So, I went back up to the Bay for Valentine's Day weekend.

Drove up, this time, with Marley. There and back was roughly six hours, give or take, and we seemed to fill the time talking about nearly everything under the sun except religion and politics (and who wants to bother with that overbeaten, rotted horse?) and spinning a few CD's. (I'm done with the 15 Minutes soundtrack, btw; gotta get that longue one next...).

Anyway, I check into the Galleria Park Hotel. It's small, but nice. Despite a few minor complications, they give me my room key and I unload my stuff. I check the TV and eye the clock. 'Round 5, I'm over at the theatre to meet her. We greet, hug, and I head off, resolved to come back in few hours. I dialed Pixie and we hang for a bit, chatting in the room, over at her place, and then at the pizza joint. We go to the theatre just before ten, just in time to deliver a few early presents and see Far from Heaven. My only complaint about the film was the naivete of Julianne Moore and Dennis Haysbert's characters. I know Connecticut isn't the South by any stretch, but I just couldn't believe that neither of them had been in the vicinity of enough racism to know that they weren't causing trouble for themselves. And even if she was that sheltered, what was his excuse?. I didn't get the impression he was quietly rebelling, I got the impression that he didn't give a shit, which, considering what happens to his daughter, seems irresponsible. Either keep your head down or actually stand up for yourself, but don't just fuck around. Still, Dennis Quaid did a great job and someone should give him a nod for his performance.

So...after that, we all walked back to the hotel and had a threesome.

Just kidding.

Pixie went home after accompanying us back to the hotel. I think there was TV. We crashed.

Next day was Valemtine's Day and after a wonderful V-Day lunch, we went back to her apartment so she could change. Along the way, I bought her a new journal and some stickers. I considered springing for the Emily travel bag, but they didn't have an actual price on the thing. At the apartment, she changed, I read, waved to some of the roommates, and we took off again.

Later in the evening, we hung with some gaming folks over at the Holding Company, a few of whom are fairly interesting individually. Afterwards, it was back to the hotel. More TV. Sleep.

The following day was *begins drum roll* the birthday. We went out for lunch at some Italian deli out in the Castro. Or was it on Castro? Whatever. The food was good. We chatted, munched, and listened to other people's conversations. Sadly, I'd already given all my gifts, so it was back to the hotel for more sleep and television.

Marley called, indicating it was time for me to check out and get my ass in gear. Fortunately, I was already packed, so I checked out and waited about. Now, the parade I knew about and could hear from my room. What I didn't know, however, was that it had decided to rain. Not that it was a big deal, but I wasn't actually expecting it and had to put on my sweatshirt for comfort. Actually meeting up with Marley was a bit of a fiasco, thanks to the insanity that is the streets of San Francisco and the remnants of the parade, but he handled it better than most. Once we saddled up, we got the fuck outta there. :)