Here’s to you, West Coast

Well, we’re almost done with 2008. I’ll resist the urge to do a long list (I’ve gotta do one for next week’s column anyway), but it’s worth taking some time to take a deep breath and, in a way, be relieved to have even survived this year of pretty awesome ups (at least one, with the “did that actually happen?” Obama victory) and a whole litany of low (and lower) lows. The other day I actually had to turn NPR off--it was just one miserable story after another. One hopes for happiness and joy during the holidays and this year it seemed that everyone had to fight for a grimace, let alone a smile.

But it was not all that bad, of course. I just got back from San Francisco--I’d share my photos, but many of them were lost due to a technical problem that’s almost too annoying to go into here--which, as usual, was a mix of vacation and Pony Express style darting between family, friends and, sometimes, rest. It was great to see everyone, of course--special appearance by Pepe needs to be called out here--but as far as actual relaxing vacation? Nope.

Every time I go back to San Francisco I seem to notice something, and this time was no different. I couldn’t help but notice how precious so many things seemed to be. I tend to be pretty...jocular? this time of year, especially when I go to San Francisco, but almost everyone I interacted with, whether it be a restaurant’s hostess or coffee plebe, was just...dour. So cool that to be nice to someone that wasn’t glum was too much effort. It was frustrating as hell, to be honest, because it underscored the perception of San Francisco being self-absorbed and haughtier-than-thou, you know? Cheer up, folks! You live in a great city! Enjoy it--and the people who are returning home to visit. It just doesn’t makes sense to me to take oneself so seriously, especially in San Francisco. They need a return of a rave scene or something, to knock them about.

But my friends seemed to be doing well, same with my family. Saw my cousin Patrick play jazz and saw a theatrical version of Star Wars with Kenji, Sam and Whitney. Oh, and I went to the new Academy of Sciences, which I have been looking forward to checking out for years and years. The building’s pretty great--if, somehow, small-feeling, perhaps because of the two massive spheres that inhabit the main space. They bend over backwards to tell you how green the building is, with insulation made of blue jeans and the cement warmed by hot water...but I gotta tell you, I never took off my jacket and scarf inside! I was disappointed by the two exhibits on either wing--it was mostly reading and watching videos, which, well, you can do on a website, you know? A museum has to be more than reading and viewing. The aquarium below, was nice, but really dark and claustrophobic--it was like being an intestine. Of course, it was also super crowded, but I still felt that I was just winding my way through a deep cave with some fish in the walls. They did retain the original seahorse railing (and crocodile pit, complete with the white one), which I have known since I was a few years old--that was great. But, in the end, while there was a lot on how screwed up the environment is and how humans better change or we’re all going to be d-e-d dead, I just didn’t feel like I was learning anything. It was mostly focused on earth sciences--there were no space exhibits as far as we could tell. It’s gorgeous, though--I am really, really bummed I lost my pictures of the roof and the exhibits. Next time, I guess.

I get it, the museum is still finding its voice, but for $25, I thought it was kind of a ripoff--and believe me, I came into it really wanting to like it, even after spending 2 hours outside in 40° weather...

Yesterday I took a day off work and basically ran errands. It was nice, I started off at The Griddle and ate breakfast while reading some comics. As happens more and more, some guy started talking to me about comics and I mentioned that I write for a comic book website, and his reaction was like, “That’s the coolest job ever!” and I had to admit that it was actually kind of cool (though a weekly column does not a full time job make). While I have been pretty down on this year, it’s been mostly because I just didn’t make the kind of progress I was hoping to make with my acting career. But on a purely selfish level, things were pretty good:

• Whit’s surgery went well
• I had a lot of fun meeting new friends at WonderCon and Comic-Con
• I am writing for iFanboy
• I did a ton of yoga and I am closing in on two years of practicing
• I’m working on some great scripts both by myself and with Nick
• I produced those shorts for work
• I have been asked to be in a few short films
• My friends are healthy, having kids, still working and seem to be happy
• My own work is going quite well and I am still learning a lot