January 31, 2009
Girls Night Out
Two of my housemates, sisters Stacey and Jessica, joined me for a girls night out in Alameda. Jessica is a total cutie so we had the boys buzzing around her. It was quite amusing as Stacey is married with two kids and I may be single but the eldest of our little trio. Jessica got us the good service and free drinks we needed to feel like royalty for the evening. Plus, we found a wonderful restaurant to haunt - Barceluna. Superb drinks, excellent food and fantastic setting. My drink was highlighted with rose water. The first time I've had rose breath after a meal. Lovely and refreshing.
January 29, 2009
100% Victory!
Do the Rocky victory dance with me as I celebrate getting 100% on my third Statistics exam! This is after trying to figure out some of the questions with the math tutors who gave up and said it was impossible. Go ahead Statistics, make my day. I'll show you impossible!
Seriously, I think I may cry. Could I possibly be getting this stuff?
Last night we had a meeting of Doctor of Business Administration students. We are a funny lot. All a bit "different" which makes sense if you are doing a MBA on steroids. I finally felt like part of a community at the school as opposed to a lone student fumbling through Statistics and knowing that this was only the beginning - I would have to take the Doctoral level Quantitative Analysis course next. However, I am not alone. My fellow students gave me all kinds of Statistics advice and said that it freaked them out too but not to worry, the rest of the program is where you get into the meaty stuff.
My noodle could use some meaty stuff.
A Moment in Time
This afternoon I took the transbay bus home from San Francisco to Alameda. Usually I'm traveling in the late evening with commuters. As it was still daylight and the middle of the work day my fellow passengers were a different sort of lot.
Whilst waiting for the bus I noticed a dapper elderly man at the front of the line. Next to him was a rickety old bike and I just assumed it was his. However when the bus arrived he left the bike behind. I found a seat near to his and said that I thought that that was his bike. He was quite amused. "I've not been on a bike in over 60 years." That was the opening to a ride-long conversation, mostly one-sided. He proceeded to tell me the story of his career in the military, women he met in his travels and a particular event that had clearly impacted his independence. Over and over he told me how his son had invited him to come to Alameda for two weeks to visit. To the man's surprise his son packed up his father's belongings and moved them from LA to storage in Oakland. That was seven years ago.
It was clear that that was a pivotal moment in this man's life. Perhaps his loss of independence? He wasn't angry about it but rather a bit stunned that it had happened. "He wouldn't tell me why the truck was there. He put all my things in storage. He sold my car. I need to get a new one so that I can get back down there. I should just fly down and not tell him. He doesn't know I went in to San Francisco today."
Fascinating and heartbreaking how we can be so impacted by an event like this. It becomes our reference point moving forward. I didn't ask him any questions or try to rationalize that he was probably in a better place up here with his family. It was the story he needed to tell and perhaps just sharing it would be enough for him to move on.
Whilst waiting for the bus I noticed a dapper elderly man at the front of the line. Next to him was a rickety old bike and I just assumed it was his. However when the bus arrived he left the bike behind. I found a seat near to his and said that I thought that that was his bike. He was quite amused. "I've not been on a bike in over 60 years." That was the opening to a ride-long conversation, mostly one-sided. He proceeded to tell me the story of his career in the military, women he met in his travels and a particular event that had clearly impacted his independence. Over and over he told me how his son had invited him to come to Alameda for two weeks to visit. To the man's surprise his son packed up his father's belongings and moved them from LA to storage in Oakland. That was seven years ago.
It was clear that that was a pivotal moment in this man's life. Perhaps his loss of independence? He wasn't angry about it but rather a bit stunned that it had happened. "He wouldn't tell me why the truck was there. He put all my things in storage. He sold my car. I need to get a new one so that I can get back down there. I should just fly down and not tell him. He doesn't know I went in to San Francisco today."
Fascinating and heartbreaking how we can be so impacted by an event like this. It becomes our reference point moving forward. I didn't ask him any questions or try to rationalize that he was probably in a better place up here with his family. It was the story he needed to tell and perhaps just sharing it would be enough for him to move on.
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