In a few minutes I will be phoning principals of local schools in Berkeley. As someone who's never had a close encounter with a principal, I am a little reticent. I feel like I am setting myself up for a lecture.

But considering what I am proposing, the principals are likely to be very happy to talk to me. I want to engage with an afterschool group for two afternoons over the next month to do a parks assessment with my classmate Jackie. There's just something intimidating making phone calls to the top of the mountain without checking in with base camp first. I feel like I am Michael Moore or something, showing up at the Chrysler headquarters unannounced, or, similarly, throwing stones at Charleton Heston's front door.

I need a few minutes to jot down a principal phone script...