some assorted san francisco moments (part 1)

i've been neglecting the blog in favor of homework (sorry), but i have some down time today and thought i'd post some pictures to review what i've been doing in the city:

on the left are people sitting on real grass surrounded by real plants in the parking lane of valencia between 21st and 22nd. apparently this is done once a year to raise awareness about something. how we don't need cars? not sure. everyone else i asked didn't seem too sure either.

this is one of two kitties who live in the mess of a hardware/repair shop that apparently operates, just not as a storefront.

below is a picture of melissa and i posing under a disco ball, hanging from a tree on lexington street. we fell in love with this street for obvious reasons. there's nothing quite like walking down a beautiful, quiet street at night, chatting and laughing and seeing some slow, spinning sparkles catch your eye and come upon a disco ball, silently turning and throwing party lights on the sidewalk. awesome.

also pictured are some lovely vines, climbing over the street on some power lines. also on the magical street of lexington.

this is dan zelinsky, owner and operator (in roller skates, as well) of my newest love, musee mecanique. i would like to build a mut-o-scope, since i'm so mechanically inclined...not at all. i emailed mr. zelinsky and he invited me down, saying that he'd open one up for me so i could photograph it and see how it worked.

one terribly hot day, i rode the bus for 45 minutes, IN the blazing sun, down to fisherman's wharf and took him up on his offer.

the inside with the reel removed, and what else le musee taught me (the answer is 'overrated' if you can't see):
begin the folsom street fair. i'm only including the tamest, most presentable pictures. i've got some nudies if you want, but otherwise i'll keep them to myself.

sholley's co-worker, octavio's contribution to the pre-fair buffet.

sholley and i on the balcony.

octavio and jason get into the spirit a little more. (they're already wearing jock straps.)

scary scary scary.

so you can see how it's done.

penis charms with the ability to become erect. the man at the booth was demonstrating.

i stood next to the guy taking this picture of his parents with the scariest, and easily hottest guy there. that's head to toe vinyl? rubber? not sure. either way: crazy. he also has a vinyl/rubber mohawk of spikes.

getting whipped in front of an enormous crowd with my testicles hanging out of my shorts while wearing a shiny, black mask/hood does NOT sound like my idea of a good time.

the crowd. keep in mind that many of those in the crowd are shirtless or fully naked men. i kept my hands by my shoulders, just to be safe but was still rubbed with a lot of sweaty chest hair.

two of four pairs of leiderhosen (sp?) i saw that day. apparently it's a thing.

my favorite guy, bidding me farewell on my early departure.

sister visits! hooray! we only had one day, but we made the most of it, i think. unfortunately i didn't document it all, but we DID end the day with some delicious ethiopian food (anne's first time) and it's its for dessert. it was quite the san francisco culinary adventure.

but first, we went shopping on valencia street. this is a crazy mask we found in paxton gate's kids. creeeeppy. also, shadow puppet theatre with fierce robots!grrr. and some knitted, tiny pig anatomy. *sigh* i love this store.

in the vintage section of one of a million used bookstores.

bidding farewell on the bart platform, wearing the AMAZING sweater that sister brought. isn't it stunning? and we're adorable. it was such a lovely LOVELY day. more sister times are in order, i think.