Lately I've been trying to spend my time doing things other than being online or at work. Or being online at work. Last week I volunteered at the San Francisco Food Bank. It's kinda fun in an assembly line kinda way. We repackaged bulk granola and brown rice into one-pound bags, which then went into boxes. My job was to do the initial filling of the bags as close to one pound as possible. I've discovered that I've got a knack for this (hitting one pound more often than not) and one of my teammates suggested that I'd be a good drug dealer.
I didn't really think about the people who would be there, but it was surprising that most of the people there were my age or younger. I guess I expected to see more of the mom type (because that's what I see on the news when they do stories on food banks during the holidays?? I don't know).
This year I'm also doing the Adopt-A-Family program at the Raphael House again. My friend Lucie told me about it and I thought it would be nice to contribute. The house is more or less a shelter for homeless children and families in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. The program asks that you provide gifts for the children as well as a family gift and a gift card to some place practical like Safeway or Target. Last year I spent way more than I really should have, but it was really fun shopping for my girl and her family (hence the overdoing of the gifts).
My motivations aren't completely altruistic, though. Growing up, we were pretty poor and my parents used services similar to these and lately I've been feeling like I have a responsibility to "give back," as they say. If you have the time or money, you should, too. And not just because it's the holidays, but because I told you to.
You can email Anne at SF Food Bank (more info here) or Anna at Raphael House (more info here) if you are a good, decent person.
This stuff isn't going to repackage itself into one-pound bags.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Not completely wasting my time
Thursday, October 22, 2009
I'm stressed out as fuck
So, to relieve some of that stress, I'll revisit this blog, which I more or less abandoned months ago. The thing is, I've got two presentations tomorrow and lots of stuff to design. I'll be working til at least 3 in the morning tonight. But I've got sketches done!
Adult life is tougher than what I had imagined as a child (or hoped for). Recently I've been reminiscing about how stupid I was to complain about life as a kept kid. I didn't have to pay for anything and got everything. Oh well, those days are gone, so I should probably worry about today. And these projects. And the presentations tomorrow.
Back to work.
Oh, and thanks, mom and dad for the braces and those Nike Cortez shoes you got me way back when.
In Bataan, Philippines
Monday, July 6, 2009
One wasn't enough
Shortly after starting to contribute to Uyen's food blog, I wanted something even quicker and more instantly satisfying. It's a food diary filled with camera phone pictures of the things I eat throughout the day. Maybe I can sell it as a book one day. Probably not, though.
Monday, June 15, 2009
It was inevitable
Uyen and I have started a food blog. It's two people who eat too much writing about the food that make, eat, etc. 
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Brian's gonna wish he never invited me to go camping
Audrey texted me and told me to download the Mad Decent app for my iPhone. It's a very simple app: you choose an icon, touch the screen, and the app plays the corresponding sound. For instance, the default is an air horn. You tap the screen and it makes a very loud air horn noise.
My favorite is a G.I. Joe-ish looking guy on a hoverboard. The sound he makes is nothing like you'd expect. Have a listen here.
Next weekend when we're camping in Sequoia National Park, Audrey and I plan to wake Brian up each day with a few choice sounds. Good morning, Brian!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Week in review
Just some bits and pieces of me...to you.
- I've postponed the trip Patrick and I were going to take to the Dominican Repulbic, which turned into Costa Rica, but now probably Puerto Rico. It was mostly because it'll be unbelievably hot and humid there, but also because it'll be hurricane season and I kinda want to see if this Swine Flu business will taper off soon.
- I found an awesome app for the iPhone/iPod that takes your pictures and turns them into actual postcards that physically gets sent. This will be handy when I'm on Caribbean beaches.
- My garden is doing well. This season: tomatoes, beets, butter lettuce, zucchinis, eggplants, okra, and maybe some marigolds and herbs.
- I've decided I want a car. But there's that money thing I need to deal with first.
- Work has been kind of ridiculously demanding this year so far, but it seems to be getting better...at least until next week.
- I am super excited to go camping again this June. Haven't been in a while. I'll probably plan another Big Sur trip soon. I love that place. Who's in?
Here's a photo of Brian being attacked by a blue jay on one of our camping trips.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Microsoft FAIL
I just saw two new Microsoft ads (ones which follow a trail of distasteful/failed ads featuring little kids taking pictures of stuff, people being fooled into thinking they were using a better OS, Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates acting entitled, etc.) via one of the many blogs in my RSS reader. In theory, these ads make sense: with the economy not doing so hot, you want to sell buyers the idea that cheaper is better. But that is exactly it: you're selling them a cheaper product. Of course the PCs are cheaper if the specs don't match up with the competing Macs. Sure, Lauren (who happens to be an actress...aren't these people supposed to be real folk who answered an ad?) got a cheap PC, but one that completely under-performs in all aspects compared to a comparable Mac, including half the battery life.
Also, isn't Microsoft a software company? Why do the requisites of Giampaolo's desired laptop all relate to hardware? The size of the keyboard, the amount of RAM, and battery life have nothing to do with software. Hmmmm. Also, if Giampaolo wanted something portable, wouldn't he want a 13" or smaller laptop and not a behemoth 16" one? Double hmmmm. Another also: why is HP the only PC brand mentioned and bought in these ads? Did HP subsidize these spots? TRIPLE hmmmm (but that's beside the point, so I digress).
I have trouble believing that Cripin, Porter + Bugosky are 100% behind the ads they created. I think that Microsoft's marketing team bullied them into creating ads that would push the "cheaper" messaging at the expense of any real substance. But to the agency's credit, I think these were shot at Fry's. I can spot those shrub-lined parking lots any day. I love you, Fry's Electronics.
The moral of the story? There are a few: 1) Don't trust ads with "real people" who have a long acting history, 2) You get what you pay for and 3) Shop at Fry's.
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Friday, March 20, 2009
A new camera, a new venture
After getting over the shock and disbelief of my DSLR crapping out on me in China (and consequently destroying ALL my photos taken up until that day there, including ones of the Great Wall), I planned on getting myself a newer, better camera.
Last week I finally did it (after 4 months of deliberation) and got myself another Canon, this time the XSi. Instead of 8MP, now I have an insane 12.2MP per shot. I don't know when I'll ever need that many pixels, but whatever.
Today I came up with the brilliant plan to start taking pictures with it to sell as stock photography. I've gotta make it worth my while, right? I got a huge sheet of white paper and started shooting whatever was around the apartment and got some decent images. Maybe I'll make enough money to buy decent lighting supplies one day. Here are a few samples.
The creepiest mask ever made
A bloody latex hand
A souvenir from China
Sock monkey
A stone stamp, also from China
