You are warmly invited to join Team Ireland at Casements Bar next Wednesday Oct 30 to hear Samhain stories told by author Beth Winegarner, singer Amelia Hogan and seanachai Kenny Somerville (and others!)
Join us in the warm and deeply hospitable back patio of Casements to mark the end of summer, and the beginning of the dark.
Warm yourself in convivial community (and maybe with one of Casement's excellent cocktails), pull up a chair and have a listen.
#samhain2024
#IrelandinSF

Goals: today I swam in 2 new and unexpected places 1. The beach in front of the coast guard base on Yerba Buena island and, 2. the bay between Piers 50 & 52.
The best way to reclaim space is to use it. This is particularly true of the southern part of the bay. Maybe not so true of Yerba Buena ..there's a seal rookery there, and they need that space.

I love the Martinez train station.

The Lake Fire as seen from Los Alamos. The plume is massive.
https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/5/lake-fire

Feelings: there's a couple of skateboarders using a metal guard outside my window that stops people from falling down the driveway cut. It's there for safety.
They're using it for (i don't know) a stunt? It's loud and and its right next to my window. I'm trying to write. I don't love this.
I asked them if they could stop.
The guy was oh I don't want to disrespect you. Ten more minutes?
Fine, I said. Don't damage that guard, its there for a reason.
15 minutes go by. Blam. Blam. Blam.
I remind them that they said ten minutes, oh ok, can we have ten minutes, and I said i gave you that, you are fuckin loud and the guy says: what do you want you live in the Mission.
(Ok)
I know where I live, I said. Do you believe in consent? Because I don't fucking consent to this.
Edit: there was a kind of low key masculine manipulation on display. And a huge disinterest in boundaries. This is toxic.
Summary: guys that can't hear the word "no" are dangerous.
Cherry on top: one of them threatened to call the cops on me.

Ok: for anyone cheering fireworks.
This is my front window this morning.
At any time of day or night, I sit at this desk.
This is the *second* time in ten years that this has happened.
Now do you get why fireworks=bullshit?

The Mission. My poor cat.

3. Saw this flyer in the Castro. Yes, it's time for a new bathhouse, but not sure of the juxtaposition with historic cottaging territory.
I say we need both.

2. The march commentators *got* why the EU marching in a unified contingent mattered. Have a listen l.
This is making me slightly weepy.