Merry Christmas!!
I gotta say that it has been awesome to have not traveled for this holiday season. Although it would be great to see my family, the amount of time I've spent flying to and from the East coast boggles the mind.
That being said, this Christmas has been great. I got some stuff that I was looking forward to like some video games and clothes, but really I'm glad to have survived all the craziness that went down over the last year and kick back on 10 days of vacation.
I'm planning on doing a New Year's/2009 Recap over the next few days, so until then...Merry Christmas and be safe with whatever it is you're doing!!!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Oh Caption, My Caption!
Hobie says: "Oh WTF is all this?!"I really need to update this more...
Hey folks. Since I didn't do a post for November, here's what went on.
I bought an Xbox 360, plus a few games and I have to say that I'm really kicking myself for not getting one about a year earlier. I forgot the joy of console gaming and the online content, compared to the original Xbox I had, is amazing. I also took advantage of the Netflix deal and I'll probably be signing up for Gamefly as well. I also picked up the Star Trek DVD the day it came out and I've watched it 10+ times since then, no joke. I have no regrets AND Rachel is all about sci-fi/star trek/stargate now. I'd better lock that shit down asap (Sign ze papers, Fraulein!).
As far as work goes, I went on a run and placed about 8 people and it could not have happened at a better time since our year end review is this week. Hopefully a raise is in the cards.
December is going to provide a few opportunities for awesomeness in forms such as Christmas and lots of vacation/time away from work. I'll be taking a few days of vacation to admittedly do absolutely nothing. Xbox, movies, sleeping in, being accused of "conspiracy to cook delicious foods", etc. Also, Rachel will be taking me to the San Jose Star Trek Exhibition. I will be geeking out and I'm not going to even attempt to contain my Childlike Glee/Almost-Gay-Love for this exhibit (Xhibit?) either. I'll be getting a picture in the Captain's chair even if I get through out for it (apparently you're not allowed to take pictures in this place).
Anyway, enjoy the post, I'll come up with more interesting info later this month.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Rocktober/Shiny Toy Guns/The Sounds
I went to see Shiny Toy Guns and The Sounds (the above pic) play at The Warfield(http://thewarfieldtheatre.com/) and the show was hands-down the best I've been to. I bought the tickets that morning and ended up with front-row, center balcony seats. Normally balcony would really toast my cookies, however since I have liked The Sounds for about 9 years and Shiny Toy Guns for 2 years without having the chance to see either them until now, I did not want to be down in the pit.
STG played all their "well known" stuff like Riccochet, Major Tom, and The One. The Sounds cut an album back in June, which I had no idea about, called Crossing the Rubicon and its damn good. I have to say that given the chance to see two of my favorite bands at the same time combine with a ticketed seat away from chowderheads, this my new preference for seeing live music. Maja Ivarsson is also probably the only girl I would want to kick my ass, but I'd still want Jenny Lewis to break up with me so I can finally launch my music career.
In Other News:
*I missed the chance to go Abalone diving this weekend and I wish the timing would have worked out better since the season is over next month and with the fees to get a license its not worth it at this point. So, I plan to do my homework for next year so I can get my permits in April and I'd like to be able to go one day per month.
*I've renewed my commitment to become a much better surfer than I am now (which is not good at all) since I've been so busy with life. Surfing should be getting at least more consistent so I should have some decent weekends to get out there for a while.
*I have no idea what I'm doing for a halloween costume. I'm not really keen on the idea of spending money on an outfit just to get drunk in it...that's what my regular clothes are for...ya know, the ones I've already paid for and plan to wear again after Nov. 1st.
*The job search continues. I've been applying for mostly for positions in operations, but at this point I'm getting so fed up I've been considering more career unfriendly moves...like being a supervisor at a Barnes & Noble (I've actually looked into this and the only reason I'm not doing that is the lack of $$).
That's all folks.
Enjoy.
STG played all their "well known" stuff like Riccochet, Major Tom, and The One. The Sounds cut an album back in June, which I had no idea about, called Crossing the Rubicon and its damn good. I have to say that given the chance to see two of my favorite bands at the same time combine with a ticketed seat away from chowderheads, this my new preference for seeing live music. Maja Ivarsson is also probably the only girl I would want to kick my ass, but I'd still want Jenny Lewis to break up with me so I can finally launch my music career.
In Other News:
*I missed the chance to go Abalone diving this weekend and I wish the timing would have worked out better since the season is over next month and with the fees to get a license its not worth it at this point. So, I plan to do my homework for next year so I can get my permits in April and I'd like to be able to go one day per month.
*I've renewed my commitment to become a much better surfer than I am now (which is not good at all) since I've been so busy with life. Surfing should be getting at least more consistent so I should have some decent weekends to get out there for a while.
*I have no idea what I'm doing for a halloween costume. I'm not really keen on the idea of spending money on an outfit just to get drunk in it...that's what my regular clothes are for...ya know, the ones I've already paid for and plan to wear again after Nov. 1st.
*The job search continues. I've been applying for mostly for positions in operations, but at this point I'm getting so fed up I've been considering more career unfriendly moves...like being a supervisor at a Barnes & Noble (I've actually looked into this and the only reason I'm not doing that is the lack of $$).
That's all folks.
Enjoy.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Blogosphere, reloaded.
Well, its been over a month since my last post so it's definitely time for another.
September has brought a return to normalcy, or reasonably close to it. I'm honestly relieved that I won't be flying anywhere for any holidays this winter. Given the past 12 months of travel intensity I'm really looking forward to just staying put and relaxing. Although it would be nice to see friends/family, I will be enjoying time spent with my parents and Rachel/etc.
I 'think' I'll be having the opportunity to go abalone diving Oct. 24-25, preferably sooner than later if I can get my act together and organize some crap I need to for a trip to happen. The season will be over shortly and the water/weather will be turning to its winter disgustingness, so aside from the potental illegality of actually diving it will also be unpleasant to be anywhere near the coast.
In terms of my 12 goals updates, nothing new there because I've been too damn busy with nothingness to actually make any sort of progress on any of it. A return to this is necessary.
Recent developments at work have lead me to abandon ship for the next thing that comes my way where I will make enough to avoid being evicted. Essentially, over the last month, our comission structure has been halved, the hours I've been "asked" to work is up by about another 10 per week, and frustration/disgust is at an all time high. The beauty, at least from a coporate perspective, is that no raises and bonuses can be attributed to "numbers being down/economic downturn", thus providing for the ultimate in screw-overs.
Enjoy.
September has brought a return to normalcy, or reasonably close to it. I'm honestly relieved that I won't be flying anywhere for any holidays this winter. Given the past 12 months of travel intensity I'm really looking forward to just staying put and relaxing. Although it would be nice to see friends/family, I will be enjoying time spent with my parents and Rachel/etc.
I 'think' I'll be having the opportunity to go abalone diving Oct. 24-25, preferably sooner than later if I can get my act together and organize some crap I need to for a trip to happen. The season will be over shortly and the water/weather will be turning to its winter disgustingness, so aside from the potental illegality of actually diving it will also be unpleasant to be anywhere near the coast.
In terms of my 12 goals updates, nothing new there because I've been too damn busy with nothingness to actually make any sort of progress on any of it. A return to this is necessary.
Recent developments at work have lead me to abandon ship for the next thing that comes my way where I will make enough to avoid being evicted. Essentially, over the last month, our comission structure has been halved, the hours I've been "asked" to work is up by about another 10 per week, and frustration/disgust is at an all time high. The beauty, at least from a coporate perspective, is that no raises and bonuses can be attributed to "numbers being down/economic downturn", thus providing for the ultimate in screw-overs.
Enjoy.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Breathe, Stretch,...Shake?
Well its been a busy weekend. I spent 5 days in the NYC area over Labour Day (that's right, we're going English today) with Rachel's family for a wedding and it was a great weekend. Her Aunt Linda/Chip got married to a mensch of a dry-cleaner, Frank (who's father and son are also named Frank). It was a really great reception with some interesting characters indeed. Also, if I can easily go a year without eating Lox and bagels again.
Other highlights included a classic car race with "the Don" and Diana. $45/ticket is not the sexiest of prices, but considering there was a race and about $10 million worth of my favorite cars there it was totally worth the price. Pictures are below.
AC Shelby Cobra...worth more than you are...and yes, I'm talking about you.
Lotus Europa...not worth a ton, but a car that is cooler than you are...and yes, I'm still talking about you.
Other highlights included a classic car race with "the Don" and Diana. $45/ticket is not the sexiest of prices, but considering there was a race and about $10 million worth of my favorite cars there it was totally worth the price. Pictures are below.
AC Shelby Cobra...worth more than you are...and yes, I'm talking about you.
Lotus Europa...not worth a ton, but a car that is cooler than you are...and yes, I'm still talking about you.12 Goals Update:
Fitness:
I've upped the intensity of the training schedule I'm working on because I'd like to be able to reach some short term goals a little more quickly. I'm still making progress on the weights/gym side, but as for surfing, running, etc. I need to make up some ground in endurance and some atrophy-ridden muscle groups.
Restaurants:
I'm going to try a new sushi place in the Richmond District tonight called "Okina Sushi" (http://www.yelp.com/biz/okina-sushi-san-francisco). Judging by the artless palettes of Yelp reviewers, this place should be good, but I am a creature of habit and still love the place I go to now "House of Sushi" (http://www.yelp.com/biz/house-of-sushi-san-francisco). I tried some good Pho from the Nam at Minh's Garden (http://www.yelp.com/biz/minhs-garden-vietnamese-cuisine-san-francisco), spicy as all get out but still delicious.
So (if you recall goals #4, 6, 9, and 11), I still have yet to learn 8 new dishes and try 8 new restaurants. I've been keeping up the diet and training, so that's going to lead to knocking out the other health/fitness ones quickly. Also, I need to get that abalone diving trip locked down, so that would be another great one to scratch off the list.
On a final note, Thank God the Steelers are 1/1 (suck it Tennessee! Your state is worthless.)
Enjoy.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Winning the same Lifetime Achievement Award...Twice
First, let me take a moment to thank everyone for the birthday wishes...thanks.
Rachel made a fantastic dinner for me at her place that was delicious and very kickass of her, but I have to say that my birthday this year passed largely uncelebrated (by me, that is) since I'm so busy with work and various et ceteras that I honestly forgot about it until I got a bunch of cards in the mail. Turning 26 isn't a landmark for me in any way, other than I've managed to foil another full year's worth of assassination attempts and coups.
One thing that I did have an opportunity to do was check out the Samurai exhibit at the Asian Art Museum this weekend (http://www.asianart.org/Samurai.htm). Personally, I think the exhibit was set up somewhat backwards because all the information you're given references the current head of a Noble family in Japan, and then gives you no point of reference about who this person or family is until you are walking out the door. Literally, it is the last sign you see.
In addition to the this-and-that nature of running around town recently, I've discovered the truth to the "I need more hours in the day" thing that we all seem to experience. This year, my office has gone from six recruiters to two and I've been promoted to lead recruiter. While this is a step up, its more work and responsibility with no update in title or pay.
Other than all that, I'm still going to the gym regularly and maintaining the healthy diet. So I'm pretty pleased that I'm still on the "goals" plan, although some things have had to be shifted around to work with being insanely busy. I'm starting to make a dent in the books goal by reading "Shutter Island", which promises to be interesting at least. Anyone read it? I'd love to hear an opinion.
Enjoy.
Rachel made a fantastic dinner for me at her place that was delicious and very kickass of her, but I have to say that my birthday this year passed largely uncelebrated (by me, that is) since I'm so busy with work and various et ceteras that I honestly forgot about it until I got a bunch of cards in the mail. Turning 26 isn't a landmark for me in any way, other than I've managed to foil another full year's worth of assassination attempts and coups.
One thing that I did have an opportunity to do was check out the Samurai exhibit at the Asian Art Museum this weekend (http://www.asianart.org/Samurai.htm). Personally, I think the exhibit was set up somewhat backwards because all the information you're given references the current head of a Noble family in Japan, and then gives you no point of reference about who this person or family is until you are walking out the door. Literally, it is the last sign you see.
In addition to the this-and-that nature of running around town recently, I've discovered the truth to the "I need more hours in the day" thing that we all seem to experience. This year, my office has gone from six recruiters to two and I've been promoted to lead recruiter. While this is a step up, its more work and responsibility with no update in title or pay.
Other than all that, I'm still going to the gym regularly and maintaining the healthy diet. So I'm pretty pleased that I'm still on the "goals" plan, although some things have had to be shifted around to work with being insanely busy. I'm starting to make a dent in the books goal by reading "Shutter Island", which promises to be interesting at least. Anyone read it? I'd love to hear an opinion.
Enjoy.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Was geben ab in diesem Beast?
August. Sweet.
Aside from the annual celebration of my birth taking place this month, August is one of my favorite months of the year. The weather is consistently nice in the city from about the middle of this month and on until around Thanksgiving; there's a lot of festivals/concerts that are a lot of fun; and finally there's the nostalgic feeling of going back to college for fall semester.
The beginning of this month has been getting off to a pretty crazy start. Rachel finally has a place in the city, and I will be helping her move into her apartment on Saturday/Sunday. It's right next to Golden Gate Park which will be sweet since I really haven't spent any time up in that piece. Also, instead of the usual drunken buffoonery tied to birthday celebrations, I think we'll be keeping it low key this year since my official descent to the grave begins in a few weeks. Although, I will openly admit that I am looking forward to torturing my sister by constantly reminding her that she'll be 30 this year, as any good younger brother should.
Big changes around the office over the past/next few weeks. A friend of mine who started here at the same time, Brett, is spending 10 months getting a Master's degree in Sweden. I've decided I hate him for this, but only because I'm green with envy. A few of our friends here are planning to make a trip over there early in the year, so assuming I can afford it I'm planning to go. Also, another friend, Bruce, who was already working here when I started will be leaving at the end of next week. This reduces the size of my company's west coast presence to 5 people. Swamped would be a good way to describe the new work load that has been dumped on me, which only adds to the malice I have for this place. I'm still working on applying for new stuff, but I'm sitting tight for a few more weeks since the beginning of September will mark 2 years here.
Goals update:
I'm still going to the gym regularly, but my timeline is definitely not realistic at all. I'll be in a lot better shape than I was when I was going regularly in Pittsburgh, but I think it will be sometime around Halloween before I get to where I want to be.
I've really been slacking on the new restaurants and museums bit, so I'm going to be checking a few of them out around my birthday. Plus, there's a sweet King Tut exhibit here right now and I'd love to see that, so that's a double-whammy right there.
As for the books, I'm Guilty as Charged of buying books with the best intention of reading them and then shelving it for the customary 3 year aging process. Thomas Pynchon came out with a new book recently that looks really good, and I'm also happy to hear that its being shopped to the Cohen brothers since it's a Big Lebowski/Detective-esque story. I have a ton of Star Wars books (F* off if you think I'm a dork) that I want to read and I can blow through them quickly, so I think I may put down 3 or 4 of those to make some headway on that goal.
Anyway, I hope everyone has good plans for the weekend.
Enjoy.
Aside from the annual celebration of my birth taking place this month, August is one of my favorite months of the year. The weather is consistently nice in the city from about the middle of this month and on until around Thanksgiving; there's a lot of festivals/concerts that are a lot of fun; and finally there's the nostalgic feeling of going back to college for fall semester.
The beginning of this month has been getting off to a pretty crazy start. Rachel finally has a place in the city, and I will be helping her move into her apartment on Saturday/Sunday. It's right next to Golden Gate Park which will be sweet since I really haven't spent any time up in that piece. Also, instead of the usual drunken buffoonery tied to birthday celebrations, I think we'll be keeping it low key this year since my official descent to the grave begins in a few weeks. Although, I will openly admit that I am looking forward to torturing my sister by constantly reminding her that she'll be 30 this year, as any good younger brother should.
Big changes around the office over the past/next few weeks. A friend of mine who started here at the same time, Brett, is spending 10 months getting a Master's degree in Sweden. I've decided I hate him for this, but only because I'm green with envy. A few of our friends here are planning to make a trip over there early in the year, so assuming I can afford it I'm planning to go. Also, another friend, Bruce, who was already working here when I started will be leaving at the end of next week. This reduces the size of my company's west coast presence to 5 people. Swamped would be a good way to describe the new work load that has been dumped on me, which only adds to the malice I have for this place. I'm still working on applying for new stuff, but I'm sitting tight for a few more weeks since the beginning of September will mark 2 years here.
Goals update:
I'm still going to the gym regularly, but my timeline is definitely not realistic at all. I'll be in a lot better shape than I was when I was going regularly in Pittsburgh, but I think it will be sometime around Halloween before I get to where I want to be.
I've really been slacking on the new restaurants and museums bit, so I'm going to be checking a few of them out around my birthday. Plus, there's a sweet King Tut exhibit here right now and I'd love to see that, so that's a double-whammy right there.
As for the books, I'm Guilty as Charged of buying books with the best intention of reading them and then shelving it for the customary 3 year aging process. Thomas Pynchon came out with a new book recently that looks really good, and I'm also happy to hear that its being shopped to the Cohen brothers since it's a Big Lebowski/Detective-esque story. I have a ton of Star Wars books (F* off if you think I'm a dork) that I want to read and I can blow through them quickly, so I think I may put down 3 or 4 of those to make some headway on that goal.
Anyway, I hope everyone has good plans for the weekend.
Enjoy.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Xtreme!!!
July has been a heavy month to be sure. The weekend of the 4th was a much needed deviation from the madness of Corporate America, I spent the weekend with Rachel and her family in Walnut Creek and then spent the rest of the weekend here in the city. I took on the project of painting my room, and as nice as 12' vaulted ceilings look they are an absolute beeyatch to paint and the whole project took me 3 days. Fortunately the result is much better.
This weekend is the SF AIDS Walk, and since Rachel works for them I've been conscripted to help out. Get this, because I demanded a job that didn't suck in return for my coerced participation, I get to be in charge of a fleet of golf carts and get a walkie-talkie. Obviously, this pleases me and anyone else who had walkie-talkies growing up. Its going to be an intense couple days for sure though. Saturday is a two-hour orientation so the incompetent people who volunteer can be told what to do (only to screw it up later), and the rest of us can have our time wasted. On Sunday, I'll be there from something like 6am to 6pm. As much as I bitch about this though, I know it will be fun and I'm paired up with Rachel's dad (who is a cool guy) so it should be fun (in contrast to the excruciating amount of bullshit I'm sure to incur).
Next week, on Monday night and during the day Tuesday, I'll get to hang out with my sister and I am super stoked. Kim and I haven't really spent a lot of time together since I moved to CA and I'm really looking forward to doing a lot of the fun stuff in the city she hasn't seen yet. Things we're going to see include SF Ferry Building Farmers Market, Land's End (not the store), the Marina, and possibly Pac Heights and the Wharf. We're meeting up Monday at about 6p, so hopefully I'll get to show her around Russian Hill before everything closes for the evening.
12 Goals Update:
The gym is brutalizing me. That fitness goal being hit by mid-september is going to be a Herculean challenge as I had no idea how freakin' outta shape I am. I've been going regularly, and I've noticed some minor improvements, but it has only been two weeks. Hopefully the gains will get somewhat more exponential, but I really enjoy the workout plan I'm on and look forward to going to the gym.
Abalone diving looks like its going to happen in September and I'm really looking forward to it. All the permits, etc. is going to cost somewhere around $80, but I'm going with my roommate Nick and a co-worker of his, so I think I may actually get to go twice since we all feel the need to get our money's worth.
The healthy diet thing is going well. Cooking at home allows me to knock out some of those new dishes I want to cook (see goal #6). Its been a high protein, low fat/carb diet while I work on losing the last of the weight I want to lose and get past the initial gains from working out. As soon as I get to the "regular workout", then it'll change slightly and I'll have a little more freedom (see: addiction to powdered doughnuts, Ben & Jerry's Mission to Marzipan).
Relearning Arabic is going to be tough and is probably going to be reduced to buying the Rosetta Stone set. I'll probably look more into that around Christmas (ironically enough).
That's all for now, folks.
Enjoy.
This weekend is the SF AIDS Walk, and since Rachel works for them I've been conscripted to help out. Get this, because I demanded a job that didn't suck in return for my coerced participation, I get to be in charge of a fleet of golf carts and get a walkie-talkie. Obviously, this pleases me and anyone else who had walkie-talkies growing up. Its going to be an intense couple days for sure though. Saturday is a two-hour orientation so the incompetent people who volunteer can be told what to do (only to screw it up later), and the rest of us can have our time wasted. On Sunday, I'll be there from something like 6am to 6pm. As much as I bitch about this though, I know it will be fun and I'm paired up with Rachel's dad (who is a cool guy) so it should be fun (in contrast to the excruciating amount of bullshit I'm sure to incur).
Next week, on Monday night and during the day Tuesday, I'll get to hang out with my sister and I am super stoked. Kim and I haven't really spent a lot of time together since I moved to CA and I'm really looking forward to doing a lot of the fun stuff in the city she hasn't seen yet. Things we're going to see include SF Ferry Building Farmers Market, Land's End (not the store), the Marina, and possibly Pac Heights and the Wharf. We're meeting up Monday at about 6p, so hopefully I'll get to show her around Russian Hill before everything closes for the evening.
12 Goals Update:
The gym is brutalizing me. That fitness goal being hit by mid-september is going to be a Herculean challenge as I had no idea how freakin' outta shape I am. I've been going regularly, and I've noticed some minor improvements, but it has only been two weeks. Hopefully the gains will get somewhat more exponential, but I really enjoy the workout plan I'm on and look forward to going to the gym.
Abalone diving looks like its going to happen in September and I'm really looking forward to it. All the permits, etc. is going to cost somewhere around $80, but I'm going with my roommate Nick and a co-worker of his, so I think I may actually get to go twice since we all feel the need to get our money's worth.
The healthy diet thing is going well. Cooking at home allows me to knock out some of those new dishes I want to cook (see goal #6). Its been a high protein, low fat/carb diet while I work on losing the last of the weight I want to lose and get past the initial gains from working out. As soon as I get to the "regular workout", then it'll change slightly and I'll have a little more freedom (see: addiction to powdered doughnuts, Ben & Jerry's Mission to Marzipan).
Relearning Arabic is going to be tough and is probably going to be reduced to buying the Rosetta Stone set. I'll probably look more into that around Christmas (ironically enough).
That's all for now, folks.
Enjoy.
Monday, July 6, 2009
12 Goals (update)
This weekend was intense in that I had a ton to do and got all of it accomplished. I think it was the first weekend that has happened in 3 years or so.
An update to the 12 goals I posted last week are that I learned to make Guacamole and Salsa Verde and I established my fitness goal after having a free physical trainer session at the 24hour fitness I just joined that totally destroyed me.
My goal is to do all the workouts below using either my body weight or weights equal to the same amount.
Bench (150lbs): 3 sets x 12-15 reps
Squat (150lbs): 3 sets x 12-15 reps
Dead lift (150lbs): 3 sets x 12-15 reps
Seated Row (75 lbs): 3 sets x 12-15 reps
Biceps (25lbs): 3 sets x 12-15 reps
Dips: 3 sets x 12-15 reps
Bike: 30 min @ 75+ rpm
Given where I am right now, my goal is to be at this level by September 18th. It's going to be pretty tough, but I'm confident that once I get past the initial gains and actually get into the routine it will be easier to progress more quickly.
Here are the recipes for the two things I learned to make this weekend.
Rachel’s Guacamole
4-5 avocados
½ (ish) red or white onion – chopped
1 lime – juiced
1 bunch cilantro – finely chopped
1 jalapeno – take out seeds, finely chopped
Garlic salt
Cayenne pepper
Mix in large bowl.
Salsa Verde
1 1/2 lb tomatillos
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon sugar
2 Jalapeño peppers OR 2 serrano peppers, stemmed, seeded and chopped
Salt to taste
Cut tomatillos in half and place cut side down on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place under a broiler for about 5-7 minutes to lightly blacken the skin.
Place tomatillos, lime juice, onions, cilantro, chili peppers, sugar in a food processor (or blender) and pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped and mixed.
Season to taste with salt.
Cool in refrigerator.
Hope everyone had a great 4th!
Enjoy.
An update to the 12 goals I posted last week are that I learned to make Guacamole and Salsa Verde and I established my fitness goal after having a free physical trainer session at the 24hour fitness I just joined that totally destroyed me.
My goal is to do all the workouts below using either my body weight or weights equal to the same amount.
Bench (150lbs): 3 sets x 12-15 reps
Squat (150lbs): 3 sets x 12-15 reps
Dead lift (150lbs): 3 sets x 12-15 reps
Seated Row (75 lbs): 3 sets x 12-15 reps
Biceps (25lbs): 3 sets x 12-15 reps
Dips: 3 sets x 12-15 reps
Bike: 30 min @ 75+ rpm
Given where I am right now, my goal is to be at this level by September 18th. It's going to be pretty tough, but I'm confident that once I get past the initial gains and actually get into the routine it will be easier to progress more quickly.
Here are the recipes for the two things I learned to make this weekend.
Rachel’s Guacamole
4-5 avocados
½ (ish) red or white onion – chopped
1 lime – juiced
1 bunch cilantro – finely chopped
1 jalapeno – take out seeds, finely chopped
Garlic salt
Cayenne pepper
Mix in large bowl.
Salsa Verde
1 1/2 lb tomatillos
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon sugar
2 Jalapeño peppers OR 2 serrano peppers, stemmed, seeded and chopped
Salt to taste
Cut tomatillos in half and place cut side down on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place under a broiler for about 5-7 minutes to lightly blacken the skin.
Place tomatillos, lime juice, onions, cilantro, chili peppers, sugar in a food processor (or blender) and pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped and mixed.
Season to taste with salt.
Cool in refrigerator.
Hope everyone had a great 4th!
Enjoy.
Monday, June 29, 2009
An End of June Two 'fer...
Last weekend (6/20) I went to Santa Barbara and I have to say that it was one of the best places I've been in California by far. Although the drive (5ish hours) is not the best, you do get to see what the Central Coast looks like and some towns like Pismo Beach. If I was going to move anywhere else, I'd have to say it would be there though.
These are the massive nachos from Freebirds in Santa Barbara. I understand why they are famous. Rachel and I stayed with her friends, Peter and Pieter, who were the first same-sex couple to be married in Santa Barbara (and luckily their marriage is still legit under CA law). Their house is amazing, total price tag with land has got to be something like +$6 million, and they are two of the nicest people I've met.
This is the view from Peter and Pieter's house. Its foggy here, but there is a view of the ocean.In the mean time, I've been trying to keep busy with work and a lot of things at home, but in the wake of some friend's careers taking turns for the better and mine still not going anywhere, I've decided to take on 12 personal goals and complete them all in 12 months. Ever see 'The 10 Tasks of Asterix"? It's going to be like that...except 12. I'm going to be completing these in no particular order.
1.) Run a marathon
2.) Abalone dive
3.) Go surfing 25 times
4.) Maintain fitness goal (TBD)
5.) Read 12 books
6.) Learn to cook 10 new dishes (you'll get the recipes)
7.) Travel to 2 new countries
8.) Relearn Arabic
9.) Maintain healthy diet
10.) Visit LA and San Diego
11.) Try 12 new restaurants (you'll get the review too!)
12.) Go to the all the major museums in San Francisco.
The great part about these goals is that some of them feed into others. Like hitting the fitness goal will help with, and also be helped, the training for the marathon (which I'm shooting to run Dec. 6th in Santa Barbara). Also, it will help me get better at surfing, and I'm also going to be taking a few lessons to work out some bad habits I've acquired which affect form, etc. I'm really excited about taking these things on because they're going to be fun and/or personally rewarding.
That's all I have for now. I hope everyone has great plans for the 4th!
Enjoy.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Welcome to the DC Shitshow!
Everytime I'm in DC I get reminded of how awesome it is. Not just because of all the cool government stuff, or the museums, or the insane traffic.A pic of me and most of the crew from college. In this pic is (from LtoR): Stankus, Me, Ellis, Tesh, Greg "Sizzlechest" Chesterson, Katie (soon to be) Chesterson, Lori, Reuter, Kenzie and Alex (on the floor).
My trip to DC was a suprise for Alex's (my brotha from anotha motha) graduation from the DC Fire Academy and I got into town Thursday night and only 2 people knew I was there. After getting to town I saw Ellis's improv group perform. It was a good show and the first time that I'd seen improv done and it was pretty hilarious. That night I went to Jen's (my sista from another mista) and crashed there. Obviously she was suprised by my arrival too, but in a good way ;).
Friday morning we all gathered at Jen's to head over to the graduation. Kenize had been in the door and talking to people for a minute or so before she realized I was sitting on the couch. It was really great to see her since we hung out a ton in college and I hadn't seen her for more than 15 minutes since my sister got married.
The graduation itself was very cool. You could definitely tell that the entire 358 Class had grown really close through all the hell (fire pun not intended) that they went through for months. Alex hadn't noticed I was there until he had come off stage from recieving an award and it was pretty hilarious to note his reaction, which you'd have to have been there for.
Afterwards, we went to Gordon Biersch with the Fam (my other Fam), before meeting up with everyone in the picture, and I had no idea that any of them were going to be there either. So it was a suprise all around...
Saturday, we all went out to Manassas, VA (aka Bull Run if you're from the North) to Tesh's apartment were some lame assed DJ played music for a pool party full of white trash. It was fun to drink beer in a pool though.
Overall it was a great weekend to see old friends and catch up. Congrats Alex!
Enjoy.
Home is where the psychos are...
A friend of mine from the west coast recieved this email from her grandfather as a response to her sending one asking how he was doing, saying she was thinking of him, and that she loves him. This friend happens to have a successful job in a great city (not here), and she lives with her boyfriend. All of this seems normal, right? Observe...
Dearest [Friend's name]:
I wrote you a long letter and I guess Satan didn't want me to send it, as my computer locked up, has never done that before. Now I am late to work so will have to send it later if you would like to hear what I am doing here in Reno that is, as a result of what I see from those who have been to college. I have done my home work on this one. I sometime wished your parents saved their money. There were a lot of sacrifices made so you could do that, that you may never know about. I am glad that Grandma doesn't have to see what has happened to her two grand daughters who went to college. I am sad to still be here to see it. I pray that you will someday return to the Lord and His Word, and I can be a spiritual grand dad to you again. We had something special didn't we?
Love Grand Dad
I really don't know what to say about this one except for this is the kind of crap fanatical religion does for you.
Enjoy.
Dearest [Friend's name]:
I wrote you a long letter and I guess Satan didn't want me to send it, as my computer locked up, has never done that before. Now I am late to work so will have to send it later if you would like to hear what I am doing here in Reno that is, as a result of what I see from those who have been to college. I have done my home work on this one. I sometime wished your parents saved their money. There were a lot of sacrifices made so you could do that, that you may never know about. I am glad that Grandma doesn't have to see what has happened to her two grand daughters who went to college. I am sad to still be here to see it. I pray that you will someday return to the Lord and His Word, and I can be a spiritual grand dad to you again. We had something special didn't we?
Love Grand Dad
I really don't know what to say about this one except for this is the kind of crap fanatical religion does for you.
Enjoy.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Upgrade!
After a short, and completely unnoticed absence, I have returned with an update...
Things have been shifting around a lot here recently. Our new roommate, Nick, moved in over the weekend. He's a pretty cool guy, went to UCSB, surfs/boards, etc., and is a bro. We're (Ben, Ericka, and myself) are all happy with the choice of roommate's and I'm pretty sure it will work out well.
Next weekend Rachel and I going to Santa Barbara and I am stoked. It's my first time there and I know a few people who went there. Judging by their descriptions of the place, it promises to be an awesome time. Notable activities include going to Freebirds (awesome Mexican food), surfing, Summer Solstice festival, and a BBQ. I'll be there Friday and Saturday nights, so I'll try to snap some photos of the action.
In other news, if anyone was following the Prop 8 hearing to repeal the decision, I'm pretty shocked we got past that day without mass arrests, protests, and right wing Mormon craziness. That being said, I am miffed to see that it wasn't overturned. I've got a few friends who are personally invested in its outcome and, in perfect honesty, I am kind of shocked that it didn't pass the first time around and twice as surprised it didn't get overturned.
Finally, on my way to work this morning, I saw an omen of the destruction of pleasant childhood memories. There, in the streets, discarded like a Trabuco Hills prom night pregnancy, was the install CD of Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun. This game, along with a myriad of other strategy games, consumed the opportunities I had as a youth to do important things like make friends, attend keggers, and experience all the teenage angst I could handle. I glanced at its broken state, weeping on the inside, for the child who will be missing all the important moral lessons learned by blowing up Nod terrorists and cut scenes with James Earl Jones and Michael Biehn.
Enjoy.
Things have been shifting around a lot here recently. Our new roommate, Nick, moved in over the weekend. He's a pretty cool guy, went to UCSB, surfs/boards, etc., and is a bro. We're (Ben, Ericka, and myself) are all happy with the choice of roommate's and I'm pretty sure it will work out well.
Next weekend Rachel and I going to Santa Barbara and I am stoked. It's my first time there and I know a few people who went there. Judging by their descriptions of the place, it promises to be an awesome time. Notable activities include going to Freebirds (awesome Mexican food), surfing, Summer Solstice festival, and a BBQ. I'll be there Friday and Saturday nights, so I'll try to snap some photos of the action.
In other news, if anyone was following the Prop 8 hearing to repeal the decision, I'm pretty shocked we got past that day without mass arrests, protests, and right wing Mormon craziness. That being said, I am miffed to see that it wasn't overturned. I've got a few friends who are personally invested in its outcome and, in perfect honesty, I am kind of shocked that it didn't pass the first time around and twice as surprised it didn't get overturned.
Finally, on my way to work this morning, I saw an omen of the destruction of pleasant childhood memories. There, in the streets, discarded like a Trabuco Hills prom night pregnancy, was the install CD of Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun. This game, along with a myriad of other strategy games, consumed the opportunities I had as a youth to do important things like make friends, attend keggers, and experience all the teenage angst I could handle. I glanced at its broken state, weeping on the inside, for the child who will be missing all the important moral lessons learned by blowing up Nod terrorists and cut scenes with James Earl Jones and Michael Biehn.
Enjoy.
Monday, May 18, 2009
My 7th (or so) 100 days...
That's an a la mass media joke considering I've been here for almost two years...
So there were no pictures from Bay to Breakers this weekend...so I'm going to heist some from friends and call them my own.
Events of the weekend:
Saturday~
Went to the Livermore Scottish Games with my parents and Rachel. It was a lot of fun, despite the total lack of shade and the 100 degree opressive heat. Sadly, the Campbells (my clan) were not there, but there were plenty of other toolbags to get the general effect. Post-festival, we all went out to a great sushi place in Livermore called Sushi-Ya. Easily some of the best priced and best tasting sushi I've had anywhere. After getting back to the city, Rachel and I got dinner and recovered from the near total dehydration we both endured in the East Bay.
Sunday~
Bay to Breakers didn't happen for me as a direct result of feeling absolutely terrible from the heat on Saturday. In lieu of waking up at 730am to start drinking, Rachel and I took it easy in the morning and went on a hike out at Lands End, near Seacliff. It was a great day. Again, the city was hotter than usual and I got sunburned (again!), but the view was unusually clear too.
The 100 days joke...
I've decided that starting today, I'm upping the job search (from the level I'm at now) to find the opportunity I want and then be there in 100 days from now. Although I've enjoyed more of my time at this job then I haven't, the lack of opportunity to do...well, anything really...has finally come to a head and I think we can all agree that it's better to leave on my terms then do something stupid that would overshadow the work I've done here. Yes, I'm going to look to stay in recruiting or a close relative thereof, but work environment and an appropriate level of compensation for 2 years experience and west cost COLA (not a soda) actually allow me to set some manner of life-goal, are the deciding factors for where I go. Any connections anyone may have, or leads on companies, would be greatly appreciated.
This week/weekend...
Taking advantage of a much needed 3 day weekend. It's kevin's last weekend in town before moving to LA, so I'll be bro-ing up and hanging with him for a while. Monday, I am going to Santa Cruz with Rachel and attempting to surf down there without getting beat up by a local. Also, somewhere in the next 7 days, I'm going to see Star Trek again, but on IMAX this time.
Enjoy.
So there were no pictures from Bay to Breakers this weekend...so I'm going to heist some from friends and call them my own.
Events of the weekend:
Saturday~
Went to the Livermore Scottish Games with my parents and Rachel. It was a lot of fun, despite the total lack of shade and the 100 degree opressive heat. Sadly, the Campbells (my clan) were not there, but there were plenty of other toolbags to get the general effect. Post-festival, we all went out to a great sushi place in Livermore called Sushi-Ya. Easily some of the best priced and best tasting sushi I've had anywhere. After getting back to the city, Rachel and I got dinner and recovered from the near total dehydration we both endured in the East Bay.
Sunday~
Bay to Breakers didn't happen for me as a direct result of feeling absolutely terrible from the heat on Saturday. In lieu of waking up at 730am to start drinking, Rachel and I took it easy in the morning and went on a hike out at Lands End, near Seacliff. It was a great day. Again, the city was hotter than usual and I got sunburned (again!), but the view was unusually clear too.
The 100 days joke...
I've decided that starting today, I'm upping the job search (from the level I'm at now) to find the opportunity I want and then be there in 100 days from now. Although I've enjoyed more of my time at this job then I haven't, the lack of opportunity to do...well, anything really...has finally come to a head and I think we can all agree that it's better to leave on my terms then do something stupid that would overshadow the work I've done here. Yes, I'm going to look to stay in recruiting or a close relative thereof, but work environment and an appropriate level of compensation for 2 years experience and west cost COLA (not a soda) actually allow me to set some manner of life-goal, are the deciding factors for where I go. Any connections anyone may have, or leads on companies, would be greatly appreciated.
This week/weekend...
Taking advantage of a much needed 3 day weekend. It's kevin's last weekend in town before moving to LA, so I'll be bro-ing up and hanging with him for a while. Monday, I am going to Santa Cruz with Rachel and attempting to surf down there without getting beat up by a local. Also, somewhere in the next 7 days, I'm going to see Star Trek again, but on IMAX this time.
Enjoy.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Oh Shit! Get your towels ready, cause its about to go down...
This weekend promises to be a full-on shitshow...
There are some goings-on which are easily some of the most fun and obnoxious events in the Bay Area. This Saturday, Rachel and I are going to the Livermore Scottish Games with my parents. Aside form the forecasted 90 degress its going to be, the real reason I'm going to this thing is for two words: Inflatable Pub. That's right! Ever wanted to (or ever have?) taken beers on that moon bounce thing? Well guess what, I'ma be drinking balls deep in that fucker and its going to be fantastic. I am celebrating my Scottish heritage in a way befitting my knowledge of Scottish History being acquired from multiple Braveheart viewings: by drinking with my girlfriend and parents in a blow-up novelty structure.
Side note: Yes, you read correctly, I have a girlfriend. Her name is Rachel (which you already read) and she kicks a lot of ass! Seriously. She's hilarious and a total brosephine. Also, the fact that she's damn good-looking doesn't suck at all.
Now SUNDAY is when it really goes down because its Bay to Breakers!! I enjoy calling it Bay-to-Break-Yourself since half the city (and 90% of the people under the age of 30) spill onto a 10k course in a bunch of jacked up costumes and proceed to get plowed. This year, while the police presence will "keep us safe from ourselves", I plan to take full on advantage of civil liberities granted to me by the state of California, chief among which is the ability to do things that the other 49 states would consider clinically insane.
There will be pictures...
Enjoy.
There are some goings-on which are easily some of the most fun and obnoxious events in the Bay Area. This Saturday, Rachel and I are going to the Livermore Scottish Games with my parents. Aside form the forecasted 90 degress its going to be, the real reason I'm going to this thing is for two words: Inflatable Pub. That's right! Ever wanted to (or ever have?) taken beers on that moon bounce thing? Well guess what, I'ma be drinking balls deep in that fucker and its going to be fantastic. I am celebrating my Scottish heritage in a way befitting my knowledge of Scottish History being acquired from multiple Braveheart viewings: by drinking with my girlfriend and parents in a blow-up novelty structure.
Side note: Yes, you read correctly, I have a girlfriend. Her name is Rachel (which you already read) and she kicks a lot of ass! Seriously. She's hilarious and a total brosephine. Also, the fact that she's damn good-looking doesn't suck at all.
Now SUNDAY is when it really goes down because its Bay to Breakers!! I enjoy calling it Bay-to-Break-Yourself since half the city (and 90% of the people under the age of 30) spill onto a 10k course in a bunch of jacked up costumes and proceed to get plowed. This year, while the police presence will "keep us safe from ourselves", I plan to take full on advantage of civil liberities granted to me by the state of California, chief among which is the ability to do things that the other 49 states would consider clinically insane.
There will be pictures...
Enjoy.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Dude...weak...
Well, it seems that the first major homefront change will come at the end of this month. My roommate, Kevin, who's probably been my closest friend here is moving to LA at the end of the month. Kevin is originally from OC, so it's sort of like moving home, but not really.
While I am personally baffled as to why he's moving to LA in a recession with no job and no money, I can certainly understand the need for change (hence me being here). Needless to say, he will be missed.
In other news...the Bay to Breakers race is next Sunday (5.17) and I am STOKED. This is a dual purpose event in that its a legit marathon and an Olympic qualifier AND it is a reason to get dressed up like a freak (or run/walk it naked, no joke), get shitfaced, and walk through downtown SF to the ocean partying the entire 7 miles.
I had the (un)fortunate opportunity to partake in this event last year and some of the highlights were:
While I am personally baffled as to why he's moving to LA in a recession with no job and no money, I can certainly understand the need for change (hence me being here). Needless to say, he will be missed.
In other news...the Bay to Breakers race is next Sunday (5.17) and I am STOKED. This is a dual purpose event in that its a legit marathon and an Olympic qualifier AND it is a reason to get dressed up like a freak (or run/walk it naked, no joke), get shitfaced, and walk through downtown SF to the ocean partying the entire 7 miles.
I had the (un)fortunate opportunity to partake in this event last year and some of the highlights were:
- Almost getting run over by people dressed like Salmon and running it backwards
- Turning around to talk to a friend and find a naked guy painted like super man, wearing only the cape
- Dressing up like a hippy, carrying a case under one arm, and constantly getting solicited for drugs
This year, I seek to increase my personal classiness by meeting up with a group of friends and do some sort of large coordinating costumes (last year there was a group of 20 dressed as a centipede). We haven't come up with any legit ideas other than 1.) having one guy dress as a bull and chase the rest of us (dressed like we're in Running of the Bulls) OR everyone dresses like a domino and we all line up and fall over at some point.
Falling right in line with the general character of San Francisco, there was plenty of outrage when the city said they were going to be enforcing some manner of order at this trainwreck starting this year. The major beef was that they weren't going to allow drinking, thus making the event entirely pointless. The jury is still out on this one as to how they are going to enforce this at all since I'd say 60,000+ people do this yearly, and there's house parties 70% of the course.
I'm sure there will be photos this year, so I'll be sure to post them.
Enjoy.
Monday, April 27, 2009
What I've been up to...
I've made good on last week's threats and decided to do this comprehensive "what I've been up to" for everyone who is interested. Since I haven't talked regularly to much of the group of people I used to hang out with, we're going to cover a lot of ground and its going to be general, if you're particularly interested in anything, feel free to email me and we'll chat.
~Fall 2007
Moved to Livermore, CA.
If you've never been, (or heard of it) its a town in the edge of what is called the "Bay Area", and they (meaning the local yokels) refer to the towns of Livermore, Dublin, and Pleasanton as the Tri-Valley. As much as I love to shit on the place for being boring, I do like the town because it is similar in a lot of ways to the town I grew up in (York, PA), but it has those characteristics of California that are why I moved here; Vinyards/Wineries, great restaurants, plenty of outdoorsy stuff, short drive to Santa Cruz...all good stuff.
Specifically Sept. 2007 (or when I descended to Hell)
I got a job working with a recruiting firm in San Francisco. Living at home did have advantages (laundry, free food/rent), but a solid 60% of the reason I moved into the city when I did was because I couldn't handle the 3 hours of round-trip commuting I was doing daily. Not to mention the total disintegration of my personal health and socal life, which comprised the other 40%.
October 2007
Kim and Sean got married in October. Drinks were consumed, old bars were visited, people I hated from college were told to die, and I left Pittsburgh with a renewed sense of heartache for the stability and normalcy/regularity that life provided.
To sum of Fall of 2007, it largely sucked with a few signs of life getting better. Regular employment and a fresh start basically kept me sane until I moved into the city.
~All of 2008
Moved to San Francisco, CA.
At this point in life, about 8 months post-graduation and fallout from moving to CA, I had moved twice in 4 months and was feeling really displaced. My parents had moved from the house I grew up in about 18 months prior and I had no good friends left in York, and I had left all my friends and a horrible break up in Pittsburgh, so I was excited to live in a place with so many things to do and to live with roommates my own age. By May '08, I had finally finished putting myself through all the personal hell I could muster and finally adjusted to life in SF, made some new friends, and actually embraced the full kickass-status of San Francisco.
Personal Achievements:
~Fall 2007
Moved to Livermore, CA.
If you've never been, (or heard of it) its a town in the edge of what is called the "Bay Area", and they (meaning the local yokels) refer to the towns of Livermore, Dublin, and Pleasanton as the Tri-Valley. As much as I love to shit on the place for being boring, I do like the town because it is similar in a lot of ways to the town I grew up in (York, PA), but it has those characteristics of California that are why I moved here; Vinyards/Wineries, great restaurants, plenty of outdoorsy stuff, short drive to Santa Cruz...all good stuff.
Specifically Sept. 2007 (or when I descended to Hell)
I got a job working with a recruiting firm in San Francisco. Living at home did have advantages (laundry, free food/rent), but a solid 60% of the reason I moved into the city when I did was because I couldn't handle the 3 hours of round-trip commuting I was doing daily. Not to mention the total disintegration of my personal health and socal life, which comprised the other 40%.
October 2007
Kim and Sean got married in October. Drinks were consumed, old bars were visited, people I hated from college were told to die, and I left Pittsburgh with a renewed sense of heartache for the stability and normalcy/regularity that life provided.
To sum of Fall of 2007, it largely sucked with a few signs of life getting better. Regular employment and a fresh start basically kept me sane until I moved into the city.
~All of 2008
Moved to San Francisco, CA.
At this point in life, about 8 months post-graduation and fallout from moving to CA, I had moved twice in 4 months and was feeling really displaced. My parents had moved from the house I grew up in about 18 months prior and I had no good friends left in York, and I had left all my friends and a horrible break up in Pittsburgh, so I was excited to live in a place with so many things to do and to live with roommates my own age. By May '08, I had finally finished putting myself through all the personal hell I could muster and finally adjusted to life in SF, made some new friends, and actually embraced the full kickass-status of San Francisco.
Personal Achievements:
- Adjusting to life in San Francisco (until you've spent enough time here, don't scoff)
- Learning to Surf
- Figured out that whole financial responsibility thing (those of you who have known me longer can attest that this is a medium accomplishment)
To Summarize 2008, I can't really say anything amazing happened (to me). I traveled for business, saw another family members get married, moved to a new city, leared to surf, and finally got a peek under the hood of what it means (in a larger sense of the word) to be an adult.
~2009 Thus far...
2009 has been a whirlwind of craziness so far. All the economic downturn, and its related effects on my job/cash flow, have certainly made their mark. There's been a huge increase in job related stress, and a major decrease in comission. Preferable situation? Obviously not. However, during the last year of cyclical boot-strapping I experienced, I saw the potential positives in this and here's what I've come up with.
Personal Achievements:
- Learning to live on less...everything. Being smarter with money, doing things that are free/cheap and still fun, and generally using less (see any 'green living' guide) has really brought noticble improvements to life. I worry less, live more simply, and find that that the things I do enjoy are now more enjoyable because I'm not trying to handle 200 things at the same time and figure how I'm going to pay for it all.
- Fitness. After losing weight steadily over the course of 2008, I decided to take it a step further and take a marked interest in my personal fitness/health. After keeping an overly detailed spreadsheet tracking my intake as closely as possible, I evened out my diet to what it should be and I've bought a gym membership that starts in a few weeks (for billing purposes with all my other stuff).
- Figuring out more of that 'adult' thing. It really sort of all dawned on me when I was at a house party for a friend's birthday and his brother and a few friends (students at UC) were there and acting the typical college sophmore (guilty as charged, so did I...). When I realized that the guy was being really immature and I kinda wanted to kick his ass, I finally got that whole 'the college years are over' hammer hit on the head. So now, I don't want to say I'm acting my age because I don't ever feel like I haven't, but rather I feel more grown up.
Since I can't summarize a year in progress, I'll say that of the 1.5ish years that I've spent here, this is the one that I really feel is going to be the base for the next 10 years or so. I'm planning to take another European vacation, I'm doing things for myself that I want to achieve, and I'm feeling the best I have in years.
So for everyone who has asked "How are you?/What have you been up to?" since I've left Pittsburgh...there ya go.
Enjoy.
Friday, April 24, 2009
I'm 40 and Single ('cause I smoked grass and hit my brother in the face with an oar when I was 15)
Last Friday I found myself with nothing to do, so my roommate, Ericka, suggested that I go with her and some friends to a film screening in the Mission District. Now, I'm always down to watch some movies, but SF is in no short supply of freaks with fucked up video collections, so I inquire as to the details of this beast.
Vintage Drug-Scare Films, so of course I'm down.
Turns out she found out about this thing on http://laughingsquid.com/. Really interesting resource for unique goings-on in SF (if you care enough to browse events, this event was under the 'squid list' section).
The "company" that put this screening on is called Oddball Film & Video (http://oddballfilm.com/). I was really apprehensive about going the rest of the way with this screening when we walked in the building. It was a warehouse with wooden murder-steps going up 3 floors, and I call them murder-steps because it looked like a place where you'd find the preserved remains of Prom Queens. Once you got to the third floor, you had to negotiate a locked door/buzzer system that must have been some kind of 'Planet of the Apes' prototype because you had to simultaneously push two buttons to get the buzzer to ring, and then quickly push the door in before pulling towards yourself, all while the gentleman at Buzzer Control kept remixing the buzzer pulse like an epileptic Michael J. Fox at a strobe light convention.
After breaching the fuzzy porn-door, you must then go up another flight of stairs into the inner sanctum. There was a man, I'd say late 50s and definitely a heavy smoker of cigarettes, etc. sitting behind one of those huge metal desks from the 60s. Admittedly there was some confusion on our part as to who was paying for whom (I and Ericka were the only ones paying for ourselves and frustratingly located at the back of the line), but this asshat behind the desk could not handle simple math tasks and just made the whole process that much more laborious. Once that CF had finally been figured out, we got past the desk to see one of the craziest things I've ever laid eyes on. The space of this warehouse was probably on the order of 2000sq ft. with 20ft ceilings and it was floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall with film canisters. There must have been over 3000 reels of everything from stock film to some (according to cigarette smoking man) extremely rare domestic and foreign films. The screening area was in the back corner of the space, so we walked past all these racks of films to an area with about 12 or so porch-worthy couches, a disco ball, and 70s funk playing over some really crap speakers. I was sure we'd been lured to some Bacchus wine orgy.
Tonight, we would be viewing:
"Narcotics: Pit of Despair" (1967)
"The Perfect Drug Film" (1971) with Beau Bridges
"Dope Is For Dopes" (1972) with Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
"Marijuana, Driving and You" (1980)
"Stoned" (1980) with Scott Baio
As with any cultural/societal movies about the current problems, these things were dated. In particular "Pit of Despair", which looked like it was filmed in 1950 and not 1967. I won't be going into epic detail on all these films, but "Marijuana, Driving and You" and "Dope Is For Dopes" really weren't that great. Sure, Fat Albert talking about pot is pretty funny, but they kept calling it dope (which I think is a stupid word and shouldn't be used ever except, of course, when "that shit is dope"). "The Perfect Drug Film" (1971) with Beau Bridges was funny because I currently look at Beau Bridges and can only assume he partied like a rock star at some point in his life, thus adding a delicious irony icing to the whole situation. He also kept referencing this "perfect drug", which was legal and non-addicting, as a cure all for life's problems which was illustrated by having a 2 minute clip of people from age 14 on up popping pills and immediately smiling in the face of some real FML-style business.
The real winners of the evening were "Narcotics: Pit of Despair" and "Stoned".
Synopsis: "Narcotics" starred one of those clean cut, super-moral "Johnny Everyboy", turtle-neck douches who started the film with grade trouble, an asshole track coach, and uptight NCAA rules that wouldn't let his dumb ass run it out on the field. Johnny "just happens" to meet up with an old friend who "conveniently" dropped out to apparently take up a career as looking like The Wolfman. Johnny and Mr. Bearded Ducks-ass start hanging out again and Johnny gets invited to a party. Here's where it gets great. Johnny is drinking a few beers while Wolfman stands on the stairs and stares (nice opportunity for a play on words) at everyone in this party all creepy like. Then, Johnny ends up "feeling the beer" and smoking pot in the garage where "the real party is". Next week, he's strung out on heroin and living with 2 ex-cons, tied to a bed, writhing from withdraw. Not kidding here people. It was the biggest collection of over-the-top stereotypes I'd ever seen. Oh, and they used phrases like "A square is an angle you certainly don't want to be" and "Get with the countdown and blast off from Squaresville". Moral of the Story: Beer, women, and parties lead to heroin withdraw.
Synopsis: "Stoned" with Scott Baio has Scott playing (himself?) as the high-school nerd with no friends, a crush on the new girl, and a serious 'attached at the hip' complex with his closet-case older brother who has been training for 2 years for some swim meet that would somehow land him in the Olympics (it was not an Olympic qualifying meet, assholes). Their Dad was all about the older brother and was basically forcing him to do this stuff so he could live vicariously through him. So the older bro is swimming laps in a lake, and Scott is following him along in a row boat. Older bro tells Scott to eat shit and die (may not be a direct quote) so now Scott is friendless. Scott starts hanging out with Spicoli-style skaters who smoke pot. Scott starts smoking, somehow lands the girl, and peaks by rowing with his older brother while baked and smashing him in the face with an oar, thus destroying Phelpsian dream. Moral of the Story: Pot helps you get even with older siblings, make friends, and get the girl.
Overall the experience was pretty great, and I had a good time at the bar/chowing down on a late night burrito (easily the best I've ever had and way better than Qdoba). I mistakenly signed up for their email list, so I'm getting flooded with these updates about screenings, some of them do look interesting (see the hip hop documentaries), but the rest looks like the usual trash the self-important sling at you.
On a closing note, I would like to take the opportunity to say that next week's (since I'm lazy and won't get to it before then) post will be a 'personal update' post. Feel free to skip it, but I've decided that it's time to do one of these to stave off the barrage of "what have you been up to's" I recieved recently.
Enjoy.
Vintage Drug-Scare Films, so of course I'm down.
Turns out she found out about this thing on http://laughingsquid.com/. Really interesting resource for unique goings-on in SF (if you care enough to browse events, this event was under the 'squid list' section).
The "company" that put this screening on is called Oddball Film & Video (http://oddballfilm.com/). I was really apprehensive about going the rest of the way with this screening when we walked in the building. It was a warehouse with wooden murder-steps going up 3 floors, and I call them murder-steps because it looked like a place where you'd find the preserved remains of Prom Queens. Once you got to the third floor, you had to negotiate a locked door/buzzer system that must have been some kind of 'Planet of the Apes' prototype because you had to simultaneously push two buttons to get the buzzer to ring, and then quickly push the door in before pulling towards yourself, all while the gentleman at Buzzer Control kept remixing the buzzer pulse like an epileptic Michael J. Fox at a strobe light convention.
After breaching the fuzzy porn-door, you must then go up another flight of stairs into the inner sanctum. There was a man, I'd say late 50s and definitely a heavy smoker of cigarettes, etc. sitting behind one of those huge metal desks from the 60s. Admittedly there was some confusion on our part as to who was paying for whom (I and Ericka were the only ones paying for ourselves and frustratingly located at the back of the line), but this asshat behind the desk could not handle simple math tasks and just made the whole process that much more laborious. Once that CF had finally been figured out, we got past the desk to see one of the craziest things I've ever laid eyes on. The space of this warehouse was probably on the order of 2000sq ft. with 20ft ceilings and it was floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall with film canisters. There must have been over 3000 reels of everything from stock film to some (according to cigarette smoking man) extremely rare domestic and foreign films. The screening area was in the back corner of the space, so we walked past all these racks of films to an area with about 12 or so porch-worthy couches, a disco ball, and 70s funk playing over some really crap speakers. I was sure we'd been lured to some Bacchus wine orgy.
Tonight, we would be viewing:
"Narcotics: Pit of Despair" (1967)
"The Perfect Drug Film" (1971) with Beau Bridges
"Dope Is For Dopes" (1972) with Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
"Marijuana, Driving and You" (1980)
"Stoned" (1980) with Scott Baio
As with any cultural/societal movies about the current problems, these things were dated. In particular "Pit of Despair", which looked like it was filmed in 1950 and not 1967. I won't be going into epic detail on all these films, but "Marijuana, Driving and You" and "Dope Is For Dopes" really weren't that great. Sure, Fat Albert talking about pot is pretty funny, but they kept calling it dope (which I think is a stupid word and shouldn't be used ever except, of course, when "that shit is dope"). "The Perfect Drug Film" (1971) with Beau Bridges was funny because I currently look at Beau Bridges and can only assume he partied like a rock star at some point in his life, thus adding a delicious irony icing to the whole situation. He also kept referencing this "perfect drug", which was legal and non-addicting, as a cure all for life's problems which was illustrated by having a 2 minute clip of people from age 14 on up popping pills and immediately smiling in the face of some real FML-style business.
The real winners of the evening were "Narcotics: Pit of Despair" and "Stoned".
Synopsis: "Narcotics" starred one of those clean cut, super-moral "Johnny Everyboy", turtle-neck douches who started the film with grade trouble, an asshole track coach, and uptight NCAA rules that wouldn't let his dumb ass run it out on the field. Johnny "just happens" to meet up with an old friend who "conveniently" dropped out to apparently take up a career as looking like The Wolfman. Johnny and Mr. Bearded Ducks-ass start hanging out again and Johnny gets invited to a party. Here's where it gets great. Johnny is drinking a few beers while Wolfman stands on the stairs and stares (nice opportunity for a play on words) at everyone in this party all creepy like. Then, Johnny ends up "feeling the beer" and smoking pot in the garage where "the real party is". Next week, he's strung out on heroin and living with 2 ex-cons, tied to a bed, writhing from withdraw. Not kidding here people. It was the biggest collection of over-the-top stereotypes I'd ever seen. Oh, and they used phrases like "A square is an angle you certainly don't want to be" and "Get with the countdown and blast off from Squaresville". Moral of the Story: Beer, women, and parties lead to heroin withdraw.
Synopsis: "Stoned" with Scott Baio has Scott playing (himself?) as the high-school nerd with no friends, a crush on the new girl, and a serious 'attached at the hip' complex with his closet-case older brother who has been training for 2 years for some swim meet that would somehow land him in the Olympics (it was not an Olympic qualifying meet, assholes). Their Dad was all about the older brother and was basically forcing him to do this stuff so he could live vicariously through him. So the older bro is swimming laps in a lake, and Scott is following him along in a row boat. Older bro tells Scott to eat shit and die (may not be a direct quote) so now Scott is friendless. Scott starts hanging out with Spicoli-style skaters who smoke pot. Scott starts smoking, somehow lands the girl, and peaks by rowing with his older brother while baked and smashing him in the face with an oar, thus destroying Phelpsian dream. Moral of the Story: Pot helps you get even with older siblings, make friends, and get the girl.
Overall the experience was pretty great, and I had a good time at the bar/chowing down on a late night burrito (easily the best I've ever had and way better than Qdoba). I mistakenly signed up for their email list, so I'm getting flooded with these updates about screenings, some of them do look interesting (see the hip hop documentaries), but the rest looks like the usual trash the self-important sling at you.
On a closing note, I would like to take the opportunity to say that next week's (since I'm lazy and won't get to it before then) post will be a 'personal update' post. Feel free to skip it, but I've decided that it's time to do one of these to stave off the barrage of "what have you been up to's" I recieved recently.
Enjoy.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Introduction
So I've decided to get back on this blogtrain thing...
In lieu of whatever the last blog's purpose was supposed to be, this one will be a chronicle of various goings on in San Francisco (hence the 49 square miles title).
Over the course of the past two-ish years, I've had the opportunity to meet up with a lot of old friends either here, or back East, who bombard me with questions about what living in SF (and California in general) is like. So, for sentimental and practical purposes, I'm going to post weekly and talk about what's been going on here, new restaurants and old favorites, events, stuff I've been personally working on, and finally (at least probably) I'm going to throw some material out there since I'm looking into this stand-up comedy thing.
So feel free to write me or respond about things you'd like to see up here or know about. All I have is an iPhone for pics now, but I'll work on this camera thing and we'll get some better ones up when I can.
Enjoy.
In lieu of whatever the last blog's purpose was supposed to be, this one will be a chronicle of various goings on in San Francisco (hence the 49 square miles title).
Over the course of the past two-ish years, I've had the opportunity to meet up with a lot of old friends either here, or back East, who bombard me with questions about what living in SF (and California in general) is like. So, for sentimental and practical purposes, I'm going to post weekly and talk about what's been going on here, new restaurants and old favorites, events, stuff I've been personally working on, and finally (at least probably) I'm going to throw some material out there since I'm looking into this stand-up comedy thing.
So feel free to write me or respond about things you'd like to see up here or know about. All I have is an iPhone for pics now, but I'll work on this camera thing and we'll get some better ones up when I can.
Enjoy.
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