Haloween

Dragged my sorry ass off the couch on saturday night.  I had spent the whole day helping out with kid's class at the dojo, then doing the tests, then having the dojo anniversary party, so I was understandably tired.  But I rallied and made it to BootieLA mashup night.  I wore the Samurai Hello Kitty outfit and ended up winning the "mashup" category costume contest.  I paid for dinner with Eric and Noosha with the winnings, and still came out ahead for the night.  It felt great to go dance and be in a nightclub and stay out until 3am.  Though I must admit to being super tired Sunday.

On a much less happy note, my dad had his kidney taken out today.  It should treat the cancer, but the recovery seems a bit unpleasant.

Still sick

I got a flu last week after drinking with shady at the york in eagle rock.  My hangover kept getting worse until I finally admitted it was a flu.  Which went away and became a lingering cough coupled with fatigue.  Which has lasted a week.  And then I got a migraine in the morning yesterday.

Make the weekend come now.

Welcome Back!

    I had my welcome back day at work, where the staff get together and meet before the students arrive.  We had a seriously dismal budget projection.  As in the worst I've ever seen.  As is laying off part-timers and closing some departments.  My job is super-secure, but it was a real gut-punch of a talk.
   Then the chief of police gave a presentation on the new emergency preparedness systems and what we can do in the event of an "active shooter" on campus.  Including videos of how to conduct a lockdown.  Which involves making a fort out of desks and hiding in the dark.
   My co-worker turned to me and said, "so the message is 'we have no money and are going to get killed'".

   It'll be an interesting year.

at least you have two kidneys

My dad found he has a 5cm lump in his kidney, meaning he'll have to have surgery to have it removed.  With luck, it'll be local and he'll be fine.  If not, chemo and radiation are generally useless.  On the plus side, it explains why he's been having so many problems related to his blood sugar and mood swings.
    He's getting a scan (SPECT?) monday, they'll know more after that.

   I just finished reading "the emperor of all maladies", a biography of cancer.  It was a tough read, though very well written and really engaging.  I wish it wasn't so pertinent.

Backpacking

Went out for three days and two nights to Lone Pine and the Cottonwood Lakes area.  I handled the altitude quite well this time, my knee felt crappy the second day, probably the result of going off-trail and hopping over rocks, roots and branches for hours.  I went with Kris, the second time we've gone out backpacking.  A fine travelling companion, not too fast, flexible, good company.

It's nice to be home, I've only got a few days off before I have to go back to work!

hectic august

so many things to do, so few days left.  I'm going to go backpacking in two days, then a few days at home taking care of the kids before spending a week at Camarillo training. Then a few more days at home before heading back to work.  Then the playa.

I'm awaiting a check for editing a manuscript this summer.  I'm planning on blowing most of it on a nice new mountain bike.  mmm, shiny, shiny bike

Just picked up a new computer...

Made an impulse buy of a new laptop at Staples, a $350 16" HP laptop.  $350! crazy good value.  But it's a nice fast office machine.  I suppose I'll put off the iPad purchase for awhile longer.

Went off to Ojai for the day, hanging out in the lovely hotel, shopping at thrift stores and eating.  I picked up a little desk that had a vintage sewing machine.  I've finally got a little workspace at home!  The tablet PC will now become a full-time lecture/powerpoint aid.