Well I’m back! Jenn, Robin, Aaron, myself, with special cameo appearances by Nishita had an amazing time in California. And now I have a crapload of pictures to share with you all! Click on the smaller ones for larger versions.
Firstly, here is what got me through the 6 hour flight:
Here’s our hotel room. We stayed at the Doubletree in Berkeley. It was right on the marina and gorgeous.
One of my first priorities was to drink an Anchor Steam beer, which is made in San Francisco.
After dinner we went to the top of Indian Rock. It had amazing views of the surrounding area and we stayed until sunset, which was gorgeous.
Then the next day we walked and walked and walked all over San Francisco. The hills were just as ridiculous as they look on television. I’m pretty sure I don’t have love handles anymore.
And then we went to tourist central, otherwise known as Fisherman’s Wharf, and we saw, heard, and smelt the sea lions on Pier 39.
The next morning me and Robin went for a walk around the marina back at our hotel. The squirrels in Berkeley are way more friendly than the skittish ones we have here in New York.
That afternoon we met up with Robin’s cousin who got us tickets to the ballet in San Franciso, which was awesome. Afterwards (apparently that’s not a word, but I’m keeping it) Robin and Jenn went to dinner with Robin’s family while me and Aaron wandered San Francisco some more.
We climbed Coit Tower, which gave us an awesome view of the entire city:
And then we had dinner at a place called The Sausage Factory.
Which could only mean one thing: We were on Castro Street! It was such a great area, with a fun vibe and loads of good restaurants and bars.
That night we went to QBar, which had these television screens all around the walls that you could text message and have your messages appear. It’s supposed to be a way to flirt (gays are so passive sometimes) but it allowed me and Aaron to have some fun:
We were the ones sitting in the corner, but we were also the ones who sent that message. Guess which one I sent next:
Did I mention Aaron was wearing a “Tour de Queens” shirt at the time?
And then I sent this one:
But then it got responses so I got scared and we stopped. Please note that only in a gay bar would a flirting television screen include a shout out to someone’s gucci bag.
And then this one popped up, but no one knew Aaron’s name, other than the German guy (with the most ridiculous hair I’ve ever seen in my life) we were talking to at the time, so they must have been talking about someone else, but it was still funny.
The next day we went to Muir Woods and walked amongst the redwoods. It was all very Lord of the Rings. Aaron may or may not have sang Into the West for a portion of the hike.
Apparently I have the wingspan of a bald eagle:
Then we went to Stinson Beach, which required driving down these ridiculously windy roads around the Pacific coast:
Last but certainly not least we went to the Golden Gate Bridge, which was incredible. Growing up around New York City, and constantly using the bridges in the area, I was still shocked at how enormous and beautiful this was.
We asked this lady to take a picture of the four of us, and unfortunately her stupid friend ended up in the picture with us. Oh, and a bit of her finger too. Geez, way to go lady.
But with a bit of cropping, they’re both gone, and it’s a really nice picture.
Fshew! As you can see, we fit a lot into those few days. It was such a blast and truly felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity. I have the best friends any guy could ever ask for!
instead of a waffle cone, it’s a waffle taco
Oh, well ice-cream tacos have to rock. I don’t think we have those. We have ice-cream oreo cookies.
Mark: I’m in RI. I’ll have to see what I can do to fix the gap in my knowledge. However, I fear that in doing so, I may create a gap between the button on my pants and the button hole.
Tam: I know I’m a day late, but the guy in the middle of the first frame of your post……I now realize that was a gift from you straight to me. THANK YOU!
John: Exactly what are you going to be doing in that Ice Cream box?
Fish tacos: grilled whitefish fillet and some salsa in a freshly made corn tortilla
(Or am I being obtuse?)
Mark: He was, a present just for you.
But now thanks to you I have an image of John and the Mrs. in the ice cream box at the corner store getting kinky. Is that a drumstick in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
Craig – I like your jeans in the first set.
Ryan w/ cupcake – Yes, he is. I saw him on Access Hollywood last night
We used to serve Choco-Tacos at my job, but it was determined they just weren’t classy enough so we stopped.
TwoPi: Salsa I can handle. Something made with sour cream, mayo, etc., not so much. And I think you were being acute. d’oh Triangle humor.
Enrico: “Bye Richard, I miss you” is obviously a reaction to RP’s departure from PRTCNJ.
TwoPi: I just had to google “definition Obtuse”, and i got:
“lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect ”
Sorry guy, but you don’t qualify to join the Obtuse Club.
Enrico: What did they replace them with?….Choco-Cameltoes?
Glad you had a good time Craig! I was on the lookout for you, but spent most of my weekend in Oakland.
Tam: April/May and September/October are the most beautiful months weather wise in the Bay Area. Once June hits the fog rolls in every night during the summer. Craig definitely came the right time of year. And this weekend is supposed to be even more beautiful!
Classy
Mark: Crème Brûlée
LOL
Craig – (NY): I’ve never gotten to Muir Woods in my SF travels. Looks sooo beautiful. I might just make a trip to check it out.
Mark: I love ice cream, but I don’t *love* ice cream. The gap would be because of my ever expanding girth if I eat lots of Choco-tacos.
Tam: Who said anything about bringing the wife?
John: Exactly what girth are you talking about?….OK, I’ll stop with the inuendo, but it’s just so much fun!
John: Just you and a drumstick? Damn, Unicorn Chaser anyone?
Is it getting hot in here…?
Dave: Is all the talk of girth and drumsticks getting to you?
It’s getting to me.
Michelle M.: I prescribe 25 mg of Spike300, every 2 hours as needed.
I miss Rubios fish tacos! Every time I get out of town to some place that actually has fast food I have to hunt down a fish taco.
I love the little tacos, I love them good.
Welcome home! That texting screen stuff is hilarious and needs to be added to all bars.
M. Nicodemus: But I need tacos! I need them or I will explode. That happens to me sometimes.
The Ryan with the Cupcake: I will give you tacos, oh, such tacos will I give!
And, um, yeah, I just noticed the double entendre with my earlier fish taco comment and, um, yeah… I do love them good!
I love chowing down on fish tacos.
I like my fish tacos extra fishy.
I could bury my face in a fish taco all day.
I love when the juices from the fish taco drip down my fingers. Finger lickin’ good!
OMG!!!! Craig=NY, how could you make a man in my condition wretch so hard??? Have you no compassion???
OMG! The people in my office think I am having a seizure! I don’t care who you are, THAT was funny!
Sorry Mark. I can’t help myself. I just get so excited even thinking about fish tacos. I love the way they smell, taste, and envelop me
in flavor.
Mark: I am sorry a man in your condition has to suffer so, but I am still laughing my ass off and getting funny looks from the people in my office!
Oh Nooo! We’ve lost him! Craig=NY has finally crossed over to the …..”Dark Side”. I still love you Craig=NY. Need some tartar sauce???
Craig, thank you so much for not once calling it San Fran or Frisco. I’ve always found it funny that folks back east use those terms. (Although I have to admit, I find Frisco kind of endearing, in a 1940s kind of way.) Whenever I’m back east, someone inevitably says: “This is LP, he’s visiting from San Fran.” Does the “cisco” get stuck in the throat of something?
It’s always hot when I’m here!
Oy, even I can’t type that without laughing to myself.
Mark: I was referring to my waist, but if I was sexually aroused by ice cream then we’d be talking other girth.
Craig: Don’t knock until you’ve tried it.
Oh, and personally, I like taco flavored kisses…and please tell me someone gets that or I will be in the same place as Dave S. and is fabulous whit.
John: I get you J-Lo. Damn, I watch way too much TV.
john: So you are Ben Affleck?
Cupcake: As with Michelle M., Tam, Polt, Enrico and Dave s. (in no particular order) I knew I liked you.
M.Nico: I suspected I liked you and now I know!
Dave S.: See that’s how it’s done ;P
Damn, my smiley-fu sucks. I meant to do this:
john: When someone in the office was around but cannot be found at present, I say that they got high and wandered off.
Lucky Pierre: Nice position.
I hate when stuff gets stuck between my teeth while eating a fish taco.
Craig: Why are you fixating on fish tacos and not the marines?
Craig: I love the new double entendre talkin Craig, but can we at least do some double entendre about tube steak. Is that too much to ask. And for God’s sake, don’t swallow any fish bones.
Mark: Maybe Craig like fish sticks.
That doesn’t work as well in writing.
The Ryan with the Cupcake: ’cause he is trying to get me fired, or sent to the loony bin. I think I saw one of the docs holding a bottle of Thorazine and giving me the eye.
Ryan: He likes fish dicks??? What is he, a gay fish?
Southpark reference, for those who watch.
I meant to type sticks, had dicks on the brain
I’m gonna do everybody a favor and go to bed now. But I still say Aaron looked good climbing up Indian Rock. Good nite.
Night night Mark. You guys make me laugh. Fish dicks. That’s funny.
Still no one has freaking told me what is in a fish taco besides fish. Grrrr. When I come to SD next year Ryan, you better make me a fish taco or I’ll be sorely disappointed. And cupcakes too.