Damn!  It's been a while since I wrote last.  I knew it was a while, but that that long. So much shit has happened in the past month and a half that it's incredible.  I may as well just start from where I left off, although the current stuff is more fresh a nd relevant, kind of.

First off, that day Chris, Greg, Mike and I were to go spelunking didn't happen.  I was asked to work in the afternoon, so Chris and I decided to go rock climbing in the morning and be back by noon.  I wrote a story about the whole experience, "The Devil's Mountain", which is 100% true life, with no alterations.  It should be included with this file.  However, one thing I failed to add was the "medium" case of poison oak I got and had for three weeks.  I actually had to go to the doctor for medication.

Next exciting tidbit of my life was the LMC Concert Band Tour '95.  We went on a short tour down in the Fresno/Turlock area of California, about a week and a half after I got poison oak.  It had lessoned by then, but not completely We played at a high scho ol, a high school CMEA festival, another Junior College, and at the Fresno Wind Ensemble Festival.  It was a blast, literally.  About half the band got drunk or near drunk at the hotel, with the ten dollars food allowance we each got.  Personally, I didn't touch the stuff.  Ever since the night of my Junior Ball (I didn't go, didn't have a date.  I didn't really care too much about that, but I was bored that night, so I got smashed bad.  I just kept drinking and drinking until all I remember is sitting in the downstairs shower, water running, about six hours from my last memory of anything.  That incident had effectively turned me off to any major and in most cases even minor, alcohol consumption.), I haven't really touched the stuff.  Anyways, some of us sober guys, including David DaSilva-a big hulk of a guy who I went to high school with as well as LMC-used to be a football player, then joined the marching band in High School, playing the tuba, real nice guy actually, stayed up to about 2 A.M. barbecuing linguisa and a steak.  He had this special sauce, and man was it good.  More than anything else, that was when I became closer to being integrated into the band social circle.  It didn't really matter, because I'm done at LMC now (more on that later).  I must say, however, that, as always, the bus trip sucked.  I did room with Doug Beavers, however, and played several chess games with during the trip.  I hadn't played him since high school, and that trip was the most chess I played since graduation-six games I think it was.  Another noteworthy news flash was that I spent a bit of time with Jennifer, and her friend Jennifer.  I'd known both girls for a long time, since high school, but never hung out with them a lot.  Anyways, Jennifer is going to Humboldt next semester as well as myself.

The first official night of our tour, our concert was at home, at the LMC auditorium/concert hall.  It really is a beautiful building, just finished for this semester.  Anyway, just before the concert I went rappelling, real rappelling, for the first time, at Castle Rock Park, near Mt. Diablo.  Chris, Greg and I made our way to the top of a hundred foot cliff or so-Chris and I climbed it, Greg walked around the easy side.  Anyways, we tied off to a tree, slipped into ourharnesses, and away we went.  Chris went first, since he'd actually done this more than I had.  After him, I went.  The hardest part is the first step, stepping back from the rock, back vertical with the cliff face, trusting oneself completely to the rope, harness, figure eight and locking carab iner.  If any one part of this equipment somehow broke or tore, I would fall the full length of the cliff, most likely to my death, at least to a long stay in a hospital.  However, once this first step was complete, I was much more at ease. I still went dow n really slow that first time, feeling my way down with my feet planted completely against the rock, but I was more comfortable than I had been at the top.  The second and third times I went that day took the fear completely out of it.  By the third trip do wn, I was seeing how fast I could go-making leaps against the rock, etc.  The figure-eight really heated up.  I can see how it can eat through rope if left in one spot too long.  That experience was so much fun, one of the coolest things I've done for quite some time.  After I was done, I raced home, changed, and raced back to the college for the concert.  I was late. Luckily we weren't playing first, Pittsburg High School did.

The week following the trip, May 6, was the Antioch High School Senior Ball.  As I'm sure I mentioned earlier, Robin Mork asked me to go with her, I told her I would.  I wore the tuxedo I had on loan from LMC, just renting a cumberbun and real tuxedo dress shoes.  We went to Zandanella's for dinner, and it was really nice.  I drove both of us myself.  After pictures, we had some extra time until our dinner reservations, so we played air hockey, in our formal wear, at golf and games.  We got quite a few stares a nd questions, as could be expected. During dinner, I motioned to Robin about our waiter, "Pretty cute, huh? If I was a female, I'd flirt with him".  I insisted he looked like Dennis Quaid, and she had to admit a little bit, but not that much.  Anyway, she got a kick out my checking out our male waiter, and I got a kick out of her kick. After dinner, we had further time until the dance started, so we had a drink at the Coffee Cavern, and, once in San Fransisco, I drove us around a while.  It was a really beautiful night-it had been a really warm day, and was very clear, no clouds or fog in S.F.  The dance itself was really fun.  I saw all kinds of people I knew, present seniors and graduates I knew.  I even saw Jennifer Connover, a girl at LMC in the band, who hadn't even gone to Antioch, gone to Pittsburg High school-she was their band's drum major our senior year.  I saw Brandi Pettit, Tim Robinson, Ian Prowell, Jamie Hebold (very briefly), and of course their dates.  All in all, it was a really exciting day. To make it really perfect, earlier that day, I had phoned in to the ETM service to try to order Pearl Jam concert tickets.  The line went active at noon, and that was the only way to get tickets (because of PJ's dispute with Ticketmaster), and I got tickets.  The concert is in Sacramento on June 22. I plan on asking Ian if he wants to go.  I also went to little Tanner's 4th birday party, which was cute.

Following this night not too much happened for a while.  I sent my check off for my Pearl Jam tickets, went to class, etc.  Mike and I went out to the bridge one night and went bridge rappelling.  We only had time to do one each, however, and it was only about tw enty feet (we wanted to start on a low one, since it was the first time I had doen a free air rappel, first time Mike had doen one period.)  A little later we got a new schedule for work, and I'm getting about 27 hours a week or so, which is good, since I' m dead broke right now. I have two hundred dollars to my name.  I payed my insurance bill through to the end of the year, which tapped me out.  While I was there, I had them check on the accident claim, the one with Karen Elliot.  Turns out there hasn't been any claim made yet, so either Karen's case has fallen through, or they're still investigating. I like to think the former.  There is no way that little bump woudl cause such pain that she had to see a chiropractor, especially not for several weeks.  Although my take on chiro's is the same as with drugs.  Once you go once, you feel so good afterward that when it wears off, it's addictive, you have to go again.  But the fact of the matter is that I think Karen is trying to snow me and her insurance company, and I'm glad that she might get stuck with this multi-thousand dollar bill for the chiropractor. It's vendictive, but I think I have a right to be.  That accident never had to be reported, and she did so just to fuck with me and my insurance rates; I'm almost positive of that.  I haven't heard anything for the rental car company again, not since that first letter I got asking for payment of damages.  I assume they are going through the insurance agencies.  Now, hopefully, with my new hours, I can make about a thousand dollars before I leave for Humboldt in August.

Speaking of Humboldt, my Humboldt Orientation Program is in June, June 28-July 1.  I wrote to the student employment office asking for information on finding a job, and they sent back some stuff about how to look, and writing a resume, etc.  I'm looking fo rward to going up there again and signing up for classes. I wrote out a tentative schedule for the next several semesters.  It could quite likely, almost assuredly, change, however.  I'm planning on trying to get three minors, as well as my BS in ERE, minor s in English (Writing), Philosophy (Aspects of), and Environmental Ethics.  The Philosophy is just because I like it, the writing is becuase I want it for writing credentials when I go to try to publish something, and for some instruction in that arena, and the ethics is to help in my job searching, securing, and accomplishing.

Further speaking of Humboldt and college, Amy Ryan called me just recently.  At first she was calling long distance from WA, like she did last time.  I had written a nine page letter, challenging her to a letter length contest, and she promptly responded w ith a you win little note, and instead called me to talk direct.  It kind of sucked because I've gotten into a letter writing mode, and have found it hard to talk one on one with people.  Anyways, that was a while ago. Now she's here in Antioch. She refuses to call it home, however, "home" is in WA, at Whitworth College.  Last last Saturday, May 20, we went to go see the high school musical, Bye Bye Birdie.  It was cute, about a rock star like Elvis having to go to war, and a fan that is picked to kiss him, to inspire a song, and make the bankrupt recording company he works with make money.  Tim Robinson played the rock star, Conrad Birdie, and you could tell he had fun.  It was funny. Afterwards, Amy, her friend Erica-whom I'd met at church up in WA but didn't remember-who happens to live in Antioch but had never met Amy until this semester, who had even been in Amy's house to see Andrew, Amy's brother, but had still never met, or seen Amy-, David Dickson-a person I've known for a while, who also knows Amy wel l, and Denise Sautter (who I really should call since I haven't talked to her for a long long time)-, David's older brother just back from his Mission in Texas-the Dicksons are Mormom-, Chris ?-a really interesting guy I'd met at David's last birthday par ty last year (18 I believe), and hadn't seen since-, and I all went out to Lyon's and had desert and talked and stuff.  It was a nice end to a busy day.  Earlier, it was open wall day at REI, and it was dead, there was hardly anyone there.  I actually had to leave I got too tired from climbing so much.  I made the second route without falling or even slipping once.  That done, I tried my hand at the advanced route. Boy is it ever advanced.  The first move alone, over the overhang, took me about ten attempts.  Once I did that, I only made it about five more feet. There I was stuck, as I had nothing left.  I made one more attempt to climb the second route a little later, but I simply had no energy left. After climbing, I had to go to a study group for my history final, since finals was the next week, and none of us read any of the the material, just like for the mid-term.  I had some extra time, so I stopped at Bay Books, my favorite store-used books!, biggest in Contra Costa-, and found a Vonnegut book I've been looking for.  Speaking of Vonnegut, I wrote a letter to him, to be forwarded by one of his numerous publishing houses.  I basically said how much I like his work, etc.  I included the satire I wrote, "Independant", since I tried to pattern it after his style.  I figured since he had inspired it, I would like for him to have it.  I can't say whether he's read it or not, but, even if he doesn't, just that he got it alone is enough for me.  I mean, a personal reply from him would be something I would frame, but I don't count on it.  Anyways, I went to my study group, then came home, had dinner, and went out with Amy.

Speaking of college pals, April is back in town.  Yesterday, I went to stop by her house to say hello. Her car was there, but she wasn't.  I suspect she must have gone with her parents somewhere.  It isn't that surprising, since it was a holiday, Memorial Day.  Oh well, I'll stop by again later.  I don't want to just call, because that doesn't sit well with me, for some reason.  I think it'd be better to see her face to face.  For some reason, I think she's still avoiding me. I haven't heard from her since grad uation.  If I show up, she really has no excuse to avoid me, I'd be right there, and if she wants to still, at least I can try to find out why.  I don't know, the whole thing has got me pretty confused.  It can't be that she just doesn't care about me either way.  I mean, I at least thought we were at least slightly close, we did go to the Senior Ball together, not that that has to mean any romantic ties, it does imply some sort of tie.  We did have study group together, and all that other stuff we did as a group. Whether she just doesn't have me very high on her priority list, or whether she's just forgotten about me, or is uncomfortable about me, or what, I really can't say.  All I know is that I've been basically forgotten by the whole group.  Now I do admit i t is still partially my fault. I haven't made a real effort to get in touch with them.  I don't think Rachelle really would want me too though.  Of course, my whole opinion and view of Rachelle has changed a quite a bit.  I used to see her as this sweet litt le person, but not anymore. I can't really go into detail, but little things like her naivete about Nish's not dating anyone else at RPI, her being angry about having to go to DVC because her dad got layed off, little remarks she made back in high school that meant not a whole lot then, but remembered now mean something, etc.  Especially the haughty little laugh she made when I told her not to worry about everyone leaving, since I'd be here still, etc.  I've heard from Robin, who has had a lot more contact with everyone than I have (Which of course, isn't saying a whole lot, but still...), informed me that Rachelle might go to Humboldt as well.  If that happens, who knows how things will turn out when I get up there?  Things will deffinitely be sticky. Things around here are getting really interesting.  Three weeks ago, my dad was layed off from Tosco.  After 15 years of hard, loyal work, they completely cut his position, and didn't transfer him to another one.  He's getting twenty weeks of severance pay, and he's told me not to worry about school, since we're ok on money. I'm not worried, strangely enough.  I don't have any problems with the present circumstances.  I know everyting is ok, he'll get another job soon-he's got more connections in the industry than I can count.  In fact, things are so ok that he and mom are even going on a vacation to Hawaii.  So, I don't see anything to worry about.  He sure isn't.  We've played golf a couple times, and now, with school done, I'm going to go to the gym more often, and we can perhaps play raquetball.  His raquet got cremated when it hit a wall.  He says he thinks it had a defect in it when he bought it, but he doesn't have the receipt, so I'm getting him a new raquet for father's day.

Just this last Saturdat was Justine's pinning ceremony.  She made it through the nursing program, getting her AS, and this ceremony was to recognize her efforts.  It was held outdoors at the college of Marin, with Mt. Tamalpais looming in the background.  It was really a beautifull day, a little warm for the silk shirt I was wearing, but nice nonetheless.  We were all really proud of her.  There were 42 graduates, about five or six of them men, and they were wearing white.  I supposed that was the tradition, s ince nurses always wear white.  I took the dollar bill wreath she had given me for my graduation, saying that is was now an official custom, and that was the graduation wreath. When I graduated for Humboldt, it was expected that she would give the wreth back to me, and so forth and so on.  Maybe someday we might pass it to our children, who knows, family heirloom?