Thanks to my fabulous school friends, I finished a very, very fun Sunday NYT crossword at a Memorial Day Barbeque. That was in between rounds on the trampoline.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s always keep your friends with trampolines close and your best crossword partners closer.
Nine days left at the job. Time to start packing!
One of the things on my Cali Bucket List has been Critical Mass. It only happens on the last Friday of each month, and for more than a year, I’ve been prioritizing other things on that day. Critical Mass happens all over the place, but it started here. This is the city for every kind of cyclist. As we will see.
With only three last Fridays left, I was determined to make this THE day. Being the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, I was unsuccessful in finding anyone to ride with me. Undeterred (for once), I hoped on the train with my bike and headed to our fair city.
This is the beautiful clear view of the Bay Bridge from the Embarcadero. Normally, the fog might roll in at this point, but it was a clear and blue for the ride.
Allegedly, the ride starts at 5:30, but it wasn’t until 6:25 that we got rolling. Note the man in brown booty shorts. They were furry and most of his cheeks were hanging out. I’m fairly certain that soon after this photo, he was naked, as were a few other men. Is it just SF, or does this happen everywhere?
When these guys showed up, they said, “We’re the only ones in costume…” They shouldn’t haver worried…with the naked guys, the people decked out in Goodwill finds, the spandex and bike shoes, they fit right in. There was no dress code, no typical bike, nothing usual about what was going on. Fixies, cruisers, tandems, mountain bikes, hybrids, retro bikes, single speeds, road bikes. Whatever you have, come with it.
When I arrived at 5:15, there were about 50 riders assembled. As it got closer to 6:00, the crowd thickened. Everywhere, people were in clumps with friends and people they just met. Many people walking by asked what was going on. The vibe was positive and upbeat. I am bad at estimating people in scattered formation, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was at least 1,000.
One of the unusual things about this event is that there are no leaders. They call it a xerocracy. There is no specific person starting the ride or dictating its route. At various points while the long wait was happening, someone would start yelling…and many others would catch on. This happened a few times (maybe 10 or 15 minutes aparat) before nearly everyone was yelling. That must be the signal that people are ready to ride – when everyone is yelling for it.
The police escorts lined up. At least 15 of them here, and more throughout the city. They put on their helmets after the loudest group yelling…another reason that I think it’s the signal.
This woman had a fun bike, clearly doesn’t like what BP has done (who does?) The bubbles out the back were a fun touch. We started riding down Market Street and made our way to Union Square. I loved the impromptu nature of the ride. When we got to Union Square and the mass was thin, we circled the square to “Mass Up.” At intersections, massers corked the cross streets to keep the flow going, but sometimes, we’d hit a red light, stop, and the mass would yell their suggested route. “Riiiiight.” “To the Bridge!” They would yell with exuberance and encouragement.
I was thankful to have a bike with gears and a free wheel, as the hills may have taken me off my fixed gear, had I been riding it.
The mass.
I have a lot of fun on my bike, but this might have been the most smiles per mile. It was just a joyous thing to be riding down the center of Van Ness, through tunnels, the Marina, and the Presidio with so many other people who loved their bikes. Just like the Maker Faire, there were so many different types of people doing this. I hope I can do it again next month, but if not, I’ll get to it in Boston.
There’s a lot keeping me busy and avoiding the notion that my days here are numbered.
My friend GL is just as obsessed with the Olympics as I am (she might be more so…with here Olympics Fanfare ringtone that makes me jealous) and when she suggested we go curling, there was nothing that would stop us.
Note how serious GL is on the right. We are not messing around, here.
We got to work, learning the inside shot and the outside shot. I’m rocking the ribbons, so as not to completely intimidate everyone.
GL follows though.
As much as we made fun of NK for wearing Vans with no socks, he swept like a pro.
And look at that focus on the throw.
The next night, I went with NK, AL & LL to see Seth Meyers. He was performing in a science lecture hall at Stanford. It was “the worst place he’s ever performed in.” But at least he had the periodic table on the wall, just in case.
Meyers kept the room in stitches with great bits about T9 texting errors, some of the bits that didn’t make it on “Weekend Update,” and what happens after you finish a date that lasts for ever (45 minute flatulence). I would have paid much more than $12 to see this.
While waiting in line, the woman behind me asked me if she was in the right line. Then she said, “Maura?” It was the younger sister of one of my close friends (Danny the Dark Green Dinosaur) all through school. She is out here getting her PhD and in the way the small world works, was behind me in line to see Meyers.
Last weekend, I biked 20 miles round trip in strong winds to make my pilgrimage to Maker Faire. This year didn’t do it for me for some reason. I stayed less than an hour and hustled home to see the exciting end of the Tour of California. Props to Leipheimer and Zabriskie for making it exciting and leaving it all out there. Can’t wait to follow Le Tour.
This cute thing was roaming around the Faire. It’s part of The Tiny Parade, which is a semi-autonomous robotic float. The girl at the right was entranced, as were many kids, following the train around while patient parents had no better offers.
Monday meant AL’s birthday. I’ve been saving the dozen copies of his school picture all year and knew there would be some occasion that would demand their use.
Don’t worry, our Cultural Proficiency professional development session was still professional, despite the decor.
To continue the celebration, some of the crew went to the Giants/Nats game on Tuesday night. We trained it up to SF and I had everything possible in tow in preparation for possible rain and cold. It was actually quite pleasant and the game was a pretty good one.
P-squared and I amongst all the fans dressed as empty seats.
Currently, we’re in our Intersession at school. For the most part, this means that we have a bit more free time. There are fewer days when we’re staying late after school and our teaching is nearly done.
On Thursday, I was going to see SATC2 (should I not admit that?) at 8pm in the town where I teach. I had work to do, so it didn’t seem worth it to go home. Of course, when given the opportunity, the boys I work with will find some sort of game to consume time.
So, that’s the report. You can see that a lot of my life here centers around school, but I’m lucky to have colleague that I love and enjoy adventuring with. I am trying to relish my time with them and psych myself up for keeping in touch despite the time difference.
Of course, as soon as I decide to move, I think I’m realizing what a Cali girl I really am. I haven’t blogged about my move back East because I don’t know how to handle it and I’m not feeling settled. Sigh…
But today was not about anything remotely unsettling. Today was just the greatest day ever.
I woke up this morning to learn that my colleague agreed to facilitate in my place and I fired off an email saying, “Gotta get my cowbell on. See you at 1pm.” Or something like that. Often at my school, when we send emails about our absence we write things like, “Let me know if you have have any concerns,” just to be courteous. I did not include that on my email today. I wanted to write, “Let me know if you want me to pick you up on my way south,” but that’s probably not professional.
I left the house at 7am to beat the traffic on THE 101. And I did. I got up to the hills nice and early where I proceeded to drive around trying to get an internet connection so I could download the race map and log (times) that I forgot to download before I left home.
Here’s just one of the many views I got this morning. This is on Calaveras Road in Milpitas. I almost took yesterday off to watch The Tour of California go through my backyard (like I did in Feb 2009). I’m glad I had too much work to do yesterday because it was overcast and dreary. And I’ve been there before. This was something new.
I mean, look at this. See how you can see San Jose down there? What an amazingly clear day. I parked my car down the hill (behind me in this shot) and rode my bike up to the King of the Mountain summit.
The cows! The cows! I could watch these guys all day. They were making a lot of noise today. They must have known something was up.
The riders were going to come across this ridge from San Jose. How green! That’s from all the rain we’ve been having. The landscape here just blows my mind.
I love the grass waving in the wind.
Here’s the Schwinn that I’ve had for 10 years. I love this bike. I’ve debated getting a nice road bike, but I don’t know that I need one. This bike is just so cute and useful.
I arrived at the KOM where there was a ton going on. A ride had been organized to this summit and the riders were in the hundreds. The energy and buzz were palpable.
Pretty nice view, eh? And is there any picture you’ve seen that’s more American than this one?
I walked down from the KOM point to a part of the hill that was a bit more steep and had a better view looking down.
Note: There are more hundreds of people. And everyone was on a bike. Really…this might be my little heaven. Although I heard a lot of weird conversations, like one with the word “bikesexual.” Really? Really?
See the black dot on the distant mountains? That’s the helicopter that let us know to get ready. I had my cowbell in my left hand, my binocs around my neck, and my camera in my right hand. I was ready.
Love guys like this. It’s almost like France.
The five men in the breakaway. They were working! I would too if there was a car tailing me.
And here they come. They are fierce! Click on the picture above to see the flip book pictures of the peleton churning up the hill. Scroll through them fast.
Teams Garmin and Radio Shack lead the charge up the hill. Lance was buried in the pack here, but I was ringing my cowbell extra hard for him. But then again, I ring my cowbell hard no matter what.
And then the parade of team cars. The opposite of a funeral procession. These cars drive with pep.
This was probably one of the best ways to play hooky from school that I can think of. And this is just the kind of day that I think you only have in Cali.
I went to school, talked about how to help some students graduate, and then held my revision session. It was awesome. I have about 11 kids who still need to show mastery of some key statistical concepts and they are off to a fantastic start after this afternoon. Have I told you that I love my students? And I love teaching? It’s really a great gig.
I got on 101 South for the second time and was back in San Jose for some grub with the Patag crowd.
Dia de Pesca. So worth the drive. And probably the coolest place I’ve been lately. I wish this was right down the street from me. Authentic fish tacos and juices that change daily. I had Cucumber Lemonade (so, so, so yummy), a breaded halibut taco, a grilled salmon taco, and a chile & cheese tamale. I shared with my friends, but was happy with my sample. The halibut taco was my favorite and the best fish taco I’ve had. JF was commenting that everyone around here is always talking about fish tacos. I realized that no one talks about them in Boston…do they even exist there?
Here’s the cute place, owned by Javier. I’m going to have to find excuses to come back. It’s this funny combination of structures with a patio in the middle…with cool tiled tables and benches.
Some of the gang enjoying the food, decked out in the best apparel around.
Ahhh…this is the life. Curling tomorrow with GL and NK! LTD.
The riders will get this view just after they get the first LOL summit of the day. Really? This was a great day to ditch school.
I'm driving to the summit rather than riding since I need to be back at school at one. I have my bike in the car just in case I get hungry for two wheels.
I'm about to take off for San Jose, to watch my heroes in bike shorts. We'll see if this mobile blogging thing works.
This was the weekend of school activities.
The last day of the semester was Friday. Now we’re into Intersession and no kids (mostly). We have many awesome traditions on the last day: 9th grade persuasive speeches, mentor group lunch, and Senior Showcase.
My kids doing Happy Sheets.
MT is focused!
CG as DJ.
My mentor group. I love these kids more than anything. Really. I just love, love, love them. Yeah, they made me cry once, but they are still my kids and I’d really do anything for them.
My Finnish exchange student, TT, spinning to end the Showcase. He is legit!
The last day of the semester always ends with our Junior – Senior Prom. It’s one of my favorite events of the year.
My math support girls, EP and AS. Talk about girls I love.
JJ and me. This is the young lad who picked me up in a hug when I gave him Student of The Month. In the picture above, he is holding me so tightly, that my arm hurt a little after we took this :)
ZP, YO, and me. More of my math girls. And like me, they never leave the dance floor.
NK and me. Somehow, he tricked me into taking him to the prom. Something about him not having a car. Suspect. But, he did put up with me getting sweaty with all the dancing.
On Saturday night, my school held an auction. Tuck and Patti performed. Patti is the aunt of one of my students. This student lovingly refers to me as “Auntie.” It was cool to meet his real Aunt Patti…who is part of one of the groups I loved in high school.
Tuck and Patti perform for the Huskies. Look at how transformed my school looks!
Some of our best student musicians, GF and NV, watch in admiration and awe.
Overall it was a great weekend. NK and I went fixie-ing around town today and hung out with KMc and PP…just catching up on Celtics wins and trashy television. A weekend that makes me want to stay here forever.
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