SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Apologies to Jeff if he actually reads this and feels offended.
Jeff is one of the housekeepers at the hostel.
And he is sllllooooooowwwwwww......
Jeff has made a habit of waking up closer to sunset each day than sunrise. And it gets later and later everyday.
I wasn't working yesterday and didn't realize how bad it was getting. Today he was up early and I thought he was finished with his duties by the afternoon like Lida.
Nope.
Jeff just took a personal day and did God knows what. Around 4pm, I realized he was just getting around to changing the dirty beds. So, Jeff and I had a little talk. I told him this wasn't going to happen anymore. He was getting up and 10:30 each morning and getting his work done before he does anything else. No more crap.
Then I asked him to pick up burritos for all of us with the daily food allowance. With only three of us here today, there was no way any cooking was getting done. I asked him to go take care of that around 6:45.
He left at 8:09pm.
After constant prodding.
I can't leave because I'm behind the desk today.
Turns out, that's a good thing. Because if I could leave, I would have already gone out to get a gun and shot one of us by now.
It's 8:39 and I'm hungry. Christ.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Ho, Ho, Ho.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - My first Christmas away from family and friends. It was a little rougher than expected.
Everyone is gone at the hostel. Chris went back to Boston. Christine went home, probably for good. Gia doesn't really come around anymore except when she has to work. Sophie has been at her boyfriend's place a lot. Dave took off for Boston as well and left me in charge in his absence. The plus side to that is that I get to sleep in a real bed for the first time in a long time since I get to take over his mini-apartment on the top floor. Of course, it's a mixed feeling that comes with it because no one is around so I get lonely up there. Quetzal has been around more than anyone else but she spends a lot of time at Marty's.
I never realized until recently just how lonely I can get by myself at night. Seems silly. Lots of people have apartments all to themselves. I just hate the empty stomach feeling that comes along with going to bed in a home by yourself.
The two current housekeepers, Lida and Jeff, are here. But the guests are all gone. The hostel is the emptiest I've ever seen it. Lots of empty beds because of the holidays. So working the desk is basically an exercise in patience. How long can you keep yourself entertained with laundry, taking out garbage, and staring at the back of the room?
Luckily, I've had a wonderful chore to keep me occupied the past few days - trying to fix my computer. It started getting ridiculously slow and randomly crashing. Then the hard drive started clicking. A virus check took 24 hours to work through. An attempted defragging. Then a fun night trying to get all my pictures from the trip onto a separate hard drive between crashes (mission accomplished).
Today I got the blue screen of death.
After the blue screen came up, my computer failed to respond. No need for CPR. This sucker was flatlined. I got in touch with a very nice customer service guy at HP. Unfortunately, he had bad news for me. Two days to ship a box to me, two days to ship the computer to them, nine days to repair it, two days to ship back.
Business days.
I'll have my computer back sometime in the middle of January.
Until then, I'm gonna have to wing getting my pictures off my camera card so it doesn't fill up. And I think the blog is going to be picture free until then. It'll be like real reading.
My deepest apologies.
On the bright side, I got everything important off the computer just in time. That was nice.
Things could be worse.
Plus, I got a package in the mail from my mom. She sent cookies, fudge, and nuts 'n' bolts (sans nuts). She also sent Christmas presents. A few good books and a nice new journal. Perfect for me.
I found out today that the box I shipped out got only one day late. Mom and Pops seemed to enjoy their presents a lot. In fact, my dad launched into a description of his desire to use the book I sent him (about theoretical quantum physics) to find a way to provide the world with free energy. See, I'm not the only one in the family prone to delusions of grandeur. It's one of the Soraks' many fine traits. We're a damn fine set of folks. I don't know what my sister thought of her gifts. Apparently she was in and out of the house so fast that no one really saw her. She was able to tear open her presents and check her email before one parent could go to the bathroom and in less time than it took the other parent to walk to the kitchen and back. Merry Christmas, Sis!
I'm looking forward to my friends being able to get the package I sent them in Bloomington. The deal is that they all have to actually sit down and hang out together for a night, otherwise they can't open the box. That's their present to me.
Happy Holidays everyone.
Everyone is gone at the hostel. Chris went back to Boston. Christine went home, probably for good. Gia doesn't really come around anymore except when she has to work. Sophie has been at her boyfriend's place a lot. Dave took off for Boston as well and left me in charge in his absence. The plus side to that is that I get to sleep in a real bed for the first time in a long time since I get to take over his mini-apartment on the top floor. Of course, it's a mixed feeling that comes with it because no one is around so I get lonely up there. Quetzal has been around more than anyone else but she spends a lot of time at Marty's.
I never realized until recently just how lonely I can get by myself at night. Seems silly. Lots of people have apartments all to themselves. I just hate the empty stomach feeling that comes along with going to bed in a home by yourself.
The two current housekeepers, Lida and Jeff, are here. But the guests are all gone. The hostel is the emptiest I've ever seen it. Lots of empty beds because of the holidays. So working the desk is basically an exercise in patience. How long can you keep yourself entertained with laundry, taking out garbage, and staring at the back of the room?
Luckily, I've had a wonderful chore to keep me occupied the past few days - trying to fix my computer. It started getting ridiculously slow and randomly crashing. Then the hard drive started clicking. A virus check took 24 hours to work through. An attempted defragging. Then a fun night trying to get all my pictures from the trip onto a separate hard drive between crashes (mission accomplished).
Today I got the blue screen of death.
After the blue screen came up, my computer failed to respond. No need for CPR. This sucker was flatlined. I got in touch with a very nice customer service guy at HP. Unfortunately, he had bad news for me. Two days to ship a box to me, two days to ship the computer to them, nine days to repair it, two days to ship back.
Business days.
I'll have my computer back sometime in the middle of January.
Until then, I'm gonna have to wing getting my pictures off my camera card so it doesn't fill up. And I think the blog is going to be picture free until then. It'll be like real reading.
My deepest apologies.
On the bright side, I got everything important off the computer just in time. That was nice.
Things could be worse.
Plus, I got a package in the mail from my mom. She sent cookies, fudge, and nuts 'n' bolts (sans nuts). She also sent Christmas presents. A few good books and a nice new journal. Perfect for me.
I found out today that the box I shipped out got only one day late. Mom and Pops seemed to enjoy their presents a lot. In fact, my dad launched into a description of his desire to use the book I sent him (about theoretical quantum physics) to find a way to provide the world with free energy. See, I'm not the only one in the family prone to delusions of grandeur. It's one of the Soraks' many fine traits. We're a damn fine set of folks. I don't know what my sister thought of her gifts. Apparently she was in and out of the house so fast that no one really saw her. She was able to tear open her presents and check her email before one parent could go to the bathroom and in less time than it took the other parent to walk to the kitchen and back. Merry Christmas, Sis!
I'm looking forward to my friends being able to get the package I sent them in Bloomington. The deal is that they all have to actually sit down and hang out together for a night, otherwise they can't open the box. That's their present to me.
Happy Holidays everyone.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
More Misfortune
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - So, I promised more blog entries and have not really come through.
Unfortunately, my computer seems to be possibly fried at the moment and is certainly not cooperating, which makes blogging (especially with pictures) quite difficult.
I'll try to update when possible. My night at the desk is devoted to trying to fix my piece of crap (and of course to provide excellent customer service).
Unfortunately, my computer seems to be possibly fried at the moment and is certainly not cooperating, which makes blogging (especially with pictures) quite difficult.
I'll try to update when possible. My night at the desk is devoted to trying to fix my piece of crap (and of course to provide excellent customer service).
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Slide Night, Part 2
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - We needed to shake things up a bit.
Everyday, I create a list of things that are going on that day. The Daily To-Do List. It's a nice creative outlet for me.
One day I decided we were going to the slides. I posted a note on the board about people finding me for a late night trip to the slides. A few did. Some others needed some quality peer-pressuring.
Some of those involved some serious difficulties with patience. Once I got people turned on to going to the slides, they were chomping at the bit and eager to go. I had to do some damage control before people got out of control.
Calm down all, we'll head out shortly. Besides, it's always better late at night.
We finally rounded up the whole crew and headed out, really late.
The crew caught the F Streetcar down to the Castro and we hiked the rest of the way to the Seward Street Slides.
Some people needed to take a moment to muster up the energy for the slides.
If you haven't heard of them yet, you clearly haven't read earlier entries in this blog. Go back and read it all. Go on. Do it.
The slides were great. I shot out of my slide and almost broke my ass on the ground. Fun. It was working even better than the last time I was there. Maybe I had a really good box.
Most of us got one good slide in when a local walked up and announced to us that we were done. He told us it was too late and the park was closed and we were leaving. We argued briefly but realized he was going to keep this up. I suppose we didn't need the cops called just because we wanted to have a good time and enjoy life like kids again.
Alysha and Kristina hadn't gone down yet and we told him we would take off as soon as they came down. He told us, "No." Hmm.
So, I marched to the top of the slides and told them to go down. They were concerned about pissing him off. I explained that he was already pissed off, so it really didn't matter. We trekked all the way across the city to enjoy some slides and we were going to do it. Besides, he shouldn't have moved next to a park if he didn't want to experience anyone else enjoying life every once in a while.
Alysha was committed and took the ride. Kristina refused and walked back down.
Everyone walked about a half block away. Dave and I realized we weren't done, so we ditched the group and ran back for one more trip. We snuck up the hill, grabbed some boxes, and felt like kids again. Worth it.
We had previously discussed donut eating competitions and decided that donuts were a must for the trip home. We stopped at the nearest Safeway which was luckily open all night. And they had some nice looking Krispy Kremes.
Chris was insistent that they be heated up and they were nice enough to do this for us. One guy went back to the deli counter and heated up a dozen donuts one by one in a microwave. What a guy.
I tried to give him a tip, but he said he couldn't accept it.
I savored my donut. And then another. And then a half.
We had two left and decided we needed to give them away.
It is harder than you would think to give away donuts late at night. People are instantly suspicious.
"Why would you want to give me free donuts?"
"Um. Because donuts are good and we thought it would be nice."
"Well, no thanks then."
Bars were letting out and we figured someone would love free donuts. Nope. Still suspicious, even when drunk.
We finally found one guy to take both of them. And he seemed to really love 'em. Mission accomplished.
Dave noticed this cartoon strip in a window on the way back home. Synchronicity?
Thanks Bizarro.
After Chris egged me on, I ended up telling three stories which took the entire walk home to get through. I discussed eating horseshoes with horseshit on my hands as a kid, eating myself sick at a state fair a couple years ago, and burning down a friend's house. I suppose those could have been short stories, but they seem so much better when they take 20+ minutes each.
The moral of the story is don't forget to enjoy the slides in life every once in a while or you miss out on some pretty important stuff.
Or something like that.
Everyday, I create a list of things that are going on that day. The Daily To-Do List. It's a nice creative outlet for me.
One day I decided we were going to the slides. I posted a note on the board about people finding me for a late night trip to the slides. A few did. Some others needed some quality peer-pressuring.
Some of those involved some serious difficulties with patience. Once I got people turned on to going to the slides, they were chomping at the bit and eager to go. I had to do some damage control before people got out of control.
Calm down all, we'll head out shortly. Besides, it's always better late at night.
We finally rounded up the whole crew and headed out, really late.
The crew caught the F Streetcar down to the Castro and we hiked the rest of the way to the Seward Street Slides.
Some people needed to take a moment to muster up the energy for the slides.
If you haven't heard of them yet, you clearly haven't read earlier entries in this blog. Go back and read it all. Go on. Do it.
The slides were great. I shot out of my slide and almost broke my ass on the ground. Fun. It was working even better than the last time I was there. Maybe I had a really good box.
Most of us got one good slide in when a local walked up and announced to us that we were done. He told us it was too late and the park was closed and we were leaving. We argued briefly but realized he was going to keep this up. I suppose we didn't need the cops called just because we wanted to have a good time and enjoy life like kids again.
Alysha and Kristina hadn't gone down yet and we told him we would take off as soon as they came down. He told us, "No." Hmm.
So, I marched to the top of the slides and told them to go down. They were concerned about pissing him off. I explained that he was already pissed off, so it really didn't matter. We trekked all the way across the city to enjoy some slides and we were going to do it. Besides, he shouldn't have moved next to a park if he didn't want to experience anyone else enjoying life every once in a while.
Alysha was committed and took the ride. Kristina refused and walked back down.
Everyone walked about a half block away. Dave and I realized we weren't done, so we ditched the group and ran back for one more trip. We snuck up the hill, grabbed some boxes, and felt like kids again. Worth it.
We had previously discussed donut eating competitions and decided that donuts were a must for the trip home. We stopped at the nearest Safeway which was luckily open all night. And they had some nice looking Krispy Kremes.
Chris was insistent that they be heated up and they were nice enough to do this for us. One guy went back to the deli counter and heated up a dozen donuts one by one in a microwave. What a guy.
I tried to give him a tip, but he said he couldn't accept it.
I savored my donut. And then another. And then a half.
We had two left and decided we needed to give them away.
It is harder than you would think to give away donuts late at night. People are instantly suspicious.
"Why would you want to give me free donuts?"
"Um. Because donuts are good and we thought it would be nice."
"Well, no thanks then."
Bars were letting out and we figured someone would love free donuts. Nope. Still suspicious, even when drunk.
We finally found one guy to take both of them. And he seemed to really love 'em. Mission accomplished.
Dave noticed this cartoon strip in a window on the way back home. Synchronicity?
Thanks Bizarro.
After Chris egged me on, I ended up telling three stories which took the entire walk home to get through. I discussed eating horseshoes with horseshit on my hands as a kid, eating myself sick at a state fair a couple years ago, and burning down a friend's house. I suppose those could have been short stories, but they seem so much better when they take 20+ minutes each.
The moral of the story is don't forget to enjoy the slides in life every once in a while or you miss out on some pretty important stuff.
Or something like that.
Ketchup
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Admittedly, I've still managed to stay way behind on this thing, so this is my attempt to make up for it. Let's try to boil down the past two weeks in a couple posts or so.
Back on the 6th, Chris and I rounded up a few folks to check out a Jonathan Richman show at the Great American Music Hall.
For those who don't recognize this name, think back to There's Something About Mary. Remember the guy who sings while walking around with the guitar throughout the movie? That's Johnny.
He's a Boston native and therefore a favorite of Chris. His songs are fantastic. Heartbreaking, moving, funny. And he puts on a pretty great show for someone who just stands up with a guitar and drum kit.
The man was intense. His stare burned into the crowd. It seemed pretty genuine, too. I imagine he would have the same look on his face if he were playing in a dark room by himself.
He even did some dancing, which everyone was into.
It was an interesting crowd. There were a lot of people who seemed to be there for the opening act, the Rubinoos. The average person in the crowd was quite a bit older than me and they seemed to have even more energy than I could muster up. It was a cool vibe, something I haven't seen in other cities.
That night seemed to be the beginning of the rainy season. My Chucks are perhaps reaching the end of their life. One whole toe has almost completely separated from the rest of the shoe. It probably wasn't the best night to decide to wear them out.
I hate to let them go.
Back on the 6th, Chris and I rounded up a few folks to check out a Jonathan Richman show at the Great American Music Hall.
For those who don't recognize this name, think back to There's Something About Mary. Remember the guy who sings while walking around with the guitar throughout the movie? That's Johnny.
He's a Boston native and therefore a favorite of Chris. His songs are fantastic. Heartbreaking, moving, funny. And he puts on a pretty great show for someone who just stands up with a guitar and drum kit.
The man was intense. His stare burned into the crowd. It seemed pretty genuine, too. I imagine he would have the same look on his face if he were playing in a dark room by himself.
He even did some dancing, which everyone was into.
It was an interesting crowd. There were a lot of people who seemed to be there for the opening act, the Rubinoos. The average person in the crowd was quite a bit older than me and they seemed to have even more energy than I could muster up. It was a cool vibe, something I haven't seen in other cities.
That night seemed to be the beginning of the rainy season. My Chucks are perhaps reaching the end of their life. One whole toe has almost completely separated from the rest of the shoe. It probably wasn't the best night to decide to wear them out.
I hate to let them go.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Winter Hits
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Alright Illinois. Buckle up. This is probably going to hurt.
But winter has finally hit San Francisco.
That means temperatures dropping into the low forties and a sun that sets before 5pm.
I know, I know. I'm a prick. Things suck in the Midwest. But it's actually less about the weather than the gloomy, gray conditions. I'm trying not to complain. It's just that each winter hits me pretty hard. I have a tough time with it.
Usually it results in a soul crushing depression that lasts for 4 or more months. It's better this time, though. I don't really feel down like what usually happens. Maybe it's because I can actually leave the building without having to deal with inches of snow (again... sorry). But there is definitely a serious dent in my motivation.
I've neglected to keep up on the blog for a variety of reasons (Christmas actually being one of them). But many times it's for much less valid reasons.
So, it's time to crack down and push through this. I need to catch up on the blog and get a damn job. Some real exercise would be nice too.
Or maybe I'll just leave it all for my New Year's resolution.
But winter has finally hit San Francisco.
That means temperatures dropping into the low forties and a sun that sets before 5pm.
I know, I know. I'm a prick. Things suck in the Midwest. But it's actually less about the weather than the gloomy, gray conditions. I'm trying not to complain. It's just that each winter hits me pretty hard. I have a tough time with it.
Usually it results in a soul crushing depression that lasts for 4 or more months. It's better this time, though. I don't really feel down like what usually happens. Maybe it's because I can actually leave the building without having to deal with inches of snow (again... sorry). But there is definitely a serious dent in my motivation.
I've neglected to keep up on the blog for a variety of reasons (Christmas actually being one of them). But many times it's for much less valid reasons.
So, it's time to crack down and push through this. I need to catch up on the blog and get a damn job. Some real exercise would be nice too.
Or maybe I'll just leave it all for my New Year's resolution.
Friday, December 14, 2007
First Day
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - My first day of work at reception in the hostel was interesting. I got a call from Dave at 4:15pm. He tells me I'm supposed to be working from 4-12 instead of 8-12 like I thought. Shit. I'm always the last to know.
I show up and Sophie's pissed because she missed yoga due to my tardiness. I hauled ass back to the hostel, riding one of the longest buses in the city because I was on the other side of the planet from where I needed to be. On the way though, I grabbed a chocolate frosted long john from the corner store. I seemed like it would be one of those nights.
Things are kind of funky at the desk. We are short on keys somehow and there aren't enough for the people who have already checked in, let alone the ones who will be checking in later in the night. Hmmm. Time to start improvising on Day One. At one point I ended up having to give my key away to a guest and also hit up Gia to give hers away.
I end up all alone at the hostel because everyone went to a going away dinner for Surja. It was her last night at the hostel. She had been working housekeeping for the past three months and showed me everything I knew about cleaning this place. I was sad to miss the going away. I was also sad because the RZA was in town having a show and inviting people out for tea afterward. Oh well. No reason to complain. This has been a great trip so far and I'm lucky to be in the position I'm currently in.
The dishes aren't done and kind of look untouched for the day, despite a giant sign above the sink telling guests to wash their own dishes. It's my dirty stuff now.
There is a ton of laundry to be done and folded, including guest laundry and laundry for one of the staff.
My first check in gets put in the TV Room because we're too full for the night. Let me tell you ahead of time, you don't want to end up sleeping in the TV Room. It functions as much more than a TV Room here and is an unfortunate place to have to sleep (just don't ever take a blacklight in there). It's the only room in the hostel with a lock on it. I check this guy in and he is in the hostel five minutes when he locks himself out of the room. I guess he was concerned about the safety of his belongings for the five seconds it took to walk down the hall and locked the door just for good measure. When I found him he was trying to cram the third floor key into the lock. Now, I explained to him the key was for the third floor and even used his key to open the door to the third floor. How it made sense that the same key would lock his room and keep his stuff safe when every other person on that floor possessed that very key escapes me. Anyway, a fiasco to deal with.
At the same time, another guest (some pompous German guy) had a valid beef. Someone was sleeping in his bed. By the time I went down to check it out, the other person had vacated and I was very confused. After some investigation, it turns out he thought he was in the right spot but was actually supposed to be in a bed down the hall. I had to get fresh sheets for German guy and sort out the rest of the details.
The next new guest to come up ends up getting checked into a bed that mistakenly didn't get changed from the night before. So I had to change that like quick on the double.
This was all happening in succession. The frustration was growing.
Then I realized I wouldn't have it any other way. It's already been an easy trip thus far, so no reason to complain. And if my first night went well, it would ruin me forever. My baseline would be all screwed up and I would expect it to always be that way. Instead, things feel easy now.
I calmed down, things got slow, I cranked the music, the common room filled up with good conversation and even better vibes. Half of the crew came back from the going away dinner and we hung out on the room a little later.
I looked out on the city and took a deep breath.
I show up and Sophie's pissed because she missed yoga due to my tardiness. I hauled ass back to the hostel, riding one of the longest buses in the city because I was on the other side of the planet from where I needed to be. On the way though, I grabbed a chocolate frosted long john from the corner store. I seemed like it would be one of those nights.
Things are kind of funky at the desk. We are short on keys somehow and there aren't enough for the people who have already checked in, let alone the ones who will be checking in later in the night. Hmmm. Time to start improvising on Day One. At one point I ended up having to give my key away to a guest and also hit up Gia to give hers away.
I end up all alone at the hostel because everyone went to a going away dinner for Surja. It was her last night at the hostel. She had been working housekeeping for the past three months and showed me everything I knew about cleaning this place. I was sad to miss the going away. I was also sad because the RZA was in town having a show and inviting people out for tea afterward. Oh well. No reason to complain. This has been a great trip so far and I'm lucky to be in the position I'm currently in.
The dishes aren't done and kind of look untouched for the day, despite a giant sign above the sink telling guests to wash their own dishes. It's my dirty stuff now.
There is a ton of laundry to be done and folded, including guest laundry and laundry for one of the staff.
My first check in gets put in the TV Room because we're too full for the night. Let me tell you ahead of time, you don't want to end up sleeping in the TV Room. It functions as much more than a TV Room here and is an unfortunate place to have to sleep (just don't ever take a blacklight in there). It's the only room in the hostel with a lock on it. I check this guy in and he is in the hostel five minutes when he locks himself out of the room. I guess he was concerned about the safety of his belongings for the five seconds it took to walk down the hall and locked the door just for good measure. When I found him he was trying to cram the third floor key into the lock. Now, I explained to him the key was for the third floor and even used his key to open the door to the third floor. How it made sense that the same key would lock his room and keep his stuff safe when every other person on that floor possessed that very key escapes me. Anyway, a fiasco to deal with.
At the same time, another guest (some pompous German guy) had a valid beef. Someone was sleeping in his bed. By the time I went down to check it out, the other person had vacated and I was very confused. After some investigation, it turns out he thought he was in the right spot but was actually supposed to be in a bed down the hall. I had to get fresh sheets for German guy and sort out the rest of the details.
The next new guest to come up ends up getting checked into a bed that mistakenly didn't get changed from the night before. So I had to change that like quick on the double.
This was all happening in succession. The frustration was growing.
Then I realized I wouldn't have it any other way. It's already been an easy trip thus far, so no reason to complain. And if my first night went well, it would ruin me forever. My baseline would be all screwed up and I would expect it to always be that way. Instead, things feel easy now.
I calmed down, things got slow, I cranked the music, the common room filled up with good conversation and even better vibes. Half of the crew came back from the going away dinner and we hung out on the room a little later.
I looked out on the city and took a deep breath.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Two Stars To The Right And Straight On 'Til Morning
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - First off, apologies. I've felt pretty busy this past week and have fallen behind. No excuses. Just reasons. Onward.
I now officially work at the hostel. There's a contract to sign and everything. Who would have thought? I signed my soul away. And it has finally settled in that I live in a hostel. This is home.
So, I got to thinking. What kind of person does this? What kind of person lives at a hostel? In fact, what kind of person travels around and stays at hostels?
Sure, there are some people who are just trying to find a cheap place to stay while they travel. But these people are pretty easy to spot quickly. They stay for maybe one night and spend much of their time to themselves. They hang out in bed, read a book, stay out of the hostel much of the time... the same things they'd be doing if they were to get a hotel room and sleep alone each night. They're just looking for a cheap place to lay down their head.
Real hostelers have a different feel to them. People who interact, spend time in the common room, really dig in to conversations. People hungry for life. But like anyone hungry for something, I guess there must be something missing. They don't feel full with a job, or family, or hobby. Like a craving that must be satisfied, they're searching.
Lost souls. Well, I suppose not everyone. Maybe it's more of a U.S. thing. I've met plenty of wanderers from all around the world. Many of them on holiday. They have a real job and they take a few months off. There still seems to be a hunger. They could be at home, relaxing, getting tasks done. But they're not. They're hopping cities around the world, spending their time with lost souls, many of us much younger than them.
What of us from this country? There seems to be much more of a sense of feeling lost. Is it our culture? Or our individual upbringings?
We're like the Lost Boys. Or maybe just me. Like we're in limbo. In some place removed from everything at the moment. At the moment, I feel like I have plenty of opportunities to grow as a person everyday, but I don't ever have to if I don't want to. Everything in my life feels like it's temporarily on hold. I suppose the days are passing and I'm certainly getting older, but it doesn't seem that way. I used to worry about days slipping past me, like I was watching landscape unfold out a car window without every really experiencing it. Now it seems as though everything is done on my time, at the pace I want it done.
Currently I do things when I want to do them and because I want to do them. It feels good. I'm doing good things and doing them precisely because I want to. But I don't have to.
The other day I realized that my life fits in a couple bags at this point. I live out of two bags I keep stored in a locker under my bed. At 2am on any given night, I could pack up these few things, wander to my car, and disappear. I have no plans to do this, whatsoever, but I've never been in this position before. Any other time, I would need a U-Haul and several days to get things taken care of. Things are very compact at this point. I feel a mixture of relief and disbelief when thinking of this.
Hell, I even asked my mom today not to really send anything much for Christmas because I don't really have space for it in this compact life. Sometimes it can complicate things, but most times things are just easier.
So, are we Lost Boys refusing to grow up, or are we individuals who don't quite fit into the normal scheme of things, trying to find a place to carve out and call our own? I don't know. I'm working on that one. Last night I talked about how I felt like I was standing at the edge of a cliff and it is now time for me to decide whether to dive in or step back from the edge and walk away.
I suppose it's about time to figure that out.
I now officially work at the hostel. There's a contract to sign and everything. Who would have thought? I signed my soul away. And it has finally settled in that I live in a hostel. This is home.
So, I got to thinking. What kind of person does this? What kind of person lives at a hostel? In fact, what kind of person travels around and stays at hostels?
Sure, there are some people who are just trying to find a cheap place to stay while they travel. But these people are pretty easy to spot quickly. They stay for maybe one night and spend much of their time to themselves. They hang out in bed, read a book, stay out of the hostel much of the time... the same things they'd be doing if they were to get a hotel room and sleep alone each night. They're just looking for a cheap place to lay down their head.
Real hostelers have a different feel to them. People who interact, spend time in the common room, really dig in to conversations. People hungry for life. But like anyone hungry for something, I guess there must be something missing. They don't feel full with a job, or family, or hobby. Like a craving that must be satisfied, they're searching.
Lost souls. Well, I suppose not everyone. Maybe it's more of a U.S. thing. I've met plenty of wanderers from all around the world. Many of them on holiday. They have a real job and they take a few months off. There still seems to be a hunger. They could be at home, relaxing, getting tasks done. But they're not. They're hopping cities around the world, spending their time with lost souls, many of us much younger than them.
What of us from this country? There seems to be much more of a sense of feeling lost. Is it our culture? Or our individual upbringings?
We're like the Lost Boys. Or maybe just me. Like we're in limbo. In some place removed from everything at the moment. At the moment, I feel like I have plenty of opportunities to grow as a person everyday, but I don't ever have to if I don't want to. Everything in my life feels like it's temporarily on hold. I suppose the days are passing and I'm certainly getting older, but it doesn't seem that way. I used to worry about days slipping past me, like I was watching landscape unfold out a car window without every really experiencing it. Now it seems as though everything is done on my time, at the pace I want it done.
Currently I do things when I want to do them and because I want to do them. It feels good. I'm doing good things and doing them precisely because I want to. But I don't have to.
The other day I realized that my life fits in a couple bags at this point. I live out of two bags I keep stored in a locker under my bed. At 2am on any given night, I could pack up these few things, wander to my car, and disappear. I have no plans to do this, whatsoever, but I've never been in this position before. Any other time, I would need a U-Haul and several days to get things taken care of. Things are very compact at this point. I feel a mixture of relief and disbelief when thinking of this.
Hell, I even asked my mom today not to really send anything much for Christmas because I don't really have space for it in this compact life. Sometimes it can complicate things, but most times things are just easier.
So, are we Lost Boys refusing to grow up, or are we individuals who don't quite fit into the normal scheme of things, trying to find a place to carve out and call our own? I don't know. I'm working on that one. Last night I talked about how I felt like I was standing at the edge of a cliff and it is now time for me to decide whether to dive in or step back from the edge and walk away.
I suppose it's about time to figure that out.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Big Happenings
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Had a weekend in L.A., so no new updates occurred (obviously).
I'm moving on to reception at the hostel tomorrow, so blog updates should be happening on a very regular basis rather than the random firings every few days like what has been going on.
Keep the faith, folks!
I'm moving on to reception at the hostel tomorrow, so blog updates should be happening on a very regular basis rather than the random firings every few days like what has been going on.
Keep the faith, folks!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
There's Crazy In Them Thar Hills!!!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - I beg of you, Dad. Maybe you should reconsider.
My dad has talked for quite some time about moving to Reno when he retires to relax and spend his days prospecting.
Maybe he really should reconsider.
Late yesterday, (let's just call him) Randy rolled into the hostel. Let me just say, first off, he was a very friendly, nice guy. Wilson, if you're reading this, please don't show him this. I know he's at the Tortoise now and I really mean no disrespect when I write this, although it is no doubt disrespectful. I am compelled to share this in the name of art ("for the good of the film!").
Randy is something else. He was quite talkative during his dinner, which was great. No problem. Talking is great. He explained his fascination with gambling in great detail to Chris. He told us he was a prospector. It was later that was really interesting.
I was talking with Adrienne around 1am in the kitchen when he wandered in. The talking began. I now feel confident I could write a whole book about Randy if it were suddenly necessary.
I know all about his prospecting. I know about prospecting techniques. I know all his places of residence for the past 20 years or so and all the best things to check out in those places, along with people to go see (names, addresses, shoe sizes, next of kin, etc.) I know about his buddy Helmut and his experiences in the Holocaust. I know about Helmut's wife Sonia, the fact that she is 85 years old, and that Randy has a hard time believing that, but it has to be true. I know the fine details about Randy snapping his arm in nine places when he slipped on a mountain side and wedged his arm in a crack on the fall down. I know about all the painkillers he took after this. I know about his brother and the artwork he does, along with a crash course in glass blowing and inlaid brass. There were so many other details, they got lost in the shuffle, my brain filtering them out because all the other details were just coming in too quickly.
This all happened in less than 45 minutes.
He also suggested we let him up on the roof so he didn't have to go down 4 flights of stairs to smoke his cigarette. The answer was no.
I felt bad because he was a genuinely nice guy and I really didn't/don't want to offend him, but I felt like shooting myself... just a little bit. I wasn't sure there was any other way out of it.
He rolled that cigarette (which took about 10 minutes) and I became hopeful that Adrienne and I could finish our conversation or go do something different other than this. But then he stood there with the cigarette in hand for another 15 minutes, talking the whole time. When he finally went out for the smoke, Adrienne and I were just to physically and emotionally exhausted to bother staying up. She went downstairs to her bed and I sat up for another minute to check my email. Randy came back up and started watching Conan O'Brien on his mini TV, laughing and talking throughout. During the course of all this (about an hour), we had to ask him to quiet down no fewer than 4 times. Gia even woke up once, came out into the common area, and asked him to keep it down.
This morning, I woke up and walked into the common area to find him speaking with/to some guy about the Grateful Dead, who he knows that's related to them, and how they really missed out by not broadcasting shows on the internet. This slowly turned into a monologue about Sirius Satellite. When that guy wandered off, he started talking to Surja.
I tried to snap pictures secretly since he seemed a little skittish about being photographed. Dave mentioned something about his saying that helicopters were following him yesterday. Maybe he can join the Tin Hat Club with Melissa and I.
I shot some video of him as well. I couldn't help it. It was fascinating. He didn't stop talking the entire time he was here. The entire time. Really for real. After he talked to Surja, he asked to get another night. He had only booked one but, unfortunately, we didn't have any beds available. So, he made arrangements for the Green Tortoise down the street. Then he checked out and went downstairs for a shower. Apparently, he talked to everyone down there for a while until he hopped in the shower.
And then proceeded to sing in the shower the whole time.
After getting out, the talking resumed. It seemed as though he would never be leaving. People looked like scared animals looking down the barrel of a gun when he grabbed them and started talking. Some found a way to get out. That didn't stop him at all.
This video here features Randy talking in a room by himself. The fellow he was talking to just kind of walked away, so Randy decided to just continue the conversation with himself. Until some girl wandered along.
I was down there doing some chores and worked on making beds at the other end of the hall. I was afraid of getting caught.
Randy went to the bathroom for a while and I tried to hurry to make beds in his room while that was going on. And, to absolutely no one's surprise, he talked the entire time while on the crapper. To no one.
Did I get some video of it? Yes. Yes I did.
Again, apologies. All in the name of art ("for the good of the film!"). Karma will no doubt get me back.
In case you're wondering what he keeps saying, it's "¡Ándale!" over and over again. Like Speedy Gonzalez. This went on for 10 minutes.
I ran upstairs to ask Dave something in his room and he told me to tell Randy that check out was at 10:30 and he needs to move along. Crap. Why me? Luckily, when I returned to the third floor, he was all packed up and heading out. He talked at me for a few more minutes and then said goodbye, walking downstairs. Guess I got off easy.
But wait.
Something happened and while I was still on the third floor. Apparently, he came back in the building and went up to the fourth floor once again, starting up conversation and grabbing something to eat.
He finally did leave, bound for the Tortoise to continue to spread the word.
So, Dad, maybe it's not such a good idea. There must be something about spending that much time alone in the mountains, hoping to hit it big with some gold, that does something to someone. Maybe just all the time without someone to talk to. Like kinking a water hose. The discussion just builds and builds until it suddenly explodes all over the place when it's finally given the chance.
Who knows? Maybe it would be fun to have a crazy prospector for a father.
My dad has talked for quite some time about moving to Reno when he retires to relax and spend his days prospecting.
Maybe he really should reconsider.
Late yesterday, (let's just call him) Randy rolled into the hostel. Let me just say, first off, he was a very friendly, nice guy. Wilson, if you're reading this, please don't show him this. I know he's at the Tortoise now and I really mean no disrespect when I write this, although it is no doubt disrespectful. I am compelled to share this in the name of art ("for the good of the film!").
Randy is something else. He was quite talkative during his dinner, which was great. No problem. Talking is great. He explained his fascination with gambling in great detail to Chris. He told us he was a prospector. It was later that was really interesting.
I was talking with Adrienne around 1am in the kitchen when he wandered in. The talking began. I now feel confident I could write a whole book about Randy if it were suddenly necessary.
I know all about his prospecting. I know about prospecting techniques. I know all his places of residence for the past 20 years or so and all the best things to check out in those places, along with people to go see (names, addresses, shoe sizes, next of kin, etc.) I know about his buddy Helmut and his experiences in the Holocaust. I know about Helmut's wife Sonia, the fact that she is 85 years old, and that Randy has a hard time believing that, but it has to be true. I know the fine details about Randy snapping his arm in nine places when he slipped on a mountain side and wedged his arm in a crack on the fall down. I know about all the painkillers he took after this. I know about his brother and the artwork he does, along with a crash course in glass blowing and inlaid brass. There were so many other details, they got lost in the shuffle, my brain filtering them out because all the other details were just coming in too quickly.
This all happened in less than 45 minutes.
He also suggested we let him up on the roof so he didn't have to go down 4 flights of stairs to smoke his cigarette. The answer was no.
I felt bad because he was a genuinely nice guy and I really didn't/don't want to offend him, but I felt like shooting myself... just a little bit. I wasn't sure there was any other way out of it.
He rolled that cigarette (which took about 10 minutes) and I became hopeful that Adrienne and I could finish our conversation or go do something different other than this. But then he stood there with the cigarette in hand for another 15 minutes, talking the whole time. When he finally went out for the smoke, Adrienne and I were just to physically and emotionally exhausted to bother staying up. She went downstairs to her bed and I sat up for another minute to check my email. Randy came back up and started watching Conan O'Brien on his mini TV, laughing and talking throughout. During the course of all this (about an hour), we had to ask him to quiet down no fewer than 4 times. Gia even woke up once, came out into the common area, and asked him to keep it down.
This morning, I woke up and walked into the common area to find him speaking with/to some guy about the Grateful Dead, who he knows that's related to them, and how they really missed out by not broadcasting shows on the internet. This slowly turned into a monologue about Sirius Satellite. When that guy wandered off, he started talking to Surja.
I tried to snap pictures secretly since he seemed a little skittish about being photographed. Dave mentioned something about his saying that helicopters were following him yesterday. Maybe he can join the Tin Hat Club with Melissa and I.
I shot some video of him as well. I couldn't help it. It was fascinating. He didn't stop talking the entire time he was here. The entire time. Really for real. After he talked to Surja, he asked to get another night. He had only booked one but, unfortunately, we didn't have any beds available. So, he made arrangements for the Green Tortoise down the street. Then he checked out and went downstairs for a shower. Apparently, he talked to everyone down there for a while until he hopped in the shower.
And then proceeded to sing in the shower the whole time.
After getting out, the talking resumed. It seemed as though he would never be leaving. People looked like scared animals looking down the barrel of a gun when he grabbed them and started talking. Some found a way to get out. That didn't stop him at all.
This video here features Randy talking in a room by himself. The fellow he was talking to just kind of walked away, so Randy decided to just continue the conversation with himself. Until some girl wandered along.
I was down there doing some chores and worked on making beds at the other end of the hall. I was afraid of getting caught.
Randy went to the bathroom for a while and I tried to hurry to make beds in his room while that was going on. And, to absolutely no one's surprise, he talked the entire time while on the crapper. To no one.
Did I get some video of it? Yes. Yes I did.
Again, apologies. All in the name of art ("for the good of the film!"). Karma will no doubt get me back.
In case you're wondering what he keeps saying, it's "¡Ándale!" over and over again. Like Speedy Gonzalez. This went on for 10 minutes.
I ran upstairs to ask Dave something in his room and he told me to tell Randy that check out was at 10:30 and he needs to move along. Crap. Why me? Luckily, when I returned to the third floor, he was all packed up and heading out. He talked at me for a few more minutes and then said goodbye, walking downstairs. Guess I got off easy.
But wait.
Something happened and while I was still on the third floor. Apparently, he came back in the building and went up to the fourth floor once again, starting up conversation and grabbing something to eat.
He finally did leave, bound for the Tortoise to continue to spread the word.
So, Dad, maybe it's not such a good idea. There must be something about spending that much time alone in the mountains, hoping to hit it big with some gold, that does something to someone. Maybe just all the time without someone to talk to. Like kinking a water hose. The discussion just builds and builds until it suddenly explodes all over the place when it's finally given the chance.
Who knows? Maybe it would be fun to have a crazy prospector for a father.
Small Destructions
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Yesterday was Free Museum Day in the city, so of course I went to the Cartoon Art Museum. It's a great little place. Definitely recommended for anyone passing through who also has an interest in such things.
It was difficult getting good shots of pieces... primarily because of the glass reflecting a flash, but also because photography wasn't allowed and they seemed kind of serious about it. Why must things be so difficult for me?
They had a huge section of art from Mary Blair, someone I was not familiar with, or rather, didn't know I was familiar with. She was a Disney artist who was behind a lot of the design of some of the first feature films they did. She was huge in the concept design for Alice in Wonderland.
There was also a big section of artwork and designs for Edward Gorey's Dracula.
I had a chance to see some original cells for animated films and a lot of comic strips. Here's an original Bill Watterson.
Plenty of other amusing strips to check out.
My favorite was a short film showing the progress of a piece by Lark Pien. She's a Bay Area artist and worked on this piece called Small Destructions over the course of many days inside the museum, being filmed the entire time. When she was finally finished, they left the final panel up and put together a time lapse DVD. Here's the first part of it. Just check it out, it's easier to understand that way.
The final panel.
Kind of reminds me of Phil Hansen's work, more in terms of the time lapse than specific style.
She had a lot of interesting work. I really appreciated it because it seemed as though most of what she had put together (books, strips, and random merchandise) had been completely done so independently. That's the spirit!
It was difficult getting good shots of pieces... primarily because of the glass reflecting a flash, but also because photography wasn't allowed and they seemed kind of serious about it. Why must things be so difficult for me?
They had a huge section of art from Mary Blair, someone I was not familiar with, or rather, didn't know I was familiar with. She was a Disney artist who was behind a lot of the design of some of the first feature films they did. She was huge in the concept design for Alice in Wonderland.
There was also a big section of artwork and designs for Edward Gorey's Dracula.
I had a chance to see some original cells for animated films and a lot of comic strips. Here's an original Bill Watterson.
Plenty of other amusing strips to check out.
My favorite was a short film showing the progress of a piece by Lark Pien. She's a Bay Area artist and worked on this piece called Small Destructions over the course of many days inside the museum, being filmed the entire time. When she was finally finished, they left the final panel up and put together a time lapse DVD. Here's the first part of it. Just check it out, it's easier to understand that way.
The final panel.
Kind of reminds me of Phil Hansen's work, more in terms of the time lapse than specific style.
She had a lot of interesting work. I really appreciated it because it seemed as though most of what she had put together (books, strips, and random merchandise) had been completely done so independently. That's the spirit!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Letter
LONG BEACH/LOS ANGELES, CA (VICARIOUSLY) - Chris received an email the other day from Kike (pronounced kee-kay), a Spanish friend who wandered through the hostel for a few days just last week.
I just wanted to share the email. I thought it was beautiful in it's own way. I have included both the English and Spanish versions he wrote. Please enjoy.
(10:44am. Highlights were added by me. I know "highlights" isn't the precise term for it. But I can't think of the other and it's going to bother me all day. I'm crazy.)
(4:36pm. Now I remember. "Emphasis added." Thank god. It really was going to bother me all day.)
___________________________________________________________________
Hello my friends!
Now I am in L.A. and today I was in Long Beach, that place is really amazing! but today I felt overwhelming fear because one guy shot other guy at 20 meters from me, and the killer get away by car! and the police come so fast with helicopter and 8 police cars and an ambulance!
the victim fell down to the floor like dead! It was horrible, 'cause I had never been in a situation like that or similar, and I never heard a real gun shoot! It is so scary!
I was buying some food and drinks to have a lunch in a park close to the shop and in the spar of the moment a man came into the 7eleven and without apparent reason shot the other guy, both of them were black, young (between 20 - 25 years old), and they looks like rapers but this is a normal looks like here!
After that I leave all the things in the shop and went out so fast, my hungry suddenly dissapear! and I was watching how the paramedics work and I have to say that they were so so good! better than some nurses or physicians that I know, hehe! I was impressed!
So after that horrible moment I decided to go back to L.A. and when I arrive at hollywood there was any movie premerie, because the hollywood bulevard is closed to the traffic and there are a lot of limos, I could see some actors and actress! and I thought how different could be the life in a short space! just 50km away you can die for nothing and here you are a star! that is so sad! This is a hard life, people! live it as intense as possible!
So changing topic! my travel around west coast of united states are finishing! Tomorrow at 6pm I will take a plane going home! I am a bit depressed because I had a great moments here and I don't want to go back to work and do the same life like ever! but I this is the real life! I am really happy about how I enjoyed this trip and how this trip was easy-going for me! I met amazing people from all over the world and had good impressions and conversations with them!
hope to do another travel like this asap! hehe!
all my love to everybody!
kike.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hola amigos!
Ahora estoy en Los Angeles y hoy he estado en Long Beach, ese sitio es increible! pero hoy he experimentado una terrible sensacion porque un xaval ha disparado a otro a escasos 20 metros de mi! y el que ha disparado se ha ido corriendo en un coche! y la policia llego enseguida con un helicoptero y 8 patrullas de policia han acordonado la zona, la ambulancia tambien llego enseguida!
la victima ha caido al suelo como si estubiera muerto! Ha sido horrible, porque yo nunca he estado en ninguna sitiacion asi! y nunca he oido como es el disparo de una pistola en la realidad! Ha sido acongojante!
Yo estaba comprando algo para comer y beber para comer en un parque que habia cerca de la tienda, pero de repente un xaval entro y sin motivo aparente y sin decir ni mu! entro y disparo al otro xaval, los dos eran negros de entre 20-25 anos de edad y vestian como de raperos pero es que eso es lo mas comun aqui en america! Despues de esto yo deje todo en la tienda y me fui rapidillo de la tienda, tambien por que la policia nos lo dijo, pero aunque no lo hubiera dicho yo lo hubiera hecho igual! en fin que mis ganas de comer desaparecieron de repente! Desde fuera del perimetro me quede mirando como los paramedicos actuaban y tengo que decir que me dejaron impresionado como de bien lo han echo! mucho mejor que algunos enfermeros o medicos que conozco, jeje! muy bien por ellos!
Bueno despues de este terrible moment decidi volver a los angeles, y cuando llego a hollywood veo que hay una presentacion de alguna pelicula por que la calle estaba cortada al trafico y estaba lleno de limusinas, pude ver a algunas actrices y actores! y pense joder que diferente puede ser la vida en un corto espacio! tan solo en 50km puedes morir por nada y aqui eres una estrella! me parece increible! que triste es esto chicos! esta vida es dura gente, asi aprovecharla!
Bueno cambiendo de tema! mi viaje por la costa oeste de los estados unidos se esta acabando! manana a las 6pm cogere un avion para volver a casa! Estoy un poco depre por que he tenido momentos increibles aqui y no quiero volver a trabajar y hacer lo mismo de siempre! pero asi es la vida! Estoy my contento de como he disfrutado de este viaje y de lo bien que me he desenvuelto sin ningun problema! he conocido gente increible de todas partes del mundo y he tenido muy buenas impresiones y conversaciones con ellos!
Espero volver a hacer otro viaje como este, lo mas pronto posible! jejeje!
con todo mi carino para todo el mundo!
kike.
I just wanted to share the email. I thought it was beautiful in it's own way. I have included both the English and Spanish versions he wrote. Please enjoy.
(10:44am. Highlights were added by me. I know "highlights" isn't the precise term for it. But I can't think of the other and it's going to bother me all day. I'm crazy.)
(4:36pm. Now I remember. "Emphasis added." Thank god. It really was going to bother me all day.)
___________________________________________________________________
Hello my friends!
Now I am in L.A. and today I was in Long Beach, that place is really amazing! but today I felt overwhelming fear because one guy shot other guy at 20 meters from me, and the killer get away by car! and the police come so fast with helicopter and 8 police cars and an ambulance!
the victim fell down to the floor like dead! It was horrible, 'cause I had never been in a situation like that or similar, and I never heard a real gun shoot! It is so scary!
I was buying some food and drinks to have a lunch in a park close to the shop and in the spar of the moment a man came into the 7eleven and without apparent reason shot the other guy, both of them were black, young (between 20 - 25 years old), and they looks like rapers but this is a normal looks like here!
After that I leave all the things in the shop and went out so fast, my hungry suddenly dissapear! and I was watching how the paramedics work and I have to say that they were so so good! better than some nurses or physicians that I know, hehe! I was impressed!
So after that horrible moment I decided to go back to L.A. and when I arrive at hollywood there was any movie premerie, because the hollywood bulevard is closed to the traffic and there are a lot of limos, I could see some actors and actress! and I thought how different could be the life in a short space! just 50km away you can die for nothing and here you are a star! that is so sad! This is a hard life, people! live it as intense as possible!
So changing topic! my travel around west coast of united states are finishing! Tomorrow at 6pm I will take a plane going home! I am a bit depressed because I had a great moments here and I don't want to go back to work and do the same life like ever! but I this is the real life! I am really happy about how I enjoyed this trip and how this trip was easy-going for me! I met amazing people from all over the world and had good impressions and conversations with them!
hope to do another travel like this asap! hehe!
all my love to everybody!
kike.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hola amigos!
Ahora estoy en Los Angeles y hoy he estado en Long Beach, ese sitio es increible! pero hoy he experimentado una terrible sensacion porque un xaval ha disparado a otro a escasos 20 metros de mi! y el que ha disparado se ha ido corriendo en un coche! y la policia llego enseguida con un helicoptero y 8 patrullas de policia han acordonado la zona, la ambulancia tambien llego enseguida!
la victima ha caido al suelo como si estubiera muerto! Ha sido horrible, porque yo nunca he estado en ninguna sitiacion asi! y nunca he oido como es el disparo de una pistola en la realidad! Ha sido acongojante!
Yo estaba comprando algo para comer y beber para comer en un parque que habia cerca de la tienda, pero de repente un xaval entro y sin motivo aparente y sin decir ni mu! entro y disparo al otro xaval, los dos eran negros de entre 20-25 anos de edad y vestian como de raperos pero es que eso es lo mas comun aqui en america! Despues de esto yo deje todo en la tienda y me fui rapidillo de la tienda, tambien por que la policia nos lo dijo, pero aunque no lo hubiera dicho yo lo hubiera hecho igual! en fin que mis ganas de comer desaparecieron de repente! Desde fuera del perimetro me quede mirando como los paramedicos actuaban y tengo que decir que me dejaron impresionado como de bien lo han echo! mucho mejor que algunos enfermeros o medicos que conozco, jeje! muy bien por ellos!
Bueno despues de este terrible moment decidi volver a los angeles, y cuando llego a hollywood veo que hay una presentacion de alguna pelicula por que la calle estaba cortada al trafico y estaba lleno de limusinas, pude ver a algunas actrices y actores! y pense joder que diferente puede ser la vida en un corto espacio! tan solo en 50km puedes morir por nada y aqui eres una estrella! me parece increible! que triste es esto chicos! esta vida es dura gente, asi aprovecharla!
Bueno cambiendo de tema! mi viaje por la costa oeste de los estados unidos se esta acabando! manana a las 6pm cogere un avion para volver a casa! Estoy un poco depre por que he tenido momentos increibles aqui y no quiero volver a trabajar y hacer lo mismo de siempre! pero asi es la vida! Estoy my contento de como he disfrutado de este viaje y de lo bien que me he desenvuelto sin ningun problema! he conocido gente increible de todas partes del mundo y he tenido muy buenas impresiones y conversaciones con ellos!
Espero volver a hacer otro viaje como este, lo mas pronto posible! jejeje!
con todo mi carino para todo el mundo!
kike.
Dig Deep
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - It has been a really laid back week around here. The energy has kind of been lacking a lot of the time and I've had money/jobs on the mind. My resume is finally updated all the way and I'm working on getting copies out. Let's hope it works...
Sunday ended up being a good day for deep conversations though. Again and again, similar topics came up. I suppose I should have written about that the other night, when it was fresh. Unfortunately, things fade a little as the days go on. I remember the gist of the conversations and definitely recall touching on some really meaningful stuff (Golden Ratios, synchronicity, the meaning of life and whatnot) with a variety of people, but there is certainly a fuzziness for the fine details now that a few days have come in-between.
A job would help. Thoughts of money start taking up precious space in my brain when there are much better things it could be doing.
Like writing something a little more permanent.
Sunday ended up being a good day for deep conversations though. Again and again, similar topics came up. I suppose I should have written about that the other night, when it was fresh. Unfortunately, things fade a little as the days go on. I remember the gist of the conversations and definitely recall touching on some really meaningful stuff (Golden Ratios, synchronicity, the meaning of life and whatnot) with a variety of people, but there is certainly a fuzziness for the fine details now that a few days have come in-between.
A job would help. Thoughts of money start taking up precious space in my brain when there are much better things it could be doing.
Like writing something a little more permanent.
These Are A Few Of My Least Favorite Things...
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Saturday night as follows.
1. Space Gallery - You promised me zombie art, but broke my heart. Left me for dead, really, when I was hoping for undead. If you post a flyer online saying that you are having a reception that night, there should be some kind of legal precedent preventing you from changing plans at the last minute to hold a birthday party instead. At least the guy at the door let me lean in and snap a couple shots. (Sincerest apologies, Blair. I tried.)
2. The Temple nightclub.
Liars.
3. Kamel of Ankh marketing firm.
Also liars. Don't promote stuff that isn't really going to happen. Don't have people stand in line for a long time and wait around in some club with a bunch of drunk assholes to see a show you know isn't going to happen. Don't make flyers.
4. Talib Kweli.
Lazy. If you know a show has been promoted as having a performance by you, maybe you should actually sing one damn song while you're on stage rather than just dancing around talking to friends before wandering off to the VIP area in the corner to drink for the night.
5. Drunk girls who keep bumping into me while I'm just trying to wait to see some guy who is never coming on stage while she's telling her dumb, drunk boyfriend that she wants to hit me.
Bring it.
6. Whoever keeps doing this.
I mean, yeah, it's funny when you see it, but I'd be a little upset if I wandered out to my bike and found it in this condition.
1. Space Gallery - You promised me zombie art, but broke my heart. Left me for dead, really, when I was hoping for undead. If you post a flyer online saying that you are having a reception that night, there should be some kind of legal precedent preventing you from changing plans at the last minute to hold a birthday party instead. At least the guy at the door let me lean in and snap a couple shots. (Sincerest apologies, Blair. I tried.)
2. The Temple nightclub.
Liars.
3. Kamel of Ankh marketing firm.
Also liars. Don't promote stuff that isn't really going to happen. Don't have people stand in line for a long time and wait around in some club with a bunch of drunk assholes to see a show you know isn't going to happen. Don't make flyers.
4. Talib Kweli.
Lazy. If you know a show has been promoted as having a performance by you, maybe you should actually sing one damn song while you're on stage rather than just dancing around talking to friends before wandering off to the VIP area in the corner to drink for the night.
5. Drunk girls who keep bumping into me while I'm just trying to wait to see some guy who is never coming on stage while she's telling her dumb, drunk boyfriend that she wants to hit me.
Bring it.
6. Whoever keeps doing this.
I mean, yeah, it's funny when you see it, but I'd be a little upset if I wandered out to my bike and found it in this condition.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
All I Want Is Boundless Love And A Horseshoe
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - It has been a slow couple of days here.
I'm in need of a quick job. If money was a lush field, I'm walking through a desert.
That's pretty much consumed the past couple of days. Not much has happened. So... more about the ocean night.
We started a hike from the beach. Wilson had horrible blisters on his feet from some crappy shoes he had bought. Even Dr. Scholls didn't help him. He said the salt water helped a lot and he was able to make the hike.
That didn't last long though.
Chris offered a piggy back ride. That didn't last long either.
The crew stopped for some Indian restaurant for dinner. We decided to order a lot of dishes and just share between everyone. A poor man's feast.
It was Chris' idea, so he is stuck with all the responsibility for the cockroaches another diner at the table next to us said she saw. I didn't catch any. Those suckers are fast, though.
The spicy food was a good follow-up to the ocean swim.
After dinner, a few people decided they wanted to make the hike back on foot. Chris and I helped Wilson limp to the bus stop. But not before stopping at a donut shop.
Chris and I had been talking about donuts for two hours at this point. He mentioned eating contests and the conversation obviously turned to donuts. A one point, a couple dozen seemed to loom in our immediate future. Instead, we settled on one a piece.
I thought the clerk at the shop said there were fresh long johns in the oven (people on the east coast don't seem to know what long johns are). I almost lost it I was so excited. But then I was informed I had heard wrong.
I must have looked pretty excited over the misheard comment. Chris laughed loudly about it the whole bus ride home.
Later in the night, I crashed. I haven't been sleeping very well for a few nights and it was all building up by that point. And anytime I get into water (pools, baths, hot tubs, oceans, large puddles) I get so sleepy afterward. I haven't been able to help it since I was a child and certainly couldn't help it that night.
Luckily, I have made good friends here who wouldn't let sleep in peace without screwing with me.
They ended up covering a lot of my clothes with various messages, like "Cheese is Fantastic!" and "I'm Outstanding!"
The good part is that it didn't even wake me up. At one point, I had a Fat Jeff alarm go off, where I suddenly came to for several seconds, just long enough to say, "What the hell are you doing?" to someone who was approaching. I guess that's what it feels like to be on the other end of being screwed with while sleeping. Otherwise, I kept sleeping soundly.
Until Gia came out into the common room at 3:30 in the morning and woke me up, telling me to go to bed. Reminded me of my dad shaking me late at night when I would stay up to watch Saturday Night Live as a kid, infomercials blaring in the background. At least this time I didn't fall asleep with a pizza in the oven. That time the charred remains were just left out on the counter by one of my parents, like evidence for me to see in the morning.
In the end, I guess some things never change.
I'm in need of a quick job. If money was a lush field, I'm walking through a desert.
That's pretty much consumed the past couple of days. Not much has happened. So... more about the ocean night.
We started a hike from the beach. Wilson had horrible blisters on his feet from some crappy shoes he had bought. Even Dr. Scholls didn't help him. He said the salt water helped a lot and he was able to make the hike.
That didn't last long though.
Chris offered a piggy back ride. That didn't last long either.
The crew stopped for some Indian restaurant for dinner. We decided to order a lot of dishes and just share between everyone. A poor man's feast.
It was Chris' idea, so he is stuck with all the responsibility for the cockroaches another diner at the table next to us said she saw. I didn't catch any. Those suckers are fast, though.
The spicy food was a good follow-up to the ocean swim.
After dinner, a few people decided they wanted to make the hike back on foot. Chris and I helped Wilson limp to the bus stop. But not before stopping at a donut shop.
Chris and I had been talking about donuts for two hours at this point. He mentioned eating contests and the conversation obviously turned to donuts. A one point, a couple dozen seemed to loom in our immediate future. Instead, we settled on one a piece.
I thought the clerk at the shop said there were fresh long johns in the oven (people on the east coast don't seem to know what long johns are). I almost lost it I was so excited. But then I was informed I had heard wrong.
I must have looked pretty excited over the misheard comment. Chris laughed loudly about it the whole bus ride home.
Later in the night, I crashed. I haven't been sleeping very well for a few nights and it was all building up by that point. And anytime I get into water (pools, baths, hot tubs, oceans, large puddles) I get so sleepy afterward. I haven't been able to help it since I was a child and certainly couldn't help it that night.
Luckily, I have made good friends here who wouldn't let sleep in peace without screwing with me.
They ended up covering a lot of my clothes with various messages, like "Cheese is Fantastic!" and "I'm Outstanding!"
The good part is that it didn't even wake me up. At one point, I had a Fat Jeff alarm go off, where I suddenly came to for several seconds, just long enough to say, "What the hell are you doing?" to someone who was approaching. I guess that's what it feels like to be on the other end of being screwed with while sleeping. Otherwise, I kept sleeping soundly.
Until Gia came out into the common room at 3:30 in the morning and woke me up, telling me to go to bed. Reminded me of my dad shaking me late at night when I would stay up to watch Saturday Night Live as a kid, infomercials blaring in the background. At least this time I didn't fall asleep with a pizza in the oven. That time the charred remains were just left out on the counter by one of my parents, like evidence for me to see in the morning.
In the end, I guess some things never change.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Me vs. The Ocean
BAKER BEACH/SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Chris says to me, "I'm gonna go for a dip in the ocean. You know, just jump in for a minute."
"Let me know when you're heading out, I'm in," was my reply.
We ended up getting really hyped about the whole ordeal and did our best to peer pressure everyone possible into coming out to the beach with us.
The common reply? "It's 50 degrees out. You're crazy."
Well, yes, that's certainly debatable. But why should that stop anyone from having a good time?
Our recruiting efforts were not in vain, though. We ended up with a crew of seven. Of course, two swore they were not getting in the ocean, but it was a crew nonetheless. As always though, with more people comes further delays. We didn't get moved out until after 6pm. The sun was down and the temperature was dropping.
The bus ride was intense. We were yelled at by no fewer than two bus drivers for a variety of reasons... none of which were the fact that were the loudest people on the bus.
We finally made it to the beach. The sun was nowhere to be found, the gates were locked, and the beach was officially closed for the day. Optimal conditions.
We walked along the sand and the edge of the water for a bit, trying to find an area where it looked like the waves wouldn't kill us. Our journey took us to a small stream emptying into the ocean that may or may not have contained raw sewage. I'm choosing to go with not. Several people were a little concerned about walking through this. So much with Chris that he hitched a ride on Maxine's back.
I thought it seemed better to just wade through the shallow parts of the coast.
By this point, we were all rather cold. The wind had gotten to us. One more person, Alex, had changed his mind and was no longer getting in. I was pumped this entire time but felt a small dip in motivation level. This was time for action.
We were down to four guys (myself, Chris, Dylan, and Wilson) who were going to go through with this. We were committed.
People stripped down to boxers or swimsuits and began the approach. Wilson was the first to head in and was almost washed away with a massive wave. It would have been terrible.
But Chris made a good point: "We still have six others." True, friend. True.
Wilson seemed to be enjoying himself, despite the near death experience.
I had talked a good game until now. No backing out. It was time to get my ass in that big, beautiful ocean. I ran to find a place to deposit my things.
A string of houses sat on the bluff above us, staring down. No doubt not thrilled with the hooting and hollering drifting up the cliff side.
I made a decision, then and there, that there was really only one way to jump into the ocean in the moonlight. To dive in the same way I dove into this world.
Naked.
A primal yell came forth and I sprinted into the sea. And it was cold.
And I felt alive.
"Let me know when you're heading out, I'm in," was my reply.
We ended up getting really hyped about the whole ordeal and did our best to peer pressure everyone possible into coming out to the beach with us.
The common reply? "It's 50 degrees out. You're crazy."
Well, yes, that's certainly debatable. But why should that stop anyone from having a good time?
Our recruiting efforts were not in vain, though. We ended up with a crew of seven. Of course, two swore they were not getting in the ocean, but it was a crew nonetheless. As always though, with more people comes further delays. We didn't get moved out until after 6pm. The sun was down and the temperature was dropping.
The bus ride was intense. We were yelled at by no fewer than two bus drivers for a variety of reasons... none of which were the fact that were the loudest people on the bus.
We finally made it to the beach. The sun was nowhere to be found, the gates were locked, and the beach was officially closed for the day. Optimal conditions.
We walked along the sand and the edge of the water for a bit, trying to find an area where it looked like the waves wouldn't kill us. Our journey took us to a small stream emptying into the ocean that may or may not have contained raw sewage. I'm choosing to go with not. Several people were a little concerned about walking through this. So much with Chris that he hitched a ride on Maxine's back.
I thought it seemed better to just wade through the shallow parts of the coast.
By this point, we were all rather cold. The wind had gotten to us. One more person, Alex, had changed his mind and was no longer getting in. I was pumped this entire time but felt a small dip in motivation level. This was time for action.
We were down to four guys (myself, Chris, Dylan, and Wilson) who were going to go through with this. We were committed.
People stripped down to boxers or swimsuits and began the approach. Wilson was the first to head in and was almost washed away with a massive wave. It would have been terrible.
But Chris made a good point: "We still have six others." True, friend. True.
Wilson seemed to be enjoying himself, despite the near death experience.
I had talked a good game until now. No backing out. It was time to get my ass in that big, beautiful ocean. I ran to find a place to deposit my things.
A string of houses sat on the bluff above us, staring down. No doubt not thrilled with the hooting and hollering drifting up the cliff side.
I made a decision, then and there, that there was really only one way to jump into the ocean in the moonlight. To dive in the same way I dove into this world.
Naked.
A primal yell came forth and I sprinted into the sea. And it was cold.
And I felt alive.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
For Tom
Here's a clearer picture of what I was trying to video at night, Tom.
Ninja, I'm sure you'll enjoy it as well.
Frankly, I think it's dumb, but I love you guys, so...
Ninja, I'm sure you'll enjoy it as well.
Frankly, I think it's dumb, but I love you guys, so...
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The Best Torta I've Ever Tasted
DIXON/SACRAMENTO, CA - I took a short road trip with Chris and Holly yesterday. The plan was to run out to Sacramento to Holly's storage unit there to see if her printer was locked up.
First things first, I had to run out to the bank for Dave to get some change.
Maybe I shouldn't be so openly hanging out with dead prez in the homeless capital of the U.S.
We left later than usual and got back much later than planned. It was great.
Chris spent a large part of the trip hanging his head out the window. He looked like such a happy dog.
I got to be DJ for the trip and really enjoyed sharing my music. The first part of the trip was all about hip hop. We spent this leg listening to Busdriver, Illogic, Fatlip, MC Lars, and Non-Prophets. I was feeling it. But the whole vibe changed once we hit Dixon.
Chris asked to stop so he could hit a bathroom and stretch his legs. We waited a couple exits and then hopped off, headed for a little gas station on the side of the road in Dixon. It looked like any other little town.
There was farmland all around and things were fairly flat here. Felt like being back in Illinois. The people were all so friendly. Chris started up conversation with the clerk at the gas station and she just chatted us up (and directed me toward a wonderful bag of salt and pepper kettle cooked chips). She gave us a history of the town and described the farming. Apparently a lot of California's alfalfa and asparagus is grown here.
We asked for a good place to eat and were directed to Bud's. It was just down the road. We stopped the car out front and strolled in. Unfortunately, the vibe and prices were just a bit much for us, so we went back out to what appeared to be the main Dixon drag to find other sources of nourishment.
A lot of places were closed or not serving food between the hours of 2 and 5. Holly was feeling cheap Chinese but I was open to anything. I was actually kind of hungry for some Mexican. We ended up walking past a small Mexican joint and almost kept cruising by, but I noticed the sign said "Open". It was dark inside but we grabbed the door. Sure enough, Taqueria Adelina was open for business.
While ordering at the counter, I was debating just what to get. I was planning on just having a snack. Had we been anywhere else, I would have grabbed an appetizer. But then I saw tortas on the menu. More food than I intended to eat but I haven't had one in such a long time. So I ordered one.
We waited patiently at our table. Then the food arrived. It looked great. This little establishment was deceiving. Good things come in small packages.
I dug right in... and was amazed. It was delicious. Carne asada, cheese, avocado, yellow tomato, onions, jalapeños, and sour cream. The bread was so fresh. the flavors came together just right. I had never had a torta so good. Usually, the bread and meat are kind of dry and light on toppings. Not at Taqueria Adelina though. And a nice cold bottle of Sidral Mundet was complementing the meal nicely.
Chris went to speak with Adelina herself. He felt it was necessary for me to get a picture with her, seeing as I was loving this sandwich so much. I couldn't stop talking about it while eating. She was hesitant at first but then decided it was cool. They wanted to get the blog address though so they could check it out later.
I had to have another. The thought of leaving and not enjoying this sandwich again was too much to handle. I'd like to think my deep love for this sandwich was inspiring for others. Both Chris and Holly ordered one as well this time around.
Let me tell you... just as good the second time around.
If you are ever in Dixon, CA, please, please, please stop at Taqueria Adelina and enjoy a fantastic meal. I'm asking nicely.
The rest of the trip was great as well. We finished the rest of the drive, feeling wonderfully full with delicious food. The storage unit was small and, perhaps in a food induced delirium, the decision was made to move everything out. With an empty car, this would have been no problem. But we had two extra people along.
And we both brought bags for some damn reason.
I wish people could apply for engineering jobs by showing videos of guerrilla moves rather than submitting resumes. I'd have a job in no time. Chris too. He was great. A real trooper. A true believer. I had my doubts at one point... Holly had a keyboard that proved to be a formidable foe. It had a massive case with it that didn't fold down well.
Chris made the sacrifice and decided he would sit in the back. I tried to convince him otherwise, but he insisted. He made himself a little pocket to sit in and settled down for a ride.
I did make a little friend during the move.
Lots of mellow music for the ride home. At one point, Holly was falling asleep, so we turned off the tunes and started talking about religion and social work. I thought Chris was asleep at this point, but I think he was just a little annoyed that the music was off and he was suffering in silence. We finally neared home, crossing the Bay Bridge, and Chris piped in that he was glad to see the bridge. We were back home within ten minutes and the adventure was over. Holly wouldn't accept any help in unloading, even after I offered several times.
The original plan was to make it an early night. I thought I would go to bed while the night was young.
Instead, the offer to watch The Big Lebowski came up and I ended up staying awake until after 1am. But... I was the second to last person to go to bed! For the third time ever in the hostel! A big day.
First things first, I had to run out to the bank for Dave to get some change.
Maybe I shouldn't be so openly hanging out with dead prez in the homeless capital of the U.S.
We left later than usual and got back much later than planned. It was great.
Chris spent a large part of the trip hanging his head out the window. He looked like such a happy dog.
I got to be DJ for the trip and really enjoyed sharing my music. The first part of the trip was all about hip hop. We spent this leg listening to Busdriver, Illogic, Fatlip, MC Lars, and Non-Prophets. I was feeling it. But the whole vibe changed once we hit Dixon.
Chris asked to stop so he could hit a bathroom and stretch his legs. We waited a couple exits and then hopped off, headed for a little gas station on the side of the road in Dixon. It looked like any other little town.
There was farmland all around and things were fairly flat here. Felt like being back in Illinois. The people were all so friendly. Chris started up conversation with the clerk at the gas station and she just chatted us up (and directed me toward a wonderful bag of salt and pepper kettle cooked chips). She gave us a history of the town and described the farming. Apparently a lot of California's alfalfa and asparagus is grown here.
We asked for a good place to eat and were directed to Bud's. It was just down the road. We stopped the car out front and strolled in. Unfortunately, the vibe and prices were just a bit much for us, so we went back out to what appeared to be the main Dixon drag to find other sources of nourishment.
A lot of places were closed or not serving food between the hours of 2 and 5. Holly was feeling cheap Chinese but I was open to anything. I was actually kind of hungry for some Mexican. We ended up walking past a small Mexican joint and almost kept cruising by, but I noticed the sign said "Open". It was dark inside but we grabbed the door. Sure enough, Taqueria Adelina was open for business.
While ordering at the counter, I was debating just what to get. I was planning on just having a snack. Had we been anywhere else, I would have grabbed an appetizer. But then I saw tortas on the menu. More food than I intended to eat but I haven't had one in such a long time. So I ordered one.
We waited patiently at our table. Then the food arrived. It looked great. This little establishment was deceiving. Good things come in small packages.
I dug right in... and was amazed. It was delicious. Carne asada, cheese, avocado, yellow tomato, onions, jalapeños, and sour cream. The bread was so fresh. the flavors came together just right. I had never had a torta so good. Usually, the bread and meat are kind of dry and light on toppings. Not at Taqueria Adelina though. And a nice cold bottle of Sidral Mundet was complementing the meal nicely.
Chris went to speak with Adelina herself. He felt it was necessary for me to get a picture with her, seeing as I was loving this sandwich so much. I couldn't stop talking about it while eating. She was hesitant at first but then decided it was cool. They wanted to get the blog address though so they could check it out later.
I had to have another. The thought of leaving and not enjoying this sandwich again was too much to handle. I'd like to think my deep love for this sandwich was inspiring for others. Both Chris and Holly ordered one as well this time around.
Let me tell you... just as good the second time around.
If you are ever in Dixon, CA, please, please, please stop at Taqueria Adelina and enjoy a fantastic meal. I'm asking nicely.
The rest of the trip was great as well. We finished the rest of the drive, feeling wonderfully full with delicious food. The storage unit was small and, perhaps in a food induced delirium, the decision was made to move everything out. With an empty car, this would have been no problem. But we had two extra people along.
And we both brought bags for some damn reason.
I wish people could apply for engineering jobs by showing videos of guerrilla moves rather than submitting resumes. I'd have a job in no time. Chris too. He was great. A real trooper. A true believer. I had my doubts at one point... Holly had a keyboard that proved to be a formidable foe. It had a massive case with it that didn't fold down well.
Chris made the sacrifice and decided he would sit in the back. I tried to convince him otherwise, but he insisted. He made himself a little pocket to sit in and settled down for a ride.
I did make a little friend during the move.
Lots of mellow music for the ride home. At one point, Holly was falling asleep, so we turned off the tunes and started talking about religion and social work. I thought Chris was asleep at this point, but I think he was just a little annoyed that the music was off and he was suffering in silence. We finally neared home, crossing the Bay Bridge, and Chris piped in that he was glad to see the bridge. We were back home within ten minutes and the adventure was over. Holly wouldn't accept any help in unloading, even after I offered several times.
The original plan was to make it an early night. I thought I would go to bed while the night was young.
Instead, the offer to watch The Big Lebowski came up and I ended up staying awake until after 1am. But... I was the second to last person to go to bed! For the third time ever in the hostel! A big day.
No Parking
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - I've been pretty busy these last few days. I am now working at the hostel and end up spending a couple hours a day doing housekeeping to get my bed for free, so my day is definitely shortened. I don't really get out of the hostel until the afternoon anymore. And I'm still in the habit of being the last person awake in this place night after night.
Today was no different. Up really late last night after almost no sleep the night before. You see, here in San Fran, parking is one of the most valuable commodities in the city. I park in the "Secret Spots" on the other side of the city. It's an easy bus ride, it just takes a little time. These are some of the few spots in the city you don't have to pay an exorbitant fee for. The only catch is that the streets get cleaned once a week, so your car has to be moved every couple days, depending on what street you are parked on and when the street cleaning day is. My street cleaning time was Monday morning at 6am. Unfortunately, I didn't remember this until sometime after midnight on Sunday as a group of us were walking out of No Country For Old Men. The buses had stopped running. No city for forgetful young punks.
So, here's the plan. Go to bed right away (I still ended up being the last one awake despite this careful plan). Set my alarm. Get up at 5am and catch the first bus at 5:21. Make it to my car with 8 minutes to spare and get it moved.
Check.
It all went smoothly (despite my urge to say, "Screw it," and not get out of bed) and I was sitting in my car. At this point, I decided to crash in some 2 hour parking and take a nap then cruise back to my old spot and leave my car parked for another week. This seemed better than moving to a Wednesday spot and having to trek to the other side of the city in a couple days. I did just this. No problem. I'll be up at 8am when the No Parking ends and grab one of the many spots. I napped fitfully for an hour and decided to just go park. It was 7:30a.
Except I can't. Because every damn spot is already taken. Savages! Scavengers everywhere! An entire street, several blocks long, completely filled. Now what? I drove around for a long time after this and found nothing. Every secret spot was filled. This plan has gone horribly awry. And I need to be back by 10:30 to start housecleaning.
Closing in on 9am (I've been driving around these blocks for quite a while by this point) I find an empty block. The cleaning time is from 8am to 10am here. I grab a sliver of concrete on the opposite side of the street and park. The prayers begin. First, I hope that my car doesn't start sliding down the hill. I'm on quite an incline and I still have no emergency brake. Yes, I'm in San Francisco and I know that's a terrible idea. I tell myself this very thing every day. Second, I hope no one needs to get out of these two driveways I'm mostly blocking with both my bumpers.
This street cleaner needs to hurry up.
While I wait, I see other people pulling up on my side of the street and sitting. They can't all be doing the same thing I'm doing, can they?
Sure enough, around 9:30 the street cleaner cruises past and a massive wave of cars pull quick U-turns to the other side of the street. It was quite a sight. I got my spot, no worries, but I have become very concerned with the parking situation here. Dave urged me to ditch the car and get a motorcycle. It's starting to sound appealing.
Anyway, I got back much later than I intended. It turned into a 5 hour ordeal. Craziness. The rest of the day was all over the place. Definitely didn't go according to plans. I ended up cooking dinner for the hostel. Monterey Chicken. It was a big hit. That felt good.
On the way back from the store for supplies, I grabbed this for you, Tom. The pictures weren't turning out, so here's a short clip.
Late that night I snapped this picture. I'm guessing the guy didn't park his bike looking that way.
Today was no different. Up really late last night after almost no sleep the night before. You see, here in San Fran, parking is one of the most valuable commodities in the city. I park in the "Secret Spots" on the other side of the city. It's an easy bus ride, it just takes a little time. These are some of the few spots in the city you don't have to pay an exorbitant fee for. The only catch is that the streets get cleaned once a week, so your car has to be moved every couple days, depending on what street you are parked on and when the street cleaning day is. My street cleaning time was Monday morning at 6am. Unfortunately, I didn't remember this until sometime after midnight on Sunday as a group of us were walking out of No Country For Old Men. The buses had stopped running. No city for forgetful young punks.
So, here's the plan. Go to bed right away (I still ended up being the last one awake despite this careful plan). Set my alarm. Get up at 5am and catch the first bus at 5:21. Make it to my car with 8 minutes to spare and get it moved.
Check.
It all went smoothly (despite my urge to say, "Screw it," and not get out of bed) and I was sitting in my car. At this point, I decided to crash in some 2 hour parking and take a nap then cruise back to my old spot and leave my car parked for another week. This seemed better than moving to a Wednesday spot and having to trek to the other side of the city in a couple days. I did just this. No problem. I'll be up at 8am when the No Parking ends and grab one of the many spots. I napped fitfully for an hour and decided to just go park. It was 7:30a.
Except I can't. Because every damn spot is already taken. Savages! Scavengers everywhere! An entire street, several blocks long, completely filled. Now what? I drove around for a long time after this and found nothing. Every secret spot was filled. This plan has gone horribly awry. And I need to be back by 10:30 to start housecleaning.
Closing in on 9am (I've been driving around these blocks for quite a while by this point) I find an empty block. The cleaning time is from 8am to 10am here. I grab a sliver of concrete on the opposite side of the street and park. The prayers begin. First, I hope that my car doesn't start sliding down the hill. I'm on quite an incline and I still have no emergency brake. Yes, I'm in San Francisco and I know that's a terrible idea. I tell myself this very thing every day. Second, I hope no one needs to get out of these two driveways I'm mostly blocking with both my bumpers.
This street cleaner needs to hurry up.
While I wait, I see other people pulling up on my side of the street and sitting. They can't all be doing the same thing I'm doing, can they?
Sure enough, around 9:30 the street cleaner cruises past and a massive wave of cars pull quick U-turns to the other side of the street. It was quite a sight. I got my spot, no worries, but I have become very concerned with the parking situation here. Dave urged me to ditch the car and get a motorcycle. It's starting to sound appealing.
Anyway, I got back much later than I intended. It turned into a 5 hour ordeal. Craziness. The rest of the day was all over the place. Definitely didn't go according to plans. I ended up cooking dinner for the hostel. Monterey Chicken. It was a big hit. That felt good.
On the way back from the store for supplies, I grabbed this for you, Tom. The pictures weren't turning out, so here's a short clip.
Late that night I snapped this picture. I'm guessing the guy didn't park his bike looking that way.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
SF Muni
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - I love the San Francisco bus system, the Muni. It's so easy to use and I've learned it well.
They have a couple of different ads for the Muni that sit above the seats. So far I've only seen two.
The first is about a passenger that started having a seizure on the bus and a fellow passenger, a young man, went running off the bus to the nearest hospital and brought an ambulance back for the seizure victim. The bus driver said she still stays in touch with that young man and he has now graduated college.
Heartwarming.
Here's the only other ad I've seen.
In case you can't read it clearly, here's a transcript:
One time I picked up a man who seemed kind of strange. This was early, like 4am. He rang the bell like he wanted to get off, but he wouldn't get off. So we go to the next stop and he does it again. Then he says, "Close the door!" I said, "I have to let the people get on." Then he starts shouting, "Go! Go!" I said, "No! It's a red light." The he puts his foot on the gas pedal! And I'm like - Oh My God! I'm fighting with him trying to kick his foot off. Another passenger comes running to the front and he was able to put him off the bus. It was something - going through red lights - we were lucky it was early in the morning.
There are two ads on the entire bus system advertising the Muni, and this is one of the stories they decide to share to generate business.
I love this goddamn crazy city.
They have a couple of different ads for the Muni that sit above the seats. So far I've only seen two.
The first is about a passenger that started having a seizure on the bus and a fellow passenger, a young man, went running off the bus to the nearest hospital and brought an ambulance back for the seizure victim. The bus driver said she still stays in touch with that young man and he has now graduated college.
Heartwarming.
Here's the only other ad I've seen.
In case you can't read it clearly, here's a transcript:
One time I picked up a man who seemed kind of strange. This was early, like 4am. He rang the bell like he wanted to get off, but he wouldn't get off. So we go to the next stop and he does it again. Then he says, "Close the door!" I said, "I have to let the people get on." Then he starts shouting, "Go! Go!" I said, "No! It's a red light." The he puts his foot on the gas pedal! And I'm like - Oh My God! I'm fighting with him trying to kick his foot off. Another passenger comes running to the front and he was able to put him off the bus. It was something - going through red lights - we were lucky it was early in the morning.
There are two ads on the entire bus system advertising the Muni, and this is one of the stories they decide to share to generate business.
I love this goddamn crazy city.
A Twenty Had Me Icy Like Leasing In The Arctic
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - I found a twenty dollar bill on the ground last night.
Life is good.
By the end of the night, I was knee deep in cheese fries. And so was Cheesy McManus.
On the way home, a couple of us were lucky enough to spend a half hour hanging out with Tyrone. He sang a little, preached some gospel, and didn't kill me when I stole the show several times. Thanks Tyrone.
"I rest my case, Your Honor."
Life is good.
By the end of the night, I was knee deep in cheese fries. And so was Cheesy McManus.
On the way home, a couple of us were lucky enough to spend a half hour hanging out with Tyrone. He sang a little, preached some gospel, and didn't kill me when I stole the show several times. Thanks Tyrone.
"I rest my case, Your Honor."
To Nick, From Wes
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - As Thanksgiving dinner was ending, I was invited to go see The Darjeeling Limited. I've been waiting to see this movie for, well, a damn long time. It came out just as I started my trip and I haven't stopped to see it by myself and haven't found anyone that wanted to see it who hadn't gone already.
Wes Anderson movies make me hurt when I see them. They hit me hard. I know they're not for everyone, but if someone connects with them, they tend to really connect. I think they're amazing. Haven't disliked one yet.
Films about anxiety and loss and separation and glory long gone and nostalgia and failure and dysfunction and... and... the soundtracks... they're so perfect.
The things people say are so dead on in this film. At one point, as a girl is parting ways with Jason Schwartzman, she asks, "What's wrong with you?" He pauses for a moment and says, "I honestly don't know. I'll tell you the next time I see you."
Feel like I've had to say the same too many times before.
The movie was hilarious and absurd and heartbreakingly sad.
Do you ever feel like a film or song is speaking directly to you? Like it was written with your particular thoughts or feelings in mind?
He should name his next film "To Nick, From Wes."
Wes Anderson movies make me hurt when I see them. They hit me hard. I know they're not for everyone, but if someone connects with them, they tend to really connect. I think they're amazing. Haven't disliked one yet.
Films about anxiety and loss and separation and glory long gone and nostalgia and failure and dysfunction and... and... the soundtracks... they're so perfect.
The things people say are so dead on in this film. At one point, as a girl is parting ways with Jason Schwartzman, she asks, "What's wrong with you?" He pauses for a moment and says, "I honestly don't know. I'll tell you the next time I see you."
Feel like I've had to say the same too many times before.
The movie was hilarious and absurd and heartbreakingly sad.
Do you ever feel like a film or song is speaking directly to you? Like it was written with your particular thoughts or feelings in mind?
He should name his next film "To Nick, From Wes."
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Two Turkeys, Broccoli Casserole, And A Lot Of Hostelites
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - It's Thanksgiving Day. I wake up relatively early and head out into the common area. Chris is up and ready to go. He's at the front desk but adamant about making crepes. It's going to happen today.
Quetzal is the resident crepe-maker (I looked for the word for "one who makes crepes", but there doesn't seem to be one). Unfortunately, she hasn't made any since I showed back up. So, Chris is on a mission.
Somehow, I get suckered into attempting the first batch. Not good.
I couldn't get the heat right. They kept getting dark on one side while soggy on the other. And don't even let me get into trying to flip one of those things. Terrible.
My best attempt comes out looking like scrambled eggs and hash browns all in one gooey mess. But, I'm hungry, so I throw some syrup on it anyway and chow down. Not bad even if it was a horror to look at.
Chris and I head out to the only little shop open that was selling milk in Chinatown. He needs more to make a new batch of batter (we screwed up all the batter that was prepared the day before). After that, I head out to grab some necessary supplies for the day of cooking ahead.
I manage to catch a ride with this guy Lincoln who was staying at the hostel. Or so I was led to believe.
After getting back, he decided to stay downstairs. Shortly thereafter, some of the staff were trying to figure out what bed he and his friend were staying in. For some reason, they had been switching beds every night. Turns out, he hasn't paid for a bed in a few nights. Neither one of them. They kept their keys and never checked out. This was overlooked. But not anymore. Dave was pissed and banned them for life. Oh well, thanks for the ride, pal.
When I get back, I find out Chris has become a master, uh, crepe-maker while I've been gone. He's pumped and flipping them like a pro.
This ends up being a long process. The crepes are being kept in the toaster oven on low until they are all finished. Through this all, others are making potatoes and other dishes. I'm working on the World Famous Broccoli Casserole, dicing Velveeta and choppin' broccoli. Chris is taking small breaks to deal with hostel issues because he's on duty through this all.
We finally sit down for a crepe feast and it's worth the wait. Hell, I don't even know the last time I've had a crepe (not counting my disaster earlier in the morning).
It's great. Now, after an early afternoon feast (this all took a lot of time), everyone has gone into a crepe frenzy.
I end up spending the rest of the afternoon working on the blog. It takes forever and I get really frustrated with Photobucket.
Later in the afternoon the cooking really gets going. People are crammed into the tiny kitchen, trying to prepare dishes with the minimal space and supplies available. I finish putting the broccoli casserole together at the front desk.
We also have a problem with the cooking situation.
We have no oven.
There is a small toaster over though and this is being utilized in some pretty creative ways. the two turkeys we have are being cooked at a house on the other side of the city.
I'm not sure when the turkeys are going to be back, so I'm holding out on cooking the casserole. I want it to be piping hot when dinner is served.
After waiting for a long time (patiently, of course), I decide that others are done cooking pies. Pies are for dessert. Casserole is for dinner. Pies are out. I'm in.
The toaster over takes considerably longer than expected to cook. This is about the point where we realize we have five forks in the entire hostel. Yes. Five. It's already a problem on typical days.
This is Thanksgiving. There are 25-plus hungry hostelites. Time to avert a crisis.
I head out with Chris, Quetzal, and British Chris. We hit Chinatown in search of utensils. We have several requests at the hostel for chopsticks. This is going to be an interesting meal. Good thing we're in Chinatown. We're not sure where we're going to find a shop to buy a bunch of plastic utensils this late on Thanksgiving.
British Chris tells us to hold on for a second and he darts into a restaurant. A couple minutes later, he emerges with a plastic back chock full of chopsticks and plastic forks. He tells us it took some convincing, but he was able to get the whole bag for free.
We're winners.
Back at the hostel, I pull out one casserole dish and throw another into the toaster over. I have to contort the disposable pan a little to make it fit, but it does.
We're doing a lot of snacking in anticipation of the feast. While at the store earlier, I picked up some cheese balls and these seemed to be a hit. All the crackers were gone by now though. Things are getting desperate.
I get on the phone and start making holiday phone calls to ignore the hunger pangs. I'm way behind on calls because I've been busy all day. I'm trying to call back the text messengers first so people don't end up upset. The family. I have 40 people on my list of "to calls." Things aren't looking good to get around to everyone.
I enjoy the phone calls. Some people I haven't talked to since I started this trip. It's nice to catch up.
But then the turkeys arrive.
You know what happens with pets when it's dinner time and you crack open a can or open a bag of pet food? When they all come running and herd around you? They won't let you move and get to a place where you can actually feed them. Now pictures this with a room full of alleged adults and two turkeys.
Everyone forms a line and plates are being passed out. Staff goes first of course and I get to dig in fairly early. I can't get a shot of the beautiful casserole before spoonfuls are carved out. The feast begins.
Everyone digs in. Good food. Good people. Good conversation. Lots of seconds.
And the Broccoli Casserole was a hit.
Happy Leftover Days Everyone!
Quetzal is the resident crepe-maker (I looked for the word for "one who makes crepes", but there doesn't seem to be one). Unfortunately, she hasn't made any since I showed back up. So, Chris is on a mission.
Somehow, I get suckered into attempting the first batch. Not good.
I couldn't get the heat right. They kept getting dark on one side while soggy on the other. And don't even let me get into trying to flip one of those things. Terrible.
My best attempt comes out looking like scrambled eggs and hash browns all in one gooey mess. But, I'm hungry, so I throw some syrup on it anyway and chow down. Not bad even if it was a horror to look at.
Chris and I head out to the only little shop open that was selling milk in Chinatown. He needs more to make a new batch of batter (we screwed up all the batter that was prepared the day before). After that, I head out to grab some necessary supplies for the day of cooking ahead.
I manage to catch a ride with this guy Lincoln who was staying at the hostel. Or so I was led to believe.
After getting back, he decided to stay downstairs. Shortly thereafter, some of the staff were trying to figure out what bed he and his friend were staying in. For some reason, they had been switching beds every night. Turns out, he hasn't paid for a bed in a few nights. Neither one of them. They kept their keys and never checked out. This was overlooked. But not anymore. Dave was pissed and banned them for life. Oh well, thanks for the ride, pal.
When I get back, I find out Chris has become a master, uh, crepe-maker while I've been gone. He's pumped and flipping them like a pro.
This ends up being a long process. The crepes are being kept in the toaster oven on low until they are all finished. Through this all, others are making potatoes and other dishes. I'm working on the World Famous Broccoli Casserole, dicing Velveeta and choppin' broccoli. Chris is taking small breaks to deal with hostel issues because he's on duty through this all.
We finally sit down for a crepe feast and it's worth the wait. Hell, I don't even know the last time I've had a crepe (not counting my disaster earlier in the morning).
It's great. Now, after an early afternoon feast (this all took a lot of time), everyone has gone into a crepe frenzy.
I end up spending the rest of the afternoon working on the blog. It takes forever and I get really frustrated with Photobucket.
Later in the afternoon the cooking really gets going. People are crammed into the tiny kitchen, trying to prepare dishes with the minimal space and supplies available. I finish putting the broccoli casserole together at the front desk.
We also have a problem with the cooking situation.
We have no oven.
There is a small toaster over though and this is being utilized in some pretty creative ways. the two turkeys we have are being cooked at a house on the other side of the city.
I'm not sure when the turkeys are going to be back, so I'm holding out on cooking the casserole. I want it to be piping hot when dinner is served.
After waiting for a long time (patiently, of course), I decide that others are done cooking pies. Pies are for dessert. Casserole is for dinner. Pies are out. I'm in.
The toaster over takes considerably longer than expected to cook. This is about the point where we realize we have five forks in the entire hostel. Yes. Five. It's already a problem on typical days.
This is Thanksgiving. There are 25-plus hungry hostelites. Time to avert a crisis.
I head out with Chris, Quetzal, and British Chris. We hit Chinatown in search of utensils. We have several requests at the hostel for chopsticks. This is going to be an interesting meal. Good thing we're in Chinatown. We're not sure where we're going to find a shop to buy a bunch of plastic utensils this late on Thanksgiving.
British Chris tells us to hold on for a second and he darts into a restaurant. A couple minutes later, he emerges with a plastic back chock full of chopsticks and plastic forks. He tells us it took some convincing, but he was able to get the whole bag for free.
We're winners.
Back at the hostel, I pull out one casserole dish and throw another into the toaster over. I have to contort the disposable pan a little to make it fit, but it does.
We're doing a lot of snacking in anticipation of the feast. While at the store earlier, I picked up some cheese balls and these seemed to be a hit. All the crackers were gone by now though. Things are getting desperate.
I get on the phone and start making holiday phone calls to ignore the hunger pangs. I'm way behind on calls because I've been busy all day. I'm trying to call back the text messengers first so people don't end up upset. The family. I have 40 people on my list of "to calls." Things aren't looking good to get around to everyone.
I enjoy the phone calls. Some people I haven't talked to since I started this trip. It's nice to catch up.
But then the turkeys arrive.
You know what happens with pets when it's dinner time and you crack open a can or open a bag of pet food? When they all come running and herd around you? They won't let you move and get to a place where you can actually feed them. Now pictures this with a room full of alleged adults and two turkeys.
Everyone forms a line and plates are being passed out. Staff goes first of course and I get to dig in fairly early. I can't get a shot of the beautiful casserole before spoonfuls are carved out. The feast begins.
Everyone digs in. Good food. Good people. Good conversation. Lots of seconds.
And the Broccoli Casserole was a hit.
Happy Leftover Days Everyone!
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