i have a lot of interests.

on monday morning, when friends from work ask me what i did the previous weekend, they are usually surprised that i am able to fit in as much as i do.

it's in my nature to be active ... mentally ... physically ... in most ways. i've been fortunate to have been able to experience and try lots of different things.

Updated 11.01.03
what i'm doing lately ...

in july of this year, i went to see my family in the burbs of chicago, as i have become accustomed to doing since 1998. this was the year my neice was born. i was there for her birth and have been returned home for every birthday.

my mother, like many mothers, worries about me. i had been telling her, probably not wise judgement on my part, about my long hours at work, lack of sleep, and inconsistent exercise regime. when i arrived home this most recent july, she looked at me and simply said "you're sick." she decided that i needed to visit the herbalist. i should include here that my father is a pharmacist, the western kind. my mother and sister, in spite of the fact that she is also a pharmacist, have faith in eastern remedies and took me to a herbalist (read more under fever in my gallbladder).

to cut to the quick, i started taking a series of liquified concoctions, the contents of which are unknown to me. what they did, however, definitely changed my life, and are continuing to change my life.

they made me sleep more than i normally allowed myself. it's truly amazing what sleep can do. i have an improved outlook on life. i've even been motivated to try more new things.

my latest new love is surfing. although it's always been present on my site and in my life, i committed to it. i got a board and a rack for my car and promised myself that i would go once a week when i was in town, which is most of the time now. i'm going to costa rica in a few weeks for a surf camp.

with the addition of new activities, some of the other activities have suffered. i haven't been climbing in a long while. however, i just got some of my own shoes and a chalk bag, so i'm re-committing to that, too. i haven't been boxing regularly. i'm not quite ready to box on saturday and surf on sunday. my shoulder blades are usually too sore on sunday to make that happen. however, i am still taking ceramics, and i'm spending time with new friends, a rarity in this city.

originally posted 5.30.03
i am somewhat of a creature of habit. every saturday, i have a violin lesson in the morning. i started playing in the 5th grade and continued until i graduated from high school. it sounds like a significant amount of time, but i was never really pleased with the way i played. i hated recitals. i generally hate performing or competing.

when i was at home in chicago last christmas, i started thinking about what i would try in the new year. i tend to be introspective at certain times of the year -- spring and late winter. i saw my violin and decided that i would start playing again.

i found jim on craiglist. he happens to have the same name as my brother in law. i found this amusing and maybe even a sign to tell me that he was going to be one to teach me. turns out that jim studied with itzak perlman. can't do much better than that. it's been great to play again. although i have callouses on the tips of my fingers and funny marks on my neck from time to time, i think i'm actually a better player now than i ever have been. now i listen to classical music in the car.

jim used to have other students, but he recently told me that he stopped teaching the others. i think he likes the fact that we can play pieces together. there's a beautiful one by bach that he keeps asking me to play in the bart station with him. eek. dunno if i could do that. maybe ...

what i love about my saturday is that after my lesson, i box. no, i don't *kickbox*. i do the american - muhammad ali - roy jones jr - style of boxing. i started about four years ago and took a break during grad school. when i wasn't boxing i realized i was a lot more tense. there's something really amazing and liberating about hitting a bag. i am not a violent person. i have never been in a fight. however, i have to admit, the couple of times when the class included sparring (he didn't hit back) with my instructor, i enjoyed it.

i used to alternate between boxing and bikram yoga. i haven't been back to funky door in a while, cuz i moved out of the haight. the recently opened a studio south of market, but i haven't been to it yet. it's on my list.

a few months ago, i started climbing indoors at mission cliffs with sue. we try to go every week, but not always successfully. i've actually climbed a couple 5.8 and 5.9's (i think). this was incredibly satisfying and strenuous.

i've been getting back into the art scene in sf. work slowed me down a bit, but i'm trying to resist.