Blog: 2024

Getting my library card in San Francisco!

2024-08-06 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

It’s been a few days since I moved to San Francisco. I’ve been starting to get things organized but it almost seems there is no end. I enjoy taking breaks and leaving the apartment. Going on walks around the neighborhood is fun but I always go on an adventure. I’m getting my steps on and I have fun! I also get a snack or coffee while on an adventure. The sidewalk and my legs are possibly the limit.

Eventually, I found myself near Powell Station to take a break. As I was leaning against a wall, I asked myself, “What should I do to feel that I live here?” and “What is cheap but fulfilling?”

Hmm….

Queue the Jeopardy think music.

It came to me! I yelled out loud “I know! I’ll get a library card today!” Mind you, I’m at a busy location in the city. I think I started a bit of people waiting for the street car. There could be worse things to be yelling for in a city. Wouldn’t you get excited if you wanted to get a library card? Going to the library is exciting! I’m excited to go visit one of the oldest public institutions offered to the public! If I know anything about libraries in big cities, their main branch must be beautiful. Onward to the San Francisco Public Library!

Man! When I walked into the SF Library, it was pretty cool! It’s pretty modern! There is lots of elbow room to roam around!

As I’m walking towards the library, I fill out the online application to start the process and get the confirmation number that I was provided.

Then when I got to the desk, I was asked for this confirmation number, identification, and some proof of where I lived such as a utility bill or lease agreement. The process was super easy. The people working at the library were very friendly.

Here is the library card design that I chose. It was either between the SF Giants or the drawing a second grader. Obviously, I went with the drawing because I don’t care about baseball. The drawing is pretty cool! Better than I could ever do.

drawing used on Library Card After getting my library card, I explored the various floors throughout the library. This place is massive! Various items caught my eye. They let you borrow vinyls! Who does that!? I’m over the moon!

I didn’t know that the San Francisco Public Library is a Government Information Center (GIC). It’s very accessible to get documents from various levels of government.

The Government Information Center (GIC) provides free access to United States, California, San Francisco, and Bay Area regional agency government documents, and to materials on public policy, political science, public administration, and the law.

I’ll have to spend more time exploring the library system and its website to see how I can maximize the resources available to me. I want to support the library more. This is a lesson to utilize public libraries and other public resources available to constituents.

Getting my library card was an easy experience. Everyone should be able to use the library. I'm excited to be spending a lot of time here! The important thing about the library is you don't have to buy anything to work on things or read a book.

I got to check a book out!

This blog post was written at the main branch of the San Francisco Library. Thank you for the fast internet. <3

Meeting at a Diner

2024-08-04 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

Pablo and James

James & Pablo at Pinecrest Diner in San Francisco.

I love meeting with friends at diners. This is especially true when I return to Nebraska. When I land, I'll go with the person who picked me up at the diner after midnight. Going to the diner is a fun adventure when it's snowing, raining, sunny, hot, chilly, or raining cats and dogs!

Diners are also places to meet people who have only met through a virtual medium such as video calls and online groups. Rarely do you meet people in real life (IRL) you get to converse weekly online.

A few weeks ago in July, I met with James G. We both actively participate in the IndieWeb. (You should check it out!) James is a coffee lover and also enjoys writing. He was telling me about a coffee mojito.

James mentioned a while ago that he was visiting San Francisco for work during Homebrew Website Club. I was very excited to get a coffee and walk around the city. San Francisco is one of my favorite cities

You're wondering, "So you two are getting coffee and talking? What 'bout the diner?" Originally, getting coffee and chatting was the original plan. Then, I remembered that James loves diners and this got my brain juices flowing! WE SHOULD GO TO THE DINER! This is not a drill! I love a good side trip to spice up the adventure. Food and coffee unite people.

I love food and getting caffeinated

Diners are lovely! James loves diners. I've never heard of someone loving diners as much as he does! It makes me very happy!

We decided to eat at a fine establishment called the Pinecrest Diner. This place is an institution in San Francisco! Imagine a traditional diner restaurant with yummy breakfast food but in SF! The food is so heavenly people wait in line. This place truly hits the spot. They make the food in front of you due to the openness of the space.

While eating, we caught up and we discussed various topics of interest. We discussed our visions for our respective personal websites, our current projects, Mozilla, and things to do in San Francisco such as checking out Noisebridge. I also recommended The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment in Oakland. I enjoyed the discussions and ideas bounced off each other.

Thank you James for hanging out! I had a blast!

I hope to see James when I'm on his side of the water. Should I see you at IndieWebCamp San Francisco?

I'm moving to San Francisco

2024-07-30 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

Pablo in San Francisco

I am sharing that I am moving to San Francisco this week! I've accepted a new job out there and I'm so stoked! It still hasn't hit me that I'm moving to a different part of California.

My career path will be to continue working in IT but leaving education. Education will always have a special place in my heart. I'm excited about the new path for my career and acquiring some new skills! Being a nerd is fun!

San Francisco and the Bay Area are such places of beauty. I've dreamt of living in a city like this one since I was a kid. I've traveled and stayed in places throughout the world for extended periods but there's nothing like being in a place you'll be at for a long time.

Why San Francisco other than your new job, Pablo? Yes, thank you for asking! I'd love to answer your question!

Let me tell you that I'm curious and I like to wander off to other places. Wandering off to different parts of California is no exception. While living in Sacramento, I would hop on the train on holiday breaks and weekends to San Francisco. Who doesn't like taking a train? I have friends that I visit quite regularly. I know my way around the city. They would show me around but also I would go off on my adventure. Do you see a pattern here? I'm excited to see my friends who live down the street or across town. I won't need to travel two hours or more to get there.

I'll be close to outdoor adventures, go to my favorite hackerspace and more!

San Francisco is a place where I want to continue to flourish as an individual. I'm just getting started! It will grow my career, my lifestyle choices, my health, increased network opportunities, my love for technology, and my love for public transit. I've learned so much about myself being in the city. Now that I get to live there, I will continue to learn more! Don't forget about walking everywhere as well!

I'm excited to be working on some startup ideas in my downtime.

I can't wait for my friends, and family to visit me! San Francisco is easy to fly into! For my Nebraska people, Interstate 80 will take you to me! You can't miss it unless you drive into the bay. Isn't there a scene like this in The Office?

I still find it hard to believe that this guy from Hastings, Nebraska has made it to San Francisco! I'm going to be living in a major city! The initial idea of moving to California seemed out of this world! Moving to San Francisco takes the cake! I don't regret venturing out of Nebraska. I'm more happy than I've ever been. This is your sign to explore other parts as well. You won't regret it!

I'm sad I'm leaving Sacramento. It received me with open arms and I am extremely grateful for the people I have me. Every single one of you has had an impact on me.

To my friend on the other side of the country, I'll be waving while you drink some tea!

SF vs Sacramento

It's time to unpack boxes and enjoy the cooler weather(see picture above). Hooray!!

Por Primera Vez - Camilo

2024-07-01 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

Por Primera Vez album cover

I enjoy this song. It warms my heart so much as a hopeless romantic. Songs in Spanish are so much meaningful to me since it is my first language. There is a sense of passion and love that I can't explain.

Recording Song Covers

2024-06-20 by Pablo Morales

This post was written in en

three friends hanging out Three friends hanging out

Back in Elementary, I was in this friend group who enjoyed music. This must have been in 2009? (That was a long time ago!) When you're a kid, you slowly discover music that you enjoy and not enjoy. What better way than to expose yourself to other individual's tastes in music? I would hang out with Abraham and Luke. I'd say, they influenced who I am as a person and the direction of my musical tastes.

Abraham grew up in Colombia and moved out to my hometown in Nebraska. Luke grew up in Hawaii and had moved to Nebraska a year before. Both Luke and Abraham played the guitar. I was super excited to have friends who had come from cool places!

I was the only one who didn't play the guitar, much less have a passion for playing an instrument. My friends at the time still took me in and accepted me into the group. It was super duper to watch live shows in my friend's basement. They used to play covers of Subline, Linkin Park, and Bullet for My Valentine.

At that time frame, I was very interested in photography and videography. I always carried my Sony Cyber-Shot with me because you never know when you would need to get that cool shot. You're probably thinking, "That's some lame point in shoot!" When your parents buy you a camera, you have to work with what you got! A camera is a camera!

Question time!

Can you guess which role did I play in my friend group? If you guessed the camera guy, you win a cookie! Do you like internet cookies? I don't know how to share a real cookie via the internet.

I would record their guitar sessions on my camera. It was a pretty cool experience getting blasted with hardcore metal while figuring out the best way of recording! I learned important fundamentals of video recording. I focused on stabilizing the camera, considering lighting, and audio clipping (which I had no control over). Not only was I enjoying myself but also I learned a lot.

One of my favorite memories when we weren't in Luke's basement was walking to get pizza. Living in a small town, things are relatively within walking distance.

As time went on friends came and went. We all went our different paths even though we lived in the same hometown for years. I am thankful to have hung with these guys for a few years. I hope these guys are happy and living fulfilling lives.

Here are a few videos that I recorded.


Another s