. G ood single malt has spoiled my tongue for lesser tastes. No loss.

Perhaps I always feel like this on the middle night of an event, but I am glad that I don't work in the event biz all the time. Here's to low drama! (I'll raise a glass next time there's something worth drinking in it).

Happy Halloween! 2003

Thanks to my dear fiend Beverly, who did my makeup and hair, I was able to go as Nina Hagen, the fairy godmother of punk, this Halloween:

It turns out I'm not the only one who thinks red, black & white is a great color scheme. Pimp Daddy Paul Marinko was wowing the ladies (and taking his cut). At the insistence of many (not that they had to try too hard), we posed together:



Thanks to Kristin and Craig for photographic assistance.

Why are you hanging on to that junk? 2003

Happy Discardia!

I've written a new, longer piece, on Getting Rid of Stuff, which I'd love to hear your reactions to. I was holding off on posting it, not 100% happy with how it came out, and then I heard Lance's voice in my head:

Just write.

The Quiet Day 2003

I think Labor Day weekend wasn't quite enough for everyone to get their batteries charged for fall. Half my department is out on vacation or sick today. Those of us who are here are kind of bobbing along through the day chipping away at large projects we've been putting off or getting on top of some of the stuff that piles up (email, desk chaos, etc.).

I took a little break to read the latest posts from my friend Mike in his account of teaching English in Japan. The one before last - the long one that tells about the different classes he teaches - is fascinating. I miss him but I'm really glad he's getting to have this adventure.

(Note to self: remember to send him some new music)

A home of its own 2003

It's been my intent pretty much all along, but in true Discardian spirit, I let go of any feelings of obligation regarding making a proper website explaining and celebrating Discardia, the holiday I invented.

Tonight I felt inspired.

Discardia 2003

I neglected to mention that the Summer Solstice began the season of Discardia which will end with the new moon on the 29th.

Chris and I had been talking about doing a yard sale or a trip to the flea market, but we live on a very steep hill without enough foot traffic to make a yard sale successful and it seems that you're supposed to show up at the flea market at 5a.m. so that's right out. We'd have to make a lot of money to make all that hassle worthwhile, so we'll try a less painful approach: the virtual yard sale.

If you're interested in any of the following items, just comment or email yardsale at this domain and make an offer. Please note that "I'll come pick it up" is a perfectly valid offer. (FYI, our place is in the Castro district in San Francisco).

- queen-size futon with simple wood frame & two pieces which act as side tables when in couch mode

- folding screen, black lattice & white fabric "rice paper", three ~17"x66" panels

- pressboard 2-drawer unit, 16" cube

- classic fold-up card table, 30" square, been in use in my family for decades, needs a good home

- blue leather Palm pilot case (suitable for Palm I-III, possibly I-V)

- 60's look checkerboard pattern knit mini-dress with red stripe, needs light repair, size m, very Speed Racer in aesthetic, could also pass for 1930's geometric

- round stone table fountain with pump

- Jensen JMP-33 computer speakers

- small, extremely solid safe

- Honeywell air purifier

- wooden folding tv-tray-style table

- metal "No Dumping Allowed" sign

- comics: Paul the Samurai #1-3, Paul the Samurai:Tick Spinoff #2-4 & 7, Enigma #1-4, Marvels Book 1 (Flash), Superman the Man of Steel Feb 94 #30 Colorforms issue with Lobo.

- SF Examiner article from Sept 23 1979 about Dungeons & Dragons "Joys, dangers of game where one's imagination is the limit"

- music memorbilia bag (cassette Green Jello "Three Little Pigs" pre-cease & desist order, button "I'm too sexy" from Right Said Fred tour, Bruce Cockburn Big Circumstance tour button, repro of Rolling Stone magazine #1, "I love the Bay City Rollers" patch)

- movie & tv memorabilia bag (Cool World Holli Would button, Naked Lunch button, 3 Batman logo from first Burton film buttons, Spike & Mike Twisted Toons barf bag unused I should note, Misery bookmarks & 2 buttons, Cool World promo postcard, "The Tucker Times" printed promo page for the movie "Tucker" with Jeff Bridges, People magazine Sept 25 1989 issue about Saturday Night Live, Entertainment Weekly #3 issue on Hunt for Red October with a little coming soon ad from NBC with this blurb near the bottom "The Seinfeld Chronicles: A different look at the life and misadventures of the single man, from hip new stand-up comic Jerry Seinfeld.")

- collectible trading cards bag (unopened Jyhad starter deck from original version, 4 unopened booster packs ditto, promo material for re-release of game as "Vampire: The Eternal Struggle", complete set of Jyhad cards mint in binder, 1995 Magic: the Gathering binder, Tomart's Photo Checklist & Price Guide to Collectible Card Games vol. 1 first printing 1995, The Duelist magazine #6 featuring art of Rob Alexander, The Duelist magazine #5 featuring art of Liz Danforth, The Duelist magazine #7 featuring art of Mark Tedin, The Duelist #4 featuring the art of Melissa Benson, 1995 Other Worlds: Michael Whelan II collector cards binder w/ promo sheet & 3 cards 14 21 & 41, 1995 David Cherry collectible cards set [complete, I think, but the cards are sleeved out of order & I feel lazy at the moment], 1994 MTG poster illustrating many cards and 1994 Jyhad poster plus bonus gift of Chris Baccalo poster of Death from Sandman, box from 1995 MTG 2 deck starter kit in very good condition, Mark Poole deck box with juggling sorceress, assortment of 1994 Star Trek: The Next Generation cards including Wesley Crusher, 1991 3M Olympic Innovator's Collection Olga Korbut card)

- politics & news memorabilia bag (Spy magazine Oct 1997 with Bill Clinton on cover as superhero - bagged in very good condition with Clinton/Gore 92 bumper sticker, front section of SF Chronicle May 25 1987 "The Great Party" 50th birthday of the Golden Gate Bridge, "No on 65 Stop LaRouche" button, front section of San Jose Mercury News Feb 8 1990 "Communists give up monopoly" "Bush backs arms control, SDI" "Top official [Gassee] on way out at Apple", used "Fight the Right" phone card with picture of Newt Gingrich on it, Garbage magazine Premier Issue, lots of 1989 Quake related newspaper sections including SJ Merc Oct 23 "The Long Road Back", SJ Merc Oct 22 "We will never forget" 16 page memorial, SJ Merc Oct 23 front "Thank God, I'm alive" Buck Helm story, SJ Merc Oct 19 3 sections including front section with "Cold fusion heats up", SF Chron Oct 18 8 page issue "EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA HUNDREDS DEAD IN HUGE QUAKE", Contra Costa Times Oct 18 " Earthquake: Over 200 die; bridge, I-880 collapse", SJ Merc Oct 18 "MASSIVE QUAKE 76 die in seconds of horror". SF Examiner Oct 18 "EARTHQUAKE EXTRA 7.0 quake stuns Bay", SJ Merc Oct 21 front section, SJ Merc Nov 10 story about Bookshop Santa Cruz, and the best thing of all, Kevin Cowherd's column from the morning of Oct. 17th about the World Series game which reads "Actually, I have no idea who is going to win the Series, because these are two teams from California and God only knows if they'll even get all the games in. An earthquake could rip through the Bay Area before they sing the national anthem for Game 3.")

Happy Moon's Night! 2003

Tonight is the shortest night with a full moon of the year. Enjoy!

Celebrate Mutation 2003

Today is International Day for Biological Diversity. May I suggest rounding out the evening by going to see X2?

Go muties!

Happy Discardia! 2003

Hooray! Discardia is upon us once more! Time to get rid of things you don't need, shed bad habits, let go of emotional baggage and generally lighten your load. You'll have lots of time as this Vernal Discardia runs through April 1st (a nice conjunction with St. Stupid's Day this time around).

Though my big celebration was actually last week when I abdicated pretty much all responsibility to do anything at all (and I must say that sitting around watching clouds go by is a very nice way to spend a day), I will continue to enjoy releasing myself from mental and physical clutter during the next week and a half.

Ain't this the life? 2003

Ah, Sunday night when you don't have to go to work for a week is fine time. I'm listening to rowdy music and drinking some high octane dessert wine. Now for a little chocolate to complete the picture...

A new holiday: Discardia 2002

I've decided to invent a new holiday called Discardia. It takes place in the time between the Solstices & Equinoxes and their following new moons. Discardia is celebrated by getting rid of stuff and ideas and habits you no longer need. On the Discardian new moon you don't buy anything or bring anything into your home and enjoy the fact that you have enough. We have a nice long Winter Discardia currently, lasting until the new moon on January 2nd.

The other celebrations of Discardia this coming year are:

Vernal Discardia: March 20th - April 1st (a double celebration of the Vernal Discardian new moon and St. Stupid's Day)

Summer Discardia: June 21st - June 29th

Autumnal Discardia: September 23rd - September 25th

Winter Discardia: December 22nd - December 23rd

[thanks to Google for leading me to Theresa who has the dates I needed in her calendars. She looks like she has a lot of saucy fun making those! Check her out, boys!]

Dinah's Adventure in the Midwest 2002

Well, I finally visited the heartland. I just spent a week in Minneapolis, Minnesota with my boyfriend Chris and his family.

It wasn't as alarming a trip as I expected. For one thing, the weather was not uniformly awful. Several days were ideal - soft breezes, comfortable temperatures, scattered clouds over the lovely big green trees. For another, Minneapolis has freaks. I was very concerned about being away from freaks like me for a whole week, but fortunately I found the city populated by a diverse crowd which did include people in odd clothes, with strange haircolors, practicing unusual beliefs, and expressing alternative viewpoints. I was afraid it would be wall-to-wall white, middle-aged, conservative, Republican Lutherans wearing Eddie Bauer clothing and towing along their 7 children. To forestall any concerns on this point, Chris wisely took me straight from the airport to Pizza Luce where we had some rockin' pizza served to us by black-clad, tattooed, pierced punks. *whew* What a relief. He knows how to make a grrrl feel at ease.

His folks were nice. Easy-going, pleasant people, fond of reading and of good food. We stayed most of the time at his dad's place which has a guest room and only one cat - Simon the skittish kitty - instead of the two black silky devils living over at his mom's. Those cats, Miles and Basie, are absolute beauties, but shed like you wouldn't believe. Simon was much easier on my allergies and has the biggest, oddest-colored eyes I've ever seen in a cat. Turquoise. So eerie. He'd be quite alarming if he wasn't so jumpy as to make you laugh at him.

I had arrived in the evening and was slightly rubbery after my flight, so we ate our pizza, went to Chris's dad's house and had a brief introduction before retiring to bed. In the morning we had brunch and got better acquainted. I got to see the hawks and their fledglings in the backyard and to admire the delightful greenness which is so refreshing coming from brown California summer.

After brunch we went over to Chris's mom's house and she and I hit it off right away as I knew we would. She's a complete sweetheart. We also met his sister Leah, who reminds me in some ways - goofy sense of humor, beauty, physical grace and presence - of my sister Jennifer (well, step-sister, technically, but we keep getting closer over the years, so why get technical?). Leah's fiance Geoff was there and he's a good guy. You get the sense he's just very aware of what's going on around him; he's relaxed, but very present. Plus he can tie bows better than I can - we admired some of the wedding favors which he had assembled.

We all sat around the dining table and worked on finishing off the hand-made, boxed truffles for the wedding reception. Doing a project together was a nice was to get to know each other and I was happy to be able to contribute to the huge amount of work needed for the big wedding. The truffles had been quite the chore due to the high temperatures and Chris's mom's broken air conditioner, but we got them all done and they were a big hit at the reception, so worth the effort.

We had a little getaway together to the air-conditioned mall and to my pleasure the family gathering gravitated immediately towards the bookstore. My kinda folks. Chris went slightly mad with booklust and ended up over the course of our stay getting 12 new books. His bags were quite heavy on the way back even with me carrying his database book and the big fat Japanese novel Musashi which I stole from him and read all week.

Let's see, that was Sunday. I don't remember what happened in the evening. Dinner back at his dad's place, I think, and his wife Ruta made some gorgeous looking pork chops which I didn't eat because I don't like pork, but which were worthy of a gourmet magazine spread. I had delicious green beans, biscuits and salad and was well content. Then there was probably reading all around.

Sometime during the week we had lunch with a herd of old co-workers of Chris's, again at Pizza Luce (which is so good I'm really glad we went twice in one week). They're a bunch of tech geeks and I felt quite at ease with them given all my other engineer pals back here at home. After lunch we went to Sonny's ice cream parlor and had some sublime ice cream. Mmmm.

Chris and I walked around Uptown looking in shops and relaxing. We bumped into his pal Brian and sat with him while he had lunch. The conversation was good & silly, full of many jokes and I was really happy we had the good fortune to run into him. We went to Penzey's Spices after lunch and I bought lots of good stuff. That place is heaven. The quality is amazing.

Things are kind of blurry what with jet lag and having just completed the first day of my new job, but I remember some nice walks around campus and Dinkytown (yes, Dinkytown; no, I couldn't stop laughing about it either). I found a pair of red Chuck Taylor hightops for $11 - score! Chris wore his new utilikilt and made me weak in the knees with his style and sexiness. We went to a great eclectic evening of cabaret, dance & comedy at Bryant Lake Bowl and I particularly enjoyed the performances of dancer Miriam Colvin and comedian Jill Bernard. Watch for them both; they're very good. Bryant Lake Bowl is one of the hippest spots anywhere and should be at the top of your list of Minneapolis attractions.

I know I'm forgetting other fun things that happened, but it's been a busy couple weeks and I'll never get this entry posted if I don't wind it up. Suffice to say, Minneapolis is a decent place to visit, especially with a good guide like Chris, the wedding was very pretty and the reception was big fun, and I appear to have received the stamp of approval from Chris's friends and family. A very worthwhile trip indeed.

Fun, Fun & Some Exhaustion 2002

What a busy week it's been! I've barely been home at all.

At the moment, I'm exhausted from spending the last two days running the operations office at the San Jose Concert for the Homeless and America Festival. I do this every year and have a good time, but it's a long couple days, usually about 13 hours on the 3rd and 17 hours on the glorious 4th. The concert was good - local boys Smash Mouth again - and the fireworks and accompanying soundtrack selected by my friend (& festival organizer) Fil were the best yet. I saw fireworks that were totally new to me and had a great time.

Even though I'm firmly against blurring the line between church and state, I confess I got choked up watching Eagle Scout Andy Mellors holding the flag while 100,000 people sang God Bless America. This is a good country full of basically good people and the folks of San Jose did themselves proud. To my knowledge - and I was running the operations office so I oughta know - there wasn't a single incident. If you're running an event, you can't do better than FilCo to handle your logistics. They run safe, fun festivals and that's all there is to it. I think their next ones will be Music in the Park (Eek-A-Mouse is up first) and the San Jose Jazz Festival. I encourage you to visit their events and, if you're in the south bay, volunteer with them to work booths. You get t-shirts, have a fun time and sometimes can earn tips.

As with Ian McKellen at Gay Pride, once again, if anyone sees any good pictures from the festival online, do send me a link.

***

What else? Let's see...
I had my second interview with [the company which because of my googlability I will henceforth refer to as Yi] for their Web OPAC Product Manager position. I really like the company, what I know so far of the product, and the folks I've met, so I'm very hopeful. I got the impression that I am a top candidate for the job. Now I just have to wait until next week for an answer. *sigh* I hate waiting.

Chris and I went to Muir Woods and had a pleasant walk on Monday. It made me want to visit Edgewood, where my parents live and sit under trees for hours just breathing.

Tuesday night we went to see Neil Gaiman read his new book Coraline aloud. He read the whole thing and it was absolutely magnificent. Loved the book, loved his reading style. It was just great to sit with hundreds of other people quietly being read to - good to know there are lots of folks who like that. As a compulsive lectrice, I'm relieved to know people aren't just being polite in letting me read to them. Gaiman is a fantastic reader and I recommend you rush right out and get the unabridged audiobook of Coraline.

And now, now I'm home and kind of pudding-like in brain and body. Good thing I have nothing more I need to accomplish today.

Adventure 2002

Had fun. Had adventures. Didn't find Edmond. Got detoured to Nevada due to wildfire. Drove far more than intended. Still had a great time and not just because I spent the weekend with my sweetheart - though that sure was a mighty excellent part of it all.

Off to Adventure! 2002

Chris and I are heading out late this afternoon on a wild Edmond hunt. In theory, Monsieur Meinfelder has or will be reaching Tuolumne Meadows at Yosemite sometime between yesterday and tomorrow. In theory. I actually have no concrete info on his whereabouts since Bill & Anne saw him happily trekking off with his new shoes and hiking poles from their get-together at Charlotte Lake last Saturday.

We have his next resupply, plus some requested items such as a fresh sleeping pad and replacement stuff sacks. I've emailed him to say we'll be at Oakhurst Lodge tonight and we hope to find him waiting there. If not, we'll take his supplies to where I would have mailed them otherwise and we'll poke around by the trailhead looking for PCT hikers. After connecting with him, we have no particular plan, so may end up hauling packs up the valley to allow some hikers to slackpack for a day. Or we may just set out in some unknown, non-eastward direction to find an interesting place to stay Saturday night. Or we may enjoy the valley for the day and then drive back home. Options are good.

I'm torn by two opposing hopes today. My sister Jennifer is trying to get a stand-by flight to meet up with her husband, airline pilot Andy, for some World Cup fun. So, I hope she gets her flight, but if she doesn't she'll meet up with me and get to hang out in my cute little apartment for the weekend. Again, options are good.

Let's see... what other news? I have an exciting job interview scheduled for Monday about which I am hopeful. Things with Chris are beyond excellent and I am deeply happy. My family is well and I dreamt of them this morning - something about cute little baby jumping chameleons in Uncle Larry's room. I still have lots of things to do on my list, among them work on this site, but it's slow going. Despite being out of work, I'm very busy with looking for work and supplying Edmond.

Today before we leave I need to mail the resupply box for the stop after the stop after Tuolumne Meadows, tidy up the place so it's nice when I get back (& in case Jennifer stays here), pay bills & enter receipts in Quicken, finish packing, and fill in my unemployment forms. I guess I better get to it, eh? :)

An Unusual Vacation Choice 2002

I have just decided to take a holiday in Minneapolis at the end of July. Why? Mostly to attend the wedding of the sister of my sweetie, but also because, though I've traveled a good bit around Europe, I've seen very little of the United States.

So tell me, what should I prepare for in this journey? I've been warned already that "late July in MN is likely to be hellishly hot and humid, and in the evenings you can lose a pint of blood to the mosquitos" but this is alleged to be part of its "charm".

After a few minutes research, I have found a couple interesting sightseeing possibilities:

- Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, one of the few urban wildlife refuges in the country. I'm fascinated by human-focused inquilines (like raccoons, rats and sparrows), so that'd be cool.

- Science Museum of Minnesota because science museums are fun plus how can you go wrong with a 40 foot long steel iguana?

- Minnesota Zoo, though I'm torn between the attractiveness of the emphasis on natural habitat and the ominous implications of " the amazing tricks performed in the daily dolphin shows".

- Minneapolis Institute of Arts just sounds full of good stuff.

Anyone know more about these? Other recommendations?

Hey you hoopy froods... 2002

... don't forget! Tomorrow is Towel Day!

Spring 2002

Conversation with a friend in Alaska:

Dinah: How's the weather?
Jack: gorgeous
Dinah: mm, nice. Pretty good here too.
Jack: nice, sunny, everything's melting
Dinah: Greenery coming up yet?
Jack: Nah, still 6 inches of snow on the ground...
Dinah: mm, Spring is coming.
Jack: yeah, still not here, but I'm hopefull...
Dinah: She's headed north, hopping freight trains and fornicating under trees with hobos leaving crocuses in her wake

April Fool's Day 2002

This year I am Jason Kottke.

Buy Nothing. 2000

Scaaaary 2000

I forgot to show you this great spooky black cat pumpkin my neighbors had:

Recommended holiday treat: 1999

The California Revels. This year it's focused on Finnish and Russian midwinter festival traditions. I've been going for years and it's a great show.

Tradition 1999

What a lovely week. I spent a lot of time working on my proposal, breaking it down into separate pages so it's easier to read. New Year's Eve Eve and New Year's Eve at The House were fun.

I have a little tradition in the New Year of making a list of those things which I wish for in the coming year. Sometimes you get what you want, sometimes you don't. And sometimes what you don't get turns out to be what you didn't really want anyway. Somehow putting things on the list seems to increase the number of wishes that come true.

[Added August 2004 when I found the file containing these lists on my old server]

1998's list:
- fix my knee
well, it's better, but a long way from fixed. :(

- get all my dental woes solved
done and I even got my front teeth beautified. :)

- pay off debt
heh. well, I did pay off a lot, but there is far to go. Slow progress. I am happy and proud to have paid back my Inkspot investor completely.

- learn to drive
done and getting pretty decent at it. :)

- move forward in my career
completing my degree is the biggest step here, but I'm ready for more

The last one I didn't write down this way, but this is what I wanted:
- live the life I love and love the life I live
:) yes, this I am doing. My apartment is wonderful, my friends are the best, my sweeties have been delightful and things just keep getting better!

1999 list:

- my relationship with a certain someone to grow stronger and deeper in whatever direction we decide to take it.
Of the many fine friendships I've made and renewed this year, this one brings me the most joy. Being quiet together is like walking in a peaceful garden.
[Whew. From the perspective of over 5 and a half years later, I can say that the joy was apparently all my own dreamy dreams. We're still courteous, to be sure, but there is no great depth of affection remaining. It was a crush, pure & simple.]

- more patience in love and less addiction to it
Are these wishes related? Of course not, don't be silly. ;)

- continued progress on eliminating my debt.
Shooting down those 18 & 19% monsters would make me feel so much more secure.

- continued professional growth
I hope I don't have to, but given the choice between the prior wish and this one, I might be willing to live with my interest payments for a while longer to take advantage of something really good. Unfortunately, my payments are so high they live me little room to go down on my salary requests. *sigh* Time to start working those Silicon Valley hours and make some extra $$$.

- a positive experience for me and my students in the HTML class I teach this summer
My first time teaching since I was 16 and here I go with a graduate level class - what an adventure!

- not making another too hasty choice
I think that despite the wonderful things we learned from each other and not wanting to trade who we are now for having had less rough times, Joe and I would both recommend a longer engagement period, particularly for anyone coming out of long-term relationships. That we have moved on and stayed good friends is one of the best parts of 1998. :)

- continuing to live the life I love and love the life I live
Yes, my dear friends, I am torn between you in the quiet, easy to park in, less outrageously expensive South Bay and you in bustling, beautiful, vital San Francisco. For now, while I'm working in Cupertino and since I have this fabulous apartment and a good car (thanks, Joe!), I'll be staying put, but I'll keep visiting my urban pals and improving my parallel parking skills. Wherever I am, I'll be eating good food, laughing, spending quality time with those dear to me and continuing to speak my shameless mind.

- creating a safety net
Boy, this is a tough one. I have to do some serious financial planning. I have almost no savings and no available credit (except at Sears and it's so hard to make a meal out of Craftsman tools). Those extra hours I'm planning to work will go towards paying off my line of credit/overdraft protection. Since I've got a pretty minimal contract, I have no sick or vacation time and am really up the creek if I need to take a day off. The big lesson I've learned on this contract is that I have to budget to set money aside to pay for that. At least I'm still on the SAP health plan via Joe, but that will be changing sometime in the coming months and I'll have to be ready for it.

- health and harmony for my family
My parents are retiring to their beautiful house on the Mendecino coast, expanding the house and adding my Mum's parents and my stepfather's mother (My Farmor, ja?) to the household. After various bouts with injuries and illnesses in the past year, I am wishing for a healthy, happy year and harmony amid the construction chaos. Good luck and enjoy the adventure!

-get my legs stronger and get healthier and trimmer
The continued weakness of my left knee, despite my arthroscopy in August, and the ominous failings twice in the past couple weeks of ankle strength have made it clear that I need to do some form of physical therapy or I will continue to be disabled perhaps for the rest of my life. Not being able to get around as I used to has certainly contributed to my gaining about 25 pounds and I just hate not being able to walk around San Francisco, so I think I actually have the will to control my diet and *shudder* start an exercise regime. If you have any extra willpower you're not using, send it my way!

Tis the season... 1998

Got all my receipts entered and planned bills. It's ugly, but survivable.Considering how many nice prezzies I bought this year and having to get new tires for the car, it could be worse. (Well, actually it couldn't be much worse - I'm almost out of money and close to my limit on my one credit card). The big drag is that my student loan payments of almost $250 a month start in January. Ugh.

Man, wrapping these presents is taking a long time. I guess that mean life is going well, eh?

Stayed up until 2am last night talking to Peter, but I'm glad I took the chance because I won't to talk to him again for a week and a half. :(

Don't forget to buy yourself a pair of feety pajamas. You deserve them.

Had a really nice relaxing bath last night in water rendered silky and delicious by homemade bath stuff from my friends. I think luxury presents are the best. That includes the wonderful simple stuff too. I have this great basic little grey wool cardigan that my ex-mother-in-law (mother outlaw?), Marit, gave me that I just adore.

Dang. Gotta go buy more wrapping paper. Don't you hate it when you get that damn translucent plastic stuff by accident? Hmm, leaving the house. I suppose this means I better change out of what I'm wearing.

The Post-Turkey Lull 1998

Hey! Where is everybody? I think I've only gotten a couple pieces of personal email (Hi Lisa! Hello family!) and no phone calls this weekend except for those arranging nice visits with Sherman and Joe. You guys are cool. :)
Not to say the rest of you aren't cool, you're just too dang quiet! (Patrick, you're immune from this chiding - monster email protects you until I actually reply).

Nice Interface 1998

I was very user friendly on Halloween this year...

The Week In Review 1998

Busy week after finishing the final draft of my report. Part exhaustion, part fleeing the computer in relief.

Restrained from killing client at work on Wednesday when I discovered he had added tables & fields to the project database without making a backup. See Rule #2.

Shopped Wednesday & Thursday for costume stuff. Spent rather a lot on lingerie. Tee hee!

Friday went to work in costume as an iMac. Pushed the boundaries of appropriate work attire. Pictures coming soon, in the mean time, imagine a bad transporter accident between an iMac and Spice Girl. Had dinner with Sherman at Willow St. Pizza. Mmmm, yuppie chow.

Saturday, Halloween, ran errands with Sherman. Got malled out. Headachy and knee-achy. Recovered via a delicious dinner of Afghan food at Afgani on El Camino Real. Application of two shots of scotch also helped permit a cheerful appearance at Bill, Jessica & Kristin's party. (Odd to drink before and not during a party, but it seemed to work well). Great, great costumes! I hope to get copies of pictures. Ian as a chair, Qarin as an innocent Catholic school girl (*cough cough*), Robert as the evil penguin from The Wrong Trousers, Fred as Mike (still laughing about that one), Sharon as The Black Widow (hotcha hotcha!), our hosts displaying their charms (ahem), and Lisa as such a cuddly lil' teddy bear. Great fun!

Ah, the sad, bad news of the week: my car has finally died. It put in long and noble service and I take back any catty remarks I made about it. "Now what?" you say. Well, I'm going to try getting by without a car for a while. I only work 5 miles away and so bus or carpool seem workable, though I'm also considering getting a scooter. Considering my insurance rates (only having had a license since February of this year), a new car would cost me about $450 a month and I can think of better things to do with my cash... Hell, I can rent a car for a few days twice a month and still come out ahead of the game.

Great news from moveon.org:
"Last Thursday, thousands of volunteers across the nation responded to our invitation to deliver the MOVE ON message to their Congressional Representatives - in person. Volunteers delivered petitions in the majority of congressional districts, spanning 44 states. Representatives and their staffs were very impressed by the diversity, civility, and commitment of the meeting attendees. It was a class act. Thank you. Congressional Representatives and their aides were also shocked that these groups -- so unified in purpose -- had never met each other before. For many, it was their first glimpse of the power of the Internet as a medium for grassroots political discourse and expression. For a press release summarizing the day, see http://www.moveon.org/release1029after.htm
For some highlights from the day, see http://www.moveon.org/highlights.htm"

Didn't make any progress on the revised final draft of my report/thesis thang, but did do laundry, tidy up, pay bills and restore my sense of stability. Oh, and I made soup. And I continued reading a really excellent book by Arturo Perez-Reverte: The Flanders Panel. Highly recommended.