Inspirational Sports Movies

God, I love them.

Put me in front of movies like Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights, We Are Marshall...the list goes on....and I will be happy as a clam. I don't know what it is--the inspirational destruction of race and social prejudices? The thrilling games? The alternately supportive and destructive family?

Really, it's a magical mix of all those elements. Regardless, I guarantee you that anytime I'm bored, put on Remember the Titans and I'll be one entertained (and happy) camper.

Point of this post? Up for debate.

Caitlin - The Recap

My fingers would quite literally fall off if I tried to recount everything from Caitlin's visit, so here are the highlights from the weekend:

Thursday:
- Farolito: Caitlin's first taqueria trip ever. Delicious.

Friday:
- The day is kicked off with mimosas and breakfast at Stacks.
- Shopping. So. Much. Shopping.
- Introducing Caitlin to the wonders of frozen yogurt
- Pier 39! Sea lions + In-n-Out = typical SF tourism.
- The Big Umbrella for an arts show. So hot and crowded I literally thought my face was going to melt off.
- Jameson Comedy tour. The best bit was clearly about how pinkie toes get caught on afghans.
- Getting on stage at the comedy tour? Subsequently getting kicked out? Look, everyone was gone, how was I supposed to know it's not allowed.
- Trying to hail a cab outside the comedy club when we wind up in a limo. Um, what? Proceed to go on what feels like the longest limo ride ever through the city, where I sat on the floor.
- End the night sitting on a fire hydrant waiting for Caitlin as she proceeds to walk up and down some of the biggest hills in the city to go see a park.

Saturday:
- Morning = death. Get breakfast on the corner and skip out on our brunch reservations. Cab back to my house. Caitlin in last night's clothes, me barefoot and in pajama pants.
- Sit on the couch for about 2 hours, where I eat about half of a loaf of sourdough bread.
- Pry ourselves off the couch, pick up Adam, get Mitchell's ice cream, and go to the bridge!
- Caitlin and Adam walk out onto the bridge, while I get nauseous from fear and turn around about 30 yards in. The fact that I'm wearing a skirt in gusty conditions doesn't help.
- To the beach! Yes, it was 75 degrees, so we head to the beach for classic "jumping in waves" pictures and so Caitlin can see the Pacific.
- Dinner at Asia SF. We get lessons in sake from the bartenders and watch some hot trannies lip sync on the bar in skimpy costumes. Someone is there celebrating a divorce.
- Call it a night since nothing can top the "gender illusionists," so we head home to hang out and watch SNL. Asleep by midnight.

We head out of the house at 9am the next morning to get Caitlin on her flight. I spend most of the day either in bed napping or on the couch. The night ends with Chinese food and Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo.

Needless to say, the weekend was amazing. I'm super pumped for our next reunion, scheduled to take place somewhere in the Midwest during the Britney Spears tour. Am I kidding? I'll leave that one for you to figure out.

For Alex

And for all my other dear friends who, in the passing of Prop 8, have seen their civil liberties thrown out the window.

Hope

This time last week, my heart was beating with nervous anticipation. We were all merely one day away from bringing to an end one of the longest campaigns in US history and electing the 44th president.

24 hours after uncertainty sent my heart into a nervous pitter-patter tears swam in my eyes during Obama's acceptance speech. Four years ago on election night I went to bed with a heavy heart, but looking back it seems far less things hung in the balance at the time. Last week, however, it seemed that the future of America was at stake--would this be the night when we, as citizens, make another grave mistake by sending the wrong person to the Oval Office? No. This year we chose to herald the return of reason and, dare I say it, intellectualism to America. Last week, I cried because I was filled with the hope and optimism that had escaped this country recently, and because the system works. A candidate won the presidency in both the popular and electoral vote, a definitive statement that yes, we believe in change, and yes, we can. Last week, I cried because I saw the man who I voted for win an election that I care deeply about and last week, I cried because it was an historical night.

After wiping away the tears we joined the crowds in the streets, just as there were crowds in New York, in DC, and, surely, across the country.

Mere feet from my old doorstep we found the revelers, climbing on street posts, dancing to drum circles and brass bands, shouting, hugging, and high-fiving.


This, already 3 hours after the results came in.


The excitement in the air was tangible, that night and through into the next morning. Today that excitement remains, somewhat tempered with the ever-darkening financial horizons, but still there. I imagine it will grow back into a frenzy around Inauguration Day, and I do so very hope that we will continue to feel so optimistic in the coming years.

DISNEY

A few weeks back I took a road trip down to LA with two kickass girls for my very first Disney adventure ever. It was incredible. Not only am I a fiend for roller coasters, but I was so thoroughly impressed with the artistic vision in the park. Truly, the attention to detail, the story that was told, was breathtaking. Up until this weekend I was upset that I'd never been to Disney as a child, but now I'm pleased that this was my first trip--a weekend with two friends, and at the age where I'm old enough to go on all the rides (and not be scared) as well as appreciate the effort that went into the entire operation. Yes, some of you may scoff at the idea that something so juvenile as Disneyland could hold some sort of creative merit, but you'll be the ones missing out. I, for one, am a new member of the Disney fan club (not really though, although I'm sure such a thing exists).

On to the pictures!

Follow the signs....


Sup huge pumpkin?!


Tea cups!!


Hey roommate!


Ah, building castles in the sky....


Great Adventure!


The Bridge, a la Disney:

Note: Not the actual bridge.

Celebrity sighting:


This blew my mind:


Tower of Terror:


Outside the Haunted Mansion:


On Splash Mountain....



After Splash Mountain....See how wet Alex's shirt is? Yeah, my shorts were right there with her (not because I peed myself out of fright. Just the splash).



The next morning, after a 12 hour Disney day, we went into LA to get brunch with Alex's friend Garrett and his friend (um, whose name I forgot). We had a delicious breakfast, saw Garrett's (now old) apartment, got Pinkberry (YUM) and went up to the LA Observatory, where we could see both the Hollywood sign as well as look out onto LA (at least what the smog allowed). We hit the road and made it back to SF in 6 hours. It was, altogether, the perfect weekend escape, and I can't wait to go back.

The Long-Awaited Pictures of My Room

Please, everyone, sit back onto your seats normally and take a deeeeeeep breath. They're here.

Note: I apologize for the terrible photo quality. The iPhone isn't really cut out for any sort of picture-taking, and my Chinatown camera kicked the bucket halfway through Disney adventure.

Feast your eyes upon my new (well, 2 months new) home.

Living Room, complete with dinner on the table and Dexter on the TV:


The quite beautiful view from our living room windows:



The kitchen! I love it.


And, lastly, the bedroom.


Oh yeah, see that shelf action?


The other side of my room is my desk/TV and my closet, and a lonely wall that needs love in the form of decoration. Besides my discs, those are there.

Ta-da! Hope you all enjoyed it.