Straight Forward and Useful

Progress and what it means. I sometimes look at my life and wonder at the progress I make. However, I have been evaluating the concept of progress and that was a revelation in itself. Up to this point in my life I had always just assumed that education, money and housing were all the indicators of progress that I needed but I have since realized that indicators depend upon time, place and other contextual factors too various to recount.

This is to say that, while useful, my sense of progress cannot always be based upon my preferred measures. Of course I won’t be able to accomplish certain things if I am homeless or uneducated; and of course we all want to live our lives free of financial constraints but that is mostly an inconceivable idea. So, yes my conception of progress is pretty straight forward and useful. However, these three things cannot necessarily be the center of how my life should move along.

For instance, I might be able to say that this blog can be considered an indicator of progress as I have been using it as an absolute measure. The fact that I am able to post anything at all indicates that I am able to get something done. Plus, it actually represents my three core indicators since my notebook, memories and blog posts all help me stay on track and up to date with my priorities.

In the interregnum I have focused on other measures that I may be able to use and have discovered especially valuable ones. Chief amongst these is the raw number of new personalities I may be exposed to in the course of my day. For example, I met a banjo player studying for an anatomy course today and yesterday I went to a party at a friend’s house to which I had never before been. In these instances I am often exposed to new personalities, cultures, ideas and perspectives that may not even differ much from my own.

I started writing this on 092212.

This is an occasional series chronicling my life. This Notebook Analysis series is meant to be contemporaneous piece developed as an agglomeration of my notebook pages. In each of these posts I used my notes to develop my recent thoughts.

A Single Hiccup

Last Friday I hung out with my friends in the area around 850 Bryant. One of them works with the Public Defender and so we were waiting for her. The other friend lives in Brooklyn. In the morning the two of us had coffee and after the work day was over the three of us had tacos.

On Saturday I went to Tour de Fat and hung out with another friend in between volunteering. This is a really fun event. I got to ride on a funny tandem where there are two seats side by side but only two wheels front and back. HAHA what an amazing experience. I had to quit when a pedal slammed into my shin. Tour de fat involves beer. Afterwards I went to another friend’s house and ate pizza with a bunch of bicyclists that had been at the event.

On Sunday morning I went to Java Beach and met a cute banjo player.

Today I was filling out a couple of different online forms, a process that can be frustrating. You have to fill out the form and then render it using the online profile thing. The output is a pdf that you can’t save. Then I have to print it out and sign it and if there is a single hiccup in the process I sort of have to start all over again. Egh. Suffice to say I needed a breath of fresh air. So, I went for a walk to Sunset Reservoir. It’s was amazing how many people I saw walking around up there. I was looking for some alone time and just kept bumping into people. Dog walkers, strollers you name it. What is soo great about a former quarry converted into a reservoir for drinking water? I am certain there are several other places in SF where you can get a good view of the Farallones, the park and the bridge at the same time. I just can’t think of any.

This is series chronicles my life at regular intervals. This Memo series is meant to be a retrospective of what I have written and experienced. In each of these posts I use my notes in conjunction with memory, mementos and souvenirs to create a snap shot of my life.

The Cultural Concept and Messaging

In the days before Labor Day I revisited a small town in the North Coast and I couldn’t help but notice how similar my daily errands can be in both the city and countryside. However, I did notice some obvious differences. For instance, the town’s four shops are run by many of the same people and travel times between places are different. In the countryside you know your neighbors a lot better because travel into town can be especially difficult. This is part of the reason for why I bought a bike to get from one place to another. Riding 20 miles between towns for breakfast had quite an effect upon my cultural concept.

At the time I saw the trip as an opportunity to step back from a city life so full of opportunity and ask myself what really matters to me. This helped when I noticed what was missing when I needed it the most. I have so much more say in how a car passes me on a city street as opposed to the highway but the traffic in the country side is way better in general. While I was visiting Oregon to see friends and family, I came to discover that people—even strangers—were way better at recognizing and catering to my needs. I don’t think that this is the case as much in the city but the experience has helped me to recognize this type of phenomenon when I do see it.

I came home believing that the trip had helped me to separate what really mattered from the rest of my life. However, I think that it really only allowed me to see how my city life has already changed over the years. For instance, I had already begun to identify longer term trends in my life and how old friendships take on new roles. I believe that rather than augmenting my self concept the trip really only affected my outlook.  Moreover, I believe that I have begun to be more patient with those around me and have realized that my interactions with others describe a more general message which may only be understood over time.

In the meantime, I have found that it has been especially hard to get into the swing of things; with emails from potential employers and text messages from old friends. Leaving town for a week always leaves a person with a perfect storm of responsibilities. I constantly have to organize my messy room, get on track with appointments and line other things up and it all has to be done a day at a time. Finally, I feel like I am ready for the coming week. I only wish that had been the case when I got back from my Labor Day vacation two weeks ago.

I started writing this on 092212.

This is an occasional series chronicling my life. This Notebook Analysis series is meant to be contemporaneous piece developed as an agglomeration of my notebook pages. In each of these posts I used my notes to develop my recent thoughts.

A Certain Waitress

All these people came to visit me in the past few weeks and I got into it.  I went with a few friends to Sunday Streets and walked around the Western Addition and saw a lot of fun stuff.  I also got to see a lot of the locals and their organizations in their native habitat.  This was really fun.  That whole weekend was amazing though.  I went on SF Bike Party and visited some friends in the East Bay.

One thing I didn’t do was pay attention to the things that matter.  For instance the first thing I needed to do Monday was fix my computer (again).  I also have had to stop by a restaurant in the Inner Sunset to see if a certain waitress is working.  Tonight I am planning on meeting a friend to participate in a weekly bike ride.

This series chronicles my life at regular intervals. This Memo series is meant to be a retrospective of what I have written and experienced. In each of these posts I use my notes in conjunction with memory, mementos and souvenirs to create a snap shot of my life.

Amazing I Made it Home at all

I rode my bike on Overlook Drive past a bunch of tree mulch and two trucks that were not city vehicles.  I then rode to the Panhandle where a Ford Mustage took an illegal left from the center lane on Fell nearly killing me.  I rode Grove street across Divisadero, around Alamo Square and down Fulton where someone insisted I get out of his way so that he could wait at a stop sign (I didn't).  I made it to Franklin where a BMW tried to move me out of the way as well.  I also had to fight with a taxi.  I rode to Union Square with less trouble.

After I parked the bike I walked to the art galleries on Post and Geary.  I took the elevator to the top floor on 251 Post and grabbed a postcard at Hespe.  Kim Cogan had a great piece that was straight out of my teenage years.  Also, Scott Richards had a great piece that I liked by Chris Dorosz called Stasis.  I then went to 49 Geary where the Hanes Gallery had a set of fantastic daguerreotypes by Binh Danh as well as a piece from Ai Weiwei.  Finally there was Ansel Adams' Manzanar Project at the Scott Nichols.

I had dinner at Cafe de la Presse and then walked to Visuvio to see my friend Dave who tends there bar there.  I saw Obama address the Democratic convention there talking about Hope and Freedom.  When I left I walked to my bike and then tried to make it out of Union Square, which is impossible by the way.  I only rode the wrong way once.  What is Peter York Street for anyway??

Later I had a lot of trouble on Page Street, where a lady called me a bitch while trying to pass me as I was passing a double parked car near Pierce.  I made it across Divisadero and through Golden Gate Park but at 3rd and Lincoln some nut was taking a left off of Frederick and nearly killed myself and two other cyclists.  Finally, I had a run in with someone who tried to pass me while I was passing another cyclist at 16th and irving.  Amazing I made it home at all.