[insert clever title here]: 06.2009

Monday, June 29, 2009

anxious

lifted from the front page of sfgate

way to spread the good news, chron!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

I went for my regular eye exam on Saturday afternoon. It'd been about two-and-a-half years since my last exam, and in that time my insurance added a new vision plan, which meant I couldn't see my old O.D.

I was thrilled when I found a new O.D. just around the corner from me, open on Saturdays, with half the copay of my old place. I called on Friday for an appointment, and they were able to fit me in the next day! This was perhaps the biggest shock, as at the old place they booked appointments, at minimum, 3 weeks out.

So I go into the appointment, and it's kind-of a cattle call: I was shuffled into one room after another for preliminary stuff with an assistant, before finally waiting to see the O.D. She was very friendly and welcoming, and started asking lots of questions about my daily reading, computer and driving habits. All good things when determining if I need glasses. Which I've never needed before. But with my turning 30 less than two months away, I thought I'd better go for my regular check-up and make sure the dreaded number didn't coincide with failing vision. ;)

So she does all the typical vision-exam stuff, then offers me the option of paying an additional $39 (not covered by insurance) to not have my eyes dilated, and instead try the new OptoMap technology that takes a digital image of your eye. I opted (hehe) in, because really? Who likes to have their eyes dilated? It really was a simple and painless process.

So the O.D. goes into details about my results (no problems) while explaining in lengthy medical jargon why I might need glasses. But when I ask her point blank if I need glasses, she says, "Well, not really. But since you're paying for your insurance, you might as well get your money's worth and at least get prescription sunglasses."

Wait a second. If I don't technically need glasses, then why would I need prescription sunglasses?

The O.D. leads me out into the retail portion of the facility, where a nice young man is waiting to fit me for glasses. I sit down and ask him the same thing -- I don't need glasses, so why am I here? He smiles and says, "Oh, but you at least need sunglasses!"

At this point I look around at the other folks being fitted for eye wear -- literally every person that I saw in the office cattle call and waiting room -- was now getting glasses of one kind or another!

I politely decline to purchase anything from him, and he leads me to a woman that can help me. (Apparently he's not used to hearing "no.") This time it's the shop manager (pulling out the big guns!) who says I'd be best served with a pair of clear glasses, as I'll really notice the difference when driving. No one seems to hear or care that a) I don't need glasses! and b) I'm not interested in purchasing anything.

What a scam! In all my years of getting regular vision exams I've never had one done at a place that also sold frames and lenses, so maybe this is common practice.

But one thing is for sure -- I'm not going back to this place!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

shutter island

i just read this book last month.

not sure the trailer does the book justice, as dennis lehane is a slightly mental literary genius. and with scorsese at the wheel, it's bound to be one chilling, effed up, ride.

if you haven't read the book, i recommend you do so.

that this is not my typical cinema fare won't stop me from seeing this.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

props for pops

It's always funny to learn new things about your parents.

My dad brought a slew of old photos to the cabin over Easter weekend to share with us. I knew he was a "pseudo hippie," as my mom likes to say, but actually seeing photos of him in the early 60s to early 70s was another thing entirely. I wish I asked him to scan them, because seeing him posing on his Triumph motorcycle with the tightest Levis and long hair and a mustache was hysterical.

The man in the photos he showed us is an entirely different person than the man I know as my father. They show that he, too, was once young and likely made poor decisions.

Happy Father's Day, Dad.

six word sunday: a remake of an old classic

abbey road?

the beatles' original

Join in the fun! Get more information about the Six Word Sunday challenge

Saturday, June 20, 2009

don't stop believing

definitely heartwarming. my favorite is the kid in the blue "elmjack" t-shirt -- so expressive!

(via zoomdoggle.com)

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

on demand

i signed up with a personal trainer at my club a few weeks ago, and had my third session today.

i am officially paying someone to kick my ass. especially today, when i was late due to circumstances beyond my control at work. so because i was about 20 minutes late, she wanted to make sure i never arrived late again. her plan worked -- i totally, dramatically, thought i was going to die. between the stair climber she subjected me to (the hard-ass one with the actual stairs) and the intense strength-training workout. at the end, she looked at me and said, "bet you're not gonna be late again, eh?" TRUE.

last session, i didn't eat a proper lunch beforehand, so i felt like utter crap and thought i was going to faint. again, another mistake i'll never repeat.

repeat after me: this will not become a workout blog. this will not become a workout blog. this will not...

i've had a headache all day long. maybe not enough water. am trying to remedy that now.

at some point i want to recap my calgary/seattle trip.

i went to los angeles for the day, week before last, on my first business trip. left on the 6a flight, and was back at 6p. that's a long day, lemme tell you. i went to a one-day conference and hopefully made some contacts for future business endeavors. i treated myself to lunch at encounter, which was exactly the daily amount of kitsch i needed.

delicious cobb salad (no egg) for lunch, with an obscene amount of blue cheese

the shindig was done early, and i had a couple of hours to kill before my flight, so i took a drive in the area surrounding the airport. i ended up in inglewood (always up to no good) and bought some bitchin' sunglasses at marshall's. or was it ross? driving back to drop off the rental car i saw so many lightening flashes. i thought it never rained in southern california. or so tony! toni! tone! said.

i'm watching "synecdoche, new york" right now, and have conflicting feelings about it. i wanted to like it so badly, but just can't seem to bring myself to do so. i'm not arty enough for it.

sunday was my mother's 60th birthday. my dad, mom and her best friend of 50 (!) years spent the weekend in S.F. my sister and john were too cheap to spring for their own hotel room, so they just came up for shopping saturday afternoon and dinner. saturday evening i went to the 30th birthday party of a friend from college who lives in S.F. good times were had.

early sunday morning my mom and i had appointments at bliss, a massage for me and a facial for her. we hung out here for several hours before heading to meet my dad at the giants game. it was a shame we wasted the fourth ticket we had, but my mom's friend bailed early, as per usual, and my sister and john were hungover from a party they attended the night before and didn't want to drive up. their loss -- it was amazing to see schierholtz's inside the park home run and the giants sweep the As. i'm looking forward to going to monday's game in oakland and cheering on another giants victory.

Friday, June 12, 2009

photobooth friday

i had about 5 hours to kill in seattle on a layover last week, and decided to rent a car and head downtown for some adventures. on the way back to the airport, i made a stop at stellar pizza in the georgetown neighborhood and hopped in the booth for a strip (or three).

the booth itself is lovely, and the atmosphere is exactly that which i'd like to continually surround myself with. that is, lots of atomic-age era ephemera, and a general good-time feeling. in addition to producing erm, stellar, pizza and cocktails, the good folks have also provided an assortment of props, including wigs and a stuffed raven.

that's right.

Sunday, June 07, 2009

six word sunday: a photographer's work is never dull

Join in the fun! Get more information about the Six Word Sunday challenge