Friday, June 28, 2002
I'm in Seattle again. Heading across the border again tonight. Gary and his family are in Squamish, so Karli and I plan to head up in the morning to do a little climbing. Gary has replaced most of his stolen rack, and his ankles are healing. Of course, every time I come to BC to climb with Gary I get rained out. Shocking! I suppose I should expect that kind of thing in a friggin rain forest. Guess what? It's raining now. Of course, if we do get rained out, it's a good excuse for Karli and I to stay in bed. And that, my friends, is a far more compelling alternative than sharing a tent with Gary.
Jim Parisi
Michelle has a new boyfriend. I am very excited for her, but I am more excited for her man. I don't think ANYONE has ever had to go through what he did for luv. Three years he has been chasing after her. Three YEARS. I gave up after two. Oh who am I kidding, after the whole "reckless" episode of unrequited desire in 98 that left me curled in a month long fetal position and sucking my thumb, I gave up on lost cause courtships. I guess her cause wasn't lost after all. Looks like Frankie found it. Either that or it just finally clicked for them. Regardless, his pursuit took some serious, Nepalese, 8000 meter fortitude. Talk about a climb. Frank, she seems very happy. And I'm very happy for you both.
Jim Parisi
Thursday, June 27, 2002
Do you have magnetic poetry on your fridge? I do. My favorite magnetic poem?
The chocolate puppy
licks
to his bittersweet
death.
Yes, I'm an artist on my fridge.
Jim Parisi
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
I had me a good lunch today. Two nuked tofu veggie dogs. On wheat buns. With spicy brown mustard. I dig those veggie dogs. The scary thing about veggie dogs: they taste just like real hot dogs. Sure the texture is a little off. Too smooth. No grease. But the flavor is pure hot dog. Yep, all the taste, without those irksome beef lips and assholes. Nothing but pure processed tofu and wheat gluten. Actually, I don't know who that striking similarity in flavor should make more nervous, a skinny vegetarian pinko like me, or a big ol' ball park franker. I'm not gonna worry about it. Low fat, no meat, high protein, and it fits in a hot dog bun. I'm happy. This of course opens the door to the obvious irony inherent in the daily life of the modern tofu addict. All the food in the vegetarian section of the local Albertson's is designed to look, smell and taste just like meat that we abhor. And oddly enough, those sneaky soy imposters only replicate the very worst of the carnivore's diet. Veggie sausage, pepperoni, hot dogs, chicken fingers, hamburgers, McNuggets - all currently found in your grocer's freezer. I'm sure a tofu chicken fried steak is imminent. And the food scientists are getting good at it. A basic hamburger tastes nearly identical to its Flame Grilled Gardernburger Doppelganger. I wonder if a similar movement is taking place within the carnivore camp. Salads made entirely of processed meat. Then again, why do they even want to eat salad?
Jim Parisi
I'm back home. Ahhhhh....
Jim Parisi
Monday, June 24, 2002
In the last 30 days I have been to San Francisco six times, Seattle twice, Vancouver twice, San Jose twice, Yosemite once, the Eastern Sierra and Tioga Pass once, Austin once, Dallas twice, Phoenix once, Los Angeles three times, and in my bed - hell, I can't remember. Currently, I have not seen my house since last Wednesday. And I don't know when I am going home. I'm getting tired of this suitcase and I need new underwear.
Jim Parisi
I'm back in San Francisco. Corner room, the historic Westin St. Francis downtown, right across from the currently under renovation Union Square. Great hotel - even if they don't have high speed internet access. Regardless, I dig this town. But not in June. The last three trips here have been an oh-so-pleasant 55 degrees, complete with clouds, drizzle, and did I mention the wind? For such a popular city, and more importantly, a popular city that doesn't receive any snow, San Fran has remarkably miserable weather. I think I prefer somewhere with seasonal changes that vary from foggy and miserable to drizzly and miserable to windy and miserable. It's a lot easier to accept cold and miserable weather when there is a foot of snow on the ground. It's real difficult to enjoy a fog angel or throwing drizzle balls. Besides, it's June! Perhaps I've been in SoCal too long, but in June, I don't want, I expect to be wearing shorts. I hate the fact that I have to pack a friggin parka for my business trips up here.
I had been in Seattle and Vancouver since Thursday. The weather there? About 85 and not a cloud in the sky. I'd rather be there. I'd really, really rather be there. Of course, the fact that Karli is there may have something to do with that. This Westin Heavenly Bed isn't gonna be all that heavenly without her in it.
Jim Parisi
