Wonderemployment

Our first wedding anniversary is coming up, which will not just mark one year of marriage for us, but also five years of being together. When you get married, it seems everyone asks, "does it feel different?", or "has anything changed?". I find myself asking people the same things too because it's so variable for everyone. For me, marriage does feel different, in the best ways possible. It feels like... having a slumber party with your best friend every night!!! Just kidding. To me, it feels more like getting a good night's rest. No matter what the next day brings, both will only help. When we got married, I had no idea what the next year would look like, but "wonderemployment" certainly wasn't even a thought on my mind. I was expecting to continue my job until the end of 2014, at least. We are in a strange juxtaposition right now, with him working harder than ever at his job and then each day coming home to study for a professional exam, ...

Last night I attended a meeting of the Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC) in San Francisco to show my support of Stevon Cook , a friend of mine who is running for school board. I know Stevon because we were in the same City Hall Fellows cohort in 2008-2009. It's hard to believe it was so long ago! This endorsement meeting was a whole new experience for me in a lot of ways. First of all, I did not know the DCCC existed, or that it is the governing body of San Francisco's Democratic Party. I also had no idea what an endorsement meeting would be like. Turns out they are very popular events. It was standing room only last night, and it took me over half an hour to get in the door because of long lines and security. Everyone wanted to be there to support or denounce certain candidates and local propositions. The public comment process was wearisome (as they often are!), and it seemed to me that it did not make any difference in swaying the committee members since they are...

This post is almost a month overdue! In July, I had the pleasure of participating in Mama G's Burrito Project. This burrito project is a new initiative from Mama G's Thanksgiving Street Dinner , an annual event that my friend Peter created and has led for several years. In his own words: Since 2009, Mama G's Thanksgiving Street Dinner has served over 500 people a warm, nutritious, thanksgiving dinner in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco. On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, a group of committed volunteers from throughout the City gather to support a community in need of vital services, political attention and civic care. In a political and economic climate that continues to neglect the needs of the poor and most vulnerable, Mama G's seeks to counter the status quo by taking it to the streets and bringing resources donated by members of the community directly to the community. With the success of the Thanksgiving Dinner, Peter and his co-organizers pil...

Here's the last part of my life list. ( See Part 1 , and Part 2 .) If I recall correctly, I added to this list over the course of several months, and it seems like I saved the best for last.  Things I would like to do in my lifetime (not in any order): Part 3 15. Be a mentor I was delightfully surprised to see this on the list. I didn't know that it was something I had wanted from such an early age, since I didn't have a mentor myself until college. I am glad I can say with certainty that I have accomplished this. I am a mentor to a sweet and smart young lady. G made this for me. It fills me with so much gratitude and love. 16. Hold a real koala For rationale, see item #3 from Part 1. I haven't had the opportunity to hold a koala yet, but would love to one day. I would love to go to Australia in general one day. Traveling is one of the things I get anxious about as I think about time marching forward. I worry I will never have the right combination o...