"But if You Go Putting Up Pictures of Chairman Mao..."

Some photos of the thwarted Olympic torch relay through San Francisco. Originally, the torch was supposed to cross the Golden Gate Bridge, but after protesters climbed the bridge and installed giant FREE TIBET banners across it in anticipation, the route was changed for security reasons. I took a lunch break on Wednesday and headed down to meet some people near 3rd and Market, where the torch was supposed to start its journey through the city.

Effing San Francisco and its pet causes. After dodging dozens of people thrusting clipboards with petitions in my face, asking me if I'm a registered California voter, I still had to make my way through the Darfur people, the alternative energy petitioners, and the anti-war contingent. And of course, thousands and thousands of Tibet picketers.

Policewoman stops to snap a photo with her camera phone

The Olympics and Darfur are inextricably (or is that "inexplicably"?) linked

This multitasker was simultaneously chatting on his iPhone, wearing a bike helmet (because people want to slap him upside the head?) and pants eight inches too short, waving a Tibetan flag, and talking smack to anyone who would listen.

After all that, they ended up changing the route at the last minute - apparently switching it up as they went. So hardly anyone got to see the torch, including press. A great prank on the city's part, especially considering the thousands and thousands of dollars this whole farce cost to execute.

...In Which I Geek Out Over Funny Men

I couldn't be more excited about the upcoming movie "This Side of the Truth" - starring not only Ricky Gervais (who is directing), but also Christopher Guest. Two of, if not my favorite, comedians in the same movie. It's like my dream come true.

Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, Jeffrey Tambor, Jennifer Garner, and Jason Bateman have also signed on. It's like an orgy of funny. Although apparently Gervais' character tries to "woo" Garner's character and I find that a bit...ew.

The blog: This Side of the Truth
The man is a bloody genius.

Presidential Support

This is from one of my favorite websites: Slow Wave. The artist, Jesse Reklaw, illustrates peoples' dreams that they send in. In the nature of dreams, they are usually bizarre and hilarious. This one reminds me of my dream I was McCain's escort...

Tranny?

Random man at my work last night - as I'm wiping down tables and trying to close up:

"So I guess this is a one-girl operation, huh?"

*pause*

"You are a girl, right?"

Me: "What kind of question is that?!"

Rambles and Brambles

As stated in an earlier post, I work at a laundromat.

It's actually a pretty cool job, very much like Steynberg in that they have open mics and music most nights and a cafe where I work most of my shifts. Tomorrow I work in the laundry room, though. There are no tips for the laundry shift, but the dirty laundry holds endless material for the imagination. People can either do their own coin laundry or drop it off and for a fee have us throw it in the machines for them - usually there's just a line of laundry bags and we don't see the owners, so I like to try to piece them together from the prAna shirt (does yoga) and the "mom jeans" (over 40).

Laundromats always remind me of a book I loved when I was little. It was about a bear (stuffed, of course) named Corduroy, who got left in one. I grew up thinking laundromats were urban and exciting - maybe that's why I don't mind working at one.


The cafe shift is more exhausting, with few breaks and constant running back and forth to ring up purchases, make espresso drinks, call food orders, take money, re-stock, clean, and enter phone orders. I like it, though, and the regulars are amazing. Yesterday I chatted with a guy who toured with Third Eye Blind and got a beautiful long-stemmed rose from a hobo.

Kate, one of my editors at Chronicle, asked me a few weeks ago if I would like to stay on for two months as a temporary editorial assistant while they look for someone to fill a position. Obviously, I jumped at the chance, but now I'll be working six or seven days a week between Mondays - Wednesdays at Chronicle and the second half of the week at Brainwash.

San Francisco is grey and cold. People are chronically disappointing. But today when I woke up I noticed the daffodils I bought last night at Trader Joe's had already unfurled from tight buds to bright yellow blossoms. Sometimes I wish the world was more about stuff like that.

I Guess You Guys Aren't Ready for That...but Your Kids are Gonna Love It

Just try to tell me you're not in love with Marty McFly after watching this...

Wha' Happen?

Dear San Francisco,

I had high hopes when I moved to you. Things started off well: I was dating an amazing guy, I had an exciting internship I thought might turn into a job, I had a couple thousand in my savings account, and I was living the good life. Now, half a year later, the guy is gone, my savings account is empty, I am working at a laundromat, drowning my sorrows in cheap PBR, and myspace-stalking people until 1am.

I still have faith in you, San Francisco. It's time to bring your A-game.

Much love, Haley