Let me use my "I" statements

All of us who graduated from high school/college/graduate school are by default, alums of those institutions. I attended and graduated from The Lakeside School in Seattle, WA. Class of 1988, thank you. So today, there was a Bay Area gathering of alums held at The University Club in San Francisco. The address, 800 Powell, should have given me enough warning to stay away. Why is it that I feel that I am never going to enjoy these events. Against my typical anal retentiveness, I showed up 20 minutes late, which is the outer parts of the margin or error for me. I walk into this stately ballroom and there is no one (out of about a dozen) there that I know or even recognize. I lounged around the food, looked at the spectacular view, glanced at some of the Lakeside literature and talked to the Director of Planned Giving for a couple of minutes. Then, the Director of Alumni Affairs was free, she is someone I know as she was a year younger than me, and after the typical small talk, there was the awkward silence. She broke it by telling me that she saw a bunch of my classmates, you know the ones who always hung out together and lived in the same wealthy neighboorhoods and belonged to the Seattle Tennis Club, that morning at a breakfast held by one of my 1988 classmates. That took me RIGHT back to being 16 and feeling that I was always left out. I know that I should be proud of my life and what I've done and to be happy with who I am, but to hear the names of those classmates of mine in that context once again made me feel inferior. At the time, I didn't understand the feelings, just that I had to get out of there and fast. I know that the unresolved issues of high school are complete and utter BS. There is NO ONE to blame except me and I'm sure all the breakfast eaters are perfectly nice people now that they are 35 as well. I need to suck it up and let it go.

I see those friends of mine from high school and college, the people near and dear to my heart. So, a vow. I will give money to the institutions that I hold so dear, but alumni functions, for the time being, are out of the question.

You know the Apocalpyse is coming when

ummm, yeah, read here.

From Bayview/Hunters Point to The Muir Woods

These two geographic locations were the places I landed Saturday night and Sunday morning respectively. On Saturday night, Hans, his friend Nina and I went to a fundraiser for Public Glass which is a hot glass facility run by a small group of dedicated artists. For a $20 donation, you got a free glass, free beer, a band, some belly dancers and some demonstration glass blowing. It was really a cool experience but I truly felt I was back in college in a fraternity party. What was of particular interest/apprehension about attending this event was the fact that it is located a mere half mile from Candlestick Park, thereby placing it in the southeastern quadrant of the city, Bayview/Hunter's Point, which you are told to never go to at night. It's as if that knowledge is imparted to every incoming resident of San Francisco. But, as was to be expected, the journey to and back was uneventful.

Ernie, Nina and Hans with our new favorite drinking vessels

The selection of complimentary glasses

On Sunday morning (4/17/05), S&M, his mother Mrs. Weller and I took a journey over the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County (Yes, I did get my visa and passport all squared away :)) to make a visit to the Muir Woods. Here are some pictures:

So as a tease, here is a picture of S&M's mother. The family resemblence is a strong one, but alas, still no official picture of S&M.




S&M's Mother hails from Athens, GA

S&M's mother leaves on Tuesday to return to Georgia. Safe travels!