Now that I'm somewhat settled in to a real house with a decent size kitchen (as opposed to a shoebox for the last couple years), I'm definitely doing some more cooking.

So, Saturday I went to the Power to the Peaceful show in Golden Gate Park to see Ziggy Marley play. True to form, I did not wake up early enough to see him play, but I got to see a couple other cool things!

1) Acro Yoga (yes, acrobatics)
2) the double sided bus
3) The (marching) band marches on!
4) Thousand and thousands of hippies

Overall a great day. The weather was amazing and I would have taken any excuse to get outside. The craziness was just a bonus!

Just discovered a fun new drink after a taste testing in front of B-rite after a lazy afternoon in Dolores Park..

Its called Vignette "Wine Country Soda". Its like sparkeling water flavore with wine grapes, no booze but def refreshing.
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It wasn't quite fixed gear, but it did only have one speed!

Definitely the same simple pricipals involved in the way I ride today, or rather will ride in SF once I get my bike here :-( from NYC.
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Sitting in my seat about to hop the quick flight back to SF from Houston already appreciating its a bit shorter than NYC to SF.

Had a busy long weekend mostly catching up with the folks and old H-town friends.

Getting some down time definitely helped reflect on everything that's been going on lately with my move to a new city, and I'm re energized to go back to the bay area!
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One more thing that I will no longer need now that I am in SF: The NYC metrocard.

It represents the freedom to quickly move around the city, without having to wait with tourists at the kiosk to buy tix.
It represents getting to know the regular subway crazies and performers. I definitely spent some time at the 2nd ave F stop listening to that wild jazz band with the horns, the huge bass drum, and that raspy singer screaming "oh when the saints come marching in"

Most importantly, it represents one of the first punishments NYC inflicts on you when you move ther. Confusing uptown/downtown and express/local. Or the ever frustrating last minute route changes leaving your short hop on the F train as a 30 minute detour up the A-C-E!

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Gotta love being back at the Rice stadium for the first game of the season

Many an hour was spent here partying the parking lot or risking heat exhaustion and dehydration in the student section.
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Here's the lovely ticket that got me in to the continental cattle car that's lugging me back to Houston for a Gypsy Kings concert with the folks.

Besides the concert, and seeing my parent, there are def some other things I'm looking forward to:

1) Lots of fun Houston people that I havn't seen in a while

2) West Alabama Ice house. Is it still there?

3) Rice Football! Haha. I never really make it into the game, but I'm a fan of the tailgating.


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One of the biggest differences between NYC and SF is the car culture, and it was one of my biggest fears when moving out here. I loved not having to touch a car for over 2 years.

No matter how progressive SF is, the best they/we can do is drive a hybrid, because the infrastructure just isn't there.

I thought the NYC bus/metro system was tough to figure out when I got there, but the one in SF is even more confusing and doesn't cover as much ground.

I suspect this has a lot to do with density, and SF not having the population to sustain a full blown system. But the real deal breaker is the car culture. Californians, not unlike Texans (my other other identity), LOVE their cars. SF may not be considered bad by normal suburban standards, but head down the peninsula and you see places like Palo Alto, Menlo Park. Mountain view where cars are an obsession!

Anyway, all this kicked in when I was standing in the Long Term parking looking at my little mazda3 lost in a sea of cars. I'd never even considered so many people would leave cars in long term parking.

So, what can I do? One of my biggest regrets in NYC was not getting involved in Transportation Alternatives (transalt.org ?). I was always travelling and missing events. SF is perfect for riding/cycling, so I definitely want to get involved with something similar here.

Anyone know where I should look?
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So, my roommates were gone for two nights in a row and I got to spend my first full day with Blue.

Needless to say, he's living the good life.

Now, if I can just get over my fear that he'll eat other dogs whole should I take him for a walk, maybe we can burn off some of that extra energy he has from being around the house all day.
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