Morning

So, I just went for a walk with Tiara into Berkeley and back. There were three encounters, one asking for a cigarette or money, but I had smoked the cigarette I brought with me and not my wallet. Then, a guy stopped us and asked Tiara why she was Mary (insert random last name). We said no. Then, a guy started muttering about something, mentioned God, and was completely incoherent, so we decided to just ask him where Alcatraz ave. was, so that we could leave, but he decided to show us, and walked us home and talked about his wife and his cousin. It was very cute. We then shook hands with him and now I'm here. What an incredible walk. I feel that people should all act like they do here and just talk to everyone they see. It would be great.

Yuko

So, I went to coffee to see Emily before she left, and normally this would cause me to make a scathing statement of society's lack of goodness, but that's probably getting redundant, so just read my previous post and extrapolate.

So, I'm starting to feel kinda weird about Yuko. I don't know what I expected from Yuko, but somehow I wanted to be able to keep loving her the same. Maybe I just sorta have to realize that's not gonna happen.

Oh, I'm such a fucking fake.

Music and Emotions

So, I totally feel like the most important bands of the 80s/90s are the Pixies, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Radiohead and Jane's Addiction, none of which I've seen. The last 3 are still together and i'm seeing Jane's Addiction tonight, and then hopefully I'll be able to see Radiohead in Berlin.

So, this morning in the shower I was listening to the first song on the new Jane's Addiction album, and I was singing the line that says, "For all the money in the world/We'll go to war for you backward heroes," and I started to cry. I'm not sure why, but I think I'm just really emotional right now. My friends are going back to Berkeley, the new kids are showing up at college, I'm leaving my home, everybody's moving, my relationships with everyone are really different. I think this is the hardest time to leave yet. I'm gonna miss being in Phoenix with my friends, plus being in Berkeley. I gonna miss Caitlin, Daniel, Tiara, Scott, my family, my home which is being fucked up (maybe that's why I let the line in the song get to me) but is still my home, my house, my language, my everything. All I'm taking with me is some clothes, this computer and my self. I've never felt so naked in my life. And on top of all that I already miss Yuko. Everything EVERYTHING here will continue, except me........

My "Letter to the Editor"

The text of my Letter to the Editor at the Arizona Republic is as follows (I hope it is published):

I am a college student in California, who lives in the valley during the summer and I have watched the recall campaign with great interest. My critique arises not from being a member of a political group, but rather as a supporter of democracy.

Unlike many who have recently commented on its "grassroots" nature, in reality, the campaign consists of people being paid to gather signatures, funded in large part by the Darrell Issa for Governor Committee, in support of a man who has long wanted to be governor himself.

This conflict, while being in large part the fault of Gray Davis, will never be cleansed of monied politics. The mere fact that I, as a voter in California, could not recall Davis, as I do not have the millions of dollars to pay the signature gatherers, shows what a small role democracy has played.

While I in no way dispute the grievances with Davis, a man with lots of money and his own political agenda cannot be allowed to control the course of the world's fifth largest economy.

Meet the Parents

Sorry that I titled the entry with the name of a shitty movie, but it seemed so appropriate. Last night, Nikki's parents and sister, my parents, and Nikki and I went out to eat and hug out for about 3 hours. I have no idea what my parents or Nikki's parents thought, but it couldn't have been too bad, because they were all laughing and smiling, it was great. I'm sure it will be the topic of conversation for both families today, due to the departure of Nikki and me last night.

I leave for München in about 5 hours. I love the city. I'm very excited. I will miss Nikki and also Berlin. I just got back. 

Nikki goes to Poland today, just to the Polish city bordering Frankfurt an der Oder, so just a border city, but I hope to take her with me back to Kraków with me before the years out.

I'll try to write from the cities on my trip.