(Almost) mid-year update

Hard to believe it is already mid May of the year that is 2012 (cue the obligatory "where did all the time go?" spiel). I think it is the proper time to give an update on this very blog of mine just what the heck have I been doing so far this year. Since this is the first paragraph of this blog post, I am suppose to give you a preview of what is to come right? Well, I have only one word for you: busy.

BLOG? WHAT BLOG?  

So busy in fact that the amount of blog post of far this year on this very blog has diminished to an alarmingly low rate (according to my own personal standards) compared to previous years. However free flowing are lack of grammatical correction my blog posts are, they usually take quite a decent amount fo time to write. 2,000 words (about the average amount of words I write each time I blog) of anything just does not write itself within the hour, no matter what the procrastinating college student tells you otherwise (been there, done that). So apologies to myself (new years resolution was to write plenty) and the readers of this blog (count of which can probably be done with the digits on my limbs) for the lack of content these past months. 

Sidebar: I have to say though, that piece about my experience with jury duty was probably the longest blog post I have ever wrote. Took me three days to completely flush it out and begrudgingly edit it.

HARDLY WORKING

What was I so busy with? Mainly work. I of course still work for O'BON; pandering our Eco-friendly school and office supplies to the United States consumer market. My role with the company has shifted and expanded a lot from the guy with the still camera that I was originally hired for (and would not have otherwise graduated undergrad if not for that). That tend to happen often in these small startup companies, where in order to save on labor cost, employees are forced to wear many hats (and not paid nearly as much as they should - America's false sense of high productivity). So yes, I took on many more hats on top of the photographer's hat I was already wearing: social media, marketing, design, email sales, shipping, and office admin.

It has been great to be present for so many facets O'BON (not really all the hard when the company is three people small), and learning from it constantly. I very much enjoy looking at the macro level of things - seeing how all the different compartment fits into the whole picture. Perhaps that is just the "control freak" personality trait that is innate within me (played too much of Sim City during my childhood). Granted, I think few that aspire to start their own company haven't got that obsessive compulsive nature of wanting to control everything, right down the most minute detail.

So that is my day job, if you want to call it that. I only get a little more than half time kind of work hours at O'BON (26.5 hours) so it is not exactly what you would like to refer as satisfactory - especially since I am not longer in school. I was okay with this situation for a bit though (extremely proud to contribute to the under employed statistic), because like many of my recently graduated peers, the job market is just not all that vibrant for us (go to college they said, you'll get a job they said.) Honestly though the pay is absolutely at the bottom of what can be considered as "entry level", and while I am frugal as frugal gets (excluding consumer electronics), I share my mother's worries about not earning enough to befit my college level education (hello there, sense of entitlement). 

WORKING HARD

As luck would have it, early February I found another part time job to supplement my paltry income. Thanks to my hard work and dedication during my four year tenure as a student assistant at the Academic Technology department of San Francisco State University (ha!), I was lucky enough to get brought back into the fold as the night staff for AT distribution. It was familiar and surreal at the same time to be back at the place of employment during my college years. Thank heavens all the knowledge I have ascertained did not escape me even though I was more than nine months removed from having last worked there. 

It was one of the best things to happen to me so far this year. 

There was a running joke at the time back in my college years that if I was there to see SFSU's new library finish and use it, then something is wrong (ie. still haven't graduated undergrad after five years - my apologies to those in majoring in bio or chemistry as the standard operating procedure for you guys is like six years plus). Well, these kind of things have a funny way of unravelling themselves because due to me being hired as the night staff for AT, it meant that I will be working at, that's right, the new library. In fact a week after I was hired, the whole department moved into the new digs. Who would have thought.

Cumulatively then, I went from working 26 hours a week to now a bit over 50. While it was financially awesome, it was definitely not physically or mentally awesome (commuting sucks no matter how you slice it). 12 hour work days takes a toll on you as I have already been sick three times so far this year. My usually exercise schedule is all out of kilter, as nowadays I have to force myself to wake up at 7am to get the workout in. Weekdays I don't get home until 11pm, and then I immediately get ready for bed because I value sleep so damn much (muscles don't repair themselves, you know). At this point I would like to give a shout out to caffeine, because without it, none of this would have been possible.

As you can see, I really haven't got much time these past months for anything else. In fact I have only gone out shooting (photography, not guns) once, which is a great shame. Weekends are definitely for recharging, with the Saturday night to Sunday morning 10 hours of slumber being especially awesome. With the summer months coming up and me ceasing to work night hours due to regular university semester being over, I hope to use the extra time to devote back to my hobbies and other activities. 

ONE DISTRACTION

Of course, that means plenty of baseball. 

As previously blogged, nothing quite compared the joys the Giants baseball season provides. While I won't rehash what I said here, let's just say it is a wonderful outlet and distraction from the all the "normal" stuff. It has been a great shame that due to my work hours, I have not been able to go to games during the weekdays (I am still peeved I missed the Phillies series). Not only did I missed a few key match ups, most important of all weekday games are MUCH cheaper than weekend games and I could have gone to multiple of them for the cost of one. Cannot wait for the summer time (one week away!) when I no longer work night time hours and I can finally go to weekday games again - because living in San Francisco is awesome for this: eat dinner, drive to park, park bit a way for free, and walk to the park just in time for a 7:15pm start time. Yeah, summer nights are awesome like that.

Remember one of my new years resolution for 2012 is to go to more baseball games than the previous year (20+). While I am off to a slow start due to my work schedule, having only gone to a grand total of four games, at least the team's winning percentage while I am at those games is already tremendously better than last years abysmal record. Yes, going to the ballpark, no matter win or lose, is an infinitely better experience than watching it on the tube, but honestly seeing a Giants win live at the ballpark and hearing the sweet sounds of Tony Bennet singing "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" as you exit is like nothing else. 

PHOTOGRAPHY IS PROHIBITED

Sad to say with all the business going on, my main hobby of photography was horribly neglected to far this year (not as severe as my gaming hobby though - I don't think my PS3 has been turned on at all this year). One bit of good news (for me) is that I finally ditched my entry level Canon Rebel XSi camera and stepped up to the big leagues with a professional grade Canon 7D (yes, it's a crop sensor. I haven't got the cash at the time for a full frame 5D Mark III). The difference in just handling and build quality of the two camera is absolutely night and day, not to mention the functionality and higher quality components. The limited shooting I have done with the 7D have been a joy (of course I am saying this partly because I spent a relative fortune on it), and the only negative thing is that it makes me want to reshoot everything that I have already shot with the XSi (not going to happen). 

Happy to report that my photo a day 366 project (due to this year being a leap year, it's a 366 project, not 365) is still going extremely well. But it goes without saying that for the rest of this year I need get back into the swing of things and go out and shoot much more often than I have (lest I risk blowing another of my new years resolutions). I am also looking forward to actually making some prints of the stuff I have done, either through a commercial entity or buying a photo printer for myself (oh, be still my wallet). 

(HALF) MID-LIFE

So what are the plans for the rest of this year? Definitely more of the same with regards to work (and baseball!). You can say I am basically in work and save money kind of mode right now. I am still contemplating the merits of a MBA graduate degree (outside of appeasing the hopes and dreams of my parents - how filial of me) so I think I will put that off another year just to be sure I am not dumping a few tens of thousands into tuition just for the sake of it. 

I turn 25 at the end of the year, and I guess that is a symbolic number as it signals the quarter of one's life (even though it does not make mathematical sense since the average life expectancy in the United States is still somewhere in the mid 80s). I have ask around and it seems like having a quarter life crisis is not all that uncommon these days (granted, not exactly a statistical sound kind of polling i did). I guess age 25 coincides quite coincidentally with most people's end of higher education (or imminent end) and thus they are stuck in the chasm between all they have ever known (education!) and full on adulthood (work for the rest of your life!). Age 25 is the "ho lee shit" moment.  

Well, in Stephen Colbert fashion, I am determined to have my OWN quarter life crisis, but not in a negative kind of way. I am going to embrace the ambiguity that exist between now and the future, and just take things as they come. Like the midlife crisis, I am going to buy a sports car. All in all, there is only one way I am determined to go:

Onwards and upwards.  

My tech top 10

One of my favorite tech blog Apartment Therapy Tech (formerly known as unplggd) has an ongoing series where they feature a person and the top 10 technology related things that he or she owns. Each person's list sort of serves as a inner look into their daily lives because our generation is so intertwined with technology and gadgets.

Now the problem is, I am not big enough of a blip on the blogosphere radar to warrant a feature on that website. So to channel my inner Stephen Colbert, I would like to present my own tech top 10 list (and it is going to crush all other top 10 list.) In no particular order of significance:

1. Canon EOS 7D - My DSLR of choice. This 18 megapixel semi-pro photographing device is everything i need in a camera without robbing Peter to pay for it. Its magnesium body is practically indestructible, and with 19 cross focusing points, I might never have a shot out of focus ever again (haha!) The fact that it shoots video in HD 1080p is just icing on the cake. This thing will perform the bulk of my photographic assignments for years to come. 

2. Apple iPhone 4 16gb - What in the world would I do without my smartphone. It is definitely one of those things where before you had it, you cannot even imagine why you need it. Sure nobody makes phone calls anymore, but the ability to text, check social networks, and surf the web on the go is an enormous time saver (and the accompanying neck pain from looking down all the time.) The iPhone also has an awesome camera that will suffice for non-serious picture taking. I can't leave the house without it, heck I can't even roam within my house without it.

3. NEC LCD3090WQXi-BK 30in LCD Monitor - A photographer needs the largest and best monitor he can possibly afford in order to most efficiently (and accurately) edit his photos. I did just that by purchasing this 30 inch. 2560x1600 pixel monster. Having a such a large canvas makes editing photos a breeze - no need to zoom in and out or hover around in order to see every little detail. The fact that it is a display from NEC's professional line means quality will be top notch, colors will be accurate, and the thing will last. 

4. Corsair Vengeance K60 Mechanical Keyboard -  For Internet writers and bloggers like myself that have to hammer out 2,000 word articles on a regular basis, there is no peripheral more important than the keyboard. We need something sturdy, quick, accurate, and feels awesome to type on. Mechanical keyboards are the answer. Unlike the common keyboard, A mechanical keyboard uses actual, physical switches underneath the keys to determine when the user has pushed a key. The feel is much more tactile. I actually look forward to typing on the K60 because it a such a pleasure to use.

5. Apple iPad 16gb - It is against custom for me to purchase the first generation of anything (you know, let them test all the bugs out and wait for the second-gen), but the iPad absolutely suckered me in with all its "revoluationary-ness." The majority of what people use a computer for is now available in a one and half pound device. For me the main function of the iPad is book reading (thank you Amazon Kindle) and bedridden Internet surfing.

6. Sony Playstation 3 - I gave up PC gaming many many years ago due to the fact that chasing the lastest and greatest in computing/graphic technology in order to build PCs that can handle the games was just not financially feasible. Console gaming offers something more constant that therefore less draining on the pocketbooks (though price for games are still absurd - tip: buy used.) The reason I side with the Playstation colors instead of Xbox is due to one game franchise that is only available on the Sony console -Gran Turismo.

7. Sony NEX-5 + 16mm f/2.8 Prime - For those times when lugging around a five pound camera kit (plus another four pound worth of tripod) is just not feasible. This tiny camera allows me to take similar quality of shots as the bigger 7D (due to it having a DSLR sized sensor) and it fits in my (bigger) pocket. The NEX-5 has become my "point-and-shoot" camera that I take with me everywhere and anywhere I am not on photographic assignment. 

8. Sennheiser HD 555 Headphones - Being a nocturnal being and music lover like most of my peers, I needed headphones so I can listen my music at normal resonance without disturbing my neighbors during the evening hours. Of course, the headphones needed to be high quality and comfortable as well. These HD 555s are one of the best rated for the price point. Along with listening to music, I also use them to watch movies and play video games at night without awaking anyone. 

9. Apple Macbook Pro 13in Mid 2009 - If I had to choose a favorite out of the 10 things listed here, this Macbook Pro would be it. My entire digital lifestyle is sustained by this little five pound machine: web, music, movies, photos, and creative stuff. I may have another PC that is much faster, but this mac remains my main computing device. Not to mention I also take this to work with me so it pulls double duty and it never skips a beat. Admittedly it is a bit long in tooth, so I look to upgrade it later this year.

10. HiVi Swans M10 2.1 Speakers - These desktop speakers plug into my Mac for infinite amounts of aural pleasure during the day time hours. Supposedly built with high quality innards made in Germany (and you know the Germans make good stuff), but I didn't care because it looks so awesome. Honestly though these do sound great and I would recommend it to anyone who needs something compact for their desk.  

沒有你煩 我有多煩惱 - random thoughts

The sun can be really deceiving. I woke up this morning seeing massive rays of sunshine and said to myself that okay, today will be a warm day. Well of course I was wrong as it was a freezing cold day today (that wind gust sure helped a lot). Compounding the problem is me only having two layers on. Could have drove home after internship to get more layers but was too lazy and did not want to waste gas. I mean I am indoors most of the time. All I have to do is survive the trip to the car. A teacher just walked in saying its actually sprinkling outside as well. GREAT. 

So I took a week off of blogging as last week was my last and final spring break and I just did not have time to write (it makes sense, trust me). Overall I had a wonderful time during the break, even though I spend three days of it at my internship. But those three days was not lost as I immodestly say I was a big contributor to the company ramping up for its Groupon launch, which occurred Wednesday of last week. I mean hey, pictures don't take and edit themselves (in the future perhaps). 

During the three days I actually gain real world experience using photoshop for the first time. But you say wait, if I am a photographer, should I not be using photoshop already? The answer is not really. Photoshop is really for heavily image manipulating. For simple to semi intensive post processing on all my photos, I use Lightroom, also made by Adobe (lightroom - digital, darkroom - film. get it?). That being said, photoshop really is a wonderfully and powerful too - the point where some of the stuff you can do on it should be illegal (haha). 

Rest of the week I slept the prerequisite 10 hours per day and the other time I watched baseball (its back!). Cannot wait to go to my first live game of the season next season (thank you $20 bucks tickets). Also managed to sneak in some spring cleaning to my room. Basically I threw out anything that I have no touch in a year - surprising ended up with a sizable bag of stuff. Nothing like a clean and tidy room to relax and be productive in.

End of spring break means only 7 weeks until I am absolutely done with academia (for now). So now when I post the "I'm done!!!!!!" status (well tweet, since I do that now), it does indeed actually mean I am done - with the whole thing. Sad? eh maybe not really? Looking forward to it actually. Finishing everything up and having a blast at the entrepreneurship graduation ceremony. After that it is straight to debt counseling and unemployment line.

But honestly I don't know what I am doing after graduation yet. Well I do for the most part. The clear choice is get a job (probably cannot avoid this...) and work for a company using my business degree to gain experience, and then a year later or so file for graduate school to get my MBA (Berkeley? Stanford? Harvard? you like my 3.65 GPA? eh probably not). That path seems the logical and safe (?) choice (and one that my parents would approve, and as long as I am staying under their roof still, well...).

However recently I have given thought to actually start doing photography seriously (meaning actual paying jobs), at least on a part time basis. This past year I have really grown to enjoy doing photography, even the tedious editing and publishing. It has actually become something I use to procrastinate with to avoid doing my actual school work. But what I am apprehensive about is that doing it for "real" will leave me burned out and actually turn hating the hobby which I really like. That is definitely not what I want.

Who knows really. I have been getting really positive feedback - but then again, they are my friends (haha). Digital photography is so incredibly assessable - with enough time and equipment you can practically emulate what any other photographer can do (and your wallet will suffer, believe me). So then what boils down to is each individual's style and eye for composition. Thankfully post process editing can tremendously differ between each photographer than finding your own style is not that hard. The reason I can blow through processing pictures at a reasonable pace is because I already have a set of "rules" that I know my photos will need to have and the rest is just finer tinkering to each individual shot. 

Anyways, this is not my photography blog, so I shall stop. Speaking of blogs though, recently I actually bought domain names for them! Of course I went with GoDaddy, because their overtly sexualized commercials did an absolutely fantastic job in enticing the key demographic that I am proudly a part of. Anyways if you look up at the URL instead of chenhealy.tumblr.com, it is now healychen.com (perhaps proving once and for all my name is incredibly unique?).

Why did I buy a url? because it is cool (duh!), and only cost me like 50 bucks per year for two domains. Besides if you are going to brand something and is sticking to it, you better lock up the .com url before someone steals it first. This exactly what happened with my photography blog - junctioncreative.COM was taken, so instead i had to settle for junctioncreative.CO (it was cheaper though). I'm not in the mood nor have the pocket books to contact and buy out whoever owns the .COM (turns out to be a flash engineer of some sort, the website is very minimalist). As for now is still just a hobby.

My computer of 5 years of age have been crapping out again. I think the hard drive is on its last legs (which makes sense, because hard drive are generally only warrantied for 5 years). The machine still works fine, and can rip through all my high definition files just fine. I would like to relieve it and buy a new Mac, but I just don't have the funds to swing it right now. But then you ask don't I already have a Macbook Pro? Well yes, I am typing on it right now. The thing is, once you have owned two computers simultaneous, you can never go back to just one, especially if one is a desktop and the other one is a notebook. The amount of multitasking is just tremendous for productivity. Not to mention when you are away from home the one that stays home can continue to do whatever you schedule it for (because video ripping and converting takes quite a long time). This phenomenon also applied when you starting adding multiple monitors. I maybe a converted minimalist, but sometimes you just need multiple machines to get the job done more efficiently. 

That 5 year old PC that is crapping out, I actually built myself. Back then I was very big into the whole build your own pc thing. It was not that hard to be honest, accept for all the tinkering afterwards. And it can be quite a mess with boxes, cables, and sleeves all over the place. Ultimately it was quite satisfying to having built something so relatively complete with your bare hands (nothing like pushing power and booting it up for the first time). 

But I am getting old, and I grew out of that phase. Nowadays I just want to buy a computer and turn it on without all the hassle (its why I buy Macs). Sure it is less satisfying then making something of your own, but as you find out time disappear faster as you age and there are some things that are just not worth the time to do when other people can do it perfectly (because time is money). Honestly I can see myself pretty soon even off loading the washing of my car to the machines (or someone else) because I just don't have the time to take out 4 hours of my day to do a full detail anymore (hence my car has not been washed since September - thank you rain!)

Anyways, the weekend is going to be a nice one.