I’m home.
Well, I got in yesterday after a grueling but efficient five hour drive. I noticed that most of those big rig drivers are surprisingly considerate. They really tried to get out of my way when they could so I could continue at a steady 85-90 mph. On the flip-side there were some really stupid and dangerous drivers. Some Asian kid in a ’90s Camry blew past me, cutting me off by a few feet going at a ridiculous speed. I matched him just to see how fast he was going – 125 mph. WTF man! He’s literally topping out his engine the whole time. Dumbass kids.
No, I didn’t buy that racing fuel. I was just impressed by the high octane pump at the local 76. Usually, you have to buy that stuff by the container-full. Still, it would be a waste for a 5 hour cruise home. Speaking of racing, the night before I left I pulled up next to something special on my commute home.
For those that don’t know, that’s an Aston Martin DB9. Being rich in L.A., you buy a Ferrari and you’re a just an arrogant bastard – buy an Aston and you’re an automotive connoisseur. Sorry about the terrible pic quality, it was taken at the beginning of my left turn with my camera phone through that bug-stained window. (My poor Evo.) The driver was a guy in his late 50’s, I presume. I gave him a thumbs up before he gunned that melodic engine and roared away.
I had a late dinner with Chris at a Korean BBQ place called Tahoe. We ate way too much. I could feel the saturated fat stack up and clog my arteries. But, you gotta do whatcha gotta do.
[We had about 5 plates of that quantity. Yep, we're that hardcore.]
Do I miss LA? I miss the people a bit. The city itself is pretty cool, but just doesn’t have the laid-back feel of NorCal that I love so much. It’s good to be back.
Mm, short and sweet post. ‘Tis all.
So this will be a discombobulated post. Yes, discombobulated. I could have used messy, or gasp, disorderly, but no, discombobulated. Syntax is such a fickle thing.
First of all, a little cool internet how-to to share. This one is for anyone who enjoys some damn good writing. Not typing, but writing. Those who take notice of how the pen flows and curves on the page. I’m one of those people. I’ve always been fascinated by the written word, venturing into the artistic realm of graffiti and a religious adherence to cursive as my weapon of choice for quick midterm writing.
I used to use a lot of architect specific technical pens (stolen from my dad’s desk) from Pilot called the “Razor Point” series. They are great for their precision. However, they don’t really glide across the page like a good ballpoint pen would. They feel more make writing with a scalpel – not the best feeling.
I actually had this pen I borrowed from my friend Jordan years and years ago, but I always loved that pen. Apparently, this was the holy grail of modern cheapish pens called the Pilot G2. This pen rocks. It just feels so fluid, my lord, it practically writes for you. However, my cousin in Japan told me he could top it. He whips out a 20,000 yen ($200) Mont Blanc pen and lets it loose. HOLY HELL, it blew my mind. Needless to say, when I read about this instructables on how to create a Mont Blanc pen using the shell from a G2, I nearly died out of writing glee. Yes, I’m insane like that. It’s the most simple concept ever – $15 dollars and 3 minutes to create the equivalent (writing-wise) of a $200 pen-masterpiece. FUCK YES.
Anyhow, back to more worldly matters. The new Common album has given way to old school Queen (in godly FLAC quality) and rocking the ears at the moment. I will finish my internship on Tuesday (5) days from now. It went by as slowly and as quickly as I thought it would. Today, I found a place that would make one thousand stickers to put on our display hooks. Then I pulled around 400 shoes for an athletic show convention. Those kind of dull jobs makes TOMS seem as exciting as white bread (which in it’s defense, is exciting enough).
However, TOMS is quite the fireworks of a company when I really look at it. Blake, our founder, was personally invited by former President Clinton to attend his annual Clinton Global Initiatives – a networking, seminar thing that has the power to really throw around some big bucks in the name of philanthropy. Bono will be on the guest list so you know it’s for the rich do-gooders. We are also being noticed by the other firms and being praised as “revolutionary” and “the only one of it’s kind.” Damn, maybe we are like white bread during its conception. YEAST (+) FLOUR (-) WHEAT, HOLY SHIT!
Upon coming home, I know this was quite a great experience, but I’ve posted about that nonsense already so I’ll save you the pain. Also upon coming home, I think I’m going to really turn a corner in my life. I hope everything starts out well next semester. I have two great clubs to help build up, and other personal matters to attend to. I’m going to declare and get my major(s) in order. This is the precursor to either an awesome, life-affirming time, or an absolutely disastrous hell of a time. Either way, it’ll be interesting to say the least.
Like I said before, I am planning a bonfire @ Ocean beach in San Francisco. I have it marked on my calendar as the 24th of August, Friday. Ocean beach has this first-come-first-serve policy on its fire pits which you have to use if you want fire. I think it would be great if we could get there in the afternoon prior to sunset as the bridge and the ocean serve as a backdrop for possibly the coolest sunset ever. Well, if the fog is merciful.
Smorey goodness will occur if Tobias the firemaster can tend to a nice one. Bring something to toss around and that’s all I would want before school starts. Just one good night with some friends. Inform me if you’re down – before Saturday please.
‘Tis all folks.
It’s been two weeks since settling down here. It’s been a lot better than I would have imagined it, but still, who the fuck am I kidding – I want home. Oh, there was much to be learned here in LA and I think I have gotten a good taste of social entrepreneurship and some motivation on where I want to go in life.
Honestly though, I felt pretty incomplete when I left home and I want to go wrap up some business I need to take care of. I need to get my classes in order so next year’s schedule-which also happens to include the start-up of two clubs-doesn’t absolutely destroy my already weakened soul.
Hrm, do you guys even want to cut-off thing where you have to click “more?” I’ll just try a damn long post.
I’ve been sustained by the movies I have downloaded and some good music. Newest edition – the new Common album: Finding Forever. The lyrics are killer and the beats have the Mr. West touch. Kanye’s lyric’s may be shot to hell, but the man can put together a beat. Jaeman also put some of his stuff in my flash drive so I’m chock full of musical discovery right now. Shiny Toy Guns seems to catch my fancy. Is that even a phrase?
My team leader at work started calling me “Steve-Z” so I am going to watch The Life Aquatic soon – I hear it is a fine film. Oh, also, I watched the new Top Gear episode. Just let me say. If Jeremy Clarkson and the Hamster failed to prove their deity-status with their race across Europe for a truffle (Aston Martin DB9 vs Swiss Train System), then there can be no doubt they are the Gods of automotive splendor and television nirvana after this special.
Jeremy and James in a polar-prepped Toyota Helix race Hammond on a dog-sled team to the fucking North Pole. I won’t ruin anything but just let me say, this one is historical. They were going for record books as the first people to drive to the North Pole. There’s some epic, epic moments in there for any fan of the show or anyone, really.
I really can not extol enough the merits of Top Gear. It is beautifully shot, it is hilarious, it is about the coolest machines in the world and everything clicks together in a mesh of goodness. OH MAN. So I went to a-thinking about what I could compare Top Gear to – and now I have it, as crazy as this will sound.
Top Gear is like the perfect girlfriend.
1. Looks and sounds classy and beautiful.
2. Has a witty, sarcastic sense of humor.
3. Can mix deep, moving moments with the levity needed to keep things interesting.
4. Motivated by the challenge of the present and always trying to progress from the past.
5. And of course, loyal to the cause!
I better apply for a marriage soon.
In other news, (Damn, this Shiny Toy Guns is really rocking it), my car is going to get a kick in the ECU soon. Yummy speed soon to come, yep. I have been dreaming about perfect, behind the back, around 2 defenders, in the lane assists. I need to ball, soon and potently – no idea how that would work, but it needs to happen.
Finally,
Let’s have a get together before the semester systems start. Bonfire @ Ocean anyone? I’ll bring the … ocean.
‘Tis all for now folks.
I’m here in LA. Weather-wise, it is really, really nice. I live in Marina Del Rey so it is always a cool 70ish with a slight tinge of humidity. I’m about two blocks from the ocean and I have a pretty sweet, sunlit room.
I’m down here working at TOMS shoes , a up and coming shoe company that makes slip-ons based off an old Argentine style. Why the hell would you intern at a show company, you’re an econ major, you may ask. Well, TOMS is a bit special. For every shoe we sell, we donate a shoe to a kid in a third world nation. For instance, this November, we plan to donate 40,000 pairs to kids in Africa.
This social business model is something I’m very interested in. Just like how I’m more into the development part of economics than the finance and such, I am much more interested in how business can help the world than how it can take from it. I had an experience with philanthropic for-profit places before. One summer I had a job where I would cold-greet people on the streets of SF trying to get them to sponsor kids. It was called Dialogue-Direct, I think. That job really pissed me off. People there were really more interested in the commission (you could get paid up to 40/hr in some cases) than the cause. At TOMS, we run around like a shoe company. However, the cause seems to be the driving force behind the employees and interns – it just seems so much more genuine.
More after the jump.
