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?

Nothing lost in translation

I was at lunch yesterday, and after reading the beverage list, I imagined the following, circa 1948:

To: Marketing team
From: Management

While we applaud your "truth in advertising" approach, we think it is time to consider naming the final item on our Beverage list something a little more appealing to consumers. We suggest something that reflects the outdoors, as well as something that will keep drinkers from focusing on the awful, awful flavor. See if "Mountain Dew" is available.

And thus, a legend was born...

It's time...to face...just how bored I am...

As I type this, I am sitting on my couch in front of the television. On said television is a "show" called Hole In The Wall. Yes, that's actually the title of the show. I realize a title like that lends itself to any number of genres, but it is actually a game show about, well, a hole in the wall, and you apparently earn points by...you guessed it...fitting through the hole in the wall.

Wow. If you don't believe me, here's a clip from the Japanese version. Don't worry if you don't speak Japanese; I think very little is lost in the translation:



Didn't The Simpsons predict we would hit this level of cultural embarassment a few years ago?

I am ashamed to admit that I have not changed the channel, and even more ashamed to admit I want to see what these people actually win if they, you know, fit through the hole in the wall. I'll let you know.

McCain's VP pick

I may get sued by Parker Bros., but I have a feeling I won't be the last person to make this joke.

In response to a Republican friend's email, extolling the virtues of Sarah Palin, I couldn't resist using Google Image Search along with MS Paint to slap this together:



I have to believe we have heard the last of McCain's attacks on Obama as being "inexperienced."

Best. Graffiti. Ever

Indeed.

BTW, Cher covered this song in her Vegas show, which we saw at Caesars a couple weeks ago. I thought it was an odd choice among several other odd choices, including "Walking in Memphis." For the "Battlefield" song, they brought out this very elaborate set piece ala Beyond Thunderdome, and her nubile dancers had a "dance off," fighting for Cher's attention and affection. Then they all changed costumes and the set was never seen again. Odd. Reminded me of the bondage dance scene in Showgirls, and that is probably not exactly the sort of association Cher wants us to make.

Going home

Well, the weekend is over, and leaving Las Vegas means coming back to reality. I didn't win ANY money, but my losses were kept to minimum. At the airport, even THIS guy wasn't winning. Sadly, made me feel better.

More importantly, I had a wonderful weekend with my wife and our friends, got to see my brother, ate amazing food, saw an idol in concert, and met Jesus.

Not a bad weekend.

Walk of shame

The view from the MGM as I head back after yet another loss in a poker tournament.

Good picture, bad streak.