This would be my last year in Sacramento and I would graduate in May.
I also had the pleasure of dating Dian for about four or five months. I'm still not sure when it started exactly, but I know it ended on March 16, 1994. I was thrilled those months, and very in love. It was extremely hard on me when she broke up with me, but it helped make leaving Sacramento easier.
Because after I graduated, my parents moved me back to the Bay Area. There I looked for work while working at the Wells Fargo main branch in Concord.
Showing posts with label Dian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dian. Show all posts
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wonderful Day
My friend Dian is very happy.
We had a fun day together and she shared wonderful news.
She's on her way to New York, and has been visiting family and friends.
We went to Yammy Sushi in El Cerrito, Charles Chocolates in Emeryville, used book stores in Berkeley (Dark Carnival, Pengradon & Pegasus Books, Other Change of Hobbit, and Black Oak Books), and finished with dinner at Beckett's.
All around, a fun day, and I wish her only the best.
Ever and Always.
We had a fun day together and she shared wonderful news.
She's on her way to New York, and has been visiting family and friends.
We went to Yammy Sushi in El Cerrito, Charles Chocolates in Emeryville, used book stores in Berkeley (Dark Carnival, Pengradon & Pegasus Books, Other Change of Hobbit, and Black Oak Books), and finished with dinner at Beckett's.
All around, a fun day, and I wish her only the best.
Ever and Always.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Recent Readings
So I've finished a few books recently. I'll save the best for last so...
First off there's The Steampunk Trilogy by Paul Di Filippo. This is another book that I decided to read after Sci-Fi Museum in Seattle. There are three parts to the book (trilogy, duh) which are really more like novellas. All three are a might odd, and take a different look on past events. I'm not sure how to describe it all. I've never read any steampunk before, and I'm not sure if I will again. Victorian times really don't interest me, and neither does the tech. I think I'll give William Gibson's The Difference Engine one more shot, but that will probably be it for steampunk for me.
Another book i noted to read from the Sci-Fi Museum was Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. As it turns out, I think I've read this one before, but things were vague enough that I either skipped around through it, or I just experienced a book length sense of deja vu. Either way, DADoES? is an interesting book that avoids going into the real details of the androids making it so that you accept them as established technology that people know about but are not familiar with. of course now I have to watch the movie again. I've not really sat through the entire film since the first time I watched it with my parents as a kid and didn't get it. I think I might have a better understanding now.
And finally, a recommendation from Dian: Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson. Jennifer read this one first because Dian's description of it seemed right for her. Jennifer found it beautifully written, but also very depressing. I read it and found the tears flowing freely through the first two-thirds of the book. It wasn't that I was sobbing, but my typical running tears I get when I'm full of emotion or creativity. The feelings in the book are very strong. The interesting thing is that the sex of the protagonist is a mystery, and one that remains unresolved. You don't need to know it, and perhaps that allows the reader to put themselves into the mindset more strongly. This is another author I'll be looking into more.
First off there's The Steampunk Trilogy by Paul Di Filippo. This is another book that I decided to read after Sci-Fi Museum in Seattle. There are three parts to the book (trilogy, duh) which are really more like novellas. All three are a might odd, and take a different look on past events. I'm not sure how to describe it all. I've never read any steampunk before, and I'm not sure if I will again. Victorian times really don't interest me, and neither does the tech. I think I'll give William Gibson's The Difference Engine one more shot, but that will probably be it for steampunk for me.
Another book i noted to read from the Sci-Fi Museum was Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. As it turns out, I think I've read this one before, but things were vague enough that I either skipped around through it, or I just experienced a book length sense of deja vu. Either way, DADoES? is an interesting book that avoids going into the real details of the androids making it so that you accept them as established technology that people know about but are not familiar with. of course now I have to watch the movie again. I've not really sat through the entire film since the first time I watched it with my parents as a kid and didn't get it. I think I might have a better understanding now.
And finally, a recommendation from Dian: Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson. Jennifer read this one first because Dian's description of it seemed right for her. Jennifer found it beautifully written, but also very depressing. I read it and found the tears flowing freely through the first two-thirds of the book. It wasn't that I was sobbing, but my typical running tears I get when I'm full of emotion or creativity. The feelings in the book are very strong. The interesting thing is that the sex of the protagonist is a mystery, and one that remains unresolved. You don't need to know it, and perhaps that allows the reader to put themselves into the mindset more strongly. This is another author I'll be looking into more.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Seattle - Monday
Monday morning Dian was nice enough to care for my blisters by draining them and rebandaging them. After that, shoes were not so insanely painful.
For breakfast, we drove (thank you) to a restaurant in the University district. I had challah French toast that was incredibly good.
Then we drove downtown and parked at the Seattle Library. That is one amazing building. Dian got me good by making me go up several escalators to look out the top. She knows my fear of heights (note how I never said I went up in the Space Needle), but this wasn't too bad. I was able to distract myself with the architecture and the scenery. Then she made me ride the elevator back down.
Then we walked (much more slowly than Saturday and Sunday) to the Utilikilts store. We had to kill some time at another book store until Utilikilts opened, but when there I bought a heather gray Mocker. Just like the one in the picture. It's kind of like a dress slacks version of the utilikilt. I had wanted a denim one, but they've been discontinued.
But we did a little more walking and I can use this picture to prove I was really there.
And then it was time to go home, so I was driven to the airport, and Dian went on to a meeting and rehearsal for her next show. The flight back was a little rougher with a young boy behind me who kept kicking my seat. I would look back at his mother who would apologize and then reprimand him by holding him down or something. At that point he would begin screaming because he was (apparently) being stifled. I was glad to have my headphones on at that point.
Then I got home and Jennifer took me to La Piñata for a return margarita. And that night I related her my entire trip.
For breakfast, we drove (thank you) to a restaurant in the University district. I had challah French toast that was incredibly good.
Then we drove downtown and parked at the Seattle Library. That is one amazing building. Dian got me good by making me go up several escalators to look out the top. She knows my fear of heights (note how I never said I went up in the Space Needle), but this wasn't too bad. I was able to distract myself with the architecture and the scenery. Then she made me ride the elevator back down.
Then we walked (much more slowly than Saturday and Sunday) to the Utilikilts store. We had to kill some time at another book store until Utilikilts opened, but when there I bought a heather gray Mocker. Just like the one in the picture. It's kind of like a dress slacks version of the utilikilt. I had wanted a denim one, but they've been discontinued.
But we did a little more walking and I can use this picture to prove I was really there.
And then it was time to go home, so I was driven to the airport, and Dian went on to a meeting and rehearsal for her next show. The flight back was a little rougher with a young boy behind me who kept kicking my seat. I would look back at his mother who would apologize and then reprimand him by holding him down or something. At that point he would begin screaming because he was (apparently) being stifled. I was glad to have my headphones on at that point.
Then I got home and Jennifer took me to La Piñata for a return margarita. And that night I related her my entire trip.
Seattle - Sunday
Oh the distances travelled on foot this day...
Sunday began with a walk uphill on Queen Anne to a cool breakfast place that was originally a house. I had a waffle this time, and while it wasn't very warm, it was good and came with some really good bacon.
Then we walked down Queen Anne, back to Seattle Center and went to the Science Fiction Museum. I made a long list of books that I want to read, and enjoyed lots of cool props from television and movies.
And so, we went back up hill.
We stopped for a snack at Chocolopolis. They had a wide selection of chocolate bars, and then some crafted pieces of chocolate. I got a bar of 94%, a dark chocolate truffle with nibs, and a butter chew with gold flakes.
And then down hill (a little) and across the Highway 99 bridge. Under the bridge we saw the Fremont Troll, and then we headed down hill to the Fremont Sunday Market. We walked through the market, and headed around to Theo Chocolate. That's Theo, short for Theobromine. And at Theo, they had borken up samples of every bar they sell, all for the tasting. If I had not jsut bought some 94%, I woudl have bought their Theo Venezuela Dark Chcolate 91% bar. But I had enough samples to carry me through. I did get Jennifer a Dark Chocolate With Orange bar, a bag of roasted nibs, and two peanut butter confections that turned out to be like butter fingers.
We walked back through the market, adn I found a Herkimer diamond with two little crystals growing on it's side. When i get a picture taken of ti, I'll be sure and post it. Dian immediately asked what I plan to do with it.
...
I said figure a way to display it with the other two that I ahve.
After the market we had lunch, and then walked to the Gasworks Park. At teh top of a hill there is a human sun dial where you stand at a specified location depending on the day of the year, and your become the gnomon for the sundial. It's very pretty with bronze inlaid in concrete in the form of signs of the zodiac.
From the gasworks we walked to the University, and hit several bookstores including two comic book shops.
And we then walked back to the apartment taking the lower Fremont Bridge back to Queen Anne.
Total round trip at least 12.5 miles.
Here and here you can see my blisters if you really want to. The one on my right foot had a little blood in it.
I put band-aids on them to protect them, and we went to see Monsters vs. Aliens. I enjoyed it, and now I have to take Jennifer to see it too.
Sunday began with a walk uphill on Queen Anne to a cool breakfast place that was originally a house. I had a waffle this time, and while it wasn't very warm, it was good and came with some really good bacon.
Then we walked down Queen Anne, back to Seattle Center and went to the Science Fiction Museum. I made a long list of books that I want to read, and enjoyed lots of cool props from television and movies.
And so, we went back up hill.
We stopped for a snack at Chocolopolis. They had a wide selection of chocolate bars, and then some crafted pieces of chocolate. I got a bar of 94%, a dark chocolate truffle with nibs, and a butter chew with gold flakes.
And then down hill (a little) and across the Highway 99 bridge. Under the bridge we saw the Fremont Troll, and then we headed down hill to the Fremont Sunday Market. We walked through the market, and headed around to Theo Chocolate. That's Theo, short for Theobromine. And at Theo, they had borken up samples of every bar they sell, all for the tasting. If I had not jsut bought some 94%, I woudl have bought their Theo Venezuela Dark Chcolate 91% bar. But I had enough samples to carry me through. I did get Jennifer a Dark Chocolate With Orange bar, a bag of roasted nibs, and two peanut butter confections that turned out to be like butter fingers.
We walked back through the market, adn I found a Herkimer diamond with two little crystals growing on it's side. When i get a picture taken of ti, I'll be sure and post it. Dian immediately asked what I plan to do with it.
...
I said figure a way to display it with the other two that I ahve.
After the market we had lunch, and then walked to the Gasworks Park. At teh top of a hill there is a human sun dial where you stand at a specified location depending on the day of the year, and your become the gnomon for the sundial. It's very pretty with bronze inlaid in concrete in the form of signs of the zodiac.
From the gasworks we walked to the University, and hit several bookstores including two comic book shops.
And we then walked back to the apartment taking the lower Fremont Bridge back to Queen Anne.
Total round trip at least 12.5 miles.
Here and here you can see my blisters if you really want to. The one on my right foot had a little blood in it.
I put band-aids on them to protect them, and we went to see Monsters vs. Aliens. I enjoyed it, and now I have to take Jennifer to see it too.
Seattle - Saturday Night
After getting cleaned up, Dian and I went to sushi for dinner. It was a really good restaurant she knew of that has happy hour food. We got three rolls, a sushi assortment, a tempura plate, and my beer for less than $30. The dinner experience was great too with some more good conversation (like we hadn't been talking all day while we walked), and she dropped some hints about the musical. All of which would become obvious during the show, but I went in completely ignorant about.
Then we drover over to the theater, and stopped at a nearby place for dessert. I had an excellent chocolate cupcake that had that fancy hard and smooth icing on it with a soft icing flower on top. All in chocolate. And combined that with a nice lemonade. Dian had a German chocolate cupcake with tea.
And then I finally decided this event was worthy of taking pictures. Only two, but I did at least take some.
Then we moved on to the musical. "Gutenberg! The Musical!" is a very funny show. It mocks big musicals (smoke and fog, turntables, multiple musical styles), as well as the selling process of a new production. It's a two man show with a pianist present for the music. All characters are denoted by cheap baseball caps that have the character's name written on the front. Very smart and very entertaining.
After the show, we went back to Dian's apartment and crashed to be ready for Sunday's incredible amount of walking.
Then we drover over to the theater, and stopped at a nearby place for dessert. I had an excellent chocolate cupcake that had that fancy hard and smooth icing on it with a soft icing flower on top. All in chocolate. And combined that with a nice lemonade. Dian had a German chocolate cupcake with tea.
And then I finally decided this event was worthy of taking pictures. Only two, but I did at least take some.
Then we moved on to the musical. "Gutenberg! The Musical!" is a very funny show. It mocks big musicals (smoke and fog, turntables, multiple musical styles), as well as the selling process of a new production. It's a two man show with a pianist present for the music. All characters are denoted by cheap baseball caps that have the character's name written on the front. Very smart and very entertaining.
After the show, we went back to Dian's apartment and crashed to be ready for Sunday's incredible amount of walking.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Seattle - Friday and Saturday
The flight to Seattle was uneventful, and I got some good views of the world on the way. It was kind of cool to be flying over some glaciated mountains, and then suddenly this hummocky area. I couldn't see the volcano itself, but I knew from my old topographic map studies that Mt. Shasta was on the other side of the plane. And the flight was relatively quiet. It turned out there was a baby behind me the whole flight, but it never made a noise until we were on our descent.
Dian picked me up and we went back to her place and set up my palatial air mattress. It was my choice to stay with her because it just seemed like it would be easier than doing the hotel shuffle and coordination. Then we just chatted about things until after 11:00.
The next morning we started the day with breakfast (egg and sausage quesadilla for me), and then the walking began.
We continued downhill to the Olympic Sculpture Park. Wake was the most impressive, and I probably should have taken pictures, but there just wasn't a good way to get the impression of them in a picture. Their scale is such that it wouldn't carry over.
Then we looped around and walked through the Seattle Center. I didn't take a lot of pictures over the trip just because I didn't want all the typical touristy pix. I saw the Space Needle (whee.), and the remnants of the 1962 World's Fair.
Then we went to the NFFTY animation show. It was pretty cool with a couple good entries including an hour long LEGO animation. Not really a short with that length, but still pretty impressive. It took the kid who did it three years to make (20 minutes each year).
Then we walked downtown.
We followed the monorail (with the Simpsons song in my head) until it ended, we passed by Pike Place Market (we'd come back to it), and went on to Pioneer Square, and past that to a big bookstore. The cafe below ground at the bookstore is the one that they used as a model for the TV show Frasier. And on the way we passed the Seattle Utilikilt store. We were kind of... moving with purpose, so I got a promise that we'd come back later in the weekend. We backtracked to Pike Place Market, and wandered through that seeing the original Starbuck's store.
Then time was pressing, and we walked back to Dian's apartment to get cleaned up for dinner and Gutenberg! The Musical!...
The walk turns out to be over 7 miles, and is probably closer to 8. With lots of hills. And that was just a warm up for Sunday.
Dian picked me up and we went back to her place and set up my palatial air mattress. It was my choice to stay with her because it just seemed like it would be easier than doing the hotel shuffle and coordination. Then we just chatted about things until after 11:00.
The next morning we started the day with breakfast (egg and sausage quesadilla for me), and then the walking began.
We continued downhill to the Olympic Sculpture Park. Wake was the most impressive, and I probably should have taken pictures, but there just wasn't a good way to get the impression of them in a picture. Their scale is such that it wouldn't carry over.
Then we looped around and walked through the Seattle Center. I didn't take a lot of pictures over the trip just because I didn't want all the typical touristy pix. I saw the Space Needle (whee.), and the remnants of the 1962 World's Fair.
Then we went to the NFFTY animation show. It was pretty cool with a couple good entries including an hour long LEGO animation. Not really a short with that length, but still pretty impressive. It took the kid who did it three years to make (20 minutes each year).
Then we walked downtown.
We followed the monorail (with the Simpsons song in my head) until it ended, we passed by Pike Place Market (we'd come back to it), and went on to Pioneer Square, and past that to a big bookstore. The cafe below ground at the bookstore is the one that they used as a model for the TV show Frasier. And on the way we passed the Seattle Utilikilt store. We were kind of... moving with purpose, so I got a promise that we'd come back later in the weekend. We backtracked to Pike Place Market, and wandered through that seeing the original Starbuck's store.
Then time was pressing, and we walked back to Dian's apartment to get cleaned up for dinner and Gutenberg! The Musical!...
The walk turns out to be over 7 miles, and is probably closer to 8. With lots of hills. And that was just a warm up for Sunday.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Blisters and the Women Who Love Me
I am back, safe and sound; with blisters popped and herkimer's found.
The walking just about did me in on Sunday. I have big blisters (one on each heel), but Dian popped and drained them this morning before we did our final traveling, and Jennifer has done the same again before we go to bed.
I'll get a play-by-play of the weekend out tomorrow.
The walking just about did me in on Sunday. I have big blisters (one on each heel), but Dian popped and drained them this morning before we did our final traveling, and Jennifer has done the same again before we go to bed.
I'll get a play-by-play of the weekend out tomorrow.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Ow, is me.
Just a quick bit using Dian's computer today. We've done a lot of walking these past two days. yesterday was big and so was today. today was a little bigger in fact. I've got two big blisters, one on each heel. I feel bad because Dian feels bad, but it's not her fault. I'd never had a problem with these boots before. I guess hiking and urban-hiking are significantly different.
I'll probably be better just in time to go out in the field the first full week of May.
I'll be sure to do a full rundown of the weekend once I get home.
With pictures.
I'll probably be better just in time to go out in the field the first full week of May.
I'll be sure to do a full rundown of the weekend once I get home.
With pictures.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
What was I saying?
Okay, so things are sliding back to normality. I'll be in the field off and on this next week. Which days will be dependent on the work itself. No matter what we'll be back the following Monday to finish the last well.
I got to pick up my comics on the way back from Santa Clara on Friday, and I've been kind of off an on reading them. As well as updating characters for the next Psionics game and the game I'm running on Saturday.
And then there's writing fun letters to people. That's turning out to be more fun than I ever could have expected.
Finally, I'd just like to say that I want a light saber. there are times that the Dark Forces/Jedi Knight series (which I can';t even link to over at LucasArts because they're so old) comes to mind, and I have this urge to drag a light saber across the walls at work. Then there's just the usefulness of a universal cutting tool.
I'm just saying.
I got to pick up my comics on the way back from Santa Clara on Friday, and I've been kind of off an on reading them. As well as updating characters for the next Psionics game and the game I'm running on Saturday.
And then there's writing fun letters to people. That's turning out to be more fun than I ever could have expected.
Finally, I'd just like to say that I want a light saber. there are times that the Dark Forces/Jedi Knight series (which I can';t even link to over at LucasArts because they're so old) comes to mind, and I have this urge to drag a light saber across the walls at work. Then there's just the usefulness of a universal cutting tool.
I'm just saying.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Stuff and Such
I got Jennifer's iPod all loaded up last night. She is very happy.
I gave up trying to read Deus Irae by Roger Zelazny and Philip K. Dick. Insanely too surreal for me. I remember slogging through it as a college student, but I don't feel the need to try so hard this time. So I'm on to Coils by Zelazny and Fred Saberhagen. It'll help keep me in the mood for our GURPS Psionics campaign.
It turns out I'm going to be traveling to Seattle at the end of April. I'm going to meet a friend and see a play she is directing. And sight see a bit.
And finally, I vow never to buy a Mazda unless they come up with cheap fusion cars. the people at the Mazda dealership in Santa Clara have been rude and unresponsive over some access issues. I hope to get it all worked out by the end of this week, but if not our schedule is going to be screwed.
I gave up trying to read Deus Irae by Roger Zelazny and Philip K. Dick. Insanely too surreal for me. I remember slogging through it as a college student, but I don't feel the need to try so hard this time. So I'm on to Coils by Zelazny and Fred Saberhagen. It'll help keep me in the mood for our GURPS Psionics campaign.
It turns out I'm going to be traveling to Seattle at the end of April. I'm going to meet a friend and see a play she is directing. And sight see a bit.
And finally, I vow never to buy a Mazda unless they come up with cheap fusion cars. the people at the Mazda dealership in Santa Clara have been rude and unresponsive over some access issues. I hope to get it all worked out by the end of this week, but if not our schedule is going to be screwed.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Surprise
After a slightly busy day, I headed over to help Jennifer with her setup for her party.
We got the last mirror on the wall, and got a cable for curtains attached. The cable bit is awesome, and we're both thrilled with the way everything turned out.
And then, just now, I received an e-mail. A surprise has been delivered, and has lifted the spirits of a good friend.
All around, a good day.
We got the last mirror on the wall, and got a cable for curtains attached. The cable bit is awesome, and we're both thrilled with the way everything turned out.
And then, just now, I received an e-mail. A surprise has been delivered, and has lifted the spirits of a good friend.
All around, a good day.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Chocolate Quest
Searching for proper cacao content.
Found for me many content percentages, and Sweet Riot.
Found for Jennifer fruity dark.
Found for another bits of paradise.
Then I had bits of each of mine with port.
Bliss.
Found for me many content percentages, and Sweet Riot.
Found for Jennifer fruity dark.
Found for another bits of paradise.
Then I had bits of each of mine with port.
Bliss.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Thickening
I create, I draw, I write.
We converse via the page both through the aether and on mundane matter.
The quest is the joy, and the joy is the wonder.
We make peace.
We make laughter.
And all is mended.
We converse via the page both through the aether and on mundane matter.
The quest is the joy, and the joy is the wonder.
We make peace.
We make laughter.
And all is mended.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
A Sense of Pleasance
Today I got the opportunity to spend with an old friend from college. We'll call her Dian.
After seeing the condition in which she left me emotionally nearly 15 years ago, some might wonder how I could still call her a friend. But she's one of those that you just remain friends with. She's very intelligent, and has a way about her that you just want to talk to. She's fun to be around.
And she's very pretty.
She was in the area for an interview, and asked if I could give her a ride there while her sister was working. We met at DVC, had lunch at Monsoon Masala, and drove to Mill Valley. And we kept up a constant string of conversation. It was wonderful.
I learned today that the Bay Area is really not that big. Not two blocks from the theatre she was interviewing at is a burrito place that my family and extended family ate at a couple years ago near Christmas after walking around Muir Woods.
After the interview we drove back, I dropped her off with her sister and she headed off to see her mom.
I'm rooting for her to get the job in the summer, and not just for the chance to see her again. She's very confident, and one of those people you (or I, at least) just want to see succeed.
After seeing the condition in which she left me emotionally nearly 15 years ago, some might wonder how I could still call her a friend. But she's one of those that you just remain friends with. She's very intelligent, and has a way about her that you just want to talk to. She's fun to be around.
And she's very pretty.
She was in the area for an interview, and asked if I could give her a ride there while her sister was working. We met at DVC, had lunch at Monsoon Masala, and drove to Mill Valley. And we kept up a constant string of conversation. It was wonderful.
I learned today that the Bay Area is really not that big. Not two blocks from the theatre she was interviewing at is a burrito place that my family and extended family ate at a couple years ago near Christmas after walking around Muir Woods.
After the interview we drove back, I dropped her off with her sister and she headed off to see her mom.
I'm rooting for her to get the job in the summer, and not just for the chance to see her again. She's very confident, and one of those people you (or I, at least) just want to see succeed.
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