Sticker on a Volvo

Sticker on a Volvo, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

I . Hate. Doing. Laundry.

I . Hate. Doing. Laundry., originally uploaded by Itinerant.

To thine self

Jerry Seinfeld on being himself in work:

"To me, that's my day, is work on some stuff and then do a set. That's what feels like a normal day for me. Everything else, I feel that I'm being pressed into service. 'We need you to . . . cast this movie. We need you to write this scene. We need you to help us edit this line.'

I don't really wanna do any of these things.

But then I just offer my services, but these are not my fields. I know it, I've learned it. I've learned it from the sitcom and from stand-up, I have acquired these skills, but they all feel like sidelines to me, they all feel like detours."

That's how I feel about fixing computers and photography. I want to do ONLY those things. Everything else about those fields, Ive learned the skills - but they feel like detours.

Irish rotisserie man

Irish rotisserie man, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

In his rough Irish brogue.. he called me "Paparazzi Man".

He was laughing because the way I shot without looking proved I was a "Paparazzi Man". :)

Bread Pudding @ Tartine

Bread Pudding @ Tartine, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

@ Dottie's

@ Dottie's, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Time o' your life, eh kid

Shoulders to ride on, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Always puts a smile on my face when I see this.

Hand on the waters

Hand on the waters, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

stop on the tracks

stop on the tracks, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Reading the Manual

Reading the Manual, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

A look back

January of '05 - Ive bought 3 cameras since then. But this one has been a trouper, still running strong.

What Im learning

What Im learning, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

My horrorscope today sez:

If you need to enter a new phase of learning to move forward with your career, don't delay; do it now. Learning can be as simple as visiting the local library or sitting in a bookstore going through magazines while sipping lattes. If a more formal level of education is required, remember, it is never too late to learn a new skill.

As the old saying goes: "Wisdom is knowing what it is that you don't know."

midnight cyclist

midnight cyclist, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Midnight on the Wharves

Midnight on the Wharves, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Sunflower bud

Sunflower bud, originally uploaded by Itinerant.


Today's horrorscope:

Getting a crush, becoming infatuated or falling in love all create a circumstance in which you see very clearly the person you want to become. That's the gift, even if nothing else happens with the relationship.

I can see that already. Like butter clarifying under heat - In recent weeks, I can see more clearly the circumstances I want to see happening - no matter what.

A good thing.

The Verazzano

The Verazzano, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Money Talk

mcclint: i still dont know how you do it in SF though
JPennant: I only need about 600 bux a month
mcclint: do you cook for yourself or is it a lot of ramen and restaurants?
JPennant: eat out. I have no kitchen and my fridge doesnt work
mcclint: damn
JPennant: yup
mcclint: and you can do that and pay rent with 600/mo?
mcclint: shit
JPennant: Ive learned how to live light over the years
JPennant: shopping is not part of my routine
JPennant: and my restaurant tab rarely exceeds 10 bux, even with tip.
JPennant: for 10 bux, Im at the all you can eat buffet :-)
mcclint: heheheh
mcclint: 2 meals a day x $10x30days
JPennant: no, 1 meal a day at an average of 6 bux
mcclint: ah ok
JPennant: I spend far more when Im working
mcclint: i'm usually a 2 meal guy but i can get by on 1
JPennant: its all about my sugar level
JPennant: so, a coffee and a roll dampens my appetite
JPennant: and the dinner keeps me going through to the next day usually
JPennant: I also try not to keep cash on me
JPennant: and use my debit card as much as I can
JPennant: even for 3 dollar purchases
mcclint: you havent had any problems with using the debit card all the time?
JPennant: nah, just with places that dont accept it
mcclint: after Deb's mishap, she's terrified to use her debit card ANYWHERE now
JPennant: there's always that danger
JPennant: but I keep an eye on my account, Visa and and my bank are VERY good and proactive with tracking fraud
mcclint: that's why i try to be primarily a cash man
mcclint: cash is accepted everywhere except car rentals and the Apple store
JPennant: well, with cash I find it goes like water with me
JPennant: with cash, I dont keep track of every penny
JPennant: with the debit card, i think before I swipe
mcclint: hehe


JPennant: Actually, Im thinking that its time to change my minimal lifestyle
JPennant: get a proper place
mcclint: yeah if you're gonna be courting a lady, that might be a good idea :-)
JPennant: yup
JPennant: Plus Im 43 with definite ambitions
mcclint: there you go
JPennant: but that doesnt mean Im gonna go spending a whole bunch of money :-)
mcclint: of course
JPennant: I wanna be like Daniel Handler :-)
mcclint: hoo?
JPennant: the real name of Lemony Snicket
JPennant: he wrote a chapter in that book Im reading "Money Changes Everything"
JPennant: he is very rich now
JPennant: wasnt always so
JPennant: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2007/10/22/moneytales.DTL
JPennant: (I got the book for free, natch ;-)
mcclint: ah
JPennant: i want security, but never lose my awareness about money
JPennant: that was hard earned :-)
JPennant: by the way, my rent is $*** a month - I said I can survive on 600 a month
mcclint: golly
JPennant: even with eating out
mcclint: i know your secret!
mcclint: you have a Sugardaddy!
mcclint: :-)
JPennant: bus pass :-)
JPennant: my secret is - I dont have a car
JPennant: or a girlfriend
mcclint: hahah that too

Pickup game

Pickup game, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Family

Family, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

For the only children out there, know that being one of many isnt all it's cracked up to be.

Sometimes, if they werent blood you wouldnt want to know them. But because theyre blood, youre still joined even if you dont want to be.

As adults, we havent been all together except twice - once for a thanksgiving that my ma made sure happened and for ma's funeral. Literally twice in 20 years.

However, as they say - a funeral pulls family together, and any rancor was largely forgotten, and our true feelings were expressed.

"Love you."

Just because we may not always like each other doesnt mean we dont love each other, strongly.

That's family for you.

Crossing

Crossing, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Death Ground

Today's horrorscope:

Your total commitment makes success happen. Give yourself to a person or project with great conviction. When there is no room for doubt, there is no room for failure.


Commitment. Death Ground.

When you survive if you fight quickly and perish if you do not, this is called death ground... Warriors exert their full strength When warriors are in great danger, then they have no fear. When there is nowhere to go, they are firm, when they are deeply involved, they stick to it,. If they have no choice, they will fight.

~ by Sun Tsu, Art of War

The Death Ground is not such a bad place to be if you want to move forward.

Bullet wheels

Bullet wheels, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

"The best? The BEST?!!"

"The best? The BEST?!!", originally uploaded by Itinerant.

From the Spike Lee movie "She's Gotta have It":

Jamie: "Larry Bird is the best player in basketball."
Mars Blackmon: "The best? The BEST?!!"
Jamie: "Yeah, the best."
Mars: "THE BEST?!!!"
Jamie: "He is the best player in basketball."
Mars: "He's UGLIEST motherfucker in basketball!"

Heheh, that's still my favorite Spike Lee movie. :)

Marquee

Marquee, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Night work

Night work, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Wall of names

Wall of names, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Nike Women's Marathon participant's list @ San Francisco NikeTown.

Because of my blood type - I used to regularly give plasma for patients with leukemia.

Not a fun process (the blood is taken from one arm, stripped of the plasma, and the cooler blood liquid is returned through the other arm), but I was glad to hear when it made a difference, specially the kids with leukemia.

Money changes everything

I no longer read a book straight through anymore, hence I have several that I read in bytes, a chapter, a section there - put down with the expectation of getting to them later. Several I've started back in 2006.

In any case, in the writer's anthology Money Changes Everything, I came across a bit by the writer Lydia Millet in her chapter "Dirty Work":

... I was unemployed and desperate again, late in my contribution to the rent and living off ramen.

For the first time I saw how desperation can erode a personality, how the elements of a whole I'd always thought was solid and fixed - my moods, my mannerisms, my whimsies and choices, in short the parts that constituted me - were nothing but a luxury of ease.

That is so true. Poverty is a great way to determine your core values, but money does change the way you look at and approach life.

Although Im not scared of poverty, and no longer care what anyone thinks of me when I have none - I am determined to make sure fear and desperation plays as minimal a role in my decisions and direction. However, I do have the immeasurable luxury of only having to worry about me.

That may change, and I have to be prepared when it does.

Buns buns buns!

Buns buns buns!, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Timely advice

Timely advice, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

walk

walk, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Be careful what you wish for

Dear Lord,

Can I keep this one?

Thank you.

Moon cakes and rice buns

Moon cakes and rice buns, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Laughing eyes

Laughing eyes, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

The same look she gave me as a toddler.

She might be some big shot college student now, but I still see the little girl who would rush up to me screaming "Unca Joey Unca Joey Unca Joeeeey" , gave me eskimo kisses and slept on my belly.

wet streets

wet streets, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

For cyn and her obsession

For cyn and her obsession, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

An epiphany

Half asleep, half awake, spewing stream of conscious rants to the East Coast - I realized...

It is hard to do something or start something if you've never done it before. So do it.

Then it gets easier.

No wonder I feel like Ive got a frustrating logjam in my life.

No, answers arent always obvious. :)

downhill

downhill, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Bokeh dots

Bokeh dots, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

What it looks like when I take my glasses off at night, but the lights look like stars.

Farmers Market

Farmers Market, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Pouring hot Oil

Pouring hot Oil, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Cable Car Crossing

Crossing, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Its the content, not the medium

Its the content, not the medium, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Bookstore reading

Bookstore reading, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Fella

Fella, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

How to make Big bucks shooting stock

How to make Big bucks shooting stock, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

"This is America, and unless you make money it don't count."

- Harvey Fierstein

Buns

Buns, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Mason Street

Mason Street, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

In my dreams, I want one

In my dreams, I want one, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Open Kitchen

Open Kitchen, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Midnight on the Wharves

Midnight on the Wharves, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Keeping them in line

Keeping them in line, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

You can't get there from here if you don't know where here and there are.

A horoscope on my birthday opined:

Happy birthday, Virgo! You are a great communicator, which lands you in unusual situations with interesting people. With so many new opportunities crossing your path over the next year, your verbal skills will be beneficial. Expect to be meeting new people and looking at projects that wouldn't usually get your attention. It's a year of excitement, but be ready: You'll have to be organized to keep up with what's happening.

Being organized. Not a forte, there.

Contrary to my astrological archetype/stereotype, I am FAR from organized. And planning? Not to save my life. Well, no - that is inaccurate. My planning skills are, well, disorganized. It's a skill Ive never learnt how to acquire or polish. (Dating an organized person demonstrates just how inadequate those skills are.)

Thank god for the Internets.
------
Ok, so planning is a matter of goal setting. And how does one systematically set goals?

To be useful, goals should:

* Be specific. A specific count. A specific action with a specific parameter.

* Have a time limit. Goals with no fixed time period have a way of being unmet. Perpetually. It's easy to say, "oh, I'll get to that next week" if you don't have a deadline. Next week never arrives, at least for your goal.

* Be measurable. The only way you know if you attained a goal is if you can measure against it (keep reading).

* Be communicated. Not communicating a goal to at least one other person is like making a prediction on the future but not telling anyone. It doesn't count when your prediction comes true, because no one knew you predicted it. Likewise, goals tend to be the same. The coward's way out is to not communicate your goals to anyone else. This gives you wiggle room to save face if you don't meet them. But you're making a classic mistake if you do this: you're making the assumption that not meeting a goal is somehow a badge of shame. No, it just means you didn't meet the goal. Either you keep trying to meet that goal, or you set a slightly less ambitious goal next time. The fate of the world doesn't rest on whether you meet your photographic goal, so there's no shame in not meeting it. Indeed, there's a lot to be learned by not meeting it. You may have thought you could progress faster than you can, now you have a better sense of the rate at which you can. You may have underestimated the task, next time you won't. Many "overnight sensations" failed miserably for quite some time before they finally broke through. It's better to earn your 15 minutes of fame than to luck into it. That's because it might last more than 15 minutes if you worked at achieving it.

* Be ambitious. It's not only okay to set your goal high, but it's also important to the whole process. It's only when your goals are above what you're comfortable of achieving that you progress. Say your goal was to wake up every morning and eat breakfast. Not a very high goal, is it (and when you fail, so what, you won't be around to take the blame ;~)? Everyone reading this has achieved at least half that goal every day so far, so why would tomorrow be any different? Now if the goal were to get up an hour earlier than usual and use that extra time to write the next great novel, now we're getting somewhere. Very few people achieve higher than they aspire. Read that again. Very few people achieve higher than they aspire. The very best achieve almost as high as they aspire, and they aspire higher than the rest of us. Those without goals or with goals that aren't ambitious enough, will constantly be frustrated at not achieving what they aspire.

* Be realistic. While I just said set your goals high, they also need to be within the realm of achievable or else you'll eventually get frustrated and just give up. The monkey has to see the banana to reach for it. Don't put your banana in a locked room underwater miles offshore unless you're a Navy Seal by the name of Houdini.

* Be evaluated. At the end of your time limit, you look at whether you met the measurements and specifics you set. This is a pass/fail class that is repeatable without penalty, so don't be afraid. If you met your goals, great, you set them too low and can be more ambitious next time (congratulations on making it another rung up the ladder). If you partially met your goals, you're doing fine, and you know that you set them about right (congratulations on getting partway up the ladder). If you didn't meet your goals, you're still doing okay because now you know that you tackled more than you could handle and you'll either have to dedicate more time and energy to the effort or set slightly less ambitious goals that you can achieve with the resources you can throw at them (congratulations on finding the ladder and trying to climb it). It's okay to climb the ladder slowly and rung by rung. It's the old tale of the hare and the tortoise: sheer speed isn't necessarily the winner.


Aright. *rolls eyes* Boring.

But necessary.

Chef de Cuisine

Chef de Cuisine, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Farmer's Market samples

Farmer's Market samples, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Fresh bread at sunrise

Fresh bread at sunrise, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Open kitchen @ the Farmer's Market

Open kitchen @ the Farmer's Market, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Midnight on the Wharves

Midnight on the Wharves, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

Pomegranates

Pomegranates, originally uploaded by Itinerant.

We used to have these pomegranate shrubs growing in our yard in jamaica. Great fruit trees but also used as ornamentals.