Saturday, September 18, 2010

On Good Still Outweighing the Bad

Despite the current state of spastic cough, shit-fit that I've been in for a week now, I still rallied and enjoyed a one nighter camping trip with the gang last weekend. The chosen spot this time around was Big Basin up in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This being our last camping trip for the season was the definitely my favorite. I love how the trees sheltered us from the heat of the Sun but still let enough rays to shine through and gave us all a healthy dose of Vitamin D. I love the smell of the great outdoors. It's a musky, earthy scent combined with the fragrance of sunblock. I just want to bottle it up and keep it with me at all times.

So I got home early Saturday evening just in time to watch the RedSox lose to A's...boo! Not that I timed leaving the campsite just so I can catch the last 3 innings...no, not at all... I got back and enjoyed a nice and relaxing Saturday evening at home mainly because I had a 4 hour volunteer shift the following day.

Woke up Sunday morning, pumped and ready to go. I got up on my usual time to get ready for church. Little did I know that my day was about to get really crazy. I walked out my door rushing to get to my car because I had 5 mins before Service time. I live only 5 mins away from my church. I walked to my spot and noticed that my car was nowhere to be found. I paced back and forth trying to remember where I parked. I replayed the events of the evening from the moment I got off the freeway up until the time I parked and grabbed my belongings.

Ever had one of those moments when your thought is going at a lightning speed as if someone had pressed the fast-forward button on the dvd player and then all of a sudden it stops? It's the moment when the main character in a movie realizes something so plot worthy that the screeching halt noise plays in the background? I had that moment on Sunday. I remembered parking slightly over my neighbor's driveway but not enough to block it altogether that a car cannot pass through.

I turned around and saw this guy sitting in his porch, self inducing cancer into his body with cigarettes. I walked up to him, my voice almost to a whisper, scared to even let myself hear the question I was about to ask him.

Sure enough, the asshole had my car towed!!!!! I was no more than maybe 5 inches if that. I'm normally a very careful person and will not take risk such as parking too far out as to block someone's driveway. I was aware that I was sticking out a bit but not enough to block a full size sedan from getting in.

An hour later, I got my car back and $500 poorer ($385 for tow and $90 ticket) :( I can't believe how mean spirited my neighbor was. All I can say is that Karma has a way of working it's way back to you.

So I missed church and now had to rush to meet my cousin for lunch in Japantown. No time for me to sulk or even process what had happened. I cried a little bit here and there but had to suck it up because I already made prior plans and she was coming from the Southbay (45mins away).

On top of that, I also signed up to volunteer at the Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival. We finished lunch and I had to hurry to make it to the volunteer check-in before my shift started. I had such a great time there though. I'm glad I trooped it up. There were definitely moments that I almost forgot what a lousy morning I had. I was a sponge and sucked up all of the people's good energy because mine was running on empty.

It was non-stop up until 5:30pm when my shift finally finished. I had a long day and I was SOOOO ready for some liquid comfort. So a group of us met at Rogue in the North Beach and then had dinner at Joe DiMaggio's. Yes, I got drunk (*_*)

It sucks that my neighbor did what he did. It really sucks that I spent money on something so ridiculous and meaningless. I could have used that money to donate to a greater cause. The Dahlia Dell at Golden Gate Park will be in need of stakes and seeds for next year's bloom. United Way campaign is happening at work right now. There's about a hundred things I can think of that the money could have gone to.

The point is, be conscious of your decisions. My neighbor's decision caused such an unnecessary distress. Who knows what other delayed outcome will come out of this. But one thing is for sure, my Neighbor does not make my Neighborhood. Who I Live next to will not stop me from Living. At the end of the day, the Good still outweighed the Bad.

Good Ole Fashion Vitamin D = Divine



My breakfast - banana, cantaloupe, plum...




A Mighty Oak Tree was once a Nut who stood it's ground (^_^)

Fallen tree log



Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival



Complete pics here:

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0MaMmTZy3YswY


Tirelessly,

Jakey

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Ma Cherie Aubergine

Yes bloggies, I found the perfect name for my now preferred mode of weekend transportation. Meet Aubergine - it means eggplant in French. Isn't perfect! Her color is that of my favorite veggie. My dear friend Chao actually helped me come up with her name. He pointed out that I should name it according to my most favorite things. I went down my list:

  1. Naps
  2. Chocolate
  3. Eggplant
  4. Earl Grey tea
  5. Cuddles
  6. Champagne
  7. Jason Mraz

I went on my first full on bike ride over the weekend. The group met up at the Ferry Building. We then made our way down the Embarcadero, passed Fisherman's Wharf, dodged some tourists, then on to Crissy Fields. The first hill that we went through nearly killed me! But I could tell that my stamina has gotten better since my first ride about a month ago because I've been hitting the bicycle machine at the gym. I've still got ways to go though. My legs still feel like Jello in its liquid state :(

Bonjour, J'mapelle Aubergine


This pic was taken right after we got over the very first hill getting up to Crissy Fields. It was a very steep grade.




Riding across the Golden Gate Bridge was exhilirating.



Crossed the bridge and now on the sunnier side




We finallly reached our destination in Sausalito. Fish. is hands down the best fresh seafood restaurant I have ever been to. I wish I can eat everything on the menu in one sitting! It's that good. I was sad after I finished my second dish because I wanted to keep eating!



Round 1: Fish Taco (tilapia)


Round 2: Calamari on a bed of pasta...yum!



Round 3: Guava Flavored Sorbet - there's always room for dessert!


There's this really fun toy store in Sausalito that sells these super duper cute toys. It's solar powered and the head part sways left to right. Kawaii!!!


The bike ride was amazing! I cannot wait to do it again. The group is planning to go all the way to Tiburon next time around. There's another restaurant there that I've been meaning to go back to for a while now. I'm so excited!

Complete pics here:




The funtivities continued the next day with more Sun in the Fun! The gang went to Dolores park on Sunday and spent a warm day people watching and sip, sip, sipping on yummy wine :)


Dinner at Ti Couz before going to French Tuesdays Party - I love this place. They have the BEST Crepe outside of France. I've been coming here for years and I have yet to find a better place. I had the Lemon and Brown Sugar Dessert Crepe....Delish!


So French Tuesday sucked this time around. The venue was teenie, the egos big and the European men just doesn't do it for the girls. There's a certain Je Ne Sais Quoi about them. So NOT sexy! We came, we ate and left faster than we can say Le French Toast!

So what do we do? Hit up the first normal bar we can get to as fast as we can (Casanova Lounge). Bring on the Racer5

With all the funtivities of late, it's no wonder I am lying on my death bed....Okay, a bit dramatic but I do feel tres horrible! There's a bug going around the office and I caught it...damn it! I hate getting sick but it's bound to happen I suppose. It's my body's way of telling me to slow down and take a chill pill. Besides, it has now given me the opportunity to get in touch with you.

Cough...cough...sneeze...sneeze,
Jakey