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Today I was a tourist. You know, when you live in a place you don't see all the things there are to see there cause you can do it some other time and because you don't like feeling like a tourist at home. Well, my girlfriend lives in San Jose and isn't from the area (although she actually lived here a little while when she was a kid and probably spent more actual time living here than I have) and we decided to see some sights.

First stop: 826 Valencia

This is not so much a tourist stop, it's actually just down the street from me but it's awesome. It's a pirate themed storefront that serves to support Dave Eggars' youth writing workshops for underprivileged kids in the area.

(Also Paxton Gate which is a really cool store of random things and garden items)

Next: Coit Tower

A girl I go to church with told me that it was secretly a monument to the phallice of the fireman with whom the Lillie Coit (the rich woman who donated the money to build the tower) was having an affair. She pointed to the shape of the tower as evidence to the truthfulness of the story. Then again, all towers are phallic and there isn't anything about this tower that is particularly penile. I do like calling it coitus tower, though. (Also, it's got a pretty good view of the city)

Next: Fisherman's Wharf, but just to eat at in-n-out.

Next: Lombard street

It's still curvy. Rumor has it one of the guys from 3rd eye blind lives there. Also, MTV's real world had a house there. So, you could move there and have some pretty lame neighbors.

Next: Haight Street but it was really just to go to Amoeba records.

Standing in front of amoeba was Ben Gibbard talking to "some guy." I decided to say hi since we have a couple of mutual friends (Jared Hess and Rob Nyland). Then I went and asked him about his benefit show the night before that I "wasn't able to make it" to. I'm a bit retarded, but he was quite amiable. Three cheers for that.

Next: Twin Peaks not to be confused with Twin Peaks

It was cold up there. Really cold (it was not Park City cold but then I was not prepared for it so damn you for belittling my coldness). It was also beautiful. I'm not kidding.

All in all a good day to be a tourist. Prolly the most clear beautiful day we've had in San Francisco in a month or two.