SwimFinsSF

San Francisco Halloween

Uggg… This is SUCH an Odd Halloween… Kinda fits the mood actually… The sun is setting as we speak and it really is kind of a spookey evening. Its has been overcast and rainy all day and as the sun sets the dark grey billowey rain clouds are broken up enough to glow orange as the sun goes down. And the darker it gets the more the orange turns to purple and grey. Bikes and cars are riding by outside the window and there is a damp chill in the air. Little kids are starting to appear in their costumes as more grown up ghosts and goblins pass on the streets. I kid you not. And the neighborhood is bustling. For those of you who haven’t experienced Halloween in San Francisco its quite an experience… I’m not saying its a good thing – or a bad thing… Just odd.. Hundreds of thousands of people decend on the castro in costume. IT can be kind of fun but its also a bit intimidating… There are so many people its pretty hard to move and some times hard to breathe.. And now that i’m a home owner in the neighborhood I’m not super thrilled about the prospect.. The city is running it this year and is trying to take control of it but I”m not sure how well that will work – its always been kind of out of control. My inclination is to sit on the porch in a rocking chair with a shotgun and a jug of moonshine and protect the homestead.. Instead i’m gonna just take it in stride. See how it goes… Could be fun…

Anyway… Happy Halloween…

Oh.. and wish Matt a happy birthday! 🙂

Picture Walk Follow up

So Randy posted the pictures that everyone took from our picture walk that we went on a few weeks ago… Man – some people took some GORGEOUS pictures… If you feel like it check ’em out! 🙂

Randy’s Picture Walk 2 Page

Yesterday / Hell Ball

So after I wrote yesterday I spent the day with Matt, Brian, and Kevin getting ready for Hell Ball.. Matt and I ran errands while Kevin and Brian went to Crafts stores to buy supplies… Then we all got together and had what was essentially a little craft party.. The theme for the party was ‘El Dorado – Lost City of Gold’ and Kevin’s all about costume parties with themes so he ran with it.. They got blue fabric and gold edging and we made what turned into essentially kind of glorified togas and we had masks and paint to along with it.. I was impressed – it turned out very well…

The party was a LOT of fun… It was definitely a standard San Francisco circuit party – lots of half naked guys and lout music – but this one is kind of fun because of halloween. Most everyone comes in costumes of some sort but, because its a circuit party, people tend to find creative ways of wearing close to nothing… LOTS of cowboys and indians (cuz you can’t throw a rock in the castro without hitting someone who owns at least one pair of chaps)… A few Gladiators… The requisite drag queen or two.. One guy who was dressed as what he described as a ‘worn out whore’ ( and the fact that he was stumbling drunk and smoking a cigarette from the wrong end without knowing it just added to the image)… There were also a handfull of people who didn’t dress up but they all looked like they were embarrased that they hadn’t.. The DJ was really good (and pretty hot) and they had a couple of performers including Kevin Aviance who was really good (he’s usually really New York pots and pans type stuff which I like on occasion but is a little too angry for me – but I really like it last night)..

Overall we had a lot of fun… Didn’t get home till super late so today was a day of rest and recovery – but that kind of thing on occasion can be fun…

now off to bed for me – its a school night! 🙂

Weekly Wrap-UP # 76 – Travel

1. What is the most essential item you include in your suitcase when you travel? Why? Toothbrush and ID (Passport most times)… Toothbrush cuz ya gotta be lookin your best wherever you are – and ID in case you get your tail in the gate and forget who ya are! :):)
   
2. What is the least essential item you include in your suitcase when you travel? Why? A heavy jacket – layers always works for me and it just takes up room… its all about traveling light.. every time I’ve brought more than my leather jacket I’ve never worn it..
   
3. How early do you start packing for a big trip (say, a week)? Why so early or so late? I always pack the night before (or the morning of if its an afternoon flight.. Otherwise I find that I just have to bust into what I’ve packed and re-do it anyway so whats the point… If its a big trip I make lists ahead of time but don’t pack till the last minute.
   
4. What do you pack in your carry-on bag if you’re flying? If you’ve never flown, estimate what you’d pack. I pack a few toiletries (in case my flgihts get f**ked up and I need to freshen up – and I take a lot of entertainment (I get bored easily).. Books.. magazines.. cards… computer… iPod… If its a shorter flight usually just a book or two..
   
5. What kind of stuff do you (or would you) pack if you were traveling with a child for a three-hour flight? Don’t have a kid but I’d imagine I’d pack the same that I pack for me since I have the same attention issues that kids do! 🙂 – lots of distractions and enterainment.. If it was a baby I’d also include the usual baby stuff – food / formula / diapers… If it were a toddler or young elementary age kid I’d probably add some candy or chewing gum – helps with the pressure changes during take off and landing..
   

Unconscious Mutterings – Week 38

1. Roadtrip:: Marching Band
2. Honey:: Bees
3. Flanders:: Ned
4. Vampire:: Buffy
5. Justice:: of the Peace
6. Marine:: Corps
7. Protractor:: High School Geometry
8. Rubber:: Condom
9. London:: Underground
10. Jerry:: Falwell

( Whats this? Look here )

SUCH A nice day … AGAIN

Oh my LORD – we’re having on of those indian summer october days here… Woke up this morning to the most BEAUTIFUL blue skies… After dragging my lazy butt out of bed and showering kevin and I walked down the street for breakfast. Had breakfast at a table on the street at Blue in the Castro and spent an hour or so chatting and watching the boys go by… Couple of friends wandered by and ended up joining us for breakfast… Was REALLY nice…

Now i’m waiting for Matt to come by so we can go to the gym.. After that we may head down to the water to check out the Red Bull Flügtag and, as my friend Okko puts it, watch them chuck things into the bay…

Then, at some point, we need to put together a Halloween costume for Hell Ball tonight… I have NO IDEA what we’re going to go to wear – YIKES..

Anyway – just checkin in.. been a crazy week so I didn’t get much time to write – work is makin me crazy.. Although – on the upside – they got me one of these for work.. I’m LOVIN IT! 🙂 (I got a 12″ to start which was super nice but the screen on that one isn’t so hot if you need to run FCP so I swapped it for the big daddy! 🙂

(Oh yea – and comment spammers can kiss my ass :\ )