Facebook

As some of you know, I've discovered Facebook. My friend Ann calls it "daycare for grown-ups", and I can really see the comparison. I can see how it could be very addictive (I'm resisting as best I can), and it's fascinating to find all these people you never thought you'd see again and see what they're up to. I find myself feeling competitive with Sweetie over how many friends we've got, although she's kicking my butt - I think she has twice as many friends as me.

On a feeling old note, last week I was over town, showing my face around campus so they know I'm still alive, and one evening I saw an ad on the TV machine that started off "Attention! If you were born between the years 1969 and 1947, you're eligible for this program!" And it had to do with life insurance or something, and all I could think was "1969? That's younger than me! I'm so old I have to worry about dying now?" It was quite a shock to the system. Fortunately, USC has good benefits, so I've already got good life insurance, or I might have done something drastic (like buy life insurance off a TV commercial).

Speaking of life, Sweetie is feeling much better now. Energy levels are back, she's back in control of her life, it's all good. We've been able to go on a hike with the boys, attend parties, it's like Life is back. Very nice.

Inaugural post

I'm not sure any of you were aware, but today Barack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States.

What a great day! [I was watching this momentous occasion in the customer lounge at Torrance Toyota while the Prius was being worked on.] My first strong reaction was when Joe Biden took his Oath of Office, I thought to myself, "No more Cheney! Hooray!" (Although I did feel sorry for the former VP that he had to attend in a wheelchair. That's no way to go out. I mean, I really dislike the guy, but I do have a heart.) The other moment that was most poignant to me was when the Obamas walked the Bushes to the helicopter. The new President had just delivered a speech in which he basically said his predecessor had led the country in the wrong direction, and yet there they were walking together, talking affably, even sharing a laugh. What a powerful image of peaceable transfer of power to send around the world.

As for Obama's speech, I thought it was sober and powerful. As with most of his rhetoric, he spoke to the American public like they were adults facing difficult times. Hopefully this will help the young generation mature, and those who are already adults act like it. His admonishments to Congress about getting beyond petty party politics was well-deserved, but might not win him friends on Capitol Hill. I also liked his message to other countries. Looks like we're on the track back to international cooperation and openness instead of dominance and hegemony.

On a side note, while I am very happy and excited that he was elected, I have to say that I don't understand the media's focus on how this is a victory for the black community. I see this as a victory for all Americans - we are now a country where race won't prevent a black man from becoming President, but racism is far from over. I think we're on the right track, and I think his election is something to be celebrated as special, but this also ties into something else that was well described on (of all places) an episode of South Park. It's the 'n-word' episode, where Stan says to Token (the token black character) "I don't get it" about how blacks use the n-word with each other, but get angry when whites use it. The upshot of the episode is "I don't get it." Whites can't understand how the black community feels because they haven't had the experience of being black. And I think that's the reason that I don't understand the exuberance over his blackness. I'm just happy that the candidate with the right ideas and ideals (IMHO) was elected.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Inauguration. Write a comment!

Unreasonable weather

It's the middle of January.

It's not supposed to be 80 degrees outside, and it's been that warm all week.

In addition, it's been sunny and the winds have been completely calm.

We had a beach cookout this weekend for pete's sake!

This isn't right.



[But I'm not complaining.]

Boat Ride

It being January, of course the weather here is beautiful - 70's and sunny. (Okay, to be fair, it's mostly been cool and cloudy recently, but this weekend was superb.) So we decided to take a boat ride.

Thing1 had gone over to a friend's house for a sleepover in another cove, so we decided to pick him up by boat, and maybe do some sightseeing, too. We borrowed a boat and took off across the harbor. It couldn't have been a nicer day - sunny, warm, the water was completely flat. Arriving at the K's, we stopped for some social time, which was nice. Now that Sweetie is feeling better, she's feeling more like being social, so it was nice to have an opportunity to hang out with friends for a while. Thing2, meanwhile, got a little play time in with Thing1 and tK.

After leaving the K's, we continued west along the coast, just enjoying the day and the scenery, passing Emerald Bay and Parson's Landing, until we reached the very West End of the island. Santa Barbara was clearly visible, as were the snowy mountains across the LA basin. A bald eagle was sitting on a rocky peak, looking majestic. We took some pictures and then turned around. On the way back we saw a sea lion checking us out, some harbor seals sunning on the rocks, a pod of bottlenose dolphins (that we actually got quite close to - they are BIG), and a small pod of Pacific whitesided dolphins.

It was a lovely day, and everyone had a good time. Next time, we'll bring the boys' fishing rods.