#open homes photography san francisco

[scrvivorisms]

Another Maladaptive Daydream of the Partners in Time: A Drabble/ Ficlet based within My Ordinary Life.

Only MUTUALS May turn this into a Thread. Ending left vague and open ended for Said Reply.

Based on This Song

Feat Williams Favorite Car Ride Song

Summary: It is 1994, Maxine is in San Francisco. She met the very young, and very in love Joyce and William. Chloe's parents. Or, to be parents. The oddly cathartic experience, however strange for the teens, only got Maxine thinking.

The Year never mattered. The passage of time all became relativity. As did the subjectiveness of it all. As did ones own humanity, their morals. It all became something that was never concrete. Never stayed for more than the time she was there. It took on the shape that was needed wherever she was. Whoever she was. Every form was Maxine. She made sure of that. The same even voiced, freckled faced woman they'd come to know through the years. Coming and going like wind.

Though, on late nights when the floorboards dug into her shoulder blades, blue orbs ever focusing on the ceiling fan of her current dwelling, she always thought of them. Her. That place. However damaging and changing, Arcadia Bay permeated Maxine's very soul. Every occurrence since then stemmed from it. Even now, being pushed and pulled by time, flung into something other. Places, people, faces... all new. Unknown. Surely, to be nonexistent in such a way, yet the opposite was a punishment of sorts by the universe.

It sure as all hell felt that way today. She was on a path, on a bench during the day, sipping away on a coffee and paging through her journal. Maxine was a Watcher. Ever the Observer of the world. Normally, she wouldn't pay mind to anyone passing by her on this path. They wouldn't remember her. And she, them. Though...that laugh. With the ever Southern twang to it. It made her feel eighteen again. Younger even. And when she looked...

Joyce. And William was with her. They were so, so young. They looked to be barely into their 20s. Eyes full of hopeful youth. And when she looked further: the roundness of Joyce's belly beneath a white tank top was more than apparent. She was very pregnant. With Chloe. Oh....Oh Chloe....

They were talking of everything and nothing. Of what to do with their time in San Francisco on their vacation before the birth. The birth... Everything began playing like a tape in the back of her mind as she watched. They'd stopped. And there. There. William had a camera. An old, eggshell, perhaps tan Kodak Polaroid Instant Camera. The very one he used when she and Chloe were children on Cedar Ave in their home. The one Chloe gave her at eighteen as a gift when Nathan Prescott broke the other. It seemed William was struggling. With getting the right angle, the lighting, all of it. She stood before fully thinking through what she would say or do.

"Need a hand?" His eyes flew up from the camera, from Joyce and to her. He nervously laughed.

"I, uh, yeah." Christ... it still sounded like him. Maxine held out her hand in offering. He handed over the camera which she has and hasn't yet called a companion. The weight is so familiar in her hands. Fingers easily landing on the button to take a picture. Photography was as easy as breathing at 28. So finding the right angle, the rays of the sun hitting their faces. She looked at them expectantly and they then posed. William slung an arm around Joyce and leaned in for a kiss. One which was provided without hesitation, both smiling into it. Maxine took the photo.

"So, you're on a trip." Maxine remarked this handing them both the fresh photo and the camera back.

"What makes you say that?" Joyce's head tilted.

"C'mon... a young couple on a walking path, conveniently in perfect view of the iconic bridge of San Fran? An even more convenient camera? You're tourists." Max finished this with the softest, kindest smile she could muster. The pair laughed.

"Ya caught us." William said haughtily. He went to put the camera away in his tote bag. And then he went to examine the picture. "Damn... lighting's perfect. What do they call that again?"

"Golden Hour."

A quiet nod as they looked on at the photo, then Maxine. This was getting weird. Hell, for everyone else besides her, it would be. No one ever got to meet their Best Friends parents before they became such.

"So, When are they due?"

"March. The beginning of the month if I remember the doctor right." Joyce finished this with the placement of her dainty hand over the baby bump ever so lovingly.

"Did you have a name in mind?"

"Chloe."

"Middle will be Elizabeth." William added on, just as proud, just as excited. Christ, if only they knew what lay ahead... No. Let this be. Let it be.

"You'll make great parents. I mean, look at your faces." Maxine beamed falsely. "You should mark the photo. A title or phrase. This seems like an important moment."

William was all over it. Though, in his bag, he didn't have a pen. But Max did. A permanent marker in black ink. Max looked up and dared to ask for their names, all three for clarification although she already knew it. And so, when they answered, she cemented this moment in time with what she read so long ago.

"SF Holidays with William (and Chloe)"

She capped the marker back off, and returned the photo. Fingers brushing with William's. And oh, did it hurt to feel, to register his being corporeal. Here. This wouldn't likely happen again. So when they thanked her for taking the shot, wished her a good night, and left without asking her name, she just... stood there. Watching their bodies fade over the curve of the walking path and away into their lives. The next 14 years will be beautiful. Simple. Idyllic.

And then William will be killed in a crash. Chloe will pull away. Joyce will be shattered. Five more years, then a Mother, Joyce would be no longer. And in this timeline, Chloe would stay dead. Max would not be there for interference this time around. She thought of that the whole walk home. Or, what she called home right now. Some dingy hotel room she's been paying for with just cash. Under the table. They only had her name. And a fake ID. Maxine always went for a camera and false identity when she arrived in a new time.

She shoved the key in, turned the lock, and pushed the door open. Allowing it to creak open on its hinges until the knob hit the wall with a dull thud. She stood on the threshold far too long. It felt as though something bad would happen if she went inside. Though, it was only her mind. The spiral that always came when her old life wriggled its way back. Triggered her.

She moved fast, slamming the door. Throwing the dead bolt and chain lock as well. Not that her current companion needed or was stopped by the simple machinations of a lock on a door. No, if they wanted in, they would get in. It was more symbolic than anything. Leave Me Alone, it said. She had many mix-tapes. A collection of time. Rhythm. Memory. She had one song in mind. Now bare feet padded over to the Walkman she's had for so long now. Max grabbed the headphones that had seen just as much wear. They went on, her back hit the floor. She stayed there. Pressed play. Wept.

Maxine curled in on herself then. Sobbed, spiraled, consoled herself both within and without her mind. Her thin arms hugged around her quivering form as the ceiling fan went around, around, around. This never felt fair. It was depriving, a unique kind of hell. Her companion, her friend did not have this pain. Though immortal, their life was one singular thread. A continuity. Maxine felt like a tree. Its root more specifically. Or a neglected ball of yarn. Something unmanageable. Untanglable. You would never be able to truly unwind it. It wasn't fair!

This isn't fair. Not fair, not fair. NOT FAIR.

The sun was set. And her current friend would be coming. She made a point to have separate dwelling though within the same building. They were next to each other. Neighbors. That was how they met. They might have heard her thoughts on the wind, felt it. She didn't know, and didn't bother to question how Vampires work when she can barely pin herself down.

Her face burned, she couldn't breathe. It felt like a vice was clamping down on her very being. It always felt so extensive yet suffocating to be this way. To be Maxine Caulfield. The woman out of time. At least so many people she told of her life called her that. Chloe called her that. Called her so many things in reverence. Adoration, love, hate, sadness. She was everything and nothing.

The door opened. Again, the fruitlessness of locks with them... Her head craned. There they were. How pathetic, how messy she must look. Still in her evergreen trench coat, golden beanie shoved beneath her head to serve a pillow. Legs splayed and kicking only moments before as she cried. The puffiness of her face must be amplified to them. Her reddened cheeks from distress.

"I'm fine. It's fine." A lie. She never could lie. And certainly not to a creature like them. They would know. So she remained laying on the floor, looking up at them, trying horribly to settle her breathing. It came in stutters.

[doomedandstoned]

MR. BUNGLE MELVINS  ☆ SPOTLIGHTS ★ The Showbox, Seattle

  Photo Review by Chris Schanz

One might ask what would bring me out of retirement? Was I retired? What the hell have I been doing for the past three years? All things Doomed and Stoned have been in flux for me. I’ve been focusing on my day job. I’ve been focusing on my family. I’ve been focusing on my garden. All this focusing has left me nearsighted. Blurry. The COVID era left me with a shitty hangover (not long COVID – I’m just trying to forget that shit and move on!). Sure – I’ve shot shows, band portraits, weddings, funerals yadda yadda fucking yadda. I wanted a sign that the universe is ready for my gifts, once again.

Enter Mr. Bungle and The Melvins. The Geek Show Tour, sponsored by Ipecac Records celebrates both the vast accomplishments of Mike Patton (Faith No More, Fantomas, Mr. Bungle) and The Melvins – on their 40th anniversary! The perfect lure to get me off my ass and feel like I actually can contribute something to music, art and photography in general without licking the taint of Instagram and an AI-generated algorithmic overlord soon set to devour us, Titans, Gods and all.

The Showbox at the Market is the perfect set. I feel at home there, usually right by the soundboard. So many shows seen there – Sonic Youth, Nudedragons (Soundgarden), Brothers Of the Sonic Cloth, Sleep, Uncle Acid, Bell Witch, Graveyard, Chelsea Wolfe, The Black Angels – on and on, and on and on. It’s by far Seattle’s best concert hall, IMHO.

SPOTLIGHTS

I admit. I wasn’t prepared for Spotlights. A buddy of mine in Denver by way of San Francisco said they’re sweetly DOOMY. I was in. I got three songs to fall in love. Head over heels! Words escape my brain, only memories of sweet, subsonic joy flowing through my chest and brain. I followed up with Sarah Quintenero after the show at the merch booth, loading up on their vinyl. I’m blasting “Tidals” on vinyl while writing this in my cave, but “Alchemy for the Dead” is a MASTERPIECE! I’ve been binging on their Bandcamp all week now. Bold, deep bass fuzz, ethereal vocals and serrated guitar riffs. My new summer soundtrack.

They’re still on tour – and I highly advise you to see them now!

Alchemy For The Dead by Spotlights

Spotlights Setlist

"The Alchemist" (2023’s Alchemy For The Dead)

"Sunset Burial" (2023’s Alchemy For The Dead)

"Algorithmic" (2023’s Alchemy For The Dead)

"False Gods" (2023’s Alchemy For The Dead)

"Part 4" (2020’s We Are All Atomic)

MELVINS

This brings me back to the Melvins. The force that shaped my twenties in Seattle. My band Fuzzbud had a six-degrees-of-Kevin Bacon thing with a Morton, WA / Monteseno, WA, somebody’s cousin played in a band that opened for…whatevs. We tuned to DUH flat and had a good time. BUT…The Melvins were always a mainstay in any of my playlists.

King Buzzo did NOT disappoint! I was singing along from the photo pit. I was kidding beforehand that there should be some sort of SNL skit – a play by play commentary of the photo pit action. Think Howard Cosell announcing each of the photogs falling over each other for the shots. I thought it was funny, anyways. I’m a dork.

ANYWHOO. Buzzo provides! Dale’s a GOD. I got my HEALTHY fix of Houdini, culminating in a THREE BASS OVERLOAD on Night Goat with Sara Qintenero from Spotlights and Trevor Dunn from Mr. Bungle joining Steve McDonald to rumble your bunghole. What did I miss by NOT seeing the tour finale in San Francisco? A reunion of Fantomas (Mike, Buzz and Dave Lombardo)! When these guys get together, (black) magic always happens!

The Bride Screamed Murder by Melvins

Melvins Setlist

"I Can’t Shake It" (1998 split with Cosmic Psychos, Some Girls/I Can’t Shake It)

"Zodiac" (1990’s Bullhead)

"Copache" (1993’s Houdini)

"I Want to Hold Your Hand" (2018’s Pinkus Abortion Technician - Beatles Cover)

"Hammering" (2022’s Bad Mood Rising)

"Never Say You’re Sorry" (2022’s Bad Mood Rising)

"Evil New War God" (2010’s The Bride Screamed Murder)

"Let It All Be" (1999’s The Bootlicker)

"Honey Bucket" (1993’s Houdini)

"Revolve" (1994’s Stoner Witch)

"Night Goat" (1993’s Houdini - with Steve McDonald, Spotlights Sarah Quintero and Mr. Bungle bass Trevor Dunn on basses)

MR. BUNGLE

The main event. I knew they led with the Mr. Rogers theme on most nights. ADORABLE! But to my surprise, and delight! They performed the John Sebastian theme to “Welcome Back Kotter”! FUCK YES. I’m a Sweathog and everyone knows it! We would also be treated to the Pepto Bismol jingle not too far into the set.

I was wanting, wishing for a few more songs from 1991’s Mr. Bungle release, primarily some “Squeeze Me Macaroni” and “Stubb-A-Dub” action. Stubb was my go-to track in our house in college. After many a trip, I believed I was the proverbial “family dog” to our tribe…just elated to be along for the ride scrambling from party to party. Luckily for me, I got some “My Ass Is On Fire” and I was satiated. “Speak Spanish Or Die” brought me right back to my thrash and skating days (Days. Rolled my ankle on the half-pipe and drove the crew to all the spots after that). Van Halen’s Loss of Control? A TOTAL surprise and I was elated! Ear to ear grins and giggles!

I came for the Melvins, Mike Patton and Dave Lombardo, but I left with a deep adoration for Spotlights and a 365-day calendar of “The Many O-Faces of Scott Ian” and that’s more than OK. I’m in love. Thank you, Scott, for fulfilling this schoolboy’s adolescent dreams, 30 years later!

The Night They Came Home by Mr. Bungle

Mr. Bungle Setlist

"Welcome Back" (John Sebastian cover)

"Bungle Grind"

"Eracist"

"Spreading the Thighs of Death"

"Loss for Words" (Corrosion of Conformity cover)

"Hypocrites"

"Speak English or Die" (Stormtroopers of Death cover) (changed to "Speak Spanish or Die")

"Glutton for Punishment"

"Anarchy Up Your Anus"

"Methematics"

"Hell Awaits" (Slayer cover) (intro)

"True/Cold War/True"

"Raping Your Mind"

"World Up My Ass" (Circle Jerks cover) (with Michael Crain)

"Sudden Death"

Encore: "Loss of Control" (Van Halen cover)

Encore: "My Ass Is on Fire" (with PEP tag)

[amazingarchitecturewebsite]

Gates, San Francisco, California by Blue Truck Studio @bluetruckstudio. Read more: Link in bio! Photography: Open Homes Photography A collaboration between Blue Truck Studio and a new homeowner with DIY construction experience, this home for a young family was a triumph in overcoming obstacles. Originally a dilapidated and compact two-bedroom, the house transformed into an expansive three-bedroom through the addition of a third floor cantilevered off the back. Folding glass doors in the living room open the main floor of the house to the rear yard. The renovated house finally captures the potential of its great hillside perch, connecting it to gorgeous views… #usa #california #sanfrancisco #архитектура www.amazingarchitecture.com ✔ A collection of the best contemporary architecture to inspire you. #design #architecture #amazingarchitecture #architect #arquitectura #luxury #realestate #life #cute #architettura #interiordesign #photooftheday #love #travel #construction #furniture #instagood #fashion #beautiful #archilovers #home #house ‎#amazing #picoftheday #architecturephotography ‎#معماری (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnXaOI7uGp9/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[shefaliparekh0]

Discover Timeless Family Photography in San Francisco

Capturing family moments is a cherished way to preserve the beauty of togetherness, and San Francisco offers the perfect backdrop for stunning family photography. San Francisco Family Photographer Whether it’s at the scenic Golden Gate Park, the vibrant Mission District, or the iconic shores of Baker Beach, the city’s diverse settings add an unforgettable touch to family portraits.

For families seeking a photographer who truly understands the essence of family bonds, Shefali Parekh Photography stands out as a premier choice in San Francisco. With a talent for capturing candid expressions and genuine moments, Shefali Parekh creates images that go beyond the standard posed photos, telling a story that reflects the unique dynamics of each family.

Why Choose a Professional Family Photographer?

Hiring a professional family photographer ensures that your family’s special moments are captured in the most authentic and high-quality way. A skilled photographer can transform everyday interactions into timeless art pieces, creating a visual legacy for future generations. In San Francisco, a family photographer like Shefali Parekh has the expertise to work with diverse light settings and use the city’s landmarks creatively to enhance the visual appeal of every shot.

Choosing the Perfect Location for Your San Francisco Family Portraits

One of the great advantages of working with a local San Francisco family photographer is the ability to pick from an array of breathtaking locations. Some of the top choices include:

Golden Gate Park: With its lush greenery and beautiful landscapes, this park provides a versatile setting for family photos.

The Presidio: Featuring stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and a mix of forested areas and open spaces.

Lands End: For families who love the rugged coastal scenery, this location offers dramatic cliffs and panoramic ocean views.

The Painted Ladies: For a touch of classic San Francisco charm, posing in front of these iconic Victorian homes adds a splash of vibrant color and history to your photos.

What Sets Shefali Parekh Apart?

Shefali’s approach to family photography focuses on making the session a fun and memorable experience. Her emphasis on building a rapport with children and parents helps bring out natural expressions, ensuring that each photo reflects the true personality of your family. San Francisco Family Photographer With years of experience, Shefali knows how to balance composition, lighting, and those fleeting moments to create beautiful, professional images that stand the test of time.

If you’re looking to capture your family’s story in a way that you’ll cherish forever, consider Shefali Parekh Photography for your next family portrait session in San Francisco.

[cytocutie]

Daniel and Patrick — David Steinberg

Photography (gelatin silver), 16" x 20" x 1"

Presented at The deYoung Open 2023 (ID #313)

Listed for $600*

Artist statement:

I have been doing fine art photography of couples being sexual since 1999. I have photographed 190 couples to date, ranging in age from 19 to 75, including a wide variety of body types, genders, sexual preferences, sexual orientations, and ethnic groups. My intention is to create emotionally honest images of everyday people as an antidote to the stylized sexual images available through commercial pornography. I photograph people at home, where they can feel most comfortable and able to be themselves. It is a privilege to be welcomed into people’s most personal spaces. I attempt through my photographs to honor that trust by realistically capturing the emotional depth of what I am witnessing.

David Steinberg is an activist, writer, and photographer based in San Francisco, CA. To learn more about his life and work, and to view/read his other creations, visit nearbycafe.com/loveandlust/davidsteinberg . You can also find him on Instagram @/david_steinberg_photographer , as well as his Facebook page.

The deYoung Open is a triannual exhibition featuring artwork by California-Bay Area creators. The most recent exhibit was on display at The deYoung Museum in San Francisco from 09/30/2023 to 01/07/2024. To learn more and view a digital gallery of all 883 pieces that were featured, visit deyoungopen.artcall.org . And if you're an artist from Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, or Sonoma County, you should consider making a submission for 2026! Applications will probably go live in early June 2026, so you have some time to plan :)

I am not an affiliate of The deYoung Museum, David Steinberg, or any of the artists featured in The deYoung Open 2023. I'm just posting to celebrate some amazing CA artists. If you are the artist and would like me to take this post down or add additional credit, please message me on Tumblr.

* Listing price is shown on the deYoung Open website at time of writing. The artwork may no longer be available for sale.

[things-to-do-san-francisco-ca]

Ventana Residences Apartments in San Francisco, CA

The Ventana Residences Apartments have noteworthy and best apartments in Outer Mission area. They have remarkable units for everyone. Many young professionals and families can choose from luxurious types of units from smart and savvy studios to wide-open 3-bedrooms. The latter is designed for families who want the energy and amenities of city living within the space of a single-family home. Interestingly, they also collaborated with Wu Yee Children's services to bring in much-needed high-quality childcare for the Outer Mission and Excelsior neighborhoods. Altogether, we've created a truly unique living experience that has something for everyone. Remarkable, isn’t it? Read more, here.

San Francisco, CA

There are future events in San Francisco, CA area, that are posted online for you. If you check out Eventbrite, they have interesting future activities. First, there will be Airpusher Presents: Steampunk Masquerade 10 this coming Saturday, July 22, 2023, at around 8:00 in the evening at Public Works. In addition, the Dombresky presents DISCO DOM - Inferno / Summertime Radness is scheduled on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at around 1:00 in the afternoon at The Phoenix Hotel. Lastly, the Grace Cathedral Sound Bath will take place this coming Friday, August 18, 2023, at around 7:00 in the evening at Grace Cathedral.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco, CA

At present, it’s obvious that The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco, CA is famous among locals and tourists. After the pandemic, backpackers from across the globe go there to check out the said travel destination. In addition, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art or SFMOMA is a modern and contemporary art museum located in San Francisco, California. Besides, a nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art, and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th-century art. Moreover, the museum's current collection includes over 33,000 works of painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, and more.

VR 360 View: Devastating wildfire compels family to adopt a new lifestyle among the redwoods

There are many thought-provoking news reports in San Francisco, CA area. One of these stories is about adopting a new lifestyle to prepare for wildfire. It involves the story of a Northern California man, who lost all his worldly possessions in a wildfire. As such, he discovered his devastating loss left him with a new opportunity to rethink how he lives. If you walk down his property at the break of dawn, just as the sun is just beginning to awaken, it's easy to see why Wallace J. Nichols chose this spot to call home. He stated that, “We call it the Slow Coast because it forces you to slow down to stop looking at screens, stop running so fast.”

Link to maps

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art 151 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States Get on I-80 W from Howard St and 4th St 5 min (0.9 mi) Continue on I-80 W. Take US-101 S to Alemany Blvd. Take exit 53 from I-280 S 4 min (3.8 mi) Follow Alemany Blvd to Ocean Ave 4 min (1.4 mi) Ventana Residences Apartments 99 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112, United States

[a2bmoversworld]

Top Things to Do in San Jose, CA

Introduction

San Jose, CA is a city of many wonders. While known as the Capital of Silicon Valley and home to some of the world's biggest tech companies, it's also an exciting place to visit. Here are 5 things to do in San Jose that you won't want to miss:

Chinatown

Chinatown is one of the oldest Chinatowns in the United States. It's a great place to visit for its architecture and culture, as well as its food. There are many restaurants and shops worth exploring.

Chinatown has been around since 1848, when Chinese immigrants first came here looking for work on California's railroads and farms. Many stayed after completing their contracts because they didn't want to return home or they were barred from re-entering China by officials there (it was illegal for foreigners).

Winchester Mystery House

Winchester Mystery House is a well-known tourist attraction in San Jose, California. It was commissioned by Sarah Winchester and is widely believed to be haunted by ghosts.

The house has 160 rooms and staircases leading nowhere, doors that open onto walls or ceilings, windows that look out onto other rooms than those they're in and even a secret passageway connecting it to another building on the property (which was never completed).

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Located in the San Francisco Bay, the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to see wildlife. The refuge is open year-round and offers hiking trails, biking trails and boardwalks for visitors to enjoy.

San Jose Museum of Art

The San Jose Museum of Art is located at 110 S. Market St., and it's open to the public Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The cost of admission is $17 for adults, $15 for seniors (65+) and students, $11 for children ages 6-17 years old and free to kids under 6 years old.

The museum features an impressive collection of more than 28,000 works including paintings by Vincent van Gogh and Pablo Picasso as well as sculptures from Rodin and Degas pieces in its permanent collection on display year-round in three galleries: European Painting & Sculpture; American Art; Modern & Contemporary Art; Photography & Video; Asian Art; Latin American Art; African Art; Oceania/Pacific Islands/American Indian Cultures & Native American Arts; Textiles & Fashion Designers Collections

Fairmont Heritage Place Shops & Restaurants, San Jose, California

Fairmont Heritage Place Shops & Restaurants is a shopping center in San Jose, California. It's located at 700 E. Santa Clara Street and is a mixed-use development with shops and restaurants. The Fairmont Hotel was built on this site in 1911 and became the first high-rise hotel west of Chicago when it opened its doors in 1912. After being remodeled several times, the building was given historic landmark status by the city of San Jose in 1987; today it houses both residential apartments above retail spaces below ground level (and even more apartments above those).

The Tech Museum of Innovation

The Tech Museum of Innovation is a popular museum in San Jose. It's located in the heart of downtown, and it has many exhibits that are interactive and educational. If you're looking for a place to take the kids to learn about technology, this is a great choice!

If you want something more exciting than just a museum (although there are plenty of those here too), check out these other things:

There are many things to do in San Jose!

There are many things to do in San Jose!

Some of the things you can do are: Chinatown, Winchester Mystery House, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, San Jose Museum of Art and Fairmont Heritage Place Shops & Restaurants.

Conclusion

San Jose is a great place to visit! There are so many things to do, from visiting historic sites and learning about local culture to experiencing nature and enjoying fine dining. We hope this list will inspire you to explore all that San Jose has to offer.

Moving Company

San Jose is a beautiful city with tons of great restaurants. We hope this guide has helped you narrow down your options and decide where to go next time you visit our beautiful city. If you're moving to or from San Jose, CA, and need a reliable moving company that can get the job done right, look no further than A-1 Movers. We have over 50 years of experience in the industry and we work hard to provide our customers with exceptional service. Our staff is highly trained and experienced in all aspects of residential and commercial moving; we'll help you pack up your belongings before they even arrive at your new home or office! You can find us online using these keywords movers, movers San Jose, moving company, moving company San Jose, and Bay Area Movers.

A2B Movers San Jose

San Jose, CA 95126

(408) 831-3682

[whitepolaris]

For Hunters Points, the Ship Has Sailed

In the first half of the twentieth century, San Francisco was the busiest port on the West Coast, and the Hunters Point Shipyard was its busiest repair facility. The yard opened commercially in 1867 with the construction of the West Coast’s first permanent dry dock. At the time, it was one of the world’s largest. 

Within weeks of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the entire shipyard was seized by the navy, and during World War II the War Department transformed Hunters Point into a vital repair base. At its peak in 1945, it employed over 18,000 workers. During the postwar years, the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory operated there, its major responsibility being the study and decontamination of ships used in the nuclear weapons tests at the Bikini atoll. The NRDL also built a cyclotron “atom smasher” at Hunters Point and conducted top secret research on the effects of radioactive fallout on humans and animals. 

Between the shipshod documentation of the NRDL’s dirty playthings and other unknown contaminants from the day-to-day operations of a major shipyard, no one really knows the extent of the toxic mess left behind on the isolated south side of the base. The NRDL was shut down in 1969, and in 1974 the navy decommissioned the entire base. Most of the area has remained uninhabited and inhospitable ever since. 

Stories of widespread radioactive and chemical contamination as well as its location beside one of the toughest, most crime-ridden neighborhoods in San Francisco have kept the once bustling five-hundred-acre shipyard out of the public eye for decades. The entire facility has been locked and off-limits to the public for over thirty years. After a series of phone calls to various local and federal agencies, Weird California was granted night photography access to the long-deserted yard. 

Dozens of abandoned corrugated-metal warehouses and decrepit office buildings stand scattered around nameless potholed streets. Red brick dry rock pump houses, dating back to 1867, slowly decay in the fog-shrouded air. These are some of the oldest buildings in San Francisco, utterly forgotten. Giant gantry cranes loom over broken and flooded dry docks as an endless stream of airliners streak across the sky from the nearby San Francisco and Oakland airports. 

Security is tight. The SFPD and Department of Defense police maintain a strong presence at the shipyard. Inside the fence, it’s quite safe, while just outside, gang warfare run rampant. 

On the hill above the dockyard is a now empty residential neighborhood. Built in the early twentieth century, all eighty-six homes were seized by the navy for officers’ housing in 1942. When the base was decommissioned, the homes were abandoned. They have stood untouched for thirty years, slowly weathering, taking on the look of a postapocalyptic movie set. It’s spooky to wander down the middle of the desolate, debris-covered streets and hear car chases and gunfire just a few blocks away. The entire relic-strewn base is just minutes from the downtown of one of the West Coast’s largest cities. Most of San Francisco’s citizens have no idea of this place’s checkered past and toxic legacy. Many don’t know it even exists. 

[yegarts]

“I Am YEG Arts” Series: Alyson Dicey

Photo by Brianne Jang, BB Collective Photography

For Alyson Dicey, there’s only moving forward. And she knows there’s strength in not doing it all alone. That collaborative spirit and positive attitude are but two of the many amazing qualities that have made her not only accomplished, but happy. Luck for us, making people laugh also brings her joy, which she pays forward as part of the fabulous sketch comedy troupe, Girl Brain. When she’s not writing and performing you’ll likely find her directing, producing, and encouraging other women to have confidence in their voices and abilities. This week’s “I Am YEG Arts” story belongs to Alyson Dicey.

Tell us about your connection to Edmonton and why you’ve made it your home.

I moved to Edmonton in 2007 in the hopes of getting into the BFA acting program at the University of Alberta. Like many teachers, my high school drama teacher, Rhonda McCarthy, was instrumental in encouraging me and helping me plan my future. She advised me that this acting program was one of the best in the country, and I think to this day she is right! Eventually I did get into the BFA acting program, and it shaped who I met, how I know myself, and set me in the direction for where I am today! That’s why I came to Edmonton.

Why I stayed? Because of the arts community. The people who work in the arts here are some of the most accepting, creative, and inspiring people I’ve ever met. I have always felt a “yes, and” attitude here. Whenever I wanted to create something, there was always a friend who wanted to collaborate, a festival application open, and chats-till-dawn over wine about how and when we can make art happen!

When you were first starting out, what was it about the arts that made you feel like it could be your community?

The festivals in Edmonton are how I started out. We have so many great festivals, including one of the largest Fringe Fests in the world (of which I proudly work for now as KidsFringe Coordinator during the summers). NextFest gave me my first pay cheque in the arts, handed to me by one of my heroes, Steve Pirot. Found Fest, Fringe, SkirtsAFire, Expanse, and so many others allow artists to experiment, audiences to engage in a wide range of theatre and other art forms, and the arts community to come together! I love the buzz of a theatre lobby during a festival. I’ve done some weird shows in festivals!

How did Girl Brain come to be? And what is it about sketch comedy that suits your strengths as a storyteller?

Girl Brain started when Caley Suliak moved back to Edmonton after living in San Francisco for a few years. We (Ellie Heath and I) had missed her, and the catching-up sessions turned into writing sessions when we realized how many hilarious stories we had. We were all auditioning constantly, and our hopes and dreams seemed to always be at the fate of some director-man who pulled the strings. We were all a bit over this and wanted to write our own stories to put on stage. This coincided with our friend Byron Martin opening up the Grindstone Comedy Theatre. I recall a late night party in a hot tub where he mentioned needing more acts, especially shows that weren’t improv. And I thought, I have a pitch for you! I brought it back to the girls, and the rest is herstory. All we needed was a name for our troupe, and Caley had that covered. “Today I have girl brain” is what she always says when she’s feeling like her head is in the clouds, or her mind is on a certain someone she shouldn’t be flirting with, or her heart is fixed on something she’s absolutely obsessed with. A feeling of overwhelming, heart-fluttering, joy-inducing mania! And I love it because our girl brains are powerful! Intelligent women taking over positions of leadership! Watch out, world!

Sketch comedy is our current form of storytelling because it’s short and sweet. You can easily pack houses with people who want to have a fun night out and still leave them with a message you care about. Caley and Ellie and I spend most of our time together laughing, and I think that’s kept me going these last few years. It feels good.

What is the writing process like for you? Where do you usually begin, and how do you develop an idea?

I like writing when we have a theme for the show. When we did our monthly shows at Grindstone in 2018–2019, we were generating a ton of content. It felt easy coming up with sketches for a Valentine’s Day show or a Christmas themed show. We’ve done what feels like one hundred themed shows. Once we did a back-to-school theme that was so fun—we interviewed young girls heading back to school and played films of their answers during the show.

Sometimes the writing starts with a funny idea that came up in our chats, sometimes with an annoying thing we experienced (often in ourselves), or from characters we see out in the wild here in Edmonton. Hypocrisies are the best in for me—when I catch myself or someone doing the opposite of what their whole M.O. is. Then you also have to have a point of view and decide who’s relaying the message. We love writing for each other and coming up with characters we want to see each other dig into.

Top: Girl Brain, photo by Brianne Jang, BB Collective Photography; Bottom: Kids Fringe team, photo provided by the artist.

Tell us a little about your role with Thou Art Here Theatre and what makes it special to you and the city.

I joined Thou Art Here in 2013 after Andrew Ritchie and Neil Kuefler founded the company in 2012. I was a big Shakespeare nerd and wanted to get on stage and strut my stuff! Thou Art Here was doing Shakespeare in unexpected places—taking the bard to the streets with site-specific theatre. I thought this was the coolest thing I’d ever seen at the time. Now Thou Art Here (TAH) has transformed, and I’m still on board helping out where I can as an Artistic Associate. We’ve shifted away from the Shakespeare angle and instead try to represent Edmonton the way we see it—amplifying Edmonton artists, community, and neighbourhoods.

Immersive theatre is so interesting to me because it doesn’t allow the audience to check out. They are right there with the actors, they are a part of the story, and integral to the experience. I’ve been inspired by immersive theatre like Dead Centre of Town and Found Festival for a long time. I’m inspired all the time by Andrew, who is now Artistic Director of TAH. He works so hard and has grown this company from us weirdos running around in LRT stations yelling sonnets at people to a non-profit that’s making important work in our city (We’re still weirdos though).

Who’s someone inspiring you right now?

I’m inspired by Sheiny Satanove, the Managing Director for Punctuate! Theatre. I recently started working as a producer for Punctuate!, and I’m learning so much. She’s many people’s go-to person for all things producing in the city. Sheiny is a powerhouse—she’s smart, witty, and fierce as hell.

Tell us about a lesson you’ve had to learn more than once.

There are too many to put down in words. One is instant forgiveness for myself when I mess up, rather than beating myself up for something that’s in the past. There’s only moving forward. I’m trying to be more patient.

When you think YEG arts, what are the first three things, people, or places that come to mind?

Artists and artist-run centres. Harcourt House, Latitude 53, SNAP, and VASA are where you should be if you want to see art in Edmonton/St. Albert.

The Festivals! This is Festival City, and people go cuckoo for them! Folk Fest, Shakespeare in the Park, Fringe, Found Festival, Expanse, Flying Canoe, Winterruption.

CKUA Radio because it’s where you go for all your arts info, news, and music. And I love the hosts!

Tell us a little about what you’re currently working on or hoping to explore next.

Girl Brain has shows at the Roxy Theatre, Dec 16 to 18, with special guest Sissy Fit! Sissy is a Glamdrogynous Gender Fluid Glamazonian Gladiator Drag Performstress, and they are going to rock the stage with us this holiday season. We are taking over the beautiful Nancy Power Theatre, and we are stoked to get jolly! You can get tickets here.

We also have a project with the Girl Brain girls and Bradley Moss (Artistic Director of Theatre Network) coming up. We can’t say much yet, but stay tuned! We’re cooking up something very cool.

What makes you hopeful these days?

I see art happening in our city that is important and reflects who lives here. Like Evandalism, by MC RedCloud, that just happened as part of the Fringe season. And Identity, by Matthew Wood (a.k.a., Creeasian), as his City of Edmonton 2021-22 Indigenous Artist in Residence final showcase. Or the upcoming Punctuate! Theatre show, First Métis Man of Odesa, by Matthew MacKenzie and Mariya Khomutova, that tells a real-life love story in the midst of a pandemic and war in Ukraine. The Shoe Project, which acts as both a community-building and English-language-learners’ support system, as well as a phenomenal show that tells first-hand immigration stories of women new to Canada. I see my nieces and nephew growing up as smart, curious people who are going to make this world a better place (no pressure, kids). And teachers and healthcare workers who persevere even when they have very little support from the powers that be.

Want more YEG Arts Stories? We’ll be sharing them here all year and on social media using the hashtag #IamYegArts. Follow along! Click here to learn more about Alyson Dicey, Girl Brain Sketch Comedy, and their upcoming shows at Theatre Network!

Photo by Brianne Jang, BB Collective Photography

About Alyson Dicey

Alyson Dicey is an Edmonton-based performer, writer, director, producer and graduate of the BFA Acting class of 2012 at the University of Alberta. She is a founding member of Girl Brain Sketch Comedy and is proud to write and perform with a troupe that celebrates and promotes the strength of women. Alyson is also an artistic associate of the Edmonton immersive theatre company, Thou Art Here Theatre, a producer with Punctuate! Theatre, and Volunteer Coordinator/Administrative Assistant for the multidisciplinary arts festival featuring women-identifying and non-binary artists, SkirtsAFire. During the summers, Alyson can be found at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in her role as KidsFringe Coordinator. Alyson believes strongly in encouraging young women to take on leadership roles, set and achieve goals, and develop confidence in their voices and abilities.

[achuzhoyphoto]

Website : https://www.achuzhoyphoto.com/

Address : San Francisco, California

Alex began his professional photography career as a wedding and commercial photographer, later expanding into fine-art photography. Alex worked with several men’s fashion retail stores in San Diego and was published in local magazines. His commercial photography career spanned over a decade, after which he transitioned to selling residential and commercial Real Estate. Both careers helped Alex to hone his service-oriented skills while developing an eye for detail. An understanding of residential and commercial Real Estate marketing, and of key selling points, combined with a uniquely fine art photographic touch influence Alex’s approach to capturing powerful images for today's Real Estate market.

Services:

Photography

3D Matterport

Property Websites

Floor Plans

Twilight

Virtual Staging

Print Services

Business mail : achuzhoy@gmail.com

Keywords: architectural photographer san francisco architectural photography san francisco real estate photography san francisco san francisco real estate photographer san francisco architectural photographer san francisco architectural photography architectural drone photography san francisco open homes photography san francisco real estate photographer san francisco real estate photographers in san francisco california architectural digest russell mcmaster photographer san francisco ca architectural photographers san francisco ca architectural photography workshop san francisco architecture photographer san francisco architecture photography concrete shadows san francisco compass real estate photographer san francisco drone photography for real estate san francisco open homes photography san francisco address photographing san francisco architecture real estate photographers exterior buildings san francisco real estate photographers in san francisco real estate photography jobs san francisco san francisco architectural photographers san francisco architecture photographers san francisco architecture photography san francisco city hall architecture photography san francisco professional architectural photographer san francisco real estate drone photographer san francisco real estate photographers san francisco real estate photography top real estate photographers san francisco top real estate photography in san francisco top real estate photography san francisco zephyr real estate san francisco photographer

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015891375010

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/chuzhoyalex/

Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-chuzhoy/

[hyxnjxn]

BREAKING NEWS! ((KAL HYUN-JIN))who looks an awful lot like ((JEON JUNGKOOK)) has just been seen around Nuntium House. Apparently ((HE)) is ((29)) years old and have been in the New York City for ((16 YEARS)). They work as a (( principal dancer)) at ((NYCB)). If they had an article byline it would read ((You are so brave and quiet I forget you are suffering )) - but we have yet to make up our mind if that is accurate. ((Davis / 29 / pst / crucifixes))

B A S I C S

FULL LEGAL NAME: Kal Hyun-Jin

NICKNAME(s): n/a

AGE: 29

DATE OF BIRTH: July 25th

NATIONALITY: American

LANGUAGES: English, Korean (though he’s spoken it so infrequently that he has a hard time following conversations now)

SEX: MALE

GENDER: cis man

PRONOUNS: he/him

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: heterosexual  

BIRTH ORDER: youngest (adopted) child

HOMETOWN: San Francisco, California

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Queens, New York

RELIGION: Agnostic

EDUCATION: Bachelors in biology from NYU

OCCUPATION:  New York City Ballet Company principal dancer

MARITAL STATUS: single

FAMILY:

RELATIONSHIPS:  single

PETS: n/a

P H Y S I C A L T R A I T S

HEIGHT: 6′0

WEIGHT: 165 lbs

BODY TYPE: fit and lean

EYE COLOR: Brown

HAIR COLOR: Dark brown,

HAIR TEXTURE: naturally shaggy and fluffy, usually tied or slicked back during rehearsal or classes

SCARS|MARKS: n/a

SIGNATURE SCENT:  Tom Ford Noir.

TATTOOS: full sleeve on his right arm. Misc. other tattoos

PIERCINGS: eyebrow, lip, multiple ear piercings

P  E R S O N A L IT Y

MORAL ALIGNMENT: neutral good

SUN SIGN: Leo

MYERS BRIGGS: ENFP

HOGWARTS HOUSE: Gryffindor

FAVORITE FOODS: Ramen, fruits, hamburgers

FAVORITE COLOR: Purple

MUSIC TASTE: open to anything.

HOBBIES: karaoke, drawing, guitar, photography, boxing.

Pinterest 

 Background

Tw: parental death, foster care.

 It’s always been easy for Kal to feel alienated from his family. He was adopted, the trauma from his parents’ death making him skittish, sensitive, and prone to lashing out. He spent two years in the foster system, being moved from house to house ever few months until he was adopted by a well off family with two children of their own. He was shy, quietly stewing in his anger from the time he was small. They asked him once, when he was seven, if he wanted to change his surname to match theirs, he declined.

The only place he really felt seen was in the ballet classes his parents put him in at a young age. They wanted it to lead into tap and then singing lessons, and then acting lessons to go along with his guitar lessons, the way of all Hollis children, but Kal refused, instead begging to be enrolled in more classes so that he could simply catch the bus to the academy immediately after school rather than pack into the family car with his siblings. And so it was that Kal spent most of his time from the age of seven to thirteen going from home to school, school to the academy, lugging his guitar on his back and clutching it tightly against his thigh as he took the bus back home, only to repeat the cycle again in the morning. His dedication got him noticed, and after a spring recital he was offered a spot at the Joffrey Conservatory program in the fall after his fourteenth birthday.

He left San Diego with little preamble. He had little holding him there and New York was a land of possibility. Kal lived in the dorms, went to school with his fellow dancers and wrote half-hearted postcards and quick phone calls back home.

The years would go by without much of a hassle. Kal fell in love with the city, found a place he felt like he belonged and and was invited to audition with NYCB the spring before his 18th birthday.

He worked incredibly hard but coasted until he met his current partner, an accidental partner switch-up leading to him finding another dancer who understood him just as well as he understood himself. He was promoted not long after their first stint as opposite leads together and got a nice salary raise to boot. He still has to share his apartment with his two roommates, Nate and Delilah, but the building actually has a doorman now, which Kal sees as an absolute win. Lately, due to the beginning of the season, Kal has been chosen as the face of City Ballet and spends more time than he would like to admit coming and going from photophoots and interviews at Final Score, Scarlet, and Title Eight. 

[jimhair]

In 1981 I went to an opening of a photography show in San Francisco. I noticed an older woman looking at the photos and speaking with a few of the people in the gallery, and realized it was Ruth Bernhard. When she stepped away from the group I approached and introduced myself and told her I was a great admirer of her work. We chatted for a few minutes, and parted. A few minutes later, Ruth came over and asked if I had a car, and when I said yes, she asked if I would give her a ride home. I told her I would love to and on the drive to her flat on Sacramento Street, I asked if I could visit and make her portrait. The next week, Ruth greeted me at her door, and showed me into the front room, the floor covered in a pristine white carpet. She offered me a glass of wine and I managed to spill it as she handed it to me, but thankfully it was white and didn’t stain the carpet or abruptly end our meeting. As I made photographs Ruth kept putting her hand up to her face, and I had a difficult time getting her to look at me in any other way. Later, looking at a book of her photographs, I realized that Edward Weston had made her portrait, and she was posing with her hand up to her face. I finally got her to put her hands down a bit, and this is the image we ended up with. I asked to see her darkroom, she said no, but I left grateful for the portrait, and since that night I generally decline glasses of wine. #earth #america #california #sanfrancisco #human #woman #art #photographer #portrait #photography #hasselblad #camera #schwarzweiss #blancoynegro #blancinegre #bnw @ilfordphoto #film #blancetnoir #白黒 #Hēiyǔbái #siyahbeyaz #shirokuro #blackandwhite #filmisnotdead #istillshootfilm #portland #pdx #nw #oregon #photojournalism @hasselblad @hasselbladculture @photographersphotographed @womenphotograph @womenphotographershistory 81031601 FP4 Hasselblad 500 c 120mm Makro-Planar https://www.instagram.com/p/CaU2-KzlWLz/?utm_medium=tumblr

[phantom-sunset]

Thank yo so much to @screwunsaidemily​ for putting this gift exchange together.

This one is for @penguin-writes-books and is inspired by the above song

Titled: Polaroid

Rated: T

Ship: Willex

Alex has been distant recently, It wasn’t anything they had done. It was his family. His parents, to be more specific. He had finally come out to them and well...it didn’t go well. They’d stopped speaking to him completely and when he was home, pretended he wasn’t even there. His mother looked through him and his father never stayed in the same room if he was there. Alex could feel it was only a matter of time until they kicked him out completely.

Julie hadn’t joined in the anxiety party Luke and Reggie were throwing for Alex but instead patiently waited. She had an idea, she always knew when one of her boys wasn’t okay. She never pushed though, and instead waited for them to be ready to come to her.

Ray was waiting as well. Both he and Julie, and maybe Carlos too, had an idea of what was going on. Ray had already gotten their second guest room ready for Alex, for when he was ready to open up to them. When he was ready to live his life completely out in the open. Ray had hung a rainbow flag off of the porch, just a little outward sign that Alex was safe and welcome in his home, that all of them were.

Reggie had come to move in with them when he had come over with cuts and bruises littering his body. That time Julie did not wait. She went to Ray and together they went to Reggie’s house, packed his things and brought him back to his new home. That was four years ago, when Reg was only thirteen.

Luke was a different story all together. When he began to get quiet and his energy seemed to diminish, they all noticed. Reggie and Alex had bothered him until he spilled everything. Julie had waited instead. She sat next to him quietly, worked on music to distract him. Held his hand when he cried on her shoulder. Played big spoon to his little when all he wanted was to feel loved and safe.

When Luke had finally let her in, she walked right up to his parents house the next day after school and refused to leave until they sat down and watched the entire video history of Julie and the Phantoms YouTube page. She sat there for hours until they admitted that their son was full of talent and that instead of forcing him into an engineering degree that would absolutely destroy his spirit, they should support his music major.

They had agreed when Julie sat quietly on their couch and simply stared at them expectantly without blinking. She might only be seventeen but she was scary when she needed to be, Rose had made sure of it. 

                                       ___________________________

Alex really wants to stay home tonight. He’s not really in the mood to see anyone but none of his friends would allow it. He was pretty sure that the moment he came home today, his parents would kick him out. It was getting pretty blatant. If they didn’t do it, he was going to at least.

Julie hadn’t joined in the anxiety surrounding Alex like the boys had. Instead she convinced him that one night out wouldn’t kill him, adding on that if he got too anxious they’d leave straight away. 

Julie knew that Alex definitely wasn’t ok but she knew it was a matter of time before he spilled his soul to her. It’s just how they’d always been, since they were kids.

Carrie is having her annual Valentines Day party tonight. Flynn’s cousin is in town touring UCLA for the week. He’s planning on starting in September. He is super cute and extremely Alex’s type.

So Julie is planning a secret set up. Alex has no idea but she’d let Flynn, Reggie, and Luke in on the plan. She was still shocked no one had told him about it but counted it as a win. One fourth of her best friends deserved a distraction and boy was Willie the perfect one.

“Are you guys ready?” Julie said as she walked into the studio that had somehow unofficially become the boys home. Even though Ray had made sure they all had their own space in his house.

Reggie was pulling a bright red shirt over his head, his black ripped jeans and combat boots already on, his leather jacket hanging lovingly over the back of a chair.

Luke was pulling on a white tee with “My Bloody Valentine” printed across it, a butcher knife dripping blood cut through the print. “Cute” she says to him as she takes in the shirt. She isn’t just talking about the shirt and he knows it but he smirks at her and winks. She rolls her eyes and turns to Alex.

He’s wearing a baby pink t-shirt and light colored blue jeans. His black and pink air maxes complete the look.

“No. But I doubt you’ll let me sit this one out.” Alex answers her question.

“You’re right. Let’s go, the Uber's here.” Julie puts her arm through his, pulls him towards Reggie where she loops her other arm and waits for Reggie to thread his arm through Luke’s. They skip down the driveway, Luke’s humming ‘We’re off to see the Wizard’ as they go.

When they pull up to Carrie’s it’s jam packed. Parents dropping their kids off, Uber’s dropping off their riders, and a lone skateboarder, weaving between bodies like he’s made of air. Julie smiles because she’d recognize that long brown hair anywhere. The guy hasn’t cut his hair since elementary school.

As they walk in, there’s staff dressed in red and white handing out brand new polaroid cameras to each guest as they come in. “To save the memories being made here.” He says to them. 

“Obnoxious, isn’t it? All that money and we get outdated cameras” Flynn says from Alex’s side. He jumps up, startled at her sudden appearance.

“Fucking hell, Flynn. Stop doing that!” Alex hisses. 

“Why? It’s so much more fun when you react like that.” She answers. Julie, Luke and Reggie snicker from behind him.

“Anyway. This is my cousin Willie. Willie This is Luke, Reggie, and Alex. You already know Julie.” She says, pointing them out individually.

“Nice to meet you.” Luke says as he holds his hand out. Reggie echoes him and Julie smiles and goes in for a hug.

Alex hasn’t moved yet. He’s just standing there, eyes wide and cheeks flushed as he takes in Willie. He’s cute as hell and taller than Alex which was saying something. His cheekbones reach for the sky, and a jawline that should be illegal. He’s smiling at Alex, holding out his hand to shake and oh god, this was embarrassing. How long has he been waiting for Alex to move? How long has Alex been staring at him like a deer in headlights?

“The malfunctioning one is Alex. Give him a minute, he’ll be right with you.” Reggie said as he tears open his Poloroid camera. He turns to Luke who has his arm around Julie and is busy whispering her ear and snaps a picture.

“Shut up, Reg.” Alex clears his throat and offers up his hand, finally. He’s willing the blush on his cheeks to retreat, it doesn’t.

“So, I’m thirsty. Let’s go get some drinks?” Flynn says, grabbing Reggie’s hand and pulling him. He grabs on to Luke’s shirt who grabs onto Julie’s arm and their little chain disappears into the crowd at the speed of light.

“So, they’re not nearly as sneaky as they think they are.” Willie says. A wide smile stretching over his face. 

God, he’s teeth are so nice. White and straight. He probably never even needed braces. Alex shakes his head to clear his thoughts and realises Willie is speaking to him.

“Huh?” God, he probably sounds like an idiot. Way to make an impression.

“Your friends, my cousin. They’re setting us up.” Alex chokes on his own spit. Were they?

He turns towards the bar where his friends are standing. All four of them are watching him and he narrows his eyes. Reggie salutes him. Luke gives him a bouncy thumbs up. Julie and Flynn are batting their eyes and drawing little hearts in the air in front of them, their lips puckered in exaggerated kisses.

Alex rolls his eyes and turns back to Willie who had followed his line of sight and promptly burst out laughing.

“Wanna head outside? It’s super noisy in here and something tells me they won’t come back until we’ve gotten to know each other properly.” Willie suggests and Alex nods his agreement.

They end up spending an hour together. Alex lets Willie go first and everything he learns makes him like Willie more. He’s about to start college, UCLA is his first choice and he’s already been accepted. He’s going to be moving in with his uncle Robert (Flynn’s dad). The tour was an excuse to come to LA in order to see his family.

He’s from San Francisco, and is majoring in art. He’s sold his work in different galleries since he was fifteen. His mom calls him a prodigy but he just thinks he sees the beauty in things others don’t. He paints, sculpts, and does photography mostly but otherwise dabbles in everything.

Alex tells him about himself. He’s in a band. All four of them have also applied to UCLA for music majors. They’re going on tour over the summer, down the pacific coast. He tells Willie about the time Reggie and Luke convinced him to eat engine hotdogs and they all ended up in the hospital with food poisoning. Willie found that story hysterical.

It’s as Willie searches up the Julie and the Phantoms YouTube page to watch clips of their performances that he notices something and interrupts Alex’s story about how annoying Julie and Luke are in their mutual stupidity when it comes to their feelings for each other.

“Hey, do you mind if I take a picture of you?” Willie asks as he pulls the camera up to his eye.

“Only if I can take one of you.” Alex answers. It came out faster than his brain could process. Braver and flirtier than he intended but he let the question hang.

“Sure, hotdog! As many as you want.” He winks and smiles at Alex and snaps the picture. 

The little rectangle comes out of the side of the camera and Willie is shaking it and still smiling at Alex as he snaps his picture. They're both shaking the film to let it develop and laughing at the thought of people only ever having to do this for their pictures.

“God, how did people survive in the 90s?” Willie asks.

“Right? Like they had to carry around separate things for everything. Music, cameras, phones, planners. The bags must have been huge!” Alex answers and they laugh again.

Willie reaches into his pocket and pulls out a sharpie, he grabs the picture of him from Alex’s hand and writes something on the white border. When he hands it back, Alex’s face turns red yet again.

                                        Willie C. - 2.14.2021 🖤

Alex decides to do the same and grabs his own picture from Willie's hand, writing his own down too before handing it back.

                                        Alex M. - 2.14.2021 🖤

They end up staying outside and completely missing Dirty Candi’s performance along with the rest of the party. Neither one is sure exactly how long it's been but Willie’s phone chimes and he looks down at it, startled.

“It’s Flynn. Wow, it’s midnight already? Looks like we gotta go. This was perfect, thanks for hanging out with me all night.” Willie says and Alex smiles at him.

“Yeah, I had a great time.” Alex answers as they both stand up. Willie turns to walk away but only makes it a few steps before he turns back to Alex.

“Can I kiss you?” Willie asks when he’s in front of Alex again. Alex freezes in response. He can’t do anything but nod because Fuck, he’s wanted to kiss him all night.

Willie laughs softly and puts both of his hands on Alex’s face and pulls him forward. It’s soft and sweet. Willie’s lips feel like cashmere and he smells like pine trees and coconut. The scent makes Alex light headed but he refuses to pull away until Willie makes the move to. Unfortunately it’s way too soon when he does.

“Thanks.” Willie turns and starts walking away again, leaving Alex to try and stop his brain leaking out of his ears since it’s now turned to mush.

“Wait! Can I have your number?” Alex shouts to him as he leaves. Willie turns, walking backwards as he shakes his head. The wide smile is still plastered on his face.

“Nah. It’s more fun this way, hotdog.” Willie answers, holding up the picture he’d taken of Alex. 

“I hate that name! It’s how I almost died!” Alex shouts to him. Willie’s loud laugh lingers in the air around Alex long after he’s gone.

“Well well well, if it isn’t Alex C. Mercer. The boy who hasn’t been seen all night.” Reggie says as he throws himself down in the lounger next to him.

“Well, as setups go, I’d call this one a success.” Luke says from his other side.

“I definitely saw some flirting there.” Julie says as she sits down between Luke’s legs.

“How would you know? It’s not like either of you knows what flirting is.” Alex smirks at the two of them. 

Reggie’s snickers come from behind Alex and makes it difficult to keep a straight face. Luke rolls his eyes and leans his head back, pulling Julie back with him so that her back rests against his chest. Julie punches Alex in the shoulder and sticks her tongue out at him.

                                   _________________________________

It’s a week before classes start at UCLA and Julie, Luke Alex, and Reggie are enjoying being back. In their own homes, in their own beds (Alex’s happens to be at Julie’s house now). They decide to go to the beach and invite Flynn along. 

Alex hasn’t mentioned Willie since valentines day and no ones brought it up. After all, he’s six hours away and had never given Alex his phone number. Sure, Alex had gone full FBI and found his Instagram page but it was private and Alex had never worked up the nerve to request him.

He thinks about him a lot though. Looks at the picture in his wallet more than he’d ever admit. He doesn’t have to come out and say it to anyone though because they’ve all caught him with it. Julie just smiled sweetly and left it alone. Unfortunately, Luke and Reggie are assholes so they bring it up all the time.

So here they are, spread out on the beach and Alex is getting thirsty. They’ve been here for a few hours and whatever supplies they’ve brought have been depleted.

“Hey, I’m gonna go grab some drinks. If you freeloaders want anything you’re going to have to come with.” Alex says as he stands up and slips his flip flops on.

“Rude.” Reggie says and stands up to go with him. Julie goes too and the three of them make it to the cement. Luke stays behind with Flynn to discuss album art concepts.

They stop to make sure someone actually had the money and when Reggie pulls out a soggy twenty that he had accidentally went swimming with, Julie laughs at him. Alex pulls out his own thankfully dry wallet.

“Watch out!” The voice comes from behind Alex but he doesn’t have time to move out of the way before something solid and strong slams into his back sending him sprawling face first into the sand.

“What the fuck?!” He yells as he spits sand out of his mouth and brushes it off of his body where it stuck painfully.

“Oh man, You dinged my board.” The voice comes from behind him again and he turns, fury burning in his veins.

“I dinged your board? You almost killed me!” Alex yells back. He doesn’t look up, examining his skinned knee.

“Yeah, I did pancake you, huh?” he’s laughing now and Alex stands up to give this guy a piece of his mind but his thoughts are cut off abruptly.

He can see Julie and Reggie out of the corner of his eye, smiling widely and snickering to each other. God, he hates them so much.

“Hotdog! Wow, long time.” He says. Alex’s brain has shut off though because wow he looks better than he did on valentines day.

His skin is sunkissed, his hair lightened by the sun, and he’s wearing a crop top that shows off his toned stomach. Alex traces the V as it disappears under his waistband. Someone pinches his elbow and he snaps out of it. Thank you, Julie. 

“Willie, hi! How have you been?” When had his voice gotten so squeaky?

“I’ve been good! Starting school next week. Just finished moving in yesterday. How about you?” He answers. Julie and Reggie have walked away to the beach bar.

“Just got back from touring last night. Now we’re here. Relaxing before school starts.” Alex waves his hand out, encompassing the beach and the general area where Flynn and Luke are bent over her phone.

“You know, I haven’t stopped thinking about you since that party. Kind of the best kiss I’ve had.” Willie chuckles and bumps his shoulder against Alex’s.

“Tell me about it.” Alex pulls his wallet out as he speaks. Pulling out the picture from his wallet and showing it to Willie.

“No way!” That smile that Alex hasn’t stopped staring at is back as he pulls out his own wallet and shows Alex the picture. The ink is faded, as if he’d been running his fingers over the signed name. The corners are crinkled and Alex beams because his looks just as well loved.

“Wanna join us?” Alex asks and Willie nods and smiles in response.

“Hell yeah!” He takes off his helmet and picks up his skateboard, following Alex back to their spot. The thirst that had been drying his throat moments before is completely forgotten when Willie laces his fingers with Alex’s.

[cytocutie]

Rear Windows — Kate Beale

Photography, 20" x 16" x 1", 07/07/2022

Presented at The deYoung Open 2023 (ID #71)

Listed for $200 *

Artist statement:

For the past 30 years, I've called San Francisco home. It's a rare urban environment, equally fraught with societal ills and rich with incredible natural beauty. It's an ideal location for any photographer, especially one who believes, as I do, that cityscapes can be as dramatic and epic in light and and subject matter as landscapes and seascapes. My day job as a web content strategist pays the bills, but I am happiest out exploring with camera in hand.

Kate Beale is a cityscape photographer based in San Francisco, CA. To view more of her work, visit katebeale.com . You can also find her on Instagram @/g1rlwithacurl .

I am not an affiliate of The deYoung Museum, Kate Beal, or any of the artists featured in The deYoung Open 2023. I'm just posting to celebrate some amazing CA artists. If you are the artist and would like me to take this post down or add additional credit, please message me on Tumblr.

The deYoung Open is a triannual exhibition featuring artwork by California-Bay Area creators. The most recent exhibit was on display at The deYoung Museum in San Francisco from 09/30/2023 to 01/07/2024. To learn more and view a digital gallery of all 883 pieces that were featured, visit deyoungopen.artcall.org . And if you're an artist from Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, or Sonoma County, you should consider making a submission for 2026! Applications will probably go live in early June 2026, so you have some time to plan :)

* Listing price is shown on the deYoung Open website at time of writing. The artwork may no longer be available for sale.

[queenie-lexieee]

[[ OC Character Profile ]]

Fandoms: Modern Day

Full name: Olivia Berry

Nickname(s):

•Rainbow Girl

•Loner

•Liv

Sex/Pronouns:

Female, she/her

Birthdate:

June 9th, 1999

Age:

22 years old

Powers:

None

Skills:

Photographer

General Knowledge

Writing

Reading

[[ About ]]

Personality:

•Handful

•Creative

•Clever

•Fun-loving

•Freethinking

•Humble

•Romantic

•Loving

•Caring

•Nice

•Wishful

Likes:

•Taking pictures

•Long walks in the woods

•Having fun

•Traveling

•Cameras

•Rainbows

•Making friends

•Her family

•Landscapes

•Art

•Music

Dislikes:

•Asswholes

•Haters

•Rich bitch people

•Boring things

•Annoying people

•People trashing the Earth

Occupation:

Photographer, Part-Time Job at a newspaper company and takes pictures for them

Fears:

Losing love ones

Sexual Orientation:

Bisexual

Species:

Human

Faceclaim:

Hailee Steinfeld

[[ Relations ]]

Father: Unknown Dead

Mother: Nancy Berry

Older Brother: Dylan Berry

Nephew: Max Berry

Niece: May Berry

Significant Other(s):

Open (multipleship) 

[[ Biography ]]

Olivia is in college at normal college that wasn’t that much money, she is taking up creative writing and photography. She loves taking pictures. Olivia wants to her own studio and seal pictures to people. But for now to pay for college and all, she has a website that is for people who want pictures of family or anything else. Then a few days she goes around her town with a few friends from a place that helps the Earth not be so dirty anymore. And weekends she tries to go and find new places to take pictures of. She knows how hard life is and knows what poor is. So she tries her best with her job and help her mom out. She stays at the camps at school and lives there, while her mom lives at home with a kitty cat. Olivia’s best friend is her brother and tries to makes him proud and goes to Academy of Art University, college in San Francisco, in California. Liv second close friend is Cara Wilson, they knew each other since childhood and always have been close, they lose context in high school but they happened to go to the same college and finally had told each other feelings. But then they break up after a month, Olivia is really heart broken, but she puts on a smile everyday. Her brother Dylan got married to a handsome man named Kevin, like another brother to her, and they adopted twins, a girl and a boy, May, and Max. Then her brother and Kevin split up, and now she only sees May and Max a few times a month.

[memorylang]

Easter: Redwoods, Light | #52 | April 2021

I write from Vegas, having returned after spending most of this spring in Reno. Life has been well. I feel adjusted to being back in the States a year. Every so often, objects and settings still remind me of last year’s evacuation from Mongolia. I still have the interest I’d had in trying to improve the lives of those around me. I still plan to return to Mongolia as soon as pandemic conditions permit.

This month’s blog story reminds me of cycles. Attending a virtual Open Mic Night at the conclusion to this month's “Culture of Creativity Workshops” featuring overseas alumni, I felt called to tell our folks there about this very blog story that I hadn't yet finished. A fellow participant suggested my theme of cycles. I'd spoken of how events that happen throughout time, how our feelings come and go. So here it is—My Easter 2O2I tales of cycles, light and renewal!

Back to Vegas

I returned to Vegas tasked by my father to continue to sort my belongings, tend to the yard and help my older brother and his girlfriend clean the kitchen since their recent move back to the house. Early in March, I’d visited the house with my siblings, and I’d intended originally to spend Holy Week here, too. But my college parish had many functions, including a friend’s baptism, Knights’ service events and opportunities for me to continue to help with the recordings of Sunday Proclamations of the Word. Palm Sunday’s and Good Friday’s were special highlights. Anyway, I'd opted to stay in Reno for Lent’s remainder into Easter’s first weeks.

Easter in Reno

Being in Reno for most of this April instead of in Vegas like last year, I enjoyed seeing trees blossom. A highlight of this Easter season has been its many serendipitous moments. This is also noteworthy because I'd listened to the "Tao of Pooh,” which noted spontaneity as among the good spiritual life’s fruits. A spiritual director had told me something similar not long before I'd graduated college.

Days before Easter Sunday itself (U.S. Year 2, Week 5; April 2–8, 2O2I), I enjoyed getting the opportunity to lector at that Mass. It was a small Mass, but I felt glad to be in person for the greatest celebration of the Christian year since all had shut down last year. Later this Easter Octave, I’d gotten to both lector and serve at a family's confirmation Mass. That too felt lovely.

Serendipity hadn’t stopped there! I’d caught up with an ol’ friend at Rancho San Rafael Park not far from the Uni and later biked with another friend at North Valleys Regional. My bike itself I’d bought from a rummage sale the day before on an unexpected adventure in a U-Haul truck to help our student coordinators collect furniture in the morning after they’d asked whoever could help. Thus, that Wednesday night they’d requested help, Thursday morning I’d joined them to Gardnerville and the rectory, and Friday night I was biking with a friend. The last time I recall riding in a U-Haul was over a dozen years ago when I was 11, my family moved from Indiana to Vegas.

My youngest sister has also been encouraging me to practice my licensed driving by borrowing her vehicle to and from our parish. I’d visited so often that staff offered me a key to simplify visits to my "home away from home away from home." I’d felt touched because I could go on walks around our pretty campus without worrying about getting locked out when I was alone. The flexibility gave me peace recently on my U.S. Year 2, Week 8 (April 23–29, 2O2I), when midday I’d needed to drop by my Honors College alma mater’s office to help print a letter I’d written to graduating seniors for our Honors Alumni Task Force.

Also at church, I’d gotten to participate in a few of our Alpha sessions hosted by a diaconate candidate whom I’d interviewed back in 2OI8 on my diocesan public relations internship. I'd heard about Alpha first back in Mongolia from a kind Evangelical Mongol. Anyway, the diaconate candidate, student coordinators and Alpha participants have been great conversation partners.

Beyond these, our pastor had driven me to my first Pfizer vaccine dose, lent me films and advised my reading! On one occasion, he even let me bring Holy Communion to a friend of mine. Such activities have kept me from feeling too distressed amid research writing and revisions. Parish support has made my “happy contentment” quest kinder.

Redwoods National and State Parks

This year’s Easter Octave concluded for me with another trip with my national parks friends (U.S. Year 2, Week 6; April 9–I5, 2O2I). This trip, I’d anticipated especially. As a young lad in Indiana, I’d felt mesmerized by the photos of massively tall California trees noted in our science textbooks. Thus, from an early age, Redwoods imprinted themselves in me.

At these national and state parks, epic scenery of old-growth forests, mountainous hills and valleys beside the coast astounded me. I hadn’t seen the Pacific Ocean since January 2O2O when I’d flown back to Mongolia from Vegas via San Francisco. I felt surprised by how many months had passed since my last overseas adventure.

At the loop completing the Tall Trees Grove trail, I found a special place. My peers had gone ahead while I stayed behind to take photos, record videos and capture audio. I hadn’t expected to find at the trail’s end a creek filled with still other trees—vast ones, like those that I’d seen in subtropical Asia but different.

I basked in these trees. While taking photos, I also discovered my phone has a virtual reality setting. I tried it out, remembering undergrad extra credit VR photography projects. I’d wanted to journal at least something.

“Daniel!” my peers called from some distance down the path. I couldn’t see them, but their voices echoed well enough. I called back something to the effect of, “I’m here!” I still wanted to get a good fill of this park. Here’s what I journaled:

[11:45 a.m.] Redwood, National Park, end of Tall Tree Grove along the creek zone is this phenomenal section of mossy trees with winding branches. Here I discovered my VR. [A woman paused, passing me, “You must be Daniel.”] 19IO–I96O, so many of these trees that used to be across Humboldt, Eureka, Arcata were cut down. The smells… the scents, the mosses, the ferns, the light. Beyond.

Mid-journaling, I paused because a mid-aged woman who was passing by smiled and acknowledged that I must be the "Daniel" she'd overheard about. I smiled yes and reveled in the gorgeousness that surrounded us. She affirmed and mused how this park’s name should be changed like, “Redwoods and Other Trees and Lose-Your-Brother-in-the-Forest National Park.” She added how in the early half of last century, these very types of trees once blanketed far more Northern California, across the very counties through which my friends and I traveled to get here.

I later journaled again after sprinting much of the uphill trail back to my friends. We then saw the “Lady Bird” Johnson trail, then a confluence of the Klamath River and Pacific Ocean (where there were seals!) and finally Trillium Falls. I’d written this about the final hike:

So hypnotic. [...] Dodona’s Grove* vibes from the Trillium hike after the Falls. Whispers from God. Endlessness.

*The Grove of Dodona is a prophetic forest from “The Hidden Oracle,” a book to which I’d listened amid the pandemic by an author I used to read in junior high and high school, Rick Riordan. While I wasn’t a huge fan of where he’d taken “The Heroes of Olympus” series’ finale, I'd often admired his picturesque locales.

My peers and I left the park by 6:45 p.m. The view from the road on which we departed reminded me of the bamboo forest in 安吉 Ānjí near 杭州 Hángzhōu. I’d seen it in 2OI7 during my first summer overseas and have rarely found comparable places.

Of Redwoods, I journaled too of how gleeful I’d felt to have hugged so many trees. A friend had complimented my writing when he mentioned that I don’t need to take so many photos. I added how photos help me remember what to write. I'll probably share my Redwoods photoset in May.

A carpet of moist, fallen leaves along the paved trails had reminded me of a Sunday morning path that my dad would take my siblings and me through for years at Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Ind.

Spring Retreat: Recognizing God’s Light

Beyond Redwoods, I'd stayed behind in Reno chiefly to participate in my college parish's Spring Retreat. This spring the student coordinators held it in Gardnerville, the same location where I'd enjoyed it my senior spring. However, I'd had to leave early from it that year. It was my first and only of the eight semesterly retreats from which I'd left early.

That year, I'd left in order to co-emcee the Diocesan Youth Rally 2OI9. To my surprise, the youngest member on this year’s student coordinator team was likely at that same event when she was a high school student. Similarities like these gladdened me.

I felt renewed. This year’s theme, "Light in the Darkness" (Spring 2O2I), reminded me of "Ignite the Light," (Spring 2OI8), the year after my mother died. This time, however, I’d had more years to reflect and feel greater peace. Similarly, I've felt more peace being back in the States even though I'd prefer to be abroad. God’s light shines every day, in every moment of every person. I can see it.

Writing of seeing things, I’d also seen "WandaVision" and "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" while up in Reno. I’d reconnected too with a Disney-loving college friend to get more Disney+ watchlist ideas. I’d seriously enjoyed the “Into the Unknown: Making Frozen II” docuseries. Both she and my college pastor led me to witness iconic performances by Julie Andrews in both "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins."

Justice

April felt refreshing for a more challenging reason as well. Much of the month had featured on many channels coverage from the trial over the killing of George Floyd. I imagined that this would be a trial that my generation remembers for years.

I’d watched live various testimonies and even the closing arguments. Then, on that Tuesday, April 2O, 2O2I, afternoon, our nation heard the verdict—My pastor called it among the fastest traveling news.

I've been on the Social Justice Task Force of the American Psychological Association’s Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality since last summer. Our Task Force had come together in response to the killing of George Floyd and subsequent renewed pushes across our nation for social justice.

Our task force has been meeting every other Tuesday night, after weekly fed Zoom fatigue. Our meeting that Tuesday fell on the night of the guilty verdict. But, this justice felt cathartic only somewhat. More shootings filled the media. Our task was far from over.

Still, I’d another reason to celebrate. That Tuesday marked my last advocacy meeting on behalf of the National Peace Corps Association to offices of Nevada’s lawmakers this March–April. All told, I’d coordinated and met virtually with offices of the U.S. Congresspeople Horsford, Titus and Lee as well as Senator Rosen. And Representative Titus herself attended our meeting! She was very kind. So, I felt relieved to have finished those duties for now.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Next month (May) begins Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I've decided to tell a #StopAsianHate story. Given America's centuries of racism toward Asians, I don't enjoy the subject. But, I’d had an experience on my Week 5I (Feb. 19–25, 2O2I). It reminded me the importance of continuing to tell stories so that we can promote diversity and inclusion.

I was on one of my Reno walks that cold winter. As usual, I'd pass by the local elementary school. I'd paused to check my phone. The time was while children were at recess. They played opposite a chain-link fence a few yards down a hill from where I stood.

At first, I didn't think that the kids were talking to me. So, I paid them little attention. Then their voices sounded closer, in greater numbers.

I hadn't decided whether to acknowledge the children but decided to finish my walk. My walk brought me along the fence. From my right periphery, I saw a clump of children gathering, following. They certainly addressed me.

I heard what sounded like slurs against Asians that I won't repeat here but also questions that I will repeat here.

The kids asked if I was homeless, whether I'm an orphan, whether I speak English. I reflected on these. I was wearing a big scarf from Mongolia, a hefty hand-me-down winter coat and wide, secondhand jeans, frayed at my ankles. But I hadn't spoken a word to the kids.

Their questions themselves weren't offensive. Yet, the children’s tones reminded me of the mocking ones I'd heard in middle school when boys made fun of me for caring more about good grades than getting girlfriends. (Little did the boys know, girls I liked tended toward good grades.)

Anyway, these kids seemed to have negative implications behind positive responses to their questions. This upset me. After all, homelessness, being an orphan and not knowing English are not inherently bad things. For, often, people do not choose to go without a home, parents or American English. So why might these children ask these degradingly?

I felt perturbed by the realization that these children would find pleasure in mocking people who they suspect are without homes, parents or English skills. Yet, from this, I felt a glimmer of solidarity. I'd heard directed toward me what seemed unkind speech. This may help me relate to Asians who hear slurs, to those without homes, to those without parents and to those perhaps struggling with English.

My parents tend to insist too that I buy new clothes, though. Given our world's rampant consumerism, I find second-hand ones quite fine. "Form follows function." I wish that more folks would appreciate hand-me-downs and thrifting.

Nuance

Curiously, as I continued past this chain-link fence, a somewhat pudgy boy of color asked with a wide grin for money for Taco Bell. Truthfully, I didn't have money on me. I calmly answered the questions, not pausing from my walk. I guessed the kids dismissed the homeless guess/joke. I noticed thankfully that they wore face masks. We’re still in a pandemic, after all.

The boy's questions made me wonder about his family life. True, he could have been joking. But I remembered, many of the boys who'd picked on me in middle school had been living in a neighborhood that many people called not a “good” part of town.

In light of the visibility that Black Lives Matter has had in the past year, I've tried to grow more aware of how cruel predominantly White societies can be toward Black, indigenous and other peoples of color. I recalled learning when I was little that, often those who bully had been bullied themselves. Sociology interests me.

Thus, when these playground children said potentially questionable things to me, I wasn't sure whether to intervene about the slurs or micro-aggressions or what I'd say.

As I neared the fence’s edge to complete my pass by the school, I overheard a girl's or maybe a woman's voice call the kids to stop wasting their free time. I'm glad that someone spoke up. Compassion is the answer, especially in light of hurtful things.

I’m still unsure whether my general silence was helpful or problematic. But the experience caused me to think. For, children learn fast. Innocence is invaluable. My generation's problems and those of that above ours replicate in youths the longer we fail to act.

I’m glad that folks are speaking up these days in hopes to #StopAsianHate. Social justice mustn't sleep.

Language Six

On April 2O2I’s last day, I hit my 365-day streak on Duolingo!

Over the past year, I’d focused on Latin, Spanish and Chinese. Having finished every lesson and level Duolingo had for Latin, I started dabbling in German. While I’ve no intention to extensively pursue German (yet, at least), I’ve enjoyed how its lessons help me see from where many non-Latin roots reach English.

I’ve been dipping into my Germanic heritage on Dad’s side again lately. This began about when I’d seen “The Sound of Music” then reconnected with my distant relative who’s researched more of our shared Austrian and Volga German forefathers and mothers. Turns out that my relative had personally written to and received a postcard from the real Maria von Trapp!

I've grown to like more German language. "The Sound of Music" and how Spotify has Disney soundtracks in German help. Besides listening to vocalists like Namika, I’ve also gotten into LEA, Manuel Straube, Julia Scheeser and even Willemijn Verkaik! This is probably just a phase, but it’s certainly fun.

Every language I’ve sought to learn has at least one Spotify playlist. For recent films I’ve seen, like "Mary Poppins" and "Mary Poppins Returns," I’ve cherry-picked tracks in German, Spanish and English. Though I don’t catch most words, I like to consider translators’ decision-making.

Summer Fun

I get my second Pfizer dose on Cinco de Mayo. By then, I hope to have channeled my Julie Andrews-inspired service of making things better than how I've found them. Later that vaccine week, on Mother’s Day, I’ll return to Reno with Tita and Papa.

May 14 will celebrate the Baccalaureate Mass of lovely student coordinators and friends from undergrad. Then comes the 2Ist birthday of my youngest sister and will also mark when I’m fully inoculated, May 19! Pentecost comes May 23. Then will be May 3O, the wedding of two of my undergrad coworkers, including a fraternity brother. We'll have a mini staff and fraternal reunion!

After that, I look forward most to a Seattle trip at my 24th birthday. National parks friends and I are flying up to see Olympic National Park. It’ll be my first time to see further into the Pacific Northwest than Ashland, Ore. My younger (not youngest) sister got a job in Seattle, so I’ll be surfing her couch for part of my visit. Super stoked to reconnect with friends from high school, college and Peace Corps in the city! Even my married friends with whom I'd spent New Year's Eve the past couple years plan to visit me there.

This April my siblings and I reviewed our first scholarship applications for a Foundation that we’d founded to honor our late mother, who was Chinese. So, with next month and the fourth anniversary of her passing, I’ll share Foundation experiences, I think. Along with those, graduations and celebrations await!

You can read more from me here at DanielLang.me :)