Sour Particles

How easy is pie though? Pretty easy. After you give blood have some pie!

Watching the bag fill... You sould try it.

Man's best friend for sure, but everyone's best friend is what Shasta actually is. If only more people I knew were more like her.

Yummy in my tummy, I am in heaven.

I probably shouldn't apply for a job here.

I like the plates.

Second stop of the day, didn't have cell reception at the first three wineries so a bit of a delay.

First stop of the day.

But this salad seems pretty big, especially considering the size of everyone elses food. All of the other salads were half as big.

Not sure if I still want to eat here...

Seals just lay in the sun all day. How can they get so fat without moving or hunting?

Waterfall or foutain, either way the water is really loud. Peaceful while we eat though, I guess.

First place brave enough to attempt to make one. They used rum instead of cachaca though, its a good drink, but sadly not as great as a real caipirinha. The sugar cane garnish is a great touch to make up for the lack of authenticity in regards to the main ingredient. The rest of the U.S. should learn from Vegas.

I'm running out things to say when I put these photos up. Give blood! And spay or neuter your pet!

Normally I would let the rabbits maul me if I didn't see this sign.

First off, I have been known to like candy. Second off, Starburst is totally an awesome name for a candy. But I must say this, I tend to favor Mamba over Starburst. Still I never turn down Starburst... ...unless it is yellow. And I know I'm not alone on this, nobody seems to like yellow Starbursts, I don't mind yellow Mamba. But for some reason yellow Starbursts, no matter if they are lemon, pineapple or whatever, never get my approval. I've always been partial to the pink, which in my opion has the best flavors.

Not going to be a problem for me, I prefer real sushi.

Sushi is good here, but its better with beer and sake.

Didn't see John Wayne or Sandy and Kirsten.

I'm not a father anymore since Petey is in Florida now, but oh well.

Craig Shoemaker

Two and half hours, about a quarter done.

Still nobody going to donate blood with me yet again, I am a failure still I guess. One day I will seduce someone in to joining me though, one day.

Whoa how did they do that?

Being a person with a pool table in the house, it is expected that I not be horrible at the game. But I think am.

A city,town or village without a decent smoothie place is really just a trailer park, even if the houses don't have wheels. Free smoothie isn't bad, not like my typical one I get at Jamba Juice though. It isn't a bad one though and there are a lot more to try, and wheatgrass! I think the value of houses will go up now that this city is civilized.

I've put more miles on my free rental car in a week than my actual car has total. I guess it helps that mine doesn't have that many miles on it, but I'm still proud of pushing 1500 miles (so far, return it on Monday so I have over 24 hours left, but they said not to go in to Mexico with it...) on a rental car that I didn't even think I'd have to begin with. And I get a free tank of gas with it.

At least I feel that way with these jumbo Smarties!

Photoshoot

Once again it has been way too long since my last encounter with some decent sushi. Can't go wrong with some raw slabs of tuna sashimi either.

Regularly priced at over two dollars, who could turn down cookies at a price like this!

While I wait for an hour for the creme brulee in the oven, I might as well pig out on this awesome little chocolate rabbit. Next up is sugar cookies. Maybe after the rabbit I will have a sandwich. I only wish this bunny thing was solid because at the moment its about 75% gone.

The first exercise in ages, ten kilometers at a mile above sea-level. Dirt trail with some hills, as you can see from the elevation profile to the top left corner of the photo. Maximum elevation is 5500 feet, and the minimum is right around 5250 feet. My time last week was pathetic, but I was happy, fresh air and relaxing. Then decided instead of once a week, why not twice. Wednesday I lost six minutes, even more pathetic. But I feel redeemed now because I shaved nine minutes off my first time (15 less than last time) and that means there is hope. Stay posted for an overly dramatic webpage with performance / heartrate / bodyweight / etc graphs, gps tracklogs on maps and maybe some conclusions on my get in shape in 10 weeks or less experiment.

It is only 10km, but I never exercise. Next week I better shave off a big chunk of this current time, whatever it turns out to be.

Nothing beats a cold one.

Honestly you could not pay me enough to drive this. I wonder what that thing does to the drivers self esteem?

So I went looking for a single bottle of Cachaca, but I couldn't find a place that stocks or has even heard of it. Finally yesterday I found one place with one type of Cachaca, but not the exact one I wanted. The owner was really friendly and said she could order whatever I wanted. While I was there the distributor was in the store, and he began to show me what he could get. I saw one that I've tried previously. I asked if there was a discount for a case. She quoted me a price for a case, I almost passed out it was so cheap. As long as there are limes, there will be a caipirinha in my hand. Hopefully that is an exaggeration, since I probably won't keep all twelve bottles for myself.

Tasty treat here on the island.

But no such luck this time, I still have not got anyone to donate blood with me.

Done walking for the day, walked over 10 miles. Started in downtown San Francisco where we saw some protesters laying in the street get zip tied and put in vans by Police in riot gear. I got the feeling the most of protesters were really fake, the kind of people who just like attention and acting. Well the ones who covered themselves in fake blood and were running around and screaming at least. Protesting seems pretty trendy. I wonder how many of them (the ones who were being really dramatic, not the ones chanting and holding up signs off of the road) got are failed actors / actresses. Honestly I would be much more affected by photographs that a lady running around and screaming about something horrible happening to her. I actually do not even know what she was trying to convey with it. Was she supposed to be an Iraqi woman? It didn't seem like she was supposed to be a solider's mother. She was calling out to Americans for help, did she want American citizens to pull out our troops because they are the ones who attacked her? The signs said impeech Bush, pull our troops out. Maybe I am just really stupid and everyone else who looked confused around her really understood what she was supposed to represent. Word to anyone who wants to protest, I'm open minded but stop the horrible acting and make sure your message is clear and not a confusing drama class gone bad soap opera. Anyways, next we walked down to the curvy Lomard street via Union square and some really big church.. Then to the warf for a beer and snack. And ofcourse we needed some sweets, ice cream, chocolate, etc. Then the almost final leg was all the way to the vista point on northern side of the Golden Gate bridge about six more miles. And then back across the bridge, it was dark by then so taxi to the BART station. Never a dull moment.

Seafood fresh from the ocean just a few steps away. Anchor Steam fresh from the brewey right here too.

One of eight aisles, in one of six rooms in one of something like more than you can count, I am lost and cannot find the exit. Please come find me.

Peaceful? Lonely? Magestic? I'm not sure, but its tiring at least.

This brewery has been brewing beer for over 370 years, pretty cool. Not quite as long as some of the others though.

Spaten Munich Opimator. Brewed exclusively from Alpine water, barley, malt, hops and yeast, according to the famous Reinheitsgebot (Purity Law) of 1516.

Cut a lime into 8 pieces. Pour some good sugar, I like Sugar in the Raw Brand (Turbinado) in the glass with the lime and crush. Add 1.5 ounces of cachaca (Distilled cane sugar from Brazil, not run of the mill Rum) and some crushed ice. Drink through a straw.

Brewing beer since 1040, that is almost a thousand years for the right brainers.

It has been way too long since I had a Guinness here at the airport.

The walk around the block didn't wear her out at all. Now she is playing with an Aquafina bottle that is almost as big as her.

We (i) had a small (large) craving, it made us (me) find sushi before dinner.

It wasn't me, but I'm not exposing who it was.

It's that time again, still no people who want to join me.

What are birthday celebrations without some bubbly? Thank you Louis Roederer.

Small part of the fire on the side of the road before you get in to the thick smoke. Now for some lunch.

Just finished a Buster Bowl.

What a deal! Just what I need, Ten banana slicers! And when I buy that many the price is only ten dollars!

I would hate to be locked in there without a tap.

Blanco Tequila, Chambord, Cointreau, Orange Juice, Lime Juice.

I don't know how I will survive 24 hours with just a shirt, a pair of socks, my wallet and my cell phone.

True love is a tall can of PBR.

Thought I was done, but I guess not.

Ordered another. Organic rain vodka, natural strawberry juice, and lemonade.

Beer, then Strawberry Lemonade (vodka), then a hurricane (light and dark rum and bacardi 151), then a Strawberry Lemonade again (vodka).

Guinness, because life is too short too waste a glass on Bud Light.

Federal regulations or not it will be a long flight.

Saw this water tricycle here, stopping for some lunch. It is pretty funny looking but probably a lot of fun.

That knife isn't sharp but you can never be too careful. This town is full of restaurants with identical blue water glasses as seen in the knife's reflection..

Fasten Seat Belt While Seated

Leaving for a trip tomorrow morning, I've made more spontaneous trips this summer than in all previous summers combined.

I am too lazy to wait for the full sunset.

I love the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Nobody has taken me up on my free beer if you donate blood with me offer yet.

Yo ho?

It is quite hot out.

Glad nobody invited Tequila to the party.

Exciting weekend ahead, but sad because didn't have ice cream before I left.

Lately I've been posting a lot of name brand stuff on here. I feel like I've kind of sold out, but I don't think I've ever made a cent from this blog so selling out doesn't feel too good. Anyways, I think I've had a Jamba Juice for five days straight now. I love smoothies, I've had better ones, but at least anywhere I go around here I can count on this place.

Lola has just passed out, I think her bedtime was a few hours ago. She is one tired little pooch. She has not stolen a single item of mine this time as far as I can tell. She usually takes something, even shoes, and hides it in her room. She hasn't destroyed anything of mine yet, just been a theif. But she can be destructive.

Toured the caves and tasted (maybe a bit more than tasting) sparkling wine. It is time to saber.

Dinner was pretty good, the beef was pretty awesome, but now I'm cutting back on the red meat, like I said long ago. The wine I had was pretty good too, 1995 Opus One. Got to love Baron Phillipe de Rothschild.

I took a small nap, now it is time for dinner. First up is the Maltese Bluefin Tuna, Japanese Setsuki Mackeral. Next is Sea Scallop Sauteed with Oyster Mushrooms. Then Crisp Niman Ranch Pork "Confit" with fresh corn polenta. Then Kobe Wagyu beef served rare. Then some desert, they just took my menu, so I didn't have time to finish reading what they are bringing out.

Allora Vineyards has a patented tasting glass. It has a dent in the glass so it aerates the wine more as you swirl it.

Having some lunch and wine here at the Reverie Winery.

Just left Kelham Vineyards, played with Gaby the black lab. It is pretty hot out, but she didn't want to stop playing.

I'm not normally a wine person, yet, but I'm open minded. And going tasting is always fun. First stop is Noah Vineyards.

On my way home, changed my departure airport three times this trip, but I'm stuck with this one since I'm on the plane now. I'm inside a flying basketball, Slam Dunk One.

Arthur Schopenhauer is the topic of discussion today, since this is the only day I'm going to be here in the class, I don't know if its all this interesting. But I found today's lecture to be very stimulating. This is my idea of a good vacation. I even raised my hand and contributed to the discussion, more than the person whose guest in the class I am. Pessimism and and suffering are great topic to discuss. Oh, and I took the bus to get here, maybe sometime soon I will take the bus all by myself. And can't forget I went to the gym this morning, didn't exercise but I got a smoothie while I waited.

Yeah, Pacific Beach is way better. The gaslamp district seems pretty ghetto too, don't recommend much of San Diego, but Coronado, La Jolla and Pacific Beach are fun. Oh and a girl on a bicycle almost hit me, she didn't even say anything to warn me. Lucky I saw her out of the corner of my eye and stopped, or I would probably be in the ICU right now.

As always there is not enough space in the overhead bins, this brings up an important issue. Why do people bring huge bags that obviously are way over the size limit on to the plane, yet when people with bags that are barely over the limit to to get on, they make those people check the barely over the limit bags. I was boarding group B, and early in it, so I found space for my within the size limit bag quickly. Its not the danger of hitting the ground that scares me, its the collective IQ of the general population, including me, that scares me. Who knows what will happen because of us, during and after the flight. Taking off.

Heading to the airport in the morning, but we have some time for some Guinness as always.

I think everyone should hear about this. Oh and my new phone should have a better camera, higher quality pictures for this place.

I was showing a friend the local natural foods grocery place, which by the way doesn't even have wild salmon. Most of the people shopping there are pretty much hippies and do not look like the kind of people who would use a good soap. But my friend found his secret soap there, I was reluctant to try it because I associated it with the dirty hippies (by the way, I have no issues with most clean hippies) because that market carried it. My friend assured me that they sold it at Trader Joe's back home, which eased my mind a bit. The label was insane, you have to read it to believe it, religious babble it seems mostly.

Here is a quote,"Each swallow works hard to be a perfect pilot-provider-builder-trainer-teacher-lover-mate, no half true hate! So each day like a bird, perfect thyself first! Have courage and smile my friend. Think and act 10 years ahead! And the man without fault? He's dead! Do one thing at a time, work hard! Get done!" And it keeps going, that's only a small fraction of the stuff written on the label.

As far as the soap goes, I like the peppermint cool burn it has, and it isn't a harsh soap. It does seem to make the water bead off my skin after a certain point during my shower, so I use a normal body wash every few showers, because I'm paranoid of some kind of oil buildup.

Ingredients: Water, Saponified Organic Coconut & Organic Olive Oils (w/ Retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Peppermint Oil, Organic Mentha Arvensis, Citric Acid and Vitamin E.

If anyone has any opinions or facts regarding its cleansing abilities, let me know. Or if you are interested in it, visit their website.

This is my favorite Red Cross. I like and trust all the people here. They stopped using the bright colorful "cohesive flexible bandages" (stretchy stuff that wraps around the gauze when you're done) because people complain that they were too colorful. That explains the two tan ones I got the last two times and this time. But they have a surplus of the colorful ones, so they gave me a roll of the pink since they can't use it.

House speciality drink here made with various alcohols. Taste some banana and cocoa and some whipped cream.

The house lager was pretty large and pretty toxic. The last shoreboat on Thursdays is at 9:45pm, so if you don't have a dingy at the pier or the others in your party took it earlier, you have to make it back by then or find someone to take you or swim out.

It is a pretty nice day out here. Hopefully when I get back here it will be even better. It has been a while since I gave the last update on my room. It has been pretty clean for a few weeks now. I even hung up two photos that I took on the wall, printed them out poster size.

One of them actually still works. Amazing, the buttons were locked up, so I poured some rubbing alcohol in the gaps, and sprayed some canned air inside it, apparently from the looks of what blew out, I or someone else, spilled soda on it. Works perfectly now, makes me feel better using these than my Ipod. Just imagine if Diamond actually knew something about marketing, maybe they would be in Apple's place right now? Maybe it was just bad timing, not as many people with broadband and whatever. This is taking up way too much of my time. By the way, this phone sucks right now.

Going home tomorrow.

Got a bit too much sun this weekend, so it was time to break out the Solarcaine. I'm not sure if it is clinically proven to do anything, but for years it has done what aloe alone never did. I think it is time to start using sunscreen better, usually if I put it on, I put it on too late. Crazy weekend, if you weren't in it, you missed out.

Today had pretty perfect weather. I spent most of the day outside. Took a nice nap when I got home. Summer is here, just a few more days.

Funny Green Light

Made it.

Probably one of the best pit stops ever. Okay maybe I'm exagerating a bit.

Between the zero visibility dust and rock storms, roadrunner that came within inches of his death, flying tumble weeds from hell stuck in to the car, heavy rains in heavy traffic. Weel, I'm just really quite amazed at how smooth this weekend is going for being unplanned, even though I've know about it for months. Last night, in Santa Monica, was a nice change from the usual Thursday, which this week was pretty good actually. All I have to do is a bit of shopping here and make it an hour north in about an eight hour time span. Wish me luck.

Maybe I have a biased opinion since it is the only one I use. I trust it on camera lens, my phone's screen, getting smudges off my discs, and it works great, almost too good (too much light coming through now that they are clean), on sunglasses too. It is funny how the same size bottle of Zeiss Lens Cleaner (3oz) ranges in cost from 3 dollars to over 11 dollars. It is ammonia free too.

I don't know what to call this, so I called it a "clover print." This is even more classy than PBR in a can.

Pabst in a can? That is classy.

Thursday nights are special. Better than Friday or Saturday in my opinion. My opinion is key, I don't like to brag but I'm always right. Okay, tired of typing for now, thumbs are tired.

What is intelligence? Is there any artificial intelligence yet? Will there ever be artificial intelligence? Is there even natural intelligence? Am I intelligent? Sometimes you can get wrapped up in those kind of questions. I don't think everyone who reads this would answer all the questions identically. Does that mean some people are wrong? Are those people unintelligent?

Maybe it is a basket not a bucket, I am not sure, but it is pink for sure. I ate a lot of the candy already though. Not sure if they picked pick because they are girls, or because they thought it would be funny or because they thought I'd like the color. I have the best friends ever.

This deep fryer makes everything taste better. It has been a while since I used it though. I think I need to cut back though, its not healthy is it?

I was only boxing for a short time, well more than an hour probably. But it was just easy going, above the belt. Good release of energy and stress. I might consider doing it more often with people with short arms.

I used to be a dog only kind of person, but a few kittens have changed my mind. This one always makes me feel better when I'm down. He is my little baby, and he has been there for me through some rough times, even without needing to coax him with treats. I won't forget the day he came here, the day he got his name, or any other day that he has been in my life. Everyday that you spend with the people you care about is special, and even when you're not with them, they still make life worth living. Oh there was the day he was freaking out at the mouse in the bathtub and the day I took him for his first swim in the pool. Even though he won't ever live with me, he will always live in my heart. I love you Butters. Now that I have that off my chest I feel a lot better, he was guilt tripping me with meows.

While I wait at major national coffee chain place, which shall remain nameless, I prentend to work on my laptop, but I'm not really working.

Give a pint of blood and i'll buy you a pint of Guinness next time I see you. Or if you don't like Guinness perhaps another beverage.

There would be nothing in this world is there was no Bento Xpress. I've been eating here since I was a little kid. You don't just get food, you get to listen to chill music and watch surfing videos also. It really makes for the ultimate lunch experience.

I have not been home for more than an hour total this whole weekend. I need a break, I need to rest, but I probably won't. This restaurant has a projector and is playing Bruce Lee flicks.

There were some taxidermy birds covered in wax in one exhibit. It looked kind of odd. Then by the same person, there was some stuff made out of hair, again kind of odd. Then there was some stuff by Andy Warhol, interesting and fun to look at. And then there was some robot exhibit, nothing seemed special in there, it wasn't interesting at all except the balloon floating thing that had no real description of what it did. The 3D computer thing was nothing special, and was pretty boring. Sushi place for lunch was pretty good though, I didn't get my miso soup though. By the way, my room is still clean, I did all the regular upkeep this weekend besides vacuuming, because I couldn't find the vacuum. Back to art, I don't hate all contemporary art, but there is a point when people see something in a piece just because the name or description next to it implies it, I like art that actually speaks for itself and doesn't let the plaque next to it do all the talking. Maybe one day I will get one of my paint by numbers in to a museum.

Lots of crazy news this week. I guess that's all.

I was never any good at paint by numbers; I always have to have them exact. The brushes are blunt to begin with, and they get worse as you paint. And when I spend time making sure you have not gone over the lines, which becomes progressively harder, you end up running out of time. Sometimes I wish I would decide to do one quick and just be happy with the way it turns out. With stuff other than painting, which I have no natural skill at, I can actually finish them and be happy with the quality. I think I hate painting by numbers, but I will never give it up. I think this whole concept of by the numbers could relate to life in general.

I was pretty productive Friday, but the rest of the weekend I didn't get much done, but I tried to get some rest. I fixed my faithful little car, it wasn't its fault. My room isn't too bad yet, still pretty clean, and I'm going to tidy it up and do all the laundry laying in my bathroom tomorrow. Something I hate is plugging stuff in to charge, then coming back to grab it when your about to leave. And you realize the outlet it was plugged in to is controlled by a wall switch, and it was turned off. Pretty depressing when you wanted to listen to your portable music player or take photos with your camera, but the batteries are dead, and it is too late to do anything now.

This is actually the same bar so I was kind of lying, but I'm going to collect all of their stamps though. The weekend has started, and it is a good start. Got big plans for the weekend. If I can remember what those plans are tomorrow then it should be a fun weekend.

My Girl Scout cookies came in today, the Thin Mint are pretty awesome, and the Samoa are decent too, but I could eat way more Thin Mints. I think I have an addiction to this stuff.

We made an emergency run to the grocery store a few minutes before it closed. Picked up two things of Girl Scout Cookie ice cream. Had a bowl of thin mint first, and then a bowl of Samoa. I can't decide which is the best, the Samoa was pretty awesome, but usually I'm a Thin Mint guy. Oh I finished the growler too.

Almost done with this, half a gallon really isn't that much beer. It is filled with Liquid Amber, well was filled. Don't really have anything else to say at the moment, well other than three day weekends are swell.