01/07/05 08:45 - ID#36497

Winter Storm, California-Style

A friend of mine (in CA) sent this around last year. It's still funny. To me anyway. Don't forget I paid my dues with 20 years in Boston.

Effects of severe weather in California

It was fun to see snow while in Buffalo, but it's good to be back. Don't forget to come visit.

Permalink: Winter_Storm_California_Style.html
Words: 55
Location: San Francisco, CA

01/07/05 05:53 - ID#36496

Airport Food

I missed my connection to Oakland at JFK, so I had a few extra hours to kill. Plenty of food options to assuage the disappointment.

I would say JFK is the Wegman's of airport food.

I didn't think I would have any time at JFK, so I woofed down some "Buffalo's Best" wings at the Buffalo airport. I have a serious weakness for wings.

Permalink: Airport_Food.html
Words: 74
Location: San Francisco, CA

01/07/05 05:51 - ID#36495

West Meets East

I feel like a peep exchange student, now returning to my home country. It's hard to describe how I feel now or what changed for me. I was so scared of screwing up my 'imaginary' friendship, but I'm glad that didn't stop me from going and meeting (e:PMT) in person. Thanks for taking me into your household, guys! I had a great time with you. I especially loved seeing (e:Mathew)'s beautiful animal collages in person. And now I know (e:Terry)'s culinary concoctions really do taste as good as they look. Strangely enough, being in same time zone with (e:Paul) is not all that different. I still went to bed and woke up three hours earlier than he did. Probably the most telling moment of the visit was when (e:Paul) looked to see if I was online when I was sitting 3 feet from him in the same room. I don't know what that means, but it's probably a good thing I'm back here now.

It was great hanging out at the Mansion and getting to meet (e:Flacidness), (e:Lilho), (e:DrClorine) and (e:Rachel). And I finally had the perfect excuse to visit (e:J3sse)! I looked up just how long it's been since he abandoned me and it turns out he left SF on December 10th 2002. That's exactly two years to the day before estripwest was "born." Is that weird or what?

I wish I could have had a little more time there, but after 18 days as a roaming nomad, it's good to be home. Strangely sad though.

It's all gone but something lingers on
a place i used to call home

p.s. - even though it was really nice being on a pedestal before (not to mention a serious novelty for me) I would have to say that was a big reason for making the trip. I liked it up there, but it freaked me out sometimes. I was just hoping I wouldn't have to take too much of a nosedive off it.

Permalink: West_Meets_East.html
Words: 344
Location: San Francisco, CA

01/03/05 01:58 - ID#36494

Alone at last

The last of the family[inlink]twisted,114[/inlink]shipped out this morning. Erik & Alisha caught a 5:40am flight (ouch!) from Newark to Charlotte to Atlanta. Dad & Jean took off in the Jetta for South Carolina. My brother and sister-in-law are at work and the kids are in school. Suddenly it's very, very quiet. So I'm playing the CD I made my nephews for their last birthday. Forgot I had put Adam Sandler's "Red Hooded Sweatshirt" on there!

It's been quite the family odyssey. I've slept in 7 different "beds" (I use the term loosely) since I got to the East coast Dec. 20th, and tonight I get upgraded from the air mattress in my brother's home office to my nephew's bed now that everyone else has vacated. I've slept great everywhere, although it was pretty cosy the one night I shared a room with three nephews and my one niece. She got crowded out during the night so we jammed in together on the trundle bed.

Luckily I had my boxer shorts with the glow-in-the-dark stars, suitable for slumber parties.

Permalink: Alone_at_last.html
Words: 180
Location: San Francisco, CA

01/02/05 07:15 - ID#36493

A Night out

Some amazing shellfish (and lobster, not pictured) with my friend (and ex-boss), Leslie.

Permalink: A_Night_out.html
Words: 14
Location: San Francisco, CA

12/31/04 03:30 - ID#36492

Live from NY

In front of the tree at rockefeller center (pic from my cellphone)

Permalink: Live_from_NY.html
Words: 13
Location: San Francisco, CA

12/29/04 10:35 - ID#36491

Devastation

I heard the devastating news on the radio at my Dad's house. For the record, I don't own, and have never owned, a beach house. Although I've rented one with friends. Also not rich, but working on it.

Permalink: Devastation.html
Words: 38
Location: San Francisco, CA

12/26/04 10:49 - ID#36490

Nostalgia

Dad's on a nostalgia kick, which means we got to watch slides.

Dad loading up the projector

My brothers & sister dying Easter eggs. Check out that wallpaper!

Dad with Oma on the back of the moped

My brother and sister and me in our bunkbeds. Those were the days!

Some xmas pix from this year:

Permalink: Nostalgia.html
Words: 79
Location: San Francisco, CA

12/20/04 12:52 - ID#36489

e:Bonding

A few thought before I head East tomorrow.

Really I think it boils down to finding something you're passionate about doing, and someone to do it with. Someone in the same time zone would be nice, but you take what you get.

On recalibrating perception - I think we all project our own ideals onto the blank spaces of others. It's even easier to do these days given the ways we meet people. I think it's a good idea to get a reality check when you can.

Wow, I guess that's it! Seemed so profound before.

Permalink: e_Bonding.html
Words: 96
Location: San Francisco, CA

12/19/04 01:38 - ID#36488

Extended Family Christmas

Just got the scoop from Dad. Guess I'm not the only one making last minute travel changes. Does this seem complicated or is it just me?

I fly into Charlotte, NC to my sister's tomorrow. We'll meet Dad and Jean at the Columbia zoo with the kids on Tuesday evening, then all drive to Dad's house in SC. Erik & Alisha get in from Atlanta that night too, but they have to leave early on Christmas eve for a flight to Nebraska to spend Christmas with her family. My sister's husband gets in on Thursday, so I'll have his truck when they all go to Woodruff, SC to spend Christmas afternoon with his family. Dad and Jean are driving to her daughter's place in Tennessee on Sunday, 26th, so I'll meet up with my sister then and caravan back to Charlotte. (Wait, not done yet.) Then, my sister, brother-in-law, three kids and I all pile into their Honda Pilot to drive up to Connecticut to visit my other brother for New Year's Eve. Erik & Alisha fly back to Atlanta on the 30th then take a 6AM flight up to CT/NY on the 31st. Dad just told me he and Jean decided to drive up to CT directly from Memphis for New Year's too. Should be a houseful!

Oh yeah, so I decided as long as I was in the state, I would swing by Buffalo on my way home. If you see someone wandering around Elmwood inappropriately dressed for the weather, it's probably me. Hope to meet some peeps.

Permalink: Extended_Family_Christmas.html
Words: 261
Location: San Francisco, CA

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