This guy is KILLIN me here.

JPennant: urgh. this guy is torturing me
JPennant: http://www.craigslist.org/sfc/for/51549917.html
McClint: hehehehe
JPennant: And now he's willing to negotiate. Oy.
McClint: a digicam for a red MINI?
JPennant: he'll kick in cash for the difference
McClint: yeah but still funny to see
JPennant: well, a dealer wont take a camera system for trade in, so it makes sense to me
JPennant: well, if a lottery ticket comes in paying, i'll pick it up :-)
McClint: but of course

Only sheer poverty is keeping me from getting in contact with this guy and seeing if we can make a deal/payments.

Naturally, today's horrorscope sez:

You're eager to make a deal, and the last thing you want to do is ask for the opinion of a disinterested party -- but that's the thing that's going to help you the most.

Making a decision from a feverishly excited state is too risky!

Fine, fine.

But, man. I could make good use of that camera...

Worker Boi

McClint: yo ho ho
JPennant: yo humbug
McClint: hehe
JPennant: wats goin on
JPennant: i hadda wake up far too early this morn
McClint: why did you have to wake up early? and define "early"
JPennant: went to bed at 2:30 woke up at 8
McClint: ah yeah that's early
JPennant: and I gotta work til midnight
McClint: oh yeah that's right! i forgot you're a workin man now
JPennant: i dont think of it as working for money
McClint: whoring yourself out?
JPennant: i think of it as working for the things i need :)
JPennant: the work is bone easy
JPennant: far less stressful than IT
JPennant: i didnt appreciate just how stressful that work is until now
McClint: hehe


JPennant: cool :-)
misterB: so, if you don't mind me asking, what are you doing for the dough-re-mi?
JPennant: swing shift ******* for my landlord
JPennant: easy money, low stress compared to IT work
misterB: ahh, cool. I think I saw that in the movies before. ;-) hehehe
JPennant: heh
JPennant: i did this before in college
misterB: the over-qualified guy working the late shift, to tide him over until he got his big break... :-)
JPennant: LOL. thats so LA
misterB: you think? I usually think of NY or any east coast locale.... they don't have as many of that kinda apts here...
JPennant: oh, i meant the 'big break' :-)
misterB: yeah, the "big break" on Hollywood kinda thang?
JPennant: yup

Baby steps. Making my own breaks.

The rest will follow.

One of my utterly disgusting habits..

I sleep with the TV on.

When im alone, i like doing that, although its mostly because I use the TV as background noise and am too lazy to turn it off.

In any case, I woke up this morning to Regis & Kathy Lee -- err, Kelly.

Whats interesting about sleeping with the TV on is that my mind tries to adapt the dreamstream to the background noise, making up a new story.

What was really interesting was the dream i woke up to took what was going on the Regis show (he dared something with Kelly) and my mind took it and made something new, where a character in my dream was dared to crash a party and do something un-noticed.

An ex (Le Girl) did the dare, dressed in an evening gown, and carried it out.
What struck me in the dream was that she looked awesome in the dress (in real life, she is more the natural outdoorsy/hippie type, so Ive never seen her buffed to a high sheen), and I woke thinking, WOW, i would love to photograph her and my friends in high-art/fashion/fine art portraits.

As the dream wears off, the excitement is wearing off (no more noise from Kelly and Regis), but i still think it'd be a great idea.

Just wrote that down so i wouldnt forget.
---
Another thing ive started doing that id normally never do is enter sweepstakes with the same desperation of buying lotto tickets.

I normally NEVER do that. I dont wanna enter sweepstakes to put my name and address on mailing lists, where the odds of actually winning are astronomical.

Makes no logical sense.

No, just no.

I would tease the cappy unmercifully about doing that. She'd just put her tongue out at me and keep sgning up. :)

But now, its like an inhibition has fallen away.

I see a sweepstake, the prize looks good, and I enter.

Interesting

Current Conditions for San Francisco, CA

56°F
Rain and Windy

Severe Weather Alert from the National Weather Service

... WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...

SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH THIS EVENING IN THE NORTH BAY... SPREADING ACROSS THE BAY AREA OVERNIGHT. EVEN STRONGER WINDS COULD DEVELOP AT TIMES IN THE HILLS AND ALONG THE COAST.

A WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE 35 TO 39 MPH OR GUSTS BETWEEN 45 AND 57 MPH. MOTORISTS IN HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES SHOULD USE CAUTION UNTIL THE WINDS SUBSIDE. POWER OUTAGES COULD OCCUR.

Another winter storm. My windows are actually rattling around, my walls occasionally shaking.

Man, I feel sorry for anybody who has to be outside.

Apparently it had been snowing in the northeast yesterday.

Hm. Guess i should be counting blessings, eh.

Image takers

Im getting tired of no images. Too used to expressing myself with pictures.

Ive been actively looking for cameras now.

Looking for a good pocket cammy as well as a large lens prosumer. And still eye-ing a good digital SLR

Reading the about page of the uber-talented Rachel of brownglasses.com and the list of cameras she currently owns and uses reminds me of my own little list that ive got in mind.

There are cameras Id like to have, but cant because of cost and prejudice i wont. Canon's fer instance.

Stupendously great cameras, one and all - and its the favorite of everyone from grandma's to professionals. But something in me just doesnt wanna deal with them.

Right now, Im looking for a good pocket camera. The Canons would be an obvious choice, specially at the price point I want (less than 200 bones - with tax). But I just cant.

Simply not feeling it. Not sure why.

Hm. Frye's has a Kyocera 5mp unit on sale for $179, normally 300 plus beans. Wow.

Oh yeah ,camera list..

- Pocket camera for unobtrusive everyday use. My old Fuji MX2700, which was the size of a deck of cards is probably the template, but now I want, in addition to a small size, something with an a minimum of 3 megapixels, optical zoom lens, white balance control and selectable ISO .. all the good stuff.

You would not BELIEVE how many cameras that fit the crieria there are available.

Ok, fine. Under 2 hunnert bux.

You would not BELIEVE how many ...

- Fuji S7000

Ever since Stella died, ive been pretty firm on that as her replacement. A 6 megapixel cammy that can produce 12 megapixel images, along with the traditional sweet-handling ergonomics of Fuji cameras.

Irony is, I dont wanna spend 450 bux for it. So, ive been eyeing the Fuji s5000, which has a more powerful lens reach and is 200 bux less, while being smaller and lighter and nicer to handle. And does nice picture.

But.. what about the predecessor of the s7000, the s602? This just might be one of those cameras that is actually BETTER than its replacement. And if I can sniff around enough, it can be had for that magic 200 bones..

Or.

Youve got the professional version of the s7000, the s20 Pro, which can be had for less than 100 bux more than s7000.

And except for sensors and options, these are pretty much all the same camera.

Heh.

Its only because of money do I get to pick only one...

- Fuji S2 Pro

sounds like its just a fuji thing, eh? Actually, this is a Nikon thing on this level.

At this level, to get the best out of your equipment, you need quality lenses. A lot of them. which can cost more than the camera itself.

This means, at this level, a digital SLR is a &%$$#@& inve$tment. People think that the camera is the biggest investment. HA!

So, I buy nikon lenses and i can use them with Fuji AND Nikon AND Kodak cameras.

I get a canon, and its only canon. *pffft*

I like choices.

VIRGO

Your thoughts are more important than you know. What you create in your head now is what will take form in the physical world later. That applies even more than usual this week. If you focus your mind's eye on what it is you truly desire, there is no doubt at all that you will get it sooner or later. Make sure your thoughts are positive.

Yeah, I have what i need in mind.
----
Hadnt spoken to her since mid 2002...

JPennant: i think the last time i spoke to you , it was before my spin into the depths of some greek term
cece: what term might that be?
JPennant: *shrug* something meaning fiery depths or cauldron :-)
JPennant: since im not a librarian with excellent recall, i'll throw a 'haephestus' into the ring
cece: librarians don't have excellent recall.
cece: We're just resourceful.
JPennant: hehe
cece: But either way, it sounds like a painful experience.
JPennant: it has been worth it
JPennant: on all kinda levels
JPennant: the tempered steel, what doesnt maul you makes you stronger, sorta thing
JPennant: :-)
JPennant: but im taking baby steps
JPennant: taking baby steps on my way up
cece: larger steps usually mean a bigger fall.
JPennant: zactly

JPennant: so my taking over the world plan is on track
cece: what's the first step on world domination?
JPennant: clean my room
JPennant: :-)
cece: LOL
--------

Why Dont You Do Right ...

Ever since my last breakup, Ive been trying to .. do right.

Kinda make up to people I might have not been so nice to.

so, I navigated to the web site of an ex, read up on how she is feeling.

Not so great overall.

I remembered her birthday is coming up, so i figured that I should queue up a birthday card, since I was in the process of doing it for gg and lilbro.

Then, I tried to remember her email address. Mmm, having not sent her an email in years, i was drawing a blank.

So, I tried to work out her addy from her name.

*blank*

My brain could NOT retrieve her name. Damn.

I remembered her face, her mannerisms, her nature, her family, our dates like they were yesterday .. but her name was stubbornly coming up blank.

Have I become so efficient at moving on?

JPennant: man, something happened to me yesterday
JPennant: remember when i dated ***** ***?
Glinessa: yep
JPennant: well, her birthday is coming up, so i thought a card would be nice
JPennant: then I realized I dont have her email
Glinessa: lol
JPennant: eh, no problem I thought
JPennant: i can prolly figure it out by her name
JPennant: for the life of me, I couldnt remember her name!
JPennant: that just freaked me out
JPennant: i mean, i remember everything about her
JPennant: but her name? nope
Glinessa: lol

JPennant: she's another tiger ;-)
JPennant: y'all are too too tough
Glinessa: too too?
JPennant: yep
JPennant: tough on yourselves, tough on the people you love until they prove themselves to you
Glinessa: hahaha

Or, am I just a dick?

The mothership arrives

Ever since my friend Clint and I became cubicle buddies @ AOL, he has had a life's dream.

Being a Cappy, he knows what he wants and wont let go until he gets what he wants.

This week, he learned the mothership has arrived.

McClint signed on at 10:30:45 AM.

McClint: joe joe joe joe joe joe joe joe joe joe joe

Auto response from JPennant: siestas are good for you

JPennant: yo clint
McClint: THERE YOU ARE!!!!
JPennant: was sleeping
JPennant: wassup papi
McClint: well it appears that I am going to need a tour guide beginning Jan 30th :-D
JPennant: rght on!
JPennant: congrats man.
JPennant: excellent :-)
McClint: i just got back from San Diego thursday night
JPennant: so, how was it?
McClint: we went to Tijuana wednesday and when we got back to this side of the border we had to stop so my cohorts could take a pee. while i waited in the car I figured I'd check for messages on my answering machine
McClint: the company chick called 4 times
McClint: just saying "call me back"
McClint: so i called her right then and she told me that I got the job
JPennant: heheh
JPennant: you musta been smiling on the plane
McClint: hehehe i couldnt sleep the next 2 nights
JPennant: heee

McClint: well i've got almost 2 months to figure it all out
JPennant: :-)
JPennant: congrats my friend :-)
McClint: danke!
JPennant: aight chat atcha later
McClint: you better be a good tourguide!
McClint: hehehehehe :-)
JPennant: LOL
JPennant: i will introduce you to the Muni buses
McClint: later

McClint direct connection is closed.
McClint signed off at 11:53:08 AM.

Happy for him.
-----
Happy birthday, gg

All the best to my favorite princess.

The ride stops here.


No, nothing is wrong, dont hit reload to try to bring up the broken images.

I didnt expect the ride to last so long, so this isnt unexpected.

After 7 years of free service, my hosting server has been shut down.

So, for awhile, there'll be no pictures.

No worries, I didnt lose anything as ive got everything backed up, Im looking around for another host, pictures and a few other things Im working on (literally).

In any case, I'd been thinking of doing things differently as well as putting into place some personal and commercial stuff, and this is further impetus to put it into action.

Cool.


Heh, and no fred - im not gonna blame this on Mercury retrogade. :)

Baby Steps

Lifted from the current Sam and Fuzzy:

"Im not afraid of falling, Im afraid of landing."

-----------
Today's horrorscope

The only thing that is holding you back is self-doubt. For some strange reason, you seem to believe you do not have the talent to be a success. On the contrary, you have more talent in your little finger than most people have in their entire bodies, but until you get your head straight, you might as well not have any at all.

This past week, Ive been browsing through all kinds of photographic resources. Checking out professional photography information. Window shopping for cameras.

I feel like the train ride is about to start, and its time to start packing.

Yes, I want this bad. And honestly, i want it all right now.

i have to remember, tho..

misterB: baby steps
JPennant: yes

-------

I started another baby step today. For the cause baby, for the cause.

Normally, when I do something new, my internals go all squishy, but this time - no.

Naturally, I started analyzing this non-nervousness.

- I've been through worse, having to start from step one doesnt bother me.
- Ive done this before and I know what I have to do.
- This isnt my only option, so the fear of failure isnt as daunting. Again, going back to a starting point doesnt bother me.

Good. Lets get this party started.
--------
I have a friend who has sung on (as well as off) Broadway. Stupendous talent and dedication.

However, she is a black actress in a tough and competitive business. Keeping her dreams going while trying to survive is amazing to me.

kimmie: Hey, I need to go. Got to vocalize before rehearsal tonight.
kimmie: Singing with the Oratorio Society here in the Roc.
JPennant: wow
JPennant: awesome :-)
kimmie: It's not that deep, believe me.
JPennant: feh, yes it is :-)
kimmie: But it's closer to the genre of the music I'm working toward singing. That and the fact that they've got me singing soprano...
kimmie: I've spent most of my life singing alto or mezzo, much lower repertoire, not as much work.
kimmie: This as you see, I've got to be well warmed up for it.
JPennant: love your dedication
JPennant: you are a true artist
kimmie: Aight, enough chit chat. Take care. Glad to hear you're doing well.
JPennant: ok luv
kimmie: catch ya later.
JPennant: (((hug))
kimmie: ditto

The thing i think distinguishes true artists from the dilletantes is their bulldog commitment to keeping their work going.

That's tall.

What I want for Christmas

Im sighing and drooling over this:

Fuji S2 Pro system for sale or trade - $2000 (cole valley / ashbury hts)
Reply to: anon-49993860@craigslist.org
Date: 2004-11-23, 11:08AM PST

I am looking to find a new home for a Fuji S2 Pro that I am under using. Seems like it wants to be with someone who will use it to its potential.

In addition, I have three lenses: 60mm micro f-2.8 (not D), 24-120mm f-3.5-5.6D and 70-300mm f-4-5.6D all AF Nikkor, haze and polarizer filters, sb-28 flash with sb-17 cord and off camera slave, 40gb Tripper hard disk compact flash card storage, 2 compact flash cards each 512mb and a Lowe Pro camera bag.

The camera is about a year old and has a three year extension to the warranty. Everything is in like new condition. I would like to sell the system complete. Purchase price would be $2,000.

Thats about 6 grand worth of gear all told. *sigh*

I could *really* make use of that.

That'd be a great christmas gift. :)

-------

Virgos arent normally one for gifts. This makes it seem that we dont care..

It is known that Virgo are trifling. And so, once it comes to giving gifts, everyone wants to give Virgo some insignificant thing. This is quite wrong.
Virgo is not small-minded, Virgo is practical.

Normally, Im one for gifts i can actually use, specially these past few years.

However, this year, think I'll treat myself to a few things ive long denied myself.

Not a big deal, just something i'll enjoy.

My list:

- Spiderman/Spiderman2 DVD box set

(Hey, Ive liked Spiderman since I was a tyke..)

- The Alladin DVD

(Partly for Robin William's work, partly because this was my niece and I's favorite video to watch together.)

Other things i want, but I can delay the gratification:

Id go for season's 1 - 4 of the Soprano's - but holy hell, have you SEEN how much they want for that???

BBC America has said that "Chef! - the complete collection" will be out on DVD. *sigh*
In BBC speak, 'soon' rarely means 'anytime soon' , so not in time for this christmas. Or likely the next.

in the meantime, i'll amuse myself with quotes from the show:

"Will someone rearrange this plate so that someone in the later stages of malnutrition will take a passing interest in it."

" Let me explain the order of things: There's the aristocracy, the upper class, middle class, working class, dumb animals, waiters, creeping things, head lice, people who eat packet soup, and then you. "


" Those amateur biologists among you would find many things of great interest on the floor here. I could certainly be walking on the cure for cancer, smallpox and the common cold...however you'll never find out because I'll kill you all if someone doesn't CLEAN THIS FRIGGING FLOOR!"





Also, the complete Black Adder set.

Heh "Oi 'ave a Cunning Plan." and other quotes that make me giggle:

"A man may fight for many things. His country, his friends, his principles, the glistening tear on the cheek of a golden child. But personally, I'd mud-wrestle my own mother for a ton of cash, an amusing clock and a sack of French porn. "

Blackadder: Baldrick, I would like to say how much I will miss your honest, friendly companionship.
Baldrick: Thank you, Mr B.
Blackadder: But, as we both know, it would be an utter lie. I will therefore confine myself to saying simply, 'Sod off and if I ever meet you again, it will be twenty billion years too soon.'

Heehee. *wipes eyes*

ok, now. Where was I....

Moniker, tag, label, signpost


misterB: ok, here's a dumb question...
misterB: how much longer are you going to keep the "Itinerant outta NY" title on the site?
JPennant: eh, havent thought about it

There is a reason Ive kept it.

Remember those signs where you can tell how far you are from any piont in the world? A point from where you can orient yourself.


Even tho was born in jamaica, grew into adulthood in Chicago, lived in Florida .. it is from new york where I orient myself.

New york is where my nascent dreams and passions turned into desire, stoking and crystallizing the direction of how i wanted to live my life.

New York is where this is coming out of.

Im not simply an Itinerant. I am Interant Outta New York. :)

Plus, i like the phrase.
---------
New York makes you driven.

It makes you want to achieve, to use yourself to the best of your capacity.

I dont think I really tapped into my ambitious side until I got there.

Julia Child once said being in Paris was an awakening for her. Many places have that effect on people. San Francisco is such a place. New York, to an extreme extent, is another.

I worked hard in New York. But eventually, I realized I wanted more. Much more.

And what i wanted, for now .. wasnt in New York.

Thats why I went outta New York.

Black Friday *

McClint signed on at 6:14:57 AM.

JPennant: why arent you at Best Buy buying 17 dollar DVD players???
McClint: hahahaha
JPennant: f'real!!!
JPennant: :-)
McClint: naaaa i'll pass
JPennant: 500 dollar new laptops, you know you want it
McClint: Fisher Price? :-)
JPennant: theyre showing it on tv here , people actually trampling each other to get to the deals
McClint: yeah that's why I'm not at the stores
JPennant: whoa, i should be at target picking up a 5 dollar rice cooker :-)
McClint: there you go!
JPennant: heheh
McClint: then get a 20 pound bag o'rice
JPennant: thats the plan :-)
JPennant: but

This is not a good day to take risks with money. You may think that because you have been rather frugal lately you can now go the other way and splash your cash on things you don't need. That's true, you can, but you will regret it later when you need that money for something more important. Keep your belt tightened a little bit longer.

JPennant: Aint that a bitch? :-)
JPennant: im not a shopper anyway
McClint: ditto
McClint: if i know of something I want, i go directly to where it is, grab it, and make a beeline to the checkout
JPennant: yup yup

McClint: being a tightwad ain't easy. it takes lots of practice
JPennant: it really does
------
1:30pm

Went out and about and ended up in SF's Union square, the tony hotel and shopping district.

It was great. The area was absolutely packed, almost 6 abreast on the sidewalks, natives and tourists alike doing their Black Friday shopping.

Macy's was done up all christmassy, the decorations were up, traffic was at a standstill, and the official christmas tree was up ready to be lit.

Damn, it was great. i was expertly moving through the crowd at a New York pace, slip-sliding, waiting and dawdling at will, the old skills coming back.

The majority of folk werent as surly and self-contained as they would be in NY tho. As crowded as it was, the excitement of the holiday season was palpable and people were genrally, mellow.; Nice.

(although to emphasize how San Francisco even that moment was, there was a Starbux promotional van giving out small mint mochas. and beside them were Scientologists giving out... stress tests. I took several mochas and avoided eye contact with the Dianetics peddlers.)

The energy of so many people in one place... ahhh.

Perked me up something nice.

Made me miss New York a little bit less.

Thanksgiving

My best thanksgiving times were always thanksgiving in New York.

when I lived in Chicago and Florida, i always flew, rode and drove to New York. Heat, dry, wet, cold, snow. Always great.

And right after, Ma would go shopping. :)

Hated it. The shopping, that is. For ma, it was her little yearly treat because she would go to the 34th street area and shopped everywhere.

Thats her idea of fun, shopping. And she loved to drag me around with her. Her way of showing love.

The shopping i wasnt fond of, but being out and about in the crisp of a New York fall with the energy of the hustle, bustle of shopping.

Thanks ma. ;)
----
In all my times in New York, I have never, ever been to the macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

On thanksgiving day, i preferred to be with my family and the eating. And standing out in the cold??

nah, i preferred to watch it on TV.

now, I wish i had gone to at least one.

I'll get to a parade.
-----

NYTimes: Turkey Is Basic, but Immigrants Add Their Homeland Touches

My ma took to the Thanksgiving holiday with a vengeance.

For her, this was the family's high holy day. The time to have her kids around her. If we werent in NY, were summoned.
She would put on a feed, spending all day to make the turkey.

The menu would have a jamaican flavor tho.

Mashed potatoes and gravy? Heck no. Jamaican rice and peas. Much better. :)

and even tho we had the Turkey, there would be a chicken too, for whats the best meat to go with Rice & Peas than chicken? And we had a little curried stew. Plantains, natch. Sweet potatoes, but the jamaican version.

Jamaican fruit punch, flavored with real fruit juices.

She would insist on having cranberry sauce.

Nobody, except her, would eat that.

-----------
Mamahell: Hey JOE
Happy holidays !
JPennant: hey hey :-)

Because Ive been living on my own all over, working and not working, holidays without ritual, most holidays dont register as all that special.

It's all the same to me.

Frankly, at the least - i dont even realize when the holidats come around and at the most, theyre annoying, becasue everything shuts down while Im trying to do things.

Pay attention, and you'll realize i dont go around saying things like 'Happy Holidays'.

i just dont. :)
-------
Hmm ... early thanksgiving eating.

Serotonin kicking in...

Wow

Maybe, I need to grow up.

That's something I never thought Id be saying to myself at this age.

Frinstance, although this aint a hard and fast rule, I never really think its a good idea to get back with an ex you've broken up with on bad terms. There are usually good reasons you've broken up.

And it's hard to be friends afterward, once you've crossed that line.

E, its worked for me.

But now, I've been proffered an olive branch. And I'm actually at a loss what do in response.

You know, cuz I wasn't THAT mad when her parting words to me was that I needed to grow up.

---------

On rotation

Why dont you Do Right - Peggy Lee

I had an argument once with an ex about, I think, the ingenue singer Norah Jones. That she's pretty with a pretty voice, surely, but she doesn't move me.

Peggy Lee moves me.

Of her songs over the years, Id say her definitive rendition of 'Fever', and her well known 'He's a Tramp' are my favorites.

But, 'Why Dont You..' , yeah baby. Her measured voice with Alan Silvestri's nimble classical/roadhouse dive jazz piano .. doesnt get much better.

'get outta here
get me some money too..'