Crazy characters of SF

2 months in SF as of today. Time flies when you're having fun. I never think, "Oh man there are a lot of crazies and bums (sometimes crazy bums) in SF, but when I look back at my adventures since moving here, I think there are a lot.  It's what gives the city character and makes it fun.  And it gives me something to blog about.

Example: Dudley and I went to game night this past weekend. On the side of the Safeway building was a large cut out where a homeless lady was resting. I didn't see her there right away, so I jumped a little when I did. No big deal.

We left around 10:30 pm. Walking back to the car I see the lady again. I see her, she sees me, no big deal. But when we get even to her, she throws a big handful of glass at me, all over my side. I definitely jump about 10 feet in the air & I think Dudley was impressed with my skills! (He jumped about 6 feet in the air). She then throws a second handful, but misses. Seriously? Broken glass? We got back to his car and after a few seconds cracked up. How absurd. Only in SF, right?

As we were driving away, she threw a biscuit or an apple core (hard to tell) at another person walking, but missed. She must of been having a bad day.

1. The cheeto finger-licking guy.
2. The smelly, drooling guy that gave me a bear hug from behind.
3. The buzzed guy on the F-train that kept wanting to shake hands and patted my shoes.

As the saying goes, "If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair." Well, forget the flowers and remember a healthy love for all things different and exciting :)

Stand up and do something!

I've been reading and listening to the news over the last few days as the anger over the Quran burning at a Florida church has dominated the airwaves.  I've listened to people in class talk about it.  This is great.  Create a dialogue, let others know it is unacceptable, stand up and let your opinions be heard.  We are at a scary moment in American history where fear is too present in our lives.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness." Burning 200+ Qurans on Sept. 11 is the ultimate example of selfishness.  On a national day of tragedy, we should be remembering those who lost their lives and pledging to work towards a BETTER society, not running away from it. 


I implore YOU to do something.  Be it something simple or grand, do it.  Are you someone that doesn't vote?  Then VOTE.  Upset at your elected officials? Write them an email. (Trust me, they do read them).  Have a lot of free time? Volunteer (I know several great organizations in Seattle) or work on a political campaign.  It is an eye opening experience.

Unfortunately this post will be lost in the daily grind of life.  But I hope it reaches a few people and gets them to think.  


"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result.” -Ghandi

I've joined a gang. Yep, it's true. A law school gang.

I'm currently sitting with my gang in our hang out - bubble room.  It's really cool.  Honest.  Ok not really. It's actually a room in the library that is sealed off from the rest of the library, but the walls are glass, so people can see in but not hear us.  You could call it a fish bowl.

There are 7 desks and chairs in the room, but we control it for ourselves.  When a stranger walks in, we scowl.  We've definitely claimed it as our territory. 

Gang members: Kellan, Kyle, Devan and Cameron. 
Gang colors: Grey and red-brown   (colors of our textbooks)
Enemies: Sith Lord & Toe Shoes  (gang names)




You can see what happens when you start law school.  You go crazy.  I know.  But I think my insanity came before law school & has worsened since I started.  Oh well.  Normal people rarely make history.

Dramatic hipster goes crazy at Dolores Park

The Characters of Dolores Park - Part 1

So we spent a good portion of sunny yesterday at Dolores Park and the surrounding neighborhood.  The sun goes down and Dudley and I walk to get some mexican food at  this awesome taqueria. Yum.  (Eric, let's go when you are here).

We walk back to Dolores Park (it's night by now, 9 pm ish) and there are still 150+ people in the park because of the great weather.  We sit down, start eating and see a group sitting next to us of about 10 people. 

All is well for about 5 minutes and then "DRUGSSSS", "DRUGGGSSS" "DRUGGGSS".  He starts screaming.  Mid 20's,  5 ft 10 and 125 lbs, dressed in all black, skinny jeans, you know the look.  His "friends" are telling him to leave.   He starts lunging at people, growling at the girls, Woah. Chill out.  Some cuss words follow and then bam, he is tackled by two of the guys in the group, who basically sit on him for about 5 minutes until he is calmed slightly and all of the group could get away.

This guy is like 15 feet away from us and gets up and starts throwing things in his over-sized shopping bag.  Then BAM, he thinks it's a great idea to start breaking glass beer bottles.   Someone in the peanut gallery is like "dude, don't do that. Don't harm the park".  

And Poof, the guy disappears like a ghost.   Welcome to SF.   :)

Summer has arrived in SF

Finally, summer in San Francisco.  I have heard, over and over, that SF has an Indian Summer.  Meaning summer will come eventually, late September or something.

That's all well & good, but seriously, 53 degrees in August is not cool.  I'm in jeans, long sleeve shirts, hats, and I even dug out my scarf once last week. 

I'm finally able to be that bum college student that gets to go to the park and "study".  It's kind of distracting but also great to get to lay out just like when I was a freshman at Univ. of Washington - circa. 2003-04.  For all you Seattle folks, summer is going to be ending in less than a month (sorry).  But that just means that you should head down to SF.  Alaska Air has flights on sale for travel through Oct ($69 each way). 

If you head down today, find me at the park.  I will be studying State. V. Utter - a criminal case dealing with manslaughter when you are blacked out from drinking.  Chew on that.

My new home :)

Some of you know the story, so I will keep it brief.

I had housing set up in SF but it fell through at the last minute.  So my mom and I head down to SF without a place for me to live.  Driving a U-Haul trailer for 17 hours was stressful enough without having to find a new home!  So we got up from the SF airport hotel at 5 AM last Saturday and headed into the city with a printed schedule of craigslist apartments to scout out.  It started out looking pretty bleak.  The first studio I looked at was about the size of a Honda Civic.  The second place was great, but the roomies weren't so stellar.  Lunch Break. But finally, the housing Gods appeared after about 5 hours and 3 failed viewings.  It's a temporary stay (3-6) months, but has worked out great.  The roomie is cool, the location is great (Noe Valley) and the price worked.  Here are the pictures some of you have asked for.

My first week - busy beaver

I've been in SF for just over a week.  Things are flying by.  I was able to find a place to live in Noe Valley and really like the area.  It is definitely a yuppie, young family area.  I've had to dodge quite a few double strollers as they are being pushed towards Whole Foods.  (Pictures of my new place to come soon).

My roommate is an independent film producer currently working on a documentary for PBS.  It is about women's contribution to the labor movement.  A few days ago she got to hang out with the SF Fire Department to document female fire fighters.  If anyone wants to come visit and needs a place to crash, let me know!  Visitors are welcomed and encouraged.  That means you, get down here.  Virgin America and Alaska Air are cheap.

It's definitely a big adjustment down here.  One of the hardest things is being away from all my friends.  It hit me this past weekend when I had no one to go to brunch with!  I was really craving something tasty from Portage Bay Cafe, but had to settle for coffee and a croissant by myself. Boo! And the weather? Seriously.  I'm seeing all these Facebook posts from Seattle about the hot, hot, hot weather in the 90's while I am wearing socks to bed because it is so chilly.  64 and partly cloudy.   Boo again.

I'll keep posting regularly as my studying allows.  I'm making some french press in the kitchen while reading the case about a korean shop keeper killing a teen shoplifter.  Ok, back to the books.