My New Favorite Site
I love public transportation. Maybe it’s because I grew up in North Carolina, where there was no public transportation. Or maybe it’s because I love to eavesdrop and crowded buses and subways afford me ample opportunity to do so. A lot of people complain about MUNI, San Francisco’s public transit system, but I love it. And now this has been added to MUNI’s website. There is nowhere I can’t go…
The Voting Party
Last night my friend Emily (best friend in the world who is still letting me share her studio until I find a permanent place to live – I love you!) had a “Review The Issues” voting party. Each person was assigned a proposition, then discussion was held, each person, more informed, decided how to vote in today’s election. Highlights from the evening (names withheld to protect the innocent):
Best reason to vote no on Proposition A (Water Bonds) – the opponents of the proposition can’t spell San Francisco correctly.
Proposition C: Veterans Building Bonds
He: “Why should a building that doesn’t pay for itself belong in a capitalist society?”
She: “You want something that pays for itself? Here’s an example of something that pays for itself: TiVo.”
Proposition F: Entertainment Commission Appointments
She: “Great. So basically, with all the surplus money, the city gets to make a committee to throw a party.”
He: “What was that? Proposition F? That would be an “F” for politics.”
Proposition H: Police & Firefighter Retirement Benefits
She: “Why should they get extra? I don’t get extra.”
He: “You don’t risk your life everyday….”
She: “Okay. Good point. I agree.”
He: “You have to be a real curmudgeon to vote no on this one.There’s not even an opponent’s argument for this one.”
Proposition I: Paid Parental Leave
While most people agreed this was a good idea, we had one dissenter: “I’m going to make an argument against having children here. You want unconditional love at a cheaper cost – get a cat or dog.”
And, the quote of the evening, as we were munching on leftover Halloween candy:
“If they gave out candy at the polls, a lot more people would show up.”
You Go!
My dear friend Cedric has jumped on the blogging bandwagon. He’s incredibly witty in person, more so in writing. Check it out.
Day 22
Home, Sweet Home
I can’t believe it. I’m finally back in San Francisco. I almost cried tears of joy as we drove over the Bay Bridge and I saw the Transamerica Building’s triangle top peeking out from the fog.
Day 21
He’s Good People
Growing up, those were the words I so often heard from my elders’ mouths, referring to a kind act or deed someone had performed. That’s what came to mind today when Kevin, the manager of Bybees Align & Brake, came in on a Saturday morning (when the shop is normally closed), aligned our tires after the owner of the shop, Dan, worked until midnight last night fixing structural damage, then drove out to our hotel, picked us up, and in detail showed us everything that had been repaired. As we thanked him profusely, he simply replied, “Ah, it’s nothing. I’d hate to be in your situation. You need to get on the road and get home as soon as possible.”
Day 20
Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Enter The Water (or go on the road…)
Well, it seems that the car wasn’t really fixed when we picked it up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The mechanic told us we had to get the wheels aligned (closest place to do so, Idaho Falls, 100 miles away, go figure….), but in that process other things were found to be wrong as well. We’re now the lucky recipients of a free day in Idaho Falls, temperature 20 degrees, for at least another day. Hopefully that’s all.
Idaho Falls, ID
Thank goodness for the public library. We’ve been here the majority of the day. Since we don’t live in the county, we were allowed to use the “Internet” computers for up to an hour, the rest of the time we’ve spent lazily reading magazines we’d never take the time to read cover to cover in our otherwise busy lives. It’s been a nice change of pace.
Overheard…
In the restaurant at breakfast:
Waitress: Well, you won’t believe what he did next. (pause) He poured sugar down my shirt and then soaked me with water. Can you believe that?
Daniel and I exchanged raised eyebrows. He whispered, “Do you think “he’s” a baby or a boyfriend?” I had just assumed a boyfriend. And then…
Waitress: You know, I’m not sure how old he is. Twenty-nine? Thirty-one?
Boyfriend.
In the taxi as we passed a “Gentlemen’s Club”:
Driver: See that bar right there? That’s where I was during the big earthquake of ’57. You know, the one that took all those tourists in Yellowstone when the mountain just slid down?
We nodded, not really knowing, but wanting to hear his story.
Driver: Well, I had gone in and ordered a scotch and soda. I took one sip of that drink and the earthquake hit. We could feel it, mighty strong, right here in Idaho Falls. I looked up and said to the bartender, I don’t know what you put in that drink, but I’ll take another one…
And with that he slapped his knee and guffawed.
Day 19
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
I walked out on the tarmac to the tiny plane on the Denver runway. Snow was gently drifting down around us. I walked slowly, as flip flops don’t have the best traction in snow.
Day 18
My Favorite Souvenir
A small, wooden keychain, looking very angry with its bared teeth an scowl. On the back, its description: “God of Winner. This ancient Hawaiian Tiki is the Winner God. This Tiki blesses you with good fortune, Keep this Winner Tiki with you. you may always be a winner in all that you do.”
Day 17
Winner!
People always make fun of me for entering contests. I will enter anything. Fill out a form, answer a question, write an essay. It’s not so much that I expect to win, but the anticipation of what *could* be, what I *could* win, that excites me.
Tonight we went to a real luau. On the beach, tiki torches, pig in the ground, Blue Hawaiis flowing, luau. As we entered, there was a box in the gift shop where all you had to do was write your name and bus number (we were bussed to the remote luau location) and you could win fabulous prizes. Daniel started to stuff our entries into the box. No! Unfold them, nice and smooth. Then pop them in the box with a wish. *Then* we’ll win. He gave me a stare as if I was insane, rolled his eyes, but did as I asked.
At the end of the evening, the grass skirted hula maiden pulled three names from the box. First name won a prize of a t-shirt. Second name won a souvenir mug. “And now, for the final prize of the evening, from Bus Number 2…” I clenched my fists. We had arrived on bus number 2. “Lori McLeese.” I squealed. I rushed up to the stage, sand sliding into my sandals. Once there, I was handed a coupon for a free copy of our “Welcome Picture”, Daniel and I smiling with two island beauties. A lovely souvenir from our true luau evening.
LoriLoo 