If one goes to Hamburger Mary's in downtown Sacramento, I recommend the Skippy Burger.  It's quite good.  It's a burger with peanut butter.  Also, don't forget to order their spicy fries.

It looks as though I'll get my money's worth for my vision insurance plan.  I have something called keratoconus.  I'm not sure about how to spell it, but it forces me to have hard contact lenses.  The optometrist mentioned that it is "medically necessary."  Basically, glasses can't get my vision back to 20/20.  The contacts might not even get my vision back to 20/20.  Fortunately, hindsight is 20/20.  Typically, my vision insurance covers glasses better than contacts, but since it is medically necessary for me to have the hard contacts, well they might cover it to the same degree.  I say might because the optometrist still has to check.  I should find out today though.  If that's the case, then I'd be content.

As I was talking one night after the show, Uncle Sonny said, "I think I have to take this bitch home."  He was referring to me.  He surprised me.  I know he had heard some of the other cast members joking with each other and calling each other their "bitches" as a term of endearment, but I didn't think he'd take part.  Of course, if he feels that comfortable around us, then that must be a good thing.

I really want to perform in the next play with InterACT, "Carry the Tiger to the Mountain."  It's a play about the Vincent Chin hate crime.  It is one of the landmark incidents in Asian American history that is studied in many Asian American hitsory classes.  It was a movement.  It still is a movement.  I even have a Black Lava shirt that commemorates the Vincent Chin crime.  One of my co-workers here at the Department of Education even knew Vincent Chin.  It's a small world.

I learned a lot about education today.  For example, home schooling is not legally recognized by any government institution in California.  What most people misrecognize as home schooling is actually independent study.  Of course, these programs are administered by public schools.  There is also independent study through charter schools.  It was really interesting learning all of this, although I'm not convinced that charter schools are absolutely more beneficial than public schools.  I have the same doubts about private school being better than public schools.  Of course, there isn't really a one-size-fits all policy about private schools vs. charter schools vs. public schools.

The strength of mind over matter is amazing.  One hears about it often.  Two men run out and lift one end of a car up off of an eight year old child that has been run over.  After years of paralysis, an individual is able to walk again.  Mind conquers.  Mr. Piper, my old high school teacher and History Day advisor had a maxim that he taught me.  "If you can think it, you can do it."  It's with that same philosophy that I have pushed myself to push when it seems that I can push no longer.  Although I didn't save anybody's life yesterday, my getting through the performance on my less than adequate foot strength felt like quite an accomplishment.  I don't know what's wrong with me, but I do know it hurts so good.  I'll get through it though, just like I get through everything else: with a prayer, a smile, and some perserverance.