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Since Mike’s started using a bike on his commute to work, I thought it’d be nice if he had a smooth ride (and he was talking about a road bike anyway). So I resolved to finish working on that old 10-speed road-bike that’s been sitting against our patio wall. In the middle of re-greasing the rear hub assembly, Mike shouts over to me asking if I’d like to go donate blood with him. I figure sure, why not? I’ve got enough time before my class that I can finish working on the bike when we get home.

So we swing over to the blood bank. The usual questions on my military service since 1977 (from a nice lady who was a marathon cyclist) and they had me up on the chair waiting. I’m just hanging out so look over at Mike in the next chair grimacing. Turns the lady drawing from him put the needle in too deep, skewered the vein, and found muscle (ouch!). My lady, on the other hand, was the picture of deftness. A nurse for seven years, she knew what she was doing ^_^ . Didn’t feel a thing when she pulled the needle out. Then the usual instructions on no exercise or heavy lifting for 24hrs, drink plenty of fluids…blah blah blah.

Get home, finish working on my bike, and cycle over to class only marginally late. Hehe…wasn’t until I was half way to class I realized I was drinking coffee before I left (something that dehydrates was probably not the fluid they were talking about). Cycle back home, relax for a while, then start one dinner for myself, Mike, and Mom (flipping around an iron pan filled with potatoes, onions, and sauce for 30 min can’t possibly be heavy lifting, right?). And after diner a nice bike ride around SCU with Lisa (hardly exercise, I promise ^_^ ).

Fun couple of days.

Yesterday Mike and I (with V-dawg’s help, natch ) changed the brake’s and rotors on the Stratus. That evening about two-thirds of the Manchester and Park houses had a night of cartoons and games.

Today I was mistaken for a grad student twice. Is that what hair does? Makes you look older? Or just more downtrodden? Commuted up to Palo Alto for Foothill’s Intermediate Chinese three course and to hook up with some of the gang for Maria’s birthday (oh! Maria! Maria!). Went out for Thai. Ooh….so good and so spicy ^_^” . Fell asleep on the bus commuting back down, but woke up in time to hop off at Monroe.

Props to Mike for shrugging off the burden of automotive transportation! Today was his first day (of many, I hope) as a bike-and-train commuter. We’re going to try to hit up some bike swap-meet this Sunday and find him a truly fly ride (hopefully with spokes with clickity-clacks ).

Santa Clara University’s 7th annual (from what I gathered from the program) Vietnamese Student Association cultural show was tonight. They performed a script written by an SCU student. It was marvelously funny with wushu, dancing, evil laughter, and a heartfelt goodbye. Very good show. From speaking with the president of the Asian-Pacific Islander Student Union (APSU), I learned that there are going to be a lot of cultural shows in the spring. Should be fun.

I’ve also discovered that I can put together an easy vegan dish that Mike and Cath enjoy. Oh..the good times will roll ^_^ .

Jeez it’s been far too long since I’ve posted.

Friday a couple of the ladies from Park and I went cycling down to Trader Joe’s for Kosher for pesach chicken (theirs) and soy-butter and bread (mine).

Saturday was the Miss Teen Chinatown pageant (go Pat!).

Don’t remember what happened Sunday but the highlight of Monday was me destroying half the muscles in my torso . Lisa and I have started working out together regularly. Very fun. We’re gonna get so good looking ^^ (now all I need is a gal to appreciate it ). There was also a speaker at San Jose State making a case against the Israeli State. Some of the Hillel people went to demonstrate (not a protest, they weren’t shouting ) and I went to take pictures

Heard back from the MultiCultural Center..the Jewish Student Union didn’t get approved. They didn’t say why..they want another meeting to explain why.

Tmw is the last day of Pesach which means tomorrow for dinner we’re going out so that Lisa can gorge on pizza. I didn’t realize till I cooked a couple of kosher for pesach meals all the though that has to go into them.

Two nights ago I made curry with yams, potato, broccoli, onion (maybe other stuff I’m forgetting). Last night Yuka root with spinach, onion, and garlic. Tonight yam curry again followed by a cabbage, onion, potato, veggie marrow, stir fry. Yums yums ^^

I finally broke down and replaced my cell phone. After being hit by the truck it started to turn off randomly. Then the other day I took a turn to quickly on my bike, slipped, and fell on it (along with my wrist and my knee…the phone took the worst of it) cracking the display. My new phone is a SLVR L6. It’ll work in China, is unlocked, and works in Chinese ^^

Hopefully this great weather will hold out and I’ll be organizing a hiking trip this weekend. We’ll see.

Did I have time to stop today? Yes…but precious little. Most relaxing moment of the day: sitting outside of a Marin cafe with some friends sipping an amazing espresso between bites of a wonderful sandwich of grilled zucchini and mushrooms on focaccia. Eyes closed, bay breeze, sun….oooh, baby was it sweet.

Awake at 6. Phone, shower, dress, breakfast, commute to SF, drive to the Marin Civic Center with Pres and Pat (meeting Pat’s friend Pat ^^ ). Saw the building, the architecture, some of Wright’s sketches, took a bunch of pictures. Then off to Sausalito for brunch. Coffee and sandwich *swoon*. Then a rush back to the caltrain station so I could hope to make the 2:07 train to Santa Clara so I could make my 3:40 class. Didn’t quite make it.

Long-man, mench that he is, drove me down home to Manchester. Cooled our heels a bit then I was off to class. Took a bit of a spill corning too quickly to make a bike parking space and landed on my cell phone. Still usable, but I cracked the display. Got the insurance though so it’s all good (assuming Cingular isn’t going to be a bitch about it).

After class I rode around for a little while. Took some pictures from the Arts and Science building for my Views from SCU series. At 8 the JSU was meeting with the Multi-Cultural Center (MCC) to discuss the JSU joining. Their big pothole is the JSU as a religious-minded club as opposed to a cultural organization. Between Katie’s list of cultural events and my rants on latkes I think we sold them (though we were grilled for about an hour). We’ll see.

After the presentation I went back to Katie’s place for her sader on this, the second night of pesach. Last night we had an amazing family dinner. Tonight, I learned how to make boiled potatoes, Russian style, from Katie’s Michael and Jason, bless his afro’ed heart, brought vegan wine to the sader. Some dinner, some wine, some bored games. Good way to unwind.

Now….I’m off to shower. Between the warm day, the cycling, an hour under the spotlight, Katie’s sauna of an apartment, and the ride home (part of it racing Jason’s car from my bike), I could REALLY use a shower.

Today’s picture is a bolt that adorns the side of the roof on the Marin Civic Center, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

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