East Bay: One Day... and lots of food and sentimentality!

This is a short update because we are supposed to be getting on the road at 6 am tomorrow (.....) but we had a lovely last day here.  I dragged everyone on last minute errands to send the last two boxes and the kitchen table that mom and I have had since we moved into our first apartment in 1986 (the sentimental value is pretty high, much like the shipping cost.)  Next we hit Everett and Jones BBQ which is one of my very favorite restaurants in Oakland to meet up with a friend from the aforementioned apartment days!  Here is mom and David after our delicious lunch and walk through Jack London square...

Thanks for coming all the way down to see us!

After we ran a few more errands and then hit Fenton's, ice cream restaurant extraordinaire.  Not only was Fenton's featured in Pixar's UP, it was also the very first restaurant where I ate on the very first night I moved to Oakland.  Anyway, here are the pictures from our Fenton's gorge fest:

Here we have the Fudgeanna, the Cookie Connection and the Saddleback Brownie.  I just had a very unexciting milkshake but it was a seasonal favorite: cherry vanilla.  Anyway, I'm still full and have to get up in about 5 hours.  This girl is signing out for now!

Check out all of the pictures here.

Night! Victoria

Day One: SF in a day!

We had a whirlwind day in the San Francisco Bay Area today.  We started at Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe in Emeryville.  Michael got the Breakfast Burrito, Mom had the Tower of Power, and Ab and I stuck with the more generic pancakes and (challah!) french toast.  This is my favorite picture of the events at Rudy's:

A good start, no?

From there we hopped over to the Golden Gate bridge (which, like with Dani's visit, was covered in fog!)  It was FREEZING.

We walked along the bridge before we headed to Lombard Street.  Michael was totally freaked out and took a video of the experience.  

Next we hit some Coit tower action because it is my absolute favorite place in the city.  The view from my favorite spot at Coit...

We hit Chinatown next (SF boasts the largest Chinatown outside of China) and the family got to hit the fortune cookie factory where fortune cookies were invented!  Next we had a quick jaunt over to Fisherman's wharf for some sea lions and sourdough bread action before turning off to Treasure Island, where it looked like mom was self-medicating... 

I promise it was only some blackberry soda (especially because we had already had a Shakin' Jesse aka Guinness milkshake for breakfast at Rudy's...) but I thought it was pretty silly the way she chose to drink it. 

Moving from SF to the east bay, we were lucky enough to have a tour of Pixar, along with a private screening!  (Okay, just some cartoon shorts, but still!) 

 

Thanks, Bryan, for our amazing tour!

We hit some errands and ended with dinner at Spenger's... we tried to teach Michael how to show off his dinner.

Ab shows off the deliciousness!  

And, if you have some time to kill you can check out all 137 pictures on Snapfish.  Fun!  I'd add more silly stories, but Mom and Michael are both knocked out and I'm about to fall asleep.... Someone was up and running around watching Nickelodeon at 6:30 am.   I have to get to bed before these silly east coasters wake me up.

Here's to another day of adventure tomorrow!

Victoria

Almost Day One!

Mom and Michael are (finally!) on their way here.  Their flight was delayed out of JFK where they reported a Sarah McLachlan concert.  We'll have to find out about that when they land...

Abby and I have had a very productive few days, since she arrived on Monday night/Tuesday morning (at 1 am into San Francisco.)  We've had multiple trips to the post office, a follow-up visit to the mechanic (send good thoughts to the AC condenser!) packing, thai food at Anchalee (delicious), said goodbye to Talia and Gabey, laundry, and last minute shopping!  It's been a whirlwind of last minute activity. 

We decided to take a rest break and treated ourselves to mani/pedis (no fish treatment today; apparently it IS really unsanitary... duh)  and are drying our nails before we head out for some windshield wipers--woo!  We are so exciting.  Once dried, we'll be able to finish up the last little bits of packing before the rest of the group lands!

Over and out as our adventure starts!

Victoria

OUSD FLASHBACK! East Coast Girl Heads West: The Sun Doesn't Shine at San Francisco State

Oh man, so I was going to put away the blogging today (I'm in panic mode I think; I want to get through these old emails if only for myself!) but I saw that the next email update was about SFSU... How I hate that place!  I know that there are programs there that are amazing and any institution that gave BD Wong a degree is not lackluster, but after months that turned into years, I know that place has part of my soul.  And not in a good way.  I finally completed my Master's degree requirements in Spring 2009 and held off on applying for my degree until this past semester because if you graduate you have to re-apply to finish your credential.  I had one class left and I was not planning on giving them any more money so I waited... and now I get to wait for my degree because, although, as I mentioned before, I had completed my requirements a full year before, there is a review process and then a six month waiting period before the degree is handed over.  Thank you, state schools.  Anyway, here is my last post from summer school 2005 and the start of SFSU madness:

It's the truth.  The sun does not shine in San Francisco, but I will get back to that later.

 

I finished summer school at the end of July.  The last day of school was absolutely crazy, as one would imagine and was only completed when Anthony (the kid who didn't like me and would growl at me) wouldn't keep his pants on.  Now, he had good reason: the slippery tube in its pursuit of freedom burst all over his pants, and Anthony couldn't stand having wet pants.  In fact, early that day Anthony spent ten minutes drying his pants when two splatters of milk came his way.  He was not ready for the slippery tube tsunami.  There was much to-do over this at the end of the day, from Anthony trying to put on a sweatshirt as pants, to putting on underwear that was sent in September, etc. etc.  It was not the best time for Anthony!  On the way to the bus the regular teacher stopped to talk to the principal and Anthony completely de-robed in about 5 seconds.   The principal was aghast and attempted to help the teacher put his pants back on, but he just growled and bit her.  Oh, he snotted on her too.  She deserved it; she did not put the "pal" in principal.  Anyhow, Anthony's pants eventually made it all the way to the bus and I said farewell to my favorite little growling friend.

 

I've started to growl when I get angry.  Not a good sign.

 

Let's see... then we had the last week of Oakland Teaching Fellows.  It was pretty much just a joke of a week, since the 3 other groups still had work at the high schools.  We went on field trips and had two hour lunches... that kind of thing.  The only good thing that came out of "institute" was the group of friends that I have made in the past weeks.  We're starting to hang out casually and it will be a good support system when school's in session.  For now, it's just an excuse to drink.  (Usually starting around 4 on Friday.)

 

Of course, we have hit a rough patch in the last few weeks... Practically everyone I know has suffered some sort of identity theft, Bryan had his window smashed and things stolen (right down the block from my [very safe, I promise, Mom!] building), and I have run into a pole, not once, but twice now, going at a low speed.  Who needs a front headlight, anyway?  Oh, and my closest friend in the fellows has turned out to be a needer of substances, if you catch my drift.  We will call her "the bong whisperer" in subsequent e-mails.  I need a vacation!

 

Oh wait, I've been on vacation this week.  I went down to the most beautiful wedding this past weekend in San Diego, to see the most beautiful couple tie the most beautiful knot around their most beautiful love on the most beautiful island.  It was nice to hit the beach and relax and see some old friends.  It's fun being in SoCal and saying that I live "just up north" and complain about the traffic on the 5.  For those of you still in the Beltway area, traffic is not as bad as it is in Cali.   I have not been gone so long as to forget east coast traffic patterns, so don't try to act like the traffic out there is worse.  It's not, get over it.  When you've been stuck in traffic in LA at 2 am--and it's not because of construction--then we can chat about traffic.  And then I will win the debate because you will have realized the folly of your way.  Then I will forgive you and we will have a small laugh and go to the bar where you will buy me a drink because I was right. 

 

Onward and upward.  I just applied to SFSU and will, hopefully, be a gator in a few short weeks.  (That's right! A Gator!!! And if you don't understand why that's a big deal to me, I'm not quite sure why you're getting these emails... Should you want to unsubscribe, please let me know)  This will be a long awaited journey into going to a state school, just like in the movies.  Although the sun is usually shining in movies, and there was a distinct cloud over San Fran State.  I was hustled around and yelled at in several departments, never quite knowing where I was supposed to be until I got there (usually only by the grace of god).  At least when you got the run-around at Hood you didn't have far to walk... SFSU has made me miss the neighborHood.  Go hug the next Hoodie that you see, and you can say you're doing it for the Hoodlum who's forced to go to a instutionalized state school.

 

Now to make some lesson plans...

Love from left to right,

torrey

You can still go hug a Hoodlum!  Hopefully it will be me though! :)

Victoria

FLASHBACK! East Coast Girl Heads West, The New Digs

As I pack up the apartment I'm squatting in for the summer (thanks, Courtney!) I am reminded of all of the places I've lived in Oakland.  I was lucky enough to live by Lake Merritt (though I did not appreciate it as much as I should have) and then moved to West Oakland (what to say... I survived! and had a new appreciation of what my kids deal with in their neighborhoods) and then lived on Piedmont Ave (with no windows and lots of bugs) and then moved up to the Oakland Hills (what a sunset! what a house! what a narrow road!) until settling in for the last couple of months in the Temescal (again: thanks Courtney!) Anyway, here's the email from when I got my first place in Oakland:

Yep, that's right, I got me a home! I am now the proud renter of a studio apartment (with four closets).  I moved in last night and ran the dishwasher!  Who knew that the gentle whirr of the rinse cycle could be so exciting?!  I now have very clean dishes and glasses.  Haven't cleaned out the cabinets yet though...  I hereby openly extend a place to crash for those headed out to the bay area! 

 

I don't have a mattress yet (I'm borrowing an air mattress) or chairs or anything, but my group from Oakland Fellows is coming over tomorrow for after Institute drinks.  It's going to be the only time that I can fit 13 people into the place! 

 

Which brings me to the Fellows update: Things are going surprisingly well.  I have to get my credential in Early Childhood Special Education, since I'm doing pre-k and that's about it... I'm actually (gasp!) enjoying afternoon session.  Almost all of the fellows are fun to be around and we have a really good time going over the material and doing role plays.  We've learned how far we can go with each person, so it's a really nice group.  We have our bad egg.. she got a 'talking to' after class today--we all walked by and giggled, just like proper school girls!  but the sessions are going well.  I think it also has something to do with actually learning material that we can and are using in the classroom!

 

As for the classroom, I mysteriously got food poisoning on Tuesday (read: just needed a break from school) so I've had a short week.  However, the karma gods being who they are, I came back to the classroom to find that we were short 2 aides: all of them.  So we're 50% short on manpower in the classroom of spider monkeys.  There is something very alluring to being able to jump and climb and hang... on everything.  Filing cabinets, tables, light fixtures... If only the little darlings could pay as much attention to the activity on hand as they do to trying to escape the classroom. 

 

There is actually one student who won't talk to me.  He won't listen to me or  speak back to me.  He's the biter.  Okay, he's the biter, kicker and hitter.  Multitalented little spider monkey he is.   I have very quickly learned how to prioritize behavior problems: are we going to discipline the kid who's beating the crap out of her 'friend' or the kid who's Houdini-ing out of the classroom?  Sometimes I think it would be nice if they all escaped... or just like, 2 of them.  Aside from the aides being MIA again today, I think that's what made the class better today--we had one student who was absent.  Thank the Lord!  Who's lunch should we add salmonella to today?

 

I promise I have not tried to poison or infect any of my students. 

 

Yet.

 

Alright, I'm off to actually start applying to a credentialling program... or unpacking some more! 

 

Love from left to right,

Torrey

Well the classroom was always easier to manage with one less kid!  I'm not sure what I meant about learning something that I used in the classroom... I'm pretty sure it probably involved passing notes and making our Fellow Advisor cry.  What a summer!

Victoria

Last day of school! Last day of school!

I always think of nemo being so excited about the first day of school when he's exiting his anemone, but I have to say it's the last day of school that makes me happy!  Friday was no exception!  I can't say it was an amazing day, as it was similar to ever other day of school I have had, but the 2nd class did perform my their very favorite song, which I am happy to say I finally captured for prosperity.



That's right, my adorable preschoolers love dancing to Hair!  Did you catch them singing along? I mean, when they weren't pulling each other down... I think it's adorable when they slow or stop right before the chorus starts again!  I have to say that I got this idea from my favorite Lynz, who has her first graders "walk like an Egyptian" in the halls.  That particular hand/arm motion did not fly in the pre-k setting (although was hilarious to watch) so we went with the next best: Broadway!  I am going to miss manipulating little ones into loving what I love!