Highlights from the last 36 hours, in no particular order–

1. Someone said I was skinny

This last weekend I attended a dance event in San Francisco, and my host toted me around on his scooter. At one point he said the scooter was easier to drive with “a little extra weight” on it. Best compliment I’ve received all month.

2. San Francisco has A LOT of hills

Yesterday I didn’t feel like taking classes and went looking for books instead. I started out just on foot, but damn if San Francisco isn’t a lot of up and down, up and down. So I ended up Lyft-ing (Lyft is like Uber or a taxi, Mom), then walking, then Lyft-ing, then walking some more. Basically, I just hunted for bookstores–I went to six in all. The amazing part? I didn’t buy a thing. Still, I had a great time (yesterday was gorgeous) and even wandered through a lovely park (Delores Park). I thought it might be the place used in the opening credits of the television show Full House, but–alas–it wasn’t. Anyway, check it out.

3. Last night was fabulous

Just before the last dance at the workshop I attended–The Switch–I had a beer with my friend who helped organize the event, then grabbed dinner. Then I had a handful of dances, all of which were delightful. (The last night of any dance event is almost always the most fun, since people are laid back, settled in, and generally too tired to put up a front or give a shit about looking better than anyone else.)

4. What the hell, Tom Collins?

After the final dance (and the scooter ride home), I walked up the steep hill where I parked Tom Collins on Friday in order to check on him. And whereas he was technically okay and I hadn’t gotten any more tickets (I got one yesterday for not turning my wheels toward the curb), the lock on Tom’s trunk wasn’t working. (This problem has happened once before, and you can read about it here.) Anyway, I futzed with the switch and latch by hand for a good twenty minutes to no avail, then ended up asking my host if he had two screwdrivers, a pair of pliers, and a wire coat hanger. Thankfully, he did. (I would have used my own tools but I left them back in Arkansas so my parents, my aunt, and I could have enough room for all our damn luggage.)

Using the tools, I took the inside panel off the trunk door. As it turns out, there are two small nuts that hold the power lock for the trunk in place, and one of them had come loose and disappeared. This means the lock was TECHNICALLY WORKING, but it wasn’t being held securely in place. So it wasn’t ACTUALLY WORKING. Anyway, not having a nut to replace the lost one, I used the wire hanger to fasten the lock to the frame until I can get to a hardware store (or my brother-in-law’s garage) and fix things correctly.

Sometimes you simply do the best you can.

5. What the hell, San Francisco?

This morning after cleaning up and packing my things, I drove Tom Collins to a park and hiked in the direction of the Golden Gate Bridge. And whereas I was really looking forward to seeing and having my picture taken with this iconic monument, it was almost completely covered in freakin’ fog.

But what can you do?

6. Come on, universe

Fresh off The Golden Gate Disappointment of 2018, I went for a sourdough bread bowl, something one of my friends recommended. Wouldn’t you know it? They’d JUST sold out.

So I ate a sourdough sandwich instead.

And whereas the sandwich as a whole was extremely tasty, the bread was THE HARDEST thing I’ve ever tried to chew in my entire life.

7. Finally– a win

My last stop before leaving town was ANOTHER bookstore, where I ended up getting two books–a children’s book I’ve wanted for a while, and a book on alchemy and mysticism. So that was fun. Plus, there was a sign out front that said, “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”

Hear, hear.

8. You’ve got to be kidding

Leaving San Francisco took FOREVER, I guess because there’s only one bridge out in the direction I was going, and there was a wreck (or two or three) nearby. (There was SO MUCH traffic.) So what should have been a three or four-hour drive to Fresno (where I am now, visiting relatives), took six. Nonetheless, I’m here–safe and sound.

9. It all catches up

Now it’s thirty minutes before midnight, and I’m worn out. All the dancing and all the driving has obviously taken its toll.

So for now–

I’m done.

But I should be clear.

It’s been a good day.

Life doesn’t suck.