Leaving on a Jet Plane

I left early this morning to catch a flight to Norfolk, Virginia. I'm visiting a few friends (pictured above) I studied abroad with in Sevilla, Espana and I can't wait for our little reunion.

Not sure if I will have access to the Internet to continue updates, but I'll try. Hasta luego!

Getting Ready for Virginia

Plane ticket - check
Obama shirt - check
Halloween costume - check
Fun hat - check
Blog posts - CHECK

Uncertain whether or not I will have the time to access the Internet and post my random thoughts and experiences in Virginia, I've queued a blog post for each day I'm gone. I am absolutely positive that I will have stories while I'm visiting, and will try to provide a recap of them when I get back.

GET READY, VIRGINIA!

Are you passive aggressive?

I spent a good 30 minutes yesterday laughing and checking out a site highlighting random passive aggressive notes. Check out additional notes at http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/.

No Longer Single

Speaking of status updates, this morning I logged into Facebook and received the following notification:


For a half second, my initial thoughts were, "Huh? Am I? That's news to me! I'm not even dating!" Then I remembered in college someone with my name requested to be my friend on FB because she thought that it would be "cool" to be friends with someone who has the same name.

Phew, I am not dreaming and I did not accidentally change my status.

LinkedIn Apps - hmm...

Apps, apps, and more apps. That's all people hear lately along with the crazy hype surrounding the 3G iPhone. Earlier today, LinkedIn announced the launch of various applications that will help users, "collaborate and communicate more effectively."

Basically there are nine new applications for users including the capability of coordinating travel via TripIt or a live feed of your personal WordPress blog to your profile. Reid Hoffman explains on LinkedIn's blog, "You’ll be able to work much more closely with your contacts on LinkedIn with tools such as file sharing, project management, business trips and many more."

I'm always surprised when companies come out with new applications or content. I wonder what's next for the site. Possibly status updates? :)

RWW also explains the launch in greater detail here.

My Ick Factor

If you have been a follower from the beginning of last month, you are aware that I have a slight fear of pickles ( p**). Even typing the word makes me grossed out.

My friend Hilary posted on my MySpace comment section today a YouTube video of a Maury Povich segment discussing individuals with a fear of p** and mustard. I only made it to the 18 second mark after letting out a yelp and getting teary-eyed from lack of exhaustion. I'm not sure why they freak me out, but let's leave the issue alone.

Funny to an extent, but I'd really prefer not to have to look or see one or the word again. Thanks, Hil! I laughed for about a half second before pushing the play button. This post does not even get a photo. Only a link to the YouTube video.

And no, Maury. The whole world DOES NOT EAT PICKLES. Vomit.

Strangely enough, I do like cucumbers. I do not know where the issue stems from, but I've had an issue with p** since I was little.

Creative Juices at Work

I am going to test the psychic's premonition that I am artistic and creative by cutting my Men's XL "Party Like Barack Star" t-shirt into a fitted shirt. Looking forward to sporting the shirt in Virginia in the presence of right wing conservatives.

Wish me luck on an amazing end product!

UPDATE 102808: The shirt was a success. Now the tee is sleeveless, with a v-neck and laced up along the sides. :)

Warning from Vogt

My friend from Kentucky, Lauren, texted me on Saturday with, "I'm watching how an earthquake and fires destroyed San Francisco in 1906 and it will strike again... yikes."

It always cracks me up how people who do not live in Cali are scared out of their wits of earthquakes. We feel baby quakes every now and then, but they're something out of our control. When and if it happens, you deal. They're called natural disasters and I'm sure it will "strike" again at one point or another. Just like tornadoes, hurricanes and floods.

Thanks for the warning, Lauren. Receiving your text while I was tailgating at Cal definitely made me a little nervous.

Crystal Ball

This loopy he-she psychic that Kim and I saw on the corner of Telegraph was also on our BART train.

I approached him and asked if he could give me a quick reading. His analysis included something along the lines of I can be "childish" and I have an inner "artistic" side. Hmm... keep going I asked. He said that he needed his books to do more, but I insisted that he continue.

After revealing my DOB, he told me that I'm a "three", meaning that my bday adds up and is divisible by three. He also said that I am highly compatible with ones.

Lesson: I'm never going to pay for a psychic.

Baker Beach

My visit to Baker Beach consisted of:

• a 30 minute bus ride
• walking past the entrance to the Presidio down to a somewhat secluded beach
• only a few dogs running around
• parking my towel on the beach without a problem
• a calm breeze while looking out at the houses along the cliff on one side and the Golden Gate bridge on the other
• not too much debris or trash along the beach
• free beer (technically bottles are not allowed on the beach, but in my defense someone gave it to me)
• watching some guy dive into the ocean with a wetsuit and then frolic around nude
• witnessing a school of dolphins swim by and close to the shore
• departing with a golden tone

Some random guy came up to me while I was reading my book and said that if I needed an ice cold drink he'd be happy to give me one. I asked him what kind and after hearing the magic word he ran off to grab me a beer. I called him out and said that he had probably been parked there all day preying on girls. He responded with, "Only the special ones." Take it how you want, but I took the free beer without complaining.

About an hour later of enjoying the sun and watching a school of dolphins, I packed my bag, thanked the random guy about 100 ft away and walked back up the road.

I highly recommend this beach for both tourists and locals. Great view of the bridge and a perfect little beach.

Top Ten: Happy Hour Bars in SF

Carrying on with another top ten, this week I'm focusing on the top ten bars for happy hour in the city. Keep in mind that this list is completely based on my own personal preference which includes outdoor seating, views (preferably the Bay Bridge), and cheap drinks all around.

Enjoy!

10. Momo's (SOMA) - One of my fave spots on game days.

9. 21st Amendment (SOMA) - Another great location on game days, but this one is a delicious brewery.

8. Dada's (SOMA) - Cheap drinks and free popcorn right in the heart of many SOMA companies.


7. Americano (Embarcadero) - Posh crowd and fancier food (for a happy hour) located right under the Bay Bridge. Great place if you're single and want to meet a good looking, maybe slightly pretentious, date.

6. Hog Island Oyster Company (Embarcadero)-$1 oysters during Happy Hour with a view of the Bay Bridge. Who wouldn't love it!

5. Voda Lounge (FiDi) - Located on Belden Lane which feels like a snapshot out of Europe, and by far one of the most charming streets in SF. The bar itself can be a little grimy, but does it matter when there are $4 cocktails and cheap food? HECK NO!

4. Royal Exchange (FiDi) - Crowded Irish pub located smack center of FiDi; Two bars and multiple tables / booths to choose from

3. Irish Bank (FiDi) - Heart pubs with outdoor seating. Nuff said.

2. Cigar Bar (FiDi/North Beach) - Sometimes features live music; Love the scent of cigars while eating a chicken quesadilla next to the courtyard fountain.

1. John Collins (SOMA) - Small bar with brick walls and a second floor consisting of a DJ and a couple of couches; A must if you work in SOMA and want to mingle while watching a few surfing videos and chowing down on gold fish crackers.

* I linked them to Yelp reviews since I decide on all of my new adventures (bars, restaurants, venues, etc.) on the ratings and reviews provided by locals.

Bros Unite

Speaking of brothers (see last post), today marks the launch of BroBible. WTF?

As the, "World's most trusted resource for everything bro," the Web site also promises that you can "unleash your opinions and exploits in the Brommunity."

Wowsers.

I understand that it's uber difficult to get inside the mind of males, but come on! If you need advice or want to connect online with fellow bruddahs, check out the site or read the Gawker article. Better yet, you may want to pick up a copy of Tucker Max's book while you're in search of connecting or want to read similar stories about a drunk weekend with multiple girls.

I'm sure the site offers more than the obvious to users and will help bring together guys from all over the place. Let me know if you decide to take the dive.

Heart my brother

I received mail from my brother today with a piece of paper that said:

"Assuming that each SRAM cell in our 256x256 memory array loads Vcell with 2fF of capacitance to ground, how much power would be consumed by toggling Vcell between 1.8V and 1.6V at 1 GHz (in other words, Vcell is at 1.8V for 500ps, and at 1.6V for 500ps)?"

Ummm yeah... thank you? Last time I checked I wasn't an engineer.

Inside the folded piece of paper was the following note along with a $45 check:

The memo says, "Stop losing your bus pass!"

Heart you, brother! Thank you for brightening my day and the generous gift!

Ballers - duh!

Kimbo contacted me at about 5:45 p.m. asking if I would be interested in attending a pre-season Warriors game with 4th row tickets. My obvious reaction was, "OF COURSE!" Someone from Kim's work sent out an e-mail during the afternoon asking if anyone wanted the tickets and Kimbo jumped on the opportunity.

Getting there was a trek within itself since I didn't realize that there was a downstairs BART platform at the Oakland 12 St City Center stop that I needed to go down to in order to catch the Fremont train. After about 25 minutes of waiting for the wrong BART (and missing the right one), I finally got on the right train and was on my merry way. Keep in mind that I tend to stay in my little bubble of SF City and have been taking cabs and buses everywhere.

I showed up about an hour late and the two of us couldn't figure out how to meet up at the right gate since half of them were already closed. Thankfully one of the security guards that I was talking to gave me a random game ticket and I went in on my own.

Once in the arena, I bought beer to catch up with Kim and went down to our COURTSIDE SEATS. We made friends with Brian, the usher, who had the most adorable kid everrrr. He also let us hang out after the game and took pictures of us courtside. Brian rocks and I will definitely say hi to him again if I go to another Warriors game in the near future.

Towards the end of the game I noticed Kimbo waving at someone across the court. I started waving and noticed that Kimbo was giving her "sexy eyes" to Stephen Jackson, a Golden State Warrior. Not only were we both now waving, but he was looking directly towards us and waving back!

Cheers to the unexpected and having an amazing night. Thanks, Kimbo!

Tips for watching NBA games or going to venues in general: 1) talk to the security guards if in doubt about getting in w/o a ticket 2) make friends with ushers 3) note to reader: be nice and smile to everyone. you never know who you're smiling at or who you're going to meet. 4) as long as you act the part, you will own the part :)

Side note: Kimbo asked if I was going to blog about this night. What a ridiculous question!

My friend, See's

Yes, another post dedicated to my love of chocolate. I purchased a pound of See's Candies today to hopefully tie me over through the New Year.

Lesson learned? Don't type while eating chocolate. The keyboard now has a hint of chocolate along with a few sticky keys.

Park in Russian Hill

I've been using Yelp a lot lately to figure out local opinions about different locations including restaurants, museums, bars, theatres and even parks. Last week I visited Ina Coolbrith Park which is located only a few blocks away from my apartment.

The park is slightly hidden near Russian Hill St. up on a little hill. At the top of the park is a little patch of grass and a long wall where you can sit and look out to the Financial District and North Beach. To the right of the grass are steps that lead you down to Taylor St. where the park continues. Basically the Park is built on a hill connecting North Beach and Russian Hill, divided by a few main streets. The second section had a few benches along the paths. I even found one little corner called the "Poet's Corner" (noted on a boulder), that overlooked the Bay with a perfect view of Alcatraz.

I sat in this little getaway from the city (even though it's smack center of SF), listening to birds, reading a book, and even observing a butterfly land next to me! Only a few tourists and a couple of locals passed me the entire time.

I will definitely be going back to this quaint park again soon. If not for the picturesque view and calmness, but for the major hike and exercise back uphill.

Do a little dance: ready, set, GO!

Today I witnessed Red Bull's Soapbox Races in beautiful Dolores Park. My friends had a great spot right by the railing so I was able to see a couple of them fly by the hay stacks.

Seemed like everyone was there in the jam packed park. Three buses went by before I was able to get on one!

At the top of the track competitors would do a little intro (dance, skit, etc.) and then off down Dolores St. they went!


My favorite soapbox was probably the "Earthquake". It had a few main landmarks of SF jumbled on top of the soapbox. Plus, their intro was pretty cool and the sucker FLEW BY. My friend, Jen, told me that there was one of the GG Bridge before I arrived that had people running after it with giant cotton balls (the "fog" rolling in after the bridge).

How the heck people put stuff like this together and get the guts to sweep down Dolores, fly over the "jump" along with the possibility of crashing into a haystack goes beyond me. Overall, the races were entertaining to watch and I'm glad I went as a spectator.

A few shots of the soapboxes at the end of the course included a giant rubix cube, golden gate bridge, pink Simpson-like donut, giant squid and rockets. Good job all! Looking forward to next year's race!

The giant rubix cube (pictured above in the top right) was pretty funny. Too bad the thing was too huge to make the turn and crashed before the finish line.

Like mother like daughter?

People say that we look alike and talk alike. I introduced my mom to Gchat tonight and later on in the "chat" (even though she was writing essays), my mom began complaining about losing slash someone taking her nice jacket the other night at a restaurant, which may or may not have been a happy hour.

"Somehow in my normal drunken stupor it must've slipped down and I didn't notice I didn't have it when I left." - Mom

Later on in the convo...

"You lose bus passes. I lose clothes!" - Mom

Maybe we're more alike than we realize. Mierda!

Hipster of the Week - 101808

On the corner of 18th and Mission (of course). :)

MUNI Still Hates Me

Earlier last month I wrote about losing or misplacing my MUNI pass only a few days after I purchased the pass.

Today I used the bus and put the pass in my back pocket. You would think that I learned my lesson last month, but I figured everything would be ok. About 30 minutes later I made it home and realized not only was my MUNI pass gone again... I also managed to lock myself out of my apartment! I could picture the keys exactly where they were in my room next to my desk. BULLOCKS.

Of course nobody else was home and the sun was beginning to go down. I managed to walk to a park, sit on two stoops and slip in the main door of the apartment building during about an hour and a half. Thankfully Arielle came home and I'm now trying to warm myself up since I wore flip flops and a tank top to the soap box races!

Now I'm on the fence. Do I purchase another pass or pay the $1.50 when I want to ride the MUNI? What to do...

For the original post about losing my pass last month, click here.

Bday Shouts 101708

Happy bday to Jeena and Chris!

Jeena - Sorry I can't make it back to Sac this weekend to celebrate with you. I hope you have an amazing 25th at Avalon!


Chris - Even though someone tried running me over last night, I'm still going out tonight for your bday. Here's to the good ol days. Page me! ;)

Confused?

“I thought he was gay because after all we are in San Francisco and when I showed up he was singing Britney Spears. He knew all the words to Lucky! At least he’s good eye-candy. He was quasi-funny, but in a gay way.” – Drunk neighbor across the alley

I had to write the dialogue because her drunk conversation to a friend on the phone was classic. Sadly, I can also completely relate to my drunk neighbor.

Two weeks ago at Oktoberfest this guy danced with me to cheer me up. Yes, I'm guilty to assuming he was gay based on his mannerisms, attire and friends... so when he went in to kiss me you can imagine my utter shock. You never know nowadays. Especially in San Francisco.

Shaking in my boots

Although I've preached, I've never actually stuck to the practice 100%... NEVER WALK HOME ALONE.

I decided to take my usual path up California, towards Nob Hill after a night out at the Polk St. bars. Around Larkin a guy pulled up in a white station wagon (old school) and whistled at me. I was on the phone with my friend Brigid, shook my head and said, "Umm.. NO." Seconds later he stepped on his gas to hit me... luckily I was almost across the street and started walking faster. I guess I understand that I may have been pushing his buttons by this time, but REALLY?!??!!

Right after the brief incident, I decided that I should probably watch his car drive off and make sure that I'm safe to continue walking. About 10 seconds later I witnessed him do a U-turn screeching up the hill towards me. He did a direct U-turn again to be on my side of the street and came directly towards me. Luckily I ducked between two large trucks and hid behind a large tire.

At this point I was scared out of mind and decided to stay on the phone until 1) Brigid came to pick me up or 2) a cab pulled over.

Thankfully I noticed a light, looked up and it was a cabbie dropping someone off. I told him the situation (while crying) and jumped into his cab. He gave me a ride to my place only three blocks away without charge.

The cabbie claimed that Polk St is a large prostitution area and he may have been a pimp or a pissed off guy.

Either way, I feel nervous and am completely freaked out. My neighborhood is supposed to be safe! Bottom line... NEVER WALK HOME ALONE.

The main reason I'm writing this is to write a somewhat clear description while it's semi-fresh in my mind:
1) white station wagon
2) Two dark brown long braids
3) long narrow face
4) slim body

This may not help much, but it will most likely help me sleep. I'm a little nerve wracked right now.

Palin as President

Who in the world has time to put stuff like this together? Regardless, check out the below site.

Hilarious: http://www.palinaspresident.us/

Thanks, Susana!

I Don't Knooow YOU

Do I look like someone you know? Do I have a familiar face?

A few times a month random strangers (both men and women) tell me that I look familiar. Today I experienced two perfect examples when I decided to take a little "me" time and headed to a neighborhood park overlooking North Beach and FiDi.

Scenario One: Reading on a park bench

From the hiking path below I noticed someone waving at me and yelling "Hello!" Complexed, I put the book down and waited for the guy to approach me. As he got closer he asked, "How are you?" I responded with a simple one word answer, "Fine." He then said, "Oh... I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else." I responded with, "No problemo."

Scenario Two (30 minutes later): Walking up a random street

Walking up a hill in Russian Hill I noticed a motorcyclist do a double-take. He pulled over about a block ahead of me and waited. He also yelled, "HELLO!" I responded with a smile and said, "Hiya." As I got closer he apologized and said, "Sorry. I could've sworn you were someone else. Have a good day."

Poll - Is this "you look like someone I know":

a) a pickup line

b) the truth. There really is a long lost twin out there

c) or have I met them and have completely forgotten

d) all of the above

e) none of the above

I actually think that the answer is all of the above depending on the situation. I am a halfie so people tend to think that I look similar to other people. If I do look like someone you know, from now on I'm asking for substantial proof (i.e. a photo, friend request on Facebook :), etc). IF this really is a pickup line, males should think of something a little more creative.

I'm going to happy hour today with my friend Brigid. I'm thinking of trying this "pickup line" on guys and see how they respond. Pretty sure if any girl talks to any guy they'll be fairly responsive. Maybe this isn't the best methodology for gathering research...

Cancer Sticks

Ever since my first year in college I began to notice one major difference between my college friends and friends from home - college friends don't smoke.

I've been arguing for years with my friends that I thought for some reason college educated individuals were less likely to smoke. The direct cause was uncertain, but I hypothesized it being due to boredom or stuck in a rut called home... not necessarily being lack of education.

I read this morning about a recent Harvard Medical study finding that "the more education people have, the less likely [they] are to smoke."

A recent Harvard Medical School study found that people with more than 12 years of formal education (even if it's only one year of college) live 18 months longer than those with fewer years of schooling. Why? The more education you have, the less likely you are to smoke. In fact, only about 10 percent of adults with an undergraduate degree smoke, compared with 35 percent of those with a high school education or less, according to the CDC.

Just a thought.

Side note: I'm suffering from smoke inhalation issues due to smoking a hooka a week and a half ago! This gives me one more reason as to why I have not been a fan of smoking , nor will I be smoking anything in the future. That and the commercial with the woman smoking out of a hole in her throat.

Pink and White Sprinkled Cookies - DUNZO

Last week, Mother's Cookies announced that they were bankrupt and would cease production of the entire line, including the Circus Animal pink and white sprinkled cookies and the Taffy creme cookies! I don't know why I'm so shocked... I haven't actually eaten one since I was in elementary school nor have I seen anyone else gnawing on them in awhile.

So, farewell to my childhood cookie. I'm going to head down to my local Cala and buy out the entire stock.

The full Chron article is available here.

New Neighbor

I came home last night to my neighbor getting hot and heavy in the stairway. After an awkward hello, he asked if I had any condoms on me! In shock, I said no and then ran up to my apartment.

After scrounging one up from my flat mate, I ran back out and threw him a condom. He thanked me and I told him it was nice to meet him.

Today in my apartment doorway was a brown paper bag of a Pabst tall can, mini Wild Turkey and a note:

In case you can't read the note, it reads, "Dear Nieghbor, Thanks for being neighborly last night. Have a beer and a shot! Cheers, Cameron #4"

Some neighbors ask for a cup of sugar, others ask for condoms.

*Notice that he spelled "neighbor" wrong. Classy should be his middle name.

Not so trendy

I was on a walk in SF the other day and saw this guy walk by with a painted leather jacket. At first I immediately thought of the t-shirts back in the early 90's people wore with airbrushed names:


Then I realized that this particular spray painted jacket was not from the 90's because of the image of Heath Ledger as the Joker! I take it he's a huge fan of Heath and does not know that his look is totally out of style.



I'm on my way to Union Square today to find the perfect pair of maroon pumps. Beware all innocent bystanders who think they are making a fashion statement or are completely oblivious that their style is not a good look.

Foot in your mouth

Check out the latest PSA video. Next time, "think before you speak."

Almost 90% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students report being verbally harassed at school because of their sexual orientation. LGBT teens experience homophobic remarks and harassment throughout the school day, creating an atmosphere where they feel disrespected, unwanted and unsafe. Homophobic remarks such as thats so gay are the most commonly heard; these slurs are often unintentional and a common part of teens vernacular. Most do not recognize the consequences, but the casual use of this language often carries over into more overt harassment.

This campaign aims to raise awareness about the prevalence and consequences of anti-LGBT bias and behavior in Americas schools. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce and prevent the use of homophobic language in an effort to create a more positive environment for LGBT teens. The campaign also aims to reach adults, including school personnel and parents; their support of this message is crucial to the success of efforts to change behavior. - AdCouncil

Dreaming of ex Presidents

Keasling, a guy who is about to be married in 10 days, revealed that he is having dreams with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson telling him to dye his hair white.

Translation - he needs to get a haircut before the big day.

Hipster of the Week

Been to the Mission lately? If you have, I'm sure you noticed an overwhelming amount of hipsters roaming the streets. Every time I go to the Mission I become slightly annoyed that I stick out like a sore thumb w/o my skinny jeans, American Apparel tee, tight vest and amazing hat.

My friend, Semi, planted the seed that I should blog about hipsters in the city. Similar to my 'Top Ten", I'm also planning on including a "Hipster of the Week" each week. Check out the first installment of a hipster at the Powell Street BART station and Semi (in the white t-shirt). It's hard to take a picture of a hipster without them throwing something at you.


Not sure if this is an accurate definition of "hipster", but thank you Urban Dictionary dot com: Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. The greatest concentrations of hipsters can be found living in the Williamsburg, Wicker Park, and Mission District neighborhoods of major cosmopolitan centers such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco respectively.

Duct Tape Wallet

Ever heard of a duct tape wallet? My friend, Tyler, went to an art shop and found an entire duct tape wallet kit! After about 3 hours with an exacto knife, duct tape, stickers, nail polish, rhinestones, and glitter, here's the final product:

Bday Shouts 100708

Unfortunately I've been slacking on posts for about the past week. I've had nonstop fun in SF and Sac the past seven days, and have not had much time to sit and blog. Brief recap of what I've done - went to the Castro Theatre for the first time by myself to watch the classic Romeo and Juliet, saw MC Hammer live in GG Park, went to Kimbo's moving out party, went to Justin's bday party, participated in Oktoberfest, went to my Aunt's bday party, bbq at Rhianna's, and here I am today.

Before I go on with other blog posts, I wanted to give a a couple belated bday shouts to my Aunt Lisa and Justin. Holler!

"Do Your Part"

Shout out to my cousin, Eric Casher, who gave a quick speech at a fundraiser for the Obama campaign. Eric has been incredibly involved by providing continuous support for Obama and reaching out to the public. He is highly motivated and determined to see Obama in the presidency. Kudos for all your hard work, Eric!

Do your part and register to vote.

Fleet Week

October 9-14 marks SF's 28th annual Fleet week. This year is the first year when I will actually be in town for the festivities. I'm looking forward to hanging out on my friend Megan's rooftop deck in the Marina and drinking some good ol Miller Lite.

Fleet week is proud to announce that the Navy's Blue Angels will be returning to the skies of San Francisco. Fleet week makes its 28th annual appearance, October 9-14, 2008 -- attracting an estimated one million spectators along the San Francisco waterfront.

The show will be bigger and better this year with the Canadian Snowbirds joining the Blue Angels. The Snowbirds' performance features nine jets showcasing remarkable tactical aviation. Their show is both thrilling and beautiful with more than 50 different formations.

Inaugurated in 1981, this popular annual event brings together U.S. Navy, Marines Corps and Coast Guard forces for a week-long celebration in the water and skies -- highlighted by a two-day air show over the weekend. - MarketWatch

Fleet week always reminds me of the SATC episode where the girls meet a bunch of navy men and party with them. Bring on the men in uniforms!

Top Ten: SF on a Sunny Day

My friend Chris Dowell gave me an idea of having a “Top 10” list at least once a week. To jumpstart the weekly list, thought I’d have my first list today.

As I sat here working, I noticed that it looked pretty sunny outside for SF. Every San Franciscan should take advantage of the rare occasions we have beautiful weather with clear blue skies. Although I’m stuck indoors, this got me thinking about the top 10 things to do in SF when the weather isn’t gloomy or foggy. Based on living here for about a year and my own personal experiences, here’s what I’ve narrowed it down to:

10. Enjoy lunch or brunch with mimosas and bloody mary’s at an outdoor patio area including Zeitgeist, Pier 23 and Americano.

9. Wander around the outdoor shopping areas/streets including Union, Chestnut, Haight and Fillmore. (I’m kind of a shopaholic).

8. Chill in GG Park. Take in the Japanese tea garden, bike ride or a little Frisbee golf while you’re there.

7. Head over to Medjool’s in the Mission for a rooftop mojito and a breathtaking panoramic view of Downtown SF.

6. Game Day? Check out a Giants game at the ballpark and head over to Momo’s across the street to chill on the patio.

5. Ride a bike across the GG Bridge.

4. Take a ferry to Sausalito or head to Ocean Beach.

3. Enjoy a beautiful view of the city at Dolores Park and top it off with a scoop of unique ice cream from Bi-Rite Creamery.

2. Take a trip to Angel Island and enjoy a bit of hiking, sightseeing and camping.

1. Play bocce ball at Crissy Field in the Marina. Whether you’re on the grass or on the beach, nothing like looking at the GG Bridge, Sausalito, multiple sailboats and San Francisco up on the hill while playing a fun-filled game of bocce.

Thanks for the idea, Chris!

** If anyone has any ideas for future lists or thinks that I'm missing an activity for the current list, feel free to let me know. Cheers!

Pass me the walnuts

Our bodybuilding governator signed a bill today making California the first U.S. state to require fast-food restaurant chains to list calories on their menus and indoor menu boards.

Starting July 1 next year, chains with more than 20 locations must offer brochures with calorie and nutritional information. By January 1, 2011, they must list calorie information on menus and indoor menu boards. - Reuters

I've been going back and forth on the bill, but ultimately think that this isn't too bad of an idea. Although California is already obsessed with being health-conscious compared to the rest of the U.S., I personally would like to know what I am feeding my body. Kind of like the book titled, "Eat This Not That!"

Is the new California bill really going to make a difference in obesity? Only time will tell.

Someone pass me the walnuts so that I can fake my stomach into thinking that it's full.