Golden Gate Park: smoked losers and Dutch masters

Difficultly scheduled and much anticipated James time happened Saturday, and it was a gorgeous, warm and clear day in San Francisco. The ruptured plate in my left foot and jankle on the right were acting up, so I considered the 71 instead of walking to the Inner Sunset. The 71 stops right outside my door, and was due in just a couple of minutes so it seemed prudent. While waiting, I clued into the fact that it was April 20. 04/20. 420. Smoke a Bunch of Weed Day. First I noticed the aroma. Then I noticed the seemingly endless stream of young people with coolers, blankets, and a Goodwill wardrobe parading down Frederick Street toward the park.


After the second "arriving" bus never appeared, it occurred to me that being 420, Haight Street was likely a clusterfuck of clusterfucktards, and the 71s must be stuck in that madness. I remembered last year the throngs refusing the get out of the intersection of Haight and Stanyan kept me stuck on the work shuttle for 45 minutes. I started to walk towards the N when the 71 came into view. By the time it got to Frederick, it had nearly emptied, but the pungent haze left by the recently departed was enough to cause a contact high and left a scent on my clothes. Oh San Francisco kids, you slay me. There was a definite slacker/loser vibe to the throngs of thousands who had BARTed/bussed in just to smoke in the park on 4/20. Clearly, I do not think all people who smoke pot are losers. I do think that these kids in their "look at me I'm a rebel" pot themed t-shirts, poor hygiene, and cognitive impairment who think it is cool to leave over five tons of trash in the park for other people to pick up, while getting in playground-level fist fights are in fact, complete and total losers.

James and I met for lunch at Nopalito, which was surprisingly not crowded on this perfect day for dining there. I enjoyed giddy good news times with James, and the ridiculously good crushed shrimp dish. Can't wait to have that again.


We chillaxed after lunch with Special K and I fell into some tech support for her friend Ja-K, and lazied with the cats before we walked over to the De Young for a tour of the visiting Dutch paintings exhibit and The Girl with the Pearl Earring. It was a little tiring examining the intricate etchings in such low light, but the exhibit is well done. I think I need to go back and take the audio tour for more context—I tend to get lost in the mechanics of the craft if I am not lost in the subject matter.


I think I should also go on a day when it is not so unseasonably awesome outside. Saturday was just too beautiful to be indoors.


Out the east exit of the De Young there is a small sculpture garden/fountain, and the blossoms in the water made me realize that I don't think I have ever seen water lilies actually in bloom before.




I get why Monet was all over them.