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“Suddenly, Chicken John stood in the doorway.�?

(from h. brown’s ‘Man in the doorway’)

Ahhhh, fucking Mercury-in-Retrograde (at least that’s what the crackheads on the walk said was causing all the hostility) … anyway, it sure did suck, but I’m pretty sure it ended today.

“He woke up a poor man,
and went to bed with less.�?

(from h. brown’s ‘Why me, Lord?’)

Friday the 13th was a day of triumph and that has to make you wonder. If things go good for you on such an ominous day, does that mean that you’ve gone over to the forces of evil?

“They knew all the right people.
They took all the right pills.�?

(Eagles)

OK, OK, keep the paparazzi back: Josh Wolf and Chicken John Rinaldi (w/Burning Man artist-friend, Rachel Weidinger) entered the little taqueria with a slew of photographers and a couple of TV crews following them. Suddenly, our quiet little Friday political screaming match (so, I’m the only one who screams) was the center of a media riot.

I thought they were there for me, but Oh No!, it was Marc Salomon and Joe Lynn coming in through the back door with Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. Janet Tandy cocked her head and raised one eyebrow a bit. How were we ever going to get any work done with the media circus swirling around us?

Most of it happened. Salon was one of the best. Jerry Jarvis anchored one end of the string of 5 or 6 formica-topped square tables that held the dozen or so changing faces. I took the other and tossed down my baseball hat from Harvard (thanks, Doug) on the seat to mark territory as I greeted and hugged and begged for beer.

Michael Strickland from civiccenterblogspot.com (something like that – fabulous photography – he and Jarvis got everyone shots with Wolf and Chicken John). Michael was there with his buddy, Tony and Tina Johnson wore a simple gray summer dress that turned heads straight and gay.

Chicken John says that global warming is unproven but he has constructed at least one vehicle that from what I understood him to say, could run on the leftover tortilla chips sitting around the table and be pollution free. Hell, I can’t even do that.

Josh wants to stage a regular press conference in Alioto Plaza across from the Mayor’s office for the Candidates’ Collaborative. Great idea. Wonder if Gavin will join our collaborative?

Chicken John offered a space he has with a capacity of 300 for Collaborative events. No loud music, only rule. Wow, that’s hell of an offer. He didn’t know Diamond Dave Whitaker and I told him about Dave and Krissy Keefer.

Greg Dewar explained to Chicken John how the BART system works (he has a blog called Njudahchronicles or something -I’ll get back to you with these addresses maybe). Salomon jumped in to explain why it costs more to go to SFO than to Millbrae because the airport charges BART $2 a head or something for people getting off there. John wants to keep BART running 24 hours a day and wanted the details.

This group will give you details. In no time he was hearing stories about how track-grinding equipment came on line during the 6 hours the system was shut down and then, of course, the conversation turned to the subway trains in Brooklyn.

“The devil pays well.�?

(Eileen Left)

I started trying to reclaim my body this week. This great Irish lead-miner’s frame that I spent 20 years building up with marathons, then allowed to deteriorate in an amalgam of whiskey, French fries and sloth. Good thing I put something ‘in the bank’ exercise-wise, or I’d be dead by now.

Looking like shit, then looking good again and being seen looking good again by someone who had seen you looking bad and it made you kind of bummed and then not seeing them for awhile and then having them say ‘Oh wow, look at you!’ probably feels better than finding a cure for cancer but that’s just human nature. I think.

That’s my goal, anyway. At 63, I’m no longer certain I can come back and that’s a change. I always said I could get back into marathon shape if I did 90 minute workouts daily for 100 out of 112 days. If I make it, I want to get tattoos to cover both my shoulders as a reward. They’ll distract attention away from my face in certain situations.

I’m 3 of 5 days now and encouraged. Mostly, you don’t want to break or tear things when coming back from a long layoff. I started with 5 push-ups and I’m up to 7 and Chuck Norris is looking in his rear-view mirror.

I had to get out of the Tenderloin more and the exercise regime makes me feel like a tourist. I don’t agonize over watching every single moment of the government on SFGTV so much. Instead, I spend almost 3 hours covering the hills of the City of St. Francis from McAllister to Hyde Street to the Bay and through Aquatic Park and Fort Mason to Marina Green where the little outdoor gym that Walt Stack got em to build so long ago is. I owe it to my body to give it one last chance to become a chick magnet.

San Franciscans who have been in a rut like me should take my advice. Act like a tourist. People spend many thousands of dollars to come here and do the things you can do here for free. You make me so mad sometimes.

“I grow old, I grow old.
I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.
Should I part my hair behind?
Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
I do not think they will sing for me.�?

(t.s. eliot – fellow St. Louisan)

That’s a melancholy poem by a guy who was 24 years old when he wrote it. I don’t feel melancholy at all, but I wanted to share it cause I was thinking about the young kids I know now and what they’ve accomplished at such young ages.

Josh Wolf just turned 25 and, you never know, he could be mayor. Adriel Hampton turned 29 today. I don’t know how old Chicken John is, but he’s a kid. Salomon hasn’t reached 40. Daly is 35, I think. Tina is 34.

I’m twice or more pretty much everyone at Salon’s age. Only Janet Tandy shares my seniorhood.






	Bulldog 2007 Article 109 (7-13-07) “Suddenly, Chicken John stood in the doorway.�? (from h. brown’s ‘Man in the doorway’) Ahhhh, fucking Mercury-in-Retrograde (at least that’s what the crackheads on the walk said was causing all the hostility) … anyway, it sure did suck, but I’m pretty sure it ended today. “He woke up a poor man, and went to bed with less.�? (from h. brown’s ‘Why me, Lord?’) Friday the 13th was a day of triumph and that has to make you wonder. If things go good for you on such an ominous day, does that mean that you’ve gone over to the forces of evil? “They knew all the right people. They took all the right pills.�? (Eagles) OK, OK, keep the paparazzi back: Josh Wolf and Chicken John Rinaldi (w/Burning Man artist-friend, Rachel Weidinger) entered the little taqueria with a slew of photographers and a couple of TV crews following them. Suddenly, our quiet little Friday political screaming match (so, I’m the only one who screams) was the center of a media riot. I thought they were there for me, but Oh No!, it was Marc Salomon and Joe Lynn coming in through the back door with Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. Janet Tandy cocked her head and raised one eyebrow a bit. How were we ever going to get any work done with the media circus swirling around us? Believe anything so far? Most of it happened. Salon was one of the best. Jerry Jarvis anchored one end of the string of 5 or 6 formica-topped square tables that held the dozen or so changing faces. I took the other and tossed down my baseball hat from Harvard (thanks, Doug) on the seat to mark territory as I greeted and hugged and begged for beer. Michael Strickland from civiccenterblogspot.com (something like that – fabulous photography – he and Jarvis got everyone shots with Wolf and Chicken John). Michael was there with his buddy, Tony and Tina Johnson wore a simple gray summer dress that turned heads straight and gay. Chicken John says that global warming is unproven but he has constructed at least one vehicle that from what I understood him to say, could run on the leftover tortilla chips sitting around the table and be pollution free. Hell, I can’t even do that. Josh wants to stage a regular press conference in Alioto Plaza across from the Mayor’s office for the Candidates’ Collaborative. Great idea. Wonder if Gavin will join our collaborative? Chicken John offered a space he has with a capacity of 300 for Collaborative events. No loud music, only rule. Wow, that’s hell of an offer. He didn’t know Diamond Dave Whitaker and I told him about Dave and Krissy Keefer. Greg Dewar explained to Chicken John how the BART system works (he has a blog called Njudahchronicles or something -I’ll get back to you with these addresses maybe). Salomon jumped in to explain why it costs more to go to SFO than to Millbrae because the airport charges BART $2 a head or something for people getting off there. John wants to keep BART running 24 hours a day and wanted the details. This group will give you details. In no time he was hearing stories about how track-grinding equipment came on line during the 6 hours the system was shut down and then, of course, the conversation turned to the subway trains in Brooklyn. “The devil pays well.�? (Eileen Left) I started trying to reclaim my body this week. This great Irish lead-miner’s frame that I spent 20 years building up with marathons, then allowed to deteriorate in an amalgam of whiskey, French fries and sloth. Good thing I put something ‘in the bank’ exercise-wise, or I’d be dead by now. Looking like shit, then looking good again and being seen looking good again by someone who had seen you looking bad and it made you kind of bummed and then not seeing them for awhile and then having them say ‘Oh wow, look at you!’ probably feels better than finding a cure for cancer but that’s just human nature. I think. That’s my goal, anyway. At 63, I’m no longer certain I can come back and that’s a change. I always said I could get back into marathon shape if I did 90 minute workouts daily for 100 out of 112 days. If I make it, I want to get tattoos to cover both my shoulders as a reward. They’ll distract attention away from my face in certain situations. I’m 3 of 5 days now and encouraged. Mostly, you don’t want to break or tear things when coming back from a long layoff. I started with 5 push-ups and I’m up to 7 and Chuck Norris is looking in his rear-view mirror. Act like a tourist I had to get out of the Tenderloin more and the exercise regime makes me feel like a tourist. I don’t agonize over watching every single moment of the government on SFGTV so much. Instead, I spend almost 3 hours covering the hills of the City of St. Francis from McAllister to Hyde Street to the Bay and through Aquatic Park and Fort Mason to Marina Green where the little outdoor gym that Walt Stack got em to build so long ago is. I owe it to my body to give it one last chance to become a chick magnet. San Franciscans who have been in a rut like me should take my advice. Act like a tourist. People spend many thousands of dollars to come here and do the things you can do here for free. You make me so mad sometimes. “I grow old, I grow old. I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled. Should I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach? I shall wear white flannel trousers and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think they will sing for me.�? (t.s. eliot – fellow St. Louisan) That’s a melancholy poem by a guy who was 24 years old when he wrote it. I don’t feel melancholy at all, but I wanted to share it cause I was thinking about the young kids I know now and what they’ve accomplished at such young ages. Josh Wolf just turned 25 and, you never know, he could be mayor. Adriel Hampton turned 29 today. I don’t know how old Chicken John is, but he’s a kid. Salomon hasn’t reached 40. Daly is 35, I think. Tina is 34. I’m twice or more pretty much everyone at Salon’s age. Only Janet Tandy shares my seniorhood. Ania got her hip-replacement surgery and is recovering. Rudy from Monkey Brains and his lady had twins today. The government sent me $70 too much in food stamps. Life, as they say, is good.

Bulldog 2007 Article 109