Dylan has been here most of the week; he is looking for work and playing video games with Aidan in Missoula. I stayed home of Wednesday, mainly to spend time with him. Technology helps them keep their relationship strong. I love that.
He and have gotten food from Mexican and Chinese restaurants, plus I have cooked spaghetti twice, including tonight.
Like most older people I had a health scare this week. I do not think very many young people understand what it is like to be in your late 60s, but my staffers seem to be able to, mainly because I have been open with them.
I went to my doctor yesterday and it appears things are okay for now. The tests came back mainly positive with a few indications of concern. But for now I seem to be okay.
Up in Napa, Julia and I have talked about a company called JustFab that she bought some shoes from 18 months ago. Ever since then, it turns out, they have been billing my credit card $39.95/month. I am sorry to say I have so many charges to that card that it took me until Wednesday to figure this out.
Since she was a minor when she made her (one) purchase 18 months ago, and they have been ripping us off ever since, the offered to refund me twleve of those payments. The rest they offered as purchases.
We accepted their offer. So Julia has $160 in clothes on the way; I am not sure what kind of mixed message this is sending her...
Friday, October 09, 2015
Sunday, October 04, 2015
Weekend Pace
A friend stopped by for tea. She is Japanese and often visits me on Saturdays. She took two copies of my book, Circle of Poison, one in Japanese and one in English, for a class she is taking on critical thinking and essay writing. I love that that book is still relevant for people.
Then I met a friend from work at the Atlas Cafe. First time I'd been there in a while. We ran into another friend from work while there.
Back home, my youngest son and I watched the baseball game on TV. The Giants did not make the playoffs so these last games are meaningless on one level. But somehow that makes them even more enjoyable to watch.
It's just the pure beauty of the game.
I got up early and did our weekly (or now bi-weekly) shopping trip. Bags of groceries and supplies. There were no lines and plenty of parking spaces.
As I unloaded the bags from the trunk of my old car, I spoke with my neighbor and heard the sound of a bird singing.
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Then I met a friend from work at the Atlas Cafe. First time I'd been there in a while. We ran into another friend from work while there.
Back home, my youngest son and I watched the baseball game on TV. The Giants did not make the playoffs so these last games are meaningless on one level. But somehow that makes them even more enjoyable to watch.
It's just the pure beauty of the game.
I got up early and did our weekly (or now bi-weekly) shopping trip. Bags of groceries and supplies. There were no lines and plenty of parking spaces.
As I unloaded the bags from the trunk of my old car, I spoke with my neighbor and heard the sound of a bird singing.
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Thursday, October 01, 2015
October 1st
My youngest son, the only kid staying with me this fall, applied for a job today. He said the interview made him incredibly nervous but he thinks it went pretty well. It is a retail job, doesn't start until November, and will involve being really busy during the holiday period, when he finally once again will have friends in the city.
I think all of us can understand how a young person feels going in for his first job interview. Hell, until I got my current job, during the many years I was jobless, I lost most of the confidence acquired over a lifetime when applying for jobs. After a long career of success.
In those interviews, it's impossible to feel that you are not being judged, and especially in today's American culture, you really are being judged and evaluated.
Plus he is an especially good, sensitive, sweet and brilliant individual. But none of those qualities necessarily gets you a job. I gently suggested that when you do get jobs you have to compromise on a lot of levels. So if he is too busy at Christmas to see his friends as often as he would like he will at least have enough money to have fun when he does.
All I could think of to relax him after the stressful interview was for us to go by El Matate, and get one of his favorite burritos. Tomorrow night we will order pizza. Later tonight, when his brother in Missoula gets online, they will play video games.
Thus is my life as a parent.
(Don't even get me started what it is like at work.)
I think all of us can understand how a young person feels going in for his first job interview. Hell, until I got my current job, during the many years I was jobless, I lost most of the confidence acquired over a lifetime when applying for jobs. After a long career of success.
In those interviews, it's impossible to feel that you are not being judged, and especially in today's American culture, you really are being judged and evaluated.
Plus he is an especially good, sensitive, sweet and brilliant individual. But none of those qualities necessarily gets you a job. I gently suggested that when you do get jobs you have to compromise on a lot of levels. So if he is too busy at Christmas to see his friends as often as he would like he will at least have enough money to have fun when he does.
All I could think of to relax him after the stressful interview was for us to go by El Matate, and get one of his favorite burritos. Tomorrow night we will order pizza. Later tonight, when his brother in Missoula gets online, they will play video games.
Thus is my life as a parent.
(Don't even get me started what it is like at work.)
Sunday, September 27, 2015
One of My Readers
Yesterday my youngest son slept in while I fiddled around doing the usual weekend chores -- paying bills, doing the laundry, washing dishes, cleaning...
When he woke up we went to our favorite hamburger place -- Whizburger -- for lunch. Then he watched an exciting Giants game on TV with me. (They won, 14-10.)
In between, he played video games long-distance with his brother in Missoula, who talked to us both over an Internet connection.
In ;ate afternoon, he went off with his Mom to practice driving. He has his license; he just needs to improve his driving skills.
He talked with me about getting nervous in job interviews. This is relevant because he has two coming up. He told me a story that I'd never heard before about an interview two years ago for an internship -- that he got.
In his letter, he addressed the hiring officer as Mister because they had a male-sounding name. When he got to the interview the person appeared to be a female, so he nervously apologized for addressing her as a man.
She then told him that she identified as a man, making the entire exchange even more awkward for him.
That's like in San Francisco for a young guy trying to find his way.
I just love our talks. He is such an impressive young man, even as he takes a gap year from college. He is reading six books -- all of them impressive works. He loves to read, a rarity for his generation.
When he woke up we went to our favorite hamburger place -- Whizburger -- for lunch. Then he watched an exciting Giants game on TV with me. (They won, 14-10.)
In between, he played video games long-distance with his brother in Missoula, who talked to us both over an Internet connection.
In ;ate afternoon, he went off with his Mom to practice driving. He has his license; he just needs to improve his driving skills.
He talked with me about getting nervous in job interviews. This is relevant because he has two coming up. He told me a story that I'd never heard before about an interview two years ago for an internship -- that he got.
In his letter, he addressed the hiring officer as Mister because they had a male-sounding name. When he got to the interview the person appeared to be a female, so he nervously apologized for addressing her as a man.
She then told him that she identified as a man, making the entire exchange even more awkward for him.
That's like in San Francisco for a young guy trying to find his way.
I just love our talks. He is such an impressive young man, even as he takes a gap year from college. He is reading six books -- all of them impressive works. He loves to read, a rarity for his generation.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Young Artists in the City
It was fascinating to see these four young art students study the murals and make comments.
Soon after, they headed back up to their school in Napa.
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Connecting This Way and That
Dylan and I got him a new iPhone today; his old one has been failing for a while. Then we got pizza at Escape From New York, a chain he and his siblings discovered back when I worked at Predictify in downtown Redwood City.
He got his contacts and photos transferred but thought that he had lost his music playlist (2,000 songs). Nope, eventually he located them.
Now he is playing video games and talking with Aidan in Missoula. We talked about how this kind of experience -- connecting with your brother when he is so far away via technology -- was never possible back when I was his age or for many decades afterward.
They can play together because we have xboxes in both locations.
These devices -- iPhones, xboxes -- cost money but to me the cost is not what matters. They are investments in family, in keeping siblings in touch with each other.
I had a long talk with Aidan who thinks he is doing well in his classes. The one he worries about, Chemistry, has a test on Tuesday.
Julia and her friends went to a movie last night and she apparently took them to one of favorite local diners, Whiz Burger, as part of squiring them around the city.
I hope to take them all to lunch tomorrow before they head back up to Napa.
These small domestic details may seem trivial, but to me, they are the essence of what life is about. When I was younger, I thought what mattered most were big ideas and accomplishments. Not that those are unimportant but now, for me at least, it is being connected to those in your circle of family and friends that matters most.
He got his contacts and photos transferred but thought that he had lost his music playlist (2,000 songs). Nope, eventually he located them.
Now he is playing video games and talking with Aidan in Missoula. We talked about how this kind of experience -- connecting with your brother when he is so far away via technology -- was never possible back when I was his age or for many decades afterward.
They can play together because we have xboxes in both locations.
These devices -- iPhones, xboxes -- cost money but to me the cost is not what matters. They are investments in family, in keeping siblings in touch with each other.
I had a long talk with Aidan who thinks he is doing well in his classes. The one he worries about, Chemistry, has a test on Tuesday.
Julia and her friends went to a movie last night and she apparently took them to one of favorite local diners, Whiz Burger, as part of squiring them around the city.
I hope to take them all to lunch tomorrow before they head back up to Napa.
These small domestic details may seem trivial, but to me, they are the essence of what life is about. When I was younger, I thought what mattered most were big ideas and accomplishments. Not that those are unimportant but now, for me at least, it is being connected to those in your circle of family and friends that matters most.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Home for the Weekend
"Dad, it is great to see you!"
She obviously loves it up there. The kids are given a lot of freedom to set their own schedules and pick creative projects. The place is so small that everyone knows everyone else.
I didn't get to see any of her art projects but the dorm suite she shares with six others is very nice. This is obviously the right place for her to be at this point.
Dylan got back from the east coast today, too, so we all got Mexican food from El matate and he is spending the night here at my place; the girls at Connie's.
It was very hot in Napa and on the route home and traffic was heavy. the A-C in my old car is not working well and I felt bad for the girls, but they were gracious about it. As we arrived next to the Bay we opened the windows, noticed the fog entering SF and all breathed a sigh of comfortable relief.
As we came over the bridge Julia started pointing out the landmarks for her guests. She was obviously so proud and excited to tell them about her city. They were amazed by the many murals on buildings here in the Mission, as well as by the narrow, hilly streets of Bernal.
They plan to go to a movie, shop, and sight see all weekend. I will (happily) foot the bill. It is such a relief to see my 16-year-old back to her cheerful self and seeing her easily make new friends!
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