Weekend Adventures
A friend drove in today for one of our San Francisco adventures. We do this every couple of months or so - just go explore different parts of the city.
This is Fleet Week, plus today was the Blue Angels demonstration. This made for big crowds along the Embarcadero, so we tried to avoid that. Instead, we aimed to get to North Beach, thinking we could just hop on a bus that would take us straight there.
We got off the bus in or near the Marina. Because the bus was diverted. Due to the parade. What parade? You know, the Christopher Columbus parade. Who? You know, that guy from ITALY, which is why North Beach was swamped. Damn. We saw guys dressed in white sailor outfits with HUGE bellies holding mops, and I couldn't figure out what they were supposed to be. They reminded me of Pillsbury Dough Boys, but I knew that couldn't be right. Eventually G poked me and pointed - there was a Dough Boy talking to a couple, I could go ask him about his costume. As I walked closer though, I saw a patch on Dough Boy's shoulder - Balloon Platoon.
At one point we made it to Victoria Pastry Co., only to find they're closed for construction, and directing everyone around the corner to Stella Pastry instead. So G and I shared a cannoli while watching the gay cheerleader boys do their basket tosses. I mean the parade. We watched the parade.
We stopped at City Lights Bookstore and stumbled out into the sunlight almost an hour later. Any time I walk into independent book stores I'm always initially intimidated at first. Overwhelmed. Yeah, I'm over it in about five seconds. Seriously, I could have easily spent $300 in just the first fifteen minutes of being there.
Got home exhausted. G and I sat around talking for a while before she got on the road to go home. We had a discussion about whether or not it's gross to want to register for random things to be received as presents if a person is not getting married. She's in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend. They live together, recently got a dog together, and plan to not get married. But she wants new china. And a gravy boat. And doesn't want to have to buy them herself.
With so many people these days NOT getting married, does it mean it's more acceptable to register even without a wedding? Or is the privilege reserved only for those tying the knot? And, what about the gays who can't legally get married? Should they not be allowed to register if they aren't able to get married? Thoughts?
This is Fleet Week, plus today was the Blue Angels demonstration. This made for big crowds along the Embarcadero, so we tried to avoid that. Instead, we aimed to get to North Beach, thinking we could just hop on a bus that would take us straight there.
We got off the bus in or near the Marina. Because the bus was diverted. Due to the parade. What parade? You know, the Christopher Columbus parade. Who? You know, that guy from ITALY, which is why North Beach was swamped. Damn. We saw guys dressed in white sailor outfits with HUGE bellies holding mops, and I couldn't figure out what they were supposed to be. They reminded me of Pillsbury Dough Boys, but I knew that couldn't be right. Eventually G poked me and pointed - there was a Dough Boy talking to a couple, I could go ask him about his costume. As I walked closer though, I saw a patch on Dough Boy's shoulder - Balloon Platoon.
At one point we made it to Victoria Pastry Co., only to find they're closed for construction, and directing everyone around the corner to Stella Pastry instead. So G and I shared a cannoli while watching the gay cheerleader boys do their basket tosses. I mean the parade. We watched the parade.
We stopped at City Lights Bookstore and stumbled out into the sunlight almost an hour later. Any time I walk into independent book stores I'm always initially intimidated at first. Overwhelmed. Yeah, I'm over it in about five seconds. Seriously, I could have easily spent $300 in just the first fifteen minutes of being there.
Got home exhausted. G and I sat around talking for a while before she got on the road to go home. We had a discussion about whether or not it's gross to want to register for random things to be received as presents if a person is not getting married. She's in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend. They live together, recently got a dog together, and plan to not get married. But she wants new china. And a gravy boat. And doesn't want to have to buy them herself.
With so many people these days NOT getting married, does it mean it's more acceptable to register even without a wedding? Or is the privilege reserved only for those tying the knot? And, what about the gays who can't legally get married? Should they not be allowed to register if they aren't able to get married? Thoughts?
Labels: Interactive, Playing in SF
posted by Green at 10/07/2007 10:14:00 PM
2 Comments:
My viewpoint on gifts is that they should be given because a person wants to do something nice for someone else, not just because it's expected. Thus, if a person is eyeing an item that she wouldn't or can't buy herself, she can hint at it to people who will soon want to treat her. Or if she has a mom like mine, wait for the inevitable November question, "What can I get you for Christmas that you'll love?" Then, if she gets what she's been wanting, great. If she gets something else, it's still nice to have someone care.
However, I've never been a big fan of registries. I see their usefulness, but it just feels wrong to me, like "I expect a gift, and you better get me exactly what I want, and so you don't screw it up, stick to this list."
If you don't know the person well enough to figure out relatively easily what she needs or wants, I don't think a gift is necessary regardless of whether they are newlyweds or expecting parents or unmarrieds buying their first house after living in a small apartment for ten years.
For me, the cliche is true: It really is the thought that counts.
I think it is gross to tell people what to give you. I hate registries. I know there is a thing going around with the "gimmie" generation where they register only the most expensive gifts, so they can take them back after the wedding and cash them in. I asked this one chick why she was doing that, and she said "we already have everything we need except cash" I said why did she even bother to register if she didn't even want the gifts and she said it was rude to ask for money.
So I got her personalized coffee mugs that she couldn't return and told everyone what she was doing, and no one bought her anything off her registery.
A wedding is supposed to celebrate the joining of two people, not a fundraiser for greedy little pigs.
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