After catching up with an old friend from elementary school, I decided to take my old eighth grade Saint Simons yearbook out of the closet. It's been long enough now (8 years!) that I don't really remember what people wrote to me inside the covers, so reading them was almost like an educational experience. Junior High is such an awkward time....here are some experts:
First you have the "I don't really like you enough to put any thought into this":
"have fun! - Tori"
Then there are the insults, albeit...friendly insults. I guess...:
"See you at SF. You have a big head. - Patrick L."
You have the cliche (from my best friend, btw):
"See you next year! Have fun!! - Matt
You have the ones that you don't remember what people were referring to ...that kind of concern you now:
"Nick, have fun at St. Francis and remember to keep those intentions inside. - Pete N."
You have ones with inside jokes:
"Hi Nick - nice Head. We have been good ex-friends! KIT! Have fun next year. - Peter N."
You also have quite a few people who thought I should pursue a singing career due to me being the only guy to take on a role in the 97' Christmas musical as "Thirsty Man":
"Nick - This year went by so fast and lots of things happened. I cant wait until h-school and you should try out for acting cause you are very good @ singing and acting. stay cool. Alyssa"
There were some frank ones...or maybe sarcastic?
"Nick - Have fun at St. Francis. I'll miss you, maybe. -SOBO"
...and of course, there were the genuinely nice and thoughtful ones, but who wants to read those?
Sunday, June 26, 2005
After a month apart (boy that went by fast now, didn't it?) most of my Cal crew was reunited at Kay's house warming party. It was so good to see everyone again these past couple of nights. Still tough to process that come August, we all won't be here again..but at least a good chunk of the group will be in the Bay Area.
It also helps to settle in to new rhythms, new apartments, new jobs/schools. I'm in Steph's room right now (she's in Napa). In a few weeks this will be my new home in Berkeley. Dan's moving his stuff into his room across the hall as I type. I'm really glad to have someone from the Pink House with me here, and the two girls that we are living with are really cool!
Even though I'm still in Berkeley, in the same department even, for grad school....the next two years will be very different from the past four. It's like.... the spin-off to a great sitcom. And I think it'll be a great spin-off too...
...not like "Joey" and more like "Frasier." Hehe.
It also helps to settle in to new rhythms, new apartments, new jobs/schools. I'm in Steph's room right now (she's in Napa). In a few weeks this will be my new home in Berkeley. Dan's moving his stuff into his room across the hall as I type. I'm really glad to have someone from the Pink House with me here, and the two girls that we are living with are really cool!
Even though I'm still in Berkeley, in the same department even, for grad school....the next two years will be very different from the past four. It's like.... the spin-off to a great sitcom. And I think it'll be a great spin-off too...
...not like "Joey" and more like "Frasier." Hehe.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Hello!
Wow, it's been a while. Life has been a whirlwind since graduation. I just submitted the draft proposal for my book, Images of America: Mountain View to my editor a few minutes ago. So with that largely out of the way for the moment, I can finally update this blog.
Too much to write really, so I won't even try to cover it all. Let's just do Q&A session:
Q: How was Portugal?
A: It was great! I had an amazing time. The studio was a lot of work, but the Portuguese students were a lot of fun. The Berkeley grad students I went with 8 women in their late 20s/early 30s and 2 guys..one a former Cal band drum major...were great too. Once my dad got there, I was ready for a vacation though...and boy did we see a lot! Madeira island is absolutely beautiful.
Q: What were some of the high lights of trip?
A: Let's see. There are plenty:
-Drinking Sangrias during sunset on a restaurant on the beach in Cascais the night I arrived in Portugal, still trying to process that I had finally traveled off the North American continent. and was in the land of my ancient ancestors.
-Visiting the town of Sintra for the first time, and being floored by the setting and architecture of the Palacio de Pena.
-Eating Sardines, octopus, and whole bunch of other strange-for-me foods throughout the trip.
-Kicking ass on the presentation of my research project the Friday after I arrived, after worrying myself sick about it the day before.
-Escaping the studio one night with a few of the Berkeley students to enjoy a dinner on the waterfront in Belem.
-Singing the Cal drinking song with the ex-Cal drum major for the Portuguese and Berkeley students in the middle of a street PACKED with people in the Bairro Alto, downtown Lisbon's most popular night life district (where we celebrated after finishing our group presentations).
-Taking a walk by myself around the old town of Oeiras (where I stayed during the class) the next morning while everyone slept off their hangovers. I fell in love with Portugal on that morning, as I strolled through palace gardens, cobble stone streets, and the town's festa as its vendors were gearing up for another day of festivities.
-Listening to live Portuguese folk music sung by an occordian player while the studio shared a meal in the farm of the Portuguese professor's huge cork oak plantation two hours outside of Lisbon.
-Walking around an empty Alfama district with my dad on the morning he arrived from California, really enjoying the funny smile that he just couldn't wipe off his face because he was living a dream that he never really though would happen.
-Stepping on to the tarmac at Madeira Island airport, and getting a little emotional as I realized that , in a way, this was a homecoming for me and my dad.
-Madeira Island. Everything about it. Just amazing.
-The Oieras festa with my dad, blending in with the locals while enjoying fresh Lingucia sandwiches and watching the Bombiero (fireman) band.
-Our last full day in Portugal, where my dad and I saw two palaces, a famous monastery, two castles, and two tower monuments in the span of 12 hours! And somehow...never feeling rushed or in a hurry.
...whew that was more than I expected to type. But once I started, couldn't stop...moving on:
Q: How was your graduation party?
A: It was really nice. More than sixty people came to celebrate, mostly family. But by far the highlight was.....now get ready....when a new car pulled into West Dana Street. As I saw it, I wondered..."Hmmm who's that person in the new dark blue 2005 corolla?" When my mom said, "Mark, it's here!" I wondered...."hmm, what's that person in the new dark blue 2005 corolla bringing me?" And then I was floored as it slowly sunk in that the car itself was for me...a graduation gift from my parents. Holy freakin cow. I have a car. I never ever expected something like that. My parents are amazing.
Q: How was Batman?
A: Great, go see it!
Q: What's this book your working on?
A: Arcadia Publishing has been trying to do one of its Images of America books for Mountain View for a couple years now, but they couldn't find anyone interested in writing in. For a good deal of the semester I've been talking with the editor at the SF office about being the author of the book. I finally had time to submit my proposal today, and tomorrow I'll be meeting with my editor and representatives from the Historical Association to iron out the details...then it's a go! A viola, I have a summer job....and semester job...wish me luck.
Q: Where will you be living next year?
A: I'll be moving into Steph's room once she leaves in July, with Dan on Regent Street near Parker. It's a nice four bedroom on the first floor of a house designed by Julia Morgan. All though its on Southside, the neighborhood seems pleasant and is right near a nice park. Should be cool, and I'll finally have my own room!
Well, that should do it for now!
Wow, it's been a while. Life has been a whirlwind since graduation. I just submitted the draft proposal for my book, Images of America: Mountain View to my editor a few minutes ago. So with that largely out of the way for the moment, I can finally update this blog.
Too much to write really, so I won't even try to cover it all. Let's just do Q&A session:
Q: How was Portugal?
A: It was great! I had an amazing time. The studio was a lot of work, but the Portuguese students were a lot of fun. The Berkeley grad students I went with 8 women in their late 20s/early 30s and 2 guys..one a former Cal band drum major...were great too. Once my dad got there, I was ready for a vacation though...and boy did we see a lot! Madeira island is absolutely beautiful.
Q: What were some of the high lights of trip?
A: Let's see. There are plenty:
-Drinking Sangrias during sunset on a restaurant on the beach in Cascais the night I arrived in Portugal, still trying to process that I had finally traveled off the North American continent. and was in the land of my ancient ancestors.
-Visiting the town of Sintra for the first time, and being floored by the setting and architecture of the Palacio de Pena.
-Eating Sardines, octopus, and whole bunch of other strange-for-me foods throughout the trip.
-Kicking ass on the presentation of my research project the Friday after I arrived, after worrying myself sick about it the day before.
-Escaping the studio one night with a few of the Berkeley students to enjoy a dinner on the waterfront in Belem.
-Singing the Cal drinking song with the ex-Cal drum major for the Portuguese and Berkeley students in the middle of a street PACKED with people in the Bairro Alto, downtown Lisbon's most popular night life district (where we celebrated after finishing our group presentations).
-Taking a walk by myself around the old town of Oeiras (where I stayed during the class) the next morning while everyone slept off their hangovers. I fell in love with Portugal on that morning, as I strolled through palace gardens, cobble stone streets, and the town's festa as its vendors were gearing up for another day of festivities.
-Listening to live Portuguese folk music sung by an occordian player while the studio shared a meal in the farm of the Portuguese professor's huge cork oak plantation two hours outside of Lisbon.
-Walking around an empty Alfama district with my dad on the morning he arrived from California, really enjoying the funny smile that he just couldn't wipe off his face because he was living a dream that he never really though would happen.
-Stepping on to the tarmac at Madeira Island airport, and getting a little emotional as I realized that , in a way, this was a homecoming for me and my dad.
-Madeira Island. Everything about it. Just amazing.
-The Oieras festa with my dad, blending in with the locals while enjoying fresh Lingucia sandwiches and watching the Bombiero (fireman) band.
-Our last full day in Portugal, where my dad and I saw two palaces, a famous monastery, two castles, and two tower monuments in the span of 12 hours! And somehow...never feeling rushed or in a hurry.
...whew that was more than I expected to type. But once I started, couldn't stop...moving on:
Q: How was your graduation party?
A: It was really nice. More than sixty people came to celebrate, mostly family. But by far the highlight was.....now get ready....when a new car pulled into West Dana Street. As I saw it, I wondered..."Hmmm who's that person in the new dark blue 2005 corolla?" When my mom said, "Mark, it's here!" I wondered...."hmm, what's that person in the new dark blue 2005 corolla bringing me?" And then I was floored as it slowly sunk in that the car itself was for me...a graduation gift from my parents. Holy freakin cow. I have a car. I never ever expected something like that. My parents are amazing.
Q: How was Batman?
A: Great, go see it!
Q: What's this book your working on?
A: Arcadia Publishing has been trying to do one of its Images of America books for Mountain View for a couple years now, but they couldn't find anyone interested in writing in. For a good deal of the semester I've been talking with the editor at the SF office about being the author of the book. I finally had time to submit my proposal today, and tomorrow I'll be meeting with my editor and representatives from the Historical Association to iron out the details...then it's a go! A viola, I have a summer job....and semester job...wish me luck.
Q: Where will you be living next year?
A: I'll be moving into Steph's room once she leaves in July, with Dan on Regent Street near Parker. It's a nice four bedroom on the first floor of a house designed by Julia Morgan. All though its on Southside, the neighborhood seems pleasant and is right near a nice park. Should be cool, and I'll finally have my own room!
Well, that should do it for now!
Monday, May 23, 2005
I'm sitting at this desk, in this pink house, for the last time to write in this on-line journal. The emotions are wonderfully overwhelming. Pardon the Hallmark-like nature of this last entry of mine as an undergraduate at the University of California, but what I want to write tonight is sincere.
Today, I graduated and four amazing years at Cal officially came to an end. All day today I've been surrounded by the people I love, my friends and family. I'm so happy to have each of you in my life. Truly, I would not have made it without you. Each of you has shaped a part of me, each of you has played a role in my success, and each of you, in your own way, has been an inspiration to me. Thank you!
To my family: I love you. You are my pride. You are the people that have lifted me up to where I am today. You've been my strength and you've fueled my passion to pursue City Planning, to go out there and try to make a difference. I can't begin to even explain how much each of you mean to me. What I can say, is you don't know how many times I hear my friends tell me, "Wow Nick, you have a really cool family". I sure do. Our diversity, our drive to make change, our shared heritage, and our love for each other (even if it's tough love sometimes! haha) means the world to me.
To my friends at Cal, especially those of you that have been on this journey with me for all four years, we made it!!! I'm going to take with me so many memories from this time in my life, gifts from each of you, who have come to be like a family to me. I could not have asked to be surrounded by a better group of friends.
For most of us, fate threw us together freshman year, and we transformed what could have just been "people we lived with in the dorms" or "people we met at CalSO" into lasting friendships. I feel so lucky that we were able to stick together and experience Cal together.
As I write this, there's a lump in my throat and I have to fight back the tears. But I'm truly happy inside. Only something this good could be this emotionally tough to say goodbye to.
There will probably be quite a few tears tonight and over the next few days. There already have been quite a few, actually. We can't stop change, we can't freeze our lives in this place and time. And I think we all know, deep down, that we would never want to do that.
Something is indeed coming to an end. But as that old Semisonic song says, "every new beginning, comes from some other new beginning's end."
Let's be those Old Blues who grow old together and never lose touch. This might be the end of our time living all within blocks of each other, but its only the beginning of a lifetime of friendship that lies ahead of us.
We've got a lot to look forward to! I love you all, and once again thank you.
Go Bears!
Today, I graduated and four amazing years at Cal officially came to an end. All day today I've been surrounded by the people I love, my friends and family. I'm so happy to have each of you in my life. Truly, I would not have made it without you. Each of you has shaped a part of me, each of you has played a role in my success, and each of you, in your own way, has been an inspiration to me. Thank you!
To my family: I love you. You are my pride. You are the people that have lifted me up to where I am today. You've been my strength and you've fueled my passion to pursue City Planning, to go out there and try to make a difference. I can't begin to even explain how much each of you mean to me. What I can say, is you don't know how many times I hear my friends tell me, "Wow Nick, you have a really cool family". I sure do. Our diversity, our drive to make change, our shared heritage, and our love for each other (even if it's tough love sometimes! haha) means the world to me.
To my friends at Cal, especially those of you that have been on this journey with me for all four years, we made it!!! I'm going to take with me so many memories from this time in my life, gifts from each of you, who have come to be like a family to me. I could not have asked to be surrounded by a better group of friends.
For most of us, fate threw us together freshman year, and we transformed what could have just been "people we lived with in the dorms" or "people we met at CalSO" into lasting friendships. I feel so lucky that we were able to stick together and experience Cal together.
As I write this, there's a lump in my throat and I have to fight back the tears. But I'm truly happy inside. Only something this good could be this emotionally tough to say goodbye to.
There will probably be quite a few tears tonight and over the next few days. There already have been quite a few, actually. We can't stop change, we can't freeze our lives in this place and time. And I think we all know, deep down, that we would never want to do that.
Something is indeed coming to an end. But as that old Semisonic song says, "every new beginning, comes from some other new beginning's end."
Let's be those Old Blues who grow old together and never lose touch. This might be the end of our time living all within blocks of each other, but its only the beginning of a lifetime of friendship that lies ahead of us.
We've got a lot to look forward to! I love you all, and once again thank you.
Go Bears!
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
I present to you, the late stages of chronic senioritis:
Avengelyne01: what happens if we just don't study?
Nap98: i dont know?
Nap98: im thinking...
Nap98: A+'s all around
Avengelyne01: shouldn't i, like, really be trying to apply myself or something, for this last time?
Nap98: maybe
Nap98: maybe you already have
Avengelyne01: hmm
Nap98: maybe youve become such a genius over four years..
Nap98: that you dont need to study anymore
Avengelyne01: you know, i think you're right!
Nap98: haha
Avengelyne01: i just spent two hours watching tv
Nap98: i just spent a half hour on facebook
Nap98: and reading Time
Avengelyne01: what happens if we just don't study?
Nap98: i dont know?
Nap98: im thinking...
Nap98: A+'s all around
Avengelyne01: shouldn't i, like, really be trying to apply myself or something, for this last time?
Nap98: maybe
Nap98: maybe you already have
Avengelyne01: hmm
Nap98: maybe youve become such a genius over four years..
Nap98: that you dont need to study anymore
Avengelyne01: you know, i think you're right!
Nap98: haha
Avengelyne01: i just spent two hours watching tv
Nap98: i just spent a half hour on facebook
Nap98: and reading Time
Monday, May 16, 2005
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Wow. It's over.
The World You Love
I got a story it's almost finished
all i need is someone to tell it to
maybe, that's you.
Our time is borrowed and spent too freely
every minute I have needs to be made up
but how?
i'm looking for a nice way to say "i'm out."
i want out.
I fall asleep with my friends around me
only place i know, i feel safe
I'm gonna call this home
The open road is still miles away
Hey nothing serious
we still have our fun
oh we had it once
Windows open and close
that's just how it goes
Don't it feel like sunshine after all?
The world we love forever, gone.
We're only just as happy
as everyone else seems to think we are.
The World You Love
I got a story it's almost finished
all i need is someone to tell it to
maybe, that's you.
Our time is borrowed and spent too freely
every minute I have needs to be made up
but how?
i'm looking for a nice way to say "i'm out."
i want out.
I fall asleep with my friends around me
only place i know, i feel safe
I'm gonna call this home
The open road is still miles away
Hey nothing serious
we still have our fun
oh we had it once
Windows open and close
that's just how it goes
Don't it feel like sunshine after all?
The world we love forever, gone.
We're only just as happy
as everyone else seems to think we are.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
I just got back from my first graduation ceremony. This one was the first ever Alumni Scholar Association Convocation Ceremony, for all us over-achieving campus leaders.
No family was there. No friends, except acquaintances I know who happen to also be Alumni Leadership Scholars.
This one was just for me....well for me to get my framed lithograph of the campanile from the 1920s with my name engraved on a small plaque underneath it (sweet!). Initially I went to just get that goody...but I got a lot more out of it.
The ceremony really touched me. A great series of speakers who made me feel really good about what I have done and accomplished, and made me look forward to being an alumni. Even if I were leaving Cal after this year for good, they made me realize that you can't really leave this place, its a part of who you are and its a community that exists throughout the world. It feels really nice, to feel like I belong (fully and without any reservations) to such a community. I've never really truly had that before coming here.
Ceremony closed with a singing of Cal's Alma Mater, Hail to California. I've never sung it before, don't know the tune except the final "Hail! Hail! Hail!" part, even though I've heard it plenty of times at the end of football games. But I tried my best to follow along.
And it was really nice to be in the shadow of the Campanile singing that bittersweet song, celebrating my past four years here, doing it only for myself (even though it was kind of strange to not have to take a million pictures after). It made me feel..well really good, and maybe even excited, about graduation.
Learn these words fellow future Cal alums, it really is a beautiful bittersweet song when you put these words to the music:
Hail to California
Hail to California,
Alma Mater dear;
Sing the joyful chorus,
Sound it far and near.
Rallying round her banner,
We will never fail;
California, Alma Mater
Hail! Hail! Hail!
Hail to California,
Queen in whom we're blest;
Spreading light and goodness
Over all the West.
Fighting 'nearth her standard,
We shall sure prevail;
California, Alma Mater,
Hail! Hail! Hail!
No family was there. No friends, except acquaintances I know who happen to also be Alumni Leadership Scholars.
This one was just for me....well for me to get my framed lithograph of the campanile from the 1920s with my name engraved on a small plaque underneath it (sweet!). Initially I went to just get that goody...but I got a lot more out of it.
The ceremony really touched me. A great series of speakers who made me feel really good about what I have done and accomplished, and made me look forward to being an alumni. Even if I were leaving Cal after this year for good, they made me realize that you can't really leave this place, its a part of who you are and its a community that exists throughout the world. It feels really nice, to feel like I belong (fully and without any reservations) to such a community. I've never really truly had that before coming here.
Ceremony closed with a singing of Cal's Alma Mater, Hail to California. I've never sung it before, don't know the tune except the final "Hail! Hail! Hail!" part, even though I've heard it plenty of times at the end of football games. But I tried my best to follow along.
And it was really nice to be in the shadow of the Campanile singing that bittersweet song, celebrating my past four years here, doing it only for myself (even though it was kind of strange to not have to take a million pictures after). It made me feel..well really good, and maybe even excited, about graduation.
Learn these words fellow future Cal alums, it really is a beautiful bittersweet song when you put these words to the music:
Hail to California
Hail to California,
Alma Mater dear;
Sing the joyful chorus,
Sound it far and near.
Rallying round her banner,
We will never fail;
California, Alma Mater
Hail! Hail! Hail!
Hail to California,
Queen in whom we're blest;
Spreading light and goodness
Over all the West.
Fighting 'nearth her standard,
We shall sure prevail;
California, Alma Mater,
Hail! Hail! Hail!
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Are you gonna live your life standing in the back looking around?
Are you gonna waste your time?
Gotta make a move or you'll miss out.
Someone's gonna ask you what it’s all about.
Stick around nostalgia won't let you down.
Someone's gonna ask you what it’s all about.
Whatcha gonna have to say for yourself?
I’m on my feet, I’m on the floor, I’m good to go.
Now all I need is just to hear a song I know.
I wanna always feel like part of this was mine.
I wanna fall in love tonight.
Are you gonna waste your time?
Gotta make a move or you'll miss out.
Someone's gonna ask you what it’s all about.
Stick around nostalgia won't let you down.
Someone's gonna ask you what it’s all about.
Whatcha gonna have to say for yourself?
I’m on my feet, I’m on the floor, I’m good to go.
Now all I need is just to hear a song I know.
I wanna always feel like part of this was mine.
I wanna fall in love tonight.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Ahhhh. The memories.
G
R
Double E
N
LEAVES!
G
R
Double E
N
LEAVES!
It's So Easy!
Happy Go Lucky...
We Are The World,
We Did It!
You! You! You! You!
Us! Us! Us! Us!
Yatta! Yatta! Yatta! Yatta!
A student just graduating!
A leader of a great business!
Do we ever get a lucky feeling
A-with our simple leafy nakedness!
Yatta! Yatta! Yatta! Yatta!
Oh-we will be winning the prize!
We will make our nation proud!
We will become a-quite-a healthy guys!
Everybody say: Yatta!
Japan, On Two!
Demo!
Tomorrow Will Be Wonderful...
Who cares if everybody is unkind? (?)
Why bother sleepin' in? (?)
Queue! Queue! Queue! Queue!
Bus! Bus! Bus! Bus!
Ohio! (or Good Morning?)
Yatta! Yatta! Yatta! Yatta!
Nine hours a night we're sleeping
An' we jump right out of bed!
Do we ever get a lucky feeling
A-when we go to work fresh and fed!
Yatta! Yatta! Yatta! Yatta!
you change-odd-weird me
world change-revise
I FEEL GREAT!!
http://web.mit.edu/patil/www/media/video/yatta.asf
G
R
Double E
N
LEAVES!
G
R
Double E
N
LEAVES!
It's So Easy!
Happy Go Lucky...
We Are The World,
We Did It!
You! You! You! You!
Us! Us! Us! Us!
Yatta! Yatta! Yatta! Yatta!
A student just graduating!
A leader of a great business!
Do we ever get a lucky feeling
A-with our simple leafy nakedness!
Yatta! Yatta! Yatta! Yatta!
Oh-we will be winning the prize!
We will make our nation proud!
We will become a-quite-a healthy guys!
Everybody say: Yatta!
Japan, On Two!
Demo!
Tomorrow Will Be Wonderful...
Who cares if everybody is unkind? (?)
Why bother sleepin' in? (?)
Queue! Queue! Queue! Queue!
Bus! Bus! Bus! Bus!
Ohio! (or Good Morning?)
Yatta! Yatta! Yatta! Yatta!
Nine hours a night we're sleeping
An' we jump right out of bed!
Do we ever get a lucky feeling
A-when we go to work fresh and fed!
Yatta! Yatta! Yatta! Yatta!
you change-odd-weird me
world change-revise
I FEEL GREAT!!
http://web.mit.edu/patil/www/media/video/yatta.asf
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
You say you wander your own land
But when I think about it I don't see how you can
You're aching, you're breaking
And I can see the pain in vour eyes
Says everybody's changing
And I don't know why
So little time
Try to understand that I'm
Trying to make a move just to stay in the game, I
Try to stay awake and remember my name
But everybody's changing
And I don't feel the same
You're gone from here
Soon you will disappear
Fading into beautiful light
Because everybody's changing
And I don't feel right
-Keane, "Everybody's Changing"
....two months.
But when I think about it I don't see how you can
You're aching, you're breaking
And I can see the pain in vour eyes
Says everybody's changing
And I don't know why
So little time
Try to understand that I'm
Trying to make a move just to stay in the game, I
Try to stay awake and remember my name
But everybody's changing
And I don't feel the same
You're gone from here
Soon you will disappear
Fading into beautiful light
Because everybody's changing
And I don't feel right
-Keane, "Everybody's Changing"
....two months.
This seems to fit:
The Mark Twain: A leisurely paddle steamboat
navigating the Rivers of America in the 19th
Century! A venerable Disneyland institution,
you date to opening day in 1955 and respresent
stablity, tradition, and a healthy dose of
Americana. You never make your passengers
seasick (in part due to the fact that you role
along your secret underwater track) and always
offer some great panoramic views of a Frontier
mining town, New Orleans, and back woods
glimpses of wildlife and injuns straight out of
a Samuel Clemens tale! Small children and old
folks like you best, but that doesn't mean you
don't know how to get out and enjoy the
nightlife, you play "Steamboat
Willie" in the nightly production of the
Fantasmic! Spectacular. Just one question,
just how is that you are always managing to be
headed "down river"?
What Disneyland attraction are you?
The Mark Twain: A leisurely paddle steamboat
navigating the Rivers of America in the 19th
Century! A venerable Disneyland institution,
you date to opening day in 1955 and respresent
stablity, tradition, and a healthy dose of
Americana. You never make your passengers
seasick (in part due to the fact that you role
along your secret underwater track) and always
offer some great panoramic views of a Frontier
mining town, New Orleans, and back woods
glimpses of wildlife and injuns straight out of
a Samuel Clemens tale! Small children and old
folks like you best, but that doesn't mean you
don't know how to get out and enjoy the
nightlife, you play "Steamboat
Willie" in the nightly production of the
Fantasmic! Spectacular. Just one question,
just how is that you are always managing to be
headed "down river"?
What Disneyland attraction are you?
Monday, March 28, 2005
I love my little house in Mountain View. Especially when its crammed with about thirty members of my family and our friends avoiding the downpour of rain that fell on Easter. We made the best of it, and instead of a huge confetti egg fight in the yard, my living room was filled with the sound of our laughter and cheers as we watched recorded newsclips of the meeting and vigil. As my aunt proudly exclaimed, "See! We ARE a political family!"
Finally, it's not just me and Chris. Haha.
But the day couldn't end without some type of confetti egg fight. We were just supposed to take one egg and crack it on the head of the person of our choice for the traditional polaroid photo....
Ya right!
All those pent up confetti-egg cracking urges could not be contained and spurts of stealth attacks and confetti egg bombardments occured while the photos were being taken. Chris got one down his pants courtesy of Auntie Rosemary (...the confetti is still littering our bathroom floor from whe he shook it out of his underwear). I got my Auntie Becky, who was not happy about it and put me on cookie probation. God I love her chocolate chip cookies, I hope she's not being serious. After all, she already bruised my arm after I GENTLY cracked an egg on her head. My baby cousin Peyton got baptized earlier in the day. ...but he wasn't officially baptized into our crazy family until his mom cracked an egg in her hand and gently sprinkled the confetti over his head.
Ahhhhh. Gotta love my family.
Finally, it's not just me and Chris. Haha.
But the day couldn't end without some type of confetti egg fight. We were just supposed to take one egg and crack it on the head of the person of our choice for the traditional polaroid photo....
Ya right!
All those pent up confetti-egg cracking urges could not be contained and spurts of stealth attacks and confetti egg bombardments occured while the photos were being taken. Chris got one down his pants courtesy of Auntie Rosemary (...the confetti is still littering our bathroom floor from whe he shook it out of his underwear). I got my Auntie Becky, who was not happy about it and put me on cookie probation. God I love her chocolate chip cookies, I hope she's not being serious. After all, she already bruised my arm after I GENTLY cracked an egg on her head. My baby cousin Peyton got baptized earlier in the day. ...but he wasn't officially baptized into our crazy family until his mom cracked an egg in her hand and gently sprinkled the confetti over his head.
Ahhhhh. Gotta love my family.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
An e-mail from my Mom to the extended familia:
We made a Difference!
For years, all of us have heard about events that happened in the City of Mountain View that affected our family. From closing of schools to the moving of our house. We always talked about what happened and why but the end result was - those things happened regardless of what people said to try to change that particular event. It always seemed that "our" voices of the minority community were never heard.
Yesterday that changed.
Some of us have been more active than others in trying to get involved in events that affect the community. (I usually like to sit back and watch - but due to the dynamics of being influenced by Nick & Chris - or my old age - I'm changing!)
Anyway, hopefully you all have heard about the politics going on in Mountain View lately regarding the decision to close a school. First it was Slater (until the parents protested) than it was Castro (the school I went to). Understand that Castro is largely a non-english speaking community and we felt this school was targeted because it would beeasier to close due to the assumption that "voices" would not come forward and be heard. Boy, were they wrong.
True, I started paying attention to this issue because of Rosemary but it was because of Oscar stepping up and taking the challenge of being the voice of this "silent" community that I got a little more actively involved. Never did I know how Oscar's charismatic personality could impact so many people! It wasn't a one-person show - it just took one person to be the megaphone for the community. So after a 26 hour vigil that mostly occurred in the rain - our voices were heard - the school board decided to delay implementation until next year and then voted to close Slater (still a sad event). Thru the coordination of the new "Mesa de la Comunidad " - a press releases was generated and every major news station was there recording these events. A few tried to insinuate that the only reason Oscar was there was because of his relationship to RoseMary but he set them straight with the right reasons. Another important factor is that parents and community leaders outside of the Castro community came together for the good of the kids in this district.
So why am I sending this out - I want us to all to remember that in our family history there was a victory. And we, each in our own way, can get the silent voices heard for the people that need a megaphone. I am truly impressed with both RoseMary's perseverence, that her fellow board members make the right decisions, and Oscar for putting himself out for the community with no rewards in return (besides seeing his face TV!).
Funny - one of my fellow protesters (during the 26 hour vigil) and a friend of Rosemary said to me, "RoseMary told me not to worry because 'my family is a part of the community'. I didn't know what she meant - but now I do - it must be great having family nearby because I don't have that support." I thought - yeah IT IS GREAT to have family - something I think we all take for granted sometimes. (As Oscar, Lisa, Marisa, Marco, Elena, David, Angelica, Nick, Chris & Mark all participated!)
That's all - see you at Easter!