a big update of small things

1) I got into University of Denver's Masters in Social Work program. They have a program for animal-assisted therapy that inspired me to apply. It's looking likely that in September I'll be going to school for the first time in 6 years, and finally pointing myself down a career path!

2) S. and I talk about some day opening up a bed and breakfast; little did we know we already have. We've become quite the rest stop for the birds in our neighborhood, many of whom troll our fabulous finch seed diner, and some of whom even sleep for the night on our carpeted porch -- mourning doves in particular seem to like our cozy housing. Our most recents guests have extended their stay -- I guess Oregon Juncos found it a pleasant winter stomping ground, perhaps recommended to them by the house finches who are our daily customers. We also are familiar enough with the birds to notice that we now have white-capped sparrows as well as regular house sparrows partaking of our sumptuous buffet. The scrub jays and humming birds seem to have taken the winter off for now, but we're hoping to see them back when the spring weather rolls in.

3) My hair is the longest it's been probably since Freshman year of high school -- that would be in 15 years! I'm getting cut and colored tomorrow though, as it's fallen into the trap of being so heavy as to lose all body. I don't think I'll go too short -- I'm enjoying the length.

4) How to tell the weather in Oakland if you were somehow unable to see, hear or feel it: the kinder the compliment, the nicer the weather; the more direct the request for money, the worse the weather. On sunny days, especially the first one after a long spell of cold, fog, or rain, I get told I'm beautiful, a supermodel, and I've made someone's day. On lackluster but not particularly ugly days, I'm always asked to smile. And on gross days, everyone cuts to the chase: spare some change?

5) I'm coaching a volleyball team of 13-14 year olds; I'm loving every minute of it. The organization is called the starlings, and I've enjoyed titillating and horrifying the girls with stories of how starlings were brought to the U.S. because they were mentioned in Shakespeare, but now they've become a veritable plague. Of course, I try to spin this as a good thing -- we can be a plague on the court! We'll be a bad disease our opponents can't shake! We'll devour points the way starlings steal resources!
No, it's not really working. But it's still fun to say. :)

6) Buckets. Buckets are the bane of corporate lingo right now. Every time finances come up here, it's bucket this, bucket that. It makes me want to put a bucket on my head and bang it with a wooden spoon until I go deaf. Just saying.