Very American

Toe,
Sorry I've been so out of touch. Work and house stuff have been keeping me densely occupied. We rototilled the vegetable garden area yesterday. I've never rototilled anything before. I have to tell you, turning over a lawn is hard work. The rototiller vibrates the hell out of you while it's working, and it's impossible to use a light touch to alleviate the effects of the vibration because you really have to bear down on it to get it to go deeper than a centimeter. Fortunately, C* helped me out, taking turns on the tiller. We both slept very soundly for a few hours afterwards.
Man, that VA tech shooting was pretty disturbing. The racial aspect must have hit home for you, I imagine, although it struck me as odd how in early reports they described him as Asian, than as South Korean, and finally as Korean-American. It was as if people initially wanted to make him seem as foreign as possible, and only after they realized what they were doing did they tack on the "American" there.

Of course, what the gunman did is such a peculiarly American deed. Are there any other countries in which students bring guns to their schools and shoot up their classmates and teachers? God, I can't understand why this happens.

I'm happy to see that news seems to be focusing a lot less on his race now, and more on gun control, etc.

Sorry I have not returned your call. I'll call you soon.
E-Word

My sea girl

E-word,

I'm in New York right now, sitting in our studio. El had to go to work for a little bit, so my lazy ass is chillin' bo billin' right now. I am so lazy, I can't get up and out. I'm planning to go running around the reservoir in central park, and I'm going to get to it, I swear. It's fucking beautiful outside, but I'm quite comfy in my boxers and tee shirt.

You know, there's that saying (and I'm paraphrasing here) that while so much changes, so much stays the same, but, I don't think things really stay the same. I guess this is coming from the fact that I'm having another nostalgic moment, missing lazy summers of doing nothing but sweating and drinking iced tea. I have to remember; did I even do that? Even things like coming inside to brisk, cold air conditioning after being in the hazy hot.

When I was a sophomore, I took a class that required me to use these old Sun machines in the engineering department computer lab, back in the days that I'd wear shorts every day during the summer, man, what happened to those days? Fuck. Anyway, I'd enter the computer lab from outdoors, and the air was so cool, crisp, and clean feeling, and the lab was rich with the sound of humming computers and air chugging through vents. I remember looking at these computer screens for the first time, and being amazed at the definition, and of how good images looked. The optical mouse also really impressed me.

Well, yeah. I guess I should try to get off my ass and enjoy this beautiful New York day.

I wish I was young again.

Toe

Happy together

E-word,

I've been in a review all week, so it has been hard to keep up with current events. I know that some Korean kid went off and killed a whole ton of folks, and that was tragic and all, but as a Korean, all I can think is 'Damn, did it have to be a Korean kid that did this?'

I dunno. I guess it scares me a little bit, that now when I walk down the street I'm going to get my ass harassed for being Asian, and since I'm a bit of hot-head (but not like this kid, I swear!) what if I get my ass beat for shouting back?

It's annoying enough as it is being a minority, but now some stupid fucking Korean kid has to go and commit the most massive act of mass murder ever making life ever the more fucking difficult for the rest of us Koreans.

Otherwise, Oh, I dunno.

Toe

She was just 17, if you know what I mean....

Toe,
I didn't read that article, but I did listen to the multimedia thing. I share your amazement. I was nowhere near as smart or articulate when I was that age, although I did know a few people who were. I went to a college prep high school, so some of the kids were definitely aiming for higher goals. Of course, my school also ended up being the dumping ground for troubled boys whose parents thought the priests could beat better behavior into them, so there was a spectrum of kids. I was somewhere in the higher end, although definitely not up there with these girls. Holy smokes.

Anyway, I hear you on the work. It's consuming me as well. I'm going to visit C*'s parents with her this weekend, so that will be a nice break, but work is consuming me otherwise. I am so tired. Just getting over a nasty cold, and I think I need to rest some more.

Happy Easter to you. Dye some eggs, or something...

E-Word

Like a fool

E-word,

Free falling lately. Work absorbs my every thought. It's getting on my nerves.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/education/01girls.html?hp

I know you'll probably have read this, but I also have to recommend going to nytimes.com and listening to the multimedia section.

I was nowhere near this when I was 17. I can't even understand where these girls are coming from. What amazes me the most about these girls is how articulate they are, despite the ums and likes. These girls are so confident and self-possessed, or whatever or something. I don't get it. I know that they are being interviewed by a major newspaper, so maybe that's why they don't talk as much about their fears and weaknesses.

I've met some kids like this, and their self-possession throws me the fuck off. Why aren't you more sullen and inarticulate?!? Aren't you supposed to be aimless? I can't relate.

Maybe it's a front, or maybe they really know what they want. Maybe they think they know what they want.

By the by, I did get your phone message. Work has totally consumed me lately. If I'm not at work, I don't know what to do with myself. Well, I guess if I'm not at work I'm at school.

Happy April Fool's day.

Toe