Saturday, October 13, 2007

Upcoming Trips

I'm just getting back from NY and I did not snap a single flick... but y'all all know what that looks like so I'm not stressin it.

I'm going to Chicago next week... as well as Gary, IN. The next weekend I'll be in either Phoenix or Denver so hopefully I'll have some new pics soon. I'm also trying to get better about taking pictures of DC. I know I take it for granted so I want to force myself to try to appreciate it.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

I walked away because i didn't know how to end it

This blog i mean.

I've wanted to put up that *final* entry but i just didn't know what to type. I didn't want it to be over... but alas.

This summer was amazing. I have memories that will last me a lifetime and a renewed resolve to make it to the west coast sooner rather than later.

We ended up leaving a couple days early so i could get back and get to class. We also drove straight from Nebraska to DC on the last day. I plan to put up some more pics over the next couple of days and throw up some memories... other than that I'll be at: http://gangstamittens.blogspot.com

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

...

First of all my apologies for getting so behind in the blogging process. Since our time out here got shorter there just seemed to be less time for the blog. At any rate below is a compilation of just about everything we did while we were here. This trip has been amazing. The only two things left are to see my friend George tomorrow and our going away dinner... after that we get on the road for our four day trek home. Friday: Salt Lake City, Saturday: Kearney, Sunday: Chicago, Monday: DC. It's been amazing to say the very least.

We...
Lived on Haight Street
Went to Vegas
Went to LA
Saw the California coast via train
Hung out in Beverly Hills
Partied in Culver City
Drank wine at 2 in the afternoon at the Ferry Building
Took the Ferry to Oakland and back
Hung out in Jack London Square
Ate an amazing dinner at Alioto's in Fisherman's Wharf
Ate Mitchell's Ice Cream
Ate at Cha Cha Cha
Ate at Osha
Ate at In N Out
Ate at Fresca
Ate at Emmy's Spaghetti Shack
Ate at La Traviata
Ate at Fritz
Saw Barry Bonds hit #756
Window shopped in Berkley
Drove across country
Discovered the genius that is "Bitch I Might Be"
Visited family I hadn't seen in almost 20 yrs
Caught up with a good friend that I haven't seen in four years
BBQ'd 3 times in one week just because
Drove to Richmond at 10pm to return an overly affectionate cat
Learned the proper way to taarof
Ate pizza in Chicago
Saw the sunrise in Wyoming
Walked along Ocean Beach and laughed as BJ let the cold Pacific Ocean touch his feet
Walked to the Japanese Tea Garden and back
Took photos
Laughed
Cried
Learned that Fishbone is a bully
Ate at Goat Hill Pizza
Ate at Mamacita
Ate at Sparky's
Smoked a hookah and drank Arabic Tea
Had beer at the Noc Noc bar
Went to Twin Peaks and watched BJ's hat blow away
Witness a recovery effort as Dom and BJ went to find said hat
Found Crystal Meth under the bed
Marvelled at the marijuana growing in our neighbor's yard
Ate at Burger Joint
Went digging for records
Changed directions
Plotted to change the World
Gleefully purchase rum at the grocery store
Cheered on runners in the SF Marathon as they ran past our house
Drank water with lime and cucumber in it
(more to be added later)

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

BJ Presents "People Watching In Santa Monica"




Falling Behind

Ok so...

We went to LA. We took the train down which was actually quite amazing (we all know i'm not the biggest fan of flying so the train was a welcome change of pace.

We were in LA for like 2 full days and i don't feel like we slept. I don't think we took any pictures. Well I can't find any... but yeah it was a lot of fun. We hit up some clubs, did some drinking and just enjoyed ourselves. There was another incident with a white woman... she told me that BJ had "such a beautiful face." I just nodded politely and kept it moving. I just don't know what to say anymore.

Tonight we're supposed to hit up a Giants' game so hopefully i can remember to take pics.

Monday, July 30, 2007

20/43

So I just want to warn you up front that this is going to be one of those introspective entries where I talk about my feelings. Feel free to skip this one and wait for the pics from tomorrow's trip to LA.

So we're on day 20 of a 43 day adventure. We've spent four of those days driving, four days in Vegas and 12 days here in San Francisco. It has been interesting to say the least. Many of the days spent in San Francisco have involved hanging out with Dom, Mariam and Eric a little bit of me and BJ just kind of finding our way around. We've eaten at a bunch of different restaurants and I haven't been disappointed yet. When I decided to go thru with this trip I knew i didn't want to spend 6 weeks doing touristy stuff. So we've walked that line between enjoying what the city has to offer and not finding ourselves in the tourist traps.

For this trip I really wanted to spend some time getting to know and understand the city. I wanted to "live like a local" so that I could see if this was really where i wanted to spend a significant amount of time. At this point i think the answer is 'yes.' I like the feel of San Francisco. It really seems to have a "live and let live" vibe. The only "issue" that I have is that there are so few black folks around. I know there's Oakland and I know that there are black people around, but i've spent the majority of my life in situations where I couldn't go a minute without seeing black people, much less a day. It's odd to me that I have started making a mental note of how often I see a face like mine. While that's not the most important thing for me to have, it is important and it's also something that i'm not sure i'm ready to walk away from.

San Francisco also appears to be a very welcoming place. The people are nice and the smiles seem to be genuine. They also have MUCH better customer service than in the DC area. There's also the issue of the weather. Although the apt we're in has issues with dust and probably mold, the air quality in San Francisco is GREAT. I guess it's the cool moist air, but it seems to keep the air VERY clean which means better breathing for me.

One thing that is particualarly interesting to me is the dreams that I've been having since we've been here. The main thing is the fact that I'm remembering my dreams. At home i could go weeks on end without remembering what I've dreamt about. Here, I can remember approximately 5 dreams a week. At any rate, most of my dreams are about people that I haven't seen in YEARS. Like since elementary school. It's a lot of nostalgia in my dreams and I think it's my mind's way of working thru a bit of homesickness. So how am I homesick if i never want to leave this place? I guess I'm homesick because i know i have to go home. As much as i would love to start living a new life here, the reality of it is, I already have a life on the other side of the country that i need to get back to.

I have really had any mindblowing epiphanies since I've been here, but i do know that i would like to move here for a few years. I can't imagine raising kids here, but I wouldn't mind starting them off here. I guess only time will really tell.