Done Deal.

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Here comes the bride!

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Wedding about to begin

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Wedding Preparations Underway

So far weather is cooperating...

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Corvallis

First stop - Mecca...



The Corvallis Brewing Supply Company

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Road Trip!

Heading for Corvallis...

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Portland Pub Crawl

Matt and Tina guide me on a tour of some Portland Pubs. Pictured here is a Fred and Adam at the  Hair of the Dog. As well as indicaotrs of an unfortunate trend in local brewology.

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Portland planes trains and automobiles

Landed at PDX in blustery conditions (redundant - I know). Took the Tri-Met light rail to downtown Potland, where cousin Matt picked me up in the rain (reduntant - I know)

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SFO

It's too early. Kind of a slow news day. Bulls eliminated last night - well, at least that'll save me from spending too much trying to get into game 7.

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Heading back from the Berkeley Hills

The Pre ran out of juice on the front 9 which in retrospect - was a good thing.

RZ 100
MW 113

Plugged it in while driving out, and had enough charge to snap this view of the City while descending from the Berkeley Hills. Now all I have to do is dodge the cars that will be suddenly driverless when the rapture hits in the next 10 minutes. I am hoping that in the den of iniquity that is the Bay Area, there will be very few raptures so life will go on as usual.

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Lisa off the tee on 8

Almost out of juice on the Pre. I need a new phone.

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Rick is scaring the wildlife

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Ricky drains a 14 footer for par

And a net eagle on 5.

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Dean smokes one on 3

We paced it off at 299 yards.

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First Green

We are playing with Lisa and Dean.

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Live blogging Tilden Park.

An OGC event. Rick is my partner. For his safety sake, I am going to have him drive the cart. Just in case I get raptured mid-round.

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SF Chronicle Letter to the Editor - The Family Jewels

There was a time when I wondered -"Who are these people writing Letters to the Editor and why do they bother?" Turns out - it was people like me:

San Francisco Chronicle - Letters to the Editor - May 21, 2011

Give away a civic jewel?

"John Avalos is really advocating giving Sharp Park away to the federal government ("Hitting the rough," City Insider, May 19)?

This is political suicide, or should be.

Where else in the world could a politician run for mayor on a platform of giving away 400 acres of incredibly valuable and beautiful coastal park land that contributes millions in revenue to the city and belongs to the people of that city?

Sharp Park is a unique gem that belongs to the people of San Francisco. We choose to share our park with the entire Bay Area and the world.

The 80-acre golf course was designed and built by Alister MacKenzie, the game's most important architect. The 400-acre park itself was landscaped by John McLaren, the godfather of San Francisco parks. The park was a gift to the city in 1917 and represents a historic legacy entrusted to the people of San Francisco. The park and golf course are important historic landmarks by any standard.

This civic jewel of a park is a treasure that is our common San Francisco heritage and is a legacy for us to leave to future generations of San Franciscans.

Unless some clueless politician manages to give it away."

Mike Wallach, San Francisco

More on Wannabe-Mayor Avalos and the rally that motivated my letter linked here.

"The Only reason for the existence of golf and other games is that they promote the health, pleasure, and even the prosperity of the community... With the exception of ignorant politicians who, with a few notable exceptions, appear to desire to tax golf course and playing fields out of existence, most people know that golf and other games promote the health and happiness of the community..."

- Alister MacKenzie - The Spirit of St. Andrew - 1933

Trying something new...

Walked down to the Civic Center as I had a little business to conduct with the State of California. Forgot that almost everything is periodically shut down on Friday afternoons due to the state being broke. Still, It was not a wasted trip.

Tried a lemongrass grilled pork sandwich from the Little Green Cyclo Vietnamese food truck in front of City Hall. With the works. It was good. Really good.

MW recommended - Little Green Cyclo

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Making Movies on Russian Hill

Busy day in the neighborhood. We received a notice that on the same day of the Bay to Breakers Race, "Duroo Films" would be shooting scenes for a commercial to include "car stunts and parts of chase sequence". They closed our intersection for a block in every direction for the entire day.

I am a little dubious about it being a commercial. It just seemed like way to much of a production and too big a crew just for a commercial, Then there is the matter that "Duroo Films" is apparently a stealth operation. Whatever.

The draw for filming on our corner is the steep straight dropoff on Jones Street. This shoot is apparently reprising part of the Bullitt car chase scene - the one that started it all. We have had some problems on this corner with amateurs attempting car flying off this hill. Hopefully this film will not re-stimulate interest in that particularly dangerous activity.

They started setting up early, yet shooting did not begin until I got back from Bay to Breakers late in the afternoon. We had a birds-eye view from our terrace, and enjoyed watching the proceedings.

Setup in the morning

Crew snacks

This Camaro was the subject of a photo shoot - but it did not do any of the stunts.

A car commercial?

A spare seat for the guy in the clip.

Constructing the ramp.

Stunt driver measures the ramp for the blue car.
It's an odd color - perhaps to be easily "green screened" out for post production flexibility?

Of course, you need a cop car for any decent chase.

Finally, late in the afternoon, they got the clips they were after:

So - after closing the intersection for the entire day, with cranes, production equipment and trucks lining two streets, it took this crew of over one hundred to create a shot that will probably be on the screen for less than 10 seconds. What a business.

Bay 2 Breakers - Photo Essay

The bottom of the hill

After almost 30 years in the City, at the 100 year anniversary of the race, it was time to show up and take a few pictures. I thought it would be mostly over by the time I got to to Hayes and Van Ness. Looking up the hill, recognized a few thousand of my closest friends, so decided to walk along for a while.

The top of the hill.

And they just keep coming

Officer confiscates alcohol...

It's kind of like draining the oceans with a teaspoon.

Dancing in the park

In this race...if you are not up front...

... you are behind.

Fishing for runners - a big one takes the bait.


My favorite character/costume - Sisyphus.

Photo Op

Team Honey Badger


Power slide in Alamo Park

What can I say? It's weird. It's fun. It's San Francisco.

Pacifica Patch was a sponsor, reported on the event, and has a bunch more pictures linked here. Check it out.