Entry 2

New Year, new books, and a new sense of self

With all of three days left in the year I decided to go out and have some fun. I got a haircut at my favorite barber shop the original palace barber shop. It’s been around for about 16 years now but on the corner or mission and 2^nd street it looks ancient. It is defiantly easy to miss if you’re occupied with your smart phone, or you’re playing with your tablet, or you’re hypnotized by the EDM playing in your ear buds. When you walk into this barbershop you instantly feel like you’ve stepped of the tardus and landed in the 60’s. It’s not until you look closely that you see the subtle hints of modern life, like surveillance cameras or the barber playing angry birds. The walls are covered by wood and the sole light fixture in the shop is minimalist to say the least. The cheers are very traditional turquoise colored leather and stainless steel. Pulling it all together hundreds of vintage grooming products displayed throughout the shop. All the of the traditional barbering methods are offered at the Palace, one that I had the opportunity to experience for the first time was the straight edge razor shave. If you have not experienced this meticulous shaving experience you have not lived! With my newly tailored pompadour and clean face I made my way up 2^nd street to my favorite book store to pick up a new moleskin journal, sketch a day journal, and books for my independent studies. I really want to learn HTML and CSS so I got Dummy books on how to learn them, as well as books on professional blogging. After that it was time for the festivities to begin! My last hurrah of 2011!I’m not much of a partier “anymore” so did something small dress up picnic at Dolores Park with a couple of my more sartorially conscious friends. It was definitely a fun way to get new energies flowing at years end. While there a gentlemen happens upon the occasion, he was clearly homeless so we offered him some of our sweets and snacks. We later found that he was three years to the day sober from Methamphetamine. It was a humbling experience to see that there are people out there that appreciate life and freedom even in the less ideal circumstances. He joined us and we danced, enjoyed brioche, and wine until the sun went down.