is this too senitmental?

The original title of this post was '101 reasons why I love the sf' The post said, 'Death Cab concerts overlooking the bay, the bridge, and the sunset
That's just one reason, but I feel like its enough.' Although true, that's not the whole thing, or even what I really waned to post. It was more of a place holder while I found more time to really express what exactly I was thinking and feeling as I watched them in concert.

Death Cab and I have had a long relationship. It began with the songs Sound of Settling, Title and Registration, New Year, and Tiny Vessels. With lyrics like this how could one not fall in love with their exact and emotion storytelling that somehow seems to click with everything you are thinking and feeling:

"wanted to believe in all the words that I was speaking
as we moved together in the dark
and all the friends that I was telling
and all the playful misspellings
and every bite I gave you left a mark"

I spent the spring of my sophomore year of college studying in Florence, Italy. It was less studying and more exploring the bigger picture. The many hours I wasn't in class Death Cab was blaring through my headphones as I explored Europe. I appreciate their newer cd's, and how much their sound has changed just as I have since I first heard their original stuff.

We got to the show a little late. Well a lot late. We missed the opener (big deal, not really). We did find an awesome parking spot. Thanks to the skills of the mini, and it's driver. The theater was packed. We found a spot up at the very top, laid down the blanket and proceeded to stand during the entire show. I am actually really thankful there was only standing room left. It meant we didn't have to push elbows with tall fourteen year old boys blocking our views. And as a bonus, it was easy to reach the keg tents.

Standing barefoot, arms around my friends, dancing like no one's business I couldn't be happier. I couldn't be more thankful for the people that surround me. I couldn't be happier with the view of the bay and the city. I couldn't be more surprised as to where my life has taken me. The show was a great reminder of my past. Of how amazing my life was when I would play 'New Year' over and over and over again. It was also such a perfect reminder to never stop moving - forward.

taking a moment

Can I please tell you about the weeks ive had. It began last friday with an awesome bday party. Somehow between the dark liquor spilled on my new shirt, and getting turned down by a hot girl from Portland I lost my phone. In my so far from sober state i crafted an enormously annoying email asking my friends if they knew where it was. Luckily I get a call the next morning on my friends phone that my other buddy (the one who gave me a ride, duh) found my phone in her car. The week continued with a call from my sister saying she actually is canceling our at&t service, and I didn't really have a choice. Ok, fine. But, always making things difficult, if we are changing service I want email on my phone. Skipping ahead 5 days later I hate my phone, it doesn't have email, ive lost my wallet - twice, i know my passport is the next to go, wells fargo ran out of temporary debit cards, and no one takes checks anymore.

On the bright side, its almost wed, which means its almost thur, which means its almost friday. After much discussing, and not so much deliberation ive decided to bypass the iphone and go for the cheaper route of the blackberry pearl. Hope it comes soon.

"so, when people say the mission"

My friend used to live in Marin. Dumb ass? Yes, I know, thats what I was thinking. Anyways, she finally got her brain in check and moved into the city. In only one of the best places as well. She's in Noe Valley. Id like to think shes in the mish mish because she lives on my same street. 24th holla! But she is a minor step up (biatch. yeah i said it). Only, and only because she doesn't get the loud crack heads yelling at 5am on Sunday mornings. Instead she get's babies, and dogs, and strollers, and the J, and a longer walk to BART.

Well the little missy with the more "adultish" apartemento (which is above a Starbucks. Its no homelessman from Muddys, but whatever) also wounded up with a hermit of a roommate. Hermit is an understatement. Shes more of a turtle that hasn't popped her head out of her shell in more than 3 years. Is that considered a hermit? Anyhoo, my friend began describing her roommate over a pile of cough drops and breaded deep friend ravioli. Yeah. You read me right. We both had difficulty deciding whether we liked the cheese or beef filled ones better. The conversation could really only happen in a place like this. Haystack Pizza in Noe. Wow. Did we suddenly get transported Nebraska? For some reason I feel like the Ricolla's were perfectly at home within the green fields and mountain goats. Sitting next to us was a comedians dream. That is if the comedian doesn't give a rats ass about political correctness. That's as much as I'm going to say about that.

Some of the highlights of this conversation include:
"Out of the 12 work days I have lived there, she has taken 4 days off of work."
"She doesn't have any friends in the city."
- come on, thats a little harsh. how do you know?
"She told me."
"On our way to IKEA she said she used to yell a lot. I asked her if she is angry now. She said no. She learned how to control it. I asked her how. She said she lost all her friends."
"She goes straight from work, to the tv, and back to work. She likes to watch ghost whisperers."
"I told her I was hanging out at Dolores park. She said she heard that place was nice."
"She was having some friends over and said that there wasn't much to do here (she meant noe) so I asked, When people say The Mission, what exactly do they mean?"
- WHAT?!
"Yeah, you heard me. So I told her where it was, and that it might be a fun walk. Well she turned left instead of right. Bad mistake."

This dinner was probably one of the best I have had in awhile. And it has nothing to do with the homeless man we gave a dollar because he laughed at our patheticness. Is that all it takes to make a buck these days? We're suckers.

cartoons i find amusing

recent events

The other day my friend Matt brought me to the Giant's game. It was a good surprise because they were actually playing the A's in the 'battle of the bay' game. The Giants lost of course, but whatever I didn't really mind. The seats were amazing. The stadium is beautiful. And the game actually had some interesting moments. Also, since one of my very first t-ball teams was the A's I feel like I have this weird connection to them.

I took the T from Civic Center. On the crowded train I heard one girl say to another, "Ya know when you do so much coke, your nose just wont stop bleeding?" I wanted to be their mother and give them a slap on the wrist. I mean really? I don't want to hear that and neither does anyone else.

It was nice to be back at the Wild Side. A fireplace, 50cent pool, and a garden patio. What more could you want?! This weekend was also filled with dancing. So much dancing I think my pants are still drenched from the sweat.

I know I have more I want to report, but I really can't remember right now. My head is throbbing from being sick and my throat feels like I have staples shoved down it.

off for now-

saturday continued...

Hello, one bathroom, and 12 girls... everyone looked absolutely fabulous. After dinner at Sur we made our way to the Republic. Dancing. Dancing. and more Dancing. Sure, no one else was dancing, but we were all ok with that.

This is the moment where I pause, in awe over what I am about to write. It's not really an awe moment, more than a WTF just happened? kind of moment. Part of the reason this whole thing was so amazing was because it was completely unexpected, and because the night would have been incredible anyway, that this was just the topper.

It's loud, and dark, and relatively crowded. We are dancing and drinking and talking when all of a sudden I hear someone say something about "Donna Dimbo, Donna Dembo, or whatever and her lover Cindy is here". I get a bit curious, don't see anything so continue dancing. Then I hear something about Clea Duvall. My ears perked up. Clea. Clea Duvall. What? Where? I look around a bit, and still don't see anything. So I just keep dancing. A few minutes later I look over at a booth and low and behold there in fact is Dawn Dembo. She's chillin in a booth macking on what looks like her lover Cindy. But no. It's Jackie Warner from the Bravo workout show. They are cuddling, and whispering, and texting, and taking up and entire booth to themselves (those bitches!). They soon get up, walk past us and order drinks at the bar. Yeah, right? It's Saturday night and we see some celebrities. Woo hoo. Well, before I know it I turn around and there is Clea Duvall walking right past me to go get some drinks. At this point I'm thinking, ok, I'm officially in LA (ok, maybe offically in West Hollywood). The night is about to end, the place is clearing out, (I'm not really sure what's going on or what all the commotion is about) and I go up to ask my friend something. I look to my left and goddamnit, there's Kate Moenning from The L Word. Well Jesus, what?! Right next to her is Rose Rollins who plays Tasha on the show. Who seriously, has a really nice back.

At this point I'm pretty much confused, and a little tired. I had spent about 20 minutes of the night sleeping in a corner on a leather chair. Hat over my face. Everyone's getting ushered out, I find my buddy Nicole and we just kind of get out of the way of the crowds and sit on some steps (stop me now because this is starting to sound really dumb and middle schoolesque). Nicole and I are just hanging out, minding our own business, and here comes the celeb possy. Making a circle right in front of us. Really we couldn't have asked for a better view. In the midst of texting, and talking about after parties, Clea Duvall nearly dropped cigarette ash on my buddies arm. The entire situation was just kind of hilarious. A little while after we take off. Half in cabs to go home. Half walking down the street trying to get into trouble. It was a really awesome and unexpected night. One that you couldn't have written any better.

buds and bicycles

I heard about the AIDS Lifecycle for the first time last year. My friend Pfenning wanted to do it, and of course in my usual non planning say yes to everything sort of way I assured her, "Hell Yeah I want to do that too!" Well, it's June again, and the Lifecycle has come and gone. My lack of follow through for this particular venture is because each rider needs to raise something like $2500. That really is not that much money. Especially when it is going to such a good cause. But excuses aside, I honestly just didn't feel as compelled as I should to do it this year. Nevermind the fact that I was completely unprepared. A handful of my friends actually did follow through on their word, and excitement, and rode the 545 miles from SF to LA. It took them seven days. All of which I heard were amazing.

I, with the other handful who didn't go, flew down and met them at closing ceremonies. It was actually really inspiring and really emotional. I caught myself tearing up a few times. It was incredible to hear how much money they raised this year. Nearly 11.6 million dollars. But also scary that even with that much money they can't find a cure for AIDS. I of course would love to do it next year. Stocked with Cliff bars and butt butter.

Although the congrats for our friends was our main reason to escape SF for a weekend and venture south. The other event going on this weekend definitely had something to do with it as well. It was Pride. Hats go off to Laura for finding an awesome casa for us to lay our heads, our crap, and our tired hungover bodies. Renee, Mary, and I arriving first, got the pleasure of jumping on the beds and oogling over the gianormous TV and sexy bathroom. Friday night drinking started promptly at 5, completely by accident of course. It's not our fault the lazy afternoon stroll turned into a happy hour booze fest. I blame it on the appealing appetizers, and two for ones long islands that will knock you on your ass (and did actually, which consequently got Renee and I kicked out of probably the hardest bar to get kicked out of. oh well). The appealing appetizers turned out to be not so appetizing. And the ass hole server dropping them by our table, turned out to be actually very adorable, and was just emitting LA bitchiness. We ended up at this place called Fiesta Cantina. Where they will serve you double long islands for $6, but wont let you use the boys bathroom to pee. That's just wrong! We made some new friends, Gary and Donovan who were hilarious as hell, and refreshing to hang out with. I'm not sure how 5pm turned into 10pm, but we were soon on our way to a new place called Here. I have nothing to say about that place (cough cough). After a short lived dance along in the living room it was Saturday.

Saturday's are wonderful for lounging around in your underwear. They are also good for enormous omelette's and mechanical bull rides. Wanna see the video? --->

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