Ahh, the rain is back, thanks to the Pineapple Express from Havai'i.

Lets see - new metrological term Ive learned: Cutoff Low.

Means, there is a low pressure system kinda stuck off the coast of the continent, just kinda stuck in the pacific. Not goin anywhere, just lost kinda.

While its hanging out, its feeding off the flow of moisture from hawai'i, sending rain to the california coast.

Ergo, rain for the next coupla weeks.
-----
*sigh* iPhoto. Piece of sheet.

I come home from being out all day, the mac has downloaded the OSX 10.3.8 update for me, helpful lil bugger that it is. Normally, Im not the trusting sort - I figure, what the heck, eh? I click the button to install and reboot.

Of course, I plug in the camera to offload my images (cuz naturally - OSX doesnt know what to fucking do with my cheap all-in-one memory card reader, that WINDOWS handles with no #*#%%$%# problems) and iPhoto launches ... and does zip except produces the spinning beachball of death for half an hour.

Of course.

Im rebuilding the iPhoto library now (2 hours and counting), with no guarantee that it will work properly. I dont like doing tech shit on my day off. I dont wanna think that hard, gottdammit.
Im feening for Irfanview. I have NOT found a good Mac graphic viewer (theyre all mediocre at best).

Naurally, iPhoto is considered the best graphic viewer for the Mac.

Joy.

Im in the market for a good laptop .. and shit like this makes me not want to get a Mac.
-------
I got some great images today.

Sweet wet images of San Francisco.

B&W, color - even some Mocha.

But of course, I cant show 'em.. for the reason stated above.

Arg.

Hawk over the Headlands

Hawk over the Headlands, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

From the Marin Headlands

Black & Whites Test shots

Black & Whites

Black & Whites Test shots, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

I discovered the B&W function on my camera and proceeded to ferk around ... errr.. do test shots.

Feels like Im shooting Tri-X film with an old Leica. But bettah.

Sweet. :)

16th & Valencia

Happy Valentine's Day!

16th & Valencia, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Note the hint o' sarcasm? :)

SFPD

SFPD, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

You can tell a Bay Area native by what they call the police.

Pigs.

*peal of laughter*

I swear to gawd, sometimes its like listening to some old Dolomite movie or 70's TV show around here.. :)

The trees know when its spring

The trees know when its spring, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Magic Moment

There is a magic moment that occurs, whether in a relationship, sex, playing sports, driving a nice car, participating in an experience, where everything just flows. Something touches you inside, time slows down, everything comes together. And a wide, shit-eating grin crosses your face.

The mundane becomes the sublime.

Addicts chase that feeling every time they indulge, athletes chase that flow whenever they step into their arena.

This morning, while sitting bored in a laundromat, I started taking pictures of the passing scenery out the windows. Anything. People, cars, pigeons, buildings, buses, cracks in the sidewalk.

And I kept taking pictures.

Then I started experimenting with the different modes, and with a flick of a thumbwheel, switched the camera to black and white mode.

And kept taking pictures. Didnt even move from the chair, just snapped, and the camera kept going, and going.

Dude, this was a Leica moment.

Then the muttering started.

"MAN, I *love* this camera. LOVE this. Love this camera. Love it."

Then. It came to me .. Val.

That's the name of this camera. Yeah, word association with St. Valentines Day begat the thread, it being around the corner and all, but.. Val.

Just Val. Not Valerie, Valentine/Valentino, Vladimir. Just Val.

The name just fits.

:)

6 Parnassus

6 Parnassus, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Watching a freighter slip away from the Bay.

Looking over the Sunset District.

World Headquarters

Clint has been bugging me to take pictures of this ever since I mentioned it months ago.

So, on 9th Avenue, between Irving and Judah streets, where the N line streetcars rumble past on their way to and from the San Francisco's Susnset District, there is an unrepossesing Victorian. In the basement is the World Headquarters of Craigslist.

They couldve easily plopped themselves into trendy downtown quarters or some office park in Silicon Valay or the East Bay.

But no, underneath the San Francisco School of Music, with stacks of soda, fruit juice and water by the door, is Craigslist.

Blink, and you'll miss it.

6 Parnassus

6 Parnassus

6 Parnassus, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

This MUNI bus route ends on a little cul-de-sac at one of the highest points of the city which overlooks one of the best views that most folk in San Francisco never see.

The Alleys of San Francisco

The Alleys of San Francisco, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Ich bin nein San Franciscan

Having been hired by the mothership, young Clint is in the Bay Area is being trained as a priest initiate into the cult.. err.. as an Apple engineer.

Unfortunately, theyve gotten him pretty busy, so his time is tight. Add to that, San Jose is 50 miles away, so its not a hop skip and jump to go between the cities.

So, Ive only had a short time to hang with my friend.

Last night asked him how he liked the place..


"Im glad I was able to see your city."
"My city? Man, dont *even* say that."

"My City" is what native friscans call the place.

I played street-wise tour guide, spouting facts and stats I didnt even know I knew.

I wanted to show hm a lot more.

Wish I could show him everything, but hey - theres never enough time to do everything.

Eh, next time.
-----
At the SF Apple store.



Heh, hadda take a picture. :)

Making up time

Ive not watched much television since the year 2001, so Ive not watched much of what's become much of popular culture.

One of them has been the CIS shows. Apparently they were so big I saw electronic signs in Times Square and Walter Mitty mopes hanging out at Kinkos wishing they were living the CIS life.

And I didnt know what the fuss was about.

Im kinda caught up now, and ive decided.

And Ive decided which one I like...

NCIS.

Particularly because of the character Chief Agent Gibbs.

He's played with a mix acerbic wit and blunt toughness that makes the show.

"Do you believe in Karma, boss?"
"... . I've been married three times."

Heheh.

The rest of them, I still dont get.
--------

While watching NOVA on PBS the other day, I heard a statement made by a young Cal-Berkeley/MIT engineer and roboticist, James McLurkin, that made me snarf in laffter:

"Unrequited love is inefficient."

Ha! I wish Id come to that realization far earlier in adulthood.

But, I never went to MIT. :)
-------
Today's horrorscope:

VIRGO

This weekend heralds the start of a six-week phase during which you will aim higher and achieve more than you might currently think possible. It does not matter what you did or did not do in the past - the only thing that matters is what you do next.

Heh, am I skurred?

Yup.

Fear of failure? Fear of success?

Transcript from the NOVA program:

JAMES MCLURKIN: Failure is key to any learning, creative process. Anything that you're doing, you must fail. If you do not fail, either you were lucky...Well, actually, no, that's it.

ROBERT KRULWICH: But if you're going to fail, you do need to bounce back, and James learned from early on that giving up is not a way to solve your problems.

Fear is just part of the process. So is failure.


---------

16th & Valencia

16th & Valencia, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Wander to the water



JPennant: yesterday, i had a buncha meetings during the day after doing graveyard
JPennant: so, evening comes i intend to head home fer sleep
JPennant: where does nightfall find me?
JPennant: in the middle of the Bay taking pictures
gabz: :o
gabz: you took the ferry!
JPennant: yup :-)
gabz: there's some great kodak moments to be had out there
gabz: which way didja go?
gabz: alameda?
gabz: vallejo?
gabz: north bay?
JPennant: Sausalito
gabz: ahhh
JPennant: i wanted to get Golden Gate sunset
gabz: and?
JPennant: oh. my. god.
gabz: :D
JPennant: i was shooting continuously from when we left the dock to when we hit Sausalito
JPennant: some of the shots were jaw dropping
gabz: yay!
JPennant: yup, im STILL downloading them from the camera
JPennant: that was fun. i'll try the vallejo run next
gabz: (alameda is pretty good too...great shot of the port)
gabz: (and gordon biersch)
gabz: mmm.....beer.
JPennant: hahaha

22 Fillmore

22 Fillmore, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Part of an ongoing project to do the entire 22 Fillmore bus route...

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

McClint in Jax

DSC00861, originally uploaded by mcclint.

JPennant: heh, I like the picture of you, the Mini, the house and the murrican flag :-)
McClint: hehe
McClint: did that one by myself
McClint: put the camera on a lawn chair
JPennant: VERY good. :-)

Bagel snobs

Uhura: but the bagel was so good
JPennant: heheh
JPennant: think i'll go over to berkeley tomorrah and get some bagels
Uhura: i may pick up a dozen here from bergen bagels
Uhura: they opened one near me
Uhura: i'll get the rest of my stuff from the store
Uhura: or maybe i'll just make french toast
JPennant: hard to find good NY style bagels here
JPennant: I go to a place in North Berkeley called Boogie Woogie Bagel Boy
JPennant: about the best place Ive found out here to buy something that tastes close to NY style
Uhura: it's the water
JPennant: heh
JPennant: could be
Uhura: i mean why can't you get good pizza in florida?
Uhura: folks there know how to make it
Uhura: but the water isn't the same
Uhura: there is something to be said about nyc tap
JPennant: Dunno. the best pizza is in Chicago :-)
Uhura: ok, why can't you get great chicago pizza outside of chicago?
Uhura: it's the water
Uhura: it's not just the technique
JPennant: actually i think it is the technique
JPennant: the guy that owns that place in Berkeley lived in NYC for 20 years
JPennant: worked at H&H
JPennant: steams the bagels in this huge stainless steel vat
JPennant: uses cornmeal flour to dust the rolls
Uhura: that sounds "right"
JPennant: tastes about 95 percent right
JPennant: i think his weak link is that he's not running his ovens hot enough, but hey, close is good when theyre 5 minutes fresh :-)
JPennant: his stuff tastes fresh even 2 days later
Uhura: that's good
Uhura: very good
JPennant: but they sell so well, theyre constantly being replenished
Uhura: i hate when they get really hard
JPennant: yeah, Einsteins Bagel does that
JPennant: and Noah's Bagel out here.. bleh
Uhura: i mean was closed
JPennant: eh?
Uhura: i was just saying that there was an einstein bagel here but they went out of biz
JPennant: not a bad thing in my book
JPennant: if you cant hack it in New York as a bagel place, you dont deserve to be in business
Uhura: well, there are so many good places for a bagel here
Uhura: no
Uhura: you may be ablt to hack it anywhere else in the world
Uhura: ny is tough
Uhura: harder than anywhere else
Uhura: hence the lyrics--
Uhura: if i can make it here, i'll make it anywhere, it's up to you, new york-- you know the rest
JPennant: theyre making money off people who cant get any better around the country
JPennant: so, if they cant compete in New York, that tells you something
JPennant: for in NY if you bake it right, they will come
Uhura: this is true

The Mothership

The Mothership, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Based on the amount of Hondas that are on the streets of the Bay Area, this Honda dealership at the corner of Van Ness @ Market in San Fran, IS the mothership.

SF Advisory board

Heehee. Very valid advice. They definitely need a tourist brochure written by everyday San Franciscans.

-----
Pinao went walkabout around her new SF neighborhood recently. Her prose crax me up:

As I look up at the next store sign, I'm assaulted by the smell of skunk! Certainly, the stinky varmit wouldn't wander into town - nope. The sign told it all. "Herbal Remedies" with a small sign in the window "Must be 18 or older to enter with valid identification." TWEEEEED! Yup, a cannibus club. G'damn! I kept walking...but, sorta felt a twinge of the munchies...

JPennant: TWEED!!!
JPennant: *lmao*
pinao: don't mess with a bruddah's tweeed
JPennant: its too true in the Bay Area
JPennant: i cant walk up geary or mission without getting a secondhand high
pinao: i know, right?
JPennant: i was gonna excerpt that as a too true part of San Francisco :-)
pinao: lol
JPennant: TWEED!!!
JPennant: heeheehee
pinao: hahah
JPennant: I cant stop sayin it :-)
pinao: stop smokin' dat tweed!
pinao: lol
JPennant: its gotten to the point where I can now tell the difference between hydroponic, humboldt county and mexican when I walk by
pinao: :o
pinao: LOL
pinao: love that word: hydroponic
pinao: bring on the maui waui
pinao: er...wowee
JPennant: ooh yeah. I gotta check that out when i hit the islands, mon
pinao: hahaha
JPennant: See what the hell Cheech and Chong and COPS in Hawaii were talkin about.
pinao: it's all good. :-)
JPennant: heheh

JPennant: <--- saying *TWEEED* and giggling over and over
pinao: lol
JPennant: Heh, I took a picture of a bus stop the other day - maaan, I wish pictures had smell-o-vision
JPennant: THATs why Im cracking up on "TWEEED!!"
pinao: heheh

JPennant: More of that kinda walkabout observations, please :-)
pinao: of course. just wait until i go to the caaaastro
pinao: hopefully i'll have me camera by then
JPennant: oooh
pinao: LOL

..finally decide to go to the local cafe and grab a falafel and soy latte. But, first I passed it to go to RiteAid for some shampoo. On my way back, I pass Mahogany...it's a hair place (I wouldn't call it a salon...) and there are two sistahs with cornrows doing hair. When I pass by, again, I'm assailed with the smell of what??? yes, TWEEEED! All right -- for all the tweed that I am smelling, this better be a safe ass neighborhood -- just like Amsterdam! I proceed to scarf my falafel and quaff my latte. I then begin the gruelling walk up my hill. By the time I get home, I'm spent! I can't wait till my next adventure.

Me neither. :)

Japantown

Japantown, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Fisherman's Wharf Walkabout

Fisherman's Wharf Walkabout, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Fisherman's Wharf Walkabout

Fisherman's Wharf Walkabout, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Ipod Central @ SF Apple Store

Ipod Central @ SF Apple Store

Ipod Central @ SF Apple Store, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Flickr gallery set.

Taken on a brief visit to the San Francisco Flagship Apple Store after the MacWorld Expo closed.

The littlest magnolia

Per Gwen

The littlest magnolia, originally uploaded by gwen.

Even tho its still chilly here, as Gwen shows (in Oakland), spring is here.

The trees know.

-------
On rotation

Over and Over - Nelly & Tim McGraw
------
My favorite lament:

"When Ive got the time, I rarely have the money. When Ive got the money, I rarely have the time."

Im getting tired of saying that.

Between work at night, daytime meetings and activities, Im finding myself stretched to find time for my projects and travels. I catch sleep whenever I can - which aint good.

"Work so you can live, not live so you can work."

My job is easy and it's convenient. And its got benefits. But Im concerned Im losing on the things Im rilly trying to do.

So, the answer to my lament - save the money, take the time.

Discipline. Enjoy myself.

Just a little affirmation there. :)
------
"Where have you been?!" said yesterday by the little vietnamese lady who owns my favorite little hole in the wall donut shop that I go for breakfast.

All I have to do is twirl my index finger in the air to tell her what I want. She'll either go and prepare the dish of rice, eggs and portugese sausage with my large decaf herself or yell the order "Eggs scrambled, rice with butter - large portion, and hotlinks sliced" in chinese to her assistant in the kitchen.

I know what she's saying because she sez the words "scrambled, butter, hotlinks" in english.

The dish is usually a delight of presentation, making the other people in the place exclaim - every single time - "damn, that looks good".

It is good.

Which is why, every chance I get, I go way out of my way to 6th and Mission, one of the sketchiest streets in all of SF, for breakfast.

Think I'll go now.

16th & Valencia

16th & Valencia, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Random thoughts

I havent posted a buncha images because Im still tryig to find a good workflow on the Mac..
Just slow. Thought it'd be faster, but so far I havent found the magic combination, like I did with IrfanView on the PC.

With Irfanview, I can quickly process hundreds of images in short order, and thats without using batch processing or automated procedures, because I like hands-on conrol.

Currently Im using Adobe Image Ready, but its too bulky for handling a bunch of images quickly.

Thinking of installing VirtualPC, and running IrfanView under that, if push comes to shove.
---------
Hee.

San Francisco 49'ers hire Mike Singletary as Assistant Head Coach

This means Mike Singletary is on the fast track, being groomed to be the Chicago Bears head coach.

Oooh, cant wait.

Yeah, I still get people on the street saying "Wow, you look a LOT like Mike Singletary."

Nah, he's got dimples. :)
---------
Oh, speaking of things Chicago, I got basic cable.. and I noticed that the chicago station WGN is one of my channels. Right on.

Among the the things Ive missed over the years, having cabe in NY and Flordia, was not having WGN for some reason.

So, this is cool.
-------



While being out and about, I noticed another sign of spring - bright orange California poppies starting to bloom along the side of the highway.
Yeah, the plants here know better than humans.

Subtle, but a sure fire sign.

The cold is still biting. I know, the temps are in the 40's - but its still a wet cold.

Even folk from Michigan are shivering, and although there are fools out in shirt sleeves, the prudent are still wrapped in scarves and hoods.

In fact, I saw a surreal scene last night in a park by my neighborhood. Kids were out playing basketball, and most of them were in white or blue hoodies to protect against the chill.

I shoulda got off the bus and taken a picture of that.

---------
I dont remember why, but I had occasion to walk around my neighborhood (Valencia Avenue/16th Street) yesterday evening

Wow. Ive been here a coupla months now, but I didnt realize all these different restaurants and galleries were about.

I mean, I KNEW, but I didnt know.

The gloom of the winter evening turned on lights that I didnt even know were there, making me see what had passed unnoticed.

Hm. I need to get out more, and not just at midnight.

When it's time, it's time

I just picked up a rice cooker from a student at the San Francisco State University housing via Craigslist.

Hey, Mister B.. took your advice. It has the closing lid, capacity and yes, the flowers on the side. Not the small, cheapo ones. Its a good one.

Why has it taken so long to get this? Its time.

I was pondering this on the way home. When its time, you have to be prepared to move on things. But when its not time, do not start that ball rolling.

Im not simply getting a rice cooker, I am changing the way I do things.

I have to be aware of what Im letting into my life, people and things.

I think the difference between now and me in the past, is appreciating that nothing is inconsequential.

Not even this inexpensive rice cooker.
------

"Love or Perish."

The book was just sitting there. Dont know who left it there.

Its been on my list to read, but it has never crossed my path, nor have I sought it out.

On this journey Im on, I feel what I need appears when its supposed to and just when I can appreciate it.

And so, I picked up the copy of Tuesdays With Morrie, and read it.

Wow.

And as hard I tried, I couldnt help but cry at the end.

Yep. It was time to read it.

When youre ready, check it out.
-----

I gotta go pick up a TV and a piece of bathroom furniture in a few minutes.

Got it off of Freecycle, Poo. :)

Haight St Signs and Murals

Haight St Signs and Murals, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Sex education

JPennant: This city is a trip
JPennant: I had to go to a mandatory class
JPennant: they decide is gonna be a STD education class
JPennant: Im like, i didnt sign up for this, totally wasting my time.
JPennant: but I did learn things i didnt know
McClint: mandatory class for what?
JPennant: Take too long to explain, but its related to the benefits Im getting from the city
McClint: oh ok
JPennant: I did not know that when you go get tested for HIV, its a VERY good idea to get tested for STD's at the same time
JPennant: I did not know that it is best to not floss before you go down on someone/engage in cunnilingus
McClint: not to floss? hahaha why?
JPennant: because flossing cuts your gums
JPennant: which makes it easier to catch some o the nastier STD's
McClint: oh yeah
JPennant: AND, you want to wash your hands (as you would before eating) before sex. And after sex for that matter
McClint: yeah i kinda figured that one
JPennant: you know, apart from making sure youre bathed, that has never occurred to me
JPennant: until it was explained to me that things like Chlamydia can be caught by simply wiping your eyes or nose during or after sex
McClint: eww
JPennant: no shit
JPennant: and it was explained how condoms work against catching STD's
JPennant: its not simply a barrier
JPennant: it keeps you from getting scraped and cut and therefore catching stuff
JPennant: Heh, I thought I was scared before
JPennant: good thing about this city.. i never have to buy condoms
McClint: hehehe
McClint: one thing i saw in San Diego that i thought was different was that in the phonebook there were full page ads for escort services
JPennant: sure
McClint: the best they can get away with here is small ads in teh classifieds
JPennant: most of the classifieds in the free newspapers are escort services and sex clubs
McClint: it was just odd to see full page entries in the yellow pages for them
JPennant: heh
JPennant: California is very "sex positive"
McClint: hmmm i wonder if they provide room service hehehehe
JPennant: yup
JPennant: where i work, the prostitutes line the street
JPennant: Im actually at the borderline between the straight prostitutes and the transexuals
McClint: good to know where the boundary is
JPennant: someone explained to me why that is in the area, but Im not sure I understood
JPennant: i dont know if you remember, but I was telling you about many of the wmoen i got to know in Berkeley are sex workers
JPennant: many professional women do it as a side job
McClint: well rent is high there
JPennant: yup
JPennant: in fact, a Berkeley High teacher got arrested in Oakland last year. Created a big stink, which almost directly led to the question of prostitution being legal to be put on the ballot.
McClint: golly

This place, it pays to be aware.

Haight St Signs and Murals

Haight St Signs and Murals, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Every time I was on Haight (pronounced 'Hate', not 'height' like my mind automatically thinks), I swore I had to get these pictures.

So, when I got off work .. I did a short run on Haight to capture the murals and signs that Id been missing for nearly 2 years.

Unlike many murals, these hvent been defaced or removed.

Slow that money roll

In the last few years, Ive gotten pretty good at sensing when its time to absolutely halt spending and making that mother stretch.

Ive been getting a gut feeling lately that is time to halt..

Naturally, this week's horrorscope sez:

The time has come to get a bit more serious about your financial obligations, both to yourself and to other people. The sun's change of sign in midweek will force you to admit that your money situation is not as good as it should be and that if you are going to have a comfortable future, you will have to make far-reaching decisions about what you own, earn and save.

My plan was to get everything Ive planned to buy now, and stop when February comes around and start saving like a narcoleptic bear before winter..

Easier said than done. There's always more you want to buy.

Man, I gotta put aside some cash.

I dont think the best time to decide to save is when you dont have any money.

The times when 20 bux felt like a fortune, it became less hard and more fruitful to delay and deny any purchases.

I didnt have any money anyway. :-)

Now that Im working, its harder to fool myself there are no resources. But if Ive learned anything over the last few years, is to get away from the idea that money itself will cure everything.

So, since Ive bought almost everything I wanted, and almost everything i need can be had on the cheap, just gotta slow my roll and remind myself the differences between need and want ....

Money and life is about time and distance.

German layer camera

".. this car makes an average driver feel like a good driver, a good driver feel like a professional and a professional feel like God."
- Car and Driver review of the Porsche 928S

I am very partial to german cars, having owned 6 over the years. German cars feel like theyre built up to a single-minded principle of solidly functional capability. The well-built ones feel solid, smooth and unflappable, no matter the conditions.

And when you push 'em, they invariably put a shit-eating grin on your face.

A 'shit-eating grin' is defined as when an experience is so good that you involuntarily start grinning like an idiot.

This Fuji S602z feels like a german car. :-D

It feels like a camera should. Solid, well-weighted, balanced and capable. It has a professional feel.

It is no surprise that professional photographers in Europe quickly picked up on this and started using it as such. So much so, that Fuji, with only slight modifications, came out with an extremely popular professional version that is still in demand, even tho it has since been replaced.

Last night, I went through a comprehensive 100 page manual to learn all the feaures of this thing. It has a LOT of features, but none of them feel superfluous. And as I went through the different modes and features, I started grinning like an idiot.

This morning, I went downtown to see if I could capture some of the shots I had in mind when I came to San Francisco.

Nailed 'em, first shot each time.

Yeah, this was worth the wait.

------

I named the predecessor to this camera "Stella", from the book and movie "How Stella Got Her Groove Back".

The name just fit when I stopped struggling with the camera and then everything just fell into place.

This one, I dont know yet.

It's coming.

Ipod Central

Ipod Central, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Sweet

These days I take things one step at a time, good or bad. One day at a time.

Some days are better than others.

Today wasnt so bad.

It started at me running late at midnight, running into LeGirl on the 16th Street BART platform. Strange and bittersweet, but not so bad.

Then I got home and was greeted by a package from SBC. Even better, it plugged in without much of a hiccup and started working.
Working much faster than I thought it would.

JPennant: I have DSL
JPennant: Dee Ess Ell
JPennant: Dee Ess Ell
JPennant: :-D
JPennant: My life is better
JPennant: The air is cleaner
Mamahell: haha
JPennant: ahh, sweet

After futzing with that all morning, I headed out to a staff meeting, but on the way, I hadda pick up something.

5 minutes later I walked outta the camera store with a package Ive been waiting nearly 2 years for.

I hadda read the effing manual just to figure out how to put the strap on, but .. man.. its sweeter than I thought it'd be,

I walked home, grabbing a meal and a boxed lunch from Paswam's Pakistani restaurant for tonight's shift.

Tonight, I read the dense hundred page manual so I can use Stella's replacement properly,

My boss told me to go get some sleep for my shift at midnight.

I got about an hour's worth.

Thats ok, I'll get some sleep tomorrow.

Im enjoying today.

Rain on New Years

Rain on New Years, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Today the sun came out for the first time since Christmas Eve.

Or more accurately, it did not rain for the first time here since Christmas Eve.

2am @ Cable Car Pizza on Valencia

2am @ Cable Car Pizza on Valencia, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

This is a test

Rain break

Rain puddle on Valencia Street, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Im jumping off the bridge cuz of george and cecily.

Lets see how it works out.

The weather, its a-changing

After work yesterday, I was walking home down a wet, windy and cold Nob Hill-y Hyde Street, smelling that sweet clear air after a storm.

And in one of those minor epiphanies, I realized that the trees were green, becoming green. And when i looked at a sapling, I saw flowers starting to bloom.

Spring is here.

Every time I think the trees are horribly wrong here in the Bay Area, the weather proves them right.

By february, it might be cold and clammy and foggy - but the trees wont care, they'll have things to do. It'll be perfume-y and the buds will be ablooming.

And so it goes.
--------
One of my favorite movies is 'Youve Got Mail', and its not because I worked for AOL, although it did make me appreciate it more, because I was in the mode of communication thats central to the movie.

No, I like it because it gets very better every time I see it. It might seem like a lightweight, throwaway type of flick, but the people who made it are very very good at what they do.

Ive been picking up a couple of DVD's recently, and I saw this movie in the bargain video bin at Walgreens, so I picked it up.

One reason I like it, is because its a very Manhattan type of movie. In fact, its a very Upper West Side kind of flick, and having lived there, I appreciate the setting.

(The Upper West Side of Manhattan is defined roughly as the area West of Central Park from 59th Street to 110th Street with it main thoroughfare being the North-South stretch of Broadway. As the movie rarely leaves that milleu, some people rarely leave the UWS. They dont have to.)

Another thing I appreciate in the movie, and its a subtle thing, is the weather - as the story transitions from fall to winter to spring.

Good stuff.
-----------
$225??? *girlish squeal*

Two more days.

On a related subject, I only took one picture yesterday.

That means, to date, Ive taken a grand total of 556 images since December 31st.

Whee.

Cant wait for the sun.

I didnt know how good I was having it.

For the past 2 years, Ive had it easy, relatively speaking.

Few bills, few rquirements, little contact with organisations providing services for money.

Hell, didnt really have a mailing address.

Now, in the last two months, Ive been inundated with paperwork, so much so that I need to have a filing system.

And joy, I didnt have to deal with banks, utilities etcetra etcetera.

My life was not spent on hold.

Fast forward to now.. Ive got papers in piles spread across my desk and Ive got to deal with..

DSL Customer Service Clerk

".. and the due date for this order was... oh.. today. Im sorry sir, your order was lost and hung up in the system."
"Why?"
"Dont know."

I think I actually growled then.

This was after a week of waiting for a DSL modem to arrive in the mail.

And if I hadnt called and been transferred between Tabitha, Gwen, Nancy, back to Gwen, called back when their offices opened back to Gwen who transferred me to Jeff, who was now expressing surprise that my order had inexplicably disappeared.

No trace that there was ever an order placed for DSL.

Im surprised I stayed as calm as I did.

Well, having worked in customer support myself, I had a bit of sympathy for how large, monopolistic telecommuniation companies work, and why this happened (someone didnt understand the code and shunted my order for someone else - preferably in another ofice in another state- to deal with) but I didnt let that blind me to the fact that they werent giving me any satisfaction, so I politely stayed on the line and made sure that the order was found, finessed and rammed through by someone who had the AUTHORITY to make changes.

And I always take names and locations now.

Kate said recently that one of the big differences between me now and when she first met me was that now Im less likely to take shit from people.

Absolutely right. I'd rather choose the shit that I have to eat.

An apology

From a letter I just wrote:

Ok, sorry I didnt reply sooner. Both laptops are acting
up and Im still getting adjusted to being on the
graveyard shift while trying to get things done during
the day. Which means Im doing stuff on the mac when I
get home and am actually awake..

So, likewise, I havent updated because (see above).

My resolutions this year are to be more organised, and to get fit/keep the weight down.

And lo, my yearly horrorscope sez:

VIRGO: You've always felt that cleanliness was next to godliness, but this year, you take it to a new level. Perfecting your environment is what 2005 is all about. Why settle for functional when you can have fabulous? And don't you always feel better about arriving somewhere when you've traveled there in style? By eliminating clutter and beautifying your surroundings (including your physical body), you create peace and order on the inside. Start on one troubled room or problem area of your body this month, and work it to perfection.

I swear, I didnt see this before I made the resolutions. My resolutions came from the gut. *cough*

Ironically, although Virgo's are supposed to be the zodiac's neat freaks, I know this to not be empirically accurate.

So, I may have more troule with the organization part.

Simple and soft.

I woke up just now, after a day when I had to take care of several things. A co-worker saw me waiting and twiddling my thumbs in an office and said sympathetically:

"Youre here to deal with aggravations?"
"I prefer to think of them as Challenges." :)
"Ahh. There are always aggravations."

Actually, I was only aggravated that I'd brought the aggravations upon myself.

I was sitting there thinking the day couldve been a whole lot more productive, if I were a bit more organised and done things when I was supposed to.

But I woke up realising that it isnt as hard as all that.

One step at time. Do what I need to do at the time or before I have to.

Simple.
----------
Cyn said something the other day:

i do believe that pregnancy and motherhood is all about going soft, in all senses of the word.

Heh. No, Im nowhere near being pregnant or at the mommyhood stage, but Im starting to get that going soft dealie.

I think it was hanging around friends with kids, and how after a day of dealing with the little terrors, day after day after day, they have to be mommy.

They have to be soft to be strong.
------------
I was still thinking over those fuzzy slippers Kate bought for me back in the winter of 2000-2001. Made me kinda fuzzy.

Frankly, Im still sorta amazed weve been friends for longer than I ever thought we'd be.

She sez its because she will never forget I was there for her when things were bad. On my part, its because she is a loyal friend, and has checked in on me almost every day over the years.

Except for New Years greeting, I hadnt talked to her in awhile.

k a t e: IM Administrator: This IM session is being recorded and may be reviewed for compliance by >>big-ass corporation<< through its several divisions.
k a t e: hey:-)
k a t e: its been a while
k a t e: how are you?
JPennant: hey you
JPennant: just woke up
k a t e: :-) good am
JPennant: heheh
JPennant: whats goin on m'dear?
JPennant: I have a meeting at 2 pm
JPennant: I was just remembering the fuzzy slippers you got me back in 2001
JPennant: made me appreciate it even more :-)
k a t e: hehe
k a t e: :-)
k a t e: jsut wanted to say hi
k a t e: thats it
JPennant: cool. *hug*
k a t e: u 2
JPennant: ok, let me go take care of this meeting. be good Kathleen S***** :-)
JPennant: yeah, Im sappy.
JPennant: latah
k a t e: :-D

Sometimes it feels good to be soft.

Just hard for me to do it with everyone.

Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Polar bear

Years ago, I stayed with a friend on Staten Island in a 150 year old farm house. I loved that place, but my friend could not keep the heat on as it cost a ton of money to heat it during Staten Island's damp, maritime winters.

I quickly learned that padding around barefoot or even in socks was not practical. Even the cat didnt sleep on those old, cold floors. He preferred me.

Whoo, did I bitch about that.

Kate, responding to my whining, bless her heart - sent me a pair of fuzzy slippers.

I wish I'd kept them thru my travels, for Im feening a pair of fuzzy slippers now.

Remember the january indoor cold in Berkeley, mars? Its worse in San Francisco, apparently.

My floor is now so cold that it feels like an electric shock when I get out of bed ... and I sleep during the DAY.

I am now a big fan of down comforters.

And fuzzy slippers.

Now I need to go get a pair.
-------
The pineapple express is a winter time pacific storm system that brings loads of water and feets of snow to the coasts and mountains of the west.

So, right now - San Francisco is JUST like I thought it was before I came here. Raining almost daily and chilly.

According to the weather forecasters, San Francisco has gotten over 170% of normal rainfall for this period.

The time for wearing Teva sandals is so over, as the place brings new meaning to 'puddle jumpers' and 'hypothermia'.

Dont worry clint, it'll clear up by the time you get here.

I think.

Clear resolution

JPennant: ok, figured out my resolutions this year
JPennant: for me, they're biggies
gabz: ahhhh
JPennant: even tho they might not seem like it
gabz: i resolve to not have a resolution this year. ;-)
JPennant: heee
JPennant: dont believe you :-)
gabz: no, really. :-)
JPennant: well, thats good :-)
gabz: hahah
JPennant: i remember back in 2003, I resolved to open myself up, to surrender
gabz: to other people? or to possiblities in life?
JPennant: alla that yup
JPennant: to love, to homelessness, to life in california :-)
JPennant: i actually asked a woman to marry me!
JPennant: for a commitment phobe like me, that was HUGE
gabz: *hugs*
JPennant: :-)
gabz: yeah, i remember your quandary
JPennant: yeah, it opened me up
JPennant: and the homelessness part was tough
JPennant: but i had to embrace and follow through all the way with it.
JPennant: personally, i think everyone should go through extreme poverty
gabz: i've never been homeless, but, i have been broke before.
gabz: it sucks. and it makes you appreciate stuff a LOT
JPennant: yes, verily
JPennant: it made me focus and not worry about status.
JPennant: and it also opened me up to other people.
JPennant: who helped me, even though they had nothing themselves.
gabz: aww
gabz: that sort of restores my faith in humanity
JPennant: yeah, so that was a good resolution, all in all :-)
gabz: :-)
JPennant: so this year is a biggie
JPennant: seems simple, but i know that it'll have deep consequences
JPennant: its actually two, but in my mind.. theyre linked
JPennant: - get organised. be organised.
JPennant: - start losing weight, getting fit
JPennant: Theyre both about lightening my load
gabz: :-)
gabz: yeah, that's been a goal of mine for the past half a year.
gabz: it'll continue to be so
gabz: but, not really a resolution
JPennant: well, same thing here..
JPennant: its been something I said I should be doing
gabz: :-)
JPennant: but making it a resolution makes it a *priority*
gabz: weelll..considering how well you did with your last one...
gabz: keep up the tradition

Yeah, that did turn out okay, didnt it.

Reality rarely hits ya until you run out ...

- The warning light on the gas gauge starts flicking.
- The prison door clangs shut behind you.
- She doesn't send any more messages.
- The bank balance dips below the pocket cash level.

Thats when you go .. ah shit.

For me, its when I saw how much target charged me for ordering a microwave cart online.

29.99. What a deal, eh?

47.11. Tax. Shipping.

50 bux.

WTF?? I coulda trekked down to the Tarjay's in Daly City (I think thats the one closest to San Francisco) and spent 3 bux on bus fare.

I spent 51 bux on DVD's at Rasputin. WHAT was I thinking???? I had only intended to get one DVD. And a used one at that.

Ive been buying a lot of 7 dollar Thai food and restaurant meals lately. A lot.
In fact, i havent been to the grocery store in weeks. Ive been eating out constantly.

Ive used the ATM more often than I imagined I would.

Ok, enough.

Of course, its easy to say 'enough' when youre getting broke and payday is a long ways away... but really: Enough.

I thought I had learned my lessons. That I had planned and budgeted. Was gonna be prurient and frugal. Spend only when necessary. Learned how to live waaay under my means.

Apparently not.

The gas gauge light is flicking.

TEH

I just woke up, drooling and snargling.. indicative of a good and deep crash. Felt good.

Very good.

Especially since I can do it again.

I LIKE having days at a time to stay in and decompress.

Usually at this time of night, Im preparing to get ready to go into work, so its not a full day of rest. Then during the day, because its business hours, there are often things to do, when Id rather be getting rest.

This is my first full 'day' off since before the holidays AND I worked the holidays AND the days before and after them.

If I dont get one day Full of Rest, where I can sleep in uninterrupted, I get quite stressed out and cranky. I am not nice to be around when that happens, which is good that Im usually alone on the graveyard shift.

But Ive got a series of meetings during the day over the next few days, fucking with my staying in time. Ugh.

I can see it now, Im getting 'work creep'. I was afraid of this.

If Im working, I dont wanna think about work or who I am employed for when Im not at work. But I have to prepare for work hours before I get in. I have to worry about meetings when Im not scheduled. A lot of my activities revolve around my work time.

All for a paycheck and bennies.

Ugh.

I gotta remember this job is a short term ways and means. This is not my life. And with my workaholic tendencies, its easy for me to let work become my life.

So, fuck 'em when Im not there.

See? I get cranky when I dont get my decompression time.
-----
Im taking pictures again.

Feels good.

It's been a year and a half since I last had a camera in my hand for more than a few minutes. So, Im getting used to it, even tho Im primarily shooting at night and overcast days.

Feels good, even tho it took a few days to learn how to HOLD it correctly ("I put my thumb THERE??? Oh, it feels right now. Why wasnt that in the manual?").

The pictures are getting better too, as it comes back to me.

I can hear it now. Why arent they up for view yet?

*sigh* Because.

------

Sure, there were fireworks

cecily: Hey J - happy new year to you.
cecily: did you ring it in in style?
JPennant: yup by watching san franciscans get drunk, spill sex lube over bus passengers and asian chicas in red ballroom dresses and tiaras fight in the street.
JPennant: I couldnt make that up. :-)
cecily: alrighty then!
cecily: sounds like a winner.
JPennant: LOL
JPennant: lemme tell ya, it was interesting :-)

I may even post photos sometime.

How hella random

In a city the size of San Francisco, the probability of crossing paths with someone you know is high.

Still, when it does happen, it is surprising.

So, when I found myself enveloped in a crushing bear-hug by a pretty red-head loudly squealing my name on the Powell Street BART platform whilst on my way to work at 10:30 pm a few nights ago.

I havent seen my friend mira since i'd left berkeley 6 months ago, and apart from a few emails here and there when we both moved to frisco, we had lost touch.

Still tho, us crossing paths like that was definitely unusual.

Even more unusual was when we parted company and i rushed into the virgin megastore downtown to exchange a duff DVD that i'd bought for christmas.

The virgin megastore in downtown San Francisco (across the street from the Apple store, clint) is not somewhere you'll find me at any time, much less that late at night.

Once i found another DVD, I rushed downstairs to get the thing exchanged so i could be on my way to work.

Unthinkingly, because i was in a rush to get outta there, i jumped ahead of a young woman who had been standing there. When the cashier objected, the young woman graciously waved me to the cashier.

I thanked the woman and rushed up to the counter, intent on getting the hell outta there. Then i realized i knew this woman, even if i had never met this woman before.

"You look familiar." I said to her.
"Uhhh... JOE???"

SO that's how, after 5 years, I finally met the kind woman ive been calling princess all these years.

Sorry gg, for rushing out on you - i didnt have a ton of time because any more serendipity wouldve made me late for work.

----------
Even when ive been without camera, im always taking pictures in my head, framing, composing and evaluating.

Probably just so I wouldnt get out of practice.

But there was one aspect of actually taking pictures i had forgotten, which was figuring out how to get the proper exposure.

That is probably the hardest part of photography, which is why Im still thankful to Tim the Photographer giving me a quick lesson on how to quickly spot-meter an image in camera while we shared a brooklyn-bound cab home.

Just something I realized while trying to get some shots in the other day.

Picked up camera #1.

#1 is the pocket camera.

I swear to gawd, even by the time the 11th hour and 59 minutes came I had no idea what i wanted, as there are literally thousands of pocket cameras that fit my somewhat loose/somewhat strict criterion.

The ones i wanted were, of course, more than i budgeted. The ones that were under my budget, i wasnt really feeling them.

Nothing in that sweet spot.

So, yesterday - i walked into the local Wolf Camera, strode to the counter and announced 'Im buying a camera right now. I want to spend as much under 200 bux as is humanly possible, it must be 3 megapixels or above, with a fast f2.8 lens for night shots, and did i mention that it must cost under 200 bux?'

And so we spent an hour browsing their clearance area.

This being San Francisco, the guy at the counter was someone interesting. He shoots images of jazz musicians. That's his riff. We talked and listened to jazz as we went through the cameras.

So, of course - by the time i was done, i had a bunch of cameras to choose. But this time, I was happy to make a choice.

The cameras were all good, and dirt cheap. And,naturally, all fuji's.

I chose a Fuji 6800 zoom, even tho i couldve gotten a newer F601 for only 10 bux more.

Thats ok. Ive got a sweet-looking camera designed by Porsche, pocket sized, something good enough to have been rebadged as a Leica, solid and just what i need.

All for only 150 bux plus tax.

Cant beat that with a stick. Im happy.
--------

JPennant: i feel good about what i bought
McClint: well where's the fruit of your labor?
McClint: we wanna see pix! :-)

When Im good n' ready. :)

Ive got a long list of things I wanna see meself.
----
So, next.. camera #2.

Are ya happy to be here?

Dori, who recently moved to Portland from New York, has this to say about the West Coast..

that's the general consensus here, in a place where it's pretty much okay to be broke if you're trying to pursue some sort of creative dream (right now, what i'm pursuing is figuring out my creative dream, but hell, it's a start).

yeah, one small part of me is fucking freaked out - the other part of me is kind of happy to be put in this desparate position - a time to think about ways i can support myself creatively, in a place that supports that kind of thing.

Yep, thats exactly how Ive felt.

Which kinda leads into something I was asked recently...

gabz: so, are you happy you came westward?
JPennant: you know, youre the first person to ask me 'happy'
gabz: you're kidding
JPennant: nope
JPennant: its usually variations on 'are you glad', 'is it what you thought itd be' etc
JPennant: but 'happy' is specific
JPennant: the short answer is no
gabz: d'ohh
JPennant: no, not bad
gabz: but, i do understand: it's culture shock.
gabz: and you're not the first to say that cali doesn't make a person 'happy'.
gabz: it's interesting... but, please expand
JPennant: actually, im more homesick, but im not gonna move back
gabz: yeah. i hear ya.
JPennant: that said, its nice
JPennant: my brother sent me a care package yesterday
gabz: awww
JPennant: it had pastries and bread from Brooklyn
gabz: nice!
JPennant: that was the first time since 2002 Ive had that
JPennant: it reminded how far away I am
JPennant: Im not melancholy at all
JPennant: but kinda homesick
JPennant: ive made good friends
JPennant: the situation is improving
JPennant: and im lucky to be where i am :-)
JPennant: that occurred to me the other day
JPennant: i was walking up some pretty and dreamlike street
JPennant: and Im like, "Dude, IM IN SAN FRANCISCO living free and easy. this time is a once in a lifetime kinda thing!"
JPennant: so, feeling lucky and appreciative is the long answer :-)
JPennant: makes sense?
gabz: absolutely

Like Dori said, you get a lot of support out here when youre broke but trying to do something creative. out east, its about the money first and foremost.

Its brave, and almost suicidal out there trying to do what Im trying to do out here.

They respect dreams here.
------------
Gonna pick up camera #1 this weekend.

JPennant: im currently in the tenderloin looking at the traffic pass by on geary
JPennant: makes me feel all literati an' shit
gabz: hahaha
gabz: the rain mus make for some interesting photos.
JPennant: youre right, it sure was nice tonight/this morning with the lights off the wet sidewalk and streets.. neon and flourescent
gabz: it's kinda cool
gabz: all shimmery and stuff
JPennant: it did not suck :-)
gabz: hehe


So, short answer:

No, it does not suck.

Cool waters

I drink tap water.

Its not because Im being so cheap, but because the tap water can be very, very good.

New York has traditionally proclaimed their tap water as the best tasting water in the world.
Uh, yeah. These are the same people who are maniacal in their collective affection for Poland Spring bottled water, that has a definite *crunch* to the flavor.

Now, the gold standard used to Naya water from quebec, which was so pure that the water tasted 'sweet' and went down soft. I would drink nothing else, my body thanked me.
Its no longer that way, because theyve pumped so much of it, it now has a limestone aftertaste to it. Sad.

Florida water from the florida aquifer is considered so clean, that simply aerating the water is considered all the treatment it needs to be potable.
Right. Due to the various heavy metals therein, it is so NOT potable.
Neither is the South Florida water that has a greenish tinge to it.

No way Im drinking that crap from the tap.

But the water in the Bay Area, ahh yes. Snowmelt water from the Sierra's.

Especially now, cold crisp and clean.

Mmm, tap water.

Fresh from the mountains.

They should bottle this stuff.

Yo Mac

Happy birthday, Clint.

Habits

I had broken the screen on the laptop back in June, I think. I only replaced it a few days ago. In that time, I worked around things by working with the broken screen in the area that was still clear, adapting my techniques to that limitation.

I didnt realize I was still retaining my habits until I found myself unconsciously twitching the cursor to the right , where I had crowded my icons and start-bar on the laptop. I was doing this on the mac, as well as on the laptop even though there was no longer any need.

Very hard to break habits, even the ones that may seem dead and buried, Im finding.

Long story short, next years resolution is taking shape, its about changing habits.

Now, what about them?

Adopt new ones, stick to the good ones, leave the not-so good ones alone.

Which ones?

As I said, its taking shape.
------
As anyone who lives with a Virgo will attest; we hate surprises.

Or, more accurately, we do not like to be surprised.

So, say we buy something for ourselves, the chances are we will know as much as is humanly possible about that object.

This christmas, I was bought a gift.. a one shot coffee maker.

If I had bought it, I wouldve known a lot about that item.

Because it was a gift tho, due diligence was not necessary.

So, long story short - the thing makes a fine cup of coffee.

And it is going back.

I had to flush the unit out for a long time to get rid of a nasty petroleum product taste out of it.
It leaks, because the pressurised tubing cannot hold the water.
It is loud and vibrates when making coffee. It actually sounds like a cheap aquarium aerator.
And it feels flimsy ad poorly assembled..

And according to other users on the internet, it is prone to catching fire.

Yah.

Surprises like that I dont need.

I worked the graveyard shift this morning.

At 3:15am I saw a SFPD officer run by my building, baton drawn, sprinting down/up (direction is rarely a sure thing in San Francisco) Geary .

Curious, I walked outside to find a police cruiser blocking the cross street, the trunk open. I walked up to the cop sitting inside to find out what/where/why, the explanation being there was 'a situation' a block away.

As I walked back to the building, the person who had been rummaging thru the open trunk of the cruiser rushed past me.

The heavy backpack the cop was now wearing was almost taller than he was, his flak jacket clanking as he sprinted down/up Geary.

In his hand was an automatic rifle, a tactical version of the AR-14, no chrome showing as everything on it, including the magazine, was painted flat black to eliminate reflections.

About 20 minutes later, the cruisers in the area screeched off, signifying an all clear of sorts.

I doubt I will find out what happened, as unless someone dies, what happens in San Francisco never makes the papers.
----
At 8am, I got off work and walked down Hyde street, picking up an early edition of the Sunday paper to check out the after-Christmas sales.

The air was coldly crisp and laden with moisture with a fog-like haze covering the city. It tasted sweet and clean as I took full breaths.

The Tenderloin, with its tall old buildings and fire-escapes on the sides reminds me of the Upper West side of manhattan. A good number of the shops, deli's and laundromats were open for business, which surprised me.

Quite unlike New York, which on Christmas morning is always a ghost town, eerily quiet without the usual rumble, horns and people, with even 24 hour places closed and no traffic.

I made a detour from my usual route home to get something from the Safeway. Open 24 hours, but closed on holidays apparently.
-----
When I got out of the Chruch Street underground streetcar station, the newspaper vendor had a mechanical santa blowing a trumpet. Cute.

That rated a Merry Christmas.

Normally, a spoken 'Merry Christmas' or 'Happy Holdiays' from me, feels like forced holiday cheer, so I avoid it.

Today I didnt.

It felt unforced.
---

At 10 am, I walked down to the Mission District, close to home, where to my surprise, the local stores were all open, from the donut shop to the fruit stands to the grocery stores.

People have to make a living.

I picked up a roast chicken and other sundries and walked home to catch some sleep...


My first Christmas day in San Francsisco.

An offering

From: "thunder-dog"
To: SFFN@yahoogroups.com (San Francisco Freecycle Network)
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 18:19:56 -0800
Subject: [SFFN] Offer: The Holiday Spirit


I realized I have received quite a bit of extra Peace & Happiness recently and this seemed like the place to pass on.

It wasn't new, and it was a little dinged up when it was being given to me, but when I received it, it shined right up when I paused a moment to appreciate it. It seems to have grown while I had it and I hope someone else out there can use it, or if they get to much they can freecycle it.

Peace
Namaste
Blessed Be
Amen


T-Dog

And, it's free even.

Tish, tosh Mac

I had never used a mac until I started working at AOL in 1995. That's where clint and i met sitting next to each other supporting Mac clients.

One of the ongoing things between us is that he is all about Macs, while I represent the forces of the Dark Side.

(Not exactly true, as i went on to become a cross-platform computing consultant for businesses that used both macs and pc's.)

With the advent of OSX, I felt the need to get back into it. Plus, nowadays, having a mac is the 'in' thing to have.

Now, thanx to him, i have a mac again.

He thinks he will make me a total mac head.. :)


McClint: what have you named your iMac?
McClint: every true mac user names their mac something other than the default "Joe Pennant's Computer"
JPennant: *sigh*
JPennant: Julia
McClint: hehehe
JPennant: so Im weak
McClint: are you just pulling a name out of the air to make me happy or did you really name it that?
McClint: HAHAHA
McClint: one of us! one of us! one of us!

JPennant: I can see you dancing around the room. *grump*
McClint: juuuuust relaaaaaaax
McClint: don't tense up
McClint: dont resist
JPennant: its even got a cute icon for the hard drive now
McClint: oh yeah
McClint: it's all coming back to you
JPennant: well, its been traumatic as a mac owner
JPennant: my first one, I hardly used
JPennant: the second one blew up
McClint: the laptop?
JPennant: yup
McClint: but you havent been the owner of a brand new mac, have ya? always second-hand?
JPennant: i am a mere mortal
JPennant: i cannot afford a brand new mac
JPennant: well, i could back in the flush days, but i couldnt justify it
McClint: yeah it is a tough goal to attain

Actually, i named my Dell laptop Oscar, but i didnt put a cute icon for it on the desktop.

I did put a white Apple sticker on the lid.

Its a Mac thing. ;)

cryptic announcement

UPS ARRIVAL SCAN

Dec 22, 2004
9:20 P.M.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, US

Status: In Transit -On Time
Scheduled Delivery: Dec 23, 2004

Shipped to: SAN FRANCISCO, CA, US

Note: Your package is in the UPS system and is on time with a scheduled delivery date of Dec 23, 2004.

The screen, boss! The screen!

Ahh, its just another piece of the puzzle ive had to wait a long time for.
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Another xmas present came care of Kodak today.

One of the 200 free copies of the lateDon Blair's last book on Portrait photography they gave away recently.

Righteous. :)
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Today's horrorscope sez:

There are some things you earn in obvious ways and other things you earn in not-so-obvious ways. But you can bet that any gifts you receive now are well deserved.

Sho' you right.

One of the ooh pretty people

JPennant: hey mars, got my mac :-)
mars: yay
JPennant: :-D
mars: early xmas?
JPennant: yup
mars: which mac?
JPennant: an imac dv
JPennant: clint had it lying around, sent it over.
mars: very cool
JPennant: yeah, he really loaded it up for me
JPennant: ironically, i feel like im back in sync with the rest of the world :-)
mars: hahaha
mars: why?
JPennant: well, i like macs, but i couldnt get my hands on one, and it seems like everybody else is jumping to mac land, while Ive been using them for years.
JPennant: plus, i think i felt frustrated because i couldnt get started on alot of my desires and plans without a mac
JPennant: 2 years worth of frustration
mars: and now you can get started?
JPennant: yes

JPennant: heh, cant stop playing with it.
mars: lol
JPennant: so pretty
JPennant: hee hee
JPennant: <--- making the icons dance in the dock, back and forth, back and forth
mars: lol would you stop! hahaha
JPennant: :-D
JPennant: you cant say you dont do it too :-P
mars: heehee shhhhhhhhh
JPennant: heeheehee

Too toasted to think duhrr, eh

I had coherent thoughts earlier, but because i was feeling stressed (the Great Flood in my apartment, the buttards at Bed Bath & Beyond wasting my life, making the mistake of giving a shit about work and coworkers and one who sold me a shitty memory card, walking around SF's shitty mall, my feet killin me..), i felt the need for an alcoholic drink tonight.

why i then picked a sweet raspberry cider from canada instead of a good raspy beer, I couldnt tell ya.

Eh.
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Let see,there was some rant about Borders in there..

Expensive? Sure.

Charging the suggested retail prices on DVD's and calling it a sale? Priceless.

Like the Black Adder boxed set for $109.00??

somebody is smoking the wacky baccy there.

AND they didnt frickin have the DVD sets I wanted, eh.
------
An audacious thought entered my head as I perused Ebay this morn.

"Whoa. THAT cheap? Maybe. Nah. But, I really could. Can I? Ooh, maybe I just can. should I?"

G: nice!
JPennant: extremely
JPennant: this beast was 3 grand when new
G: wow!
JPennant: so, by february, i may get it
JPennant: who am i kidding
JPennant: by february, all things go well, I WILL get one.
G: there you go!
JPennant: :-)

Ahh, thats just Canadian raspberry likker fueling the bravado.
___
Its foggy and chilly here in nor*cal.

But compared the wet and cold sweeping through the east coast (even florida) and the midwest, this is not so bad.

Although it was colder tonight in juneau, Alaska.

Must be the canadian alcoholik raspberries doing its job and making me feel toasty...
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Clint, is the man.

Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2004 11:36:09 -0500
Subject: Merry xmas buddy
From: "Clint Mc"
To: "Joe Pennant"

UPS tracking # 1Z3WX8060374xXXXX

Estimated delivery date: Dec 20.

:-)

And so it came on the appointed day...

JPennant: woohoo!
McClint: hehehehe
McClint: is Habib your pseudonym? :-)
JPennant: now i definitely need to score a router
JPennant: and order the DSL
JPennant: the UPS is on its way
McClint: very cool
JPennant: yes, verily :-D
JPennant: thanks man
McClint: HO HO HO
JPennant: ((((manly hug)))
McClint: hey now! stop grabbing my ass!
JPennant: wasnt me :-)
McClint: hahaha

Again, its the canadian likker talkin, eh.
------
Heh, I was too knockered to post this last nite,, eh...

Sox, underwear and destruction

The first paycheck, being a short check, was designated for essentials only.

Naturally, i bought a bunch of computer schtuff first. So, Im waiting for a santa claus dressed in brown to bring me a laptop screen, notebook CD burner, a Uninterruptible Power Supply and USB reading light. (What? that's essential. Ive wanted one since i saw fred obsessively using hers, plus i type in the dark a lot...).

So, anyway - theres enough left over for items on my christmas wish list - a coupla DVD's and ... Total Annihilation.

Yes, as regular readers know - that game is jinxed for me.

But i want that game. It brings me peace, blowin' stuff up.

So when the screen arrives from Butte, Montana (my first ever e-bay purchase), I can waste time effectively.

However, speaking of jinxes and destruction - I need to go buy some socks and underwear.

Why? Well, apparently merc retrograde is still running amok, i rolled out of bed yesterday to go to work, I stepped into water on a floor that had been bone dry a mere hour before.

It seems someone's bathtub down the hall had backed up and flowed out into the hallway and under my door, ruining a bag of laundry and other things (My diego garcia print! Ruined by water damage! Aaaargh!).

I tossed the clothes and everything that was sodden out. It was mostly t-shirts, underwear and socks that was bachelor-old anyway, so it wasnt that much of a loss. But they are essentials, so theyve gotta be replaced.

Eh, new boxers are always good. And wool socks for the winter.

And, Total Annihilation. :D
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