changing moods and shaking houses

i was so ready to write a grumpy, mad entry tonight,
about how work sucks, and i'm trying not to get sick,
and there was glass on the bike path,
and one light was green for only 3 seconds,
and just general bitterness i'm feeling this week..

when i arrive home to packages from my mom and dad.



now, care packages i got at college were one thing,
always great chinatown snacks and homey things,
cause they knew i missed home badly when i was at school.
but these 2 packages could not have come at a better time,
and could not be any sweeter. i had tears in my eyes..

my dad had sent me biking gloves i'd asked him to,
and had added all the signature "det" goodies,
that i could receive anonymously and still know he sent.
a bike light, special toothpicks, a couple pens,
a chinese photography magazine, a raw food bar,
trail mix, an 8gb! usb drive, and money in, get this,
a "north american hunting club" wallet!
the F-ing best, det, the F-ing best.

and my mom, bless her heart,
she sent me my birthday gift and card early,
i'll open it when the time comes,
and SELF-ADDRESSES STAMPED ENVELOPES
and PAPER to write her with.
note the pretty flower stamps too.
i couldn't believe what i saw.
if you've met my mother you know,
she is the sweetest little lady ever.

*begin note to parents-
i really want you two (ma and det) to know,
i love you both so very much.
more than anything in the world.
you give me such a wonderful life.
-end note*

so, as they requested, i finally took a picture
of myself in my room.



just kidding.
that's a model unit in the building where i work.
i go through checking off checklists of defects
and blemishes in the construction of the units.
it's called punch-list and back-check. blah.
there are only a few apts furnished like that,
to show potential buyers and leasers,
the rest are bare bones and much less glamorous.
it can get boring, but i do get to wear a hard-hat.

but these are my real digs.



it's simple, but it does me all right.
i sleep fine at night, and have enough room to breath.

sorry for the long-winded post.

oh and soon after i shot those photos,
i felt my first west coast earthquake!
the house shook for maybe 4 seconds!
thankfully nothing fell down. crazy!

anyways, peace, love, and sun coming through the clouds.

the place

so i'm living in west oakland.
this apartment on 14th by mandela parkway has been home for nearly a month. it's still pretty bare, i have a bed/futon, a couple lamps, an open closet, a bamboo shade, all from ikea of course, and my bikes and plants in a corner. there are three windows, two face the yard and are really nice. here's the biggest one.



the nicest thing about living in oakland is its familiarity,
because for so many reasons, i feel like i'm in brooklyn.
it's one stop on the train across the water from the city.
it's more laid back and much homier than the city.
it's much easier and more pleasant to ride through.
the city is like the city, and it's cool like that,
but i guess i'm more of an outer boro type cat.
at least to come home in the evening to.

here are my plants, i like them.



work and bike update to come.
i'm working two jobs these days...
and riding two bikes too. that's nice tho.

hello holler

i started a new blog!
i'd love to start out with a compelling, thoughtful, interesting post,
but it's 3:16 in the morning and i'm still trying to figure out
why i started a new blog. i have xanga, but i barely wrote
and people barely read. i could just keep a journal instead.
which i do.

anyways, i may have figured it out.
to break it down, for myself and others,
this blog will be an east coast to east bay experience log.
all my close friends back in nyc and boston and wherever else,
will perhaps be convinced to come out here and join in on the fun.
or stay where they are or go somewhere else cause it's cooler.

the point is, it's a wonderful thing to travel,
and explore, and experience new places.
a full life is very difficult to live out
on the same dozen or so square miles.
and the world is vast, and offering, and welcoming.
maybe.