Terrapin Tables

San Fran

With apologies to Roy for stealing the format, here we go with highlights and lowlights from my first two-plus weeks in San Fran:

Highlights:
- cool job. Get to do what I wanted - managing all of a magazine's writing - for a magazine I like and respect.
- cool job. It's a hot rod magazine: I wear jeans and a T-shirt, cuss, fart, etc. I cannot survive in regular offices.
- went to rent a Hyundai Accent (fuck you, it's cheap as hell)...they were out, so I got a PT Cruiser with 4 miles on the odometer for the same price. It's a smal victory, but I got a brand-new car for the week...for free (thanks Work).
- Smooth plane travel. So far.
- Finally saw Candlestick (go to hell, it will always be Candlestick) with my own 2 eyes...PacBell Park looks real nice, too...what with the cove, it might give Camden Yards a run for best ambiance, or something.
- awesome Mexican food. The salsa is incredible.
- did you say Salsa? The shit is everyhwere, and it rules. Some joint in a strip mall had 10 kinds...TEN BITCHES:

- the weather is perfect, for me. Dry, crisp, clean air (this aint LA), temps in the high 60's all day long. Jeans and a T-shirt, baby.
- Car rental guy: "Go easy, the engine is still breaking in." Me, 30 seconds later: "sound of a PT Cruiser being forced to do what little burnout it can."

Lowlights:
- it is expensive. Little things are only a little more pricey: 20 oz sodas at $1.30, for example, gas is actually cheaper, but other stuff adds up: a beer tax makes 6-packs like $9 (I think that is universal...more research to come). My rent in a studio, equal to about the private space that Rick has right now, will probably hit $800.
- Living out of a suitcase.
- Driving a PT Cruiser through the gayest part of the country. I won't even make eye contact with people...at least it's black.
- San Francisco sucks. "Cool" disricts like The Mission are just full of urine soaked junkies and idiots, gay districts are ridiculous (seriously, there are no Women's rooms in these places), everything else is either boring, touristy, or insanely expensive ($3-mil townhouses). Full House is so full of shit.
- Probably no real friends at work.
- I really just want to sit at Skyrock and watch football this weekend.
- Come to think of it, I am missing Bootapalooza. Fuck.
- I'm going to probably be poor and bored for the next few years. Weeeeee.
- I probably can't ever get a Niners ticket.
- The stewardess woke me up to offer me a soda. TWICE. Seriously, it is 7 am: Bitch I was SLEEPING.

Speaking of which, I flew out at 6:10 am Monday morning...you ever had to get up at 3:30 for a flight? Sucks. I get to my gate, see a bar (the one in the United terminal with all the jerseys) think, "hell yes, pound 'em, sleep well. Forget I am so damn tired." Sign says they open at 5 am - fine. So, I sit. And wait. Guy finally shows up at 5:30:

Me: You the bartender?
Big angry sleepy dude: Guuuuhhh, Yuh.
Me: Sweet, let's do this. (actual words)
BASD: State says I can't pour before 6.
Me: You motherfuh... (walks away)

So, I have a cool job in a place that has a little interest for me, but I am looking down the barrel of the broke/bored gun...welcome to being a grown-up, I guess.

Posted by Chris at September 17, 2005 03:43 AM