There comes a time
For everyone to sit down
And assess what's there and what is not there
Eternally up in the air
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Monday, August 08, 2011
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.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, October 02, 2010
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.
Status: Pens are clean. Two out of seven are broken. Estimated replacement cost: $13-$20 each.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
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...
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...
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, July 16, 2010
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).
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).
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
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.
Saturday, June 05, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
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
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
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
Saturday, January 02, 2010
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 .
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 .
Saturday, December 19, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, December 11, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, December 07, 2009
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.
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.
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