School's Out

Actually forever! I just got back from Seattle to present my final paper for my MPA. I'm done! After 3 1/2 years, I'm finally graduating. Tim has been so supportive. If it hadn't been for him, it would have taken me at LEAST another year.

I probably won't walk for graduation, we'll see what I'm up to in June to make the trip back to Seattle. Since I really just care about the pictures, I might go with my brother's plan of getting the cap and gown and just taking pictures with everyone. I'll just have to travel with my cap and gown and diploma. Sounds like a plan.

My final presentation was in true Seattle U style. It was as my professor's house and he and his wife made dinner for all of us. I love that school.

The trip to Seattle was busy but perfect. I actually started planning on that and arranging to see everyone before I started on my presentation for my final paper. See where my priorities lie or is it lay? After all that education my grammar still sucks. Got to see all of my friends and had the most amazing meal at Elemental. I highly recommend that to anyone going to Seattle.

I'm looking at getting a J-O-B now. Not sure exactly what I want to do - the non-profit health care field is absolutely crazy but I am drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

Until I get a J-O-B I'll keep interning at Tenderloin Health. Now that's a crazy house. It's also in the worst part of San Francisco but what they are doing is incredible. They are serving those who are homeless and with HIV/AIDS. If it wasn't for my BFF Francis, going to work would be so dreary. Francis is the best girlfriend/boyfriend EVER and he protects me from the crazies in the Tenderloin.

The other day Francis and I were going out for coffee and we actually had someone leer at us and hiss. Maybe it was the fact that he had no front teeth, or maybe he was totally out of his mind but I have never ever ever had someone hiss at me. At least not a perfect stranger. I mean, he actually went out of his way to hiss in our faces. Ahhh, just another day in the Tenderloin.

In addition to the hisser, there are the various catcalls I get. I believe my confidence level is going up by having men daily yell out things like, "hey baby you look good", "nice", and "hey girl, you have a beautiful smile". I even had an invitation into a bar one evening when I stayed a little too long at work and it was dark out. The man almost pulled me in. I now do not stay in the Tenderloin past the daylight hours and if I do, my bodyguard Francis escorts me to my city limo - the bus.

I take it all as a compliment - the leers and jeers that is. The social rules in the Tenderloin are a little loose and if I ever need help I know that Francis will come to my rescue. That queen will scratch the eyeballs out of anyone putting me in harm's way. Actually he looks so butch that so long as he doesn't open that mouth of his no one is gonna bother me.

Next up - gettin' married. This has been a big year for us.