Hey. What's up? Not too much here. I've just been working and hanging out. I've finally finished school, and I think this time it is for good. My brain must be full, or maybe I'm just tired of school life. Christina got me an interview and now I have a new job at Equity Office Properties. It's a great company to work for. The benefits are almost as good as the state, but the work is much more challenging. I think I will be with this company for a long time.

Eva is good. She never ceases to surprise us, mostly with the cute things she does for attention. She has us well trained. We finally had a hearing about our neighbor with his head case-German Shepard, the one that attacked Eva twice. The hearing officer declared his dog "vicious and dangerous", so he has to take it to advanced obedience classes. Hopefully, the property manager will kick him out. I've sent him a copy of the ruling. Keep your fingers (and paws) crossed.

Unfortunately, Rojo Grande died a few weeks ago. He had a case of mites, which are a common affliction for guinea pigs, but he completely recovered. About a week later, we discovered him dead in his cage, his eyes closed forever. It was sad. He was such a good piggie. We buried him in on the hillside across from our balcony. Funny how it seems prettier now. Poor Mijo is now a solo piggie. Now he has mites, but he's on medication and recovering. He is looking and acting like his old fat self again.

Everyone keeps asking Christina and I if we are "adjusting to married life." Yes we are. Our relationship is better than ever. We have our issues, but everything is good. We are very happy. For my part, I fall in love with her all over again about every 3 months. She's so amazing. I never thought anyone could be so wonderful. She renews my faith in humans.

I'm not sure if I have mention it, but the past few years I have discovered a new hobby, which has quickly developed into a fiery obsession. It started so simply; I sold my car and quickly tired of waiting for the bus. So, one day I rode my bike to school. Even though it was over a very steep hill (even by San Francisco standards), I was surprised to find myself at school 25 minutes later. This was way faster than taking MUNI (by about 30 minutes) and a hella fun. Soon I was cycling to school every day, and loving every minute of it. No longer was I subject to the incompetencies of public transit. It was like surfing the city --catching the peak of a traffic wave and riding it to the rocks of a red light. I've been riding my bike ever since, many times over the Golden Gate Bridge to the hills of Marin. I've seen quite a few sunsets from the cliffs. After surfing, it has been the best thing I have ever done. I am turning into a serious cyclist. I recently bought a new bike and have customized it. I even have those clipless pedals and some of that fluorescent clothing that repels cars.

So now it’s been two years since that first blaze to school down Portola street. I'm probably in the best shape ever. Cycling is a great experience, but now I want to do something more. Cycling has been good to me, I even have "gnarly biker knees," but what could I do to give it some useful purpose beyond my own selfish adrenaline fix? What would give it some meaning outside of myself? Anything inherently good always benefits more than just one person. Is there possibly something that I could put my legs towards?

I found a reason. Now I am pedaling to end AIDS. To be exact, I'm pedaling 585 miles to end AIDS, from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I'm starting on June 4th as part of the fifth annual AIDS Lifecycle. I have been training for about one month but I still have some significant work to do. The last two months of near-continuous rain have not made it any easier, but I have finally gotten used to riding in the weather. When you are training to ride 585 miles, you don't have much choice.

I hope my effort does something to raise awareness about AIDS. It seems with everything that is happening in the world today, no one pays much attention to pandemic of AIDS. But still, there are more than 40 million people worldwide infected with HIV/AIDS (Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic, UNAIDS, 2002). From the beginning of the epidemic to 1998, 5,237 American children under age 13 had been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as living with HIV/AIDS. More than 700,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in the United States since 1981, and as many as 900,000 Americans may be infected with HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 850,000 to 950,000 U.S. residents are living with HIV infection. In the United States, 641,086 cases of AIDS had been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of Dec.4, 2003. Incidence of HIV/AIDS: Approximately 40,000 new HIV infections occur each year in the United States. Of these newly infected people, half are younger than 25 years of age.

I'm sure you can appreciate the seriousness of the situation. I will pedal 585 miles over one week to raise awareness about this situation. Will you help? I have set a fundraising goal of $3500. Everything I raise directly goes to providing critical services to people living with HIV/AIDS. It also helps secure more funding for ongoing research, something that is severely ignored today.

I hope you appreciate what I am doing. I hope you can help. Many people suffer every day with AIDS. I will suffer 585 miles in an effort to help them.

I hope you are well. I really wish we could hang out more. If you are ever in the neighborhood, please give me a call. Life is so short. Take care.