Getting A Proofreader Is So Cool!
Being the perfectionist that I am, its ultra important for me to be sure my writing is succinct and completely error free. While my readers on this blog will forgive me for the occasional misspelling, capitalization error, and casual sentence structure problems, the readers on my other blogs are a bit less forgiving. I had heard of proofreading services which for a small fee will review and correct your document. I did a search on Google and came across a few and decided on using a company called eProofread because I thought their site was really easy to navigate and seemed very credible. I am usually not in a big hurry to get my blog posts proofread because fortunately I’m not on a deadline, but in case anyone is interested they can proofread and return documents to you in as little as 3 hours. I somehow landed on their instant quote page when I came from Google and immediately entered the number of words in my post (1342 to be exact) and I instantly got a price of around $30. So simple and so cool. I decided to go for it and placed an order. I ordered the 48 hour Copper proofreading package. I immediately received an email stating they had started on my order and the anticipation had begun. 
I’m a pretty good writer so I wasn’t expecting a lot of corrections, just maybe a missing ‘and’ and a ‘their’ spelled ‘there’ here and there. I received an email with a link to my document about 28 hours later and well ahead of schedule. Boy, was I surprised. My blog post apparently had a number of mistakes that only the sharpest eye could catch. It was a good wake-up call for me because there were a lot of mistakes I missed all together. The blog post sounded so much more focused and clear after I got it back from eproofread. While I can’t afford to use them for every blog post, this was helpful for me to realize where I need to improve my writing. After perusing through their site, I also found out they do resume editing as well. I’m not looking for a new job right now, but if any of my readers are, be sure to check out the professional proofreaders at eProofread.
Target, Oh Target, Where Art Thou?
OK. Its time for me to confess. As much as I love San Francisco, I hate the fact that there is no Target in the city. I miss having a one-stop-shop for all of my beauty-bath-stationery-clothing-furniture-home decor-cleaning products needs. Anyone else sick of having to go to six different places in the hustle and bustle of San Francisco, when you can just do it all at Target?
There has been discussion about Target coming to the Metreon or the new CityPlace for the last year and a half now. But nothing is happening!
The last article I found on the net that even talks about Target coming to the Metreon was in the October 23, 2009 issue of San Francisco Business Times:
“Metreon owners Westfield and Forest City have recently pulled back on several preliminary lease deals at the center and are said to be negotiating to lease an entire floor to Target.”
Copper Theft Disrupts My Morning Commute
As if this week could not get any worse?! On may way to work this morning, the operator announced that Duboce/Church would be the last stop for the train. What? Why?
As we all deboarded the train, an MUNI operator was standing by the door, and told us that “some idiot stole the copper wiring from the Sunset Tunnel late last night, and therefore, trains could not go through the tunnels until it was repaired.” Luckily, two uber sweet girls were taking a cab over to my stop and offered to take me with them.
So two things here:
1) Why would someone steel copper wires?
2) How long is this going to take to repair and will it affect my evening commute home? I absolutely despise the MUNI shuttles, being jammed on a bus with a gazillion people at the end of my workday, is not my cup of tea. Taxi, please?
If anyone knows the answers to these questions, please let me know.
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
It seems like everytime my fiance and I decide to have a movie date night, we always end up amongst the flocks of people at Loews Metreon and Century Theaters. Last night, we decided to break the mold and check out what was playing at Embarcadero Cinema. The last time we were there we watched Slumdog Millionaire, and it won the Oscar for Best Movie in 2009. We stumbled across “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” on Rotten Tomatoes (my favorite movie review site ever) and since it got 83% fresh, we decided to check it out.
The movie would fit in the suspense-thriller category. The two lead characters, Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist, are so utterly mismatched that the relationship they develop throughout the story is so intriguing. It is a Swedish movie, so for those of you that aren’t blessed with 20/20 vision, you will need your specks to read the subtitles.
Lisbeth gives the movie its edge. She is one of the strangest and most eccentric female heroines I have ever seen in a movie, and her story and personality will just blow you away. There is something about her character that just draws you into her.
I don’t want to give too much away about this movie, but be prepared to sit at the edge of your seat the entire length of the movie (its a little over 2 hours). And for those who have weak stomachs, there are certain scenes that may just be too much to handle. The Swedish name of the movie is ‘Man Som Hatar Kvinnor’ which translates into ‘Men Who Hate Women’ so that should give you some kind of idea of what this movie is about. Salander and Blomkvist set out to unravel a deep family secret from 40 years past. And trust me, it is deep and twisted.
They say that the US of A is going to make its own Hollywood remake of this story-line, but they definitely have some big shoes to fill because this movie takes the cake as the best movie I have ever seen. Ever.
January, April & Everything in Between.
Last post: January 14th, 2010
Today’s post: April 9th, 2010
Here’s a snippet of whats happened in between, in no particular order:
- Stumbled upon Tropisueno and I can easily call it my favorite Mexican restaurant in the city (I have been there about 15 times in the last 3 months)
- Ousted as Mayor at Jeremy’s
- Discovered the BEST late night hot dog stand in SF (right in front of 1015 Folsom; bacon wrapped dogs…yum)
- The return of Sunday Streets
- Discussion of the Warriors moving back to San Francisco (in Mission Rock)
- Went to India for two weeks and learned that Taco Bell opened up there AFTER I got back
- Launch of the Zip Line to promote Vancouver Tourism
- Release of the iPad
- Taylors Automatic Refresher announced their rebrand to Gott’s Roadside Tray Gourmet (and not to mention handed out free grub back in March)
- Mavericks Surf Contest said to have the biggest waves ever surfed in a competition
- Manor West opens up in old Boss space
Whoa. Time flies.
Bye Bye, Lumpia! :(
After three and a half years, one of my favorite Filipino Restaurants (actually, I dont even know of another filipino restaurant in the city), Poleng Lounge, is shutting their doors.
Last call for dinner: Sunday 1/17/2010
Last call for drinks and nightlife: Sunday 1/31/2010
Tear. Sniffle. Tear. Sniffle.
The Recurring Resolution: 5 Ways to Stay Fit and Healthy in SF
Twenty-ten is finally upon us. (And yes, I have been corrected by NAGG that the proper way of saying 2010 is “twenty-ten” and not “two-thousand-ten”.) And I can’t help but to be part of the millions of Americans who have the following item on their new years resolution list: Get Healthy and Fit or something along those lines.
So in honor of our new year, and everyone’s favorite resolution, I have created the top five ways to stay healthy and fit this year, on a budget. Just because 2009 has passed, we can’t forget about our bundling economy.
1) Friday Night Skate
I am sure you have seen this around the city once or twice. Its a group aka madness of people who skate (both in-line and rollers). They meet every Friday night in Ferry Plaza around 8:45 pm. The actual skating event begins promptly at 9 pm. It is a great way to have fun, while staying healthy and fit. Well, that is, if you don’t partake in the heavy drinking that usually follows the event. Its free for everyone and anyone.
2) Mission Cliffs Climbing and Fitness
Tired of the old, mundane gyms? San Francisco is home to many unique gyms and studios for people to work out in. One of which is the Mission Cliffs Climbing and Fitness Center in Portrero Hill. If you are looking for an exhilarating and fun workout, then this is the place for you. Their indoor rock climbing wall is one of the highest walls you will find anywhere. They also offer yoga classes, performance cycling, and weight and cardio machine rooms. Day passes cost $18 (after 3pm and on weekends). And if you are feeling overzealous and want to become a member, now is the time to do it. They are waiving the $100 initiation fee if you join this month (January).
3) Lyon Street Steps
I talked about in a previous post and I can’t help but to bring it up again here. The Lyon Street steps have been infamously known as San Francisco’s Stair Master. They are two sets of very steep stairs in Pacific Heights (where Green Street meets Lyon Street). And the end result (at the top of the stairs), breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay.
4) Lose It app
With our smart-phone era, there is no way I can leave out one of my favorite “health-conscious” apps out there. Now we all now that we can do numbers 1-3 above and burn some calories, but if we don’t watch what we eat, the pounds wont shed and the abs wont get tighter. I fell in love with the Lose It app last year, and it is still one of the most touched apps on my iPhone. It’s pretty simple to use too. You enter your current weight. You enter your goal weight. It asks you when you want to reach your goal weight by. Then it tells you how many calories you are allotted each day. You enter foods and drinks you consume and how many calories you burn roller skating, rock climbing, or using San Francisco’s StairMaster and voila! you have your very own nutrition consult right at your fingertips.
5) Mike’s Boot Camp
Are you the type of person who needs someone yelling in your ear to give it all you have! Mike (of Mike’s Boot Camp) started this program in 2003 to create a fun and energetic workout program, all in the outdoors! Classes meet twice in the mornings (6 am and 7 am) Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and in the evenings at 6:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. The groups meet at Dolores Park on the corner of 18th and Dolores. Mike offers a free trial (lasts one week), and charges $125/month for morning classes and $75/month for evening classes. Take a look at his website and see if Mike can help you get in shape this year!
So, what are you waiting for? Stop waiting until next weekend to get a start on your favorite new years resolution. Start now!
If this isn’t Perseverance, I don’t know what is.
A couple nights ago, I had the amazing opportunity to meet with Chris Martin and Martin Dawson. Don’t know who I am talking about? Then read their story here: Golden Gate Endeavor.
On Friday, November 13th, Chris and Mick stepped onto land after 189 days, 10 hours, and 55 minutes of rowing across the North Pacific Ocean. And when asked what their first meal was when they reached San Francisco, “Steak and Eggs,” they said.
Chris and Mick are two Brit guys who decided to do the impossible, to row, in their specially designed rowboat, from Choshi, Japan to San Francisco, USA. And hearing them speak about their adventures was enticing on its own.
I mean to think about two guys, out in the middle of the ocean, rowing every two hours, while the other prepares meals, catches some shut eye, or even blogs, is just incredible! At some points along their journey, they encountered sharks, a pack of 50 dolphins on a mission to get somewhere, and even 60 foot waves, all to fulfill their mission of doing what was thought impossible.
So…how has hearing their story changed my life? Well, it’s not like I am going to spend hours on the rowing maching at the gym and start practicing for my ocean rowing adventure, but what I am going to do is this. I am going to follow my dreams. No matter what it takes. I am not going to let fear inhibit me from anything. I am going to live my life to the fullest and take life as it comes. That’s what I am going to do. How about you?
Zippgo
Hold your horses, San Francisco! ‘Cuz I am about to introduce you to a brand new company that is sprouting in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area!
Zippgo, is a fresh, new company that will basically change how the Bay Area will move. They provide 100% recycled plastic boxes to people like you and me who are on the move. And that’s not all! They are also working with corporations to assist with business moves.
The idea behind Zippgo is a simple one: to provide an environmentally friendly solution to moving that costs less and is super convenient. They are basically revolutionizing the way Bay Arean’s move by reducing the amount of cardboard that is used during moves, and replacing it with these plastic boxes that can be reused many many times!
Not only is this environmentally friendly, it is very easy to use! Just let them know when you need the boxes, how long you need them for, and how big your place is, and they will coordinate with you a time to drop them off at your door. So no more time wasting scouring for boxes or finding a friend to drive you to the nearest UHaul: these boxes will come directly to you, and will be picked up directly from you. It can’t be easier!
In addition to plastic boxes, they are offering additional eco-friendly moving supplies such as packing paper, Expandos (which are the eco-friendly version of styrofoam peanuts), and Geami wrap (eco-friendly version of bubble wrap).
So when it comes time for your next move, keep Zippgo in mind. They will take care of you!
Oh yea, they have a booth at next weekend’s Green Festival at the San Francisco Concourse and Exhibition Center so be sure to come by and meet the amazing people behind Zippgo.