Happy Bastille Day 2010

I celebrated this Bastille Day helping some stones break free from their dark dank prison known as my ureter. Thankfully, the stones were freed sans guillotine.

Today's Lithotripsy has gone well so far. The 8mm kidney stone is now pulverized and I've been having no problems thus far with passing a mini sand storm through my urethra. I look at these pebbles of calcium and the thought of them once joined together in a huge meteorite configuration reminded me of the threat that beheld the Earth in Armageddon. People, who have had this procedure, told me the days after can be a mini vacation to hell. Luckily, no vomiting, only a bit of nausea, no huge pieces as of yet to pass. I am collecting them in a specimen container so that the hospital can analyze why I've now had to undergo these pains for the third time in my life.

Although much of my summer vacation has passed as I await the completion of the stones' journey, I hope to have a few remaining days of nice weather and relaxation before I start planning to teach senior English for the first time in my life. I've taught seniors CAHSEE class, basic remediation class, and now I will show them senior exit project. May they graduate...

The World Felt Right This Past Friday

First of all, happy birthday to the soon papa-to-be Will Tong, whose wife used to claim they would name their sons Sal and Ed... (salad tongs, get it!?!)

Ok, whatever....

So June 27 began with my first summer movie of the year... that's right... I have yet to see Iron Man, Indy, and a host of many others that I need to get to soon. But I've always loved being there to see midnight showing when a film first debuts. I would do it all the time in the 90s but then teaching and whatever Friday night activity (dance, football game, performing arts show, birthday parties, Giants games) kept me away... and that's why I love the Thursday night/Friday morning midnight madness premiere. So S. and N. got me a ticket and asked me to join them watch WALL-E. Now I'm not the biggest Disney fan, but I am a huge Pixar fan. You always know you're in for a treat when you get that opening cartoon that serves as a warm-up for the feature. It was about a magician and it reminded me of the old school
Warner Brothers cartoons with the Carl Stalling scores. Pixar shorts are great and that's why I bought that DVD. Now the main feature, WALL-E. I was curious how I would feel about a mostly dialogue-less film, but the story held strong for the most part for me. The parts that felt the most cartoonish happened aboard the Axiom, whereas the Earth scenes captured a beautiful stillness but depressing image of what humans are doing to the planet. Being a person who loves and hates solitude, I related to WALL-E in the sense of collecting things that have a hidden personal value that maybe no one else can share. WALL-E beheld a beauty in the simplicity of certain objects, though we might consider them to be consumable. These moments remind me of the lessons I have on Emerson's "Poet" and Whitman's "Preface" to Leaves of Grass. The main point of which is to ask the students to think about how particular words came to be and how every name/word was once a poem until it became everyday/cliche. One of WALL-E's treasured items is a VHS tape of a particular musical and it lends a humanity to WALL-E that seems to be waning from the souls of each successive generation (and the film comments on that concept as well). I particularly appreciated the lone survivor archetype (most recently seen in I Am Legend) and the homage to Kubrick's 2001: the music, the steps, the jogging track reference, and the autopilot/HAL character (my favorite Otto/autopilot is still from Airplane! though). I've read a couple of reviews from EW and the Chronicle and I agree with both to a degree. I did feel the movie possessed a soul and was educational without being in your face about it. While WALL-E may not produce the most merchandise ever (I don't know how many parents will buy toys of stuffed fat people in their hover chairs), I expect the film to resonate in viewers and hopefully our next generation will be like the one in the film and learn to value life a little differently.

And that was just the first two hours of my Friday...

The latter part of the evening ended with another set of great friends. For the first time in a long time, my softball team held a batting practice. Usually these sessions go for an hour or so and about 5 people show up. Last night we practiced from 5:00 to 8:30 pm, just long enough for all of us to start freezing our asses off. More impressive, 12 people showed up (nothing like losing your first two games to get people wanting to hit). But the practice felt like old times with a bunch of us cracking jokes ripping on each other (echoing Shaq's chorus to Kobe). Transitionally, we went out to eat at Fung Wong near the Gellert/Hickey 7-11. Often these meals are fun but not always so unified because too many of us are there to sit at one table. Well eight of us went to dinner and it was the best night of bonding and bitching... reminiscing... hopes... family... although not everyone came to practice... and not everyone who practiced went to dinner... the meal felt like a good family dinner... which i think is the most important thing for our team's psyche....

so thanks to all of you for helping have a wonderful summer night

Starting to feel like summer

Although the Giants lost 5 of 6 games on this homestand, I was there for all of those losses. I basically have moved into my summer home and you can always find me in 138 from now until school starts August 18th (boo! boo!)

Unique happenings occurred at every game naturally and I'll highlight those fit for public consumption.

Friday night vs. the A's
I finally got to bring my CADA buddy, David, to his first game at AT&T Park. Along with us came Faye who continues to think that David is Ryan Stiles. Good times!

Saturday night vs. the A's
I spent the afternoon at Lauren's graduation picnic and I was able to spend some time with family, whom I did not see enough. In particular, my ninong's kids, Jing and Virgie, who ended up having tickets to the game (I sold mine on stubhub) and I had the opportunity to show them my summer home. Sadly, Jing lost her wallet and all seemed at a lost. We went to the executives suite but they had no luck finding it. Seriously, what are the odds someone would turn the wallet in. But I had an inkling, and just before the Giants staff who worked the Marina Gate left, we caught up with them and Bob radioed up to the lost and found. And what do you know? My cousin's wallet was there fully intact. Thanks to Charlie, who patrols 138 for finding it and allowing my cousin peace of mind.

Sunday vs. the A's (father's day)
Again, I sold my tickets because I was going to the game with All-star teacher of the year nominee, Alicia Vosberg. Some of you saw her interview on the pre-game show and a lucky few of you saw both of us along with Alicia's daughter and our co-worker, Nikki, between the 3rd and 4th innings. I loved being able to hangout on the field, especially in the dugout. Take a look and enjoy...

But don't forget to vote for my co-worker... and tell all your friends...

Monday vs. the Tigers
I recovered and didn't go to the game. Of course the Giants won, but not because I wasn't there but because Tim Lincecum pitched. He better be in the all-star game.

Tuesday night vs. the Tigers
I brought two scorned women to the game with me. They kept me entertained as I heard all about the failings of men. It's a good thing I'm usually the designated driver.

Wednesday vs. the Tigers
My sister and co-workers showed up to the game with me and they got a full dose of what it means to be in 138. A few of us were there and my co-workers realized why my section is so cool. Game ended at 4; we hung out until 11pm.

That summer feeling took a backseat today as I went into work from 3pm to 9pm in order to set up some things for next school year. Here's to sleeping in though....