Category: My World (Page 12 of 15)

One of the many things I like about Mike (my husband, for the uninitiated) is that he manages to be both cynical and optimistic at the same time. He tends to have a pretty objective view about the world around him. The greatest of evil, and the pettiest of corruption may surprise him – but he’s pretty aware and understanding of everything in between. He starts by thinking the best of people, but he understands when they show their weaknesses. This is not to say he’s not disappointed – sometimes he is – but that his expectations are measured. And yet, he believes in the power of people to change things. Perhaps not dramatically, but every revolution – and evolution – starts with one step. So he’s an activist – whether in the global escale on behalf of human rights everywhere, in the national arena, working to get Bush out, or acting locally to improve our schools and keep tabs on city council. Mostly, Mike cares and he thinks caring can make a difference. It’s nice to be married to someone you don’t just love, but like so much.

As my faithful readers know, Mike, my husband, is running for San Leandro School Board. As part of his campaign, he had some beautiful lawn signs (designed by Y.Day Designs) made. Mike’s supporters have been placing them around town, including at the gated community where both Pete Lismer (Mike’s opponent) and one of our friends live. Almost as soon as Mike’s signs go up, they are taken down again. This has happened time after time. Your guess as to who is responsible for that is as good as mine.
It’s pretty sad that people have to play dirty politics, and dirty their hands even to the extent of stealing lawn signs. Committing a crime for the less than marginal possibility that it will make a difference in the result of the campaign? Just how unethical – and pathetic – do you have to be to do that? I guess only the sign thief really knows.

Yesterday, there was a Halloween party at McKinley Elementary and, of course, the whole family went. Mika doesn’t start school until next year, but we joined the PTO early as we figured we need to start working for the school now. It needs it! 🙂
I signed up to work at the Halloween party because I love Halloween. Maybe it’s because I’ve always been into horror movies – I used to watch them at night tucked into my mother’s bed with my mom and siblings – or because I never had Halloween as a kid. By the time I came to America I was already 12, and too old and shy to go trick or treating. In any case, I love it.
My job last night was to attend to the “Fear Factor” booth. We had three boxes with scary things hidden inside. You could stick your hand and feel creatures (cat toys), worms (spaghetti) and a brain (a jello brain). It was really fun. Some of the kids actually felt the “creatures” move and were convinced they were alive, some even thought they were snapping at them. The worms were more weird than scary – though several kids wouldn’t touch it. And the brain was just puzzling, though again, many touched it and then recoiled. In all they had a LOT of fun. So much so that some kids came 4 or 5 times – and we had a few parents try it too.
There were other booths as well, and great Halloween music (we got a semi-professional DJ!), and the kids seemed to be having a blast. My own two stuffed themselves with cookies and cupcakes, did crafts and just ran around. Mika came to my booth four times – but I think it was for the prize she got at the end.

In Spanish, a set of pots and pans is called a batería de cocina. Batería also means battery (as in a car battery), but also means drums (as in the whole set of drums that bands play). As my kids sit in the kitchen floor, using whisks and spatulas to beat against the bottom of pots and pans to make something that sounds very much like music, I can’t but smile at the similarity in the words.
I’m also learning from them. I’ve learned that metal spatulas are way too loud, while whisks make a not unpleasing noise – and that small aluminum pans are actually louder than bigger and heavier steel pans. Teflon coated pots have a lower sound.