Saw "The Motorcycle Diaries" tonight with my scoot buddies... and it is a must see.  The movie is based on the journals of Ernesto "Che" Guevara and Alberto Granado as they journeyed through Latin America in 1952, and how that journey shaped them personally and politically.  It is unfortunate that more people might not see this film because of its title and characters (probably every leftist in the area saw it in its first week), because the story is so much more than eight months of Che's life before he became a revolutionary.  One can't help but leave the theatre with a clearer notion that every life -- regardless of where or how it's lived -- is somehow interconnected with every other life. 

Go see it this weekend, and tell me what you thought.  If nothing else, I hope you come away feeling inspired and empowered, knowing that one person CAN make a difference.

Having been roundly chastised for not blogging recently, I'm back.  In my defense, however, I've been a little busy getting my ass kicked in grad school  -- and although I'm having a great time, trust me when I say it's a killer.  It's been bad enough trying to acclimate from semesters (15 weeks) to quarters (10 weeks), but then they split the quarters into two sessions.  And five weeks doesn't give you a lot of time to fuck up.  The class I just finished was Social Marketing Communication, which applies the principles and concepts of commercial marketing to the social change movement.  The workload was horrific, too -- two textbooks, four papers and a group presentation.  It's a wonder I didn't kill myself.  (Note to self:  Don't take courses taught by the assistant dean.)

Needless to say, personal time has come at something of a premium lately.  But it didn't prevent me from meeting my pal at a local restaurant/bar, under the guise of having a late night bite.  Turns out she wanted to introduce me to the barkeep whom I'd actually met a number of years earlier.  How pathetic is that, when your friends try to set you up with relative strangers?  Yes, her intentions were noble, but it's a sad state of affairs when the prospects considered are people of only passing familiarity even to the go-between.

Still, there must be a better way to go about this meet-and-greet business.  Bars?  No thanks.  Nothing for me to do there -- can't drink, shouldn't dance, and rather not be a wall support.  Social groups?  Too much emphasis on show-and-tell.  Internet sites?  Nah, no one seems capable of breaking the envelope of two or three email messages, nor does anyone seem to possess the fortitude required to actually meet.

Ah well.  I guess it's good that I'll be busy for the next five weeks.

While at lunch today, a friend and I ended up talking about relationships.  We were sitting outside observing passers-by, and I happened to comment on one woman in particular who appeared to be part Asian, whose overall look just struck me, and I said, "Now, she's cute."  You would've thought I'd revealed the secrets of the universe, because my friend nearly had a stroke:  apparently, she's been trying for some time to figure out what "type" of person I'm drawn to.  I guess she's puzzled as to why I've been single for a good while and, frankly, I'm mystified, too.

She asked whether I was too picky, and that led to a discussion about how very difficult it is to find people with whom we (both of us) are compatible.  Interestingly, she has been coupled for as long as I've known her, while I have remained unattached.  She asked whether I might be too picky, but I'm not certain that's the case.  It's true that there is rarely a perfect match -- but while she will have a companion for the sake of companionship, I want the whole package.  For me, there are levels of attraction, each subsequently leading to the other -- physical, emotional, intellectual and sexual.

Perhaps it's unfortunate that I wasn't blessed with the ability to engage in physical relationships without the emotional bond.  I guess that's what's called working from the inside out.  All the same, nearly every one of my friends have always been coupled in some fashion or other, whether through a monogamous relationship or steady if sporadic dating.  And I'm left wondering what qualities they possess that I do not -- or vice versa.  Maybe it's as simple as that they know how and are more than willing to play the game, while I am not.  It's too bad, because someone somewhere is missing out on a bright, active, honest, loyal, faithful and funny companion.

Good lord, I've just described a dog.