Day three

Well, I thought I would be taking many pictures today. As it turned out, my camera had other ideas. It thought dying would be the best option for a Friday. So no pics. Damn.

I have found my one complaint about this sexy little Nikon...it doesn't tell you the status of the battery until it's about to die. Eh.

Today we went down to Pier 39 and braved the gaggle of tourists (as if we weren't two of them) for some crab and beer. Mmmm....crab. And fresh clam chowder. Good stuff.

After lunch, we visited the Musee de Mecanique, which- if you've never seen it, is a pretty neat little collection of kitschy old coin operated machines. One of the machines was the "Mystic Pen" that supposedly gives you a personality reading. Both mine and Tim's readings were eerily accurate.

Mine says: One of the promintent features in your make up is self-reliance and confidence in your ability to accomplish what you undertake; your courage is strong; you do not hesitate to lead.

Tim's says: You are inclined to be melancholy and brooding, cultured, refined and a natural student, creative mind and magnetic personality.

Yep. That about sums it up.

After Pier 39, we went to the Buena Vista for a few Irish Coffees. No one else makes them like the Buena Vista, and the three I had dulled the pain in my feet for awhile. (yes, I am a wuss. Shut up.) So good. But so small, and so expensive.

This evening saw a journey over to little Italy for world famous chocolate truffles, perusing through a basement stuffed to the gills with crates of records, and a very tasty dinner at a 100+ year old restaurant with fantastic gnocchi.

I love this city. On our way back to the hotel, we witnessed the anti-Prop 8 protest. Only here would you see that. No one gives a shit about gay marriage in Phoenix- at least, not enough to organize something. It's nice to see motivated people who do something other than bitch.

Bits from SF

I haven't taken many pictures in the two days we've been here, but I plan on fixing that today. Promise.

At the UN Plaza, there is a farmer's market every Wednesday and Sunday. I am a huge fan of our own downtown market, but this one is so awesome. It is about 3X the size, and the produce is so great. It is all super fresh and super cheap.

This is an art installation on 6th Street south of Market. If you look closely, you can see that there is furniture hanging out of the windows, off the side of the building, and some crazy paint. Click to get a better view.

These next two are really for my sister's benefit.

Here we have a whole bin of Homies! Homies!! Just think of the collection you could have, Amanda! ;)

And...and...Cupcake Converse!!

11-3

Ah, the eve of the big election. I cannot tell you how happy I am that the day is finally here. Yes, it will suck if "my guy" doesn't win, but more than that, i'm just glad that the BS associated with political campaigns will be over. People turn into such assholes during election cycles, it's amazing. After tomorrow, everyone goes back to being just regular people. Well, I guess the ones who scrape the stickers off their cars and take the yard signs down do- but the point is, the question of who to vote for will no longer be a bone of contention or debate.

What will the media talk about once this is over? Will they go back to front page coverage of Britney Spears' latest crotch shot? I hope not.

Another great thing about today is that I registered for my last classes- ever. They don't start until January and end in April, but I cannot tell you how tickled I am to know that this is the last time I will ever have to debate which class to take, wonder how long before I get burnt out and stop caring, or grumble about assignments I don't like. It feels like i've been working on this degree forever (even though it's only been two years) and it will be so satisfying to have it done and over.

Today must be a really kick ass day because I have yet another great thing. In two days, we will be off to the great city of San Francisco for a week of fun, chilly weather, a TV on the Radio concert, and my dear friend Jen's wedding.

For the grand finale, I leave you with this sign I spotted outside the fair grounds. It took an episode of the Colbert Report to give it meaning for me, but if you follow the election news at all i'm sure it will make sense to you:



Behave while we're gone, and don't give the babysitter any trouble.

My very own fail!

Hee. :)


moar funny pictures

Baking adventures

For Emmalee's first birthday, I agreed to make the cake, as the last cake my sister made turned out...well, just wrong. Of course, I can't just make a normal cake, noooo, that would be too easy. I wanted to make giant cupcakes.

First came the mountain of frosting. There is enough butter, sugar and egg whites in this bowl to supply the entire population of Luxemborg for approximately five years.

From Emmalee's first birthday

Half of that ended up in my freezer. For, ya know, the next time I decide to make a cake.

It took an entire day to get the giant cupcakes made, as they take forever and I thought for sure the mixer was going to die from exhaustion. But here they are...





And of course, we had to have one for the birthday girl...



It was fun, and man- that pan was an investment. Giant cupcakes for everyone's birthday for the next ten years!

Oh Man...

This is funny.

I know I can think of times when this would have come in handy.

Of anger and politics

Holy fuck, I can't wait until November. If I have to hear one more political news blurb or see one more candidate poster I think I might scream. John McCain is a lying bastard, Sarah Palin is a vapid idiot, and I am pretty sure that my days of being enamored with Barack Obama are over. No more...please, no more.

The debates are a joke, with neither candidate really getting anywhere. How useful can a debate be when nothing is said? As if anyone is really still trying to make up their mind at this point anyway, seeing as how the election campaigning has been going on for the last year and a half.

I discovered today that Obama has his own channel on satellite TV. WTF does a presidential candidate need an entire channel for? And why would anyone want to watch a 24/7, dedicated paid advertisement when plenty of shorter ads have been cleverly interspersed throughout prime time viewing? Clearly he has too much money.

On the more local scene, the great state of Arizona will once again be voting on banning same sex marriage. Religious nut jobs just can't get enough of the torture, I guess, seeing as how it got voted down the last time it came up. In the mail yesterday there were not one, but two flyers for "Vote Yes for Marriage". Don't you people have something better to do with your time and money than this?

Same sex marriage is already illegal, or didn't you know?

This issue is like the 21st century's version of desegregation. It's "separate but equal" all over again and it's a bunch of crap. Gay couples are not going to threaten the sanctity of marriage- married people threaten the sanctity of marriage. The last time I checked, the divorce rate hovered around 40 percent.

Sanctity my ass.