The power of rhetoric

Hillary is TOTALY my homegirl in the 2008 Primaries, but you have to admit just how incredible Barack Obama is as a speaker.  I keep on watching the Will.I.Am video (the first one, "Yes We Can", because there is now a second video that you can find on YouTube) and thinking... Wow.  Every time I listen to this speech - a concession speech; I mean he made this not because he won New Hampshire but because he LOST! - I almost cry... almost.  It's just incredibly inspirational.  Seriously, we need more Obamas in U.S. Politics.  My favorite line in the speech is, "[I]n the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope."  Remarkable.

Watch the video:



Here is a the second video that I referenced. My favorite line is when the young woman is saying, "I think the think that inspires me the most about Obama is that he really is going to be the president of the United States. He's not going to be the president of the top ten percent, or the president of the most powerful corporations, or president of the most powerful lobbyists. He's going to be our president. He's going to speak for us, because we put him there."

And seriously, mad props for making the video in both Spanish and English. This country needs to realize that in a "Nation of Immigrants" that language needs to be embraced! We need to embrace our multinational heritage and recognize those who are linguistically persecuted.

Update on my breakup with A-town

Ok, so I'm back on a positive upswing with Atlanta. It all started when I was driving South one night on 75/85 from Buckhead and right when you hit the Connector you get this unbelievable view of the Midtown skyline on your left hand side. It's just such a beautiful city at night, I loved just loosing myself in the lights and the skyscrapers - then I had to snap myself out of that trance to avoid hitting the median.

I think my disdain that I expressed in my last entry came mostly from the fact that I was still recovering from being ripped out of the "easy life" of living in San Francisco. It's been about four months since that last post, and examining everything I've gotten back into my groove. I have good friends, I have my hangouts, and I know where I'm going almost all of the time. I've worked really hard over the last two years to make Atlanta home, and as graduation approaches I think I've done a damn good job.

I think the important thing that I realized is that Atlanta is a great city, but it's not MY great city. What Atlanta is to me was a wonderful place to spend two years, and I learned so much in that time frame. I think Atlanta made me grow up a little bit, it really is one of the best places in my opinion to learn how to be an "adult" immediately after one graduates from college. I had my own apartment, paid bills, car insurance, etc. I learned how to manage my time without having the structure of an undergraduate course schedule. I learned what it was like to NOT live on a college campus, but to really be a part of the city. For the past two years, I've become more independent, learned how to make friends who I didn't go to school with, work with, or have class with. I've met some great people here in Atlanta and I laugh when I think that I will most likely be visiting this city one day to spend time with those people. Never in my life would I ever think I'd be a "visitor" in Atlanta.

I am looking forward to "starting over" for the last time - at least the last time for about the next 5 years or so - in California. I think it will be a great career move, I love that I can leave my car behind and not have to worry about driving everywhere. It'll be amazing to be able to walk outside to run my errands, to be social in my commute rather than alone in a car, and to have extra opportunities to bond with my neighborhood and surrounding community. It'll be great to get some exercise on a daily basis without having to go to the gym, and to be able to see the ocean whenever I want to. It'll be nice to breathe clean air and not have to worry about staying inside on heavy smog days. But of all these things I'm mentioning, they are only characteristics of the location, and not of me or the people. I have grown so much here and I will be able to take everything I've learned to any location I move to.

When I was thinking about the friends I do have in Atlanta, I realized that many of them are transplants to this city just like I am - and only a very small handful are staying in Atlanta. Many of my friends are moving to DC, NYC, or moving abroad (Adam to China, Xiah to peacecorps). Some are even moving to California. Just like in college, once graduation passes we are going to scatter to the wind and only God knows where we'll settle. In those infamous "what-if" scenarios, such as, "what if I stayed in Atlanta?" I realized that I would have to start over anyway. 90% of my friends that I have spent the last two years would be gone, I'd have a new job, new apartment - essentially a completely new life! I know that in this what-if scenario I would be able to start on a clean slate in Atlanta. But in the spirit of adventure, why start over in the city I am already in when I can do it in a new city?!

I've moved so many times in the last few years, that when someone asks me, "Where are you from?" I have to stop and think and I get a little confused myself as to what the appropriate answer is. In my lifetime I have lived in Springfield, IL; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; Madrid, Spain; Atlanta, GA; and now San Francisco, CA. I vote in Illinois even though I have not physically lived there in the last 6 years. I've gotten into the habit of just telling people the most recent place I've lived when they ask me where I'm from. Will I tell people I'm from Atlanta when I move to San Francisco? Not sure. But I am certain that I can't wait until the day when I can finally tell people my hometown with confidence.

My breakup with A-town

I feel absolutely horrible that I've neglected my blog. I mean, this summer was probably my most wired summer since I can remember, and then I get back to Atlanta and it seems like my internet persona ceases to exist! I really miss that aspect of San Francisco. The fact that it's normal to be online, to write a blog, to review on yelp, to have a flickr page... Atlanta will get there one day, but like most things in the South - we're always one or two steps behind the rest of the country.

So it's been about two months since I last posted. My last entry reflected on leaving the West Coast, my doubts, hopes fears, and excitement at what new things would be coming my way. I will attempt to give a brief overview of how things have been going thusfar and my predictions for the future.

These last two months in Atlanta have been probably the most difficult since I moved here the summer of 2006. The newness of Atlanta has worn off and I find myself struggling to reconnect to a city that I was once so excited about. I find myself constantly comparing the city to other places that I have lived, and it's very infrequent that the comparison is in Atlanta's favor. When looking back on my summer out West - when I was constantly defending Atlanta as being a great place to live, and how much I missed it - I realize now that I was romanticizing the few things that won out, and even some of the things that were borderline that I have now realized have fallen on the wrong side of my proverbial fence.

It's hard, I guess, to move from San Francisco to anywhere else in the country. It truly is a remarkable city. I am trying not to do with San Francisco what I did with Atlanta, and that is romanticize the good things (and some of the bad) while forgetting the problems that I did have with the city. I keep telling myself that the crime is more in your face in SF than ATL, the city is dirtier than most (despite it's reputation at being very green and environmentally friendly), the music scene seems to be a bit lacking, the gays are the most aggressive of any city I've lived in... Unfortunately my "con" list for ATL continues much further than the one I'm trying to keep for SF: traffic, gas prices, smog, lower salaries, being surrounded by a sea of political red, and just a general lack of connection with the rest of the country as to what's cool and new and fun. ATL really is an oasis - and I think that's my biggest problem. I'm too social of a person to feel as isolated as I do.

I really don't want this entry to sound as negative as the direction it is currently heading. I have alot of friends in the city, and alot of friends who are ATL natives whom I really do not want to offend. But what it boils down to is different strokes for different folks. ATL is great for a certain type of person and it just doesn't seem like it's great for me. And it's definitely not for lack of trying - I've invested so much time and effort, much more than any other city I've lived in, to really be able to call ATL home. Something just still seems to be missing, and I think it's just a matter of chemistry. It's not you ATL, it's me. This relationship just simply is not going to work.

I think a big contributing factor to my feelings of isolation and my lack of chemistry with this city is the fact that I spend a good hour or so every day alone in my car. I rarely walk anywhere - despite my efforts to be outside as much as possible. I even moved to a more walkable neighborhood to facilitate my desire to know the city, to meet my neighbors, and become friendly with my immediate surroundings. Being in my car so much allows me to know street names really well, but that's all I'm really looking at. I'm too focused on the routes, the bad drivers, and not crashing my car to really take a good look at this city. I feel disconnected, but I feel like ATL is not making it easier to not be this way. The thing I liked the most about SF was the incredible public transportation system. It forced me to get out of the car and take a look at exactly what was situated along my route as opposed to the route itself. I walked more, I looked around more, I took more detours, and I really got to learn my surroundings. This also happened in Boston and Madrid - two other places with incredible public transport.

Despite my protests about ATL, I'm still trying to make the most of what time I have remaining. My short list of places I love has quickly grown into my short list of places I'm obsessed with for the sole reason that I frequent them practically every day. I'm still trying to explore new places and hangouts in a desperate attempt to make this city mine again. I will reconnect goddammit! I definitely take the attitude that one is way more miserable if he allows himself to be. I know ATL is not for me, but for now I'm stuck here so I might as well make good.

I know this post may be offensive to my friends who are native Atlantans, or who have settled into ATL as their permanent home. I know that as my friends, you will understand and appreciate my efforts (and continued efforts) to really love this city. I know you will understand that I have given it my all, and that sometimes we just have to realize that instead of letting my views on this city fester and spoil, that I'm going out on as good a note that I am able with my good memories as intact as they are able to be. Thank you ATL, you were a great growing experience for me. I'm ready for my next challenge.

Mixed Emotions

Today at work I packed up my office, took all my stuff that was in my cubicle, marched down to the post office and after dealing with a disgruntled USPS employee shipped my work stuff to my new home in Atlanta. CRAZY! Tomorrow is the last day of my internship. After spending 4 extremely productive months in this office, I really don't want to leave. I feel like I'm finally comfortable, finally making real progress, and making a significant contribution to the projects I have been assigned for the summer. I know that there's only one more year of graduate school and I'll be thrown right back into the working world, but I've had a taste of what stability feels like and I really enjoy it! I enjoyed it way more than I expected - because I consider myself a relatively spontaneous person, moving all over the country and the world at the drop of a hat, etc. At the same time I'm both excited and grateful that I'm returning to a city I love. I know I've mentioned this before, but I really love being in Atlanta. I guess this final year of school and concurrent year of job searching will truely decide if I'm meant to be a Southern boy or a West Coaster. So for now, I'm going to enjoy my last summer weekend in San Francisco, get my shit together, and head on down to the ATL on Tuesday. Thank you San Francisco for giving me four wonderful months of great new friends, new experiences, and the feeling of being "home." This was an incredible opportunity, and I'm so lucky that I was able to be here. So no goodbye's, just see you laters... who knows, come May 2008 I may be back for good!

Yelp!

Since moving to San Francisco - which is a HUGE internet oriented city - I've fallen deeply in love with Yelp! It's an online reviews and ratings website for a bunch of major US cities. I've been using them alot to find cool new places to check out, especially restaurants and clubs. I even used them to find the hotel Allister and I stayed at in West Hollywood. Like every ratings website, you have to read the reviews with a grain of salt. I usually check out the reviewers too to see if they have balanced overall ratings for the things they talk about. I don't put credit in people who ONLY say bad things all the time or ONLY say good things all the time. Generally, I trust the ratings if there are more than 50 or so reviews. Now, you can see the places that I've decided to review by looking at the little Yelp map on the right hand side of my blog! I don't have too many yet, but I'm excited that Yelp also covers Atlanta! I'm glad to know that I won't loose this valuable resource when I leave the Bay Area in 12 days (*tear*). Enjoy!

Adónde fui?

Wow! It's been forever since I've blogged and so much has happened :) I apologize to all my readers for disappearing like I did. This past few weeks have been literally jam packed with craziness (the good kind). I will do my best to recount my adventures.

2 wisdom teeth down, so am I now less wise?
I finally had my wisdom teeth taken out! I've had them for a while now - I'd say it's been about 3 or 4 years since they had been fully grown out, and it's been a painful process. Usually the pain only lasted a day or two and then I forgot that they were even there. Unfortunately, when my parents and little brother came back in the middle of July my wisdom teeth decided to give me one final knockout punch. I had a hard time enjoying some of the great restaurants we went to in Carmel, Monterey, and Napa because I could barely open my mouth I was in so much pain. Turns out one of my wisdom teeth was infected and needed to go immediately. No more waiting. So as soon as I returned to San Francisco I made an appointment with a dentist that was recommended by a friend. A few days, and some antibiotics later I was ready for the pull. Turns out I only had two wisdom teeth, and just the top ones (thank God, because the bottom ones are harder and more painful to remove). I received some laughing gas, and honestly the two teeth came out in about 15 minutes total... 13 of those minutes was for the gas to take effect and about another minute for each tooth! Amazingly simply and easy. They literally just popped right out, no wiggling, pounding, or sledgehammering necessary. The bleeding stopped later that night - I didn't even have to take the Vicadin they prescribed me - and I was eating solid foods the next day. No swelling no nothing. I know that I am extremely lucky, because usually this is a painful and long drawn out healing process. But nevertheless, I'm grateful that I never have to go through that ever again.

Best friend!
My best friend from college, Dave, came to visit me the last week in July. Unfortunately, his trip overlapped with me getting my wisdom teeth removed; but lucky for both him and me I was healed in no time and ready to party. Dave and I went out on the town for drinks and debauchery every single night he was here (Wednesday to Tuesday) with the exception of wisdom teeth day. Besides the partying, it was a really chill visit. Dave was able to see alot of the city and explore all the different neighborhoods the city has to offer. One of the most exciting things we did was take a little road trip with Allister and Mike up to Marin County across the Golden Gate Bridge. We took a pit stop of the cute little town of Mill Valley before heading to Muir Woods - home of some very beautiful and very tall Redwood trees. Dave and I also tooled around Berkeley and saw M.I.A. perform at the famous Amoeba Records. I'm really glad that Dave was able to come out to San Francisco. I can't believe it's been a whole year since we've seen each other! Now that he's visited me, it's my turn to visit him up in Princeton next!

The interim
After having to entertain both my family and Dave I was pretty exhausted. I definitely needed some ME time!!! I'm so grateful I pretty much got to relax the first part of August. So relaxing to just come home and not have anything to do. I watched alot of movies and started reading the last Harry Potter book (I'm not done yet, so please no one ruin the ending for me!!!). Allister and I also started planning our little getaway weekend in Los Angeles. My sort of last blast vacation before I leave California for the summer. Two weekends of pretty chill partying, hanging out with my SF friends, and taking in the last glorious moments of summertime.

Los Angeles!
Allister and I decided that it would be a great idea to spend a weekend alone - no distractions! - in Los Angeles. We flew down this past Thursday and stayed until Monday. We rented a Prius so that we could get around town and we were good to go! By the way, LOVE the Prius! We didn't have to fill up the entire trip and we drove about 400 miles. I think our average MPG was about 42. Crazy! Very smooth ride, and now I really want one! Allister and I stayed in this really cute boutique hotel in West Hollywood on our first night called the Valadon. It was great because it was in walking distance to all the best clubs and restaurants (which is rare in LA - walking that is). That night we ate an incredible dinner at Koi (Asian fusion) and then partied it up at the Abbey. Basically Thursday was our splurge day, but it was soooooo worth it. Everyone deserves to be pampered every once in a while! Friday Al and I headed over to hang out with his friend Jane in Silver Lake. We had an incredible brunch at Fred 62 and then saw the MoCA, the Disney Concert Hall (a building by Frank Ghery) and then watched the sunset at the Griffith Observatory. So romantic! Saturday we hung out at the very chilly beaches in Malibu. The drive to get there was gorgeous and the houses we saw on the way were gigantic! We topped the night off with great food at Hugo's restaurant and another visit to the Abbey. Sunday was our touristy day and we saw the Hollywood walk of fame and Grauman's Chinese Theater. Then we jetted off to Beverley Hills and strolled along Rodeo Drive. Monday was relaxing, since we had to head to LAX to catch our flight so we spent the afternoon hours just strolling through Pasadena. I really liked this little town and I want to spend a bit more time here on my next trip! Overall LA was a great vacation - definitely one of the best! It was wonderful being able to spend some private time with Al, and it was probably the best way I can think of to celebrate my successful summer in Cali.

So now I only have 2 more weeks before I have to return to Atlanta! I can't believe it's already the end - an end that felt so far away and impossible when I first arrived back in May. It's definitely been worth every moment. It was nice to finally have some stability - good job, good income, good friends, good house, good city, and let's not forget good boyfriend. Having tasted what it's like to FINALLY stay put in one place makes it really hard to be uprooted again. But it definitely makes it easier that I'm going back to a city I love and friends who I have missed dearly. I'm going to really enjoy these next two weeks here in San Francisco, and who knows, I may even come back. After this summer, I can really see myself living in the Bay Area after graduation. It's a definite possibility. If anything, this summer has given me another place that I can call home.

Hiatus and Dental Hygiene

I realize I haven't posted anything in a while, but I promise I haven't forgotten about my blog. Alot has been going on in July -- Portland, OR to visit Lauren and Will; a trip to Carmel & Napa with the parents and one of my little brothers; and now my best friend Dave is coming into SF! Talk about being overbooked! I've posted most of the pictures on my flickr page which you can see if you click on the photostream at the top of this page.

This Friday I will be getting my wisdom teeth removed, turns out that the top left one is infected (which is disgusting) and I'm quite honestly in a ton of pain. My diet has been consisting of soft foods and Advil thinking that the problem would just go away on its own, and after it didn't (and just got worse) I finally decided I should just buck up and go to the dentist to get a referral for an oral surgeon. So it looks like I will have a nice drug-induced (Vicadin specifically) weekend to catch my blog up to date. Not something I planned on doing this summer, but at least I know I won't ever have to do it again! Hope everyone else is doing well. Good luck and safe travels to all my friends abroad who will be coming home in the next couple weeks.