2 dozen.

...years.

a birthday and some thoughts.

i'm feeling a little uninspired, but it's been awhile since my last update, and it's not like i've been thinking any less.

so, instead, a few photos and a video.

something about waking up and seeing these starts my day off right.

for the first time ever, i spent a weekend in the world of comics: wondercon!

it also happened to be iPad launch weekend, so this picture pretty much sums it up.

that's right, lambo has discovered his alterego.

krypto, the super dog!

the past month has been amazing. 

i feel like i'm finally settling into my life here in san francisco,

finding the places i belong,

discovering the things i want to do and become,

making meaningful memories,

and creating lasting relationships.

it's a community of friends, coworkers, and adventurous minds.

we may not all be the same (although we're probably equally geeky),

but they're my favorite because they embrace life with as much passion as i do.

i put lambo in michael & robert's hands and this is what happens.
good thing lambo's used to it :)

it may not have been huge, but it was a super special birthday.

if i knew how to embed a video from mobileme, it'd be here... but for now, just follow the link :)

http://gallery.me.com/jochin/100114

already | not yet

it's a paradox, the "now-ness" of the future.

at church today, it was described in context of the kingdom of heaven - this promise of positive change, and the hopes that we hold for both now and later, which holds true in a way that is applicable and yet larger than life.

growing up, i knew nothing about a world outside of my own. God was God, belief was belief, and my faith was one of childlike innocence/naivete. then i started seeing the world as it is, and i needed to figure everything out all over again on my own. it became more about the action than the belief -- who i wanted to become, what i wanted to embody, and what to do about the things i don't understand. i neither wanted to live in oblivion of reality, nor did i want to live hating things out of ignorance.

these were huge reasons for my moving to san francisco. not only was i afraid of becoming complacent in a sweet, sheltered suburban lifestyle, but i also could not miss out on an opportunity to challenge myself.

my future is not just ahead of me, but it's also right in front of me.

i can't be waiting for it to happen, because it's already happening;

i can't settle with right now, because it's still unfolding.

[man. that's heavy... it's been on my mind all day]

"if you think you have it half-figured out, you're all the way wrong"

-dave lomas

anyway. realitysf was an amazing experience: a new church service taking place at an awesome location (the swedish american hall), a message that tackles the bigger questions in a very real way, a gathering that feeds the soul.

so often i just want to leave a lasting impression with others, be certain of my purpose, and love people. it's nice to be reminded that the biggest impact i am making is on myself, and that there is something so much bigger than me in control.

i saw a tweet that really stuck with me from a close friend of mine:

My life is more f*ed up than ever, but I'm happier than I've been in a long time. Does that mean I'm a crazy person?

to which i responded:

it means you're human and you're embracing the imperfections that make life beautiful. <3

...who says we're supposed to be perfect and have it all together?

i <3 san francisco

summer = busy at work.

as an event coordinator, my schedule revolves around [surprise, surprise]... events, which means i don't necessarily get my 2 days off together, and most certainly do NOT get weekends off.
when i realized that i had wednesday-thursday off AND didn't have work until 4:30 on friday,
the fiercely spontaneous adventuregirl in me demanded to go somewhere.

so i booked a flight to san francisco, and the trip (despite flight delays on both ends, one of them being 4 hours and putting me 3 hours late to work) was completely worth it
and just what i needed.

my time with honabear


+quality food


there's always something interesting in the city









[and i'm pretty sure that's true]












[berkeley has captivated me]








i want to live here



P.S.

how can anybody be mad at traffic when you have these faces on your window?
nice job, vicki haha

+lesson learned: don't fly jetblue through SFO
+see you sept 3, san francisco + friends!
+buy tix in advance for Nightlife @ Academy of Sciences
+it really is a small world

the very late, worth the wait, all-about-our-SF-trip BLOG DATE

in honor of the new month (hello, february) - what better way to bring it in than to reflect on what was going on exactly one month ago?

and i'm sure you're all quite bright and have figured out why i named this a blog date --
1. because it requires time to be set aside
2. and the more time you spend with it, the more fond of it you become

here we go...

15 things to do in san francisco (in no particular order)

1. take pictures of every moment (it's the journey, not the destination)

and DON'T let your wallet go missing in the dark abyss of airplane underseat storage.

(major props to jetblue for their great customer service at midnight... thanks rick @ sfo!)

2. check out the art around SFO

3a. Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, Cable Cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Union Square at night.
you are a tourist, so be a tourist.

3b. take pictures of everything that catches your eye.

4. ride the BART, MUNI, and caltrain. public transportation here kicks butt.

5. use YELP, word-of-mouth, or gut instinct, and find cafes, bars, and shops that you will remember for character, like Dan Sung Sa, Tartine bakery&cafe, and King Wah

6. chinatown - you'll never know what your fortune has in store for you

7. Zeum & Exploratorium - you don't have to be a kid to be creative and curious

8. Be a part of something bigger. join a protest.

9. of course, SF Center and Metreon

10. party hard with friends, then eat at Mel's Diner. or be sure to go to Tad's Steakhouse.

go ahead. indulge in cheap eats.

11. Berkeley: Scharffen Berger chocolate factory tours, Zachary's pizza, and Top Dog

12. Golden Gate Park: be superhuman at the Japanese Tea Garden, and also check out the haunted Stowe Lake ;)

13. GROCERY store! our trail mix and jug of water took us a long way.

14a. take a day to just explore, enjoy, and play in Mission District.
wander the streets & alleys and discover
murals,

playgrounds,

and awesome street art for yourself.

14b. buy fruit at a fruit stand, and bacon wrapped hot-dogs from a street cart.

15a. plan your trip, use a travel guide

15b. but allow flexibility. choose to walk... the city offers you more when you do ;)

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