First Forty

We had a party at school and I was on the set-up crew so I could set up the tables.

Talk to Kris at Japanese class about his JET interview; Tajima sensei tells us her experience in Japan with domestic violence; Ted and I have a long talk after class; he tells me about lingering sleeplessness related to his father, and his plans to move to Japan.

On the road to San Francisco by 11; meet Claire and Jesse at Mandarin Oriental hotel; we walk around North Beach, go to City Lights; I get the feeling the girls don't want me around so I take off after only 4 hours; night ride home along the coast makes up for everything.

Sean comes out for a little over three weeks; he works with me one day but decides that the work is too hard; he next finds a job working at a patisserie but he only lasts there an hour; Sean flies Debbie out for the weekend; Kirsten also comes out for a few days; Patti and I hike along the ridge of Topanga Canyon.

Employee meeting at Fox Valley Stuart Anderson's; kick soccer ball around at WWHS; car breaks down on Plamondon; Jim and Beth drive by, but don't see me; run to John's, leave car there; John's dad talks me through the repair the next day; it's "a nothin' thing".

Today we made valentines at home and made a valentine’s bag.

Peace and beauty at Coit Tower; woman who resembles Meggin takes our picture; I remark upon this and Yumi gets upset; drive over to Marin side of the Bridge; walk along restaurants near Pier 39; decide to eat dinner back home.

Meggin and I enumerate the reasons why we're NOT working; she wants to fly me out to Boston so we can talk face-to-face; great panel discussion in Native American Experience; importance of knowing who you are; what are my traditions, stories?; call Meggin to share my enthusiasm.

Go to Marie Callender's for my birthday with Grandma, Grandpa, Jenny, Claire, Patti, Liza, and Lucy; Liza is pretty loud; Grandma chides me for having so many people out at once.

Spring break is over; time to catch-up; take Grant to O'Hare Saturday morning; I love the airport; see Jim McMahon in the terminal; some guy says they went to high school together.