kerouac on acid

space.

2009-08-30T19:20:00.001-07:00

one of the few things i miss about florida are the rocket launches and the whole "space culture," if you will.

even though the kennedy space center in cape canaveral is about 3.5 hours from where i lived in jacksonville, you could still see the rocket launches that far away. once on a cruise on the way back to florida from the bahamas i was fortunate enough to see a rocket launched from the ship in the ocean. to say it was breathtaking is an understatement; at the age of 16 not much will move you to get up at 4am, but a rocket launch did it for me.

connecting with nature

2009-08-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

i think i mentioned in my last post (or it could have possibly been in my paper journal) that i feel more connected to nature now that i'm here in san francisco than i ever did in jacksonville, even being so close to state parks and such in florida. this is ironic considering i'm in the middle of the of the most urban cities in the states.

i love laying on the grass in dolores park, feeling the earth beneath me, under my bare feet, the warm rays of the sun on my face. i love sitting on the sidewalk in the middle of the city feeling the heat rise up and the warmth of the concrete against my hands and butt and all of the energy of the city stirring all around me.

i love the energy of this city. i have noticed a difference in the energies i have projected and exuded since being here. i feel a balance of the masculine and feminine, and i feel like i have a very peaceful, charismatic energy that draws others to me and puts them at ease.

skateboarding

2009-08-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

skateboarding gives me the most amazing feeling. i believe music and boarding give me the most joy in life (ok, books too)- skateboarding, surfing, skimming. i wish i could say the same for snowboarding, but i've only been once and i was "joyous" to make a run down the mountain without totally busting my ass.

surfing was always one of my favorite activities growing up, until i got boobs. then i pretty much stopped everything. even music, which required mere mental ability than physical. i always felt at peace when in the ocean with my board; just me, my stick, the ocean, the elements of nature, the energy of the earth, and g-d.

i also spent a lot of time skateboarding as a younger child, but it just wasn't a "feminine" activity. my younger brother was allowed to get a membership to the local skate park, but was i allowed to go even skate there once? i'm sure you can figure out the answer.

nothing was more exhilarating than catching a wave- the build up of your internal energy as you paddle to catch the wave, the energy of the ocean propelling your board at high speeds sending a rush of adrenaline through your body instantly making you higher than a blunt of sour deisel or a bowl of moroccan hash.

the adrenaline is why i do it- and i love the physicality of controlling the board underneath my feet- the gliding, sliding, almost feels like i'm dreaming, flying, floating.

i always enjoyed skateboarding when i was back in florida, but i've never quite had this exhilarating, peaceful, almost zen feeling from boarding on land before. then again, i feel a lot more connected to nature and the earth since i've been in san francisco. this is an interesting thing to note as i used to live less than ten minutes from a state park in florida and i feel more connected to nature here in an urban area.

skateboarding down the hills of SF is like surfing a concrete wave. it is the most exhilarating feeling in the world flying down these hills at unimaginable speeds; urban surfing.

yesterday my buddy nick came over with his sector 9 longboard. i've never skated on a sector 9 before. when i lived in florida i had a spindog longboard, which had a completely different feel to it.

the sector 9 longboard was amazing; it truly felt like i was surfing on concrete. we found a secret spot to skate and we just went at it for about an hour until nick had to head back to oakland.

i want to feel that feeling again.

the city

2009-08-15T03:55:00.001-07:00

i truly love this city; i think it has uncovered an identity always there but too oppressed to come out. i surely could not be who i am now in jacksonville, florida. being anywhere other than SF right now makes me claustrophobic, though i often think about retiring to the woods of norcal or the beaches of hawaii.

what does it mean that i turned 25 less than a month ago and i'm already thinking about retirement? it's the first sign my quarterlife crisis has begun!

but back to the uncovering identity thing. i really feel like this city is bringing out the best in me; a guy i never knew but always wanted to, a guy that i wanted to be for so long. i am flamboyantly myself here. i can wear literally whatever i want and not get stared at or even so much as a second glance. i'm used to queer harassment in florida, so to be able to dress more flamboyantly and NOT get beat up (and even read as heterosexual in most instances) for it is a true treat that i truly delight in. it still tickles me to death that i can wear a helmet and some elaborate women's top that can only be called "cougar couture" and not receive so much as a second glance.

i would have paid for that in jacksonville. i couldn't have gone out in such an outfit without getting some hardcore stares and most likely a beating.

that's another thing- the whole cultural climate is a complete 180 from that of jacksonville (if you can even argue that jacksonville has culture) and the rest of the south. this is the most progressive city in the US, one of the hippest, definitely the most counter culture-ish, and by far the most queer. medical marijuana, a BLUE state, decent public transit, progressive people, these were all foreign things to me in florida. things that only existed in a dreamland.

well i'm here, in my dreamland. i still can't believe i'm really living in san francisco sometimes. i literally have to pinch myself.

as the famous quote reads, "san francisco is 49 square miles surrounded by reality." this couldn't be more true. sometimes i feel like i'm trippin' just being in this city.

some of the many reasons i love san francisco.

2009-07-13T19:54:00.001-07:00

taco van!

chugging pamplemousse rose perrier instead of alcohol

getting to have long hippie hair and dress how i want

and of course, the weed. pictured here: northern lights

weed cocoa puff breakfast bars!

and of course, reading in the park on a sunny day

bibliophile.

2009-07-05T19:37:00.000-07:00

i'm not sure if i have mentioned anywhere in this blog that i am addicted to books- a bibliophile, if you will. i obsessively (and i don't use this term lightly) check books out from the library, buy books at thrift stores, and frequent the many amazing used bookstores we have here in san francisco. so far aardvark on church & market and green apple books are my favorite by far- especially green apple. that place is absolutely amazing- a true book lover's dream. i could spend a whole day in there!

since only being in SF six months, i have amassed a collection of books that equals if not exceeds my collection i had at home. that is pretty impressive- the collection i have at home is extensive.

i have my eye on a few books, mostly sociology/gender studies/cultural studies/anthropology/education stuff. wow, that was more than a mouthful than i thought.

we went to green apple last night and i seriously could have bought out the entire store. i ended up with a used copy of american beauty on DVD and the latest issue of "the writer" magazine.

san francisco trans march - friday, june 26th, 2009

2009-06-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

this friday the 26th is san francisco transmarch. i have flown out to SF from FL for the past two years, but this year it is awesome to already be in town for it, not to mention much less stressful financially! two of my friends, noah and ben, will be staying with me. this will be an awesome crazy party weekend and i'm looking forward to it, but july is going to be my month of rest, work, and processing time. i need to be with less people and take some time for myself. a lot of going on mentally lately and i need time to process this all. they're all good things though, so it's not depressing and difficult to process.

anyways, check out trans march. i'll be there with the asher clan.

Canon in D Jam Out- Powell Muni Station

2009-06-06T09:52:00.000-07:00

this is one of the many reasons i moved to san francisco- and bring my camera everywhere i go. while dropping my friend off at the powell muni/bart station the other day, this string quartet treated those in the station to a rendition of canon in d.

prop 8 upheld in california 6-1

2009-05-28T22:32:00.000-07:00

on tuesday, may 26, 2009, the california supreme court upheld proposition 8 (the gay marriage ban) with a 6-1 vote. it was a sad day for californians and for all of the nation. at least states like iowa and vermont are leading the way!

it is sad to say that not all people are equal in the united states in 2009, and some still don't have the same rights that all citizens enjoy without giving a second thought.

Reform GID!

2009-05-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

GIDReformNOW.com

Video I took of crowd protesting at APA convention in San Francisco, California on May 18, 2009.

AIDS Walk SF

2009-05-15T09:11:00.000-07:00

the AIDS walk san francisco is happening on july 19th this year. i am very excited to be finally able to participate in AIDS activism.i have been able to actually act upon my political beliefs since moving to san francisco, instead of living in a conservative town where i was the odd man out.

i am also picking up some film work with the walk and will be filming their kickoff this coming wednesday and then their BBQ in dolores park next sunday. i'm excited for this and happy to help them out and get some exposure. they're doing a great thing.

i hope to see everyone out on the 19th. you can keep up with the AIDS walk via their youtube and twitter as well.

twitter: aidswalksf
youtube: aidswalksf

social media marketing

2009-05-14T00:15:00.001-07:00

social media marketing (commonly commonly abbreviated smm) is a field still relatively in its infancy, but exploding faster than fireworks on independence day. social media is a way of networking with people from around the world at virtually no cost. it is no wonder a lot of businesses are shifting their dollars to smm over standard marketing techniques.

i have been active in social media since its inception with sites like myspace and facebook, and now i am building a network on sites like youtube and twitter. i've been reading books spanning many different aspects of smm from marketing, advertising, and entrepreneurial textbooks to online business management books to blogging for business books. i am in the middle of a great read right now called "seeral days to online networking" by ellen sautter and diane crompton.

i have such large networks on various sm sites such as youtube, myspace, and facebook, and because of my networks i was able to approach several entities with proposals for social media campaigns for each of their businesses, respectively. proposals are off and sent, now it's simply a waiting game until i hear back from them.

i also am looking at social media internships to get my foot in the door so to speak. this could turn out to be something exciting and great, i just don't want to put all my eggs in one basket.

i've been trying to read all i can about the field and check out social media blogs and articles, and the schoolin' is definitely helping. i am becoming a twittermaster!

follow me on twitter:

personal: kerouaconacid
social media: outsidetheboxsf

myspace.com/shysodapop

today i am a boy.

2009-05-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

i fell in love with this song. i put some photos to it, and it turned out ok.

Get Tested.

2009-04-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

Everyone should get an HIV test every six months, regardless of your sexual orientation and if you're in a monogamous relationshiip or not.

Out of the Closet Thrift Stoes offer free rapid HIV tests on the weekends, at hours varying by location.

STAY NEGATIVE - FREE RAPID HIV TESTS

NY State Passes Transgender Anti-Discrimination Bill!

2009-04-30T15:53:00.000-07:00

What a great way to end the month! April has been a hot month for the LGBT community, with gay marriage passing in Iowa and Vermont, and now with the passage of this transgender anti-discrimination bill at the end of the month.

NEW YORK STATE PASSES TRANSGENDER ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILL

San Francisco Walk Against Rape

2009-04-24T00:39:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, April 25th, 2009, is the SF Walk Against Rape. Registration starts at 10:00am at Justin Herman Plaza and the walk leaves at 11:15am, ending in Dolores Park at 12:30pm.

All information can be found here:

http://www.sfwar.org/walk/theevent.html

You can also donate to the event here:

http://www.firstgiving.com/charlessf

two in one day!

2009-03-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

so, we actually had two earthquakes today! this was quite a change for the flaboy who is used to hurricanes. the second one came around 3pm when logan and i were resting in my bed. suddenly we feel this shaking and my dishes fell off the rack. logan exclaimed, "that was an earthquake!" but i didn't believe him at first, until i reseached it and found this.

the usgs earthquake hazards program is a wonderful website that tracks earthquakes all over the US. they occur more frequently than one would think, and at a variety of different locations that don't always cross one's mind as earthquake "territory." definitely worth checking out.

earthquake!

2009-03-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

apparently i just survived my first earthquake in san francisco. earthquakes always freaked me out because of their dramatic, destructive portrayal in film, but this was more like a soft rolling motion. i hardly felt anything, and honestly didn't even "believe" it was an earthquake until i saw this webpage.

i also had four missed calls, and a bunch of messages online asking me if i felt the earthquake. i guess they weren't kidding!

it was a 4.3 on the richter scale, which apparently is mild, but still able to be felt.

now that today is cesar chavez day, most of my friends are off, so i think we are making it a park day. it's a gorgeous day in sf!

scars

2009-03-29T23:11:00.000-07:00

right now, i think my scars are beautiful. i've always had a love/hate relationship with my scars, but at this moment they are ok.

homeless youth alliance

2009-03-29T21:47:00.000-07:00

i have been wanting to get back into volunteering since i've been in san francisco, so i've been checking out various organizations that would be cool to work with. one really cool one i found is the homeless youth alliance in the haight. they have a drop-in center open from 10am-2pm tomorrow (monday); i might swing by but i'm going to call the volunteer director and see if there's anything i can do, or what their current needs are in terms of volunteers.

i'd also like to volunteer once in awhile at the transgender law center, but one thing at a time for now.

introductory post

2009-03-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

hello anyone who happens upon my blog!

i'm going to try to make this as interesting as possible, but truth be told i am new at this blogging thing and am still getting a feel for it.

my name is charles. i'm 24, and am a recent transplant to san francisco, california from jacksonville, florida. it has been a huge and much-needed change, and i am enjoying getting to know san francisco and everything it has to offer.

i have a youtube channel in which i document my life and how i work through my gender transition, and it can be found at www.youtube.com/charlesasher. feel free to subscribe. filmmaking is one of my biggest passions, with documentary film being at the top of the list. i actually enjoy all forms of documentary, whether it be film, text, audio, or some other media; i don't like to limit myself just to film.

in terms of other interests, i am a huge book nerd and enjoy frequenting the many used bookstores SF has to offer, especially aardvark books on church street. i have found so many books there, and at excellent prices. i enjoy reading classic lit, sociology/psychology, gender studies/sexuality, women's studies, and anything on the beat generation. i have a ba in english with a concentration in film studies, so that definitely should tell you why i'm a bit of a book nerd.

i enjoy music and enjoy seeing bands live. i also am an instrumentalist and play a variety of instruments and enjoy jamming with other musicians. i am best at percussion (drumset as well as classical- timpani, mallets, etc), but also can hold my own on piano, bass, guitar, as well as most brass and woodwind instruments. i also love radio and had a popular radio show in college.

i'm also into random things like vegan products, organic food, composting and recycling, living green, thrift stores (especially out of the closet and thrift town here in SF!), volunteering, activism, bikes (i've been meaning to check out the bike kitchen), and tattoos (i have two, planning on more).

i'm going to use this blog to keep up with my daily life as well as to keep up with random happenings around san francisco.

feel free to follow me on twitter: kerouaconacid

thanks for reading! sorry for the boring-ish introduction post.

peace,

charles