Happy Pride!  First up for me on Pride Sunday was the parade.  I was in the Parade with AIDS Lifecycle and it was lots and lots of fun.  I wore a skimpy red outfit and a lot of glitter for the occasion:

My friend Eric and I:

Thomas and Elton.  Cute!

Russ:

Bob and Ramon.  Ramon was trying to fashion some last minute breasts for himself out of balloons:

Emily and I:

After the parade I headed home and got cleaned up and then we headed down to the Different Spokes booth at pride.  Which was so much fun.  I brought more cheese bread along with some chocolate cake I’d made and  a couple kinds of cocktails.  Which made the booth all shades of awesome.  Natahan came and visited us for a while and I had a wonderful day.  It got a little raucous towards the end of the day but I have that affect on people.

Joe:

Me:

Mr. Poe and I:

We left Civic Center around 4PM and had an early dinner at Osaka in the Castro. Then I went home and went to bed.  It had been a very, very long day and I was beat.

Saturday was a busy day.  I got up early which wasn’t easy because of the night I’d had before and started cooking.  Were were going to the Pos Ped Potluck at Crispin and Matt’s and I made a festive casserole for the occasion.  It was like Mac and Cheese except I made it Ruben style with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and pastrami and covered with rye breadcrumbs that had been buttered, toasted, and then buttered again.  The initial idea was from a Rachael Ray recipe but I think she’s kind of a hack so I made my favorite Alton Brown version and made a few substitutions.  The consensus was that it was totally delicious and I think Mr. Poe will be requesting it again.

Here are some pics from the potluck at Crispin and Matt’s.  Their house is super fantastic:

Grady’s dog Zippy was there and was incredibly well behaved.  Any of my dogs would have been awful:

Crispin in his boudoir. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:

We left there at about 2PM and dropped the dish off in our laundry room and headed down to Union Square.  I needed a little lunch because there hadn’t really been anything for me to eat at the potluck and then we went to Macy to go buy Mr. Poe some shorts.  They had skantily attired models:

Then we headed home and I took a nap.  After dinner we went to a party at our friend Jeff Nanney’s party.  I brought spicy cheese bread that I’d cut into heart shapes and were reportedly pretty good.  We saw Tia there which is always a treat and the party got pretty racaus.  Evidence:

We left the party around 11 and headed down to the Castro.  I didn’t feel like being in that enormous crowd of people so we listened to music and then headed home.  Hello gorgeous:

I was indeed rocking that much cleavage all night:

We went home and went to bed.  I was completely exhausted.

I worked from home on Wednesday and Thursday.  Friday I came down into work on my bike and went home at the end of the day.  I hung out with Mr. Poe and had dinner and then met Mr. Chris for cocktails in the Castro.  Pride weekend is definitely here and it was packed pretty much everywhere we went.  We settled on the Mix where we ran into this hot mess:

David joined us before too long and I headed home almost immediately.  I saw this on the way home:

I headed home and went to bed.  I’d seen enough.

Tuesday the weather was gorgeous.  A little cooler than Monday and fabulous all over.  Pride flags are going up all over San Francisco and I got some pics as I headed up Market on my way home for lunch:

The Gay and Leasbian Center all decked out for the occasion:

I was pretty beat after work so I headed almost directly home.  I took Sutter into Japantown and stopped for a pic:

I continued on Sutter to Webster and got a pic of this pretty bridge over Geary:

I took Webster to Waller to Steiner to Sanchez to Market to 17th to Ord and home for dinner.

Bike Mileage:

Today 14.8 Week to date 40.0 Month to date 699.9 Year to date 4,101.5 To Goal 3,898.5 Over (Under) plan 331.6 YTD Mileage vs Last Year (425.7) Rolling Year 6,924.0 Since Inception 10/1/07 32,607.0

I stayed off of the bike for four days which made me feel very lazy but was probably a good idea.  I sat around and did nothing all weekend which is OK only if it isn’t a trend.  Monday the weather was gorgeous and I went for a great ride after work.  I headed off Columbus to Stockton to North Point to Columbus to Beach to Van Ness.  I headed out to the beautiful pier and took a bunch of pics.  It was a gorgeous day.

The pier with Alcatraz in the background:

Aquatic Park with the Fontana buildings rising behind:

Ghiradelli Square

The Financial District rising behind Fisherman’s Wharf:

The Balclutha which you can read more about here:

People were swimming in the freezing water!  Crazy:

The Golden Gate Bridge:

Gashouse Cove:

I went through Fort Mason and made my way over to Marina and into the Presidio.  I headed over to Crissy Field and then made my way up to Lincoln and then up to Immagrant Point where I stopped for a pic:

I took Washington to Arguello to Jackson to Cherry to Washington to Lyon to Broadway and took a bunch of pics of the fabulous Gold Coast homes:

I continued on Broadway.  This is the view looking Down Divisadero to the Marina.

I took Divisadero to Pacific to Jones to California where I stopped for pics of pretty Grace Cathedral:

This is the view looking south down Jones:

Me:

The spectacular Fairmont.  Which is for sale. 

The view of the Transamerica Pyramid from Powell and California:

I took Powell to Ellis to Hyde.  The Tenderloin has some beautiful buildings which sadly don’t make up for all the sketch:

I continued on Hyde to Market to 17th to Ord and home for dinner.  I had to work a little in the evening and went to bed late.  I had a lot of trouble falling asleep because it was still pretty warm when I went to bed.

Bike Mileage:

Today 25.2 Week to date 25.2 Month to date 685.1 Year to date 4,086.7 To Goal 3,913.3 Over (Under) plan 338.8 YTD Mileage vs Last Year (426.5) Rolling Year 6,909.2 Since Inception 10/1/07 32,592.2

The weather warmed up all week which was pretty fabulous.  I went for a nice ride after work. I headed of 2nd to Howard to 11th to Harrison to 18th to Capp.  This pretty church is on Capp at 19th.  It’s Italian Renaissancilicious:

I continued on Capp and got some pics of some of the pretty houses on that street:

And check out this mural I saw at 23rd.  It’s crazy and fabulous:

I continued on Capp to 25th to Valencia to Tiffany to 29th to San Jose to Monterey into Santa Clara to Portola to Claremont to Dewey to Pacheco to 9th.  This is the view looking down 9th towards Golden Gate Park:

Me:

I continued on 9th to Judah to 7th to Hugo to Frederick to Cole to Parnassus to Clayton to Corbett to Ord and home for dinner.  Mr. Poe had to work late so I was on my own for dinner.  I walked the dogs and we waited for him to get home.

Bike Mileage:

Today 22.7 Week to date 68.7 Month to date 659.9 Year to date 4,061.5 To Goal 3,938.5 Over (Under) plan 423.1 YTD Mileage vs Last Year (441.2) Rolling Year 6,901.5 Since Inception 10/1/07 32,567.0

The weather turned sharply warmer on Tuesday which was fabulous.  I love not freezing my ass off for a change.  I came down Market into work and then headed home for lunch.  I was delayed on my way back to the office by the gridlock caused by Michelle Obama’s motorcade.  Pine Street was closed at Sansome until she made it through and I saw her being driven in a large SUV.  She waves a lot.  I would too with those arms. 

Here’s everybody waiting for the first lady hoo-ha to pass:

We have some fat cops.  There.  I said it.

After work I headed off Columbus to Stockton to North Point to Van Ness to Francisco to Octavia to Chestnut to Lyon and into the Presidio at the Lombard Gate.  I headed over to Crissy Field and then up to Lincoln and stopped a little west of the Golden Gate Bridge for a pic of the Marin Headlands.  Perfect:

I continued on Lincoln into Camino Del Mar and up to the Palace of the Legion of Honor.  I stopped for pics:

Me:

Pax Jerusalemme:

The view looking towards Sutro Tower from the Palace of the Legion of Honor:

I headed down to 34th to Clement to 23rd to Cabrillo to 2nd to Balboa into Turk and stopped for a pic of the fabulous staircase at the University of San Francisco:

I continued on Turk to Baker to McAllister and stopped for a pic of some pretty buildings between Pierce and Steiner:

I continued on McAllister to Fillmore and stopped for a pic of the former Sacred Heart Church.  I don’t know what’s in it these days:

A pretty building across the street from it:

I continued on Fillmore to Waller to Steiner and stopped for a pic of pretty Duboce Park.  Doglicious:

I continued on Steiner into Sanchez to Market to 17th to Ord and home for dinner.  After dinner I walked the dogs and made some herb cheese bread for Mr. Poe’s work thing on Wednesday.  Then I finished putting my camping stuff I used on the Lifecycle away and went to bed.  Let’s hear it for warm weather!

Bike Mileage:

Today 24.9 Week to date 46.0 Month to date 637.2 Year to date 4,038.8 To Goal 3,961.2 Over (Under) plan 422.4 YTD Mileage vs Last Year (456.9) Rolling Year 6,878.8 Since Inception 10/1/07 32,544.3

Sunday was an crappy day.  I was tired and irritable and Mr. Poe was in one of his Mr. Poe moods and wasn’t very nice to me and we bickered all day.  We all went to bed early and hoped Monday would be better.  And it was.  I got up pretty early and lounged around the house on Monday morning.   I watched a few movies while I updated my blog and finished up my ride laundry.  And I took another incredibly long shower.  Even though I spent three of the seven nights on the Lifecycle in a hotel room I still came home feeling like I hadn’t bathed in a month and despite a massive amount of scrubbing I still feel pretty grubby.  I had a big lunch and then got on Muni to go get my bike at the Cow Palace.  The T train is not the fastest thing in the world and it took forever to get there but eventually I had my bike and I thought a little ride would cheer me up so I headed down Bayshore to Guadalupe Canyon Blvd.  The fog was rolling in and the wind was intense on the climb.  I couldn’t really ride out of the saddle because I thought I was gonna get blown over if I did.  I got a couple of pics on the way down to Daly City:

I continued on Guadalupe Canyon into East Market to San Pedro to Washington to 87th to Park Plaza to John Daly to Lake Merced to John Muir.  I stopped for a pic of pretty Lake Merced:

Me:

I continued on John Muir to Skyline to The Great Highway and headed up the coast.  I stopped at the foot of Sloat for a pic of the beach.  It looked pretty bleak:

I continued up the Great Highway to Irving to La Playa and into Golden Gate Park at MLK.  I noted that construction has FINALLY resumed on the South Windmill:

I continued on MLK to Chain of Lakes.  I stopped for a few pics at the north end of the lake:

I headed over to 43rd to Cabrillo to 14th to Fulton and back into Golden Gate Park at the Rose Garden.  Which looked lovely:

I got on JFK and headed past the Music Concourse to MLK to 9th to Judah to 7th into Laguna Honda to Portola to Corbett to Ord and home.  I gave my bike a wash and finished up my laundry and waited for Mr. Poe to come home.  He isn’t feeling well.  Likely guilt.  Regan popped by to say hi around 8 and I headed off to bed when she left.  It had been a long ass day.

Bike Mileage:

Today 21.1 Week to date 21.1 Month to date 612.3 Year to date 4,013.9 To Goal 3,986.1 Over (Under) plan 419.4 YTD Mileage vs Last Year (481.8) Rolling Year 6,853.9 Since Inception 10/1/07 32,519.4

Day 7 is the last day on the ride and it’s always a little sad.  I had a great ride but I’m happy it’s over because I miss Mr. Poe and the dogs and I’m ready to go home.  The ride is flat in the beginning and then hilly once we get into Malibu and then it flattens out again as we head into Santa Monica.  I missed the turn so I had to find my own way to the finish but I was done at about 9:45 and I was pretty happy with that.  I changed and headed over to pick up the rental car and then I went and had lunch and went shopping.  Then  I picked up my luggage and headed to West Hollywood to get a vegan milkshake at Millions of Milkshake.  Which was delicious.  Unbelievably so.  Then I headed over to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.  I didn’t have time to go into the galleries but I walked around the grounds and they are very pretty.  Then I headed over to the airport where I found out my flight was massively delayed.  I found both cocktails and electricity at one of the bars so I hung out there until it was time to get on the plane.  I didn’t get home until midnight and we went to bed pretty much right away.  I was exhausted.  It had been a very, very long day. 

Christine at bike parking before the start:

Miss Armstrong:

The crew at Pit 2.  They’re the best!:

Some of the riders at the close.  We’re all happy we’re done:

Me:

Beverly Hills:

Pride in West Hollywood:

My unbelievably delicious vegan milkshake from Millions of Milkshakes:

Luscious LACMA:

This is across the street from the museum.  I don’t think the coffee shop is still open but the signs remain:

Bike Mileage:

Today 61.5 Week to date 457.7 Month to date 591.2 Year to date 3,992.8 To Goal 4,007.2 Over (Under) plan 442.1 YTD Mileage vs Last Year (441.4) Rolling Year 6,979.8 Since Inception 10/1/07 32,498.3

Day 6 on the Lifecycle is probably my favorite day.  I log climb up coastal mountains followed by a screamin’ descent down to the beach.  The part that I don’t like is having to wait at pit 2 for the CHP to cone off a bridge for us because a huge group of riders accumulates at the rest stop and if they don’t have a plan for releasing people then you can end up stuck on the freeway behind a bunch of people who are a lot slower than you and it takes forever to sorted out.  I asked if they had a plan for releasing the riders once the highway opened and AIDS Lifecycle director Michael Barron actually rolled his eyes at me.  Seriously.  I was being polite and very respectful and he fucking rolled his eyes at me when I asked if he had a plan.  I was hoping he might want to avoid the kind of free for all he had famously failed to prevent on Monday.  I think it’s probably all for the best he won’t be returning as director next year.  Good luck finding another job with that attitude.  The rode actually opened a little early and headed into Santa Barbara which is gorgeous.  From there I headed south on PCH into Ventura and into camp.  I checked into the hotel and Ben and I had lunch at Joanaafina’s Mexican Restaurant which was very, very delicious.  Then we waited for Courtney and Regan to come in at bike parking and then back to the hotel.  I dinner with Richard and then I headed off to bed.  It had been a very long day. 

Classy dames at the gear trucks:

Chris:

Me:

Pit 2 had a WWII theme:

John and Rochelle:

Trevor needs to lay of the Clif Bars because he broke his chair:

Kurt at Pit 3:

The pretty albeit fogged in beach at Santa Barbara:

Me:

Lunch at Joannafina’s.  Highly recommended:

Christine at Bike Parking.  I have a total girl crush on her.  She has a combination of kindness and organization I love:

This is what camp looked like when I got in:

More pics from bike parking:

I ran into Ben and Roger at the bar in Ventura.  God bless Bloody Mary’s:

I had dinner with Richard and that was lots of fun:

Bike Mileage:

Today 85.5 Week to date 396.2 Month to date 529.7 Year to date 3,931.3 To Goal 4,068.7 Over (Under) plan 402.5 YTD Mileage vs Last Year (417.4) Rolling Year 6,986.0 Since Inception 10/1/07 32,436.8