Cools’ blog

Spain kids!

So my new roommate is from Madrid--she's absolutely adorable and amazing.  Has lived an amazing life all over the world, which is so cool to see and to hear about.  After interviewing 13 people from Craig's List, she was the one I clicked with the most.  I guess I had been looking for a way to re-connect with Madrid, and she was it!

As you can see in the picture to the left, I used to teach.  My first job out of college was teaching 1st grade at The American School of Madrid.  I went over there with a few bags (okay, way too many clothes, but whatever) and an open mind...and came back with a journal of stories about my experiences and my travels--it was (no pun intended) definitely a "trip." ;o)

I wasn't sure what I was going to write about today, so I just started going through my pictures.  Came across this one and thought to myself, wow, I wonder what my kids look like now, what they're doing, what's going on in their lives?  This was taken around Thanksgiving of 2004, so about 3 years ago. Wow....that's nuts.  I actually remember this photo being taken--my parents visited me in Spain (didn't want me to be alone on Thanksgiving, kind of amazing)....and came and met my class.  Thinking back, it was so cool that they made the trip to see what I was doing and where I was living. Definitely want to do that with my kids one day. 

Anyway I guess my whole point of this entry is that it's really crazy how time is flying these days. It's going much faster than it used to, honestly.  That's such a trite expression..."Where has the time gone?"....but honestly, I want to know!   I'm here, in this present moment, typing on this keyboard, but where have all the days gone?  All the times when you were going through something diffiicult, and you thought to yourself, "Man, I'm really never gonna get through this...these days are going to be so long..." But eventually, time passed, and then years passed, and that difficult situation slowly morphed into a lesson. 

I definitely learned more in that classroom in the middle of Spain than I thought I would--and I hope my little 1st graders did too. :o)

The City by the bay

This is one of my favorite pictures of all time, for a couple of reasons. When I moved here a year ago and didn't know where the hell I was, it helped me remember which bridge was the Bay Bridge (bottom right) and which bridge was the Golden Gate. I know, I know.....but I was never any good at geography--I just memorized where each state was, put it on the map, and forgot all of the information after the test. I do know that Canada is the biggest state we have though ;o)   joking, chill.

But it is a beautiful picture.  So I work right at the edge of the water near the Bay Bridge, and I live near the edge of the water closer to the Golden Gate.  Not too shabby....I am definitely blessed.  I guess the reason I put this picture up today is because it kind of reminds me where I'm at in my life.  Let me attempt to explain. 

San_Francisco_CableCars

In this picture with the cablecar, you get a view of San Francisco on a daily basis.  Beautiful in every way.  You get a feel for how things are, the pace of life, the scenery, etc.  Now scroll back up to the original picture at the top.  Still San Francisco, but from a very different angle.  It's almost like a different place when you see it that way, isn't it?  The cablecar seemed large and important in the second picture, but when you look at the "bigger picture", it is just a tiny part of the city as a whole.  It doesn't mean that it's not important...it's just that there are many other things that define and give the city it's character.

I'm starting to apply this analogy to my life, and things are looking so much better.  All the "small stuff" I sweat is just "small stuff"---and is only a part of what will eventually become my whole life.  So, the goal for today: see the big picture, take the bird's eye view--cuz from up there, you realize how far you've come :o)

SF

Well I guess it would be appropriate to include a picture of the place where I used to do most of my thinking, since this blog is pretty much that, right?  Thoughts?   This was the view off the deck of my first apartment in Russian Hill--absolutely amazing--had a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, and more importantly, a deck where we could enjoy a good glass of wine after a long ass day! 

For my friends reading this, you know me, so I'm sure you know what to expect with the complete spontanaeity that usually hovers over everything I do :o)  So this blog, however long it lasts, will probably be quite similar to my personality: random, corny, emotional, serious, cheesy, spontaneous...but not pointless.  If nothing else..if no one but my own 2 eyes reads this, that's okay too! JW, my buddy that I gave a shot out to in my first entry, said this was therapeutic for her. She's writing "The San Francisco Dating Chronicles", which is a great read.  She's witty, articulate, and really lets go on this blog--which is awesome to see.  She's been considerably happier since doing this daily blogging thing--so I figure hey, who couldn't use a little free therapy once a day? 

For now, I better get back to work. So I can pay the rent, that allows me to shower, so I can get to work, and log on, to actually write this blog that you're reading right now. So it's really better for all of us if I end today's entry right.......

.....here.  :o)

keep it real,

Cools

Al Gore was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work raising awareness on global warming.  Who would you award a Nobel Peace Prize to?

-Marianne Pearl

I have to start by giving props to JW for exposing me to the world of blogging. I just read her blog that she's been keeping for the past few weeks, and I must say, I am very intrigued by this whole online world of spilling your guts.  I mean we all do it to our girlfriends, boyfriends, co-workers, moms, IPOD's, journals, dogs...anyway, right? So we may as well put it all out there.  I'm not really sure where this blog is headed, but I do know that things are lookin up.  They weren't for quite some time, but now I can finally feel the good energy again--lovin' it.