What a fantastic day today has been.
It started with waking up naturally at 8am from a restful night sleep because I left my phone in the living room the night before. Then took a 3.5 mile walk with a friend to go to my favorite breakfast place in the city where I indulged in oatmeal pancakes, eggs, bacon and gluten free toast. On the way there, I tried to stop by Philz for a decaf coffee but the line was too long and figured we could go in Noe anytime since she hasn’t tried their coffee.
Also on the walk to brunch, we saw the tents being set up for the Carnival festival in the Mission and stopped at a donut place that has crazy flavors like passion fruit chocolate. My friend, Lisa, hasn’t been in the city long and since she may have not checked out this place before so I wanted to give her the knowledge/experience. Funny thing, I was the one ending up getting a donut!! They had gluten free donuts (fried in the same oil as the regular ones) so the carrot cake gluten free was put in my bag for later.
We meandered through the streets, ending up walking up Mariposa from Folsom and coming to a dead end. Instead of taking the route I usually take, we headed up a spiral walking path that led to a bridge across 101 with a cute garden on the other side. This allowed me to show her the main strip of Potrero which was packed with hungry brunchers.
After brunch, we parted ways and I found myself wandering to Sportsbasement to check out walking/hiking shoes that covered my ankles so they could also be used for motorcycle riding protection - thus leaving a pair of shoes at home when going someplace remote and then hiking. These are my top pick right now.

Along the way, I stopped by an O’Reilly’s auto store for a tire gauge that has a hose but once inside I recalled that I had been there before and they do not have what I am looking for.
I put off buying the shoes at sports basement and to walk the few blocks to check out if they have the same shoes at REI since I have a 20% off coupon. They had the same shoe but in an unfavorable color and not in my size. They were having a big sale throughout the store because of the holiday on Monday and I picked up a half dozen items... then put it all back on the shelf. I’m getting good at telling myself that "I already have items like these", "I already have enough items like these" and "I can work with what I have for a little bit longer”. I walked out empty handed. Shopping makes me depressed.
I thought it was time to head home so started walking that direction but stopped into the StrEATfood Park (a park full of food trucks) and a football game was going on (Real Spain verse Spain). The place was packed and sangrias were bottomless till 4pm. I settled for an Arnold Palmer and a quiet corner in the sun with hanging upside-down light bulbs turned into vases, to rest.
There was an estate sale just a half block away so I wandered through it, but it was the estate of a very old person who used their things till they were worn through and of the fashion of a century ago. This direction led me to go into Cycle Gear to get… you guessed it! A tire gauge with a hose. Boom! and it was on sale.
In line, the person in front of me was purchasing a jacket and helmet and was new to riding and the area. As I was leaving, she was packing her stuff onto her bicycle and I stopped to chat with her about her experience riding and asked if she had anyone to ride with. She is new to SF (4 months), has been riding a very short period, and only had some dudes at work so I offered my card to her. Maybe I’ll hear from her - my current riding gal pals aren’t into riding anymore; one is selling her bike (and might get a new one) and the other has put her bike on a non-operational registration. =(
Leaving that exchange I realized that I truly get kicks out of showing people new things. Showing Lisa Philz and the donut place, and perhaps helping this new rider to get more comfortable on the bike and to explore new places. Must ponder this a little more to see if there is a career laden in there.
Walking home and towards a chocolate shop that Lisa works at, I ran into the Carnival at 16th street which was bustling and booming. Inside, there were street vendors and food vendors galore. Music every two blocks, free samples and topless women (just a few) that I wondered if they knew about the new no nudity law in SF. It was vendors on both sides so a loop was a must to see all of it. I started down one side and it kept going and going and going, all the way to 24th. I looped back but ended up on 22nd to head home.

Walking up 22nd from Harrison was a new experience for me. I ran into the Urban Putt and made a pit stop while checking out the indoor putt putt place. For $12, I may have to make a night of it one night.

At home, I wanted to sit outside in the sun with my cat and enjoy a good book so I packed up a picnic, my book, a blanket and went out back to sit and my cat. Once out there, I realized it would be a quick outing. Phoebe was chewing on all greenery possible (I am expecting it to come back up in my apartment later) so she needed an eagles eye on her, it was not sunny and my other cat, Bubbles, was screaming at the top of her lungs inside my apartment because her sister was gone.

All throughout this, I did not get on the internet once. For the last 8 hours, I have not texted anyone and did not look at any emails. I wrote one email, but it has not been sent because this entire time my phone has been on airplane mode it will send once I turn airplane mode off. Sitting here, in my apartment, writing this on my computer that has no internet connection at the moment, I can _hear_ the ding of my phone when I get a text message even though it’s on airplane mode.
I am grateful for the silence.
I am grateful for the space to think without distraction or wondering if anyone has emailed me or has anyone posted to Facebook. The world continues to turn without knowing whats going on on Facebook and people on FB don’t need to know what I’m doing every second of my day.
