fresh and clean
Say “hello” to version 6.3! I got off work a little early today and thought I’d explore some new themes. This is the one I chose and it’s probably my favorite so far. I’m also working on my new photography page. Stay tuned!
Manly Kamping
Jes and his Roebling boys went camping in Tahoe this weekend for ManKamp 07. Ryan, the instigator, planned the whole thing and brought t-shirts for all once again. It sounds like the beer was flowing and they were up to no good, as usual. Jes sent me some photos and it looks like they had a great time. It’s cool to see that even though 11 years have passed and two of the boys are about to be dads, they still know how to have fun together.
Adjusting
It’s been two weeks since Jes left for SF and the dog and I are adjusting. The dog has made our pile of newsprint as his new daytime hangout spot and my Aerobed is getting a little more comfortable each night. The brother even slept over on Friday night and used my sleeping bag.
On Saturday morning, Johnny went golfing with Kenji while I met with the Realtor. I gave her a tour and set-up the lock box. I also got a “For Lease” sign and we’re listed on MLS. Pretty soon I’ll be having strangers walking through my house while Koa’s stuck in the patio. Boy, I hope it gets rented out soon. We’ll see how long it takes.
Lunch was with the Suminos at Fukada and Johnny’s friend Robin happened to be there too. Afterwards, we stopped at Target and then Johnny took a death nap while I sorted through my things.
Later in the evening, the parents came over and loaded up their van with a bunch of stuff I need to give them. Johnny also loaded up his car with lots of food, spices, and sauces from my kitchen. Koa hung out in the garage with us and also sat in the front seat of each of the cars in our driveway – hoping for a ride to the dog park. He was so well-behaved that I just HAD to take him after everyone left.
Wine, Cigars, and Teddy Grahams
It’s been so hectic around here lately that I’ve been a little behind on my postings. I just uploaded photos of our night out with our friends and neighbors, Jay and Nikki. It was on one of Jesse’s last nights in Irvine and we thought it would be fun to walk down to the wine bar for a little tasting. We started with a sushi dinner at Mitsui and then walked next door to the bar. It was packed with people but we managed to get a great spot inside. There was a live band playing and we enjoyed a flight of Merlots and a flight of some other reds. I also brought along a “picnic in a bag”, which consisted of smoked mozzerella, my mini cutting board, plates, and a knife. Once we got tired of the noise inside, we squeezed ourselves into the patio where Jesse and Jay puffed on cigars the rest of the night. The evening ended with more wine and a little coffee and Teddy Grahams from the am/pm. So much for boycotting the gas station. Anyway, it was fun to hang out with the neighbors and take advantage our amenities one last time.
Here are the photos.
A New Life
Yesterday I accepted a new job at Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland. I chose the per diem position so I could get a higher hourly rate and no benefits. With Jes’ job providing a pretty good health plan and two mortgages to pay, this was the best plan for now. I think eventually I’ll try to get a full-time benefited position but I think I’m ok with my decision for now. My position will be in out-patient since it’s the best match for my current skill set. It’s not my first choice but it’ll be the easiest transition. I’ve been working in the educational model for the past six years so it’ll take a little studying, reviewing, and shadowing to get me back into the medical model.
I considered working for SFUSD but when I spoke with their lead therapist, she didn’t sell the job very well. One of the biggest things that turned me off was the fact that I’d have to drive (and find parking) several times a day everyday in the city. That doesn’t sound very pleasant. With a job at Children’s, I can hop on the Muni outside my condo, transfer to BART, and take the employee shuttle to work…awesome.
So, in about a month, I’ll be saying “goodbye” to attorneys, IEPs, and school holidays and “hello” to picky eaters, heart rate monitors, and premies. I know I’ll miss my little preschool and the friends I’ve made but this will be a good change for me and HUGE learning experience.  Here’s to a new professional life. Cheers!
Family Day at the Movies
The last movie I saw in a theatre was “Finding Nemo”. When did that come out? I can’t remember but it was a looooong time ago. Well, I broke the dry spell by going out to El Capitan to see “Ratatouille”. We also broke my mom’s dry spell of over 30 years. She never goes to the movies because it usually makes her sick. I think I have something very similar but not nearly as bad. Anyway, I drove my mom and dad to Hollywood and met up with Brother and Joy. With all the traffic and Harry Potter Premiere chaos, we made it just in time to see the pre-show.
Disney certainly knows how to put on a show for the kiddies. They had singing, dancing, and the beloved Disney characters on stage. They also introduced Remy, the main character of the movie. It’s funny that Disney actually managed to make a rat seem cute. In fact, when he popped out of the pot on stage, you could hear everyone say “Aw!”
Well, the movie was as entertaining as I had expected and the short film at the beginning was a real treat. Going out with the family was also a nice treat. Thanks for planning it, Brother! And nice job on not getting sick, Mommy!
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