Courage & Cloth

Step 3: Prepping and painting

2011-09-21T10:07:00.002-07:00

With Mark and Ann Marie on their way to visit shortly, it was important to get at least one room finished for them to sleep in. Or at least one bedroom ceiling painted.

The trusty DIY handbook came to the rescue, given that neither Jillian nor Tim had ever painted a room. A trip to Kelly Moore was in store.

After commencing cleaning the walls with TSP, Jillian got started on painting the guest bedroom's ceiling. Meanwhile, Janet helped continue the cleaning process, prepping the master bedroom for painting. The cleaning went better than the painting. Jillian still needed to learn the basics, like when to cut in, and how to roll.

Master bedroom, all ready for painting

Guest bedroom, new mattress ready for the in-laws.

Amateur paint job.

Many mistakes later, she called Elven McKnight. The master bedroom ceiling went much more smoothly with his help.

They even painted the first coat of blue on the guest bedroom walls. All in all, it was a success.

Janet prepped the hallways and the kitchen with TSP. Let the painting begin!

Step 2: Finish the flooring

2011-09-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

If you recall, the house was previously carpeted, with some lovely linoleum in the kitchen and bathroom.

After a grand start on the flooring the previous weekend with Jessica and Chris, we needed to address the stickier points of the laminate flooring: doorways and closets. On our first sweep, we went as far as we could down the hallway and into the living room without ripping boards to finish an entire room. With so little expertise using a skil saw, we needed a table saw to do this successfully (not wasting all 30 remaining cases of laminate flooring in practice freehanding a skil saw).

To solve this problem, Jillian and Janet drove to Sacramento to retrieve said saw from Cory. Time was of the essence. The following weekend, Janet and George came to our rescue as we attempted to cross our first doorjamb and finish the kitchen.

All hands were put to work for the whole weekend. Jillian had started washing down the bedroom ceilings and walls with TSP to prepare for painting, following instructions in the ever helpful Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual. Janet continued Jillian's efforts through the kitchen and the hallways, prepping for future painting of the entire interior. Meanwhile, Tim received a lesson in ripping boards as he and George finished the kitchen flooring.

Like most old houses, 719 The Alameda is not square. The walls are not straight. While continuing the very straight flooring throughout the house in one continuous piece, we encountered some challenges. We successfully continued the lines into the guest bedroom and the smaller hallway, though.

Designing a board to go under the linen closet doorjamb was a great challenge the required careful measuring and some skilled cutting with the jigsaw.

When George left on Sunday afternoon for another commitment, Jillian and Tim passed the first trial of their marriage with flying colors: flooring a closet all by themselves. By the end of the weekend, the only parts of the house left to be floored were the bathroom (to be tiled later) and the living room (storage central). Things were looking up.

Step 1: Demolishing the kitchen

2011-09-15T14:19:00.000-07:00

Demolition of the kitchen was the very first step we took in the remodel. Our fantastic friends Jessica Pasquini and Chris Hadsell drove down from Sonoma to spend a whole weekend helping us get started on the house. We had a lot of fun hanging out, and learned a bunch from them. Thanks, Jessica and Chris!

When we first toured the house, the kitchen looked like this. Countertop range, dark wood cabinets, and a slightly rusty refrigerator. It felt small and dark.

Chris led the way in removing the cabinets and appliances, starting off with turning off the water and unhooking the sink. He also safely disconnected the range and stove, which were hardwired in. Then, the cabinets were screwed and wedged off the walls. They'll make some great storage in the garage.

The empty walls of the kitchen were a clue that this project could take more work than we initially realized. The wiring was ancient and the light switch was located inconveniently behind our new fridge was meant to go. A few weeks later, Tim and Mark removed the wallboard so that Mark could rewire the majority of the kitchen.

The next step in the demolition was tearing out the laminate floor and the layer of plywood it was glued to in the kitchen. In the bedrooms, it was removing the carpeting, tack strips, padding, and all the pesky staples used to attach the padding.

Chris also taught us how to lay down a floating laminate floor. We started with 38 cases of laminate flooring. We must have gone through 6 just in one day with Jessica and Chris.

We learned to use the miter saw and the skil saw, set up out on the deck.

All four of us helped measure, cut, and knock it into place. We got as far as the hallway into the living room that weekend. It felt like a huge success.

Next: The nitty gritty part of the flooring with Jillian's dad, George.

No Viewfinder - Guest Photographer

2010-01-22T19:10:00.000-08:00

While walking through the Presidio with Matt, he grabbed the camera a few times to get back into the No Viewfinder swing of things. Here is the only photo really worth posting. Thanks for your contribution Matt!

Biker.
Taken by Matt Chingos in the Presidio, San Francisco, CA.

Venus Fly Trap

2010-01-08T23:05:00.000-08:00

Annie had Venus fly traps when I was growing up and I always liked to feed them bugs. I snapped a photo of this little bunch while touring wineries in Sonoma back in November with Matt, Jill and Jess.

I think you're kind of cute.

Fly Traps.
Taken in Sonoma, CA.

My Friend, Mr. Pelican

2009-12-31T18:26:00.000-08:00

Mr. Pelican was hanging out by the Golden Gate Bridge. He let me get real close and take his picture. He says, "Happy New Year!"

(For some reason I'm associating storks with New Year's, and a pelican is the closest thing I have.)

Pelican Series.
Taken at the Presidio, San Francisco, CA.

Cute Doggie!

2009-12-17T21:37:00.000-08:00

While wine tasting with Matt, Jillian and Jess in Sonoma, I met this friendly dog Charlotte. She was beautiful and let me take her picture.

Charlotte Series.
Taken in Sonoma, CA.

No Viewfinder Throwback

2009-12-14T21:11:00.000-08:00

I snapped these photos while touring vineyards and hanging out in Sonoma Valley with Matt when he came to visit the weekend before Thanksgiving. I love blown out shots that capture something special.

Blur.
Sun.
Taken in Sonoma County, CA.

Get a Christmas Card!

2009-12-09T10:11:00.001-08:00

Though you're a quiet bunch, I know you're out there. For this holiday season, I'd like to send my readers Christmas cards. Leave a comment on this post (or another one) and I'll find your address and send you a note. If you don't think I have your address, send me an e-mail with it.

Happy Holidays!

Photo courtesy of 2ndcoming on Etsy.com.

Garden Spells - An Apple in Sonoma

2009-12-07T21:24:00.000-08:00

Awhile ago, Jill and I read Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, a splendidly terrible book that sucks life from your soul like a good soap opera. The book frequently mentions a magical apple tree that, upon eating an apple, shows to you the biggest thing, whether wonderful or horrific, that will happen in your life.

While at a winery in Sonoma, I came across an apple on a vine yard reminded me of this delightful book. It makes me want to take a big juicy bite!

Smapple.
Taken in Sonoma, CA.

Hanging Christmas Lights!

2009-12-06T19:02:00.001-08:00

Jill and I spent today in Sunnyvale emptying out our self storage unit and hanging Christmas lights on trees with Cory. Here is a great photo taken by Cory (make sure you click, it's much cooler in the larger version). I'll be sure to share photos once the lights are illuminated.

Tree Perspective.
Taken by Cory Hamma, Sunnyvale, CA.

Sack!

2009-12-06T16:14:00.000-08:00

I took this photo at last Sunday's football game. Yes, I'm still 12 years old.

QBS.
Taken at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA.

Happy Birthday Mom!

2009-12-05T07:07:00.000-08:00

For your blog birthday present, here are a few photos of your two favorite boys in front of a big bridge! We love you!

Brothers Series.
Taken in the Presidio, San Francisco, CA.

New Len10 Video

2009-12-04T22:06:00.000-08:00

Five months in Cape Hatteras makes me LOVE kiteboarding videos. Check out Ruben Lenten's latest.

NEW 2010 Ruben Lenten Video, The Mega Loop King! from Slingshot Sports Kite on Vimeo.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

2009-12-04T08:22:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday, Cory, Jill and I went to see a San Francisco 49ers game! It was my first professional football game so I was pretty excited. I made the mistake of wearing a pink shirt and got heckled by a few bigoted fans (it's amazing how the other 90% lives). This was a pretty good substitute since I couldn't play football with my family (where I would have still be heckled for wearing a pink shirt). All in all, it was a fun time. Here are some photos and the YouTube game highlights.

My heart did go out a little for the Jacksonville Jaguars, as I remembered my good friend Nick Ortiz from Dartmouth who was their #1 Fan. I wonder if he was sitting in this section?

Video Highlights

Football Series
Taken at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA.

The Golden Gate Bridge

2009-12-03T10:13:00.000-08:00

I wouldn't be a true San Franciscian if I didn't go take a few pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge. Two weekends ago, when Matt was in town, I visited the Presidio on the most beautiful day one could ask for. I managed to take a few gorgeous pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge. Enjoy!

Golden Gate Bridge Series.
Taken in the Presidio, San Francisco, CA.

I finally saw redwood trees!

2009-12-02T22:55:00.000-08:00

After being in Northern California for more than 4 months, I finally saw my first redwood trees. They are really quite something, very tall. It definitely felt like a Middleearth-ish enchanted forest; dark and beautiful and moist. While they didn't photograph too well, Matt snapped a photo of Jill and I in front of one of the trees lucky enough to get a name.

Lance.
Ent.
Taken in North California.

Changing Colors... Kinda.

2009-12-01T10:50:00.000-08:00

Having spent so much time in Vermont in New Hampshire, I've found myself missing the changing leaves. Luckily, the vine leaves in Sonoma change colors right around this time.

Here are two beautiful shots of vineyards in Sonoma. I absolutely love this little house perched on the hill.

House paint.
Autumn vines.
Taken in Sonoma, CA.

Sebastopol, CA - A Home for Hippies

2009-11-30T09:41:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, Matt, Jillian and I went to visit Matt's college friend Jess up in Sonoma. We went to Jess's old stumping ground, Sebastopol, CA, for lunch at the Pine Cone Cafe, which was very tasty. I gave this place a 5-star rating on Yelp and I was the first to rate.

Upon heading back to our car to hit up some wineries, we noticed some pretty awesome local businesses. Need some crystals? Is your dog feeling ill? Sebastopol has everything you need.

Pine Cone.
Crystal Meth.
Healin'.
Taken in Sebastopol, CA.

The Morning Matt Left

2009-11-29T11:37:00.000-08:00

Matt flew out on Monday morning (November 23). We all got up to get ready for work. Jill and I were looking our Monday morning best and Matt, of course, was wearing one of his classic long sleeve sweater polos. I love you, Matt!

Matt, Tim & Jill.
Taken at our home, San Francisco, CA.

Our First Thanksgiving Turkey!

2009-11-28T12:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! While I greatly missed my family on the east coast, Jillian and I had a lot of fun cooking our first Thanksgiving turkey and enjoying a delicious meal with George, Janet and Cory.

We named our turkey Chastity. She was 17.9 ounces and we bought her from Trader Joe's. She came pre-brinded and everything!

Despite the etymology of her name, the Latin adjective castus translates to "pure," I easily got to third base with Chastity (score!).

Using a fabulous recipe from Cook's Illustrated, we cooked Chastity up to a delicious crispy, juicy, golden brown. It was most tasty. Keeping in mind the ancient ways of our predecessors, I am using every part of the left over meat, bones and carcass to fabricate useful items (soup, sandwiches, arrow heads, needles, blow darts, etc.).

As a delicious accompaniment to the meal, Jillian cooked her famous pumpkin soup using a pumpkin we picked up while visiting wineries in Sonoma County last weekend. I thought the pumpkin smelt like melon. We have a LOT of pumpkin soup in the fridge, plus lots of frozen, cooked pumpkin ready to make a second batch this winter.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We love you!

Introduction.
Third Base.
Golden Brown.
Cuttin'.
Lots of pumpkin.
Photos taken at our home, San Francisco, CA.

Fire Truck

2009-11-25T16:04:00.000-08:00

While driving with Matt this past Saturday, we saw a fire truck and I took a picture.

This reminded me a website I saw back in high school of a guy who comments on children's artwork. Here is the best of the best. Google even auto fills the text with "Ding ding here."

Comments:
Ding Ding! Here comes the shit-mobile. I've never seen a fire truck that needed to be shaved. I would rather be burned to death than be saved by this hairy piece of shit.

Classic!

Firetruck.
Taken in San Francisco, CA.

Matt's in San Francisco!

2009-11-21T11:04:00.001-08:00

Last night Matt and I went to an Arcade on Pier 39. We played basketball, football, lots of skeeball, DDR and Sniper Scope! Here are two photo highlights.

The adult basketball game was 6 tokens (way too many!) so we played "Lil Hoops," the kiddie version that was only 2 tokens. The one catch, you have to get down on your knees to play. Matt won 49 - 47.

Lil Hoops Matt.
Brungly Brothers.
Taken on Pier 39, San Francisco, CA.

No Viewfinder Throwback

2009-11-18T15:10:00.000-08:00

While at my friend Eric's place on Saturday, I was taking some pictures with his camera. I got into the No Viewfinder swing of things and managed to grab this shot. Everyone was very impressed (self call!) when they saw the result. No photo editing on this shot, I just stole it off Eric's Facebook album.

Nick.
Taken in The Castro, San Francisco, CA.

Rich Dad Poor Dad - Robert Kiyosaki

2009-11-17T22:15:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money - That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! which I received as a gift from my uncle. It was a fabulous read. I've already bought a copy for my friend Jimmy. It's going to be a long and trying journey to fortune, but I like the prospect of taking steps towards a life of not having to work for the man.

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn about investing and financial literacy. It's very introspective and allows you, as the reader, to learn as much about yourself as you do about finances and opportunity. Visit Robert Kiyosaki's website where you can purchase the book Rich Dad Poor Dad directly from the source.

Image curiosity of www.RichDad.com.

Pedicures in Mattituck

2009-10-31T16:50:00.001-07:00

Tim and I got pedicures together at the Blue Sage Day Spa in Mattituck right after my graduation. We've been meaning to share the pictures. It was his first pedicure, and I enjoyed watching. He had an adorable look on his face as he watched Dawn working on his feet, not knowing what to expect.

Throwing signs from the beauty chair.
Unsure.
Taken in Mattituck, NY.

Maple Syrup Pitcher

2009-10-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Tim suggested we go into Anthropologie, one of my favorite stores, to cheer me up when I was having tough day (in August). He was very good-natured and sat on the boyfriend couch while I looked around the store and ooohed and aaahed at the adorable duvets and overpriced dresses. When I made the circuit over to the sale section he joined me and found a cute little pitcher, just the right size for syrup. It's seen a lot of use since.

Quaint Pitcher.
Pitcher AKA "A home for syrup".
Taken in San Francisco, CA.

The state of our plants

2009-10-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

We can still count the number of live things depending on us on two hands, but at least they're all doing really well right now. All of them were gifts at some point from my mother, our plant consultant.

We have house plants! Hubert, the fern, has made it since my freshmen year and is flourishing after the flight from the east coast. It lives on Tim's speakers. Tim is cooking in the background.

The herb plants were dying from malnutrition in their clay soil until my mother re-potted them. They're producing a lot more sauce-ready leaves now, but the labels fell off in the rain storm that hit two weeks ago.

We have a lovely plant with variegated leaves on the patio table. I don't know what it's called, but it's easy to take care of.

With all this success, we decided to take a new step and adopt a larger plant. It's looking pretty good. Cory has its brother/sister.

A recent gift from my mother was the lovely harvest-colored flowering plant that has been gracing our kitchen for several weeks.

Tim likes to buy flowers when he's at Trader Joe's. He's really good at picking ones that last a long time. I love having the color in our apartment once in a while.

Most exciting of all, my mother gave me sweet pea seeds--the bushy variety that doesn't need to climb. In climates like SF, fall is the proper time to plant sweet pea seeds. I ran out of space in the pot she gave me, so I planted a few in the permanent planter along the side of our patio. They started sprouting early last week, so I took pictures to document it. (I was concerned that my ineptness would lead to total failure) By the time I got back from Santa Barbara, leaves had already appeared.

Fingers are crossed that I won't kill the sweet peas, and we'll be able to cut flowers for our apartment. Sweet peas are my favorite flowers. My friend Sierra and I used to pick them on her parents' farm in Oregon in the summer. I adore the scent and how dainty sweet pea flowers are, and these should produce a variety of colors.

Houseplant series.
Taken in San Francisco, CA.

Dear J Crew E-mail Marketing Manager

2009-10-26T14:40:00.001-07:00

(If any J Crew executives have Google Alerts and see this, please pass it on to your e-mail marketing manager.)

-----

October 26, 2009

Dear J Crew E-mail Marketing Manager,

I feel your pain. Retail is a tough industry right now and marketing/advertising dollars are few and far between. I'm sure there is an unsettling amount of pressure on your shoulders to perform. I'd first like to give you some props. You and your team compose some great e-mails. They're concise and to the point. They're well designed and aesthetically pleasing. I open all of them so I'm happy to say I'm a contributor to what I hope is a greater than 20% open rate.

However, you've got to mix it up. Free shipping is a great pull when shopping on-line. However, free shipping* (*on orders of $100 or more) is not really free shipping, especially when a lot of people are shopping sales. To be perfectly honest, it's really misleading (and subsequently disappointment) when the subject line says free shipping and this is in fact not the case if I choose only to purchase another gorgeous seersucker vest which happens to be on sale for $30.

Imagine that your VP of Marketing sent you an e-mail with the subject "I'M GIVING YOU A PROMOTION" and you find that in the fine print you need 4 e-mail campaigns with open rates of greater than 50% and click through rates equal to that. I bet you'd be a little disappointed. Imagine this happens to you week after week, and you quickly realize that you're not getting a promotion, just like I've come to realize the day is very far away when I'm going to be getting free shipping from J Crew (I'm a former Marketing Intern working as an Inside Sales contractor making very little money, I sealed this e-mail with my tears).

Here are a few of my recommendations. Push the sale. J Crew always has great stuff on sale. Make free shipping an added bonus for people spending more than $100. Every so often, do your "free shipping" promotion with a minimum order. Mix up the minimum, I've seen $100 and $150 as your minimums. Maybe drop it to $75 or $50 on occasion. I'm sure this is effective for a certain portion of your target market.

And then once in a blue moon, offer free shipping, genuinely. Every account gets one order shipped free. Give it a VERY finite period of availability. Make the call to action very clear: Place Your Order By Friday at Midnight EST and It Will Ship Free! I don't want to shoot your gift horse in the mouth, but c'mon. There are a lot of poor people who like to wear J Crew. We go to your outlets and go CRAZY in the clearance section. Give US an incentive to shop on-line.

On a final note, tell Jenna I say, "What's up?" and see if she can find some dude (maybe a Ben or Oliver or some other Anglo-American guy) that can recommend stuff for guys. We have feelings too.

Best of luck to you and your team as this economy begins to turn around. I'd be happy to offer you more of my consulting services free of charge**. Have a great day.

Cheers,

Timothy Chingos
San Francisco, CA

**Free of charge provided I'm given a suit, jacket 40L and pants 32/32, for each 4 hour consultation session.

Californication

2009-10-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

Jill and I have recently become addicted to Showtime's Original Series Californication. The show's about a writer who recently moved from NYC to LA. His life is spinning out of control and he's trying to get it back on track (while simultaneously sleeping with any woman who bats an eyelash at him).

Check out the YouTube trailer for Season 1. It's definitely worth a rental (or you can watch it instantly on Netflix). We're about to get caught up with Season 3.

Business Trip to Santa Barbara

2009-10-24T11:44:00.001-07:00

For my debut on Courage and Cloth, I'll share some of the fun from my first business trip, which was to UC Santa Barbara.

On Wednesday I flew south to Santa Barbara for the annual PACT (Performance Assessment for California Teachers) Implementation Conference. Most of the people who attended were faculty and PACT coordinators at their institutions. Participants traveled from as far as Illinois and Washington and as near as UC Santa Barbara to give presentations on the ways they implement PACT in their teacher education programs, talk with their peers, and learn from other programs. Most of the group was from California, though, as the name of the assessment would suggest. We had about 100 this year, half as many as the year before, because travel budgets are being cut at both public and private universities.

Unfortunately one of the sessions on Academic Language that I hoped to attend was canceled, so I asked Katie and Christina (who planned and ran the event) for advice on a pretty walk to take. UC Santa Barbara is in Goleta, CA, and right on the beach. Apparently it's the only university where you can take surfing lessons for P.E.

This pathway leads around the edge of the campus by the beach. It was refreshing to see students on their way to surf between classes.

A view of part of the campus. UCSB is on a pseudo-peninsula, and this is the southernmost part.

There were several people stand-up paddleboarding. I wondered if some of them were the instructors of the surfing P.E. classes.

Several of the surfers were catching decent waves.

A view across the lagoon of the building (University Center) where the conference was held.

I'm convinced that Santa Barbara would be a really nice place to live and learn to surf. With perfect weather--except for the occasional wild fires--and relaxed people, it's not a stretch to imagine us in a southern California lifestyle. Or at least trying it out for a year.

Lunch break.
Beachside campus.
Paddling out.
Catching a wave.
Lagoon path.
Taken at the University of California, Santa Barbara, CA.

Hotel Tabard Inn

2009-09-23T16:47:00.000-07:00

My brother took this awesome picture during a trip in DC. What's up Tabard? Zunt!

A place of Rest (And Rage).
Taken my Matt Chingos, Washington, DC.

Eat at Joe's!

2009-09-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

This photos is for my step-dad Joe! I was thinking of you!

Yummy!
Taken in San Francisco, CA.

Warning! Aggressive Seals & Sea Lions!

2009-09-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

Last week, Jill and I saw people in wet suits swimming in the Bay. I give them a lot of credit as I'm sure the water is freezing, tri-athletes training is my guess. I really hope they're careful though because we also saw this sign.

Careful.
Seals.
Taken on or around Pier 39, San Francisco, CA.

Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39

2009-09-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

I got the San Francisco Wharf experience this past Saturday. Jill and I hit up Ghirardelli Square for their annual chocolate festival. While we didn't do any sampling, Jill scored some free ice cream from Cadillac for filled out a survey. We walked around the Wharf and checked out Pier 39. There was a huge container ship cruising past Alcatraz which was pretty cool. It was very windy (as always) and lots of people were out sailing. I'm hoping to get back on the water one of these days.

Cocoa Square.
Sailboat.
Delivery to Alcatraz.
Taken around Fisherman's Wharf & Pier 39, San Francisco, CA.

Market Street Farmer's Market

2009-09-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

On Sunday of Labor Day Weekend, Jill and I went to Aspect Custom Framing & Gallery on Polk St. in between Ellis and Eddy to drop off two pictures to get framed. On the bus ride up, we passed a Farmer's Market. After a great consultation and confidently leaving our art with Lon from Aspect Framing (check out his Yelp Reviews), we headed out to buy some fruits and veggies!

Just a couple of quick photos! :)

Fruit.
Vegetable.
Taken just north of Market Street, San Francisco, CA.

Shakespeare in the Park and Lombard Street

2009-09-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

Labor Day Weekend was busy busy busy for Jill and I. We drove down to the Gilroy Outlets on Saturday to do some shopping. On Sunday we went to get some things framed and then stopped by a Farmer's Market (see tomorrow's post!).

Monday, however, was the climax of the weekend! We drove to the Presidio to see "Comedy of Errors" by William Shakespeare, a free performance of Shakespeare in the Park. It was a great production that was very accessible without losing the intentions of Shakespeare. On the way home, Jill convinced Cory to drive down the swirly part of Lombard Street. I've included a picture of Coit Tower and the surrounding area taken from the top of Lombard Street.

View from a Hill.
Taken at the top of Lombard St, San Francisco, CA.
In the Park.
The Stage.
Taken in the Presidio, San Francisco, CA.

Santa Cruz Boardwalk

2009-09-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

I've haven't been good about posting the things I've been up to. These photos are from a trip Jill, George, Janet and I took to see a band on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. I think this was on Friday, August 28, 2009. We got their early and had lots of time to walk around. I snapped these photos with my Olympus camera and they came out surprisingly well! I think the swings are particularly iconic.

Swings.
Skyline.
Coastin'.
Sunsets & SUVs.
Taken on the Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, CA.

Explortorium

2009-09-15T08:39:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, Jill & I went to the San Francisco Exploratorium with Geroge, Janet and Cory. We has a lot of fun playing with all of the demonstrations and what not. Here's a shot of Jill and I in front of a tornado tank!

Tank Kids.
Taken at Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA.

Golfing with Trulia

2009-09-15T07:55:00.001-07:00

I went golfing with some friends from Trulia last Friday (September 11). We played at Gleneagles GC in San Francisco. This 9-hole course was a bit of a dump, but it had lots of character (i.e. lichen covered tee signs, close proximity to the projects, etc.). With narrow fairways and rolling greens, to say the course was challenging would be an understatement. Despite conditions, it was an epic day with lots of great shots and fun had by all. I can't wait until we do it again.

Golf Group.
Caddy.
Lichen.
Taken at Gleneagles GC in San Francisco, CA.

Photo in the New York Times

2009-09-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

My brother is co-author on the book the book Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America's Public Universities (you may remember the previous blog post about Matt Chingos) and there is a piece in the New York Times today talking about it.

I took a photo of Matt which was printed in the Times. Unfortuately, it's not on-line. If you get a chance, pick up a copy of the Times and check out my first NYT photo credit!

Here's the awesome head shot (thought it's black and white in the paper).

Matt.
Taken at Crescent Beach Club, Bayville, NY

Jonathan Frazier Photography

2009-09-08T09:46:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this great photographer by the name of Jonathan Fraizer while at work on Friday. I really enjoyed his galley page titled "Represent."

Here's a screen shot of one of his photos.

Check out his website at http://www.jonathanfrazierphotography.com/.

No Viewfinder Throwback

2009-09-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

My friend Ali at our company party (which was one month ago today!). I really do like this photo.

Sartorialist, Watch Out!
Photo taken at the Hamilton, San Francisco, CA.

My First Ride on the CalTrain

2009-09-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

Today marks the two month anniversary of my 1st CalTrain Ride! This is a picture from my first ride back on July 6, 2009, when I headed into San Francisco for my interview with Trulia. This was also my first trip into San Francisco. It's really uneventful, but I like to document these things.

I'm fortunate enough to no longer have to take the train. Having recently moved to San Francisco, I get to walk to work!

Clean Train.
Photo taken on the CalTrain, Sunnyvale, CA.

"The Red House" TV Ad

2009-09-05T20:23:00.000-07:00

Part of my job is monitoring the Twittersphere for good conservations and tweets. I came across this video today, totally unrelated to real estate. It's a commercial encouraging all races and creeds to come and buy furniture from "The Red House." It really is quite cute.

Check out Red House Furniture in North Carolina and buy some furniture!

Things To Know Before You Look for a Home

2009-09-04T14:38:00.000-07:00

So you want to buy a home? Here are a few tips before you start looking.

Buying a home is a journey. Having a road map as a guide can make the process a whole lot easier and save you loads of time. At Trulia, we believe in empowering consumers and agents to make informed real estate decisions.

Hot out of the editing room is Trulia's latest video titled "Things To Know Before You Look for a Home" highlighting important steps in preparing to buy a home. This presentation pays particular attention to steps to take before you begin the home search process. Check it out, we bet you'll learn something!

Video screencasted and edited by Tim Chingos.

Puppies Dressed As Cats

2009-09-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

For a guaranteed smile, check out this Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien clip featuring "Puppies Dressed As Cats."

Courtesy of NBC.com.
(Thanks for sharing this with me Noelle!)

IKEA Heights

2009-09-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

Awesome video from www.Buzzfeed.com.

"A drama secretly filmed inside of a Burbank, CA IKEA. It is kind of an amusement park for bored twenty-somethings."

Watch IKEA Hieghts at its source.

Profound Flux Pudding - Must Follow Blog

2009-09-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

Must follow blog. Great writing and even better adventures.

A good friend of mine from Dartmouth is living and traveling in Vietnam and is sharing her experiences along the way. Add her blog to your Google Reader or simply check for updates often.

Link: http://profoundfluxpudding.blogspot.com/

Oh, and did I mention there are pictures? Here's a sample!

Photo taken my Julia Plevin, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Snow Leopard

2009-08-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

I just got Snow Leopard for my MacBook, which was released on Friday, and it's pretty awesome. I've gotten 22 gigs of space back. Expose has a new look and feel. And Quicktime is a whole lot rage-ier. If you haven't upgraded your Mac OS, you should definitely do. It's only $29, totally worth it.

Snow Leopard.
Photo from www.xinjiangsnowleopards.org.

Apartment Photos 6 (and last!)

2009-08-30T21:32:00.000-07:00

Random photos that didn't really fit anywhere else. And our patio! We love that our studio has a patio, so spoiled! Hope you enjoyed the photos. You can see them all on Facebook. Friend me!

Apartment Photos 5

2009-08-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

The bedroom and den. It's comfy and cozy and we love it!

Apartment Photos 4

2009-08-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

The Bathroom. Such a necessary room. We thought we did a pretty good job making it cute.

Apartment Photos 3

2009-08-27T21:21:00.000-07:00

Our super sweet IKEA cubby case slash room divider. We're loving it!

Apartment Photos 2

2009-08-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

The hallway into our place and the dinner room! So roomy, we really need to find a way to put some of the space to better use.

Apartment Photos 1

2009-08-25T21:15:00.001-07:00

I'm stretching this out over a couple days to make you come back. Enjoy!

My favorite room in the house is the kitchen! Ours it beautiful!

Is Social Media a Fad?

2009-08-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

This is an awesome video that a co-worker shared with me. It will change the way you think about social media applications. Really eye opening data. Give it a watch.

Cafe Art Bar

2009-08-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

While apartment hunting, Jillian and I grabbed a quick bite to eat at this adorable little place I like to call "Cafe Art Bar" (it has a much longer official name, but I choose to use the short version). It was very tasty and very romantic. Here are a couple photos from the night.

On another note, I've started Yelping. Check out my review for this place here.

Tulip.
Cafe.
Photos taken at Cafe Art Bar, San Francisco, CA.

Ralph Lauren Polo Sport Deoderant

2009-08-09T23:24:00.000-07:00

You may think this is kind of gross, but I find it to be kind of amazing. This is my deodorant and I love it. Unfortunately, it's not available in drug stores and needs to be purchased in a department store or Ralph Lauren outlet (I patronize the latter). It goes on clear and smooth and keep you fresh all day long.

This right about wraps up the sporadic coverage of my personal care products. Check some of them out, they're pretty sweet.

The Art of Shaving - Four Simple Steps to Success

2009-08-06T21:10:00.001-07:00

Picking up where I left off last week going through the personal care products that make me successful, I present the Art of Shaving Sandalwood Essential Oil collection.

After washing your face, you begin the shaving process with the Pre-Shave Oil, massaging it into your face. After this, you lather you badger hair brush with luscious shaving cream and apply to your neck, chin, cheeks and lip. Using the weighted handle and your choice of blade, you bring your skin to a fine smoothness. After a rinse and pat dry, you finish the process with the after shave moisturizer, keeping your skin fresh and smooth all day long.

This is truly an Art, and just as enjoyable and rewarding. To get started, visit TheArtofShaving.com and select your artisan tools.

Four Steps to Success.
The Art of Shaving.

Timothy Geithner - Economic Genius?

2009-07-30T10:03:00.000-07:00

Timothy Geithner unsuccessfully tried to sell his house. I wonder if he used Trulia. The Daily Show reports.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Home Crisis Investigation

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Joke of the Day

I'm Getting An Apartment!

2009-07-29T13:43:00.001-07:00

Jill and I are moving into an apartment in San Francisco. This cartoon does a good job summing out the feeling of signing a lease (which we've yet to do).

Courtesy of XKCD.com. Click image or link to view full comic.

Path to Success - A Week of Personal Care

2009-07-27T08:42:00.000-07:00

Just for fun, I'll run you all through my methods of success, starting with personal care products. My cologne is my staple, Jean Paul Gaultier 'Le Male.' Check it out, more to come.

Magic Kingdom

2009-07-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

It was a little over a month ago that Jill and I vacationed at Walt Disney World Resort in Buena Vista, FL. I never posted pictures from our day wonderful at Magic Kingdom. Highlights included Splash Mountain, Jungle River Cruise and the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House.

Cinderella's Castle.
Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.
Post Splash Mountain.
Carousel Ride.
Cindy's Castle at Night.
Taken at Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Buena Vista, FL.

XKCD.com - Estimation

2009-07-23T14:15:00.000-07:00

This is Monday's XKCD comic. I thought it was one of the most amazing pieces of humor I've seen in awhile. I hope you enjoy.

Comic located at http://www.xkcd.com/612/. Check out the site for this comic and lots more fun.

Fun Photos While Driving

2009-07-22T09:15:00.000-07:00

Jill requested that I take these fun pictures while we were driving home from our camping trip. The dog really was adorable. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a great picture of the house, but there was a solid effort.

Dog Car.
Pretty Cottage.
Taken on the drive between Folson State Park and Sunnyvale, CA.

1980s Jillian

2009-07-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

There is this great site, which is new to me, called Rollip.com where you can edit images to look like Polaroids. This is a photos from my camping trip with Jill in the Polaroid style. I think it looks amazingly 80s.

Jill circa 1983.
Taken at Peninsula Campground, Folsom Lake State Park, CA.
Editing curtiosy of Rollip.com.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2009-07-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

Jill and I saw the new Harry Potter film yesterday. It was pretty good. The directors of the franchise are getting artistic here and there and I'm liking it. Check out the trailer if you haven't already.

Camping at Folsom Lake, CA

2009-07-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Jill and I went camping at Folsom Lake State Park in Folsom, CA. It was 3.5 hours in each direction with no air conditioning and 100 degree heat, but we had fun.

When we arrived at our campsite (circa 7:3o pm), the first thing we did was go for a swim. After that, we set up our tent and took some gorgeous pictures of the sunset just beyond our site. We then showered to get off all the mud from the lake. For dinner, we cooked chicken pitas with cucumber, lettuce and tzatziki. It was a warm trip so we hung out in our bathing suits the entire time which was nice. Definitely hotter than our trip to Orlando, which got really freakin' hot.

Despite this all, we had a fabulous weekend spending time together.

Post Swim.
Sunset Jill.
Sunset Tim.
Afterglow Clouds.
Dinnertime.
Taken at Peninsula Campground, Folsom Lake State Park, CA.

No Viewfinder Throwback

2009-07-16T15:46:00.000-07:00

Shot of the ceiling of a market place in Epcot.

Bazaar.
Taken at Epcot, Buena Vista, FL.

Jill's Graduation

2009-07-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

One month ago today, Jill graduated! I never got a chance to post the picture of her getting her diploma, it was really excited!

Diploma!
Taken in Robinson Hall, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH.

First Day on the Job - Trulia

2009-07-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

I start my job as Trulia's Social Media Intern today. I'm really excited for getting set up and settled in and beginning lots of projects. I'll link you all to my work now and again.

In the meantime, check out Trulia!

Happy Anniversary Matt & Abi

2009-07-12T19:31:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Matt & Abi on their One Year Anniversary. Here are a couple pictures from the wedding of the happily married couple.

Eyes.
Dancing.
Taken at Casa Di Amore, Aquebogue, NY.

Bump Technologies

2009-07-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

I don't have an iPhone, but I think this is pretty sweet.

Check them out at Bump Technologies!

Animal Kingdom - Dinosaur!

2009-07-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

On Saturday (June 20), we hit up Animal Kingdom. I already took you on a Safari, but here is one other picture of us. We went on the Dinosaur ride where they send you back in time to find this very special dinosaur. It was a very scary ride. We snapped a photo of the screen with the picture they were trying to sell us.

Hold Me!
Taken at Animal Kingdom, Buena Vista, FL.

Hollywood Studios

2009-07-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

After a day at the beach at a night at the club, Ashley, Jess, Jill and I headed out to Hollywood Studios. The day was filled with many adventures including a trip on the Rockin' Rollercoaster, Hollywood Tower of Terror, the Movie Ride, Live Action Stunt Racing Extravaganza, Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage and the Back Lot Tour.

Below are the photo highlights. We were all very sweaty.

Mickey's Hat.
Sweaty.
Movie Set.
Turkey Leg.
Water Tower.
Taken at Hollywood Studios, Buena Vista, FL.

Orlando and Cocoa Beach!

2009-07-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

Before Jill and I went to Disney World, we spent an afternoon and evening in Cocoa Beach and Orlando with Jill's good friend Ashley. Here are some photos from our day at the beach and night at the bar (the bar was called "Cowboys").

Us Shot.
Shoulders.
Group Shot in the Ocean.
Jill Flies.
Western Bar.
Girls at Cowboys.
Photos taken in Cocoa Beach and Cowboys, Orlando, FL.

Final Few Wedding Pictures

2009-07-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

Shots of me with some of my favorite ladies! I hope you enjoyed the wedding photos.

Jilly.
Granny.
Mommy.
Photos taken by friends and family at Crescent Beach Club, Bayville, NY.

Artsy Wedding Photos

2009-07-08T06:05:00.000-07:00

Taking artsy, photo journalistic style photos is something I always enjoy. Here are the highlights from my most recent wedding.

Monarch's Domain.
Flower In Your Hair.
Two Become One.
Alter Bouquet.
Wedding Topper.
Taken at the Crescent Beach Club, Bayville, NY.

Group Shots at the Wedding

2009-07-07T07:13:00.002-07:00

Here are some group photos from the wedding. The first shows my brother, myself and two step-brothers with Genia & Jay. The second shows my grandparents (on Mom's side) with their three children and spouses. The final is a photo of my grandfather with his two sons. I love family photos (especially when they're awkward).

Brothers, Bride and Groom.
Family.
Like Father Like Son(s).
Brothers, Bride and Groom taken by Aunt Tracy.
Taken at Crescent Beach Club, Bayville, NY.

Family at the Wedding

2009-07-06T09:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of my family that I took at the wedding. Everyone was looking so dapper and the scene was so picturesque.

Matt & Abi.
Nanny & Grandpa.
Mark & Tracy.
Rich & Chris.
Mom & Joe.
All photos taken at the Crescent Beach Club, Bayville, NY.

Wedding Panorama

2009-07-05T12:59:00.004-07:00

This is one of my first stabs at photo-shopping a sequence of images together to form a panorama. While standing on the lifeguard chair of the Crescent Beach Club, I was inspired with the idea. Here's the full view of the Crescent Beach Club, the location of Genia & Jay's wedding.

A Panoramic Wedding.
Taken at Crescent Beach Club, Bayville, NY.

Genia & Jay's Wedding

2009-07-05T06:53:00.002-07:00

Last Sunday, my step sister got married! Genia was a beautiful bride and Jay a stunning groom. The next couple days will feature photos from the wedding. It's only appropriate to start it off with photos of the couple. Here's to many years of happiness!

Let Us Pray.
Married.
Taken at Crescent Beach Club, Bayville, NY.

Animal Kingdom - Kilimanjaro Safari

2009-07-04T15:25:00.004-07:00

Kilimanjaro Safaris is hands-down the best attraction at Walt Disney World. Jill and I got to Animal Kingdom first thing in the morning to ensure we got to see the animals up and about. Let me take you on a little safari through the photos I took.

First we see a bird taking in the morning light.

Next we come to the hippos. They stay in the water in order to stay cool.

Next we pass the baobab trees. I have been a big fan of these trees ever since reading "Le Petit Prince." Make sure to mind baobab trees on your planet or they can take over.

We then see the giraffe in its elegant glory.

A gazelle guards some ostrich eggs.

The elephant goes for a morning drink.

Be careful of the rhino, he looks ready to charge!

No jungle is complete without a lion to watch over all who roam in his domain.

I hope you enjoyed the mini-safari. Definitely check this out if you're ever in the Orlando area.

All safari photos taken at Kilimanjaro Safari, Animal Kingdom, Buena Vista, FL.

Matt Chingos is the Man!

2009-07-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

My brother is co-author on the book Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America's Public Universities, along with William G. Bowen and Michael S. McPherson. I took a head shot for his publicist at my step sister's wedding (photos to come). Here's our final version. Not perfect, but not too shabby given the lighting conditions.

Matt.
Taken at Crescent Beach Club, Bayville, NY

REAL Alumni Weekend

2009-07-02T08:51:00.001-07:00

As most of you know, I worked for REAL Kiteboarding (now REAL Watersports) March through August 2007. They had this first Alumni Retreat in Montauk, NY this past weekend. Jill and I hung out with some of the REAL Crew on Saturday, June 27. At the big party of the weekend, I took a quick standup paddleboard session on a brand spankin' new Stretch 9'8" custom. I took my little camera with me and snapped this awesome shot.

More photos from this weekend to come. I just need more time to blog!

Standup Sunset.
Taken behind the Sunset Saloon, Montauk, NY.

Farewell New York City

2009-07-01T08:45:00.003-07:00

I spent last night in NYC with Dad and Annie. We took the Hampton Jitney in, checked out Grand Central Station, had a delicious dinner at Il Bastardo, saw "Speedmouse" by the Umbilical Brothers" and headed home. Here are a couple quick photos.

The Empire State.
Il Bastardo.
Family Shot.
Photos taken in New York, New York.
Family Shot taken by our waiter.

Cinderella's Castle

2009-06-26T09:30:00.002-07:00

Here's a teaser from Magic Kingdom. I do love this freakin' castle. More photos to come, after kiteboarding reunion.

Cindy's House.
Taken in Magic Kingdom, Buena Vista, FL.

Wakeboarding & Tubing

2009-06-25T11:26:00.002-07:00

Took a wakeboarding and tubing session with Jill this morning. Super glassy and lots of fun. Here's a quick shot. More footage to come (along with Disney photos).

Tube Hotties.
Taken in the Peconic Bay, Greenport, NY.

Long Island to Secede

2009-06-23T18:57:00.001-07:00

My brother shared this will me. I do love the Daily Show and wished I watched it more often.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Long Island Wants to Secede

thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Jason Jones in Iran

No Viewfinder Throwback

2009-06-19T17:27:00.000-07:00

For the familiar readers, I used to update my other blog, No Viewfinder, quite regularly. Though, like C&C, it fell to the wayside. I've decided to consolidate and throw in some no viewfinder photos when I have good ones.

I took this picture while driving home from Hanover. Jill held the wheel while did my best to frame the shot without really looking.

Pimp Ride.
Taken on Route 5, White River Junction, VT.

Trulia.com - Real Estate Search Engine

2009-06-17T21:37:00.004-07:00

I've been doing a lot of work and research for an internship I'm trying to get with Trulia.com. They're a real estate search engine that makes researching and buying a home a whole lot easier. Check them out at www.Trulia.com.

Part of the interview process involved generating some potential marketing ideas. Here's Captain Trulia, my interpretation of what Trulia's Social Media icon should look like. I think he's pretty sweet.

Capt. Trulia.
Created in Photoshop by Tim Chingos.

The Daily Show and the New York Times

2009-06-14T20:12:00.003-07:00

If you haven't seen this clip yet, then you need to watch it. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart has some fun while with the New York Times.

Special thanks to the folks over at TechCrunch for sharing this snippet.

From last weekend...

2009-06-12T10:04:00.004-07:00

As I prepare to move out of my place in Vermont to move to California, I needed to bring some of my DJ things to my Dad's condo (as I won't have room in my car on the trip home). Jill and I took a nice drive to Lincoln, NH with some stops for entertainment. After dropping off the speakers, we took a short hike. Here are the highlights!

MooDoo.
Lonely Cow.
Snack Time.
River View.
Timer.
Scenic View.
Taken throughout New Hampshire.

Sorbet On Sale!

2009-06-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

I doubt it's on sale anymore, but when we went on Sunday, it was on sale. Haagen-Dazs for $2.99 is the deal of the century. This momentous occasion required documentation.

Tastiness.
Taken in Shaw's, West Lebanon, NH.

Last Night at the Canoe Club

2009-06-10T16:45:00.003-07:00

I just finished my last night setting up sound equipment at the Canoe Club, a great restaurant in Hanover, NH. Definitely check it out for food or drinks if you're ever in the area. They have live music 363 nights a year.

I'm going to miss all of the friendly servers and bartenders. Alas, on to new adventures!

The Bistro.
Taken on Main St, Hanover, NH.

I Joined Twitter!

2009-06-09T08:41:00.000-07:00

You can follow me if you like. My username is tchingos. I don't think it will get really exciting, except maybe when I'm at Disney World. Follow me!

www.TimothyChingos.com

2009-06-08T08:54:00.000-07:00

My media portfolio and web resume web site is up and running! Check it out! I put a lot of work into it. And definitely give me a heads up if you think I'm missing something or you find a mistake.

Old School Oldsmobile

2009-06-07T06:40:00.000-07:00

I got my car aligned yesterday morning and had an hour to kill. After enjoying breakfast at Shryl's Diner, I snapped a couple shots of this old car parked in the street. This was definitely the best of the set.

Kickin' It Old School.
Taken in West Lebanon, NH.

For All My NYC iBanking Friends

2009-06-07T06:25:00.004-07:00

You have lots of money, but no time to meet people. Well, have I found the sitefor you!

In my efforts to stay in the know about Web 2.0 and other exciting news, I've come across the latest in on-line professional services, Virtual Dating Assistants. For only $480.00/month, let professionals take care of your on-line dating life. They even guarantee you a minimum of 2 dates per month, or your money back!

Image copied from Virtual Dating Assistants, LLC home page. Please check them out on the web.