Head in hands day (H-I-H), part II

August 8, 2011 was an officially designated H-I-H day.

The arrival and passage of August 8, 2011 gave everyone a literal case of the Mondays. The stock market plunged 685 points (5%) with global insecurity focused on Western Civilization's hollow finances. Spain and Italy are primarily to blame, with the U.S. right behind in a neck-to-neck race to the bottom. Gelato can't fix this one, kids.


Curves like that don't lie.

The bad news was followed by a lot of media outlets encouraging everyday people to not attempt to liquidate their investments. It's the same thing we heard three years ago, and frankly feel like I got to believe this fairytale to keep sane and not start screaming at strangers on the MAX.

The comforting thing about all that happened today and in the weeks building up to it was we got what was coming to us. It would have been quite ridiculous to have gone through all that angst and bitter public debate for NOTHING. We made our beds, now we sleep in them - even if it's a leaky-ass, skanky waterbed that David Wu keeps in his basement.


Nice bed spread.

Enough of this gloom! Let's write!

Feeling a tad gloomy and partially nauseated when I got home from work tonight, I started to think about things that generally uplift my spirits and how such things can become more plentiful in my life day to day.

First off, I thought about the refreshing alone time that you get when you go out for a long run. That sounded pretty great, so I got on my running clothes, tied the ol' shoes, grabbed my ipod and got ready to roll out the door. But before I left, I remembered to be responsible: I tested my blood sugar to make sure all levels were in a favorable balance before exercising. Unfortunately, that pretty much threw a wrench in my happy time. My blood sugar was too low, so low that I would have to eat a lot of spoonfuls of jam (four or five of them), candy or juice to just walk around the block, let alone run 4 miles at full speed. So I bagged the run, made a simple dinner for myself and continued the happiness brainstorm.

Next, I thought about the nice collection of nearly 600 blog posts I've penned, most prolifically when I was in grad school in the mid-late 2000s. So I went to these blogs, this being one of them, and I started to read, peruse and feel nostalgic for my life of little to no sleep, strange roommates, three-legged dogs and weird Berkeley people. Man, good stuff (shout out to me!).

Here's my new pledge: *try* to make time to write a little something and post it here at least weekly! Looking back at my previous writing samples, I believe I had a talented eye for seeing the off-side and humor in things. I believe that talent is brewing somewhere deep inside, perhaps just partially obscured from the last 9 months working my butt off in an office. It's going to take some practice, though, so patience is needed by any readers as I better hone my craft.

I recall that one goal of my previous blogs was to recruit random readership, develop an online presence and generally impress the heck out of people. I gathered readers by posting my blog on my Friendster page. The result was mixed: I only recruited 4 or 5 regular readers that became involved with adding commentary, etc. So I might try that route at some point and see how it works in today's hyper-social networked environment. Hmm, I suppose I have to put on my marketing genius hat and figure out how to drive regular traffic towards my Facebook page. I have some ideas, perhaps not good or respectful ones, but they are ideas.

Until then... and check back soon.

A year ago today...

A year ago this day I was fresh from a LA bayou tour and feeling fierce heading to one of the darn near most pleasant places I've ever hunkered down for a few days, Lake Fausse Pointe State Park.

I was getting a little excited thinking about my long hours on the road last year while at work today. What an amazing gift I had to wander around America's corners for a few months on the university's dime. I still haven't completed the project to document my findings graphically - I've only barely gotten started on that project - it may be a long time coming. It is particularly challenging to push oneself on a solo project when you're working 10-12 hours a day at a desk across town. Although the work has been fun, it's certainly not the same as being on the road and being in charge of your day to day destiny, all the while living on a shoe string budget.

Happy V-Day folks.

so it's raining

Fall greetings. Many apologies for the lack of entries. Learning how to work again is taking all my time up and I have little time to do the things that I used to consider very critical to survival. Sleeping and eating ranks considerably higher than this blog.

It's been a few years since I've earned a full time paycheck. That said, it's a little rough getting oriented to sitting and computerizing for 8-10 hours daily. Good news is that the work crew is great, and there's not a lot of awkwardness in terms of getting to know new people. I have an enormous second floor window that overlooks the MAX light rail tracks. There's a bar across the street which happens to be the source of much daily amusement. The rain has started so there is less activity out on the street than there is over the summer (or so I recall from 2008), but at the same time perhaps less activity down there is better. I have a lot of work to do everyday so fewer distractions are a blessing.

My repetitive hand injury, a bursitis swelling at the base of my right index finger, is flaring up again due to work. It's about the size of a small pea. A HELL of a lot of mouse clicks contributed to the condition. I have to get a referral to go to a hand doctor. That doctor can hopefully insert a needle in there and drain the sucker which I was told is full of sticky oil. No pain associated with it yet, but I imagine we're approaching the limits on that given the intense use of the mouse over the last 2 weeks. I wish I had invested more time to learning how to use a mouse left handed in graphics programs. Blast.

Other depressing news is that I am one month into recovering from a traumatic long term break up. I need a few months to think about what is going on in my head. I need to be clear about what I need and am willing to give and compromise on. I'd like to think I am very adaptable, but my latest experience proves otherwise. I am pretty sure I serially sabotage relationships, so I need to work on figuring out why. I wish I had money for psychoanalysis. I swear this all stems from my Dad.

Speaking of Dad, we recently observed on Nov. 14 the 7th year of Dad's departure from this Earth. It rained that day, as it did the day he died while duck hunting on Sauvie's Island. We had a siblings dinner and the four of us shared some Dad stories which were great to hear but made me cry quite a bit. Been crying on and off for the last month so I suppose it's sort of a pattern.

Hope to write more over Thanksgiving. I am thankful for my family and for having something to do that relates to my training. Feeling really alone right now, but hoping that gets a little better somehow.

Ways to waste a beautiful Saturday

This is the task I found myself embroiled in for 3 hours today. 'Why' you ask? I need these damn pens working right to do a project. A volunteer project.

Status: Pens are clean. Two out of seven are broken. Estimated replacement cost: $13-$20 each.

The concert that wasn't to be is to be

Twice in the past two years I have purchased tickets to see the Dirty Projectors in concert in San Francisco. Each time I had to pass the tickets over to someone on CL or just eat them entirely - school got in the way or I was out of town. I have really regretted each missed concert. They always sell out in SF.

Tomorrow night I shall be vindicated! Tomorrow night the Dirty Projectors (click here for tunes) are playing at the Aladdin Theater. Not only am I 99% sure I will be able to make it (pending car accident or otherwise), but I will also be able to enjoy the show from a reclined position (all seats at the Aladdin are in actual "seats"). The only challenge I foresee will be getting there early enough that I get a good seat close to the front, but not arrive so early that I am bored out of my mind waiting for the act to begin. I suppose I can nerd-out and bring a book with me (Devil in the White City, currently).

My time in Portland has certainly not been musical enough. I am still kicking myself for not getting a ticket last month to see Robert Earl Keen and David Jacobs-Strain play at the Wonderland Ballroom. That would have been a great show with a humorous, interesting energy to it.

I also failed to see Panda Bear play at the Crystal Ballroom during MusicFest NW a couple weeks ago. I am LAME. That show would have been so cool. I adore Noah Lennox.

Off to bed...

Back home. HOME.

That's right, folks. I am back in Portland. To be more specific, all my belongings are also back in Portland. I've moved.

My new address is at my sister's place. It's a fine upgrade, indeed. I have the upstairs of the house which includes a large bedroom and a small office alcove. Nice place despite it getting warm up here in the afternoon.

Tomorrow is the first day of my unpaid internship, and I am really excited about it. I like having a lot to do immediately upon arriving here.

More soon.

List

1. audio slide show (check)
2. volunteer design work (check)
3. unpaid internship (check)
4. Penske truck rental (check)
5. new roommate (check)
6. packing
7. selling IKEA junkiture
8. Sierra getaway
9. beer pong tourney
10. lunch/coffee/drinks/dinner dates to say adieu

Yes, I am moving. Headed back home.

Thank god. California is depressing (this coming from someone headed to Oregon, a state with worse unemployment than here).

He continues to sacrifice

I heard on the radio today that Cincinatti's 'touchdown Jesus' burnt to the ground after being struck by lightening last night.

The statue, built to the tune of about 250K, is likely to be "resurrected" if donor funds can be raised.

In my mind (unreligious as I am), if God struck the thing down, that is direct evidence that it should NOT BE REBUILT. This thing is frightening, a monstrosity. I suppose it is an interesting thing to laugh at as you pass by on the highway - on a journey to somewhere better than Cincy.

I'm with God on this one, though. Don't rebuild. Instead, do something God and Jesus would approve of: Feed some children. Buy books for kids in the public school system. Do something in the world. Smart, I know.

Blast from the Bateman Street past

For the last several days, Bay Area newspapers have been covering stories about men attacking bicyclists. The first assailant used his SUV to injure 4 cyclists in the Mission District of SF. The second assailant used tools to threaten and injure mountain bikers unlawfully using fire trails in the Berkeley Hills. Oh yeah, another little detail: the second assailant also happens to be a former next door neighbor of mine.

Between 2004-2006, my roommate and I called him Crazy Mike. But it was all in good humor - we considered him just one of Berkeley's eccentric weirdos - which there are many. Crazy Mike would ring our doorbell every few weeks to either report errant internet waves intruding into his home, to "lend" us books he thought we should read, or to tell us about how he likes to feed urban possums and raccoons that literally hold Bateman Street neighbors hostage in their homes between sunset and sunrise. Crazy Mike also drove a car that squeaked a hell of a lot - don't ask me why I remember this, but the car bugged me because my room window was next to the guy's driveway.

Other than that, he seemed harmless.

Right now, Crazy Mike is sitting in Oakland's downtown jail with bail set at $12,500 (reduced from $30K according to a mountainbike advocacy website). I have no idea how he is faring in jail, but I bet he is surprised to find himself all the way down in Oakland. A bit of brief research told me that Berkeley has only 16 jail cells in its modest hall of justice. Either Berkeley had no room in its jail when Mike committed his crimes or there is some kind of county jurisdiction at play since the attacks took place in the East Bay Parks District.

Googling Crazy Mike you will find several websites, one is his very own. The other is an interesting FAQ site that someone from a mountain bike advocacy site set up. Happy readings.

First post in many months. Many changes. Many sad things have happened it's hard to even start.

While Youngeffectual may be on official hiatus, I will still continue to post some odds n' ends that don't exactly fit thematically on the new website.

Music for roads trips is a very critical aspect to consider. I bought a few new albums for this long journey and I will share the good ones:

The Mountain Goats, The Life of the World To Come

The Rough Guide to Zydeco - This album is plain good, but may become even more useful if I have to drive a Cajun somewhere.

Vampire Weekend, Contra - Upbeat, pop music is important if you are getting tired while driving.

Please resume reading elsewhere...

I will now do what every website development and business retention specialist would object to: I will encourage you to redirect traffic from THIS site to THIS site. In order to share my soon approaching trip highlights with you enlightened readers, I have created competition for Youngeffectual.

Once the trip is over, I will probably resume writing on this one because it is more private and less visited. In other words, it is a place where I can complain more without offending anyone.

But for the next two months or so, you might find more to read here.

A new column link

After about 6 years of procrastination, I have finally found the help I need to construct my very own personal website. Sorry, this one is professional, so there won't be self deprecating stories or photos available on it.

As it stands, the site is a work in progress. The pages will become populated in a short time, but for now just the skeleton is there. I've gone for the understated approach to its design - simple and clean. The hope is that by keeping it simple, I will eventually be able to manage and update it myself. I received some technical assistance from a very kind individual to get it where it is - hopefully I will get in the driver's seat before too long.

Please enjoy: www.racheledmonds.com

The long (free) ride home

Location: Lihue Airport, Kauai, Hawaii
Time rental car due: 7:30pm
Time of Andrew’s flight: 8:00pm
Time of Rachel’s flight: 11:30pm
Updated time of Rachel’s flight once checked-in: 12:15am
Current time: 10:21pm

Hmm. This sucks.

So here I am at the Kauai airport. I’ve been here nearly three hours already, and my flight doesn’t leave for another several hours.

Despite the fact I am INSIDE the airport and have gone through airport security, I am actually OUTSIDE. This airport is an open-air design, probably intended to make visitors feel the island vibe immediately upon disembarking. Likely cuts energy costs, too. Still, I feel like I’ve been sitting in a public plaza for three hours. And by “public plaza” I mean a place with aging and worn furniture, dim lighting, cranky people, little to no back support, no wifi, and fewer than 3 power outlets for those of us who would like to keep our laptop batteries charged.

I can’t say it’s the perfect end to the perfect vacation, but I suppose it could be worse. I could be stuck in the Vegas airport where instead of the smells of island breezes and plumeria, the mixture of cig smoke and cheap booze is the prevailing odor.

Kauai is a fun place, and I am really glad I had a whole 10 days to experience it, and with the best company one could hope for. I did a lot while I was here, and I drove a TON – maybe around 550 miles – so I have certainly gotten my fill of the garden island. There are a few things I learned about that I would like to share with my reader.

1. Do not expect peace and quiet on Kauai. This place is NOISY – mostly filled with the sounds of chickens and roosters, helicopters, leaf blowers, mowing machines, weed eaters, etc. The only peace and quiet is found either at a swamp that takes 2 hours of hiking to get to or at the beaches. Both of these places have no chickens, which I appreciated after listening to them talk all night long, every night I was here.
2. The best things to eat are kalua pig, shaved ice (with ice cream at the bottom), and spicy tuna poke. You can eat these three things relatively cheaply, too, if they are purchased from budget vendors.
3. The beaches don’t disappoint – lots of choices – swimming beaches, surfing beaches, snorkeling beaches, etc.
4. Avoid Princeville. This place is boring, but the shopping center café area has a good espresso shake and fish tacos. Lots of golfing types hang here, so it definitely doesn’t get my thumbs up.
5. Stay with Connie and Major Inch. Their place is clean, cheap, has a drooling cat, an old horse, has lots of amenities like boogy boards to borrow, etc. However, sadly, they do have loud chickens. Can’t win ‘em all.

I’ve learned other things, but I will not share them quite yet. I am tired and being at the airport is making me less inclined to share all the good nuggets at this time. The above 5 points should satisfy your hunger for awhile.

Aloha from Kauai and signing off.

Time of sign off: 10:51pm
Time of flight, updated: 12:30am

Welcome, 2010: please be a better year!

Two full days into the new decade and I am getting ready to get on one heck of a long plane ride. We fly from RDU-ATL-LAX-LIH. Andrew and I have a TON of baggage and heavy winter clothes in our suitcases. We have an immense amount of woolen under clothes that will make a chance jaunt across the world only to sit inside a suitcase for another 10 days. We are hoping for balmy 80 degree weather. Right now it is 30F in Durham.

A trip calculator reveals the travel is about 4906 miles. The longest flight I've been on is from SFO-NRT-BKK....about 7900 miles. SO this one should be easy peasy.

Snobama '09 DC

I arrived in DC safely on Thursday evening. In less than 24 hours, the city was awash in a fine coating of icy snow, a condition which has not improved in the last 24 hours.

My current status is stuck inside the Marriott Residence inn of Pentagon City with my boyfriend Andrew's family. We left Capitol Hill at noon, and we soon realized our vehicle was not road worthy by 12:30pm. We may try to leave around 2pm tomorrow if conditions continue to get better. RIght now, the snow has stopped but temperatures are likely only in the upper 20s. More snow may follow....

Highlights of the last two nights included a 3 miles jog from Capitol Hill to Foggy Bottom along the Mall. Deserted and beautiful, I had an amazing run along sites I've passed by countless times when I lived in the nation's capital from 1997-2004. Whenever I am in town, I do a similar run and it is always a reenergizing highlight to my visit. Other highlights included meeting a good 50% of Andrew's extended family during a memorial service for a recently departed uncle. Sad, but uplighting the same time.

some holiday news....

Some album news:
Soldier of Love, Sade....first album out since a long ass time ago.

Fall Be Kind, Animal Collective.....supposed to be a quirky followup to two of the best albums of 2008-09. Look forward to their antics.

Some job news: I'm still generally unemployed, but I have seasonal employment with a start up and my friend Kim through the SF Dept. of Public Works.

Some gift news: No one is getting any gifts this year for Christmas. Sorry. See "Some job news" for detailed explanation.

Some sublet news: I'm looking to sublet my room from Feb. - Apr. while I'm trekking through the South. Know of any good, clean, and nonsmoking friends?

Some rodeo news: Just got my ticket purchased for the grand finale of my travel fellowship adventure. This is certainly the way to do it right!

Some kitten news: The kitten I almost saved in October was reunited with its family right before Halloween against my wishes and best intentions. Since that time, I've gone past her house and it appears the owner has been evicted - all the furniture and possessions are on the sidewalk being rained on. I just hope the kitten found a dry place to sleep.

I have staff

In two weeks of working I got promoted and now I supervise people. The nature of my work has changed and I don't really make anything anymore. I simply review other people's work and tell them to fix stuff. So much for creativity.... After giving critiques all day long, I come home and feel like I've been nagging someone all day. The sad truth of it is that I HAVE been nagging people all day long.

A sample of my very enlightening work dialogue:

Me: Um, let's see, to stay true to the design of the product, you should nudge that text box two clicks up. The photos aren't edited right either. You need to open them up in Photoshop, apply a levels mask, and only brighten the photo's background. Oh, and you need to change the font from Garamond to MrsEavesAllSmallCaps. Don't forget to do that.

Staff: Hmm, well, sure, I'll get on it.

Me (10 min later): You still haven't changed it to MrsEavesAllSmallCaps. It's now in MrsEavesSmallCaps, if you look closely. They are two different fonts. Details, I know, but just change it.

Staff: Right.

Me: (10 min later): Ok, I just rejected what you sent me over the website because you forgot to relink the photos and embed them in the file. And the character tracking in "Happy New Year" is too tight. Make it breathe more.

Staff: Right.

Imagine having to reiterate this exchange 50-60 times in one working shift, each time with a new, somewhat reluctant employee, who rightfully questions your so-called knowledge of the product line this company sells to the public. It's a big sham, but someone's gotta do it.

This position has two saving graces. One, I make overtime rates ($27/hr) after I work 8 hours on a shift. The other good thing about it is that it tidily ends on the 16th. Andrew and I leave for Durham/DC on the 17th. And so the chapter of my life as a seasonal dot.com employee comes to a happy ending.

Happy holidays.

I didn't need to see or hear that, Oprah.

I spent the last 15 minutes watching Palin-Oprah clips on Hulu. I didn't learn much from it. Perhaps it was all the leaked interview clips that came out online and over radio the past weekend....or perhaps it is simply because this woman spouted the same crap to Oprah that was oozing out of her mouth more than a year ago. A year!

Ahem, forgive me: Her hair is bigger and more highlighted. I reckon that is the biggest thing different about her at this point in time.

Other news: I am earning wages being a seasonal graphics monkey. It isn't ideal, yet it pays the rent. When is the stimulus money gonna come through the pipes and save my profession(s)? This is getting ugly.

Other other news: South trip planning is making headway. I have all critical reservations accounted for. Presently, I am about $300 in the hole in the accommodations category due to the fact that all of Baton Rouge's mid-range hotels are decrepit, filthy, louse-ridden, and overused since Katrina. Instead, I'll stay at the Capitol Center Hilton which some claim to be the nicest bed you'll find in the ENTIRE city.... That is sad. You'd think Big Oil would need nicer hotels to put up its traveling employees. Perhaps they are slumming in BR along with everyone else.

The Costume Info

Halloween. Yes, every year it gets a bit stressful around this time. People are worried about what their costumes will be. Will they be the funny one? Will they be sexy enough? Will people recognize what obscure movie character I am playing? Is is going to be cheap to do?

These and other questions loom in our minds.

This year I had the luxury of borrowing a costume of my sister's. She went as a roller derby girl a few years ago and told me it would be "no problem whatsoever" to put the costume in the mail for me. Fast forward three weeks and I have no roller derby costume. She flaked. So I began perusing the internet for non-skate requiring costume ideas.

This weekend I put the final touches on an new, even better costume, much of it hand-stitched by me. Since no one reads this blog, I will spoil the surprise. I am going as a black widow spider. I found a costume template to follow on some obscure DIY sewing website. Anyway, so far the costume has cost me about $40.

$6 skirt
$14 shirt
$5 two bags of black tissue paper
$2.50 piece of red felt
$5 cobweb stockings
$4 white hair paint stuffs
$2 little bugs
$1 ribbon
three pairs of old black nylons (free!glad to get rid of those)
Tax (@9%)
Total $43.05

I told myself that I would spend only $25, but whatever. This is Halloween. The paper supplies stores likely use this holiday to gather 11% of their annual revenue (right behind Christmas, V-day, Mother's Day....). Halloween should have been promoted more heavily by the Feds as a fiscal stimulus target.

New Animal Collective Album!!!

Can this be? Less than a year ago we were gifted with Merriwether Post Pavilion. This new album proposed promises to be different, maybe darker, but surely amazing. Watch for "Fall Be Kind."

See article: click here

musicmusicmusicmusic to my ears

Oct. 13, Mon, Junior Boys, Mezzanine, SF
Oct. 21, Wed, Blind Pilot, Great American Music Hall, SF
Oct. 22, Thurs, Noah & The Whale, Swedish American Hall, SF
Oct. 23, Fri, Islands, Bottom of the Hill, SF
Oct. 30, Fri, Regina Spektor, Fox Theater, Oakland

small world, big camera

Below is a series of emails I just received from friends and family of the lost camera owner:
*******************************************************************************

Rachel

The world is SO small. We found the owner of the camera. He is the brother of a member of the Arab Horse society here in South Africa. He lives in California and was on holiday in Italy.

I forwarded your letter to a council member who recognized the man in the photo. I am sure they will contact you. Thank you so much for your excellent detective work !

Kind regards

XXXXX XXXXXX
Secretary
Arab Horse Society of South Africa

*****************************************************************************

Dear Rachel

My goodness! What a small world this is. Thank you for your ‘detective work’ regarding the lost camera!

My husband was visiting his brother and sister-in-law in Huntington Beach in June/ July of this year, when that photo was taken. I know that his brother, XXXXX and XXXXXXXX (our sister-in-law) have recently been on a trip to Italy and so am assuming it is XXXXXXXX’s camera! I will forward your email to her and she can contact you directly.

Many thanks again

XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

Lost and found

Dear Mr. XXXX,

I am writing you on the behalf of one of your members (or a friend of one of your members) who may have lost a digital camera while vacationing in Italy a couple of weeks ago.

I found a camera in a shuttle bus connecting Naples airport to Sorrento on Tuesday, Sept. 15. I took the camera home (to California) and today I looked through the photos more closely to try and find some clues as to who this thing belonged to.

I found a photo of someone wearing a shirt from your organization, Arab Horse Society of South Africa. See attached photo. I was wondering if there is anyway you can identify this person for me? That way, I can contact him directly. He is likely to know who owns this camera, if it isn't his own.



I also attached a photo of the camera itself in case that is of any help.




Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,

Rachel XXXXXXX
Graduate Student, University of California at Berkeley
Berkeley, CA

****************

Dear Rachel,

Thank you very much for your efforts to get hold of the owner of the camera. I will do my best to establish who the person on the photograph is and provide you with his contact details.

Regards,

XXXXX XXX

51,396...

The mergers between NW and Delta airlines have created a frequent flier situation that is SO on the verge of being redeemed. It is hard to contain my excitement. That said, I am still 1,104 miles shy of a free round trip ticket to Hawaii.

With a target number of 52,500, my goal seems SO far away. Perhaps mummy can help out. We will put in a request, asap, for mileage transfer....update to come.

Album to watch for....

Last week, while driving some country roads through Tuscany with my mom, I heard on the radio the voices of some very familiar musicians who haven't put out an album in a LONG time. Years. As the tune ended, I made it out in Italian that there is a new record out. Wow. I should have bought it then and there.

Us unlucky Americans don't get the release until Oct. 21.

Watch for it!

The Kings of Convenience, Declaration of Dependence.

Ah, Tuscany....

This is the pool at the agriturismo I stayed at, Locanda Rosati, outside of Orvieto. I recommend this as a place for day trips to Villa Lante, Sacro Bosco, Villa Farnese, etc.

They make good group dinners, too. We drank a hell load of '97 grappa on the house.

In Venice suckers

I write this morning from Venice. I will be trying to eat well and taking good photos. More to come...

Old friends, again!

I am the proud owner of my THIRD ipod photo 30GB music listening device. My first one was acquired the spring of 2005. That one died after I knocked it off a railing onto a concrete floor 15 feet in the wrong direction. I got it replaced using a questionable equipment insurance maneuver, which set me back $69. The refurbished ipod lasted up until last week, aged just over three years. The most recent death was in no way my fault. The hard drive just cracked and died with absolutely no notice. It was making terrible noises in there. Just dreadful.

Forlorn at the prospect of having to purchase a similar device when I am more or less unemployed, I gathered the misbehaving equipment and headed to the nearest genius bar: Bay Street, Emeryville. Perhaps these smarypants hipster cranks can help me out. I was not optimistic, but it's worth it at this point. I am unemployed, so I have plenty of time to fight these petty battles afterall.

I expected little more than a referral to their shelf of newest ipods and "touches" (dumb name). But I was surprised. Way surprised. In a good way!


The ipod photo is a far superior model than most would ever admit! I love this thing!

The helpful genius bar worker told me I could get a replacement piece of equipment, but it would require a transfer fee. The cost? A reasonable (and more importantly), doable $59! Bingo. Bingo. Sign me up! Added bonus is that the replacement is the exact same model as I had before. I don't get video, but that's a good thing! Such technology would just create problems for me at this point. I'd end up wanting to watch episodes of Arrested Development or the Office while I am out running. With that distraction possibility, I might as well just throw myself in front of that garbage truck and get it over sooner that later.

Now I will get to the part of this posting that relates to the title of this posting.

Getting a new ipod required me to clean up my itunes, and by doing so, I located many favorite albums that had for some reason or another been erased from my former device. I re-added Pinback's albums (haven't listened to those in 2-3 years!). Listening to Rob as I type and loving it! I also erased a bunch of other worthies: Rilo Kiley, Martha Wainwright, INXS! Good Lord, the riches of having these friends back in my life.

Fridge purge

I certainly know how to spend a Saturday! After clacking away on the computer for 6 hours, I left school with the intention of going on a run when I returned home. I even changed into my running clothes before leaving school to ensure that the deed would be done. However, during the short ride home I got a massive headache which seemed to intensify when I performed even the most menial of physical exertions (like getting out of the car and unloading the trunk).

With my good intentions spoiled, I did the first thing that I thought might relieve my aches and pains: I downed a glass of white sangria. I made a big batch of it last night, so the dregs of the pitcher were especially well-infused with cheap white and a splash of Christina Brothers brandy.

While fishing the pitcher out of our crammed fridge, I noticed that the shelves on the door were well over full occupancy. Quarter-filled jam jars, countless bottles of aging salad dressing, even a bottle of mango chutney that belonged to my ex-roommate Garrett. Apparently he didn't trouble himself to take it with him when he vacated last October. I began to wonder, "Just how old are all these jars and bottles?"

And thus began my long and thankless evening...

The question had popped into my head many times before - usually at periodic intervals when I had free time. Something always seemed to get in the way of me actually acting on the impulse to purge these shelves. And every year, it seems that new small jars of spicy mustard, olive tapenade, mole sauce, and chutneys are added ad nauseum to the rotting spoils.

Tonight I put all that jar procrastination to and end. This evening I purged no fewer than 25 jars, bottles, and other fetid containers of food stuffs. I decided to empty them in the trash as much as I could before rinsing the contents down the sink. Good idea, considering the age and peculiarities of our plumbing system over here on Grove Street. This strategy, while saving the pipes, also created a dirty bomb of a mixture in the trash can. Towards the end I had to pour nearly 30 ounces of 4 year-old Hershey's syrup on all of it - kind of like a dessert topping for a meal of pungent, intermingling condiments that should really never be mixed together. Under no circumstances whatsoever. The smell was nauseating.

Now the fridge door has an occupancy rate of nearly 40%. I am very proud that I didn't wimp out and just throw all the bottles and jars directly into the trash. My recycling conscience is at least proud. I apologize in advance to the waste management personnel that will take charge of this stinky soup on Tuesday morning. I can't even imagine what this stuff will smell like after three more days in the heat. Aye.

Riding his hog

Greetings after a long spring and summer hibernation.

It is well into August. What a summer so far. I've seen quite a bit and witnessed some tragedy along the way.

Today there was some action going on at the Grove Street garage. My landlord Neal pulled out his 1987 Harley from one of the storage lockers out back. He's been working on it the last day or two. This afternoon he took it on a spin to test out some improvements he's made on it.





I took out the garbage and Neal asked me to come look at it. On the front wheel cover, there is a large, steel hog - sort of like a motorcycle hood ornament. I can practically see Neal wearing all the biker regalia that this bike demands of its driver - fringe chaps and suede vests are a minimum.

Update BLAST!

Apologies for nearly three months en absentia on this approaching-pathetic blog. Just a lot has been happening. Here are the highlights!

1. I graduated....five years of graduate school....two masters programs later....and I remain UNEMPLOYED. The irony!

2. I've remained underemployed. I have an internship that is unpaid and a well-paying contract job that I can only ethically bill so many hours for.

3. In June, I went to Death Valley, Mono Lake, and Manzanar Internment Camp. Fun vacation!

4. I was awarded a travel fellowship I applied for in May. I won't travel until the spring, so I remain unemployed until after that.

5. Going to TRY to apply for unemployment with the State of CA. One of my friends did it, and I want to try, too. I was previously employed by UC, so it's legitimate!

6. The State of CA is broke, and strung out like a hooker on a 4 day bender. There is NO money here. I will be lucky if I don't get an IOU for my unemployment claims!

7. I went to the Alameda Co. Fair this weekend. Have you enjoyed your local county fair??

8. I went to DC last week and there was no humidity. Scary!

Spring Break junk

Sorry for the lack of postings. I've been lazy as you can guess. Here are some images from a spring break painting trip.

Graduation in less than 6 weeks...


Pinnacles National Monument, Spring Break 2009




Mission San Juan Bautista, Spring Break 2009


Lettuce Fields, Salinas, CA, Spring Break 2009




Diablo Range, San Benito Co, CA, Spring Break 2009


Beech tree, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, DC, July 2008

Laney College Flea Market

The following photos come from the Laney College Flea Market, which is held every Sunday in Oakland underneath the I-880 freeway. People sell all kinds of stuff here. A lot of it is junk, but it's quite interesting.


Yes, it's a lead test. In places like this, it would come out positive.




These people's plants were really nice. A nice contrast of green against the highway.


The colors of the juices are beautiful.


The views over the freeway center on the Oakland Fire Training Facility. This is the building that firefighters in training practice setting on fire, extinguishing, and carrying bodies up and down the stairwells. It's a very interesting feature.

More than once per month

I know, a lot has happened in the world the last month or so, and I've failed to make a peep about it. Do hope you understand.

I was in all the action, rest assured. Here are some photos from the very cold, very frigid journey to the inauguration. It was a very fun time and I got good friend time. I even got to stay at Jean Paul's one night after I missed my flight.

Here is me in front of the White House at the terminus of the parade route. This is where Barack and Family were allowed to watch the procession....behind very thick bullet proof glass. If I look like I am not having so much fun it is because it is 24F out and all I am wearing are two long sleeved shirts (and a hat). I didn't dress warm enough that morning, despite running.



This is the parade route opposite the Treasury Building. Look at how these boxes are protecting the trees along here. Rather sturdy and impressive looking.

Getting to the Mall from little ol' Adams Morgan proved difficult. We left Christina's apartment at 6:45am but we ran into ridiculous crowds at L'Enfant Plaza. They only had one exit opening to the Mall there. Hmmm, good planning.





Here are some photos from our spot on the Mall. We were by the Smithsonian Castle, which is about 1/3 the way down the mall from the Capitol Building. Still, we couldn't see shit. I could barely see the Jumbotrons. They didn't have them elevated high enough. It was an ideal height for someone 5'7" and taller. At least we could hear unobstructed.


This is right before John Roberts screws the hell up.

Christina and I.

That's Cheney being wheeled in.

Download immediately!

Animal Collective fans have a nice week ahead of themselves....the newest album is getting fabulous reviews - better than Strawberry Jam.

Happy New Year!

I am home on NYE. Not a first, but generally and exception to the rule. People are upstairs playing loud hip-hop music (my brother's girlfriend's preference) and there is non alcoholic cider in the fridge for the kiddos.

I am down in my room doing creative projects. So far so good.

I will go upstairs in 5 minutes or so to do the obligatories. Then I head to bed. Looking forward to a nice jog in the New Year.

Be safe and healthy in 2009. Get jobs and don't worry too much about money.

New purchases

Despite the flopping economy, many purchases have been made recently. Some have been music purchases. Here are the latest:

1. You can preorder the new Andrew Bird album on the Fat Possum website. That way you get it before it hits stores.

2. Zooey Deschanel's She & Him. I meant to get this months ago, but the recent announcement of a marriage to Ben Gibbard set me over the edge. I just checked out his Wikipedia page to see about the nuptials, and I find him and I share the same birthday, but he is one year older.

3. I got some clothes but I won't bore you...

Christmas has come and gone

It's always hard to write here when it's been many weeks since the last post. So I'll try right now; please forgive the clunkiness-factor.

I've been in Portland since December 20. It's been a long 9 days. We had about a foot of snow everywhere in town up until just recently. The weather conditions managed to cancel flights for days, and disturb mobility for weeks.

I had my rental car parked at the airport in long term parking for 6 days. That's a sweet $70 in parking fees. Don't ever rent a car through priceline or hotwire when weather conditions are dicey. You WILL regret it and be out a ton of money. I have the car now, and have been driving around with ease since it started to rain.

Not many gifts were received from family members this year. There are two reasons for this. One, the economy (stupid). Two, the fact everyone has been snowed in for weeks. It makes it tough to get to the mall when no one has chains for their cars and there is about 10"-14" of snow in your way.

School finished up relatively marvelously, but with the obligatory all nighter on Thursday the 18th. It was pretty painful, but we have bound, color reports to show for it. That is always nice.

I just saw this!

Ok, going to keep this post short in the interest of keeping the momentum up in following days.

I'd have many great pictures of all the snow to share with you but I forgot my camera cable at home in Berkeley.

Full, expanded, no room

Tonight is Thanksgiving.

I am still awake, and it is nearly 9:30PM, a good indication that I did not end up eating too much. In fact, I had about the right amount of food, although a bit too much wine. My contribution to the meal was a fancied-up pumpkin pie from the latest issue of Better Homes & Gardens, a magazine that recently began showing up at my apartment. I believe it is a magazine from a neighbor that moved away earlier this fall.

This weekend my sister's household is dog watching Ladia, a border collie. I had earlier thought I didn't like this variety of canine, but so far this weekend I am being convinced otherwise. The dog is very lovable, relatively quiet, polite, and available to children. That's more that I can say for other dogs I know.

I have a large Thanksgiving Day task to perform. I have to grade nearly 14 presentations and read several articles. I would like to do some of it tonight, but sleep is tempting me. I did, after all, injest many delicious foods plus dessert.

Tomorrow we go see newborn babies, shop intermittently, grade, and go have drinks with my friend Graham from LA. It shall be diverse and entertaining.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Field work

These are the dirtiest smelliest buses on Fisherman's Wharf.


In field work you often take pictures of people when they don't expect it. Lucky me for stumbling upon such an idiotic tshirt, eh?


Pedestrian-vehicle conflict #43.


I tracked bus parking all weekend. Exciting, I know.

January 20.... I'll be there

The recent change of power in government has prompted me to arrange plans to attend the upcoming inauguration festivities on the National Mall on the morning of January 20.

The decision was easy to make. I will miss the first two days of classes at UC Berkeley, but it is certainly worth it. History is being made every single day, but this day will prove to be one that is especially remembered.

The hard thing about it is forking over the $700 for a plane ticket. That is how much they are running. I got two plane tickets home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas that were cheaper than that. Anyone else planning to go?

Simple as that

I have never adored Ohio as much as I do tonight. Thank you.

It's fun to obsess

Here is a nice graphic to peruse in this pre-election period.

No pet time

It turns out that yes, indeed, the orphan feline is a case of a flaky neighbor. Apparently the cat is chipped and has a legal address. One of my neighbors took it in for an ID check over the summer.

This evening I found it sleeping in one of the planters on my porchette.

It found us, so what are we to do?

There are always great stories I hear about how people come across hapless, lost, desperate animals, take them in, and end up finding their ideal pet companions.

This may be happening on Grove Street!

A most precious feline has been making itself known to us for the last week. It really likes all of the people in the house, and I think my roommates like it, too. I will attempt to get a photo of it.

The little guy is pretty much everything I want in a cat: short hair, grey, green eyes, extremely attentive, cute, and affectionate. Basically a 180 of Emily, the crazy mottled calico that we had to take care of on Bateman Street.


This is the cat that found us.

Neal will have to let us have it. All the other people have cats in our building.

I posted an ad on Craigslist for a lost cat. I am hoping it's simply not a matter of a flakey neighbor not caring that their cat is hanging out on traffic ridden MLK.

Renobama

Update from the:



What we were up against:





Our available resources:



The lay of the landscape:



Our secret weapon:





The glorious outcomes:


This is the craps table at the famed Club CalNeva.

Shows!

The SF fall concert season tidbits:

Heartless Bastards, The Independent, Sat. Nov. 8
Bart Davenport, Bottom of the Hill, Fri. Nov. 14.
Ben Sollee, Cafe du Nord, Mon. Nov. 24
Hot Buttered Rum String Band, Great American Music Hall, Nov. 29

Portland tidbits:

Weinland, The DougFir Lounge, Fri. Dec. 12

Great song

The Rainbow Connection - please play at my funeral

Why are there so many
Songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side
Rainbow's are visions
They're only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told and some chose to
Believe it
But I know they're wrong wait and see

Someday we'll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me

Who said that every wish
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star

Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
And look what it's done so far
What's so amazing
That keeps us star gazing
What so we think we might see

Someday we'll find it
That Rainbow Connection
The lovers the dreamers and me

Have you been half asleep
And have you heard voices
I've heard them calling my name
Are these the sweet sounds that called
The young sailors
I think they're one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
There's something that I'm supposed to be

Someday we'll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me

Journey to the desert

Having returned from an exciting weekend in Reno, NV, many people in my class have been interested to know what kinds of things transpired. Here is a detail list:

1. Our hotel clerk at the Rodeway Inn on Market Street had been up for 20 hours or more waiting at the early vote polling place to open, then he logged in another 10 hours checking Obama supporters into their rooms at the front desk. That's dedication.
2. Breakfast at the Rodeway Inn is a modest affair requiring massive use of styrofoam plates, cups, and bowls.
3. Thank god the campaign organizers were actually organized. We had no problems locating our canvassing neighborhoods
4. Most people are flattered that their state is getting the attention of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of California campaign volunteers for each of the last consecutive 4 weekends....and counting...
5. Old women will want to invite my old roommate Garrett in for pie when he's at their door.
6. People in gated communities have a false sense that their neighborhoods are permeable and tolerant to civic dogooders such as ourselves.
7. Apartment dwellers know you are coming because you have knocked on the doors of all their surrounding neighborhoods, and all their dogs are roused to full alert-mode.
8. It is nice to celebrate a long day on the canvassing circuit at the Sports Book at the Calneva.

That is all. Pictures forthcoming.

Disparate postings explained

Ever since the issue of the Fox was resolved, my rate of posting updates has been rather dismal. The difficultly lies in that there have been multiple deadlines the last couple weeks, a pattern that will sadly continue through November 7.

A brief break will occur this weekend with a short jaunt to Reno, NV. A classmate has suggested several places where an authentic cross sectional sampling of Reno may be observed.

In the meantime, we work hard for China's progress in our studio work, with a stark annoyance for the residential solar codes which create largely uninhabitable landscapes.

Preaching in the desert

Christina and I head off for a journey to behead the Nevada McCain monster next Friday...

The best car ever belongs to a nice guy now

Saturday, 10:25 AM, outside my apt. on Grove Street, overcast, 62F.

I handed the Vicente Fox over to a nice guy, Morgan Gibson. He was not a Nazi. He appeared to be a very well-mannered middle class white kid, aged 24 or 25.

He paid cash and was very good about signing the forms I needed signed. The best part is that Morgan lives less than 1/2 mile from me, so in all likelihood, today won't be the last day I see the Fox in Berkeley.

One regret is that I didn't get a photo of me beside the car before it was driven away. In all the 15 years that it's been in the family, not once did I have my picture taken next to it. Kind of sad seeing how much I love it. Then again, it is just a hunk of metal. But a very cute hunk of metal, indeed.

Morgan dropped by a few hours after I sold him the car. He needed another signature. He said he really liked the car and was so glad he got it.

I think I did well today.

Pride, er, price, takes a hit.

The lack of interested parties for the amazing VW Fox I've listed on Craigslist has confounded me the last three days. Last night, feeling a tad defeated, I re-listed the car for $125 less than the original asking price.

It now is priced at a budget-conscious $750. A veritable STEAL, I mind you. I would buy it myself if I wasn't also the owner of a recently repaired Honda Civic.

It seems that the $125 reduction entered me into an entirely different bracket of potential buyers. Today alone I had three or four inquiries, most of them quite serious, and none of them were Nazis as far as I could tell. All were men and most of them I am guessing are Latinos.

I like the idea of giving my car to a hard working person. I just hope that they do not plan to drive the thing long distances everyday, as the Fox is ripe for a new timing belt (not a cheap repair, but the asking price puts that into consideration). The problem with repairing the timing belt is that you cannot wait to fix it before it breaks. If you wait until it breaks, then the engine will be broken as well, and the car will be worthless. I am pretty sure of not telling this to potential buyers. The way I figure it, if you entertain the idea of buying a 19 year old car (that was manufactured in Brazil), you also take on the burden of the imminent repair.

A Nazi wants my Fox

In the last two days, I have only gotten two inquiries about the most terrific car that is for sale in the East Bay. It is very discouraging, and I blame the lack of email traffic on the pending financial crisis.

The first response I got was from some dude with an email address that caused immediate suspicion (onmyhustle17@aim.com). I immediately recoiled, thinking, "Why would I want to be hustled?" Also, the dude's sentence structure and greeting he put in the email left me doubtful he'd be the distinguished kind of soul I'd prefer to have driving my car. I didn't write him back, if you were wondering.

Then, this afternoon, I got a tug on my fishing line. The email as follows:

Hi,
I'm interested in the car...do you have any more pics of the interior? or a close-up of the paint or any dents?
Do you have service records? Do you know when the registration is up?
Thanks,
-dan

'Nice enough sounding guy' immediately went through my mind. Who is this Dan? Does he have a respectable driving record? Is he employed? Will he take my car to Karmakanix when it needs mechanical upkeep? All these questions, and more, were looming.

I decided to write him back. I looked at his name as it compared with the name listed on the email. They were different! Very, very different in fact. The email name seemed like it was for some fictional character. Interesting. So I googled it. What I found was most distressing. In fact, it almost caused me to spit up.

This person knowingly and consciously assigned the name of a Nazi (the alleged successor to Hitler it seems) to his gmail email address. It IS that awful.

This is why Craigslist is such a damn crapshoot. You go out there, with honest intentions of selling the best car in the world, and a blasted Nazi writes you an email!!

It isn't surprising given the events of the last week, with the financial crisis and all. All kinds of diseased vermin is slithering out of the woodwork for a good deal, I guess.

Selling my soul.....

...well, actually just selling my car.

It's a sad day. This morning, I rallied myself to fix a small hose problem on the Fox (windshield fluid hose was dried out). Having fixed it with great effort and uttering of expletives, I took the little soldier to the car wash place to get cleaned and vacuumed. After that was accomplished, there was really nothing left to do but post this ad on Craigslist.

Originally I said I would sell her for $500, but pride got the better of me and I simply couldn't offer her for less that eight and three quarters. We will see what happens.

If anyone wants to buy the best car in the world, please email me at the address on this ad. Really, you won't regret it.

In other car-related news, the Civic has been patched up. The guys down at La Loma did a great job, and they didn't try to shirk me outta my student discount they mentioned when I got the quote. I paid $1300 for the work (the other place wanted $2300!!). A hard lesson, but now I have the car fully insured.

I am tempted by the body's offer

La Loma came in under my limit. Way under, it turns out. I really do not understand how a repair using similar parts and relatively identical labor methods could possibly vary by as much as $1000. Dear god, thank goodness I had the sense to get a second quote.

Anyway, while I was satisfied with La Loma's assessment of damage to my Civic I am quite certain the quality of work may not turn out as detailed as Uptown. But it is likely going to be more than adequate. I shall call them tomorrow to schedule my repair.

Headed "downtown"

Billy Joel expressed my sentiments best back in 1983 when he exclaimed:

Im gonna try for an uptown girl
Shes been living in her white bread world
As long as anyone with hot blood can
And now shes looking for a downtown man
That's what I am.

After my visit to Uptown Fender and Body on 26th Street in Oakland, I am truly in the market for a downtown man. Er, a downtown body shop.

The quote I received today for described damage was $2300. Ouch! I can't imagine what the price would be if anything other than the exterior had been damaged. Unfortunately, in the world of auto body repair, it's the man-hour estimate that will drain the bank. The availability of cheap replacement parts, though a blessing, in fact distorts the actual price of simple and routine auto body repair. Aside from parts, I was told it would take between 20 and 25 man hours (at $70 an hour!) to complete all the painting, buff work, repositioning, and smoke breaks needed to get the Civic into relatively excellent condition.

I am headed to a competitor of Uptown tomorrow, a placed called La Loma (which translates to "The Body"), to acquisition a counter-quote to Uptown's offer (if I can even consider it an "offer"). I assume the enterprise is headed by a group of highly-skilled Latino auto craftsmen. At least, that is what I can hope for. I've decided that I will go with them if they offer near-similar services and can do it for below $1900. That is La Loma's cut off. I've heard too many good things about Uptown to not use them to save a measly $400.

I hate cars....and having two of them that I rarely drive is most annoying.

Not a virgin

This past weekend my cherry was popped on Hwy 101 going through SF. That is, I got into my first car accident. A sad day.

The altercation was my fault, admittedly. Gridlock stop and go on a beautiful Saturday afternoon caused me to become a tad impatient. I attempted to change lanes while coasting. At the moment I looked into my side mirror to check my opportunity, the car in front of me slammed on its breaks. I slid into his back left bumper at about 12 miles and hour. At least it was no more than 12.

Here is the damage to my car...my new(er) car. Shame.



Here is my victim, a blue Toyota Prius. I am most certain that damn bumper is going to be several thousand dollars to replace considering the fact the entire car is practically enveloped by it. I am quite amazed the impact of the crash did nothing to harm the equally enormous light panel. I was REALLY close.



The dude I hit was more than pleasant considering the fact I made a dumb mistake. He didn't even seem too annoyed, but he may have been hiding his disgust. I can't really tell. The car had some previous damage to it, the result of hitting a jack rabbit in the deserts of Utah going 70 mph. There was also a large scratch on the paint job near one of the passenger doors. Apparently, this guy was no virgin either, and I really thank heavens for that. Otherwise, I'd more than likely have been dealing with some self righteous Prius owner who wholeheartedly believes the universe revolves around their ugly car.

The situation was made more complex as I had to provide insurance information belonging to my sister's policy. About 2 weeks before the crash, I'd applied for my own insurance, but I had no cards to prove otherwise. Since then, the issue has been cleared and my insurance is now covering the accident.

Tomorrow, I shall take my car into Uptown Body and Fender, located in the heart of Oakland. This woman-owned business has some amazing reviews on the Berkeley Parents' Network, a resource, that, strangely, I trust and utilize in moments of great need. I've heard that you get free cappuccino while you wait on your free quote. I can't wait.