Christina and I head off for a journey to behead the Nevada McCain monster next Friday...
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Preaching in the desert
Christina and I head off for a journey to behead the Nevada McCain monster next Friday...
Saturday, October 04, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, September 29, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
They're gone. It's really sad.
There's been a lot of change on campus this week. A big defeat for the longest tree-sit protest in recorded history. The grove, which is located a couple hundred feet from our building, was thoroughly dismantled on Friday evening. Understandably, a huge setback for Berkeley's tree people.
With any luck, the "high performance sports facility" (otherwise known as the football team's private gym) the university plans on building will slide into the Hayward fault when the next big earthquake hits. Click here to read about the sad day on campus
In other news, in order to consolidate my growing catalog of possessions, I am forced to sell the beloved 1989 VW Fox that my family has owned since 1993. I took it to the car wash and took some pics at Shoreline park that I will eventually post on my Craigslist ad.
She is a beauty! I am hoping to get $500 for her.
Today I went to Park Merced to do some observation and initial footwork for my Social Research Methods in Environmental Design course. We shall study the social life of vast open spaces beneath large supertowers - asking questions such as, "Do people actually use these sleepy old lawns?"
Lastly, I am posting a couple pics from The Walkmen performance at Outside Lands. I had an amazing position right near the stage from where I was able to stare at Paul and Ham for the entire set.
This is Hamilton Leithauser.
This is Paul Maroon.
With any luck, the "high performance sports facility" (otherwise known as the football team's private gym) the university plans on building will slide into the Hayward fault when the next big earthquake hits. Click here to read about the sad day on campus
In other news, in order to consolidate my growing catalog of possessions, I am forced to sell the beloved 1989 VW Fox that my family has owned since 1993. I took it to the car wash and took some pics at Shoreline park that I will eventually post on my Craigslist ad.
She is a beauty! I am hoping to get $500 for her.
Today I went to Park Merced to do some observation and initial footwork for my Social Research Methods in Environmental Design course. We shall study the social life of vast open spaces beneath large supertowers - asking questions such as, "Do people actually use these sleepy old lawns?"
Lastly, I am posting a couple pics from The Walkmen performance at Outside Lands. I had an amazing position right near the stage from where I was able to stare at Paul and Ham for the entire set.
This is Hamilton Leithauser.
This is Paul Maroon.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
From Portland to Outside Lands....
Ah, summer's end. It is depressing but there is a happy sunset awaiting me this weekend. Like many others, I shall attend the Outside Lands music fest. What day you ask am I attending? Well, if you know me, the answer is clear.
The lineup should clarify why I will attend on Saturday.
Before I attend any concerts, I had to finish up my internship and do errands to get new tires. There is more than a mountain of administrative drugery to wade through before I depart the fair lands of Oregon.
Wish me speed and efficiency in taking care of business. And I'll see you back in the Golden State before you know it.
The lineup should clarify why I will attend on Saturday.
Before I attend any concerts, I had to finish up my internship and do errands to get new tires. There is more than a mountain of administrative drugery to wade through before I depart the fair lands of Oregon.
Wish me speed and efficiency in taking care of business. And I'll see you back in the Golden State before you know it.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
It's gonna be a good year...
Sunday, July 27, 2008
End is near.......run!
Apologies to the very few loyal readers for whom I have produced nothing to read for the last 7 weeks. Things have been fine, but summer does not tie me to my motherboard like it does during the school year. Hence fewer electronic posts have been possible. But I've been sending mental vibes out there like CRAZY. That must count for something. Tonight, however, I am climbing back onto the saddle and issuing forth the first post for July 2008, a month that is practically in the grave as I type.
There has been accomplishment and progress since I last wrote here. There has also been boredom, but less so than the former. Work is pleasant, I received some good feedback from people. That feedback did, however, come to me over the course of a firm sponsored happy hour during which staff were freely downing pints. That is fine, though. I do not discard even drunken compliments, if they come from the right people that is.
These are the three employees from the AT&T store who I watch take many smoke breaks during the week. This bench is what I look at from my second floor office window. I've seen a wide variety of antics go on around this piece of standardized street furniture.
This weekend I traveled to the bowels of the Beaver State to carry out a family task of enormous proportions. Both emotionally and physically it wore me out. Typically disbanded family members traveled to and spent a night in Maupin, population 411. During the summer Maupin's population doubles because of its river rafting infrastructure and related private enterprises along the Deschutes River. We were in Maupin for other reasons, but the rafters were still funny to watch. People lose all their senses of control once they jump on a raft and cinch up a lifejacket, it seems.
Here the family takes a stroll down Macks Canyon.
The past weekend I ventured to Washington, DC. There, I visited with many loving friends, got some professional assistance, acted as mosquito bait, and forgot to take enough pictures. All in all a fine journey. Here are some of the few pics from that escapade.
My hair is going a little wacko but otherwise fine pic of me and Amanda.
An amazing beech tree at Dumbarton Oaks.
Hand-carved stone statue with water feature @ DOaks.
This coming weekend I have a visitor in town and that makes me very happy. There will be fun and adventures. The following weekend the birthday train heads north to Canada where hopefully mother will not mope too much about the value of the US dollar.
Then the summer is over and I have to return to Berkeley to resume my life of serfdom. So it be.
There has been accomplishment and progress since I last wrote here. There has also been boredom, but less so than the former. Work is pleasant, I received some good feedback from people. That feedback did, however, come to me over the course of a firm sponsored happy hour during which staff were freely downing pints. That is fine, though. I do not discard even drunken compliments, if they come from the right people that is.
These are the three employees from the AT&T store who I watch take many smoke breaks during the week. This bench is what I look at from my second floor office window. I've seen a wide variety of antics go on around this piece of standardized street furniture.
This weekend I traveled to the bowels of the Beaver State to carry out a family task of enormous proportions. Both emotionally and physically it wore me out. Typically disbanded family members traveled to and spent a night in Maupin, population 411. During the summer Maupin's population doubles because of its river rafting infrastructure and related private enterprises along the Deschutes River. We were in Maupin for other reasons, but the rafters were still funny to watch. People lose all their senses of control once they jump on a raft and cinch up a lifejacket, it seems.
Here the family takes a stroll down Macks Canyon.
The past weekend I ventured to Washington, DC. There, I visited with many loving friends, got some professional assistance, acted as mosquito bait, and forgot to take enough pictures. All in all a fine journey. Here are some of the few pics from that escapade.
My hair is going a little wacko but otherwise fine pic of me and Amanda.
An amazing beech tree at Dumbarton Oaks.
Hand-carved stone statue with water feature @ DOaks.
This coming weekend I have a visitor in town and that makes me very happy. There will be fun and adventures. The following weekend the birthday train heads north to Canada where hopefully mother will not mope too much about the value of the US dollar.
Then the summer is over and I have to return to Berkeley to resume my life of serfdom. So it be.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
So, it's been a while....
Ten days since my last post, I hope no one is dying out there...
Much has happened in the Portland universe since my last update. First, 34th Avenue is the home to a new dog. Meet Oscar. He is okay. But he is too needy right now for my tastes. Odds are he will settle down. Sarah seems quite pleased but is increasingly anxious over it.
This is my mother, me, and the pooch du-jour.
Second, I got some big cheap sunglasses (see photo). They fit me but they are too bug like. Only $9.99 at Walgreens, though. My other ones, new as of April, were ruined when I spilled a drop of Zap-a-Gap on the lens. Try to get THAT one out with baking soda....
Third, work is going fine. I need to be proactive and save all my work samples I've been producing as I go. It's gonna be a pain in the ass to figure out where I saved all that junk a few weeks down the road.
Fourth, I must eat at many restaurants this week:
Thursday: Vindahlo
Next Thursday: Farm Cafe
Next Friday: Grolla
Lastly, there is a carfreeportland conference going on in town right now. I dropped by the keynotes on Tuesday and ran into Meggs. It was terrifying! Leave it to me to run into that dude in a conference ballroom of 600 people.
That's all for now. This weekend, I play auntie.
Much has happened in the Portland universe since my last update. First, 34th Avenue is the home to a new dog. Meet Oscar. He is okay. But he is too needy right now for my tastes. Odds are he will settle down. Sarah seems quite pleased but is increasingly anxious over it.
This is my mother, me, and the pooch du-jour.
Second, I got some big cheap sunglasses (see photo). They fit me but they are too bug like. Only $9.99 at Walgreens, though. My other ones, new as of April, were ruined when I spilled a drop of Zap-a-Gap on the lens. Try to get THAT one out with baking soda....
Third, work is going fine. I need to be proactive and save all my work samples I've been producing as I go. It's gonna be a pain in the ass to figure out where I saved all that junk a few weeks down the road.
Fourth, I must eat at many restaurants this week:
Thursday: Vindahlo
Next Thursday: Farm Cafe
Next Friday: Grolla
Lastly, there is a carfreeportland conference going on in town right now. I dropped by the keynotes on Tuesday and ran into Meggs. It was terrifying! Leave it to me to run into that dude in a conference ballroom of 600 people.
That's all for now. This weekend, I play auntie.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Some typical Portland weekend
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
A vacation back home
I've planned a fun outting for July! Hooray. I am making a homecoming to our nation's capital on July 17. I got a pretty damn cheap ticket, too, the result of playing a vicious waiting game the last two weeks with the discount online ticket sellers.
The bad news is that I have to use Delta, so heaven knows if I'll even GET there. And if I arrive, will I find myself at the arrival gate clad in a frumpy navy blue cardigan and bunchy walking shorts? It is the risk one takes for cheap airfare.
Initial plans are as follows:
1. Visit with my old roommate Amanda;
2. Visit the Wilson Center and see George Seay;
3. Go to Dumbarton Oaks on Friday July 18 from 3-6, take photos, and watercolor;
4. See Jean Paul; and
5. Do some fun runs around town...
In between now and mid July I'll be working hard, losing my vision staring at CAD files, and enjoying my downtown Portland commute.
The bad news is that I have to use Delta, so heaven knows if I'll even GET there. And if I arrive, will I find myself at the arrival gate clad in a frumpy navy blue cardigan and bunchy walking shorts? It is the risk one takes for cheap airfare.
Initial plans are as follows:
1. Visit with my old roommate Amanda;
2. Visit the Wilson Center and see George Seay;
3. Go to Dumbarton Oaks on Friday July 18 from 3-6, take photos, and watercolor;
4. See Jean Paul; and
5. Do some fun runs around town...
In between now and mid July I'll be working hard, losing my vision staring at CAD files, and enjoying my downtown Portland commute.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
DC real estate monster
Apparently the sub-prime mortgage crisis has not impacted the neighborhood I lived in when I called home 20009. My roommate Amanda, bless her heart, found this realtor web site for the apartment (now a condo) we used to share up until I moved in 2004.
The building was sold a couple months before I moved to Berkeley in 2004. Current tenants had an option to buy their units cheap and undergo a year plus of renovations. We bailed and went our separate ways. I think I could have bought the unit for around $150K. Today, the same unit is listed for $429K, and the improvements look surface level. Take the photo tour. My bedroom (one of the last photos) still looks uninhabitable and awkward.
The building was sold a couple months before I moved to Berkeley in 2004. Current tenants had an option to buy their units cheap and undergo a year plus of renovations. We bailed and went our separate ways. I think I could have bought the unit for around $150K. Today, the same unit is listed for $429K, and the improvements look surface level. Take the photo tour. My bedroom (one of the last photos) still looks uninhabitable and awkward.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Health note
Cholesterol is 170, with LDL under 100 and HDL over 45. Triglyceride levels are also in check. What is your lipid health?
I am fully convinced that this health status is the result of my Omega-3 overload that I've been enjoying for the last 3 years. There is magic in bottles!
Health status at this very moment is questionable. I spent the morning serving LAEP families mimosas and drinking a healthy amount of sparkling wine myself. I came home at 2 and slept until just a few moments ago. I have to find my second wind as I have a bar to show up to at 8:30. I should go outside and walk around a little bit. My blood feel like molasses.
I am fully convinced that this health status is the result of my Omega-3 overload that I've been enjoying for the last 3 years. There is magic in bottles!
Health status at this very moment is questionable. I spent the morning serving LAEP families mimosas and drinking a healthy amount of sparkling wine myself. I came home at 2 and slept until just a few moments ago. I have to find my second wind as I have a bar to show up to at 8:30. I should go outside and walk around a little bit. My blood feel like molasses.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Making up for lost time; cholesterol
I have been more or less off school for the last week. Our final review was last Thursday from 10am-3pm. The day was hot and steamy and so we suffered in agony in Wurster's ground floor lobby while being jabbed and made fun of by local Bay Area design personalities. It was a fitting end to a rather ridiculous 8 week project that focused on the UC Berkeley West Gate.
Since then I have been under forced bed rest. My only diversions have been exercise and shopping activities. I had to go back to studio last night to move all my crap back home. It took nearly 4 hours to clean up and vacate, and boy was it PAINFUL. My car was FULL of junk I keep at studio, including a toaster oven and several changes of clothes I found tucked away in the back of my desk.
Tonight I ate at a Louisiana-cuisine place on Shattuck. Now I have indigestion. I ordered the fried catfish. I guess my body isn't used to deep fried food and simply doesn't want to process it. My stomach has been churning away since I ate nearly 6 hours ago.
Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment where I will receive test results for my cholesterol levels. We will see if my lipid level health has been maintained by the Omega-3 regimen I've been on since early 2006 (5 huge capsules of fish and flax oil EVERY morning). Last year my LDL dropped by 20-30 points under this diet treatment. I am hoping that things will be along the same lines this year. I've been touting this diet secret for a few years, but I have sparse evidence to back up my claims.
When I post next I will likely be in Portland. I begin work in one week there am excited to be near my awesome family unit.
Since then I have been under forced bed rest. My only diversions have been exercise and shopping activities. I had to go back to studio last night to move all my crap back home. It took nearly 4 hours to clean up and vacate, and boy was it PAINFUL. My car was FULL of junk I keep at studio, including a toaster oven and several changes of clothes I found tucked away in the back of my desk.
Tonight I ate at a Louisiana-cuisine place on Shattuck. Now I have indigestion. I ordered the fried catfish. I guess my body isn't used to deep fried food and simply doesn't want to process it. My stomach has been churning away since I ate nearly 6 hours ago.
Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment where I will receive test results for my cholesterol levels. We will see if my lipid level health has been maintained by the Omega-3 regimen I've been on since early 2006 (5 huge capsules of fish and flax oil EVERY morning). Last year my LDL dropped by 20-30 points under this diet treatment. I am hoping that things will be along the same lines this year. I've been touting this diet secret for a few years, but I have sparse evidence to back up my claims.
When I post next I will likely be in Portland. I begin work in one week there am excited to be near my awesome family unit.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Landscape and Dragons
As of tonight, I have put one of my final projects into its rightful and deserved grave. Nonetheless (is that one word?), there are still 2 beasts to wage axe battles against before May 15.
I notice my choice of vocabulary is going a certain way...
In other news, I am a bit soured by the political developments. I hope that Oregon gives Hillary a victory. I would be satisfied if that happened, and then she can drop out. We will see. If either of them showed up to one of the rallies on a bicycle, they'd get Portand's vote in a heartbeat. I should do political consulting on the side.
I notice my choice of vocabulary is going a certain way...
In other news, I am a bit soured by the political developments. I hope that Oregon gives Hillary a victory. I would be satisfied if that happened, and then she can drop out. We will see. If either of them showed up to one of the rallies on a bicycle, they'd get Portand's vote in a heartbeat. I should do political consulting on the side.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Joseph Ivan Karash (Feb 22, 1912-May 2, 2008)
My grandfather, who I have not seen since 1991, has passed away in Wickliffe, OH.
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