This rainy morning in San Francisco

I usually ride my bicycle to the Caltrain station at 4th and King streets whenever I take the train to Palo Alto for my job. Today it was raining and I needed to transport the company laptop - didn't feel like getting it or myself wet. So I walked the two blocks to the corner of 24th and Guerrero streets to await the 48 Quintarra. I planned to take the herky jerky ride up and around Potrero Hill to the 22nd and Pennsylvania street Caltrain station. I've done this ride before and it sucks. Slow crawl along 24th street on a bus packed with elementary school kids at around 8:30 in the morning is not for me. Well, this time, I got on the bus at 24th and Guerrero. But I got right off one block later at 24th and Valencia.

What follows is the paragraph I wrote, in total anonymity, on the SF MUNI transit complaint site:

At first driver waved me and another person away indicating the bus was too full. Then after a minute, he honked the horn telling us to get on, but to move back. I paid my fare in change and took the transfer from the driver and then set about trying to make my way behind the yellow line. The driver said something like: why did you grab the transfer out of my hand after I let you on the bus? you don't grab the transfer that way, "sugar" I said: don't I get a transfer? He said: yes, but don't grab it out of my hand like that. Exasperated, I explained that I didn't mean to do it and I was sorry and he said: "Yes you are sorry, uh huh" at which point I noted his employee number and told him I was getting off the bus. He basically made an issue where there was no issue. I was just trying to get to work and I got disrespected for no reason. I swear I didn't "grab" the transfer. It doesn't matter - even if I did he had no call to speak to me that way and act like he did me a favor by letting me on "his" bus. I don't think I'll ride muni anymore. I don't get insulted walking or riding my bike.

So, after I disembarked I threw the transfer into the air and huffed off. I was so mad. So mad! I decided that instead of using the next 2 hours to make it to train station and then to Palo Alto, I'd just go to a coffee shop, Luv-a-java in Noe Valley, and just start working. This worked out well for me today. Around lunch time I came home and put on my slippers. And here I sit at my desk. Not EVEN givin' a fuck.

Settle that shit

Last night I learned how to play a new game, a board game called The Settlers of Catan. Apparently this is a German game but I am not EVEN givin' a fuck about that - it was fun. So the game involves receiving, trading, and building and there are sheep, wood, rock, clay (for bricks) to trade and receive and build with.

I liked it. I liked trading sheep.

OH shit, I forgot, there is also wheat to trade, receive and build with. Wheat is pretty cool.

Spring into fall

Sunday night and Monday of this Labor day weekend, I went to a secluded spot in Colusa county called Wilbur Hot Springs. It's a geothermal deal that naturally puts forth waters containing many helpful, soothing minerals at a temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit and then cooled with spring water to 100, 105, and 110 degrees.

I've only done this hot springs thing once before at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur. That place is like a spiritual retreat or something with all these classes about how to realize all your things you know spiritually and shit. They don't even let people who aren't staying there use the hot springs except for 20 people from 1am to 3am on weekends. So we went and it was amazingly awesome. The hot springs make you feel good. And at Esalen the pools where the springs are are set into a cliff overlooking the ocean. It was a cold night in December and so many stars were visible. It was sort of stupefying in its splendor.

Wilbur Hot springs in September was hot and sunny and down a long gravel road from the highway. Set between some high hills, there was no cell phone service at all. No tv, no phone, no radio. The place is running partially on solar panels, so they don't want you to plug anything in. It seemed really old west/new age to me - if that's a way that things can seem, and, in this case, it seems to be. Beautiful surroundings, beautiful buildings and baths. Sure, not perched above the ocean, but still really really nice and set along a river. The contrast from cold to hot was achieved by diving into a regular swimming pool from the baths. My only complaints were the excessive action of flies all around, especially by the pool, and the fact that no matter how fat a room you reserve, none of them have private bathrooms. I realize that this results from the age of the place: it was established in 1865. But still. Communal bathrooms or "commodiums" as they were called do not appeal to me.

So one thing with these hot springs is that most people soak in them without any clothes on. Without even a bathing suit on. It feels a little weird at first to be naked among strangers who are also naked, but then, after a while, it just seems like anything else. You try to be polite and not look, then you look, then you grow tired of looking, then you close your eyes and just relax in the sulphurous wonder of this relaxing soak that makes you feel like you are floating in space. If space were a lot hotter. and had more gravity.

Rescheduling...or randomization

I was unable to keep my appointment with a sandwich last Friday. I was compelled to come into the office to demonstrate what it is that I do for the President of the company. There had been another time earlier in the week scheduled for me to do this, but that shit was rescheduled and, so, my sandwich also had to be rescheduled.

Yesterday I had a ham and cheese from this place in Palo Alto called Simply Sandwiches. Today I am leaning away from the sandwich and toward a salad. It is that kind of day.

I was late to work and then annoyed by the flaunting that some people do. People, I am haunted by your flaunting. I flout you.

Yesterday in my department meeting I compared one part of my work process with splitting the atom. No one laughed. Which is fine because I'm not sure that I meant it as a joke.

Yesterday evening I watched 3 movies in a row - the title roll reads as nothing to be proud of, yet, here I declaim: 1. Blame it on Rio - a sex romp from the early 80s starring Michael Caine as a man who has an affair with his best friend's 18-year-old daughter while they are all on vacation together. Demi Moore plays Caine's daughter. Hijinks ensue. They play the title theme "Blame it On Rio" like 8 times. I don't Blame Rio; I blame the people who made this movie. 2. Prelude to a Kiss - I can't believe I watched this. I've seen it before. I can't believe I just admitted that. Alec Baldwin is good in it. Seeing him so young made me want to watch Beetlejuice. 3. Continental Divide - This movie rules. John Belushi and Blair Brown. so rad. so many eagles and cigarettes. The city of Chicago plays a great supporting role. love it. If I could get the 5 1/2 hours back I spent watching these, I'd take it.

I'm so glad to be going to the Redwoods on Friday. I'm gonna hug a tree. then I will lean against one and eat a sandwich.

Sandwich Appointments

This Friday, I will venture to the M&L Market, coincidentally located at Church & Market streets, for a sandwich. I guess the coincidence is only ostensibly in the word "Market" being contained in the establishment's name, yet the other part of this coincidence is that my "Church" is a sandwich. The fame of the place is soaked all over the internet. The place is venerable and appears to have anecdotal character. It is time for me to sample their sandwiches.

This past Sunday, I went again to Ike's Place and this time had a sandwich called the Menage a Trois. It contained 3 cheeses, bbq chicken, actual honey and six hallelujahs. It took about 45 minutes to be ready and the place was a total mob scene. While I was eating the sandwich, my hand began to stick to my root beer bottle from the honey. I glanced around at the groups of people waiting for their sandwiches and got a real school yard feel from it. It was a hot day. A group of girls in "stunner shades" had unfurled a rug around the corner in front of the glass blowing store and were picnicking on the sandwiches from Ike's.

I liked it. It was like the summer of love. I mean, what I mean to say is, it was like the sandwich of love.

I will note the results of the M&L Market sandwich sampling after it happens. I can't wait.

Birthday Sex

All the way down 17th St. from Church to Harrison this morning there was a black sedan with all of its windows open riding along side me on my bike in traffic. The stereo was cranked and the chorus of the song that played was simply the words "Birthday Sex" being sung in a smoove and sexxy voice. I heard other words being sung in between the frequent explosions into the chorus, but have no idea what they were. It is something that I will enjoy pondering and perhaps, one day, finding out.

4th of fucking july

Had friday the 3rd off so took a walk up to Russian Hill and ate at West Coast east deli. Then went to that spot that I like on the steps overlooking the condemned Russian Hill Resevoir.
We sat there a while. I was looking at the sail boats and there was also an enormous cruise ship docked along the way. We resumed walking and came down through Ghirardelli Square. Saw one of those dudes adorned in a sparkly silver suit having his picture taken with those in line for an ice cream sundae. For "tips" of course.

Walked around through Russian Hill to North Beach and stopped for a drink at Kennedy's. Played a few air hockey games. I won. Sat outside near some French punks - one of them with multi-pierced face, the other with stand-up Mohawk. Half-listened to some girl at the other end of the patio talk about how she once paid five dollars for a cigarette...went to a Barnes & Noble and thumbed through Michael Jackson's life in pictures.

Took some pictures of Tim. Had fun with him.

All in all the 3rd of July and the 5th of July were the fun times of this 4th of July Weekend. on the 5th we went to the Marin County fair. That was actually really an adventure. and fun. and there were pig races and sheep shearing and I ate a corndog and went on the tilt-a-whirl and ate a gyro and went on the ferris wheel. I also stared for a long time at a llama.

What's the next holiday? Labor day? holy sheeeze...

on the DL

My old buddy D.L. was in town for a few days to do his opera thing: Lieder Alive

We went to a party on Friday night and it was really fun. I wanted to hang out more but he was busy doing opera fund raising types of things. I found out he missed his flight home on Sunday morning and so hopped on my bike and rode it (and walked it partways) to the Marina where he was staying. This in itself was an adventure. The weather was amazing and I saw parts and aspects of San Francisco that maybe I never have before...sure the Marina area is full of frat and sorority throw-backs, but that doesn't change how lovely it is.

We took a walk and smoked a joint. We went around the SF Yacht club parking lot to the wave organ

I guess it was low tide though because we couldn't hear much through the pipes. Still I liked the walk and I think D. thought it was pretty cool. It's a nice spot. I went there last year and then afterwards we all got sandwiches and ate them near this putting green and an old dude harassed us and started saying how he missed his daughter and we felt bad for him sort of but still wanted him to just leave.

Afterwards we went to some bars and started acting like we were back to 18 and 19 saying things like, "dude I am really fucked up."

Later, I rode my bike on the sidewalk of Van Ness Ave. for most of the way home. When I passed the Matterhorn I longed once again for the day that I may eat the fondue that they offer.

When I got home I watched an episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and went to sleep.

It's awesome that D.L. and I are still friends after all of these years. He even pointed out how we're probably family by now. And I think that we probably are.

Have I told you lately...

that I am not EVEN givin a fuck? Well, that's the case. I went to the movies this past Sunday and saw Star Trek (my dad used to call it "Star Drek"). I thought it was pretty ok, but the smugness of Kirk put me off again. As it always has. I guess it isn't entirely William Shatner's fault - it's the character. This after I saw the actor who plays Kirk this time in a magazine photo spread where he had donned a white summer suit and I think maybe even some seersucker (both majorly awesome). After Star Trek, my movie-going hunger was not satiated, so I suggested we see Drag Me to Hell knowing full well that my squeamish self cannot handle that shit. Suffice to say - I was terrified by that movie; it's really good. I will not be viewing another horror movie until the 20's. This was only my 2nd one of the aughts (the first was The Ring which I saw with Anna Luckey at the multiplex in Long Island City and which kept me up all night and caused me to move the VCR to another part of the living room farthest from my bedroom door). All I can say is that the shadows and the goat in DMTH tore me up.

In other news, I have moved to a new apartment in the Castro district. I am very pleased to have moved away from my former roommates - those self-serving sanctimonious bitchez - and to be more centrally located. There are many uncharted sandwiches to sample. I will bravely and proudly explore.

Dan Fogelberg

Such hits! Run for the Roses, Leader of the Band - these are seminal favorites...but Dan Fogelberg inspires a certain amount of ambivalence in me. I remember his jams piping through my parents' car speakers on epic drives we'd take when I was a kid. The radio was always tuned to an easy listening station. I long railed against this "easy listening" tag as many of the "songs" they play on such stations are actually quite difficult to listen to.

this started out to be a post about my ambivalence toward Dan Fogelberg, but it isn't that anymore. Now it's about how I have 900 things to do at work and lack the focus to accomplish even 90 of them. about how I feel estranged from friends. and about how beautiful the weather is here in San Francisco right now. about how even with a linksys update my computer keeps dislodging itself from the internet.

about how I went to karaoke on Monday night and shared a moment with my friend S. about the Eagles' song "I Can't Tell You Why" and how it's amazing and totally the best Eagles song by far. or the heat wave and the park and how everyone went. even me. I sat down and ate a burrito with a group of strangers (friends you've just not met yet - actually friends of a friend) while they shot the shit. about the cops and how they said the park was "closed down" and we should move on.

about my sanctimonious housemate about the stars I saw right before the end of 2008 about time I had a place to lay my head without worry and without trouble and about time I changed my shoes.

big lunch

I was fantasizing earlier about eating spaghetti and layer cake and having movie marathon. This may have led to my having eaten a real big lunch. I had some cauliflower dahl soup, two chicken tenders, some brown rice and one deviled egg.

I am about to bust and I feel dizzy.