Where was I…?
Oh yeah.
So we walked down to 2nd Street from our Hotel, along the way I took some pictures and we saw some things:
There are some stainless steel looking shrooms back there.
This was some sort of open-air art exhibit in a back alley.
We saw this in between 3rd and 2nd.
I used the grid to make sure she only occupied one ninth of the screeen (for cropping later)
For you though, you get to see the whole picture.
Accross the street there were a couple of neat pieces
After a long walk, we came to the office that we would be spending the next 8 hours inside of. Sigh.
I took these pictures from the balcony during a break:
If I had been luckier, I might have caught the blue angels buzzing all the homeless in the Bay Area.
At 4PM we left the office and proceeded to be stymied in our escape plans by an uncooperative Parking Ticket machine. (We were getting a ride with another co-worker, thus the car)
Our Party had grown to 4 members and as we crested the exit from the car park we were prevented from proceeding by a large line of cars. One of us (Renatta) had to get her bags, but they were in a hotel in the other direction, and the traffic looked like it would stop us.
She got out and walked over to her hotel; we promised to turn around and come get her. After 10 minuites we had moved about 5 feet and Curtis got out to go get Renatta; as it seemed like she would have to wait a long time.
Eventually Renatta and Curtis ran after us and caught us as we started to move.
We boldly ignored a no-right turn sign that looked out of date and we were off, 20 minutes later we were in a rail car and heading into the terminal.
The Terminal was busy and even the express check-in had a line.
In what was a giant breach of security (but now that I think of it not really) I was let into the securtiy line without photo ID.
(I was wearing it on my throat on a lanyard… D’oh)
I stripped off my suspenders and organized my crap into the containers…
hmmm.. I just looked for my ID lanyard and failed….I wonder where it is?
Anyway; we passed through Security and went for food (and Beer!)
I had Amstel Lights (something easy to down) and ordered a crab appetizer and fish and chips as my entree. The Crab was ROTTEN! Horrible, sickening. I spit it into my napkin and sent it back. Ugh.
The Fish in the Fish and chips was not much better, it had a “potato-y” consistency.
I ate, we talked, we had a good time waiting to go to our gate (which chaged while we were eating)
The Flight was delayed.
I ended up sitting amongst a woman and her two daughters (two more were waiting in Eugene) and listening to their drama on the way up and down. Much to my surprise, the “youngest” was older than me and had four kids! The other two daughters were even younger.
This blew away Renatta and I.
I said my goodbeyes, got in a taxi (VIP Taxi in Eugene, use them when you are in town) and headed home.
The house was spotless clean when I got home and we opened my Birthdat Presents.
It was a long day; which I’ve only really recovered from in the last little while.
Good Trip overall.
Cheers.
Heylo!
I’m back in Oregon and since I was so late coming in, I decided to wait until today to post my last blog entry about my Trip to SanFran. Our flight was delayed until 9:30 or so and we sat on the tarmac for 10-20 mins before we started off. so I didn’t get home until around 11:20 or so.
I digress though.
After I blogged about my birthday I went back out into the San Francisco night and tried to have a good time on my own, or at least without people I knew. This was pretty much the worst idea possible; I’m friendly enough but when I don’t have a wingperson I am also pretty much shy. I found a friendly bar and had a couple beers; but ended up headiung back to the hotel. Ah me.
When I woke up in the morning I had slept in about 10 minutes. So I had to rush through my morning routine AND get packed; in 10 – 20 minutes. When I was finished in the shower, however, I got a text message from Curtis saying he was running late. Whoop! I had time to dress and pack without worrying.
After packing and checking out, we hit the breakfast bar and had the “All American” [eggs, toast, hash browns and meat] it was great. I had ordered “fried tomatoes” the day before, but they messed with them, so no tomatoes today.
The Breakfast was good, but the waitperson was terrible, she kept yelling at the other staff. I left her a 2 dollar tip (the bare minimum).
I took a few pictures in the hotel; the fountain from the atrium; the bust at the top of the stairs into the Atrium, the elevtators [showing that you cannot see the elevators I had to ride in], the water art in the lobby and the mothership [chandelier] in the main lobby.
Check them out bellow:
The walk through the Garden was nice. I swear there were Little ASian Grandmas walking at exact 10 foot intervals through the entire area though; and little crowds of them all over the place. We were walking into an area that was built up around some form of art center; whose name escapes me.
I’ll update this post later when I am more rested.. stay tuned!
Hey there; it’s my 31st birthday today. I’m somewhat more sober than I planned to be at this point, but since NiteGirl isn’t here I guess I’m okay with the little buzz I got on from dinner.
It’s Day Two of my trip to San Francisco:
I snapped this on the walk to the actual reason for my visit (training). I passed many a new sight on the way and we were a little lost. We used a transit map to locate the street (Battery) and find the actual place we were going to.
We passed a place with a giant sign that said “Comics and Toys” and aggreed that we would have to check it out later.
We detoured down “Bush” street and found Battery and after what seemed an eternity; we found the place.
We passed a neat statue on the way; it was outside a building with giant columns.
It is “Brittania” but all cut up into sections; check it out:
The actual training room was fine, I had a good wireless signal and was able to catch up on some work during the down time and got some decent info.
They took good care of us and fed us a nice lunch; but it took all day.
The coffee break and drinks were great, lots of soda and coffee and fancy water, I really should have snagged one of the cylindrical bottles to take a picture.
As it was, after the training we were to re-convene for dinner. I looked forward to this as it was an excuse to drink a bit,
This odd sight was outside the training room.
The USB key was on the desk, I posed it here with the fork. I’m a bad photographer.
We stepped into Jeffry’s Toys and checked it out; it was awesome! Comics, Toys, rare toys. It would be my fave shop if it wasn’t so damn far away.
After a long walk back to the hotel then back to the restraunt and getting lost, we had a great night in there and I took pictures.
Before the meal, we had drinks and stood around and chatted. Then sat down and there was a speech or two.
The appetizer was great, if small. Tiger Shrimp, Tuna Rolls and Pot Stickers. Superb!
The main course was great; as was dessert.
I had a great time talking to the Sales Engineers that shared our table, they were great folks.
After the meal Curtis took off, I intended to stay, but since Renatta was leaving I figured I should walk her to her hotel (it’s late in an unfamiliar city, I don’t like the idea of anyone walking home)
We caught Curtis then headed out.
As it happens Kevin came along and walked Renatta to te hotel and Curtis and I walked back to our own hotel, past all the people who worked downtown but had to head home. Some homeless guys were packing up for the night and I saw a whole group of girls being let into Halloween stores.
It was a good walk home, I got a call from Nitegirl and noted that I had missed a ton of calls,
Oh well, another Birthday goes.
I stepped into the bathroom to put my braces back on and use the facilities. While I was engaged in the act the Muzak switched to “Alive” by Pearl Jam. Shades of Final Destination crept up on me and made me shiver just a bit about the trip.
I took the escalater up and saw the awesome Helicopeter you see in the pic to the left, so I snapped a shot then moved on.
I had to search for a good seat in the lounge so as to avoid the Fox broadcast and still enjoy the CNN broadcast. A lady was alying accross all of the seats under the CNN TV so I took one off to the side and settled in for a long wait.
I called nitegirl and the office and made sure everyone was good.
After a while Curtis showed up and I told him that the flight was 15 to 20 minutes late, which elicited some sounds of disapproval.
We chatted about politics and then I made off for a lunch (roast beef sandwhich with horseradish, yum)
Eventually our plane arrive and we were ushered onto the beat. I was in seat 1A (right at the front crouched over to my right against the bulkhead). I had a chance to sit on the aisle, I think I will do that on the way back.
After a short flight (in which I dropped and lost access to my IPOD, retrieved only after landing) we deplaned in SF and briskly walked to the Taxi Stands.
A brief negotiation led us to the only taxi in the stand that accepted Credit Cards, also the largest a big minivan with an impressive collection of dings, dents and scratches. A real Road Warrior.
Like all Cab rides in SF, it was FAST, BUMPY and possibly illegal; the driver never turned on the meter.
The Driver was a Russian Immigrant; apparently his entire family left russian previous to the fall of communism and never went back. He dropped some knowledge about the (lack of) virtures of marrying one’s car and that the reason the isrealites were lost in the desert for 40 years was because it took a whole generation of them to lose the emotonal trauma of being slaves.
I missed a chance to take a picture of AT&T Park (Darn).
After the Driver dropped of the other passanger who came with us, we were dropped at the SF Marriot (55 Fourth Street) which was not on front street. Which made all my maps useless (I didn’t know this until today though)
The Hotel is big, huge really, with three different restraunts and elevator stavks, (Low, Mediumand high) or as I came to call them, Good , Better and servants (low rise). The hallways to the rooms are labyrinthian and drab, it takes a full 4 turns to reach the rooms, no joke.
My room as a good view:
More
If you look at the pictures you will see an Apple Store and a Virgin Megastore.
We (Curtis and I) went out and checked them out; as well as searching for a nice place to dine.
After passing around the blocks a few times and being hassled by the homeless we hit a nice French Restraunt called “Jazz Bistro:
This was a nice place with good atmosphere and friendly staff, I recommend it if you are in teh area an dlooking for nice french food.
The menu was great, it even had escargot and frogs legs.
I enjoyed a nice bowl of French Onion Soup and some Lamb Stew.
They supplied us with crusty bread and I enjoyed a couple of Becks with my meal.
Before our food came, a large man in a blue shirt came into the place, which made me fell great about me, as I am a large man too, but not so large and much better groomed.
After dinner, in the rain; we walked back towards the hotel. As it was “House” night, I wanted some junk food for some TV watching (which I never ate) so we stopped in Rite Aid.
The Rite Aid was pretty busy and it took a bit of searching to find the chips and pop. Walking back through the place I noted the neat security caps they had on all the booze and briefly considered buying some rum.
Paid for my Junk and we breezed out, to be confronted with an odd scene, a homeless guy fighting some office wonk. the Office wonk called for help, police, whatever and I snapped a pic of the melee. A few people intervened for the homeless guy who was allowed to run away. I’m inclinded to beleive that the office wonk was trying to prevent a crime, but since he is not a cop, smacking some homeless guy is just not on.
The walk home remained pretty serene, there were a number of cops outside the buildings in those pictures up there, but I have no idea what was going on. The whistles the porters used to summon cabs were awesome, like loud train whistles.
I considered heading to the theater to see “jackass: number two” but since it was bound ot be pricey I decided to just stay in. I called my boss to clear getting Internet access at 13 bucks a day and then checked my mail and posted the pix from the day.
House was a rerun and so I fell asleep really early and woke up at 2:30AM.
NiteGirl called me around 10:30PM, but it didn’t really wake me up.
Do you play any musical instruments?
I have played:
- A Baritone
- A Drum
- An Accoustic Guitar
- An Electric Guitar
- A Trumpet
- A Piano
- An Electronic Keyboard/Midi Controller
I’m Actually Trying to Lean
- The Electric Guitar
- An Electronic Keyboard/Midi Controller
I have produced a number of musical compositions on my various computers (Mods/S3m) Actual songs in Mp3 and Wav format. My “best” work is lost to me as the tape that contained the only recordings of them was leant out and lost, it had some great songs as “The Killer Grass” and “I don’t wanna” all of which were based around samples of real phone conversations.
Sigh.
Here is a song I perfomed ages ago on (what I think) was a Cyrix 486 computer… or a P133 class one. I forget if I made it before I got my first P2/p3 machine. It was encoded on my p2/p3 machine.
I’d say enjoy, but I think in this case “tolerate” would be better.
I’m writing this while I listen to a cover of the Dr. Who theme I made in 2003, I love this a great deal more.
How many pets have you owned in your lifetime? Tell us about them.
Submitted by jennajellopy.vox.com.
Ignoring Fish…
Cindy the Dog (A Black Lab) she was our Dog when I was 6-7, we gave her away when we moved to Kincardine. I remember her name and that she had white patches and we got her for free (I think) that’s about it. We didn’t take good care of her (My sister and I, My Mum DID take good care of her)
More Fish… My sister had a tank.
When I was 10 we Got “Lady” a black Lab retriever. She was some sort of “Mega” Lab as she was almost as big as a Newfie and built like a tank. As is usual for such Dogs she was a giant puppy dog and sweet as she was timid of leaving our yard on her own. She only ever barked/snapped at one person and he was threatening My Sister and I. She got Cancer and Epilepsy when I was 15-16 and we thought she would die. She lived on (bouncing back from ever deeper lows) until I was 21-22.
I vividly remember how we discovered her epilepsy, I was walking into the kitchen and heard a funny sucking sloshing noice coming from her, she was swallowing her own tongue! I reached into her mouth and snatched it out. She bit through my thumb and left me with what has proven to be a permanent scar. I was so sad because I thought she would ahve to be put down the next day. 6 years later when she actually was put down she had lived a long and happy life.
While living in Toronto we had two cats: Cat number one was a black alley cat kitten named “NiteMayr” after me. He never took to Jenny (even though he was hers) and ended up staying with our room mate. Our Second Cat “Skittles” was never suited for life around computers. He went to a family that had just lost their cat.
We had something like 24 hamsters in Toronto, none of them liked to be held but they bred out as these giant Sable-Rex cross breeds, think puffy rat sized hamsters. I ended up having to euthenize whole litters. It sucked alot.
We have had lots of fish here in Eugene.
We had a bunch of Hamsters too, although only the last two have been handleable, Ginger and Shebo. I had forgotten the name of the one in the cage until right now.
We have had two cats, Milkshake (a sweetie who slept on my head and made my allergies go crazy) and Kodos who is a giant bastard who hates humans and only lets me pet him.
I’m loving my little Canon a530.
I love slinging it out and snapping shots of stuff, especially close up and strange.
Take my little friend here; the fusion of a stress doll and a koosh ball. I have christened it the team mascot. I took a few snaps of it for my flickr page.
In Not Fun Stuff news, I decided to wipe out my Fedora Core install (meaning I lose my neat-o antispam solution for a while) but as per usual my path to Linux Nirvana is beset with Jackassery and slow net connections.
Oh well. Jackassery Calls.
Let’s make a list. What are 20 things in your life that you’re grateful for?
Inspired by wyndslash.vox.com.
- Daughter
- Wife
- Mum & Dad
- Family
- Good Friends
- Women (In General)
- Poetry
- Fiction
- History
- Fish and Chips
- Scotland
- Irn Bru
- Dance Music (Techno/House/Electronica)
- Rap Music (Old School/New School)
- Political Consciousness
- My Job and the money it generates
- Comics
- Computers
- Television
- Rum and Coke
Every couple of weeks now I get a new stack of books from the Interweb:
This week it is “War Lord – A Hellblazer Novel” “Hellblazer – Staring at the Wall” “Hellblazer – All His Engines” “World war Z – An Oral History of the Zombie Wars (Max Brooks)”
Last week it was Irvine welsh books.
I’m all full on books now. I should jus tread these now. [But it’s my Birthday next week, so we will see]