Music: Star Fucking Hipsters
Album: Until We're Dead
"When the day is through it's all your fault and my fault too".
"Just twelve steps and your empathy degrades".
,
Working in the Garden Bookstore as a volunteer is the best job anyone can do for free. There's a shitload of downtime, which I freely take advantage of, listen to Pandora, youtube stuff, read and write. Plus, of course, I have my primary duty of helping customers, working the register, opening and closing the shop.
People from all over the world and country come to visit the Arboretum, and in addition to working, I also get to interact with people from all walks of life from everywhere. The other day a very nice grandmother, who spoke in a Southern accent, came in and bought several uniquely crafted bells for her grandchildren plus a manual about distinguishing trees, a substantial purchase that summed up to about $100.00. Her husband was a bit impatient, yet she persisted anyway with buying ornamental bells for her youngins. My grandma still spoils me, and I love her for it, in fact, so much that I endured the needle of bliss to copy her imprint on my ribs- that sucker hurt like a motherfucker.
On one very slow Monday morning I spent most of my free time watching funny ass Christopher Walken impersonations on Youtube, ain't that guy fucking quirky. I came to the imperative conclusion that Kevin Pollack does the best impression of him; he also does an awesome Jack Nicholson and naturally any famous person. As a result of being highly amused and bored, I went through the rest of my day speaking in my own crappy Walken voice. My entrance into fame... "WOW."
The rest of the bookstore volunteers and manager are great people to work and be around. I've become very good friends with Dennis the manager. We're both huge soccer fanatics, so we frequently talk soccer. Dennis claims that since I'm full bodied Brasilian, the game is in my blood, and I'd have to agree. I played the sport in my youth and would want to continue to play now with the exception that it's too goddamn exhausting- serious beer drinking seems to pack a few hundred pounds. I'd rather play chess and break a mental sweat. I also have to give my props to Vicky. Truth is, she is a groovy individual with an exceptional knack for scoring points on the scrabble board. She also taught me the bookstore ropes.
The Garden Bookstore is a fun little place that I look forward to being a part of. The people who volunteer and work there are an integral part of what makes this bookstore thrive, and I'm proud to say that they are my friends.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Sunday, July 14, 2013
The Hearth Bar
Music: Ghost
Album: Infestissumam
Thought I'd write a little about a bar I went to. It's called the Hearth in the Inner Richmond. This place is a worthy spot for drinking and hanging out. It's not too divvy compared to some other bars I've been to yet the vibe is chill. It has neighborhood charisma despite being in the midst of all those bars on Geary that falls between 6th ave and 11th. The Hearth is low key and even easy to pass by without noticing as I did. I found out about it from a friend who was sick of the young wanker crowd at the Buckshot. Since the Hearth is on my way home from work, it's convenient and an after work drink is always desirable.
The bar is divided into two rooms. First is the main bar section with tables to sit at, a jukebox, and a cute book shelf situated by the entrance. The bar is a good medium size, TV's mounted on the walls, and a small stage that may or may not serve a higher purpose. The other half of the bar is the game room. Games include pool, pinball, darts, and a super vintage arcade game. I think it has two buttons and a joystick and you shoot down alien cruisers being the main objective- a lot more fun than Halo, I think. Darts is my favorite game to play at a bar. But from what I remember, the gaming zone is a bit cramped and the pool table doesn't help with that.
For music expect blues, classic rock, and anything old school, which I can totally appreciate. The crowd is older from my somewhat astute observation considering I'm 26, next comes middle aged people, and then finally the elder drinkers- though I say my liver is my senior part. Draft beers are about five bucks, and for all the beer drinkers do expect an eclectic selection as well as the same old crappy selection. I had a whiskey sour there once during happy hour and I think that was four bucks. The location is fucking terrific and so is public transit 38 (hell yea), 2, 44, 31, and 5 all run in the Inner Richmond. This part of Geary would also be ideal for a pub crawl starting at the Hearth and ending at the Buckshot for the chance to win the drunken skiball tournament, but remember to bring an oxygen tank once you reach the Buckshot.
Album: Infestissumam
Thought I'd write a little about a bar I went to. It's called the Hearth in the Inner Richmond. This place is a worthy spot for drinking and hanging out. It's not too divvy compared to some other bars I've been to yet the vibe is chill. It has neighborhood charisma despite being in the midst of all those bars on Geary that falls between 6th ave and 11th. The Hearth is low key and even easy to pass by without noticing as I did. I found out about it from a friend who was sick of the young wanker crowd at the Buckshot. Since the Hearth is on my way home from work, it's convenient and an after work drink is always desirable.
The bar is divided into two rooms. First is the main bar section with tables to sit at, a jukebox, and a cute book shelf situated by the entrance. The bar is a good medium size, TV's mounted on the walls, and a small stage that may or may not serve a higher purpose. The other half of the bar is the game room. Games include pool, pinball, darts, and a super vintage arcade game. I think it has two buttons and a joystick and you shoot down alien cruisers being the main objective- a lot more fun than Halo, I think. Darts is my favorite game to play at a bar. But from what I remember, the gaming zone is a bit cramped and the pool table doesn't help with that.
For music expect blues, classic rock, and anything old school, which I can totally appreciate. The crowd is older from my somewhat astute observation considering I'm 26, next comes middle aged people, and then finally the elder drinkers- though I say my liver is my senior part. Draft beers are about five bucks, and for all the beer drinkers do expect an eclectic selection as well as the same old crappy selection. I had a whiskey sour there once during happy hour and I think that was four bucks. The location is fucking terrific and so is public transit 38 (hell yea), 2, 44, 31, and 5 all run in the Inner Richmond. This part of Geary would also be ideal for a pub crawl starting at the Hearth and ending at the Buckshot for the chance to win the drunken skiball tournament, but remember to bring an oxygen tank once you reach the Buckshot.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Glide Papers: On The Floor
Band: Star Fucking Hipsters
"Your fucking hipster fools we will be star fucking you"
Album: Until We're Dead
Some days ago I worked on the floor busing tables at Glide. Working the floor is, in my opinion, the best job because it requires you to be agile, quick, and conscientious of your surroundings compared to some of the other uneventful jobs like assembly line labor. On average, there are usually 6-10 volunteers working the floor with each person concentrated at 1-2 tables. The more experienced volunteers, the regulars like myself, pick up the slack when we need to. One can't help but notice the amount of food that is wasted knowing that food is scarce outside these walls. Sometimes bins are filled with scraps of food that get's dumped. Even natural fruit, which is certainly the healthiest sustenance served and better tasting, is thrown away like garbage. It makes you wonder just how desperate these our homeless population are.
All the action starts and ends on the dining room floor. The interaction is a bit more personal, perspective shifts, and one must always be spry at all times during rush hour which usually lasts from 4-5, sometimes 5:15 depending on the time of month. At 4:00 the doors open for dinner with literally several hundreds of the world's poorest souls waiting the ephemeral meal that keeps them from dying of starvation. The line coils around Ellis, Jones, and O'Farrell, and many spread out on the pavement they've grown accustomed to. Back inside throngs of people begin pouring in incessantly, flooding the dining room with a ticket in hand at which the're handed a tray of food; next challenge comes finding an empty seat.
I'm happy to say that our guests are thankful for the service they are provided. If only the same could be said for some of the guests I serve at my work... It really makes it worth while when people appreciate the things you have to do for them. Many of them even thank me up front or say "god bless you". It's always karma that counts above anything.
"Your fucking hipster fools we will be star fucking you"
Album: Until We're Dead
Some days ago I worked on the floor busing tables at Glide. Working the floor is, in my opinion, the best job because it requires you to be agile, quick, and conscientious of your surroundings compared to some of the other uneventful jobs like assembly line labor. On average, there are usually 6-10 volunteers working the floor with each person concentrated at 1-2 tables. The more experienced volunteers, the regulars like myself, pick up the slack when we need to. One can't help but notice the amount of food that is wasted knowing that food is scarce outside these walls. Sometimes bins are filled with scraps of food that get's dumped. Even natural fruit, which is certainly the healthiest sustenance served and better tasting, is thrown away like garbage. It makes you wonder just how desperate these our homeless population are.
All the action starts and ends on the dining room floor. The interaction is a bit more personal, perspective shifts, and one must always be spry at all times during rush hour which usually lasts from 4-5, sometimes 5:15 depending on the time of month. At 4:00 the doors open for dinner with literally several hundreds of the world's poorest souls waiting the ephemeral meal that keeps them from dying of starvation. The line coils around Ellis, Jones, and O'Farrell, and many spread out on the pavement they've grown accustomed to. Back inside throngs of people begin pouring in incessantly, flooding the dining room with a ticket in hand at which the're handed a tray of food; next challenge comes finding an empty seat.
I'm happy to say that our guests are thankful for the service they are provided. If only the same could be said for some of the guests I serve at my work... It really makes it worth while when people appreciate the things you have to do for them. Many of them even thank me up front or say "god bless you". It's always karma that counts above anything.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
First thing on my list... Marriage Equality
Band: The Beatles
"All you need is love, love is all you need"
The first thing on my list is marriage equality, death to prop 8. I got very involved in the marriage equality movement almost five years ago when voters passed the prop 8 initiative. I took to the street along with the hoards of people and marched from the Mission to the Castro singing songs of protest. I remember very vividly this particular night in the City, not a happy night, but nonetheless defying the system is one of San Francisco's favorite past time. We'd protest the weather if we were bored enough. That was a four and a half years ago.
On Wednesday night, June 26th, I went to the Castro to celebrate with my local San Franciscans the happy news of that morning. The Castro was alive with people of all sexual orientation cheering, laughing, smiling, commemorating, and of course partying. We took to the streets the stubborn hope that persisted for nearly five years and longer through court arguments, legal discrimination, and the fury of those wonderful religious bigots who belong to the flat earth society, in the Castro on June 26th; hope that erupted into praise for marriage equality, still going forward. The gathering was immediate in itself that it would have been unnatural to wait till the weekend; I tip my hat to people to have been partying non stop. I was also very happy that no one was severely injured and people were safe.
I feel that the lawyers who defended prop 8 did so in vain only because in the end they weren't even legally eligible to be in court to put nicely or in other words: You don't belong in court, get the fuck out. It was like they were t he ones on trial. And shame on the justices for sidestepping in their ruling. They had the chance to settle this incendiary dispute permanently but instead concluded on a technicality. Just to point some things out... but I'm still stoked about the endgame.
Eventually I walked a few blocks to Lucky 13, which in this moment is my favorite bar in the Castro area. I've been to Moby Dick only because I read the novel, but it was too gay in there; I mean this in the best possible way. I like Lucky 13 mainly because of the music they play- punk, ska, psychobilly, and whatever you consider the Clash to be musically. All the other bars in the Castro were inhumanly crowded as I had expected. I made it in time for happy hour and had enough time to take down three beers while I was there, a total of 45 minutes. The bar itself is super long, and there's an upstairs section with tables and pin ball machines. Outside there is a patio for smokers to light up, and the F line stops nearby. It's a cool looking bar too.
Unfortunately I didn't get to go to Pride Fest. I went the last few years but this was the fucking year to attend.
"All you need is love, love is all you need"
The first thing on my list is marriage equality, death to prop 8. I got very involved in the marriage equality movement almost five years ago when voters passed the prop 8 initiative. I took to the street along with the hoards of people and marched from the Mission to the Castro singing songs of protest. I remember very vividly this particular night in the City, not a happy night, but nonetheless defying the system is one of San Francisco's favorite past time. We'd protest the weather if we were bored enough. That was a four and a half years ago.
On Wednesday night, June 26th, I went to the Castro to celebrate with my local San Franciscans the happy news of that morning. The Castro was alive with people of all sexual orientation cheering, laughing, smiling, commemorating, and of course partying. We took to the streets the stubborn hope that persisted for nearly five years and longer through court arguments, legal discrimination, and the fury of those wonderful religious bigots who belong to the flat earth society, in the Castro on June 26th; hope that erupted into praise for marriage equality, still going forward. The gathering was immediate in itself that it would have been unnatural to wait till the weekend; I tip my hat to people to have been partying non stop. I was also very happy that no one was severely injured and people were safe.
I feel that the lawyers who defended prop 8 did so in vain only because in the end they weren't even legally eligible to be in court to put nicely or in other words: You don't belong in court, get the fuck out. It was like they were t he ones on trial. And shame on the justices for sidestepping in their ruling. They had the chance to settle this incendiary dispute permanently but instead concluded on a technicality. Just to point some things out... but I'm still stoked about the endgame.
Eventually I walked a few blocks to Lucky 13, which in this moment is my favorite bar in the Castro area. I've been to Moby Dick only because I read the novel, but it was too gay in there; I mean this in the best possible way. I like Lucky 13 mainly because of the music they play- punk, ska, psychobilly, and whatever you consider the Clash to be musically. All the other bars in the Castro were inhumanly crowded as I had expected. I made it in time for happy hour and had enough time to take down three beers while I was there, a total of 45 minutes. The bar itself is super long, and there's an upstairs section with tables and pin ball machines. Outside there is a patio for smokers to light up, and the F line stops nearby. It's a cool looking bar too.
Unfortunately I didn't get to go to Pride Fest. I went the last few years but this was the fucking year to attend.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
My Manifesto in a few sentences.
Music: Raul Seixas
Album: Maluco Beleza
I call it minimal living, more or less, the essentials of everyday life. Yet there's nothing minimal about the beer intake I'll admit. Here's the deal: San Francisco is my haven including the numerous shitty things about living in the City like parking, no left turns, crazy people riding the bus, and expensive rent, only to name a few. My pact with this amazing City: For everything you offer me, I'll give back by volunteering and/or serving my community. And if California falls in the fucking ocean, I too will fall with it. Now my life begins...
Album: Maluco Beleza
I call it minimal living, more or less, the essentials of everyday life. Yet there's nothing minimal about the beer intake I'll admit. Here's the deal: San Francisco is my haven including the numerous shitty things about living in the City like parking, no left turns, crazy people riding the bus, and expensive rent, only to name a few. My pact with this amazing City: For everything you offer me, I'll give back by volunteering and/or serving my community. And if California falls in the fucking ocean, I too will fall with it. Now my life begins...
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