Bergman. Overrated?

So to answer the question that you all have on the tip of your toungue... I did find drinking buddies on Thurs. Night. I met up with BN at Blue Light for a couple $2 Pacificos (which I like better than Corona). The place was pretty dead and then we headed to Mauna Loa (everyone's favorite bar that smells like shit), where we met up with some of her friends that I didn't know and still don't and AU. We played some games of Pop-a-Shot, where I played out of my mind. I have never been good at this game. Well I was out of control. Dropping 60s left and right. I know it will never happen again. So I had a lot of fun cherishing that moment, sipping on my beer with a shit-eating (fitting, seeing what bar we were in) grin. From there AU bailed and BN and I headed to R Bar. Where W the bartender was back from his trip to Alabama, btwn him gushing about the new AC in the bar and forcing Vodka down our throats, we managed to get liquored. Friday was a little rough, but nothing I can't handle.

The rest of the weekend was filled with b-day celebrations. Friday, a bunch of us bbq'd at MB's new apt. Which I love, and I assume he is paying an arm and a leg for. From there about 8 of us headed to Crow-Bar in North Beach for KC's b-day. Man, I had no idea how many people despise this bar. Like 80% of my friends I talked to either before we headed there or while we were there, asked out loud why we were there. I'm sorry, I love that bar. Great Juke Box (loads of punk and some lost favorites), pool tables that are never very crowded. Decently friendly bartenders (don't let the tats scare you) and it's spacious and usually not too crowded. I like it. And I'll be back.

The next day I watched a lot of football and then off to GP and CE's house for some "get the night started off correctly" drinks for CE's b-day extravaganza. While there I read an article in Rolling Stone (Paul McCartney issue) about a huge pot bust in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. My highschool was mentioned in the article. Good Times. After drinks, about 14 of us rolled to La Barca for some Margaritas and Mexican food although LL had stuffed us with Apps back at the house. Now I had never been to La Barca for dinner before which many people found suprising. And I was dissappointed I hadn't been there before. I loved it. Great service and the chicken enchiladas were scrumptious. After dinner we were off to U-street a high-end restaurant/lounge. The lounge area was cozy with a pretty cool DJ, but the bar area needed to be larger. Sunday was spent lounging and reading. With an added plus of a great WS game 2.

So in other news I just finished my first Ingmar Bergman film. I use the verb "finished" instead of "watched" since it took me 3 different sittings to watch it. I hardly ever fall asleep while watching movies, but this one did the trick on multiple occasions.

Now Bergman is considered to be one of the great film directors of all time, many of his movies are considered classics and he has come up at least once in every film class I have ever taken. So, obviously I need to watch some of his films. I picked "Scenes from a Marriage". Not good. at all. I gave it a C-. But the more I think about it I want to give it a D+. And I know people who think this is one of his best. What the F! am I missing? Well I'm not ready to give up on the Swede quite yet. I definitely need a larger sample size to decide if he is really overrated as I presume to be. Stay tuned. I'm going to wait a month to get the taste out of my mouth and then try to watch one of his other revered films, either Fanny and Alexander, Wild Strawberries or Seventh Seal. Anyone have any suggestions? Anyone even reading this?

Things I'm looking forward to: Halloween, the party Sat. night, the company party tomorrow night, the White Sox winning their first world series in 88 years.

Currently Listening To: Blaxxtraxx 3 by Mr. Spring

The Fall Classic

So for the first time since the dawn of the Wild-Card format the two teams I wanted to go to the World Series at the onset of the playoffs, made it to the World Series. I'm very excited for the World Series to commence. And I've heard a lot of suppossed baseball fans complain about how boring this series is going to be. And I've told more than one person that if they aren't excited about this Series, then they aren't true fans of the sport. Which is fine. My Dad hates baseball. I still like him. These teams feature two offenses who have been doing the right things at the right time. Two above-average defenses. Houston's actually being even better than that. Two amazing starting rotations and two great bullpens (although most of us have forgotten what the south-siders look like as they only pitched 2/3 of an inning in the ALCS!) Anyways, I'm excited and I wish more people were.

Yesterday I decided to go see the Wallace and Grommitt movie. Now, I had never ever seen the TV show or whatever it was that made them and Nick Park famous in the first place, but I did see Chicken Run and I loved it. So I thought I'd give this a whirl. I liked this as well. Firstly, I love English Humor and it was just a great movie. Not trying to be anything it wasn't (what does that mean?). It was just a cute, funny and entertaining film and better than 80% of the movies I've seen this year. I'd give it a B+.

I wasn't originally planning on drinking tonight for a few reasons: I got a tad overserved on Tuesday, a lot of out-of-town friends are rolling in tomorrow, and I was going to go to a play tonight in Berkeley by myself. However, I just called the theatre and it is sold out. That coupled with the fact that today at work was no fun, AT ALL. I think I need to get drunk.

I haven't talked to anyone yet, about what might be going on. However, that is the great thing about this city and the nearly 6 years I've lived here. I can guarantee that I will find a few people that I call friends out this evening. Where and when that might be is the fun part. Wish me luck.

Currently Listening To: "Little Speaker" by Underworld

A Waste of A City

So last night after watching one of the more clutch homers in Baseball Playoff recent history, brought to you buy Albert Pujols. I hightailed it downtown to the Metreon theatre. It only took me 13 minutes to get down there. Of course, the bus driver was a certifiably insane driver and more than one chinatown denizen ended up on the floor of the bus. Luckily, I had secured a seat.

My goal was to see "Just Like Heaven". Now before you laugh at me let me just point out what many of you may know already, I try to see as many different kind of movies as possible, no matter what genre they hail from or perceived quality they may have. And this film had two things going for it. 1) Mark Ruffalo 2) It was filmed in San Francisco.

Well it is not good. It wasted San Francisco. It didn't take full advantage of this beautiful city (to see how this should be done correctly watch Vertigo). Even going so far as to use fake blue screen for some of the skyline shots and shots on the Golden Gate Bridge. Ruffalo was okay but didn't have a lot to work with and played his role a little too sad-sacky for my liking. Reese is Reese, I haven't really been impressed with her since "Freeway". Jon "Napoleon Dynamite" Heder in his first role after his career-making performance was inserted for some comedy and pretty much fell flat. The movie definitely had some momements and had a pretty good soundtrack including an interesting cover of "Brass in Pocket" by Kelis. The movie was disappointing mostly because there was talent connected with this film, it just didn't include the screenwriter. Grade: C.

Tonight I'm passing up on a happy hour for a co-worker who is leaving, for a book signing by none other than the Sports Guy himself, Bill Simmons of ESPN.COM's Page 2. Kind of excited about it. Of course, knowing some of the people involved in this Happy Hour I very well could be meeting up with them afterwards.

Currently Listening To: The Lullaby by The Cure

Various Thoughts and Shasta Pics

I wanted to post some long overdue pics from Shasta '05. I'm not sure if there was more drinking involved or what this year, but the selection was a tad lacking compared to years past. I also forgot my camera which didn't help matters. I did get an hour of video footage mostly of the Cups tournaments, but I'm not sure how to post that shit. Before I get to the pics though I wanted to drop a few thoughts....

The Franz Ferdiand album that came out a couple weeks ago is amazing. The more I listen to it the more I love it and them. And my love for them was further solidified by seeing them 2 thursdays ago, when I went to see them BY MYSELF! I still can't believe I couldn't get anyone to accompany me. Luckily once they started playing I quickly forgot that I was solo and not sober. One of the best live shows I have ever witnessed in the city of San Francisco.

Sat. night I saw Tegan and Sara on the campus of UC Berkeley with JB and BN. They are two sisters who grew up in Calgary and they rock. I had seen them a few years ago at Bridge School but it was acoustic and didn't do them justice. I was thouroughly impressed with how well they sounded and their very appealing and confident stage presence. After the show my plan was to head to the Mission and meet up with a large group of friends for a b-day party at Medjool, a farily new, hip restaurant/bar. My plans were twarted by Medjool's overzealous dress code. I was allowed in the bar/restaurant but not on the uber-suave(I'm assuming since they wouldn't let me up there) roof deck. The Flip-Flops and t-shirt weren't flying. I wasn't even wearing a headband that night. From there I went to the grand re-opening of the DeYoung Art Mueseum in Golden Gate Park, just to be twarted again. I arrived at 1:30 am and they told me that it was a 4.5 hour wait since there were about 1000 people in line in front of me. I'm not joking that's what the security lady told me. Anyways the weekend was still a good one as the weather was great and I wasn't at work. Here's to next weekend being a little more friendly as far as admittance goes.

On to the pics:






My two favorites are of course the last two. CE taking full advantage of this year's boats hottubbin' capabilities, and the capes and speedos shot is of course a very common occurence. Already looking forward to next summer. BS is the one on the slide.

Currently listening to: Evil by Interpol

Autzen Stadium: An Experience

So 3 weeks ago my friend JB (Oregon Alum) and I (not an Oregon Alum) flew up to Portland, Oregon. The one made famous by Loretta Lynn and Jack White. The sole purpose of this flight was for my first true visit to Eugene, Oregon and Autzen Stadium, home of the University of Oregon Ducks Football Team. JB and I flew to Portland (2 hours N of Eugene) since we are cheap bastards. Most airlines from what I can tell do not want anyone flying into Eugene for anything and do their best to keep people out. The rest of our friends are made of money so they flew into the Eug.

Our flight was peaceful and quick, although JB defaced a Spirit Magazine since Matt Leinart was on the cover and she was a little grumpy since she was working on little sleep. Luckily, HC who lives close to Portland was also heading down to Eugene so she picked us up and we headed to Eugene. Much anticipation filled the car ride as JB and HC were discussing and telling stories about all the friends of theirs that we would see and I would meet. From the sounds of it, I was going to be in for a weekend.

We arrived at JB's Mom's new place and were treated to many a Vodka/Lemonade and good treats. soon after BN, MM, HB and BN's parents also showed up. By the time we left the house to hit Taylor's one of the more famous bars on campus the majority of us were loaded. At Taylor's we ran into more friends some from San Fran and others that I met for the first time from LA, Manhattan, Portland and other towns near and far. Shots, Beers, drinks were had. A good time.

The next morning early, we woke up and got in our gameday attire. The Ducks in 6 short hours were going to be taking on the number 1 team in the country, the USC Assclowns. We had a parking pass so we had to get down there by noon to get a choice parking spot. Let me just say the weather couldn't have been better than day and as per usual I dressed inappropiately. It was sunny, no clouds, and temps in the high 70s. I chose to wear jeans. The lesson as always: I'm a fucking moron.

We spent 3.5 hours drinking, eating and grooving to JB's Ipod's Gameday Playlist. Probably the best tailgate experience of my life. However, if they had grass a la the Rose Bowl/Husky Stadium it would even be better. Then we headed into the game and the Ducks made us all believers for a half. However, as usual USC decided to play like they can in the 2nd half and blew the Ducks out scoring 45 unanswered points. The 2nd half was very painful to watch so to make up for it once we were back at the car I ate another sausauge, drank 3 beers, and smoked 4 cigarettes in about 6 minutes to teach the Ducks a lesson. What that is, I'll get back to you on.

The rest of the evening was highlighted by going to The Cooler which is very close to the stadium which you would never guess if you decide to drive there right after a game. Idiots! We finally made it and the trek was well worth it. Vodka/Rock Stars all around and around and around and around. You get the picture. I had so much damn fun at the Cooler that it made my top 5 bars of all-time list. of course it's only the 2nd bar to ever do that. Betcha you can't guess which the other one is. The Cooler also had a jukebox, the likes of which I had never seen before. It was one of those Internet jukeboxes. But not like the ones you can find in Kennedy's in North Beach, Final Final in the Marina or Brady's Yacht Club in Santa Cruz. You know the ones with a crap ass selection. This one had thousands of songs. So I picked some songs, and then I noticed something on a couple of the TVs in the bar the videos of the songs people had played before me were playing at the same time. I seriously freaked out. All of a sudden I'm watching Rick Springfield smash a mirror to the tune of Jesse's Girl. I ran over to the jukebox and picked the next 15 or so songs. Soon after my songs came up. Like 10 minutes later which is unheard of in a bar that was crowded as the Cooler was that night. There was about a group of 20 of us that had taken over this one level in the bar and after my songs came on it pretty much turned into Eugene Dance Party Fall '05. One thing of note: I played "Save You" by Pearl Jam. A song they never made a video for supposedly. Not so fast. A video of a live performance came on, but it was produced with special lighting that you would never see at a PJ concert. I was thrown for a loop. We took a cab home and I remember wanting nachos really really badly.

The next day I was hungover. A lot.

Currently Listening To: Three or Four by The New Pornographers