A Beautiful Day For a Gay Parade

Every year at the end of June there's an exodus into San Francisco, and by Sunday, it's at my doorstep. Hearing the techno, the tecccchnoooo, at 10am makes it official; it's here, and it's queer! This year Chaz Bono was Grand Marshall of the parade.

People come from all over to join in the sex-tivities of Pride weekend. The people are having a good-ole time, but it feels like the whole city vibrates from the excitement. As for me, I've always had to work that day. For the most part, I prefer to stay away from ridiculously huge, incredibly large, groups of people. With so many people in the same vicinity, they seem to loose their minds when they get together at the same time. A lot of people have a lot of fun, but there are others who come to the city and cause serious problems. On Saturday there was a shooting on Market and 7th, you can read more about it here. Although the police attribute the violence to gangs, innocent people get hurt. It's not good. That being said, I'll reiterate, a lot of people have a lot of fun...For example, there's a hotel across the street that had a pool party. When I say pool party you think people in the hot sun, swimming around, having fun, cooling off in the pool, right?! Not at this pool party. At this pool party, people stand around the pool, hang out and drink. They don't actually get in the pool. Where do you think we are anyway, LA? The sun was out, but it definitely wasn't hot enough for a dip, well, not in the pool anyway! People rent the rooms so they can retreat and relax after a "stressful" day of drinking and partying! Well, that's what a little gay birdie told me anyway!

I wasn't there long, but here are a few more pictures from pride...

When Work Sucks

I’m in a, what I’ll call…a, “weird phase.“

Lately, when I’ve had a less than desirable day at work, I’ve taken to comparing my life to others, most frequently, those whom have been in a tragic accident, or fallen on harder times. I’ll tell myself, yes, work sucked…at least, you didn’t have your face ripped off by a crazy monkey. At least, you have all your toes and fingers. Now, those would be reasons to be really unhappy.

Today, after work, I went to get groceries. Maybe not the best choice of things to do after a trying day at work, but it’s not so bad, plus, I really like the place where I get my groceries. It’s a small market, a few blocks from my house, it doesn’t have everything, but the people who run the place are nice, and I can get fruit, and ingredients for dinner. As I fill my basket and say hello to everyone, my dinner starts coming together. Maybe some meat. I made my way over to the meat display, but there’s already someone there, so I wait…he won’t be long…

“Can you tell me how much these will be,” referring to a few pork chops. “Uhh, what about this thing, the third one, yeah…” The man helping him picks up the pork belly, slaps it on the scale, and jabs at the buttons. “How about, another pork chop.” “No, I don’t want that thing…maybe a chicken breast.” The man behind the counter places his hand in yet another plastic bag, pointing at the chicken breasts. “The one with skin.” The way he keeps changing his mind and barking orders makes him seem rude and grumpy. I’m upset at the way he’s treating the guy behind the counter. It’s obvious by now that he’s bargain hunting. The one with skin is a dollar less than the skinless.

I set my basket down, and having nothing better to do, I inspect the man, as he comes closer to a decision. He’s wearing a red tiki shirt. His red swim trunks have been sewn together at the seam, but there’s still a hole. And on his feet, where shoes should be, are black booties, like the ones you’d get if you needed a cast. They’re on both feet, and the only toes I see are the big ones jetting from underneath the boot. I don’t know much about this man, but according to my recent, “weird phase,” I know, he’s got a reason to be grumpy. After he decides on the chicken breast, with skin, and leaves the counter, I pick up some meat, and pay for my groceries.

Turning to head home, I was still thinking of the man with missing toes, I didn’t know it at first, but as I left the store behind, I left my bad day behind as well.

Dear Diary-hea

The weather has been nice these past few days. I've been walking around a bit. To get to places other than my neighborhood, I have to first go through it. Here are some pictures of things I've seen recently. I hope you enjoy, but, I have to add a disclaimer, some of the images may be, totally disgusting.

Why? You may be wondering, did I take the pictures. Because, this is the type of stuff I see in my neighborhood, this is the awesomeness that is the Tenderloin...


I like her outfit, she even has a scepter!


This is what happens to unwanted televisions.


This guy is using his wheelchair as a walker. Oddly enough, I see this often.

About this picture...yes, it did totally gross me out, and that's exactly why I had to preserve it in endless time. Firstly, I can't say for sure whether this is human or animal, regardless, you're supposed to pick up after your animal/self. Secondly, someone put a cute little flag in it, and as I walked by, it caught my eye as it swayed gently in the breeze.


If you liked that, you'll really like this...

About these pictures...I saw this, walked a few blocks, started to text my friend about what I witnessed, since she keeps telling me I need to get an app for the iphone so people can tag where they see piles of poopy, join in the fun and all, since, after all, pooh seems to be a serious issue in the Tenderloin. You can read more about it here. So, I'm walking and texting, cause, I'm just that awesome, I get a half a block away, and make a U-turn, and head back to this, this...poohprint. I've been thinking about it, they had to, A. not be wearing shoes, which I do see often, homeless people without shoes, walking around the city.

And, B. This is where it begins, and ends. There's no pile they stepped in, the trail doesn't continue down the block; it ends pretty much where it begins. It's a mystery to me. The Tenderloin's very own "Footprints". So, if you too step in pooh, it'll be Jesus to the rescue!

I'll leave you with this...

I thought the clouds looked pretty.

Waiting for the Bus

Is the longest wait.

I've recently started a new job. With a new job comes a new mode of transport, since I don't drive. I now take a bus that picks me up right in front of my house. Upside: Not having to wait around for said transport; I run downstairs with only a few minutes to spare. Downside: When I leave my apartment building and step onto the sidewalk, it's a new experience each day.

Like a few days ago...

I leave my house and run outside checking to see if the bus is indeed down the street, when something across the street catches my eye. I look harder, squinting even, not quite sure what's happening and why I'm trying to see it so bad...Awwww man, a dude doing a really poor job at concealing his penis while he uses the sidewalk as his personal urinal. Note to self: Stop noticing what happens across the street. There's always a lesson to learn in the TL.

And today...

As I'm leaving the building a noise begins to grow outside. I slow a bit, realizing I may not want to even go outside. But my bus, my bus, that will take me to work, and out of this neighborhood, is coming. I open the gate and leave the relative safety of my building. To my right, and on the corner, there are two large black men beating on each other. There's also another fatter man with a bike who gets caught up in the action, and after he's thrown back and trips on his bike, he begins to shout that he'll be calling the police. Alright that's settled, the police will be called, and as I grow increasingly agitated by the scenario, I'm hoping my bus shows up NOW and these guys do not end up stumbling my way. Just my luck, I'll be caught in the fray, and get punched. I've never enjoyed serious confrontations. I survey my surroundings to see if anyone will be stepping in to stop them. There are guys hanging from their first floor apartments recording the action on their phone, no luck there. One of the fighting guys end up backing into a car while it's stopped at a red light. People look on as I wait for the bus, as far away as I can be from the fight, without leaving the bus stop. All this has happened in the matter of a few minutes. By the time my bus is approaching, the two brawling men are breathing heavily and hugging. This reminds me of when professional boxers get tired during a fight. As I take my seat on the bus, the men seemed to have joined forces, and are pleading with the other guy to not call the cops, on account they're brothers.

Pagolac

On the corner of Larkin and Ellis…Not only do I live in the Tenderloin; I live in an enclave, not larger than a few blocks in any direction, dubbed, Little Saigon. Because of this, Vietnamese food has become a staple of my diet since moving here seven years ago. So, when I had visitors at the beginning of April, I brought them to Pagolac, to make sure they got a deliciously authentic taste of my neighborhood.

First off, my have-to-have... the "seven flavors of beef" tasting menu. It’s seven, count them, seven courses of seared and wrapped, and some, do it yourself cooking, goodness. Bring some friends, you'll need to share, and, it's more fun! Also, have-to-have, the tofu salad. It sounds kinda blah, but it’s, cilantro, limey, crunchy, refreshing to go with all your meat, num nums. It's a small restaurant, if you come when there's a wait, you'll have to wait outside. It can get pretty chilly in the restaurant, you might want a scarf; but, if you live in SF, you're probably already prepared for any weather situation. Pagolac is open Tuesday-Sunday 5pm-10, and they're cash only. I'm including the yelp page here since I'm not sure they have one of their own. Go forth, eat the meat, and prosper!

This video is short, but to the point!