Gung Hay Fat Choy

The San Francisco Chinese New Year's Parade was pretty cool...they set off a lot of fireworks, there were a ton of people out, and there was a decent amount of energy going, which will make or break your parade. There were a bunch of marching bands, elementary/middle schools, performing arts groups, kung fu groups, and lesbian/gay groups with adopted Chinese babies marching...I can't remember all the acronyms but I'm sure you can figure it out...any combination of key words like "multi-cultural", "lbgt", "mixed", "coalition", and "families". There was even one for gay priests with multicultural families. I was impressed by that one. They looked like very nice priests. It was a loooong parade though. Those poor elementary school kids were pretty much glassy-eyed at the end. I'm sure their feet hurt, since mine were barking.

After the parade J and I stuck around for some congee and noodle soup at one of the numerous hole-in-the-walls in Chinatown...it was extremely busy and cheap and filling. It's funny how happy you can be when your unmet needs are finally taken care of...bladder, stomach, hydration, comfort. I just remember feeling so content with everything once that bowl of congee came out with the fresh ginger and green onion on top. We took the N-line back to J's car, and passed yet another cute restaurant district going through the Inner Sunset...going to have to check that out as well, especially since that's where KC's new apartment it. I've heard good, funny things about Cafe Gratitude: apparently they give you affirmations along with your order. Like "Here's your salad; I am grateful for your presence." I guess it's cheaper than a fortune cookie...

Dim Sum on Sunday morning was heaven. I don't know if I can describe to you what it is like, after the drought of Portland and Boston. I've never seen half of the dishes they offer, and all of them are good. We drove to Daly City with J's roommate and his girlfriend, and they let me order everything, which meant I stuck my nose in everything that came by and grunted yes or no. I love that role. And then we ate. I love that roll.

Oregon will always be home. But CA has some of the best asian food I've had outside of the respective countries, and the dilemma of only getting to live in one of them has me stymied.

Anyways, we finished off the day with a trip to the Botanical Gardens, then climbing at Mission Cliffs, then crepes at Ti Couz, where we ran into Carolyn and her climbing friends! (friend of Chris' from High School that was totally my idol growing up) It was awesome to catch up with her, and she's in town consulting for a month. So now I'm all fired up about SF, even to the extent of looking at apartments downtown. Of course, then I looked, and the rent prices turned me into stone. We'll see. I hate moving anyways...