Thoughts from Oakland

I've been living in Oakland for about a month now. I have random musings. Here goes.

I feel like I have an awkward front row seat to the recession right now. I'm doing my part by remaining underemployed, juggling part time jobs etc. I have a friend that got laid off, others who can only find part time jobs. Stores and restaurants are closing. It's very scary, and people my age are getting seriously shoved out of the job market. Since there's such a crunch for even the simplest employment, everyone applying for a job is overqualified; I applied for an assistant position in a law office. The lawyer got 100 applications, 30 of which were from attorneys. It's hard for someone like me, with a great education but only internship work experience, to compete at that level. So I find myself getting jobs in which I am the overqualified person, simple tutoring or subbing, etc.....it's all very bizarre.

For the most part though, the move has gone excellently. I am loving my new surroundings, and I feel like myself again now that I'm out of my home. 

I thought Slumdog Millionaire deserved neither the giddy hype nor the hatred being thrown on it. It was cool....It was not that cool. The Wrestler and Milk are my two favorite movies this year.

I've been enjoying jogging around Lake Merritt. I can't figure out if it smells yet. The birds freak me out. One day they shall turn against me. I'm also digging my new gym. There's some excellent crazies. Today there was a fat lady in a tight workout suit doing intense interpretive dancing. 

There's a super hot lady cop who patrols the general Lake Merritt area. I think Lil Wayne would strongly approve of her.

Oakland tacos are good, but not nearly as good as LA tacos. I do live in the perfect area for an array of grocery shopping. Koreana plaza sells NY Steaks for 2 bucks and has the most drinkable beer in the world, or at least in all of Asia. I'm a brief drive away from the granola foody paradise Berkeley Bowl, also a brief drive from some autentico Mexican stuff in Fruitvale. AND there's a trader joes, safeway, and whole foods all within a 5 minute drive. Very very excellent.

Oakland pedestrians are fearless. 

That's it for now.