We woke up...whenever the hell we woke up. I don't remember, now, but I think it was kind of early because she had to work. If we hadn't been up so late the night before, I'd have at least walked her out, but I was dead. It was a joke I'd made that became true. It wasn't very funny in either case.

I crawled out of bed sometime around 1300, I think. I might have showered, though maybe not, because I'd showered yesterday before chilling with li'l G and I still smelled like sandalwood and deodorant. One doesn't get very sweaty or filthy in the pouring rain...

Anyway, I dressed and descended into the streets between the towering buildings. I was surrounded by Chinese restaurants, which was good for the nose, but it wasn't what I wanted for lunch, so I wandered down to the Embarcadero. I kept my eye out for other food sources, but ultimately, it seemed like the way to go. When I got there, I couldn't figuree out what I wanted, so I grabbed a fat slice at Parkway, then went over to Boudin for soup and a different kind of pizza. I had wanted to try the Tuscan chili at ChiliUp!, but I deliberated so long that the guy in front of me got the last bowl. That's ok, though, 'cause his children will be born blind, homeless hunchbacks.

At Boudin, I listened to a conversation between a couple talking about conformity in young people (not their words), then talking about an NPR interview with Gene Simmons, and how nuts he was. Apparently, ol' Gene is something of an uber-capitalist, bordering on plutocratic (again, not their words), which they found distasteful. They way they described it, he did sound a little off, but we can't know for sure since it's not the radio archives.

Anyway, after finishing my lunch, I walked towards the hotel, considering the logistics of trying to see a movie. It looked more complicated than I was prepared to attempt on my own and I didn't want to be out when she got off of work. So, I bought some orchids, some hot chocolate mix and went back to the hotel to veg.

I drank my hot chocolate (using the lovely Mr. Coffee in the bathroom) and fell asleep in front of the TV. USA network was apparently playing Clueless all day to celebrate the coming New Year for reasons I can't begin to understand. Everything else was shit. Even the news talked about nothing but how airport security was getting upgraded everywhere in the country the next day. Now, when I say they talked about nothing, I mean it. There was no other news. It was hideous.

As I said, I fell asleep.

She knocked, I let her in. Only now as I write this does it occur to me that I could have just gotten her an extra key...

It was four or five or something. We laid around. She decompressed from work. Clothes removed, snuggling ensued...but not for long.

Food.

We considered the food issue. I put it in her hands.

We dressed and headed for North Beach.

People jaywalk in this town like they're in France. Or New York. The last one isn't surprising, since SF (to me, anyway) resembles NYC, only cleaner, younger, and with nice people. Hell, if 9/11 had happened in the Bay, I'd have actually given a shit...

We walked past a number of places, unable to find the joint she was looking for. Twice we talked near people who'd already found their joints (yes). I dug some landmarks while we walked; strip clubs, etc. Eventually, the hunt was abandoned and we headed for Pasta Pomodoro. We get on a trolly. Originally intending to hit one location, we end up heading for another...in the Castro. Quick bus jaunt. I was originally disappointed in the lack of overt gay stuff wherever I looked, but then realized it pretty much permeates the whole city, so there's really no point. I don't see a lot of pink triangles in my neighborhood, either.

The food was excellent. The waiter actually made me feel cool with tipping him, as opposed to feeling obligated. I fucking hate feeling obligated.

(Yeah, scroll for that.)

So we hit the...metro, I think it was. It takes a while to get there and when it does, it's fucking packed, but we survive.

People outside are festive. I see the first cops (aside from a car on the way into town) I've seen since I got here. Nobody gives a damn.

We retire.

After that, it's all illegal.