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.