The Ivory Anniversary

Fourteen years...The Wife has managed to put up with me for over five thousand days as a married couple. Wow. I am truly a lucky man to have found someone willing to do that for so long, so since the traditional anniversary gift is banned by international trade agreements, I thought instead I would share some "then and now" photo fun at my own expense. First up, the big day itself back in 1994:

The fact that she said "I do" to that guy...I still shake my head in wonder to this day. The glasses alone should have scared her off.

Fast forward to four years ago, when we renewed our vows on our tenth anniversary, floating down the "canal" in the Venetian in Las Vegas:

Glasses got smaller, lost some hair on top, gained some on the face. I am both pleased and embarrassed that I managed to lose weight over time. She's still in the same dress...again, maybe someone is bribing her behind the scenes, but I am one lucky dude.

Now, here we are, four years beyond that, and life goes on. I look at that first picture, and I wonder if those kids could even have imagined where they would be in fourteen years. Across the continent, some more initials behind both of their names, the Reverend who married them a new member of the Kentucky State House of Representatives. Again, wow.

We've come a long way, and the fun is just beginning. Hope to see everybody on the Moon in 2014!

The Little Protest That Could

Took this photo out my office window. I heard some chanting ("What do
we want? Equal rights. When do want them? Now!"), and walked over to
see the protest du jour:

Really? That's it? I'm impressed I heard them, given their small numbers, but come on...this is San Francisco, for Godess's sake! I've seen bigger protests stop for Starbucks...and then start protesting that Starbucks!

What do I want? Bigger protests. When do I want it? Eh...whenever's okay for you.

Dear brendonesq,

Am I self-centered, and a bit of a dick?
Signed, Clueless in Daly City

Dear Clueless,

Here's a two-part test to help answer your question:
Question One: Did you buy a tiny, tiny car?

Question Two: Did you still manage to take up more than one parking space?

Did you answer "Yes" to both? Well, then you're definitely clueless, and you're probably a bit of a dick. Self-centered? I'd need a bit more information, but my money's on "yes."

Glad I could help.

Who knew...

...my foot was so comfortable?

So serious, it's hilarious

Wow.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Sign the petition here.

My familiars are too familiar

Went through the normal morning routine, including feeding the cats, then preparing some breakfast to feed myself. Took my cereal out to the living room to watch the "news" (Colbert Report on TiVo), and both of the cats are sitting on the couch waiting for me.

What is disturbing about this is that they are sitting exactly spaced so I can sit down without moving them, but so that both are leaning on either side of me once I am settled. It's as if my couch has an aural ass groove after all of these years, and the cats are perfectly attuned to it.

I need to break up the routine. Based on how far apart the cats were sitting, I need to start running again, too.

Flash Gordon, the home game!

Our tiny donkey is apparently a stranger in this temple, and therefore must try the Wood Beast.

Five points to Griffandor if you get my uber-nerdy reference. If you don't get my reference, well, you probably lead a full, rich life.

Damn you.

Legs...the great equalizer

Today was one of those rare, warm San Francisco days: low 80s downtown and not a cloud in the sky. Beautiful.

Days like this, people here tend to get a little excited, and we get to see something that is a rare sight for this area of California: skin. When the sun comes out, so do the rarely-worn shorts, the wrinkled sleeveless blouses, the back-of-the-closet flip flops. Nice.

So I'm walking to the train, and I can't help but realize that I am walking behind a pair of young ladies, wearing shorts that to my old-man eyes look more like underwear, or at best John Stockton's old uniform. Notice I am not saying I didn't approve or didn't appreciate, just that it made me feel old.

Anyway, I do a quick look-around to make sure I am not caught ogling these lovely ladies, when I realize I am safe.

Why? Because I am probably fourth in line of a group of men also trying to pretend they are not ogling these lovely ladies.

Now, here's my favorite part: we all, to a man, smile. In that tiny slice of time, we share the same private language shared by all men, regardless of race, age, creed, sexuality or socioeconomic background: it was okay. We all saw each other, we all _caught_ each other, and even though there is little chance that I would have a conversation or lunch with any of the other guys, for that one suspended moment we were in on the same secret, the same vicarious joy that comes from seeing a nice pair of legs and knowing that others are appreciating them as well. It's moments like that one that give me hope for humanity, and make me understand Hemingway a little better. Like I said, nice.

By the way, the forecast for the weekend is supposed to be more of the same. I'm smiling while I type this.

Clemenza would be proud

Good day off; it's days like this when I am reminded how nice it is to work for the government.

Got to sleep in a little, take myself out for a walk (no leash...I'm pretty good at staying on the sidewalks), and made a big pot of my homemade pasta sauce. The house smells fantastic right now.

Getting ready for two reveals tonight; going to watch the telecast of the final table of the World Series, and waiting on word about our friends and their first child. Both are quite exciting.

Back to work tomorrow, but a nice oasis in the middle of the week.

A place called Hope

Taken today in central Kentucky. Nice to see.

He loves to fly...

Look at how happy I am!

It's not first class, but United's Economy Plus, if it lets a big guy like me cross his legs, is pretty sweet.

C'mon ride the train

I like that Thomas is off the tracks...hopefully a prescient metaphor.

Umm...hi...

Walking home tonight, I turned a corner and ran into a young man who looked familiar. Couldn't quite place him, but he didn't have that problem.

"Hey! Yellow curry! How you doing tonight!"

Oh yeah. Our regular Thai delivery guy.

I guess we should order something else from time to time.

Shiny new toys

I had a great day at work; first day that I really felt like I accomplished something. Nice.

Walking to MUNI, whistling away, when the sun glints off something lying just ahead in my path.

A shell casing. A spent shell casing. Shiny and new, just sitting on the sidewalk, hanging out and enjoying retirement.

I had a great day at work. Had.

Quick turnaround

If you look at the post below, you will see that I have not posted in about a month; yes, it has been THAT hectic. There have been several large events in the past few weeks, some of which I will potentially blog about soon. But without question, the largest professional event has been my resignation from the Alameda County Public Defender's Office (last day: two days ago on Friday) and my acceptance of a new position with the San Francisco City Attorney's Office (first day: tomorrow!). Truly amazing; I interned with this office when I was in law school, and have always been excited about the idea of going back as an attorney. After many years, it is finally happening, and the quickness of the process, coupled with me not taking any time off between gigs, makes this all seem very surreal. I will probably ask the HR rep to pinch me tomorrow during my orientation. Which is probably not the best first impression to make.



The last week at my previous job (even typing that seems weird!) was really wonderful, if jam-packed and moving at light speed. I had going-away luncheons at both the office and court, and was on the receiving end of some really thoughtful words and gifts. I am a truly lucky person to be leaving a job I loved to move on to a position I have been excited about and wanted to try for quite some time.


The biggest immediate change will be my commute; when I was going across the Bay, I had to take two trains, then pick up a car to get my files at the office and then drive to court. Total time one way: about an hour and a half...if traffic was on my side. Now, I will be taking one train each way, and that's it. Total time one way: about twenty minutes...and that is if traffic is slow. Nice. I am hopeful that my thirteen hour days away from home will become a thing of the past, and maybe I will finally have some time to ask this woman who apparently lives with me out on a date or something. She seems pretty cool, and she doesn't even mind the cats... :)

More updates soon, but thought I should let people know I'm still breathing. Moving fast, but breathing.

Staycation: The Wrapup

I got bored reading my own posts about my Staycation, so I stopped updating about it. The short/less boring version is this:


First half of the week: did very little, got a lot of rest, relaxed mightily.


Second half of the week: a series of day trips, including Monterey for whale watching (more photos and some video coming soon), a drive up north for a poker tournament, and a day trip to San Francisco that involved fun breakfast, an amazing tour of the de Young (including the Chihuly exhibition...amazing!), and then fun dinner to top it all off.

Back at work today, and I feel genuinely relaxed. I expect that to last till this afternoon.

It's 3AM...

I hope this was staged and supposed to be funny...because it is...

Staycation, Day Two

Day Two brought much of the same as Day One: good long walk/jog out to the beach and back, fun lunch, and watching yet another movie that The Wife would not want to see with me. Also more poker; today, I managed to avoid taking the step that I have convinced myself would be somehow bad, even though I rationalized all day about how it could actually be a good thing: I did NOT deposit money onto an online poker site. But I really wanted to.

We'll see if I am able to avoid the temptation as the week progresses.

Staycation, Day One

I am taking this week off, not because I am going anywhere, not because I have some grandiose plans, but purely because (a) I have the vacation time and want to use it, and (b) I really needed a break. Hence, the staycation.

Day One was a good one, and pretty much filled with exactly what I am looking for in slow-paced entertainment. I went to the grocery store on a weekday (a rare treat), walk/jogged a couple miles (an even rarer event, if not exactly a treat), and ate a fun sandwich while I watched a terrible movie that I knew The Wife would never watch with me. Good times.

I also played plenty of online poker (I'm in a freeroll tournament as I type this), and other than some chores around the house, the big work today was what you are looking at right now: the new look for the blog. I think it is a little more streamlined, and I like the bigger font and larger text areas; seems easier to read. Let me know what you think.

Seriously?

I used to play the game Risk for hours and hours, both with friends and family.

While playing, I have invaded Kamchatka through Alaska, and Alaska through Kamchatka, probably hundreds of times.



Therefore, I guess I also have foreign policy experience?

Please tell me that even conservative Republicans are insulted by this completely inane line of "reasoning."

Please?