lights
floating
on the dark pacific
boats gathering the day's crab harvest
lights
hovering
above the bay
planes carrying wanderers home
Showing posts with label wanderings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wanderings. Show all posts
all of them well spent
there were 5 full weekends in october
1)
2)
3)
4)
.JPG)
5)
all of them great and november 1 was the icing on the cake. =)
sharing
several weeks ago, i took a peculiar circuitous route from the ferry building to my destination at battery & broadway. i walked between the craft booths bustling with tourists and against the traffic of the farmers market patrons, along justin herman plaza, through four embarcadero center, past a couple parks, the safeway, and several high-rise condo buildings in the fi-di.
not a particularly interesting city walk, but it was a beautiful day and i was in no rush. as i walked alone on my meandering path, it led to some meandering thoughts...
if i don't tell anyone i took this walk, no one would ever know i was here taking this route today. well except for these nameless people i pass on the street. but to them i'm just as nameless as they are to me, so what would be the value of they knowing i was here?
i realize no one has to know every thing i've done, everywhere i've been. but sharing is love. and it has been a while since i've fully shared my thoughts here. and it's even been quite a while since i started this thought and restarted this entry. lately i've struggled with what to share and when. largely because there are reflections on major experiences, both bad and good, from the past few months that i'm still trying sort out in my head.
not a particularly interesting city walk, but it was a beautiful day and i was in no rush. as i walked alone on my meandering path, it led to some meandering thoughts...
if i don't tell anyone i took this walk, no one would ever know i was here taking this route today. well except for these nameless people i pass on the street. but to them i'm just as nameless as they are to me, so what would be the value of they knowing i was here?
i realize no one has to know every thing i've done, everywhere i've been. but sharing is love. and it has been a while since i've fully shared my thoughts here. and it's even been quite a while since i started this thought and restarted this entry. lately i've struggled with what to share and when. largely because there are reflections on major experiences, both bad and good, from the past few months that i'm still trying sort out in my head.
so consider this entry as collateral for those thoughts. hold me to it...
shares and follows
monday after work
1) bump into a friend at the bus stop. as she rides part of the way along my route, we chat about plans for the long weekend, friends who are engaged and getting married soon, and the possibility of doing dinner later in the week.
2) arrive home to a pleasant surprise: a letter - 4 lovely pages of heart-open free-flowing words. some impressions never known, many questions never asked.
3) thank the the light drizzle for clearing the sidewalks and providing fresh, crisp air for an evening run to berkeley bowl. i've missed this time in my days. this time when i literally run free and unfollow the world.
4) walking to the bus stop groceries in hand, i pass by remnants of college: the street i used to live on, the art store i used to acquire studio supplies, my old apt building, the pool hall we used to frequent, etc. another coincidental encounter with another friend who is peering into the window of pegasus books. he shares his endeavors in yoga as we wait for my bus to arrive, and i share some cinnamon, sugar almonds.
----------------
i know we are are tech savvy, hyper "connected" individuals, but i still cherish these moments when our lives intersect beyond the @ sign. when i can understand sentiments that run deeper than a "like" or a one-word exclamation. can you follow me here?
1) bump into a friend at the bus stop. as she rides part of the way along my route, we chat about plans for the long weekend, friends who are engaged and getting married soon, and the possibility of doing dinner later in the week.
2) arrive home to a pleasant surprise: a letter - 4 lovely pages of heart-open free-flowing words. some impressions never known, many questions never asked.
3) thank the the light drizzle for clearing the sidewalks and providing fresh, crisp air for an evening run to berkeley bowl. i've missed this time in my days. this time when i literally run free and unfollow the world.
4) walking to the bus stop groceries in hand, i pass by remnants of college: the street i used to live on, the art store i used to acquire studio supplies, my old apt building, the pool hall we used to frequent, etc. another coincidental encounter with another friend who is peering into the window of pegasus books. he shares his endeavors in yoga as we wait for my bus to arrive, and i share some cinnamon, sugar almonds.
----------------
i know we are are tech savvy, hyper "connected" individuals, but i still cherish these moments when our lives intersect beyond the @ sign. when i can understand sentiments that run deeper than a "like" or a one-word exclamation. can you follow me here?
himyf
the year 2035
kids, i'm gonna tell you an incredible story.
25 years ago, (before i was mom) i had this whole other life.
it was waaaay back in 2010, i was half the age i am now...on my way to becoming a city planner and living in oakland with your auntie frances, auntie bev and mochi, auntie bev's dog.
it was great. we were young college grads, traveling as often as our vacation accruements & disposable incomes would allow, and only really certain of our favorite bar in the city.
don't get me wrong though. our early twenties weren't all handshakes and happy hours. we had just capped off one hell of a decade. i know people my age say we grew up in the 90's, but it was really the 00's when we became adults: maneuvering our way through high school and then college, acknowledging the rough realities of society and the world; and eventually stumbling into careers (or grad schools) to stake our niche to meet these challenges.
by the time 2009 rolled around, we thought we were primed for a new beginning. it was the year barack obama became the 44th president. your uncle vaughn, auntie melissa and i even went to washington dc to see that historic inauguration. but i will get to that part of the story in a little bit...
as i was saying, 2009 started off with a lot of hope. unfortunately as the year progressed, it seemed like there was always another tragedy, another death, another disaster. and to add, the decade ended with the state budget still in the dumps, "the great recession" continuing to afflict our national economy, and a handful of friends and relatives unemployed.
seems like a grim context to start a tale, but kids, this is the story of how i met...
seems like a grim context to start a tale, but kids, this is the story of how i met...
good night, travel well
1. just caught a free advanced screening of "up in the air." i would probably have not made an effort to go to see it, but it turned out to be enjoyable, albeit bittersweet. in this world of constant exchange and excess, motion and movement...it definitely makes you think about who you value and how others may or may not value you.
i'm no 10 million-mile frequent flyer, but i've been on enough flights to have my own system of flying and getting through security as clooney's character does:
- nothing in pockets except i.d. & boarding pass
- eyeglasses over contacts since eyes dry out easily with the recycled airplane ventilation
- slip-on shoes & clear toiletry bag in first bin (jacket too if i'm wearing one)
- laptop in next one
- then personal item (usually backpack)
- and finally my carry-on
the logic: the x-ray technician typically takes a couple extra seconds looking at the silhouettes of my laptop and the mess of cameras and cords in my backpack. this buys me time to put on my shoes and keep tabs on my laptop. and now i've given away my tricks. =X
2. poem quoted from a book i was reading on the bart ride home from the movie
i'm no 10 million-mile frequent flyer, but i've been on enough flights to have my own system of flying and getting through security as clooney's character does:
- nothing in pockets except i.d. & boarding pass
- eyeglasses over contacts since eyes dry out easily with the recycled airplane ventilation
- slip-on shoes & clear toiletry bag in first bin (jacket too if i'm wearing one)
- laptop in next one
- then personal item (usually backpack)
- and finally my carry-on
the logic: the x-ray technician typically takes a couple extra seconds looking at the silhouettes of my laptop and the mess of cameras and cords in my backpack. this buys me time to put on my shoes and keep tabs on my laptop. and now i've given away my tricks. =X
2. poem quoted from a book i was reading on the bart ride home from the movie
"always keep ithaca in your mind.3. ohhhhh...the e-mails and planning have begun in anticipation of the homecoming of california's prodigal sons and daughters. just a few more weeks until you all are home for the holidays and we are reunited. i wish you all safe travels on your return to ithaca!
to arrive there is your ultimate goal.
but do not hurry the voyage at all.
it is better to let it last for many years,
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that ithaca will offer you riches.
ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage
without her you would have never set out on the road."- "ithaca" by constantine cavafy (1911)
long threads
that sew us close
from city to city
from coast to coast
ones with 10, 20, 30+ messages
ongoing conversations neatly bundled
thanks to the genius of google
so that we can plot, share, discuss, suggest
from city to city
from coast to coast
ones with 10, 20, 30+ messages
ongoing conversations neatly bundled
thanks to the genius of google
so that we can plot, share, discuss, suggest
adventures
apartment bills
birthday dinners
bridesmaid dresses
concerts & events
our next race
primers!
travels
wine
apartment bills
birthday dinners
bridesmaid dresses
concerts & events
our next race
primers!
travels
wine
wanderlove
i've always had a problem with the word wanderlust. as if to say traveling is the mistress tempting us away from the place we call home. who's to say we can't also love the world's wonders? plus no matter how far i roam, nothing could ever diminish my love for the bay.
i'm not gonna lie though: definitely been feeling small pangs of jealousy as i read blogs, catch tweets, or peek photos of the foreign affairs of friends in thailand, the p.i., europe, and elsewhere.
seems like it's been an eternity since i've eaten tiny packages of honey-roasted peanuts or chased the sun through the sky. a vacation long overdue. keeping it domestic, but still very excited. chi-town in exactly one week: let's goooooo!
shuffle
i've never been a playlist craftsperson. i usually keep the tunes on shuffle with each song becoming a surprise for the soundtrack of life. i find that the appropriate songs usually attach to certain experiences to complete these moments and memories.
with that said, cheers to a weekend on shuffle (& video documentation)...
1. "black or white" - michael jackson
as we wait for our carne asada fries, i decide to slide a dollar into the jukebox. we can't seem to get the first song we want to play so i impatiently start punching semi-random numbers. the result was this song. one of the better mistakes i've made. =)
2. "i'm on a boat" - the lonely island
3. "drift away" - dobie gray
mary of the elephant odyssey exhibit at the sd zoo sways to a nicky classic.
4. "circle of life" - the lion king
this needs a bit more explaining: i had a somewhat similar experience as L did a few weeks ago. for some unknown reason, this song just kept reemerging throughout the weekend.
this song had been in our heads all weekend. in the last few hours of my stay in sd, it inspired a one take session that we completed within the hour before i had to head to the airport.
(check fbook for this vid)
---------------------
p.s. the blogosphere feels alive this month! lots of folks making it a point to blog more...i think i will too.
with that said, cheers to a weekend on shuffle (& video documentation)...
1. "black or white" - michael jackson
as we wait for our carne asada fries, i decide to slide a dollar into the jukebox. we can't seem to get the first song we want to play so i impatiently start punching semi-random numbers. the result was this song. one of the better mistakes i've made. =)
2. "i'm on a boat" - the lonely island
3. "drift away" - dobie gray
mary of the elephant odyssey exhibit at the sd zoo sways to a nicky classic.
4. "circle of life" - the lion king
this needs a bit more explaining: i had a somewhat similar experience as L did a few weeks ago. for some unknown reason, this song just kept reemerging throughout the weekend.
- thurs: watched "the lion king" as the 2nd film during a movie night in5. "knock you down" - keri hilson
- fri: richelle blogged about it
- sat: we played it first thing in the morning before leaving for the zoo
- sun: came back home to see this vid under my youtube subscriptions
this song had been in our heads all weekend. in the last few hours of my stay in sd, it inspired a one take session that we completed within the hour before i had to head to the airport.
(check fbook for this vid)
---------------------
p.s. the blogosphere feels alive this month! lots of folks making it a point to blog more...i think i will too.
bookend encounters
a drizzly february morning.
1st task of the day: purchase snacks for a meeting in sf.
i'm early, and trader joe's is still closed.
alone, i wait, earbuds in, somewhat dazed,
not fully recovered from the spell of sickness
that kept me in bed for half the day before.
8:50am
a man rides up on his bicycle and waits too.
we begin with pleasant small talk,
but the conversation quickly turns
and he starts to vent his
frustrations and anger with
unemployment, hunger, homelessness, authority, life...
our discussion never actually ends.
i don't quite have the right words to say in response.
he trails off and shuffles among the crowd
that is making their way through the store's open doors.
ash wednesday mass that night
i say a little prayer for him.
for better days.
for his peace of mind.
i forget about all this until...
last night.
it's almost 10 o'clock
and i'm just leaving good friday service.
the next bus is in 27 min
so i opt for a less direct route home.
sneaks, jeans, backpack with
hood up over my head
to thwart an unexpected chilly breeze.
i feel like a student again
walking past people's park
reminded of this campus's strange coexistence of
privilege and poverty.
hello. you were sitting next to me at church, right?
but things are just starting to come together for me.
i was homeless for a few years,
but now i have a roof over my head.
we come to the corner of telegraph & dwight
where we are to part ways.
1st task of the day: purchase snacks for a meeting in sf.
i'm early, and trader joe's is still closed.
alone, i wait, earbuds in, somewhat dazed,
not fully recovered from the spell of sickness
that kept me in bed for half the day before.
8:50am
a man rides up on his bicycle and waits too.
we begin with pleasant small talk,
but the conversation quickly turns
and he starts to vent his
frustrations and anger with
unemployment, hunger, homelessness, authority, life...
our discussion never actually ends.
i don't quite have the right words to say in response.
he trails off and shuffles among the crowd
that is making their way through the store's open doors.
ash wednesday mass that night
i say a little prayer for him.
for better days.
for his peace of mind.
i forget about all this until...
last night.
it's almost 10 o'clock
and i'm just leaving good friday service.
the next bus is in 27 min
so i opt for a less direct route home.
sneaks, jeans, backpack with
hood up over my head
to thwart an unexpected chilly breeze.
i feel like a student again
walking past people's park
reminded of this campus's strange coexistence of
privilege and poverty.
hello. you were sitting next to me at church, right?
yes, i was.
i give my standard answer
then hesitantly ask him in return.
i'm not into anything at the moment,in half a block we exchange niceties & names:
the typical
how do you do?
where are you from?
where are you headed?
then the inevitable
(and these days often touchy)
what do you do?
the typical
how do you do?
where are you from?
where are you headed?
then the inevitable
(and these days often touchy)
what do you do?
i give my standard answer
then hesitantly ask him in return.
but things are just starting to come together for me.
i was homeless for a few years,
but now i have a roof over my head.
we come to the corner of telegraph & dwight
where we are to part ways.
i'm headed in this direction now.
i'm glad to hear that things
are starting to look up for you.
i'm glad to hear that things
are starting to look up for you.
thank you.
what was your name again?
what was your name again?
camille.
in case i don't see you,
happy easter.
in case i don't see you,
happy easter.
i extend my arm out for a handshake
and receive
a hug.
and receive
a hug.
because this is way better than 25 things
and i haven't blogged since before my trip.
1 minute ago: listened to "santana dvx" - lonely island ft. e-40. so. random. but of course hilarious.
1 hour ago: working from home this morning, i took a break to do some much needed running and soul searching. it's a beautiful day, but i'm pretty sure it's going to rain tonight.
1 day ago: immersed in a monday workday. it has been non-stop since i returned from vacation, and i don't think it will slow down anytime soon.
1 month ago: learning to love oakland more. joined kenneth for a hip hop dance class @ new style motherlode on college. appreciating the resources just down the street.
1 year ago: saturday brunch @ 2422, i reveal to mark that i've expanded my job search, applied to a job in downtown and may soon join the oakand lunch crew. =)
other 1min, 1hr, 1dy, 1mo, 1yr
eyawn (the originator)
owen
leeser
adrien
em
1 minute ago: listened to "santana dvx" - lonely island ft. e-40. so. random. but of course hilarious.
1 hour ago: working from home this morning, i took a break to do some much needed running and soul searching. it's a beautiful day, but i'm pretty sure it's going to rain tonight.
1 day ago: immersed in a monday workday. it has been non-stop since i returned from vacation, and i don't think it will slow down anytime soon.
1 month ago: learning to love oakland more. joined kenneth for a hip hop dance class @ new style motherlode on college. appreciating the resources just down the street.
1 year ago: saturday brunch @ 2422, i reveal to mark that i've expanded my job search, applied to a job in downtown and may soon join the oakand lunch crew. =)
other 1min, 1hr, 1dy, 1mo, 1yr
eyawn (the originator)
owen
leeser
adrien
em
coincidence has a sense of humor
(i'm not talking about fate or destiny)
i think coincidence wanted me to say, "hello"
i think coincidence wanted me to say, "hello"
ice cream daydreams
no lie. it's hot in the office, it's hot in brooklyn, it's hot everywhere.
bi-coastal gchat discussions about thrifty ice cream and mister softee, suddenly remind me of spain slightly over a year ago. the unbearable heat in the hostel room that nicky and i shared in barcelona. no a/c...only an electric fan that could only be plugged in one part of the room, barely creating movement of air. going back to the ice cream connection...i smile thinking of the time we lost nicky and ken for a good half hour on a crowded street because they got distracted by cheap gelato.
waking from daydreams of travel memories and returning to the present day: can't wait until the visit to san diego next week. hopefully it can involve ice cream.
bi-coastal gchat discussions about thrifty ice cream and mister softee, suddenly remind me of spain slightly over a year ago. the unbearable heat in the hostel room that nicky and i shared in barcelona. no a/c...only an electric fan that could only be plugged in one part of the room, barely creating movement of air. going back to the ice cream connection...i smile thinking of the time we lost nicky and ken for a good half hour on a crowded street because they got distracted by cheap gelato.
waking from daydreams of travel memories and returning to the present day: can't wait until the visit to san diego next week. hopefully it can involve ice cream.
speaking in song
recent gtalk convo w/ the bro...
then i think of the great john mayer who says
"say what you need to say."
much like john legend
i just don't care
as lynyrd skynyrd says
"lord help me, i can't change!"
then i think of the great john mayer who says
"say what you need to say."
either way sucks...
as the great goapele says
"well it's a catch 22,
damned if you don't, damned if you do"
(applauding)as the great goapele says
"well it's a catch 22,
damned if you don't, damned if you do"
much like john legend
i just don't care
john legend also said "i can change"
as lynyrd skynyrd says
"lord help me, i can't change!"
as his google profile says, my bro enjoys using song lyrics as metaphors for life.
what are we talking about here?
the inside is more important than the outside
you gotta be clear about what you want
makes it easier when opportunities are presented to you
don't worry, there will be others.
wait, are we talking about apartment hunting or love?
i don't know if i want this or that...
you gotta be clear about what you want
makes it easier when opportunities are presented to you
i don't know. i just know it when i see it
how did you like this last one?
wasn't for me
don't worry, there will be others.
wait, are we talking about apartment hunting or love?
gentlemen and douchebags
in conversations with lady friends, we often mention these two categories. sad to say that the latter is getting more usage...
1) is he a d-bag?
2) do you like him? do you like him enough to forgive him for being a d-bag?
i don't know why the term finds its way into the convo. there are probably more appropriate terms to use in these instances. while this isn't a good enough reason to use it, john mayer once blogged:
but if every guy can be d-bag-ish, i also believe that every guy can be a gentleman. i think every walk home or "let me get you a water" on the dance floor is very much appreciated. just continue to give us more of these reasons to trade in the d-word in for the g-word. the world will be a much better place.
1) is he a d-bag?
well, he can be d-bag-ish.
i think every guy can be d-bag-ish.
2) do you like him? do you like him enough to forgive him for being a d-bag?
*sigh* i think so.
i don't know why the term finds its way into the convo. there are probably more appropriate terms to use in these instances. while this isn't a good enough reason to use it, john mayer once blogged:
It feels good to say, "douchebag. " It's got two different plosive sounds, the "D" and "B", and nicely wedged between is a wonderful "sh."or maybe it's being used more because it's the douchebags of the world that get more exposure. i stumbled across an episode of "shot of love 2" a long while ago in which the nicest guy gets kicked off the show and all the other contestants are crying and upset. but the tears are no consolation, because who is left with a chance to still get the girl? the d-bags! what is that saying about what popular culture values? you can get further by being a d-bag? that's so unfortunate.
but if every guy can be d-bag-ish, i also believe that every guy can be a gentleman. i think every walk home or "let me get you a water" on the dance floor is very much appreciated. just continue to give us more of these reasons to trade in the d-word in for the g-word. the world will be a much better place.
oh yah...it's monday
acquired on this necessary three-day weekend
- slight tan from calpoly sloooo commencement ceremony :)
- a HELLA magenta dress to wear to vegas :D
- and unfortunately, a sore throat :(
and on this monday
- burned my tongue on hot water (that i was drinking to soothe the throat)
- got trapped in the BART system on my way home from a mtg in the city (70 minutes to get from montgomery to daly city!)
- and didn't get tickets to the "wall-e" promotional screening :(
- slight tan from calpoly sloooo commencement ceremony :)
- a HELLA magenta dress to wear to vegas :D
- and unfortunately, a sore throat :(
and on this monday
- burned my tongue on hot water (that i was drinking to soothe the throat)
- got trapped in the BART system on my way home from a mtg in the city (70 minutes to get from montgomery to daly city!)
- and didn't get tickets to the "wall-e" promotional screening :(
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