Vignettes
Marriage equality
I was working downtown in 2004 when Gavin started issuing same-sex marriage licenses. I always regretted not running up to City Hall to watch the marriages at that time.
On Tuesday we picked up a picnic lunch and went over to City Hall to watch a bunch of couples tying the knot and coming out the door to a crowd cheering and applauding. It was such a happy scene, and we wondered how anyone could be against committed couples getting married?
Then a walk, a nap, another walk, a nice dinner at a little French Bistro and a cable car ride. A special day, to be sure, but, in a way, just another day here in San Francisco.
Muni madness
Muni seems to be on the fritz lately. I’ve been riding the N-Judah a couple or few times a week as of late, and the trains are breaking down, the schedules aren’t being met and the crowding is heavy. I’ve also noticed that the NextMuni displays have been showing “ghost” buses and trains; the sign will say “arriving” and nothing arrives.
Postal
The Post Office did an interesting trick last week. Apparently they changed some of the drivers around, and they were leaving package notes from the wrong pads; folks were being notified to pick up their packages from Post Offices across town instead of their local office. I know of Sunset residents getting Pine Station notices, and Geary residents getting Sunset notices. The packages were, in fact, right where they were supposed to be. The woman at the Sunset Station on 22nd apologized for the mix-up, then started laughing: “You all went all the way to Pine Street? The parking is terrible over there!” We actually took a train and walked.
Outdoor lunch
It’s been hot here the last couple of days. Makes it less appealing to go for lunchtime walks, though I’m trying to get in some walking time after the sun sets and it starts to cool down a bit. The warm weather did make for a nice outdoor lunch on the patio at a mid-range sit-down Mexican restaurant this afternoon. I don’t think there are a lot of “proper” Mexican restaurants here, since there are so many take-out taquerias. The food was good, though a bit pricey. And they looked at me in mild horror when I asked for some sour cream to go with my fancy tacos.
Life wants
What do you really want? That’s the questions posed lately to me about life, jobs and the future. That question seems hard to answer. What do I want? What do I need? I have so much, do I need more, or just something different, something new? I love change and hate change; it’s exciting to do something new, and it’s scary to do something new. I’m trying to think of the right cliche here (yes, I do like cliches; I think they’re an easy and effective way to tap into the group conscious)… lemonade from lemons, sailing with the current, playing the hand dealt. No, I think it’s more zen than that. Life is difficult. Life is dynamic. Life is amazing. Yes.
Networks and firewalls
I have a love/hate relationship with the Cisco PIX and ASA firewalls. They are good, solid, full-featured, well-supported devices. And their eccentricities and nuances sometimes drive me crazy. Partly my own fault, I suppose, for designing weird network schemes in my test lab, simply for my own amusement. That being said, I’m using one for IPSec remote access VPN connectivity to my home and test lab. And I’ve recently set up a Cisco VPN Concentrator at work, a “similar yet totally different” device which is providing rock solid remote access to the office. Both reliable and persnickety (like me?).
Sailing
We managed to get out for some sailing last weekend. It was blowing hard in the slot and we had a time of it, even with a reefed main. But docking at Angel Island and enjoying the summer feeling in Ayala Cove is always a treat. Even if we had to endure the slot again to get back. I love steady wind with calm water, like when we’re behind Treasure Island (Sailing Blog).
Still here
I’ve lived here long enough to sometimes forget to look around and see. But then I remember to remember.