B to the O-M-B

Okay, you birds. I have finally sat down at a real computer. For some inexplicable reason I feel a bit like Doogie Howser. That's probably because I am saying all of these words I am writing in my head as if I were doing a voice-over. It's also because I wish I had a soundtrack to my life as awesome as that opening song was.

Okay, you birds. So I am in San Francisco now. I got here on Monday after having spend a nice weekend with a going away party, sleeping a lot at my grandparents', seeing my baby cousin Aiden, and going to St. Seraphim's (and then a BBQ at Fr. Lawrence's - awesome!). I've settled in fairly well. There are three other girls who live with me who are interns, and one who is a paid staff member. There are also other men and women who live on the third floor of the house. I will have two more roommates soon, that is, if the elusive "Rachel" ever makes an appearance.

So far my work here has been just filling in where needed. Yesterday (Friday), I started working in ChildReach by cleaning and sorting out clothing donations, which included a shirt with artwork incorporating fallopian tubes. That got donated to the GoodWill. The cool thing about this program is that I get to go on field trips with the kids! I might be going to the Giants/Dodgers game next Sunday, and I will be going with my co-worker (supervisor?) David to Angel Island with the kids.

The other big chunk of my work here will be assisting with case work and "working the floor," as it's called. I am not so sure exactly what the latter entails. That's what I'll be learning this next week. I've already sat in on a case review meeting, which was very interesting. I'm hoping that I will be able to take on work with the case managers. If not, there will of course be plenty of other things to do around here!

Besides living in this amazing place with some pretty awesome people (cooks! directors! families! interns! Darlene the front desk lady!), I get to live in an amazing city. Don't get me wrong, this city is (forgive me) bat-shit crazy. But it's awesome. In the last few days I've gotten to see a few different parts. I went to the Mission last night, which is full of hipsters. I laughed at them, secretly wanted to be one, and then laugehd at them some more. In some ways, the lifestyle is appealing, until you realize that it's just another case of the gluttonous monster Capitalism subsuming everything society produces, even counter-culture. But I digress. I went with a girl named Sarah, and we hit up this cafe which was cool, because I could get a nice beer without having to go to a bar. I also have been down to Union Square a few times now. There is a Muni/Bart station there, as well as a hotel with a bomb glass elevator. I mean bomb in the way that it's way cool, not that it blows up when you reach the top or anything. I've also hit up Civic Center, which is where the library is (I only checked out 6 books yesterday...) and I saw Gavin Newsom. Which was weird.

Today I went to Ocean Beach, and we explored a little bit the "ruins" of the Sutro Baths. It was strange, because at first we didn't know what they were (we being myself and Lucia), but we recognized them as resembling ancient ruins, and she suggested that there were baths here. I wasn't so sure, but some "research" at the Cliffhouse gift store revealed the former existence of the Sutro Baths. Also, apparently, San Francisco has been home to some pretty bomb World's Fairs. I mean bomb in the way that it's way cool, not that it blows up when it's over or anything.

I have yet to have any crazy adventures, although today as I was riding back from church on the bus a person got on. At first I noticed the headgear - a flowery swim cap. Then I noticed that this lady was pantless. Then I noticed this lady had hairy legs. Then I noticed this lady was not a lady, but a man, wearing briefs and a T-shirt and makeup and high heels. Then about three stops up this person gets on the bus again. Then I realize that this is not the same person, but another person dressed exactly like the first person.

This is very long, so I apologize. But this city is pretty bomb. I mean bomb in the way that it's way cool, not that it blows up or anything.