Thursday, February 28, 2008

Graduation Trip!

Okay, is it to early to plan my graduation trip? I know it isn't high school but hell 18 months is a long time. I need something good to focus on besides the fact that I will be doing good for others. I mean "I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that." [LLoyd Dobler in Say Anything ( I love John Cusack!)] I will be helping people!

So when I finish the LVN program in 18 months plus 3 months of summer vacation, I want to go to Bikini Boot Camp. I got this email from my friend, Candy and she is in Tulum, Mexico at Amansala  participating in Bikini Boot Camp and the itinerary sounds amazing. I want to go so bad! I told this tidbit to G and she is also down. She then suggested we skip on over to Playa del Carmen for some more adventure and I think I can get her to take a short side trip to Merida to see Frida's house and the Plaza where we can find some Latin Lovers (cue Tbone and Dave in their best bull fighter outfits and Vincente Fernandez playing ranchero songs). Can you dig it? Don't you want to join us? I CAN NOT WAIT!!! (COUNT DOWN TO MAY 2009!) I am starting to freak out becuase I so want the next 21 months to go by RAPIDO!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

40 for 40 - Week 4, 2/26 - 3/3

Tuesday, Feb. 26 -- Edinburgh Castle Pub Quiz . The Castle is located at 950 Geary Blvd, between Larkin & Polk Streets. The Quiz start at 8:30 PM. Entry is free but the beer isn't.

Wednesday, Feb. 27 -- Book group (aka wine club) meeting to discuss Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Thursday, Feb. 28 -- Bars by the Book visit to the Dubliner Lincoln

Friday, Feb. 29 -- Leap Day and Sadie Hawkins Day

Saturday, Mar. 1 -- Dinner at Elizabeth's with Cathy and Stacie then to Comedy Club

Sunday, Mar. 2 -- TBA. Please check back. I had planned to go on a Mural Tour of the Mission but the weather isn't cooperating. Now I am going to dim sum at Ton Kiang.

Monday, Mar. 3 -- TBA. Please check back

Monday, February 25, 2008

Day #16: The Hives and The Donnas @ The Fillmore

Chisco, Slugo, Chica and I were in a rush so we went to Burger King for dinner. It is just so great that it is convienetly close by. Then we high tailed it to the Fillmore about a block away where the Donnas were already rocking the house. The four D's were great and gave mad props to the Hives. We loved them but only wished you could see some of their faces. I guess bangs are IN in a big way.

We gave Chisco a tour of the Fillmore stopping up stairs to see Live 105's entertainment. I have no clue who the guys were. They were playing this old timey instrument from like the time when instruments weren't invented yet or something. I think I'll have to check out Live 105's blog to see who they are and what they are about. We checked out all their killer posters and they had one of a band from Mexico and that is when my cousin got impressed.

The Hives came on and the front man was awsome. They all were. The drummer, Chris Dangerous, really rocked as did the Donna's drummer. The guys are supper tall and hella hot in their suits. When Idiot Walk came on the singer, Pelle Almqvist, did his version of Mick Jagger's strut. It was killer show!

The only downside was that there were no free posters. I love the free posters.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Day #14: BBTB's 1st Anniversary

This President's Day we headed over to the 1 year anniversary party of Gren's BBTB. I know I won't do the night justice so you have to visit her blog! But some highlights: the most barflies ever at one time; a blast for the past came and brought a new barfly; and the joke fest ensued. Yup, you'll even find out the CC did not stay for the whole night!

Oh, Gren on the History Channel they aired a show called, History of the Joke, and "What is brown and sticky?" was the most sent in joke! I have to side with Lewis Black -- It's just not that funny and SH*T would be a better answer.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Day #13: Marie Antoinette and In Bruges

Today, I hooked up with my friend H and her girls N & F. We stopped by Golden Gate Park and then over to Clement Street for lunch. We finally got around to the Legion of Honor, where we met Ms Olive, and saw the marie Antoinette exhibit. The line was crazy and the show was a little disappointing since it was mainly furniture and cheap replicas of her necklaces. The interesting part of the exhibit is learning about her hideaway palace at Versailles and it's surroundings. She had her own carousel, theater, and English and Chinese gardens.

After the museum, we headed to the movies at the Kabuki which I am planning to boycott. You have to pay for assigned seating and then the movie is wrecked because people can't find the seat they forgot they picked. We, San Franciscans, are not use to such rigidity and can not be forced to conform. Tbone met up with us and we ended up having a good time.

If you haven't guessed by know we saw Colin Farrell's movie, In Bruges. Only Chisco had been there. He is a major world traveler. Right now he's visiting from Leon, Mexico. We'll be there in May for his wedding!

-- B

At the end of the evening I couldn't make up my mind whether to eat or go home. Luckily, I choose to go home becuase I should rest my liver tomorrow is a BIG day!

40 for 40 - Week 3, 2/19 - 2/25

Tuesday, Feb. 19 -- Have dinner at Delfina

Wednesday, Feb. 20 -- Concert Night: The Hives and The Donnas at The Fillmore

Thursday, Feb. 21 -- It's Not My Birthday Celebration! (Hey, other people have birthdays too.)

Friday, Feb. 22 -- Dinner at C & M's house

Saturday Feb. 23 -- Family Day (Mom's B-day)

Sunday Feb. 24 -- Precita Eyes Mural Tour (postponed due to rain)
Instead, Dim Sum at Ton Kiang and a visit to the Conservatory of Flowers

Monday, Feb. 25 -- ???

-- B

Day #12: The Big Lebowski Party

Well, I should begin with the fact the Mom, Slugo, Chisco, Ms Olive and I had dinner at the yummy Park Chalet, where Ms Olive insulted the live musicians by asking them if they were "Diego's Umbrella" the usual Tuesday night band. They weren't.

Then we headed over to the Blur to meet up with Gren. By the time we got to Blur it was just Ms Olive and me as the others had jumped ship. We found Gren chatting up half the bar (really just some guy and the bartender). We had a PBR in honor of the Dude. Some nice guy from Detroit came into the bar looking for some other straight bars on Polk St. We sent him over to the R Bar on Sutter and told him about Big Foot Lodge on Polk near Washington Street. Both great bars in our book!

We went over to Space Gallery for the party. It has some great inexpensive art pieces for sale. Ms O is vowing to go back on her next payday and buy something. She'll let you know when she does.

We got our $7 White Russians and headed upstairs where they had a dj, bowling and of course were screening the Big Lebowski. There were a few people dressed up as John Goodman's character, Walter Sobchak ("I told those fucks down at the league office a thousand times that I don't roll on Shabbos!") and others dressed as the Dude in his bathrobe. But the best costume was the guy who stripped down to his leopard bikini underwear and just mingled about. But I guess he either got too cold or too embarrased because he changed back into his street clothes.

Gren left us to meet Just So Jeff and we stayed as long as possible but it was a bit hard to see the movie or have conversation when the dj started. The space is just too small. But it is a cool place for a small party and the art is amazing.

-- B

Day #11: A Million Little Pictures

Ms O participated in a very cool art show. Back in December she ordered a disposable camera from A Million Little Pictures . The premise was for her to take pictures around the theme, adventure. Once she was done she sent the camera back. They developed the photos along with the ones taken by 226 other people and organized an exhibit.

The exhibit took place on February 15th at 111 Minna Gallery. Ms O's photos were there. Her photos were taken on our trip to Minneapolis. There were pictures of the ice fishing and the hockey game, which is pretty adventurous stuff for San Francisco natives.

Now our cousins can say that they've been part of a gallery show, too.

-- A

Day #6: More SF Indie Fest

We were back at the Roxie volunteering for the fest. We saw a collection of animation shorts and a doc, "The Bodybuilder and I." Our favorite shorts were
Hope Springs Eternal
, The Cock Song , and the "Fantasies of Bubblewrap".

We met the composer, Armando Sandoval, for Hope Springs Eternal. He was really sweet, funny and very proud of his work on the movie.

Later that night we saw the short, "Surfing Thru" about women surfers who have cancer. It was quite moving and inspiring. The movie is only 24 minutes long which we found out is the length of one chemo treatment. The filmmaker, Chloe Webb, who was Nancy in the film, "Sid and Nancy" is hoping to get this film into hospitals so that women (& men) can watch it during chemo sessions. What a great idea!

We also saw "Sliding Liberia", a surf movie with a social justice twist. I don't know if it will get released but their basic goal is to turn Liberia into the next big surfing spot which at the same time will help the country's economy by turning it into a tourist destination. The director, editor and two of the surfers featured in the film were going over to the Bissap Baobab after Q&A. We didn't go because it was a school night and we haven't even finished one week of fun yet!! Ugh, I really am turning 40 when I turn down drinks and talks with film makers.

-- B

Day #5: SF Indie Fest

I am still going strong! Luckily, Ms Olive is really into the 40 Days of Fun! On Saturday, February 9th, we went to the Roxie to volunteer at SF Indie Fest. It really is great event and they have killer films. In exchange for volunteering you get to see the movies that are playing during your shift for free. We saw a collection of shorts and later saw a funny Armenian movie, "Big Story in a Small City."

For dinner, we had shwermas at Truly Mediterranean. They use to have a place on Haight St. and the shwermas rocked. Now they are just so-so. We'd love to find a good shwerma, if you know of a place let us know. After dinner, we saw Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation . It was made in the 80's by a bunch of teenagers and it is pretty funny. They recreated and filmed their version of the movie following the original word for word and scene by scene.

At 9ish we met up with G for the IndieFest Roller Disco Party. The party was good but it was so packed (about 500 people there) that you couldn't really skate. They had a killer dj but after two hours of going 2 miles per hour and dealing with really long lines at the bar we decided to bail! (But we are looking for a roller skating place, if you know of one in the Bay Area let me know asap!)

-- A & B

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Day #4: Double Date Night

Slug, A, R and I met up at SPQR on Fillmore. The restaurant does not take reservations. We got there at 6:30 p.m. and the wait was an hour. We really wanted to try the place so we waited. Luckily, there are so many places to have a drink in the area and I'm not opposed to having a good drink.

About an hour later, we went on over to SPQR and had a great dinner. If you go there, you should try the fried brussel sprouts. They are very tasty!

-- B

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

40 for 40 - Week 2, 2/12 - 2/18

This week's activities include:

Tuesday, Feb. 12 -- Dinner at Tadich Grill with my friend Vi from college

Wednesday, Feb. 13 -- Mani/Pedi

Thursday, Feb. 14 -- Valentine's Day

Friday, Feb. 15 -- A Million Little Pictures Exhibit at 111 Minna Gallery. The exhibit runs from 12-9 pm and there is no cover. Ms. Olive took some pictures on our trip to Minnesota! We'll be there at 6:00.

Saturday, Feb. 16 -- Indie Fest's Big Lewbowski Party
White Russians! Mini Bowling! Nihlists! The party is at Space Gallery at 1141 Polk Street. It starts at 9 pm and lasts till they kick us out. Free admission with any IndieFest ticket stub or in costume, otherwise $10. We've saved our stubs so you are covered. The Dude Abides.

Sunday, Feb. 17 -- Marie Antoinette Exhibit, Legion of Honor.
Open from 9:30 to 5:15pm. I'll be there at 1pm. I have a family musuem membership which lets four people in for free.

Monday, Feb. 18 -- Bars by the Book 1st Anniversary at Deluxe Club at 1511 Haight Street. The Bar opens at 5pm on Mondays!

-- B

Day #3: The Deluge

On February 7th, we went to the opening night of the SF Indie Fest and it was fabulous. We saw Shotgun Stories by Jeff Nichols whose brother Ben Nichols is in the band Lucero and wrote the soundtrack to the film. Check them out here . We both enjoyed the film a lot. It will be opening nation-wide this Spring. Michael Shannon from 8 Mile played the lead and boy was he perfect in the role! You shouldn't miss it!

After Q&A with the young cute director and writter, we headed over to the after party at CellSpace on 18th and Bryant. We had Redhook beer, some pomegranate martinis (which were basically vodka) and pino grigio champagne from Barefoot Winnery. It was a great party! They had a mechanical bull but we did not partake as we had to save ourself for 37 more days of FUN, FUN, FUN...

-- A & B

Thursday, February 7, 2008

The Kick Off of 40-4-40!

The forty days have started and I for one am very excited. Why? Well -- A) I get free drinks, thanks to Chica Cherry. Yes, I know it's her birthday celebration but I'm a poor college student. B) I get to hang out with all her cool friends and mine plus Dug the Slug. C) We end up meeting great new people. So I thought I would recap Mardi Gras at the Elite since Chica Cherry (CC) is busy with her fun activity for Day Three.

CC was forty minutes late for her own event and on the actual kick off of the event...Well, that is a latina for you (or maybe she was trying to be fashionably late). Luckily, I was able to run into Grenadine, our adopted sister (aka the Gringa) on Fillmore street. We headed over to the Elite Cafe, where I got a recap of Grenadine's busy and fun-filled life. On a sad note, the Cafe was not serving Hurricanes so I settled for an Elite-a-Rita and Gren had a Sazerac.

Finally, CC showed up with the Slug, N, and R. We moved over to the tables and proceded to have a good old time. Gren came up with her own 40-4-40 goal and G stopped by too. CC was being very generous and she treated everyone at our table for a drink if they could prove they voted that day as it was also Super Tuesday! Mrs. Dewson, the hat lady, came in to show her support for Obama. I think it was great that CC wanted to get her friends out there to ROCK the Vote!

-- A