Paramount, CA Dialysis

This was the dirtiest, most crowded clinic I've been to. Most of the clinicians -- maybe all of them -- were Filipino. I had the opportunity to get to know them more by hanging out with them in the break room. I learned a few noteworthy things: they work more than any group of immigrants (and are proud to tell you how hard they work!); they bring food and share it amongst themselves; they do not vote, claiming they don't know any of the candidates (to which I responded they should get to know them); they send much money back to Phillipines; and they are highly educated people working outside of their academic fields. Hmmmmm.

I stayed in a Residence Inn in La Mirada, and actually used the fireplace in the suite (and yes, the air conditioner was on some of the time). It felt homey. Had the opportunity to sit and talk with Michelle, one of my favorite trainers on the project.

On Friday, I headed back to San Clemente and will write more later.

California, Here I Yam!

Well, after a week in Scottsdale, working with one of the most unpleasant teammates I've experienced, I welcomed returning to La La Land.

Flew into Ontario instead of LAX or Orange County. Rented a boat (Dodge something; a big ol' truck that could seat a dozen for sure) and headed down to my beloved south coast, specifically San Clemente. Stayed at the Hampton Inn, just off I-5 and overlooking the expansive and enigmatic Pacific Ocean. With a fabulous room (303) with an ocean view , great bed, and quiet (except for the white noise of the freeway which, amazingly, does not disturb me) -- I was set for a restful, enjoyable weekend.

On Sunday, I headed to San Diego to see two movies: Fan Fan la Tulipe and Jesus Camp. The first was a French swashbuckler film from the early 50's, and was wonderful to experience on the big screen -- a privilege I rarely get when viewing foreign films. To be honest, I'd never heard of the film. Was it up to the aesthetics of a Rossellini, Visconti, Godard, or Truffaut? no where close; however, I still enjoyed it. Even the worst foreign films seem so much better than the typical Hollywood pablum.

Jesus Camp was a bit of a disappointment. Not that it was bad, but I kept thinking that this documentary would fit better on the PBS P.O.V. program. It didn't seem "at home" on the big screen; in fact, I think the film suffered by not being on television. The film is about the indoctrination of a young army of "God's warriors" by the Christian fundamentalists who insist on integrating their version of 'God' into all things public and private. Yet, only the truly gullible wouldn't recognize that instead of "God's warriors" these kids are becoming tomorrow's neurotics and sociopaths. Oy vay!

On Monday, I headed to Paramount Dialysis, in Paramount, California, somewhere in the "South Bay" area of LA. It was, for all purposes, a ghetto. The clinic was nasty, but the clinicians (most filipino) were wonderful and generous. More later ...

Week Five

I am back in Phoenix for the week of July 4, 2006. The main reason I came back is because I have to appear in court. I'm also taking care of some personal business matters, since nothin goes as expected. I've wasted so much time these past months on matters that were so minor they hardly warranted note. Yet, I find myself devoting hours to these minutae.

Boy am I comfortable in my Hampton Inn room. Best bed I've ever slept in alone; free high speed internet access, great soaps/shampoos, nice radio that receives my classical station beautifully. Quiet. And, without a doubt, the best breakfast bar I've ever experienced. I may just stop going out, order in food, and stay in bed.

And study Chairside Snappy, the part of the software program that I will teach first, in Washington DC (July 10-15).

Nice to be back in familiar territory, but I don't see Phoenix as I did before. I'm beginning to recognize how ugly it is now. Especially compared to Atlanta. Now that city was something else: greenery everywhere, really upscale sections with large lots.

Week Three

I am writing this entry late Sunday night -- to be precise, Monday morning. Monday is a learning day where we must sign in at XXXXX (where training is held) and practice what we've supposedly learned (operative word being "supposedly").

Today, I accompanied a New York Jewess/(she thinks she's a princess) to Athens, Georgia, ostensibly for antique shop browsing. This being Georgia, Sunday, and the Bible Belt all stores were closed so we were relegated to eating Belgian french fries and touring a small part of the University of Georgia campus The campus is old and beautiful -- so much so that I found myself whistling the Cornell University alma mater: "on the banks of old Cayuga ..." One thing that stood out in my mind was how lush the flora was on campus, and how the students had not trampled the sundry flower beds across the campus.

Back to the motel (Residence Inn), I hooked up with the nerdiest of all of these nerds, one former Indiana farmboy, YYYYY, who now resides in Orlando, Florida. I accompanied him to the nearby Arby's for a Sunday evening nosh prior to the requisite studying. Seemingly innocuous and emotionally solid, I discovered that his ultra-conservatism ("don't get me started!") masked a bitter hypocritical, more-than-likely closet-queen full of self-hatred and dogmatic, practiced opinions. His Arkansas joke -- the one that eviscerates Bill and Hillary -- was the catalyst that caused the theme song from The Twilight Zone to play imaginarily in my ear. I think I'll keep my distance.

Time to go to bed, but since I just started this blog tonight, I will return tomorrow to share more of my journey into geekdom, my trek through techie hell, my ... well, more later.