four-twenty-two

Today, Klover and I went to the Maker Faire in San Mateo. Put on by make magazine, the Maker Faire was like a big science fair that promoted self-expression, invention-making, and general dorkiness. We had fun taking pictures of ballons popping in the dark, making LED color graffiti on a school bus, watching the Mad Scientist perform with the Thimbletron, gawking at the iPod + Record player combo, watching the eggbot make graphic designs on eggs, playing free pinball, eating Vegan breakfast and lunch (NOT!), taking pictures in Penninsula Grille, and playing in the constellation light beams. I think that people now (more than ever) are more interested in putting their personal stamp on things. Technologies and products that do best are the ones that are open and give us the freedom to modify them to our own liking, whether they be cars, computers, software, art, whatever. Maker Faire was a celebration of both the creative freedom that technologies and products are giving us, as well as the creative spirit that is currently promoted in society. Though I am not personally interested in making a jambox with a PSP screen in the speaker, I am interested in looking beyond the normal use and accepted beliefs about things and trying to find ways to extend them and/or make them my own. That night, the SF Int'l Film Festival was taking place at Kabuki Theatre. Jer got us two tickets to see Factotum, the film based on the Charles Bukowski novel (which is the only Bukowski novel I'd read.) It starred Matt Dillion, Lili Taylor, and Marisa Tomei, and was showing in two theatres. Both theatres were packed, but Jer and I saw two seats together in the aisles. In the middle of the film, the actual film reel caught on fire and blazed through the actual film strip, so we had to take a brief intermission while the spliced the film together. Then, and the end Matt Dillion himself actually came from the back of the room and stepped up to the stage to do a live Q & A session with the audience. Though none of the questions or his responses were particularly earth shattering, I still got a charge from the event.

Other than that, lots of shows -- had dinner in North Beach and a French | Spanish Tapas restaurant, then saw Pinback on Friday, which wasn't bad. Saw Umphrey's McGee 2 nights at the Fillmore last week, and before that, saw Jerry Joseph & Dave Schools at the Independent, then Ming + Ping at Rickshaw (which was SO much fun!!!) Work has been getting better, and I'm getting more and more excited about what could be coming up for us. While I've waivered in my belief about the company, I feel more compelled than ever to stick around right now. And the rain has FINALLY taken a bathroom break.

four-one

Noise Pop! The fun continues. Every show I've been to has been sold out, so the venues have been packed to the gills. Caught Feist on Tuesday at Bimbo's, Tommy Guerrero at Cafe Du Nord on Wednesday, and Rogue Wave at Bimbo's on Thursday. Aqueduct, the RW opener was my favorite new find. Tonight, catching Wolfmother at Bottom of the Hill -- another sold out show. That's after the Sarah Silverman / Jimmy Kimmel / Patton Oswald comedy showcase for 826 Valencia AND an in-store w/ Band of Horses this afternoon at Amoeba. Whew!

three-twenty-five

Have stayed buried at the office for the last week, but work is getting better. We've fallen into an opportunity to become a major content supplier for fields outside of technology, and I'm very happy about that proposition. I've gone full force back into the workout schedule and while its a ridiculous time suck, its amazing what it does for my state of mind. Up up up!

The SXSW music festival was in Austin, TX last week, and after seeing & hearing all of the news from the event, I've decided that not going next year is not and option. They podcasted some of the Keynote speakers at the SXSW festival, and its been amazing to get a chance to listed to some of the folks who started 37signals, Craigslist, etc. talk about their experiences. Craig Newmark made the comment that one thing he's learned from running Craigslist is that everyone everywhere wants pretty much the same things (he went on to say that in San Francisco, however, they are just more vocal about it!) The guy from 37signals had an interesting take on starting your own business, and made the memorable comment that you should do less rather than more. Give yourself less time, and you'll get more finished. Promise less features and do those really really well. I'm trying to incorporate this into my own life without getting plain lazy.

Duke lost to LSU, making it only one place further in the NCAA tourney than the Heels. Thank goodness.

Thursday night, I took Trish to Rickshaw Stop to see the Double, a new band on Matador Records. Trish has a V8 engine in here throat, running her mouth on overdrive. But she's also extremely energetic and being around here makes you want to accomplish more more more. I could never be like that, but you need to be around creative, energetic people so you can get your own mind flowing. Speaking of that, I've started a third story and put the second one up for awhile. The new one will take place here in SF ~ it will be the first one I've set here. I keep thinking about Jack Kerouac's quote about short stories being like his children that he brought up and nurtured. I used to just knock these things out, but lately, I've found that I ponder the details of the stories much more than I used to, making them more difficult to get down on paper. But they're coming.

Last night, I took Tran to see V for Vendetta at the iMAX theatre (the HUGE screen), then drinks at Blur. Its been raining everyday, but today, the sun is finally bringing everyone outside.

three-nineteen

The weekend was incredibly relaxing, and I think it was a long time coming. Saturday started at a friends house to watch the first of the NCAA games. Kasey picked me up around two o'clock, and we did a nice long run / hike through the TVA, to the beach, and then up to a peak where you could see both the ocean, Marin, the city, and GG Bridge. Beautiful day, and I was glad that I skipped going to the Tourist Club in Muir Woods with everyone. That evening was spent over at Brock's apartment in Richmond after chowing down at the new Green Chile Kitchen on Fulton. Sunday, I woke up thinking I had to go to work, so realizing that all I had to do was watch Tarheel basketball was a relief. If only we had won the damn game!

three-seventeen

saw one of my favorite authors, Michelle Tea, do a reading at the Varnish Art Gallery on Natoma b/w 1st and 2nd street. She was proceeded by authors Tara Jepsen (who was quite funny), Stephen Elliot (not as funny), and Beth Lisick (funny, but not as funny as she thinks she is). Michelle was only partially humorous tonight, and I wonder if that speaks to the levity of her new book, Rose of No Man's Land. She is an inspiring human being, so much that I'm actually staying home to work on my own story instead of going out to brave the St. Patrick's Day shenanigans. Had I not been by myself, I would have stayed longer ~ it was a really interesting venue. However, going solo, plus seeing a girl there that I (sort of) went out with several months ago...with her new girlfriend...enticed me into cruising back towards MUNI and checking the Tarheel game score. The week was mostly average, with a brain-busting / leg-destroying work out on Thursday. The weekend looks to be lower than low-key, since I took a minor hit from the Montreal plane ticket. It will be worth it!!!