Apr. 19th, 2006 06:32 pm
happy birthday to me
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I am 25 today! I got a dozen beautiful red roses from my department. My manager let me get off early today, and I took some time to walk all the way down to the Ferry Building, following the concrete ribbon structure along the way. It was a beautiful day outside, and as I walked I watched the ocean. I had a great view of Treasure Island, and the Bay Bridge. It's stinkiest right under the bridge. I briefly skimmed the little informational bronze plaques and square towers set into the floor, read a poem from an Angel Island inhabitant, and walked and walked and walked. It was fun, but I am tired!
Yesterday we went over to my parents to have dinner. I was feeling a little guilty about having left this weekend for Los Angeles, so I decided to make it up to them a little. We had a quiet dinner, interrupted only by Kaitlin's chattering. That girl sure can talk. She seems to have gained a lot of weight, which is great, considering all her clothes were hanging off of her the last time I saw her. She got a memo from her art program mentioning the teacher walkout on Thursday. Oakland teachers have been going two years without a contract now, so I don't blame them for getting antsy. I'm glad it's not a strike (yet) - if an actual strike happens, Kaitlin's education is going to be pushed back even further than it is now. So I'm crossing my fingers. She's improving so much that I'd hate to see any interruption in her routine.
I've been reading Bidoun, and it's really good. Some of the articles are a bit too academic for my tastes, but the interviews with the artists and filmmakers, and the photography is the most interesting part. It's taking me forever to get through it, though - the material is really dense, and I'm reading it like a book. I have Issue 6 - Envy - the one page that should not be missed is the Bidoun Phrase Book, where you can learn to say things like A friend of mine said that if Cairo's nouveau riche, then Beirut is bourgeois, or Of course I know you're Phoenecians. I'd never assume you're Arabs. It's so obvious. in Beiruti Arabic.
Yesterday we went over to my parents to have dinner. I was feeling a little guilty about having left this weekend for Los Angeles, so I decided to make it up to them a little. We had a quiet dinner, interrupted only by Kaitlin's chattering. That girl sure can talk. She seems to have gained a lot of weight, which is great, considering all her clothes were hanging off of her the last time I saw her. She got a memo from her art program mentioning the teacher walkout on Thursday. Oakland teachers have been going two years without a contract now, so I don't blame them for getting antsy. I'm glad it's not a strike (yet) - if an actual strike happens, Kaitlin's education is going to be pushed back even further than it is now. So I'm crossing my fingers. She's improving so much that I'd hate to see any interruption in her routine.
I've been reading Bidoun, and it's really good. Some of the articles are a bit too academic for my tastes, but the interviews with the artists and filmmakers, and the photography is the most interesting part. It's taking me forever to get through it, though - the material is really dense, and I'm reading it like a book. I have Issue 6 - Envy - the one page that should not be missed is the Bidoun Phrase Book, where you can learn to say things like A friend of mine said that if Cairo's nouveau riche, then Beirut is bourgeois, or Of course I know you're Phoenecians. I'd never assume you're Arabs. It's so obvious. in Beiruti Arabic.
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I used to be able to take walks around the city and discover things. It's such a nice feeling. I somehow never find the time to do that anymore. :(
Both the Oakland and SF school districts are close to striking. It's bad news for me since I wouldn't be able to work. I of course support my co-workers, but I also need to pay the bills. I may be working for a private art school in a few months anyway!
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