i'm volunteering today at Macy's

as part of Macy's Passport in store sale!

I have no idea where I'm being stationed, but I'm supposed to start working at 3:00PM in downtown San Francisco. I expect my shift to be 3-4 hours long and will be wearing a grey "Isparksf" tee shirt, or a black one that Macy's provides.

i just might combine the two and wear the grey one under the black, so that the grey shows up on the arms.

so what i'll be doing, is greet guests to the store and tell them about the Passport sale. that for a $10 donation, they will get a certificate good for 10%, 15% or 20% off of almost everything in the store for today and tomorrow. the certificate is also good in two other Macy's stores if they happen to go down there in these two days.

of course, proceeds go to local AIDS charities, which is why I'm doing this.

see ya around and happy shopping!

Time to update your wardrobe

Welcome to September! We have some kewl things happen this month, but we also have the memory of 9.11.

Five years ago on 9/11/01, I found myself glued to the news reports coming to me live on the tv. For three days, I never got out of my bed. I mean, I did sneak out to the kitchen to grab something really quick to eat and drink, but that's about it, I couldn't believe that something so horrific could happen in this world.

On this anniversary, instead of going back in time and moping, I want to look forward and celebrate!

One of my favorite things to do to pick me up, is to shop! I think retail therapy is waaaaaay underrated and should really be practiced more often.

So I went out and bought me a paif or Shure headsets, because my current pair is on its last legs and are really starting to hurt my ears whenever I put them on.

Another thing I like to do, is to volunteer for a good cause. So in combining my shopping therapy with volunteering, I'm trying to raise funds for SFGMCI by selling tickets to Macy's Passport in store sale!

Macy's Passport is an annual fashion show that is a lot of fun and usually so exclusive and expensive, that most people have no chance of ever seeing any of it. The poor people (like me) have to make do with just going into the store and buying stuff that I like and will actually wear! Which is where the Passport in store sale comes in. I'm selling $10 tickets to the in store sale that will give the holder 10 - 20% on almost everything you buy in the store.

This year, the sale will be taking place on the 22nd and 23rd and the ticket can be used on both days, all day. This is not a coupon where you have to give it up when you buy something. You hold on to it and run all over the store and if you happen to see something you missed, you just bring out your ticket and buy away!

Part of every ticket sold will go to benefit non-profit organizations like SFGMCI

So if you are in the SF Bay Area and want to save a lot of money shopping while helping out in the fight against HIV and AIDS, contact me at aiyahh@gmail.com to buy a ticket.

AIDS Walk 2006

A walkin' we will go,

A walkin' we will go,

Hi HO!

A Mary YO!

A walkin' we will go.


What am I talking about now? Have I finally lost all my marbles?

Well, I haven't lost all my marbles. I think a few are still rolling around in my head.

I just registered to take part in the San Francisco AIDS Walk on July 16, 2006.

Ok, for those people who know me, they know that I would NEVER do AIDS Walk (willingly) and that I must have gone bonkers.

Well, while it's true, that I never do anything with AIDS WALK anymore, I do still support individual walkers and organizations individually. Instead of supporting a huge AIDS machine, I send in my checks to the organizations (that would benefit from AIDS WALK proceeds) directly. This way, I bypass the middleman and the organization gets more money.

I used to volunteer with the organization that produces AIDS WALK and because of some things I didn't like, I decided that I didn't want to support them anymore. That's why I changed how I get involved.

So you may say, "This is really boring, what are we talking about again?"

Weeeeeeeell, I decided to walk this year.

*insert sound of bomb dropping here*

There's actually a good reason this year. I am walking to support the San Francisco Gay Men's Community Initiative (SFGMCI). Every dollar that is donated will go directly to the SFGMCI. That's 100% folks! How often can you actually say that the whole donation will go to the charity and nothing to administrative, publicity, etc. costs? Almost never, that's how often.

So the big question is, why am I supporting SFGMCI?

Well, I guess it boils down to me wanting to help keep folks alive and healthy.

AIDS and HIV has been around for how long now? Over 20 years. People seem to have gotten "used" to the idea that it's here. The new generation of sexually active people (aka kids) grew up knowing about the disease, but have they really felt the emotional impact of it?

I still remember walking around S.F. and seeing all the folks with purple splotches on their arms and face.

I still remember asking where so and so was, only to find out that they are no longer with us.

I still have a hard time passing by certain houses, because Bobby, or Duy, or Dougie, or *insert name here* used to live there.

SFGMCI is taking a different approach towards HIV.

The group is trying to get people in the community to care about each other and by default, themselves. The idea is that, if people cared enough, they will think twice before putting themselves in danger of getting anything.

HIV is only a small part of staying healthy, but it's become a huge thing in our lives. Beyond HIV are all the other things that can make you sick. Like other STD's, substance abuse, mental health, excercise, friendships, etc.

That's why I am supporting SFGMCI.

So if you're in the area, please join me by walking with us on July 16, 2006, donate some money if you can, or just send us some friendly emails :)

My name is Howard Kwong and I am walking with the San Francisco Gay Men's Community Initiative - 9539.

Please help me spread the word among all your contacts.

Time marches onward,
Each step, someone's milestone.
Can you smell the rose?