1. No school = sleeping in

2. The Internet gods have deigned to give us their favor; hence, I am posting.

3. An unexpected call from Jaime, whom I haven't heard from since the summer, to catch up

Yesterday's beautiful things:

1. Yellowed gingko leaves dropping from their branches resemble butterflies floating to the ground.

2. The San Francisco Bath Salt Co. sells its wares on Pier 39 in large open barrels. I go sniffing from barrel to barrel comparing the scents of the different salts and admiring their creamsicle colors. I dream of a future apartment with a bath.

3. A meetup with the boys and Jules in the city. The same ease and silliness we always have.

1. Running into Wes C. at Borders and getting a chance to catch up

2. Getting to buy decadent and frivolous items like dark chocolate-covered gingersnaps and French truffles at Trader Joe's with the gift card my mom got us for Xmas

3. Meeting Sugar for an Indian food dinner near campus

1. This afternoon's critical decision: tea or hot chocolate?

2. Though the streets of downtown Berkeley are soggy with our first autumn rain, they still throb with life: women in stylish wool coats and boots, teenagers sharing pizza out of cardboard takeout boxes, canvassers and vendors, etc. I am reminded of London.

3. Running into a classmate on the street

4. Bringing home the two videos Sugar has been patiently waiting for in the library hold queue. He will be so happy.

1. A girl who looks to be about high school age stops me on the street and asks where I bought my jacket.

2. Catching up with Davin over lunch

3. Treating myself to a slice of pumpkin pie after finishing the last lesson with my first tutoring client

1. Flush with new cash, I am finally able to try the fries at Amanda's, the hip new organic burger joint on Shattuck.

2. Catching up with old friends--lunch plans with Davin in two weeks and a 2-hour phone conversation with Mony

3. A new job

1. For once, I actually use the recommended utensils for mixing cake batter, and the batter comes together quickly and painlessly.

2. I have an interview tomorrow.

3. Finally having Sugar's brother over for dinner to thank him for helping us move and assemble the furniture

1. The bulletin boards at the library are practically decoupaged with homemade flyers, handwritten notices, programs and brochures advertising this event or that organization. Although I am overwhelmed by their sheer number, I am heartened to get a glimpse of the richness of life here.

2. The bougainvillea are especially brilliant--absolutely radiant--on a cloudy day in the East Bay.

3. A postcard from riceboi2004 in my mailbox nestled in between the mound of junk mail that comes each Tuesday

Yesterday's beautiful things:

1. Reuniting with an old friend whom I haven't seen in about 3 years

2. Framed in glass by the back elevator of the library's 5th floor is a child's drawing of trees with pasted on cutouts of butterflies and this accompanying handwritten inscription:
"My name is Gusty Lewis living on Harbour Island of the Bahamas. I hope that the trees are growing now in Hiroshima. I am 6 years old so I do not know about that war."

3. Returning home from my outing, I find that Sugar has washed the mountain of dishes in the sink from last night before going to work.

1. Responding to emails from kind members of the Craigslist community offering to let me watch Project Runway as a result an online plea

2. Re-reading old emails from friends

3. Hosting my first guest in the new apartment--Hank in the kitchen with the turkey-stuffed red bell peppers