Yesterday I returned to school. San Diego City College otra vez.

I’m taking classes, nominally, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I think the reality is that classes are actually going to be Monday, Wednesday, and an evening class on Thursday.

I’m enrolled in (and paid for! woo hoo!) my Spanish 102 class, and my C++ Programming class. These were yesterday.

The programming class is evenings. That stinks, actually. But I know and like the Professor, so I know what I’m getting into.

The Spanish class is — well — the professor in the schedule is not the professor in the actual classroom. We got baited-and-switched! 3 of my fellow classmates from 101 are in the 102, and when our former instructor failed to show, and we instead got some other, dude, we were not so impressed. He’s a bit like a drill seargeant. The review was Spanish in a rat-a-tat-tat style. No more mellow learning. As soon as I saw we have a replacement I thought of bolting — but actually, I’m up for it. I’m realizing that sometimes a little challenge is just what one needs.

The morning is overcast. Leah is off to work — one of her two jobs — I made us scrambled eggs and tortillas (well, I only heated the tortillas) and a little jack cheese. It was a nice way to begin the day.

By odd circumstances, last night we were at The Top of the Hyatt, perhaps the best view in San Diego, or at least in the top 10. It was a pleasant way to end the day. A friend needed a change of scenery, and Leah went along. I hopped a trolley when I got out of class and showed up, heavy backpack in tow. San Diego really is a beautiful city. I don’t really think of it that way all the time. But it is simply pretty. Twinkling lights overlooking the placid bay. I think I’ll post this paragraph (slightly altered) as my entry today on San Diego Blog. I have a grip of posts that are *nearly* done over there that I need to put into the rotation.

Okay, time to get ready for work.

Onward.

So today what Leah and I are doing it heading north to Los Angeles, downtown that is, to see Stew perform free at noon.

We’re taking the train.

Leah’s first time with me on a train. I love trains.

This website is once again undergoing revisions. I have modified the Stew/The Negro Problem pages, as well as the Voltes 5 pages.

Also, if you’re reading this blog you probably have noticed that the design is changing. The many many sidebar links to pals, friends, colleagues, news sources, and the like have been moved to the dedicated Links page, to accompany the Semidaily Links. I’m trying to focus on simplifying things a bit.

For a long time I’ve just added and added to this site, without regard to how things fit together. This site has so many pages, and so many that people have no idea existed. I think I need to focus on what I want people to learn about me and do. For example, do I want people think I’m a cool guy? Do I want them to hire me for something? Do I want them to put me on the radio? Just why do I have this personal website?

I mean, I know that for San Diego Blog is there for a reason. I initially thought it was just something that needed to exist. But now I think I understand better the rationale for the site. I want to provide an interesting and useful alternative voice for San Diego, and I would like it to generate revenue. This focus has allowed me to design and edit to that task. It’s not been particularly successful, but those who read the site find it entertaining, and we provide useful information to people who visit from search engines. Also, readership is increasing, and participation from the stable of writers is really great. It’s a grand experiment in metroblogging — though I started it before I had ever heard that word.

So tomorrrow I start a new part time gig with some old friends. I expect it will be simple work. I’m seeking more of that — as school starts next week, and I pray that will go well. What I need right now to meet my goals is steady, non-commission based cashflow,that also does not interfere with schoolwork. I also want it to be short-term, because after this next semester, Leah and I intend to migrate north, to be closer to her kids.

Leah has been writing on her blog about my proposals. In truth, I’m scared to death of marriage. That is why, in fact, Leah and I attend pre-marital counseling, and have done so for several weeks. It’s been very useful to me, to explore my own hangups and fears. Some of you started reading me when my previous marriage was imploding. The pain of that was huge, and terrible.

I’m gunshy precisely because I know how much losing that partnership is. I’m also gunshy because I wonder if I have moved too quickly in this relationship. But in truth, the synchrony Leah and I have is remarkable and wonderful. We’re an excellent team, even when we disagree, and I am in a place where I can be open to her in a way that I’ve never been open to anyone, ever, before. I love her.

So, I suppose at this point I should hit the hay. I have work to do tomorrow.

Holy crap. How long has it been since I posted?

Oh, so much to post. I’ll be updating this as I get to everything.

The Ronny Vardy Fansite has been changed a great deal. I saw her briefly at Comic-Con and perused her new book. Worth a look.

Also, just added a new header — it’s interactive! Well, a little interactive anyway. Header for August 23, 2004

And man oh man, there are some great posts over on San Diego Blog. Really cool stuff.

Yeah, there is personal stuff to talk about. Not right now.

And hey, cool — Leah’s latest painting was featured in an art show the weekend we went to Utah. check it out here.

Email of the day:

———- Forwarded message ———-
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 10:39:02 +1000
From: [REDACTED]
To: joe [AT] artlung.com
Subject: websandiego.org

Dear Sir/Madam,

I was wondering if you were interested in selling your domain websandiego.org.
I am willing to pay $100.00 for it.

Yours Sincerely,
[REDACTED]

Usenix is happening right here in San Diego.

Mitch Wagner, local blogger and Editor of InternetWeek is on the case!

…in this post by Rudy Rucker on boing boing.

Captured on hip hop music — Bart’s book report vs. George W. Bush’s Press Conference.