Danica Patrick

It has been several years since I sat down to watch a car race, so today was a refreshing comeback. When I heard that a woman was going to be driving in the Indy 500 I thought that is was a good excuse to turn on the tele and watch. The hours leading to it and during the race I questioned what was my true interest in the matter. Was it the feminist side of me, the part that hopes women will become equal in all aspects of society, or was it that as a woman and rookie she was the underdog. I have to admit that her good looks where a motivator, but regardless of her looks I still would have tuned in.

Watching the race was worth every effort and emotional outburst. From the words, "start your engines" I was hoping and holding out for her to win. Her many ups and downs: stalling, spining-out, last place and leading in the end showed that not only was she worth her weight but worth seeing the outcome, even if she had came in last.

It was a great race as well as the fact that she made a few first for women today.

How Annoying

Today a co-worker of mine said to me that my X-girlfriend and I make a good match or something along those lines. I apatheticially disagreed then and when I think about it now, I strenuously disagree. The mistake is mine. When I asked her what she thought about my last post she said, "oh I'm not that impressed." Okay so maybe it wasn't my best writing, but she could have been more objective about it. I try to write what my readers are interested in, but too much about the same thing would not only get borring for the reader but the writer as well.

So how is that for personal?

Modern Etiquette

Technology is moving faster then society can keep up with it. It is changing the way we gather and consume news, how we reamain in contact with friends and family, and many other integral parts of our life. As this new technology enters, we are slow to adapt properly, on many levels.

(Although it is worse to assimiliate new technology without examining the ethical implications, the purpose of this rant is to examine etiquette.)

A few years ago mobile phones entered the pockets, purses, and belt holsters of every person in the United States. Has anyone stopped to teach when and where an individual in the company of others should be having a conversation with someone else? A good place to start is to avoid being like the utterly annoying "inconsiderate cellphone guy", but hopefully that was obvious. Second to that we should really determine what and when it is appropriate to be talking longer then a minute with others present, otherwise it borderlines being rude and-- well-- inconsiderate.

Everyday Life

A birthday brunch, a trip to Union Square, a stop into North Face, a birthday call (a different person then the first), a pasta and meetball dinner, a glass of merlot (yes I would still drink merlot after watching "Sideways") and a kick-back relax feeling in my chair while watching "Law & Order." Mmmm "Law & Order."

Life can be simple and compicated at the same time, and it's to know that at the end of the day I can watch "Law & Order" to help escape it all. The wine helps too. :-))

The California vs New York Dream

I'll never forget the day in English class when my professor stated that there was no "New York Dream", only a "California Dream". It was an evening class at the City College of San Francisco and I had offered the New York Dream as an answer to a question that she posed. I disagreed with her that day, and continue to find annoyance with the idea. Since then I have often tried to formulate and articulate what the New York dream is.

There are many musical references to a California dream, "lonely and living on the west coast," "I wish they all could be californian girls," and the most obvious "california dreaming." NYC has the eternal Sinatra classic "if I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere", Lou Reed telling us, "hey babe, take a walk on the wild side," and Beasite Boys "no sleep till-- Brooklyn!!"

After exploring the argument further I have realized that my dream doesn't have to be a pre-canned one, as the Calfiornia dream seems to be. Mine can be simply what follows... I want to move to New York, live in New York, enjoy New York, meet a New Yorker, raise New Yorker-like kids, and retire in New York. (That is the short version of my dream.) But it is still my New York Dream.

Music

When I was a teenager I couldn't live, rather I couldn't breath without music. It was energy for the soul. A few years ago I stopped keeping up with the latest songs and bands playing on the radio. Now I'm living with a teenager and music has taken on a whole new meaning. I no longer have the same interest in music; it has morphed into a whole new being. When I hear my sister's 10 to 15 watt computer speakers pump out a song that is so repetivitive its almost like being brainwashed against your will. It makes me analyze my listening habbits as a teenager, and question what the hell was I listening to. In order to combat this newly-infilltrated enemy I have started to explore the works of Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, and anything in which it took a real genius or at least a semi-genius to compose a piece of art and not a multi-million teenage pop song.

I came, I siphoned, I bottled

Patience, time, and energy-- three qualities an individual needs to brew his or her own beer. Well I don't think I am a patient person, time is a commidity that I would pay big bucks for, and energy only comes after drinking large amounts of coffee. But somehow I pulled it off and bottled three 22 oz bottles, 7 grolsch size bottles, one 6-pack and one 12-pack worth of beer, all in a two and a half hour time period. It's time to go to bed, and dream of the day in which I get to sit down and enjoy one of my own.

Cafe Evolution

Back patio blue skies, second round of cappuccino, and apple with cheese Crostini's dipped in spicy mustard. Birds chirping and rock playing in the background and my lesbian-in-the-making friend (she just broke up with her fiance) is telling me I am going to hell for being mean. I am at Cafe Evolution [click on the title again] in the Sunset when I should be at home doing chores. My friend continues to ask why I haven't mentioned her in more detail. Well the truth is I don't want to be grilled by a future girlfriend on my relationship with Justyna, a philosphy doctorate candidate at Georgetown University.

You can read her papers at www.georgetown.edu/users/jmj22.

Earlier, I stopped at SF Brewcraft for more beer making equipment, today is beer bottling day. More on that later.

Episode III

I walked out of the theather with a generally positive feeling about the film. It was nothing spectacular but I think it would have been hard to pull off, considering the major events where already known. It was enjoyable to see the connection of the whole Star Wars universe.

I always wait to read movie reviews until after I see a film. I do this mostly because I don't want someone elses opinion to cloud my own judgement on a piece of art. Secondly I don't like to ruin the plot for myself.

After the film I read the reviews from both the Village Voice and NY Times. I mostly agreed with conclusions from the Times, sorry Village Voice. [Click on the title to read the review.]

Star Wars

My sister kept on nagging me when Star Wars was coming out. When I finally got online to confirm the exact date I realized that it was coming out sooner then later. She asked me again when we where going and I replied, "the 1:10 am showing". She snaps back and says, "I don't want to see the movie that late!" I offered, "whats wrong with your generation when you don't want to be the first kid on your block that sees Star Wars." She leaves without saying a word.

Later in the evening she asked when are we going and I inquired if the late showing was okay, she replied, "yes."

Further Reflections

On the time I spent at Point Reyes... I find it amazing that anyone would want to put any sort of protected park/wildlife/nature preserve into harms way. After visiting the national park I became further annoyed that our government would permit drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Of course there is a bigger pciture and the politics are deeper then this, but sometimes we have to put things into perspective. Ultimately, it just goes to show that a poltician would sell his or her grandmother if it ment happy gift-giving constituents.

Our scenic surroundings, looking north from the campsite.

Point Reyes

I just returned from a two day, one night trip to Point Reyes National Seashore, a national park 1 hour north of San Francisco brought to the world thanks to the U.S. National Park Service in assoicastion with the Department of the Interior and tax payers like you. We backpacked almost 5 miles round trip, spending the first night in the rain, and today in beautiful blue skies.

A backpacking trip is just what the soul needed to get away, unfortunately, it was too little for too short a time, but who could say no to any oppurtunity to get away. Although part of my New York nuerotic attitude came out when I felt uncomfortable leaving the campsite for a short walk to the beach, with all our equipment left for the taking. My friend trying to make me feel less nervous said, "who is going to steal our stuff in the middle of the park on a rainy Sunday night?" My reply, "thats exactly who I'm worried about."

After we set up camp, we went for a walk along the beach.

A shot of the trail going to our campsite, a 1.8 mile trek with an initial slght incline. Have you ever seen such thick fog?

Spring Cleaning

I have spent the last couple of days cleaning, which is why I haven't wrote much and have come to some conclusions: You know your a messy person when your spring cleaning last all of spring and by the time summer comes around your to tired because you spent all your energy cleaning.

Besides my spring cleaning I have also been preparing for a backpacking trip, so make sure you tune in next time, When Jesse Returns.

In other news a good friend of mine has started her blog and you can check it out at Charissa's Chronicles.

Sigh of Relief

Last night after I gave my presentation for my Organizationl Behavior class I felt a huge load being shed from my shoulders. You see I attend the University of San Francisco, something I am very thankful for and one of the many things I do enjoy in this town. So don't get me wrong, not all of San Francisco is a negative experience for me, but more a-- well you can read the postings.

For A Split Second

Do you ever wonder if you could click your heels three times and say, "no place like home, no place like home" and wahla there you are? Well I have and I know from experience that it doesn't work. Fortunately today I had a good excuse to go the Financial District, and no not the one in Manhattan. However it did for a split second, make me feel as if I was in New York, until I came to from dreamland and realized that the streets would be more crowded, there would be more horn honking, sirens, and other city-like noises. When I was done with my meeting, I purchased a hot pastrmi on rye at the one of many deli-like restaurants in the neighborhood and stopped at Peet's for a cappuccino to wash it down. And if you are wondering what I thought about the sandwhich well lets just say, as the expression goes, it's not like mom used to make.

Death to Local Radio Stations

Bethrusted upon me, iPod-- Shuffle to be exact, my first mp3 player and a tool that will set me free from commercials that try so hard to brainwash, and radio programming that could leave anyone unmotivated. Behold-- the power to listen to what I want, when I want, where I want.

I had already started to enjoy the power of podcasting, but now I will be able to listen to the news from NYC in my car. Particularly such broadcasts as On the Media, Life on Earth, and other interesting podcasts from WNYC.

Kids Say the Darndnest Things

Why are people in San Francisco so rude? And no, don't say it's because of all the transplanted New Yorkers. I've heard that line and I don't buy it. San Francisco is supposed to be so friendly. And when it is not, it is the rude inconsiderate pedistrians and drivers that bring out my "City" (and I mean the real city) driving attitude. In short, today while driving I honked my horn once, and complained about a lady who almost hit us (she wasn't aware of the impending lane merge). The funny part is when my sister commented, "I could really tell that you are a New Yorker the way you honked at the person and say things about people."

In case there is any doubt and to all those San Franciscians out there [honk] you and learn to drive. :-)

Which reminds me of this great quote from a fellow New Yorker, "I don't wanna live in a city where the only cultural advantage is that you can make a right turn on a red light." Alvy Singer in "Annie Hall"

Give me liberty or give me death...

Hey Greg, here is a little preview of what is to come. :-(
[Greg and I both work at the same prison, I mean place. :-) ]

Mmmmm beer, lots of beer, about 13L worth.

After all the mixing and adding was done, we set it, to ferment it. 

Do lots of mixing (thanks to Greg) 

Then we add water, and lots of sugar... 

First we started with the canned kit, from Brewferm (which can be found at select homebrew stores online).

And then there was wort

Mmmmm Beer!!!

Today in my quest to reduce cost and increase alcohol consumption I made a second attempt to make my own beer. My friend Greg came over, a newcomer himself, to help out. After we spent about an hour putting everything together we enjoyed one if his recent batches of beer, an amber style ale.

The beer now has to ferment for 10 days and then another 6 to 8 weeks in the bottle, a long time to wait to see if it worked.

Sunday

There is nothing more enjoyable then the double stimulation of a Sunday Times and a double macchiato. A day with those two things couldn't be beaten.

As I try to sooth the pain of homesickness I wonder, what other things could I enjoy that would make being in San Francisco more like being in New York. Do they have mail order New York brides?

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"

A very enjoyable movie... I saw it at the Metreon, Lowe's Cineplex. They never dimmed the lights completely and part of the screen seemed out of focus. But enough about the theather; more about the movie. Again most enjoyable, a nice satire that although the book was written decades ago still seems to be applicable in our present day, full of politcal turmoil. I highly recommeded it for anyone looking for the perfect blend of adventure and comedy.