Naz HamidA journal by Naz Hamid2024-03-14T03:14:00Zhttps://nazhamid.comNaz Hamidnaz@weightshift.comI Don't Have Facebook2015-01-15T07:00:00Zhttps://nazhamid.com/journal/i-dont-have-facebook/<p>I don’t have an account with the big blue F. It’s 2015. The social network is almost 11 years old. It’s remarkable — over a decade in existence and, mostly, still going strong.</p>
<p>I read about it a lot. I have friends who work there. I have been recruited and asked by the same friends who work there if I would work there.</p>
<p>“I don’t have Facebook.”</p>
<p>I know I miss out on things: party and get-together invitations, announcements, limited-edition releases, exclusives. The list goes on. And yet, despite this decade of not having an account, a compelling reason for being on the network of the masses has never reared its ugly head.</p>
<p>There is a beauty in connections and relating to people. Call me old school, or a person of the classics, but I have feared for some time now the demise of real human interaction — of knowing how to talk to people, to understand them, to pick up on all the subtleties of human beings that are only prevalent when you are face to face.</p>
<p>You understand much quicker who they are, what they’re about and whether they’re someone you get along with.</p>
<p>As my time on the Internet reaches its 18th year and the trends of the information superhighway have evolved (I won’t say mature — we have a long way to go yet), the complexities of living a life mostly digital has given rise to the same base human behaviors we have in real life, except we have a better shield (nee platform) to position ourselves on. We can be more than we are. We are allowed to reach more people than ever before. Everything from joy to happiness, grief to despair, silly and inane, and all-encompassing in-between, is up for grabs.</p>
<p>Time has accelerated and isn’t slowing.</p>
<p>When I’m out in the social network I’ve belonged to the longest — the real, living, breathing world of meatspace — I encounter all of humankind’s creations. From the unhoused and poor to the million-dollar-house-owning and IPO’d, and all the people hustling for a living in the spectrum that exists, I enjoy the little moments.</p>
<p>I talk to a shop owner about a product he offers in his store, and because we’re having a nice conversation, and he’s feeling generous after the holidays, he gives me a little discount. I don’t expect it at all — I didn’t hunt around all the stores on this block thinking about who would give me the lowest price or who took the most coupons. I just went in to see if they had what I was looking for and they did. I interacted with someone because I liked them and what they were doing and had a conversation. I may never buy anything there again, and may never converse with the owner in such a manner in the future, but in that moment and time, it was worth the ten minutes we both had to just be genuine.</p>
<p>Before the Internet made things arguably <em>easier</em>, I spent a lot of my time growing up trying to understand where I fit in the world. To know who the people I might really get along with and vice versa and why. It’s a work in progress, but it’s worth my time, so very much.</p>
<p>I know a simple truth: that people who genuinely care about you are the same people that you should care for as well. These are relationships that deserve more than just a thumbs up, or a #blessed, or a +1. These deserve love — that thing that wells up from the deepest springs of your soul and you give away with no thought to yourself.</p>
<p>It’s 2015, and I don’t have Facebook.</p>
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<p>In the Buenavista neighborhood resides this impressive library that spans 409,000 sq ft, designed by Mexican architects Alberto Kalach and Juan Palomar. Adored by those that appreciate architecture, and those looking for Instagram fodder, the space feels like you’re in the Tesseract in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar. Whilst some might opt not to, we walked from Condesa to the library (an hour or so) and is a great way to experience other parts of Mexico City and getting even deeper into the local scene.</p>
<h2>Photographing the library</h2>
<p>Smartphones and pocket cameras will easily be allowed into the library. However, if you’re like me and enter with a big camera with a detachable lens, expect to be stopped by security (in a very polite and kind manner). I had heard about this from reviews, and so I was prepared. Since we couldn’t converse much — my basic food-ordering-getting-around-thanks-hello-bye-thanks vocabulary expended, and the security fella’s English in short supply — he just took me to another part of the library into the administrative area.</p>
<p>It’s neat: you get to see how the offices look and match up against the rest of the stunning architecture, and you descend these steps around panes of glass and I came to a woman who clearly knew the drill. What I had gleaned from reviews was that I was to sign a waiver saying that I would not sell any of my images from the Biblioteca for profit. I read the sheet, signed, and was assigned a cool lanyard indicating that I was “Press.” Legit! I felt a little special after that, as I didn’t feel like I needed to be sneaky about taking photos. At the end, I turned in my pass and left.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/2021-01-03-teotihuacan.jpg" /></p>
<p>Hugo and Gabriel picked up our party of nine from in front of Parque Mexico in Condesa, a very convenient and safe spot. Whisked away in their clean and well-cared for Dodge Sprinter van (#vanlife), we arrived just over an hour later which included one coffee pit-stop and bathroom break on the road. Since we started early (7:30am meet time), we managed to have a less crowded experience.</p>
<p>A quick tour through the museum to learn about the history, and then it was a walk down the Avenue of the Dead to the first major pyramid, the Pyramid of the Sun. We climbed to the top, had time for photos and to take in the sights, and then it was down again. We appreciated the brothers informing us about specific points of interest around the area and the pyramids (juicy stuff like sacrifices and such) whilst keeping us moving to be sure we didn’t linger too long in the sun, but also getting us to see the former city in its entirety. We found it well-paced.</p>
<p>The Pyramid of the Moon was last, but not least, and while smaller, we appreciated the view from this end of the whole Avenue of the Dead, and having a sense of scale and smaller crowds. There’s a lot to respect and learn about Teotihuacan, and I recommend taking a tour with Hugo & Gabriel. As a bonus, we had home-cooked food at their family’s home half an hour away, which was tasty, and a great booster for the longer drive home since traffic had now picked up. They get you back by 3pm, which allows you to still have some time in the day and make time for a proper dinner.</p>
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<p>On March 28th 2021, I turned 43. My second pandemic birthday, I turned 42 shortly after San Francisco went into lockdown. It feels like a lifetime has passed between now and then, and with a sense of deja vu, like it was yesterday. Except that I wasn't at home, and I was on the road. Or rather, off-road.</p>
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<p>Good morning, light.</p>
<p>I awoke early this morning, perched on a mesa cliff-side, surrounded by low foliage, cow patties galore, and a few skeletons and carcasses of younger cattle that couldn’t survive the path of migration that was next to our camp.</p>
<p>Everyone else was still mildly asleep and I walked the dirt trail we came in on to capture some quiet moments around us.</p>
<p>Later, I would make coffee once everyone roused, and I would take a standing meeting over Zoom to discuss the software we’re building.</p>
<p>When I was a kid, this wasn’t a future I imagined tangibly. Movies like Blade Runner and Star Wars would shape an idea of it, and as we live in the present, it’s fantastical and remarkable to have the future we do.</p>
<p>That’s an optimistic, “gosh how far have we come” view, but I know so much of the world is hurting, and our climate is changing all too rapidly. The more I am able to experience outdoor spaces, the more I feel fortunate and humbled, knowing also that this state of (im)balance is perhaps as good as it might get. I sure hope not. There’s so much more we can do for the climate because it feels like no one else in charge is doing much about it.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20220903_JenKnittinginMalaysia.jpg" /></p><hr style="border: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd;"><p><small><a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/mirrored-malaysia/">Visit this post on the web to explore metadata</a></em></small></p><p><small><a href="mailto:naz@weightshift.com">Reply via email</a></small></p>Road Hunting2023-01-08T08:00:00Zhttps://nazhamid.com/journal/road-hunting/<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20220327_DirtRoadHunterMountain.jpg" /></p>
<p>Sometimes I look at past images and marvel at what’s there. In this case, the marvel came from the fact that we (<a href="https://jenschuetz.com/">Jen</a>, <a href="https://grantblakeman.com/">Grant</a>, and <a href="https://nazhamid.com/ryancarver.com">Ryan</a>) drove this trail after we spent the night from where this was taken.</p>
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<p>But on this trip, after having a delicious chocolate one from Delirio, and seeing the location on Colima didn't have a terrible line for the bakery itself, we decided to check out the hype.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230114_HojaSantaConcha.jpg" /></p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230114_HojaSantaConcha_01.jpg" /></p>
<p>We decided on two pastries that are unique to Mexico, bypassing the usual croissants and such. The aforementioned concha, but also a <a href="https://www.bakingevolution.com/blog/puerquitos">puerquito</a>.</p>
<div class="grid-2-across">
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230114_HojaSantaConcha_03.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230114_HojaSantaConcha_02.jpg" /></p>
</div>
<p>The concha we chose was the <a href="https://www.saveur.com/hoja-santa-mexican-herb/"><em>Hoja Santa</em></a> (sacred leaf), an herbaceous, floral, peppery flavor we encountered a few times on this trip. It was absoloutely delicious, as evidenced by our partaking at sundown, pictured at top.</p>
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<p>Celebrating another year around the sun in one of our favorite cities in the world, for <a href="http://jenschuetz.com/">this one</a>.</p>
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<p>Almost a year ago, <a href="http://jenschuetz.com/">Jen</a> and I headed south to Bishop, then a run through Death Valley, an obnoxiously windy night in Alabama Hills, and then reset in San Diego before a good run and a few nights in Anza-Borrego desert.</p>
<p>It's remarkable that a place this wild and surprisingly technical for off-roading in spots, is a State Park open to all. There are so many sections of the traverse (we preferred south-to-north) that beg you to stop and take it in, and of course, photograph.</p>
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<p>I love this moment of moments. <a href="https://jenschuetz.com/">Jen</a>, <a href="https://grantblakeman.com/">Grant</a>, and <a href="https://ryancarver.com/">Ryan</a> doing their own thing. The Grandstand in Death Valley is an astonishing playa, and worth every single moment.</p>
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<p>As I sit squarely in my mid-40s, I’ve gained valuable perspectives, learnings, and understandings. Here are some of them:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>People > things</strong>. In our current society, the deepening pit of materialism, capitalism, and an insatiable desire for more has become all-consuming. However, it’s our real-life connections with people that bring the greatest returns. <em>Loved ones, family, and close friends are the ones who matter most</em>.</li>
<li><strong>Less is more</strong>. I’ve come to realize that I need even less than I previously thought I did.</li>
<li><strong>The uniform</strong>. I’ve entered the “uniform” stage of my life. My wardrobe mostly consists of black and natural colors. I have a standard set of clothes that I wear and take everywhere. There’s little mental overhead to consider since they all pair well, and I know how to recombine them for a fresh look each day.</li>
<li><strong>Seek joy</strong>. With experience, my threshold and criteria for tolerating BS have become sharper. Now, I opt for joy, delight, or energy, and I know what I like, enjoy, and love more than ever.</li>
<li><strong>Give energy</strong>. I love spending time with those who give me energy. I don’t want to be an energy taker or robber in return, and I hope to give as much as I take. I’ve observed that younger generations demand and require a lot. It’s not necessarily a criticism, but rather a reflection of the multi-generational shift shaped by technology, social media, and an ever-crushing society that puts pressure on people.</li>
<li><strong>Listen</strong>. In conversations, I find comfort in silence and always redirect the conversation if I find myself talking too much or for too long. Listening is becoming a lost art, and it’s essential to maintain our ability to do so.</li>
<li><strong>Heed your elders</strong>. I’m fortunate to have had various mentors and people who’ve been doing things longer than I have. Yet, I still feel there’s much to learn from those with more life or work experience than I have.</li>
<li><strong>Rest is essential</strong>. At this stage in life, my mind wants to do more than my body can handle. It’s a marathon phase, and I’ve learned that your teens, 20s, and 30s are about the sprint. With experience and intelligence, you can make things work for you. However, it’s important to make time to rest and reflect, both physically and mentally, to yield higher gains.</li>
<li><strong>Act and think with intent</strong>. By now, you should have the innate ability to know how and what you need or want to do with conviction and intention.</li>
<li><strong>Carry less</strong>. Most people aren’t a significant factor in your life, and it’s essential not to give them any weight.</li>
<li><strong>Find the line</strong>. When you’re too close to something, it’s challenging to see the path in front of you. It takes discipline, distance, or the perspectives of others to help you find it.</li>
</ul>
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<p>A year ago, Jen and I made an overland run from the south end of <a href="https://nazhamid.com/locations/anza-borrego">Anza-Borrego</a> to the northern end. On the last night in Hawk Canyon, a super windy night made for less than ideal sleep. We ended up closing up the tent and sleeping in the front seats. Thankfully, the seats in a Lexus GX are relatively comfortable — akin to domestic first class with far more recline. It hasn't been the first time we've slept inside (and the second on this trip). The tiredness of the next day meant we got through the last leg of the route, which was exciting, but left little in the tank to go to our last planned stop: the badlands of <a href="https://californiathroughmylens.com/fonts-point/">Fonts Point</a>. We skipped it for the town of Borrego Springs.</p>
<p>This year we decided to settle up unfinished business. The view didn't disappoint, though it was still quite windy!</p>
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<p>This year: more people in photos. And more people in photos in landscapes. Cherish the times with friends in special places. Here, <a href="https://grantblakeman.com/">Grant</a> in Death Valley.</p>
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<p>It feels like a lot of things have been taken, removed, or no longer apply to me. I'm discovering new things to fill in those missing pieces.</p>
<hr style="border: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd;"><p><small><a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/midlife-malaise/">Visit this post on the web to explore metadata</a></em></small></p><p><small><a href="mailto:naz@weightshift.com">Reply via email</a></small></p>Midlife Malaise Part II2023-06-26T08:19:58Zhttps://nazhamid.com/journal/midlife-malaise-part-II/<p>It’s been an interesting year so far. Overall, I can’t overtly complain: I find my work gratifying, and have been fortunate to take some great trips this year both internationally (<a href="https://nazhamid.com/locations/mexico-city/">Mexico City</a> and <a href="https://nazhamid.com/locations/kuala-lumpur">Kuala Lumpur</a>), as well as some off-roading and camping locally.</p>
<p>But there’s a <em>thing</em>. I’m calling it Midlife Malaise. It’s a feeling of loss, of slippage, of time and age progressing that forces you to reckon or confront the facts of your stage of life. Not a midlife crisis, but a deep, unexplainable or intangible set of emotions that leaves one in something akin to a catatonic state.</p>
<p>There’s no apparent goal, or readily available answer. Your journey to the present is marked by a series of events, both significant and mundane, that have shaped you to this very moment.</p>
<p>I have come to know that this feeling is constant, that change is constant, and that the search for understanding one’s self and both those around you and the environment we coexist in is ongoing.</p>
<p>Onwards.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230528_NazGXMojave.jpg" /></p>
<p><small>Photo taken by my wife <a href="http://jenschuetz.com/">Jen Schuetz</a>, during one of those genuine moments, unposed, and feeling <em>full</em> and unencumbered.</small></p>
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<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230526_MojaveMay_02.jpg" /></p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230526_MojaveMay_03.jpg" /></p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230526_MojaveMay_04.jpg" /></p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230527_RyanCarverMojave.jpg" /></p><hr style="border: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd;"><p><small><a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/may-in-the-mojave/">Visit this post on the web to explore metadata</a></em></small></p><p><small><a href="mailto:naz@weightshift.com">Reply via email</a></small></p>To Comprehend2023-07-14T22:28:00Zhttps://nazhamid.com/journal/to-comprehend/<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20220326_Grandstand_Jen.jpg" /></p>
<p>To stand in a landscape that is hard to comprehend is to know that not all that should be celebrated is human-made. To understand that to get here, it took hundreds, thousands, millions of denominations of time to render this environment is a lesson in a slow life that we’ve abandoned in favor of now, now, more.</p>
<p>I visit and spend time in these places to contrast from what I do for a living, and to remind myself that we co-exist with more than just screens and chats.</p>
<hr style="border: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd;"><p><small><a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/to-comprehend/">Visit this post on the web to explore metadata</a></em></small></p><p><small><a href="mailto:naz@weightshift.com">Reply via email</a></small></p>Dissocial Media2023-08-02T03:28:00Zhttps://nazhamid.com/journal/dissocial-media/<p>I've been writing in my real handwritten journal in recent weeks that I've felt the weight of social networks. And the manipulation and behavior patterning it's designed to do.</p>
<p>I worked for a softer social network for almost two years and while we weren't as abhorrent as the huge ones, I completely understand and was a part of teams that would (though we were well intentioned [they all say this]), make choices to drive consumer behavior. Sometimes for the "better", but maybe, quite likely, for the worse.</p>
<p>Eventually, maybe sooner than later, I'll be mostly on my website. Connections lost, but I've often believed that real friendships transcend social networks into phone calls, texts, and spending time with each other in person.</p>
<p>It's real connections we need, whether meaningful or micro and fleeting, but looking someone in the eyes and being in the same space can connect and break down barriers that media (news and social) have put up around us all.</p>
<p>All mass-corporation backed media is just another lever to ultimately selling you something.</p>
<p>Complicity is not my goal.</p>
<hr style="border: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd;"><p><small><a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/dissocial-media/">Visit this post on the web to explore metadata</a></em></small></p><p><small><a href="mailto:naz@weightshift.com">Reply via email</a></small></p>Threaded2023-11-05T23:51:00Zhttps://nazhamid.com/journal/threaded/<p>I penned a Thot(?!), or rather, a post on Threads, the Twitter clone that Meta released some time ago. I don’t find it particularly useful, as my Twitter usage had declined long ago.</p>
<p>Anyway, <a href="https://www.threads.net/@weightshift/post/CzNPf_CL-kG">the post (and accompanying photo)</a>:</p>
<p>“When I contemplate the idea of relocating, it’s 70° nights dining outside on a slanted sidewalk at the beginning of November with sunsets like these that make me realize I’ll never leave California.”</p>
<p><img src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/2023-11-05_threaded.jpg" alt="A sunset view of Sutro Tower in the distance in San Francisco, taken from high on a hill in Potrero Hill at dusk with orange and purple skies" /></p>
<p>At this time of writing, there have been 145 replies and 1,868 likes.</p>
<p>I’ve rarely had my social media output reach heights like this, and the impact that Threads can have at this early stage is intriguing. I’ve been learning here and there about how the algorithm supposedly works, and currently, it’s showing me a reasonable amount of interesting content. So, when I posted that on a Friday evening, imagine my surprise when I saw the post skyrocket the next day.</p>
<p>The replies are earnest, almost confessional in tone, more for the authors themselves than for me. It's as if I just threw out a prompt that reminded people of their own reasons and gratefulness to live in California. I guess that’s how Threads works currently: the actual town square that Twitter used to be. A thread has enough room for anyone on it to board the train too.</p>
<p>For a day there (and a few replies are still trickling in), it felt like a warm embrace. For a moment, these people and I could share commonality rather than division.</p>
<hr />
<p>At the same time, the juxtaposition of the platform has started to reveal the stranger parts of a feed tuned for engagement and strangeness. For all the possible relevant posts that Threads will show me, there’s always a strange taste of bitterness. Usually in the form of a snarky or mean-spirited thread or post that reminds me of why I started to veer off Twitter so many years ago.</p>
<p>By sheer user and population size, Threads has a huge advantage over the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fediverse">Fediverse</a>, given its smart porting of Instagram accounts being reused, and for what it’s worth, it’s likely a more diverse group of people by nature of that breadth.</p>
<p>The danger of algorithms and being unable to find the edge cases (or possibly not even caring about them) is that you trade control of the things you see and that matter to you in favor of some dopamine and serendipity.</p>
<p>The latter, I suppose, is much like the real world.</p>
<hr style="border: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd;"><p><small><a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/threaded/">Visit this post on the web to explore metadata</a></em></small></p><p><small><a href="mailto:naz@weightshift.com">Reply via email</a></small></p>Where the Bathrooms Have No Name2023-11-28T02:14:00Zhttps://nazhamid.com/journal/where-the-bathrooms-have-no-name/<p>On Thanksgiving this year, Jen and I went on run. Since the morning and lunch were occupied by a non-traditional set of meals, we departed for our excursion mid-afternoon. Maybe it’s age, maybe it was too much fizzy water at lunch coupled with the runner’s jogging motion but about a mile and a half into it, I needed to pee.</p>
<p>There is nothing like discovering how well a city provides basic services such as bathrooms to the public when you now have a very pressing need.</p>
<p>Now, where we were currently situated was near <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_Park">Oracle Park</a>, home to the SF Giants, along the southern piers and waterfront of the city. My mind raced with options: Is there a park nearby? Is there a Starbucks or other coffee establishment open on a holiday? Where’s a green public bathroom unit?</p>
<p>We kept running and diverted north towards the <a href="https://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/">Ferry Building</a>. We know there’s a public bathroom at China Basin Park/South Yacht Club behind the ballpark. It’s closed. I have the sinking feeling that because of the holiday, options were going to be slim. BUT! Lots of visitors and tourists are walking around enjoying the day and they need services right? There has to be something open, and we’re hoping the Ferry Building provides.</p>
<p>I remember there’s one of the JCDecaux <a href="https://sfpublicworks.org/pitstop">Pit Stop</a> units before we reach our current destination, and we make the stop. We’re walking by this point as the running only makes my desire even more pressing. It says “Occupied.” I’m doubtful. We wait for ten minutes or so (there’s apparently a 20-minute time limit before the doors automatically open), but I’m skeptical, and there are better bathrooms at the Ferry Building if it’s open. We continue and much to our dismay but also non-surprise, it is indeed closed. I look across the way to the beginning of Market Street and think of the park there. As we make our way there, one of the new “<a href="https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/san-francisco-new-public-bathroom-17621776.php">amenipods</a>”, also by JCDecaux is there. But it is also “temporarily closed.” We walk through the plaza and by the small park and see another green unit. An older couple are posted outside clearly hoping it’s open. But it too is temporarily closed.</p>
<p>It’s been 40 minutes or so now. And now we both need to use the bathroom.</p>
<p>Amidst our proclamations of “This is ridiculous.”, “This is why the streets have poop everywhere.”, etc., we give one last hope and a prayer on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transbay_Transit_Center">Transbay Transit Center</a> aka Salesforce Park. It’s a beautiful above-street park, that of course is also primarily home to the bus terminal for the SF Bay Area. And lo and behold, after ascending to the park, the bathrooms are indeed open, and there are even maintenance crew working on repairs.</p>
<p>Post-relief and grateful, I thought about the long-ranging effects of this. That I know that it is a reason for why SF’s streets are often grungy, littered, and yes, poop-laden. Trash is one thing (let’s face it, we’re not Japan, where the lack of trash cans means citizens carry trash in their bags to dispose of properly), but it says a lot about whether we trust people in public spaces.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The lack of public restrooms in the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/03/opinion/letters/public-toilets-us.html">U.S. hasn’t gone unnoticed</a>. In 2011, a <a href="https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/18session/A-HRC-18-33-Add4_en.pdf">United Nations-appointed special rapporteur</a> who was sent to the U.S. to assess the “human right of clean drinking water and sanitation” was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3P893QyeRM">shocked by the lack of public toilets</a> in one of the richest economies in the world. A full accounting of truly public facilities is elusive, says Soifer, but government-funded options are exceedingly rare in the U.S., compared to Europe and Asia; privately owned restrooms in cafes and fast-food outlets are the most common alternatives. According to a “Public Toilet Index” released in <a href="https://www.qssupplies.co.uk/the-public-toilet-index.html">August 2021</a> by the U.K. bathroom supply company QS Supplies and the online toilet-finding tool <a href="https://pee.place/en">PeePlace</a>, the U.S. has only eight toilets per 100,000 people overall — tied with Botswana. (Iceland leads their ranking, with 56 per 100,000 residents.)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>— <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-11-05/why-american-cities-lost-their-public-bathrooms">Where Did All the Public Bathrooms Go?</a>, Elizabeth Yuko</p>
<p>Of course, if you trace this all the way through history, it’s rooted in discrimination across racial, social, and economic lines.</p>
<p>And from the same article above:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“If you don’t have public bathrooms, what you’re saying is, ‘We do not care about anyone who doesn’t have money,’ which I think encapsulates where American politics has been going since 1980,” he says. “I hope that there will be a move toward greater acceptance of public spending and government intervention, because that’s what it’s going to take to deal with the problem.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Even though I’ve cleaned up feces and washed away pee from in front of our building many times over the years with varying degrees of reaction (from surprise to frustration to it’s-just-another-day-in-the-neighborhood), I’ve also come to understand why: We don’t provide the very basics for those who need it the most.</p>
<hr style="border: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd;"><p><small><a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/where-the-bathrooms-have-no-name/">Visit this post on the web to explore metadata</a></em></small></p><p><small><a href="mailto:naz@weightshift.com">Reply via email</a></small></p>Follow vs. Block2024-01-02T09:30:00Zhttps://nazhamid.com/journal/follow-vs-block/<p>In the beginning, you followed someone to see their content in your feed.</p>
<p>Now, you block someone to remove them from your feed.</p>
<p>That’s the price of an endless algorithmic feed designed to keep you in-app or on-platform, entertained, and eventually (if not already) monetized.</p>
<p>A much larger cognitive dissonance is at play here, reflecting on social norms and pushing us into a stage of non-tolerance. Any minor disagreement is swiftly shut out and removed (and frankly, in today's world, much of the negative content out there should be). The world is far messier than this simple binary, and the values of compromise and cooperation must be actively pursued. Nevertheless, it's not surprising that we find ourselves at a level of discourse that is difficult for people to engage with and tolerate. Social media has eroded all decorum and emboldened the worst in us.</p>
<p>Social media incentivizes such behavior because its primary directive is to deliver the most eyeballs to the most advertisers. This transformation has turned creators into salespeople and elevated influencers and platform clout to the ultimate badges of honor. Game mechanics and the allure of some form of fame play a significant role, don't they?</p>
<p>As a result, the algorithm is designed to spotlight voices and opinions that disregard decency and safety in favor of whatever excites the feed, whatever garners the most views, with no checks in place to consider the fallout of blunt instruments wielded with no skill.</p>
<p>Instead of raising the collective consciousness to a higher standard, encouraging understanding and acceptance, we are simply pitted against each other in a fervent race to see who can exert the most influence.</p>
<p>It’s a zero-sum game. Don’t participate. Find a space to call your own, and make real connections.</p>
<hr style="border: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd;"><p><small><a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/follow-vs-block/">Visit this post on the web to explore metadata</a></em></small></p><p><small><a href="mailto:naz@weightshift.com">Reply via email</a></small></p>The Long Start2024-01-11T08:56:00Zhttps://nazhamid.com/journal/the-long-start/<p>I am awakened by the sound of people shuffling by our camp. When I look out the side past the flap of our rooftop tent, I can see what appears to be runners or hikers. I get out and wave at them. It's mid-May of 2022, and it's a glorious morning. Then it dawns on me; it's a trail running race, and most likely an <em>ultra</em>.</p>
<p><img src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20220521_TheLongStart_01.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="A white SUV with a rooftop tent and an awning extended sits in the middle of some low bush and desert grassland while mountains are seen in the background." /></p>
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultramarathon">Ultramarathons</a>, as they are formally known, encompass any foot race distance beyond the standard 26.2 miles. Typically, they are trail races, which means they take place off-pavement and on dirt.</p>
<p>Trail running, like running in general, has <a href="https://www.trailultraproject.com/">exploded in recent years</a>. I attribute its growth to it being one of the more welcoming and easier sports to adopt: all you need to do is step outside your door (and not even that in some cases) and start moving at any pace faster than a walk. Yes, you should probably do this in a pair of running shoes, not work boots or heels, but to start, anything goes.</p>
<p><a href="https://jenschuetz.com/">Jen</a> and I have been running since April 2023, with a more significant jump in commitment two months later in June.</p>
<p>I've never really gotten along with running. When I was a young kid, I raced cross country in my late single digits (it was just part of the school curriculum, not a choice), and then as a teen, I participated in some track events, including the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay (again, high school requirements). Once I left high school, skateboarding became my primary physical activity and focus. I've been involved in cycling for a long time now, and racing cyclocross over 15 years ago reintroduced me to a bit of running. This discipline required me to shoulder or run with my bike at times during a race, and I would "practice" running then. But running had never stuck, until now.</p>
<p>I broke my elbow two years ago; one-third of my radial head came off and is floating in my arm. While I made a sporadic return to cycling, I realized in 2023 that it would never be the same in terms of body mechanics and comfort. Additionally, the safety of cyclists has <a href="https://www.kqed.org/news/10435604/maps-show-where-thousands-of-s-f-cyclists-pedestrians-hurt-or-killed">deteriorated in this city</a>, and because I have dependents, I became keenly sensitive to the risks involved. This has made me take to running for the first time, not like a fish to water, but like a new dance; at first, you stumble, but with practice, you find your rhythm and flow.</p>
<p>In July of last year, Jen and I decided, just two days before the event, to participate in the San Francisco Marathon. We weren't planning to tackle a full marathon right away, especially considering the city's challenging elevation and hilly course. Instead, we opted for the 10K race, which seemed reasonable and achievable for us. And we succeeded. We had an amazing time. While I had competed in cycling before, it was Jen's first experience at an event like this, and she was incredibly excited about the atmosphere, the overall feel, and the energetic vibe. Since then, we've been exploring longer-distance events.</p>
<p>But in the back of my mind, I recalled that morning waking up in Bishop. I felt inspired as I saw runners of all ages, races, and sizes. I realized that based on our location and the time it would take to see some of them again, we must have been on one of the longer routes. We were familiar with the route, as we had driven it in our off-road vehicle before.</p>
<p><img src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20220521_TheLongStart_02.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="A mountainous desert scene with dirt roads criss-crossing with mountains in the background and large boulder piles where rock climbers are exerting their sport. A few cars are scattered about." /></p>
<p>Ultramarathons are typically found in these lengths: 50 kilometers, 50 miles, 100 kilometers, and 100 miles. Among these, 100 miles tends to be the marquee length for well-known events like <a href="https://www.wser.org/">Western States</a>, <a href="https://www.leadvilleraceseries.com/run/leadvilletrail100run/">Leadville</a>, <a href="https://hardrock100.com/">Hardrock</a>, and then there's the <a href="https://utmb.world/">UTMB</a> series in Europe.</p>
<p>However, there are also smaller, local, and regional events all over the world that combine a mix of enjoyment, breathtaking scenery, and personal accomplishment.</p>
<p>There's a parallel for me with gravel cycling, which used to be my primary type of biking and has experienced significant growth as well. While there's no denying that where there's popularity, there's a potential for profit, there are still events that maintain their grassroots essence. That morning ignited a desire in me to be a part of that community.</p>
<p>So, just last week, I started a 50K training program with the goal of finishing the <a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=108053">Bishop Ultra</a> this coming May, two years after that illuminating daybreak.</p>
<p>Let’s see how this goes.</p>
<p><img src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20220522_TheLongStart_03.jpg" loading="lazy" alt="A doubletrack wide dirt road meanders from the foreground into the distance with low desert shrubland on the sides. Trees are seen towards the back, with towering mountains." /></p>
<hr style="border: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd;"><p><small><a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/the-long-start/">Visit this post on the web to explore metadata</a></em></small></p><p><small><a href="mailto:naz@weightshift.com">Reply via email</a></small></p>2023 in the Rearview2024-03-03T23:02:00Zhttps://nazhamid.com/journal/2023-in-the-rearview/<p>End-of-year recaps and reviews haven't been something I do. Generally, my mindset is about embracing the present, with a gentle forward momentum towards what comes next. Years ago, I heard an Imam once speak about not having regrets. I took that to heart at the time and have morphed it into the concept that regrets are merely disagreements with what has already happened.</p>
<p>Life happens, and things lay where they lay, with or without our input. As I've gotten older, however, and with 2023 being a year during which I kept a handwritten journal, I wanted this place to be another outlet to look back on for my reference. If I reference "we" a lot, that generally means <a href="https://jenschuetz.com/">Jen</a> and me.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_2023-travels-map_nazhamid.png" /></p>
<p class="caption">Where I've traveled in 2023. Most of it was via our <a href="https://nazhamid.com/newsletter/">camping rig</a> with only two flights, for Jen's birthday and to see my family in Malaysia.</p>
<hr />
<h2>January</h2>
<p>California and much of the West Coast experience numerous 'atmospheric rivers' with temperatures dropping into the teens. This leads to increasing weather variations and side effects as the year progresses closer to Spring.</p>
<p>Jen and I are seeking warm and dry conditions, so we head to <a href="https://nazhamid.com/tags/travel/">Mexico City</a>, a place we love dearly and one of our top three cities. Since Jen's birthday falls right in the middle of the month (she turned 46), it's a good time to head south. Mexico City once again charms and delights us. Many, many tacos were eaten. I've drafted a longer post or guide, and I need to finish that up.</p>
<div class="grid-2-across breakout">
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_jen46.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_cdmx.jpg" /></p>
</div>
<p class="caption">L/T: Jen, R/B: Jen in our accommodations.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_LaRifaChocolateria.jpg" /></p>
<p class="caption">This is a spread from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/larifachocolateria/">La Rifa Chocolateria</a>, a local chocolate maker. Clockwise from top is a dark, hot chocolate, agua-style, then a chocolate tamale (this blew our minds), and a good ol' chocolate cookie.</p>
<div class="grid-2-across breakout">
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_TacosOrinoco_02.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_TacosOrinoco_01.jpg" /></p>
</div>
<p class="caption"><a href="https://taqueriaorinoco.com/">Tacos Orinoco</a> is a staple with it's In-N-Out 50s Americana vibe and strong branding. The food lives up to the hype, and while we eat very local tacos too, Orinoco is a must: we ate here four times.</p>
<hr />
<h2>February</h2>
<p>A month of hunkering down. Jen's sister and her boyfriend (now husband), Kyle, visit us in SF. We haven't met him yet. We enjoy a long weekend with them, showing them the sights—our favorite food and coffee spots, the natural wonders of a city by the ocean, and getting to know Kyle a bit more.</p>
<div class="grid-2-across breakout">
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_KimKyle.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_sunrise.jpg" /></p>
</div>
<p class="caption">L/T: Kim and Kyle try out Malaysian/Indonesian kuih, the local dessert type that I grew up with, from <a href="https://nusasf.square.site/">Nusa SF</a> at the Ferry Building. R/B: A sunrise from our back patio.</p>
<hr />
<h2>March</h2>
<p>More atmospheric rivers, and the state as well as the West Coast are experiencing record rainfall and snowfall. Much of our time is spent dodging the weather, and by the end of the month, as my birthday nears, we make a plan to find the driest place we can and camp. We invite friends and find ourselves in the Mojave, and then further south below Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Mecca_01.jpg" /></p>
<p class="caption">Rigs lined up at Roy's Motel in Amboy, CA, on Route 66.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Amboy_02.jpg" /></p>
<p class="caption">The aforementioned Roy's Motel.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Amboy_01.jpg" /></p>
<p class="caption">The Amboy Post Office.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Mecca_02.jpg" /></p>
<p class="caption">Camp south of Joshua Tree.</p>
<p>We enjoy two days with our friends before we all split up for side excursions, while we extend for another night, then back to the Mojave for two more days to explore and drive some trails and look at lava tubes. <a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/notes-at-45">I turn 45</a>.</p>
<div class="grid-2-across breakout">
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Mojave_01.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Mojave_02.jpg" /></p>
</div>
<p class="caption">L/T: A Joshua tree atop a volcanic cinder cone. R/B: Jen contemplates the vast wildness of Mojave National Preserve.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Mojave_03.jpg" /></p>
<p class="caption">While I take a sun nap atop a boulder, Barb keeps watch.</p>
<p>I get an email from a music licensing person at <a href="https://www.thrashermagazine.com/">Thrasher Magazine</a>, who wants to license songs from my old <a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/4440742-Dolorous-Canter">band</a>...</p>
<hr />
<h2>April</h2>
<p>Years ago, my mama asked Jen and me to visit Malaysia during Hari Raya, also known as Eid-Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the month-long fast for Muslims worldwide. We remembered this request and managed to snag great tickets during a Black Friday sale with Singapore Airlines, our favorite and a 5-star Skytrax winner for many years. It was a joy to be with my family, although not the best time to visit Malaysia, as the country essentially takes a holiday for several days, and the best places to eat are closed.</p>
<div class="grid-2-across breakout">
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Malaysia_08.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Malaysia_06.jpg" /></p>
</div>
<p class="caption">A plane view, and Jen and I on Hari Raya.</p>
<div class="grid-2-across breakout">
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Malaysia_04.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Malaysia_05.jpg" /></p>
</div>
<p class="caption"><a href="https://www.nikonekomatcha.com/">Niko Neko</a>, our favorite Matcha cafe, and street sights.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Malaysia_03.jpg" /></p>
<p class="caption">From L-R: my oldest nephew Nadir, myself, my brother-in-law Irwan, and my youngest nephew, Raiian.</p>
<div class="grid-2-across breakout">
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Malaysia_02.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_Malaysia_01.jpg" /></p>
</div>
<p class="caption">My mama and Jen, and then L-R: my mama, my sister, Nina, Jen, and my youngest niece, Ana.</p>
<p>We encountered a few hiccups with our Airbnb, but we also stayed at the <a href="https://www.fourseasons.com/kualalumpur/">Four Seasons</a> towards the end of our trip. We used credit card points, and if you're considering staying in a hotel of this caliber, Southeast Asia is the perfect place—you'll pay the same per night as you would for a mid-tier Hilton, Marriott, or Sheraton in the States. Plus, you'll enjoy the full Four Seasons experience, unlike some other locations (like Las Vegas, for example).</p>
<hr />
<h2>May</h2>
<p>A True Ventures onsite happens (which becomes a regular occurrence this year), bringing together team members from out of town. We dive into the thick of it and come away energized. I am humbled and fortunate to work with such a skilled group of individuals.</p>
<p>I discovered that my eyesight is a bit off, making writing in the journal harder when up close. I obtain reading glasses for the first time.</p>
<p>Towards the end of the month, Jen and I hit the road once again, finding ourselves camping in Bishop for a few nights. The snowpack has finally melted in parts of the Sierra, and Highway 395 is somewhat accessible again. In the latter part of the trip, we meet up with <a href="http://ryancarver.com/">Ryan</a>, Rae, and Weston in the Mojave Desert. It's hot there, and our days are spent exploring parts of the Mojave Road, seeking refuge from the heat, and exploring lava tubes and old mining operations. <a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/may-in-the-mojave/">It was a good trip</a>.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_MojaveCamp_01.jpg" /></p>
<p class="caption">Camp for the first two nights.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_MojaveCamp_03.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_MojaveCamp_04.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">Quintessential weird desert art on the Mojave Road.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_MojaveCamp_05.jpg" /></p>
<p class="caption">The third day is warm, and the sun is high. We create a makeshift shelter from two tarps rigged between our... rigs.</p>
<div class="grid-2-across breakout">
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_MojaveCamp_06.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_MojaveCamp_07.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">A return to Roy's Motel, and across the street, more desert art. Amboy CA.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_MojaveCamp_09.jpg" /></p>
<p class="caption">Playing amongst the boulders, as we settle camp.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_MojaveCamp_08.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_MojaveCamp_10.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">L/T: Jen soaking in the early evening sun. R/B: I set up the tent, and am content in this very moment, chasing away <a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/midlife-malaise-part-ii/">midlife malaise</a>.</p>
<hr />
<h2>June</h2>
<p>I started running around April, but this is the month where I've quietly decided in my mind to take a break from cycling and commit myself to running as my primary cardio workout. I've been interested in running for years and have made attempts here and there, but it never stuck.</p>
<p>My dear friend <a href="https://grantblakeman.com/">Grant Blakeman</a> is in town for <a href="https://config.figma.com/">Config</a>, so we attend the conference together. Unfortunately, I end up being present only for the first day and couldn't attend any sessions due to the surprisingly high number of attendees (it felt like SXSW). I decline to attend the next day as I have an onsite meeting with the team at True Ventures.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_June_03.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_June_04.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">L/T: Grant at Sightglass Coffee. R/B: Config at the Moscone Center.</p>
<p>Later in the week, Jen and I meet up with Grant again and head over to the Pride Parade on Market Street. We wander around, spotting Nancy Pelosi in a car next to us, along with a few other notable San Francisco politicians.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_June_01.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20240215_June_02.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">L/T: Who's that? Nancy Pelosi. R/B: Pride-goers.</p>
<hr />
<h2>July</h2>
<p>Waffling and last-minute, Jen and I decide to head north toward <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Shasta%2C_California">Mount Shasta</a> for some camping over Independence Day. We end up staying for four nights.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230708_Shasta_01.jpg" /></p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230703_Shasta_02.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230708_Shasta_03.jpg" /></p>
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<p>We had planned to camp through to <a href="https://www.overlandexpo.com/">Overland Expo</a> PNW in Redmond, Oregon, just outside of Bend and depart further north. At the expo, we explore the off-road and vehicular travel community (and see gear and rigs) and meet some connections we've made in this community.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230707_OverlandExpo_01.jpg" /></p>
<p class="caption">This is <a href="https://www.boundfornowhere.com/blog/2023tundra-fwc-build">Jolene</a>, a Toyota Tundra mated with a Four Wheel Camper. Built and owned by two of our favorite creators, MAK and Owen of <a href="https://www.boundfornowhere.com/">Bound for Nowhere</a>.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230707_OverlandExpo_02.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230707_OverlandExpo_03.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">At the Nomad Wheel area, two other interior buildouts I was excited to see. Left is <a href="https://instagram.com/la.cruiser">@la.cruiser</a>'s Toyota Landcruiser 80 series, and right is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carter_pdf">@carter_pdf</a>'s former rig, a Lexus GX470. Both have <a href="https://campteq.co/">Campteq</a> pop-up conversions. </p>
<p>It's a fantastic opportunity to finally meet Brandon, the creator of <a href="https://aeronautoutdoor.com/">Aeronaut Outdoor</a>, which produces the best down blanket we've ever used, whether for camping or otherwise.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230706_Bend_02.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230706_Bend_01.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">Wild camping outside of Bend is a bit difficult. What we learned at this camp spot, while quiet at first, is that a logging operation was a mile down the track, and awakened us with massive trucks blasting by starting at 1:30 in the morning. A distant neighbor vacated sometime in the middle of the night.</p>
<p>While we have mixed feelings about camping near Bend, the first half of the trip in Shasta offers such solace that we decide to stop by on our way back in Shasta and spend another night before heading home.</p>
<p>Jen and I attend the <a href="https://sfartbookfair.com/">SF Art Book Fair</a> with our friend Stef. It's a remarkable event, and the creative community comes out in full force.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230716_SFArtBookFair_01.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230716_SFArtBookFair_02.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">L/T: Jen and Stef. R/B: The Art Book Fair from above.</p>
<p>Just two days before, we realized that the <a href="https://www.thesfmarathon.com/">SF Marathon</a> was taking place on July 23rd. On a whim, I signed us up for the 10K race. While I've competed in numerous races as a cyclist, Jen has never participated in an event like this. The weather for the event is perfect, and we thoroughly enjoy running together while feeding off the energy of the crowd and the event itself. The race starts by the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero, runs south to Oracle Park, then loops northwest to Fisherman's Wharf before returning to the starting point. Jen was beaming after the event, and her enthusiasm was contagious. It was a great experience, and we both started thinking about longer events.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230723_SFMarathon_02.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230723_SFMarathon_01.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">Done and dusted, all smiles.</p>
<p>Jen and I celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary on July 28th. I consider myself deeply fortunate.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230728_Jen.jpg" /></p>
<p>The month wraps up with me attending my first show since before the pandemic, featuring the British post-hardcore band <a href="https://highvisuk.com/">High Vis</a>, performing at a small venue. My friend <a href="https://nutter.photos/">Tyler</a> and I are right up front. Vocalist Graham Sayle approaches me before they go on and, in true UK style, asks for a consultation: "Should we start at a quarter past or half past?" It's 9 pm, and considering my mid-40s and desire to get to bed reasonably early, I humbly suggest 9:15 pm. They take the advice, they rock, and I find myself in the pit once again, singing, shouting, and screaming alongside the crowd.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230730_HighVis_01.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230730_HighVis_02.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">"Tears on my Gore-Tex." Graham Sayle is a force of nature, in true hardcore fashion.</p>
<hr />
<h2>August</h2>
<p>We attended The Batman in concert at the Davies Symphony Hall as part of their <a href="https://www.sfsymphony.org/Subscribe/Series/Film">film series</a>, where the SF Symphony performs the soundtrack to movies live. We've watched Jaws, E.T., and the first JJ Abrams' Star Trek before. The Batman might have been the best one, but they generally all impressed us.</p>
<p>In the middle of the month, we met up with our friends for some camping up in Shasta again but had to divert to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lassen_Peak">Mount Lassen</a>, just east, due to wildfires in southern Oregon and a small one near Shasta. As always with camping, weather and climate increasingly influenced our movements. We discovered a great spot by a creek though, and despite some rain, we enjoyed ourselves.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230819_Lassen_02.jpg" /></p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230819_Lassen_01.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230819_Lassen_04.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">L/T: The crew as captured by <a href="https://nutter.photos/">Tyler.</a> R/B: Camera nerdery with Tyler and <a href="http://ryancarver.com/">Ryan</a>.</p>
<hr />
<h2>September</h2>
<p>I kicked off the month by brushing up and expanding my rudimentary sewing skills with the help of Jen and YouTube. I customized a tent ground sheet to serve as an awning for our rig, making the setup lightweight and easily movable around the vehicle. I also sewed up some small pouches to store smaller items in the drawers in our truck, as well as a roll-away compact trash bag. Much of the beginning of this month focused on preparing the vehicle…</p>
<p>…for September 10, which marked the beginning of our 3+ week road trip to the Midwest to visit Jen’s family and attend her cousin’s wedding. We traversed through California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri, and then made our way back again. Just two days before, I decided to document and publish the <a href="https://nazhamid.com/newsletter">Weightshifting</a> newsletter daily when possible with Jen’s great editing help and photography. You can <a href="https://nazhamid.com/newsletter/">read the entire second season over here</a>.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230910_ILCE-7M3_untitled_17-08-22.JPG" /></p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230916_Weightshifting_NederlandAndBeaverReservoir_09.JPG" /></p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230918_Weightshifting_Kansas_18.JPG" /></p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20230919_Weightshifting_Kansas_to_STL_03.JPG" /></p>
<hr />
<h2>October</h2>
<p>We returned from our big trip on the 6th, as wildfires (notice the trend?) began encroaching on the area where we were camped out on Highway 395 in the Sierra. We took it as a sign and made our way back, taking <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tioga_Pass">Tioga Pass</a>, which traverses through and over Yosemite National Park. Just two days later, we started to miss it. Life on the road has a way of simplifying some things and enriching them in so many meaningful ways.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231006_Weightshifting_TheEnd_08.jpg" /></p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231006_Weightshifting_TheEnd_17.jpg" /></p>
<p>After months of back-and-forth (mostly legal/logistical), a check arrives for each respective bandmate in my former band, <a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/4440742-Dolorous-Canter">Dolorous Canter</a>, and one is here for me, from Thrasher Magazine. Amazing. A story for a different post.</p>
<p><img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231006_Thrasher.jpg" /></p>
<p>In the middle of the month, I found myself on a plane with <a href="http://ryancarver.com/">Ryan Carver</a>, en route to Salt Lake City, Utah, with our final destination being <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_City,_Utah">Park City</a>, just a 45-minute drive away, for a founder conference hosted by True Ventures. Over the next five days, we absorbed a wealth of inspiration for our work, got to know founders, and left feeling invigorated. We had some hikes and engaged in long, deep conversations, and it was a privilege to be present.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231018_FC_02.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231018_FC_03.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">L/T: <a href="https://lauravrcek.com/">Laura</a> and <a href="http://ryancarver.com/">Ryan</a> chat amidst fall foliage. R/B: Ryan, <a href="https://robbin.co/">Scott</a>, and a Banksy.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231018_FC_01.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231018_FC_04.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">L/T: <a href="https://jeffveen.me/">Jeff</a> holds court. R/B: The view from Deer Valley looking down into Park City.</p>
<hr />
<h2>November</h2>
<p>A very relaxed month as we're winding down from so much travel. It's good to get back to a routine of coffee, catching up with friends, climbing, and running.</p>
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<p class="caption">L/T: Barb enjoying the late and low sun. R/B: An easy-going Thanksgiving morning at <a href="https://themillsf.com/">The Mill</a>.</p>
<p>Towards the end of the month, <a href="https://www.trevornoah.com/">Trevor Noah</a> is in town on his current tour, which has been tweaked and evolved from the eventual set that will hit <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81717103">Netflix in December</a>. After seeing the Netflix version, I'm glad we saw the personalized (to SF) version he performed for the crowd here. It was a great set.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231130_TrevorNoah_01.jpg" /></p>
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<hr />
<h2>December</h2>
<p>The city starts to embrace the end-of-year mood as the days get as short as they can.</p>
<p>Just before the middle of the month, I get to witness a grail band, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botch_(band)">Botch</a>, perform in San Francisco on their reunion tour. I discovered Botch when I first moved to the States, thanks to a dear friend, my best man, and former bandmate, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/photon_society/">Dave</a>. They had disbanded by the time he introduced me to them, and I never thought I'd see them live. The members went on to play in various bands, most notably <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minus_the_Bear">Minus the Bear</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Circles">Russian Circles</a>. But it was a chance song that didn't fit on a solo album that guitarist <a href="https://www.davidknudsonmusic.com/">David Knudson</a> released (fresh off the end of Minus the Bear) that brought Botch back together. <a href="https://botch.bandcamp.com/track/one-twenty-two">One Twenty Two</a> dropped out of nowhere, and then a tour commenced. What an incredible night.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231212_Botch_01.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231212_Botch_02.jpg" /></p>
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<p>Jen and I make a last-minute decision to head to Phoenix for the holiday break. We're not entirely committed to the idea of Phoenix, but we had a great time there last year during this time, and the idea of sitting in a hot jacuzzi pool in the middle of winter on Christmas Day sounded appealing once again. We pit stop for a night in the Mojave, then proceed to Arizona for four nights. We find it to be a bit too long, but we see a friend and old coworker of mine from VSCO and discover a few new great coffee shops and restaurants. We usually adore the <a href="https://www.riseuptownhotel.com/">Rise Uptown</a> (where we've stayed three times now), but this year the music by the pool was a bit too loud (I did make a volume request which they graciously obliged), and maybe we're just too old now for this vibe (the Rise is what the Ace Hotel wishes it were).</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231225_Phoenix_01.jpg" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231225_Phoenix_02.jpg" /></p>
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<p class="caption">I have to admit: being in a heated jacuzzi pool on Christmas Day is a real treat.</p>
<p>On our way back home, we retraced our route to the Mojave and then made a spontaneous decision to venture into the southern and more touristy part of <a href="https://www.nps.gov/deva/">Death Valley National Park</a> to witness the once-in-a-lifetime event of Badwater Basin having water in it. It's a phenomenal sight.</p>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231228_DeathValley_01.jpg" /></p>
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<p>We had planned to camp in the park, but Hurricane Hilary's lingering effects have made much of the backcountry in DVNP off-limits or unreliable. So, Alabama Hills outside of the park on Highway 395 is our goal for the night, and we find a great spot. We truly love it here on 395.</p>
<img class="breakout" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://nazhamid.com/assets/photos/20231228_395_01.jpg" />
<p>On New Year's Eve we fall asleep around 10:30 pm. Goodnight, 2023.</p>
<hr style="border: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd;"><p><small><a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/2023-in-the-rearview/">Visit this post on the web to explore metadata</a></em></small></p><p><small><a href="mailto:naz@weightshift.com">Reply via email</a></small></p>Where You Give Your Energy2024-03-14T03:14:00Zhttps://nazhamid.com/journal/where-you-give-your-energy/<p>I had just turned 40. I was feeling increasingly stagnant at VSCO and recognized the need for a change. I began discussions with leadership about my desire for greater involvement. It was straight-up politicking, with my objective being a title change to formally lead the product design team. Not doing anything meant I’d remain in my influential, but <em>individual contributor</em> role, yet for me, the personal challenges there had ceased.</p>
<p>During my series of talks, I had one notable conversation with a leader who named something I knew I was innately doing but hadn’t yet identified by name.</p>
<p>She put it simply: “Consider your energy here.” That struck me with an immediate jolt and a moment of clarity, as I understood what I was going to do next. She had managed to verbalize what I had intuitively sensed and had even discussed in three different speaking engagements, but without the sharpness or shape of this term: <em>energy</em>. She framed the question for me: whether I wanted to invest more energy into my duties at the company and if I was prepared for that level of commitment. I had some thinking to do.</p>
<p>A week or two later, I communicated to my manager that my tenure at the company was drawing to a close. Promptly, a friend in leadership arranged a walk and talk. We strolled through the sunny streets of Oakland. He knew about my prior discussions and was curious if there was an issue. More importantly, as a friend, he wanted to make sure I was alright.</p>
<p>While I was explaining my circumstances, he posed a simple yet profound question that circled back to the concept of <em>energy</em>: "What do you want your days to look like?"</p>
<p>I've always had a clear vision for my ideal day, and it's remarkably straightforward. It steers clear of any manipulative tactics for career advancement. While I'm aware I <em>could</em> engage in such strategies, they've never attracted me. I've been lucky enough to receive several dream job proposals over the years, but I've consistently turned them down. My days were already fulfilling—<em>balanced</em>. They afforded me the opportunity to look after my mental health, take care of my physical well-being, and cherish moments with my loved ones.</p>
<p>My pursuit of honing my craft at VSCO led to a significant imbalance in my life. I battled a rare form of eczema, a journey fraught with challenges. Jen and I faced the loss of two beloved animals, and our time together diminished. Despite these hardships, I take pride in my accomplishments there, though I always wonder if more was possible. Nonetheless, as a full-time employee, I consciously steered clear of the usual office game. I left promptly at the end of the workday, avoided mingling with those who thrived on ego, and managed to carve out space for work amidst a calendar packed with overlapping meetings.</p>
<p>I took the leap to join VSCO—my sole full-time role—drawn by the intriguing nature of the product, the depth of challenges and projects it offered, and the chance to collaborate with some truly exceptional individuals. Notably, two of those colleagues remain my collaborators to this day.</p>
<p>My priorities are straightforward: mental and physical well-being, quality time with loved ones, immersion in nature and the wider world, collaboration with genuine people, and engaging in purposeful work. At heart, I'm a simple person.</p>
<p>All these aspects <em>give</em> me energy and shape my days. The energy they require is an energy I’m willing to give.</p>
<hr style="border: 0; border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd;"><p><small><a href="https://nazhamid.com/journal/where-you-give-your-energy/">Visit this post on the web to explore metadata</a></em></small></p><p><small><a href="mailto:naz@weightshift.com">Reply via email</a></small></p>