» Did you say vacation?

We found out the hard way yesterday, driving in San Francisco can get tricky. We have this map designed for walking and cycling, which is great if you are "walking or cycling". Without knowing which way the streets go, we ended up driving twice as much, going around the places we wanted to be. We made it to Swan's Oister Depot for lunch (Jena watched a special about this place on the Food Network). Man...it was to die for! Fresh sea food, and real nice people those guys are!

Another thing I found out yesterday (well, I kind of knew it), is that there are brazilians here by the millions. We managed to stop at a brazilian restaurant on the way back from the beach and I picked up some publications IN PORTUGUESE (?)

This stuff is too funny! Anyway, things here are good, I haven't got much time to rest (I thought I was on vacation), since we have been doing so much. But today we are leaving to the Napa Valley, to wine country. Perhaps there, soaking in some hot springs, and sipping wine, I'll relax a bit. No pics tomorrow, since we are coming back only friday afternoon.

» M is for mierd

Like New York, San Francisco has passed a ban on cigarette smoking on public places. So I'm having a hard time walking out of bars and restaurants to get my nicotine fix. Another funny thing, is that instead of english/spanish signs like in Denver or New York, San Francisco has english/korean/chinese signs. I really thought the latin community here was bigger. One thing is the same: there's a stinking MacDonald's in every corner...even through Nevada, in the smallest town we passed there was the big M sign, and the nasty smell of processed hamburgers.

We spent a great deal of time at the Japanese Tea Garden (at the Golden Gate Park) yesterday. Jena and I also went shopping for some 70's garments at the Haight Ashbury District. A lot of bad music on the sidewalk being performed live, and over priced polyester shirts. Nothing much. And then we spent the rest of the day hanging out with our friend Michael at MotoJava. We ended up at Blue Jay's a new creole restaurant which is fantastic, owned by Jay, which is a friend of Michael...

» And we are by the ocean...

As I write this, I'm sitting at some Korean Coffee House in the bay area, sipping coffee. The trip was easy (besides missing a windshield whipper on the road). We left Sunday night stopping at Rocky Springs, WY and finishing on Monday...Heather's house is really spacious and I found her to be really nice. Man, Nevada looks like a pile of nothing. That was probably the worst part of the trip. We are off to meet Michael Skip and to do some walking at the park. Got some photos up, too.

» The greatest band on earth

From the left: Arbon, me and Josh. After hours at last night's gig, which was actually pretty cool. The place was packed and we played really well, considering we couldn't hear ourselves. The house P.A. is a piece of crap...well, you can't always get what you want...

» The seeds of practice

The show at the Bluebird Theater was super cool (except for the sound check, which was as short as my temper). For my amusement, everything was on time. The bill included The Reals, which I didn't get to see. But Matt is a terrific organizer. Tonight we bring some live music to the west side of town at the Forest Room #5, an old gay bar that got transformed into a high class artsy pub. Nothing else to report here. San Francisco, I'm coming in three days...

» The crappy Italian job.

We had so many options this weekend at the movies:

-Resident Evil: Apocalypse
-Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
-THX 1138: The George Lucas Director's Cut (2004)

So many, I ended up staying home and watching last year's The Italian Job. I can't understand why they called it a remake, since so little from the original movie is used. Michael Caine is much cooler than Mark Wahlberg in the role of Charlie. So much for a comedy...I watched the original on TV back when I lived in Brazil, and it was a funny movie...The 2003 Italian Job, is packed with action like the new Ocean's Eleven which is also a remake, and what's even funnier: a remake with a sequel...What I watched last night wasn't a bad movie, but I still wished I had gone to the theaters. Ahhhh! THX on the big screen....

» So why did you bother, Mr. Roberts?

After almost two months since Josh Novak's new CD was released, the Westword (our "artsy" free magazine here in Colorado), decided to review it. Surprise! Surprise! All they reviewed was the quality of the recording or technical issues of it. It wasn't a bad one I should say, but it was a damn short one.

Since I wasn't part of the recordings (Josh recorded all by himself), I'm not that upset. Haven't heard from him yet, though. You can read the online version here.

» What to do? What to do?

As you may know, Jena and I are going to San Francisco at the end of the month. I'm here, trying to figure out things to do, where to go, that kind of thing. I'm definetely going to Chinatown. That's a set thing. Alcatraz, I can live without it. The Golden Gate Bridge I'll probably see it a dozen times before we leave. So what's there to do? I went surfing (the net) this morning...ai caramba! So many shitty sites trying to offer you a hotel room or a stinky tour of some classic movie set...But then, I came across a guide that really made sense. It is simple but nifty. Here is an exemple of the writing, which made me think, this guy is up to something cool:

You may be surprised at the quantity of scumzoids on the streets of SF, particularly if you've gotten used to the current state of New York City. The Powers That Be here have not yet found a way to implement their own version of Giuliani's Final Solution, and the Streets of SF are like stepping back in time to New York in the 80s. A note on terminology: I prefer the broad term "scumzoid" to the popular term "homeless" (or "panhandler" or "drug dealer" or whatever). "Scumzoid" might be criticized as a dehumanizing term, though I'd argue in many cases it's an appropriate description of people that have surrendered much of their humanity. It is true that it may be a bit harsh for the ones who have arguably had their humanity stolen from them (e.g. through illness). But this sort of nicety is not the first thing on your mind, as you go walking down a street late at night and you notice someone up ahead screaming obscenities and karate-kicking the air.

Not to say that he mentions "The Presidio" as the future Star Fleet Headquarters (note the Golden Gate Bridge on the background) It almost made me cry!

You can read the whole thing here.

» Rogue Squadron, I'm back!

Looking for a telephone number a few days back, I stumbled onto my Rogue Squadron 3D CD-ROM. Yeah, I know it's old. 1998 was when this first game of the Rogue Squadron series came out. I still think it's super cool! Perhaps it doesn't compare to Rebel Strike, which let's you get out of your ship and get busy...Or the up coming (for PC) BattleFront, which let's you do pretty much anything.
On Rogue Squadron 3D, mission objectives are fairly simple (which I don't mind), and the game's graphics are outstanding, with beautiful gameworlds and detailed ships and vehicles, even for today's standards. I still think I'm a good pilot, and this afternoon I proved it:

» Mama mia, ragazzo!

Would you look at this place?! It is so nice to be reporting from my new home. Carmela really made this whole thing work! So tight!

I think I have a problem, tough. Ever since we saw that giant Star Wars collection...I wanted to start my own. Never too late, right? I've been spending some time on E-bay, just watching things...Well, I made my first move. They should be getting home in 10 days:

a 1996 Star Wars DARTH VADER'S TIE FIGHTER, a Star Wars vintage 1978 TIE FIGHTER complete! a POTF2 TIE-Fighter Pilot and a super cool Darth Vader with a removable helmet! So what's the problem? Well, I want more! Man, I had to promise myself (and Jena) that I'm only going to buy one thing, once a month. Now that's sacrifice...

And as fall embraces us, the tomatoes here at the house don't stop coming. Ah! and they are so good...

» I'm so mean...

A little Jim Beam on the rocks, my new copy of A Girl called Eddy and the new issue of Gum. Not to mention my new Indonesian doll. God! And to think sometimes I manage to complain! Sock me! Please! Yesterday Jena and I, plus Nills, Nick and Sam went to Spike & Mike's Sick and Twisted Animation Festival. It was my first one since I've been living in Denver. The highlight was Happy Tree Friends . A really cute but sick cartoon. Most of the movies (shorts) were just plain gross. I always thought about submitting my movie to this big festival, but after seeing it last night, I'm not even sure if I'm suitable material (not a lot of blood...I think).
Man, Erin Moran (Eddie) rocks!
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» Luke...I am your uncle!

Yesterday we stopped at the Westminster Mall, so Jena could buy some eye glasses. Without knowing, we stumbled onto a Star Wars collectible show. Holly Bologna! It was fantastic. Every single Star Wars figure...from 78 'till today. The "collector" even had a 4 inches Luke Skywalker figure worth over $1,000 dollars. Not to mention the guy (forgot his name)is a pastor in some little church here in Colorado. Are you kidding me? Isn't venerating Icons idolatry? He sure had a lot of those...To be honest, I don't give a rat's ass, but I know I was certainly jealous! God Damn!!!!

More pictures right HERE.
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