So, yeah... San Francisco.

Steve, Rich, and I got there Friday morning and took some crazy underwater subway from Oakland to San Francisco and then stopped at the Visitor's Center that my brother who used to live there for ten years told us to stop at to get free maps and stuff, only to be assaulted by two different homeless people, who will from here on out be known as the interesting people and that area, the interesting area, likely because I had some giant map unfolded looking for the 'you are here' spot. So we were trying to decide if we should try and walk the mile and a half to our hotel, or take a bus, or a cab, since we had our luggage. This one interesting man showed us where a bunch of cabs were waiting and then called Rich and asshole when he wouldn't give him any money.

We took a cab, my first time, most horrifying ride in a car EVER!! to our hotel and dropped off our luggage since it was too early for check-in where the desk clerk, known as the sea-lion lady, gave me a map and a bus schedule, and then wandered around some nearby. Found a park with no grass, got a bagel, bookstore, found Steve an apple and an organic pumpkin, watched a dog walk into the dog groomer shop called the Bow Wow, Meow all by itself, and then walk out again later alone to check out what was going on, and then walk back inside again. The sea lion lady from the hotel called to say the room was ready so we went back over and got settled in to wait for Joey, Jeff, and Snow Dog who arrived around 1 and after much hugging and laughing at Jeff trying to park his rental car, we went to go over to some place where you can buy these groovy all-purpose bus, train, cable car passes and have some lunch with a 'special' waitress. Joey tried to wash his hands with honey, and then we went to Fisherman's Wharf and walked around some.

So I'll tell you, that in San Francisco, it's all about walking and public transportation, and actually it's quite effective and easy to get around, but the busses fill up fast and then you're left to stand and hold on to these poles that run along the bus and since I'm so short, I can practically swing from them, it was all I could do not to fall and I know they were all waiting for it all weekend, but I remained upright! YAY ME!!! Rich and Steve were laughing at me when we left the airport cause the bus we took to the underground, underwater subway thing we rode on over to the interesting area, well when I sat down, my feet didn't reach the floor!

We went back to the hotel and got ready for our night. We all decided to go to have dinner and see a movie so we headed out. We ate, saw American Gangster, and got a text from Trebs and when the movie was over we went to meet them in the Castro District. Finally we made it back to the hotel and it was pretty late since we were all up at some crazy hour like 4 a.m. that morning to get there and we agreed to meet at 10 a.m. the next morning. We go to eat, decide to go to Pier 39, see the sea lions, took a boat ride around the harbor and saw Alcatraz and went under the Golden Gate Bridge, etc... had lunch, took some pictures, and went back to the hotel so we could get ready for the dinner thing at Home restaurant.

We ate, took a group picture, drove with them up to the Twin Peaks, saw the city at night from above, Joey made me use some self-cleaning public toilet thing, and then they dropped us off at the movie theater and we watched Dan in Real Life which was really good/a total chick flick... thanks guys Joey tried to pay me too much for his ticket and then wouldn't take his change so you know that cute skinny tie he had on? Well, I grabbed it and shoved my hand in his pocket with his change... which he promptly tried to shove down my shirt and I was like EWWWWWWWW!!!! Do you know how gross and dirty money is?! Then we went back to the hotel for the night.

The next morning we decided to go over to the Exploratorium and The Palace of Fine Arts and check it ou and then we left there and walked down the harbor some only to realize we were stuck behind some yacht club, that's what they get for letting directionally challenged Viv lead the way. Took some more pics, and then we walked back to where we started and then partway down the 49 mile scenic drive route till we decided to find some lunch and Jamba Juice. Then Steve decided he wanted to go on a cable car ride so we bussed over to where you get on. So we get on this crazy cable car thing and jump off in China Town where Joey and I had to pee and ended up in the financial district which apparently is a graveyard on Sundays. Peed, took another cable car back to where we could get on a bus, but were too impatient to wait so ended up walking back to the hotel, and when we get back to the hotel, no one can decide what to do and I remembered seeing that there was a comedy club in town and Kevin Nealon from SNL was playing so we called and yes, Joey can get in, so we went.

f**kING HYSTERICAL!!! and great food and I had these REALLY yummy Red Apple Martinis and then after went back to the hotel where we packed and went to bed, and then Jeff took Joey to the airport at 4 am came back to the hotel, slept a bit then took Rich, myself, and Steve to our airport, and then went back and took himself and Snow Dog when it was time, to their airport. Rich, Steve, and I had SO MUCH FUN lauging and joking in the two hours we had to wait for our plane. Rich got the pat-down from airport security, we had pizza for breakfast and Rich and Steve were talking about erections on the plane!

I miss my boys already and I was doing this pitiful texting with Davey the whole weekend like... I wish you were here. I wish I was there, too. I miss you! I miss you more!

Aside from that, I found out from the kids last night, that Tony, who was here babysitting for us all weekend from college, had a girl here... spending the night with him... IN MY BED!!! At least he had the consideration to wash my sheets... even if he did put the comforter on sideways.

I sent Trebs some pictures Rich took to add to the SF Gallery...

Hugs,

Viv