I think I have a project.

But, I’m not sure how long it will last. The other night, I was buying a sub sandwhich, and while a waited for the toppings to be added, I grabbed a copy of the SF Gaurdian. The current issue is their Best of the Bay Awards - where readers and editors pick their favorite places/things/people in the Bay Area (mostly SF), and publish them in the tabloid-like, mostly-advertisements paper. There are tons and tons of listings, for pretty much everthing imaginable. From “Best Cafe” to “Best Paper Clips With A Past,” if it’s considered cool, it’s in there.

So my project is to walk to all the ones I find interesting. I kind of figure, that San Francisco is only 7 miles by 7 miles, and I live pretty much in the middle, so I couldn’t have to walk too far to get to these places.

On day one, I walked 1.5 miles down to “Black and Blue,” ranked Best Tattoo Shop.

My friend, Lindsay, had a consultation there with Idexa, the owner. So I got to meet her and see the woman-owoned and operated shop that is kind of famous in this area. I talked to Idexa about the fact that the Guardian said this about her shop: “The renowned female artists at B&B may not be able to pee while standing (we think), but they’ll man up to the needles any day. Best tattoos in town.” That sort of grossed me out… for several reasons. ONE – how did whoever wrote this know that they all identify as female? TWO – how did they know that they can’t pee standing? And THREE – why do they have to “man” up to needles. Gross. I was pleased that Idexa felt pretty much the same way I did about this.

Yesterday, I walked 2.2 miles to Green Apple Books, ranked “Best Independent Book Store; Best Used Book Store.”

It’s down on Clement Street, in what I would consider to be Richmond? Anyway, it was totally cool. Working in a “big box” store, for some corporate, giantman, I am always excited to see how little indie places run. It’s just so more creative and fun. Everything was labeled with posterboard and markers. There were quirky signs placed throughout. There were interesting books stacked everywhere, with seemingly little order. It ruled. I didn’t buy anything because I wasn’t really looking for anything in particular – and it was sort of over-whelming. But, I kind of think that’s the purpose.

today was touch, yesterday was go.

It’s been an adjustment… moving into a new place, with new people. Mostly, leaving behind the old is the hardest. Leaving Oakland felt (still feels) sacreligious. However, I must say, I do love my new neighborhood. Everything is so close… and there’s life at all hours. I did realize today, as I walked around, that there are SO many people in this city. It’s one thing to see a gathering of people at a specific location (resteraunt, park, theater), but seeing gatherings of people not interested in one activity feels so different. There are so many people in one spot, but they are all actively doing something unrelated to one another.

night number one in SF

Warning: I wrote a journal entry… sorry.

I’m here… it was quite a day, but I’ve made the leap! I now rest my head in a big ol’ city, in a big ol’ Victorian. The ceilings in my room are high, and there are boxes stacked everywhere… it’s kind of like I’m living in a small nook, between the blocks of a Jenga game.

My only complaint, thus far, is the bathroom. It is tiny. When you sit on the toilet, you can rest your chin on the sink. It’s something else. I’m used to so much room, so this is definitely an adjustment.

I walked around the neighborhood a bit, after taking half an hour to find a parking spot. I like my surroundings. Lots of people and things to look at.

I have to work tomorrow at 7 am. AND – I don’t have to leave an hour and half early to get there either! Holla!

spin that SALLLAD

I found this article totally funny. Some company (a British one, duh) took a survey of the most and least useful gadgets in people’s life. Of course, cell phones were #1. But also in the mix were hair straighteners and salad spinners. Hilarious. Bread makers and foot spas were the least.

My favorite gadgets of ALL time include this:

And this: