That S.F. Feeling

What makes San Francisco such a great city?  I think it is the little things like the items I listed below:

• Dance Your Cares Away.  I was driving by a construction site the other day, and the woman holding the "slow" sign was dancing.  This city worker was shaking her hips, waving her free hand and doing the Twist.  I went by the same intersection two hours later and she was still out there, holding her construction sign, and dancing her work hours away. 
• Acceptance.  When I got to Panera today to get my weekly bagel fix, the guy ordering beside me was in semi-drag.  No one really cared, and in fact I saw the lady taking the order give coveting glances at his purse.  
• Parades. There was a Mini-Cooper parade at 8:00 this morning.  Police blocked off intersections so that approximately 50 Mini-Coopers could glide through the streets in all their glory.  Every type of Cooper imaginable was represented.  
• Friendly. A homeless person welcomed us to our new neighborhood.  
• Surprises. While waiting on a bus, We met the "escape artist of Fisherman's Wharf" and his "wonder" dog. They were on their way to do a show.
• Charitable. I saw a local restaurant park their vans and set up food lines for the homeless in the United Nations Plaza.
• True Religious Freedom. On mornings when I take the BART, I walk by a group of people in front of city hall who are sitting on their mats and meditating. I think they are there because of the giant Buddha sculpture which is on display nearby.    
• Mild Climate. While the rest of the country is suffering in extreme heat, our average high at the moment in San Francisco is around 64 degrees.
• Helpful. The woman behind me on the escalator giggled and told me very politely that my tags on my shirts were showing.  Yes, San Franciscans do talk to strangers.
• Diversity.  Everywhere I go in S.F. I see people from different cultures speaking different languages.  This is definitely one of the things that makes this place so great.
• Celebrities. John Waters calls the Nob Hill neighborhood home.  He is a little odd, but that is why he fits in so well here.     

Gotta go.  It's time for me to experience more of this great city that I call home.

----Mike

New Toll Charges lead to Greener Living.

Please follow the link below to read the article:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/29/MN1R1EL9I0.DTL

It speaks for itself, but I wanted to note a couple of things.  First of all, since the toll charges were increased, 6,199 fewer drivers cross the Bay Bridge everyday.  This means that the traffic on the Bay Bridge moves twice as fast as it did last year.  Since I travel the Bay Bridge almost every weekday to work, this is something that I have definitely noticed.

Another interesting point is that 1,500 additional people are riding the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) each day.   This means less pollution and a greener way of life.  This is a win/win situation.  The transportation department gets their money because of the increased tolls, but there are less people crowding the roadways and more people taking public transportation.

San Francisco's next fee hike may have a similar effect.  They are putting smart meters into Hayes Valley.  Basically, these meters judge how busy the street is and raise the fee or lowers it based on demand.  Also, they are attached to a phone application so people who are looking for a parking space can find one quicker.  There is some speculation that people may use public transportation or alternative forms of transportation that would be more environmentally friendly to get to their favorite restaurant in Hayes Valley.  Only time will tell.

A Room with a View

We moved the majority of our stuff into the new condo, and we are living here now. It is amazing how much more you can enjoy a city based on the location and the place you are living in. This place has a lot of amenities and a good location, but one of my favorite things is the view. We are on what they call the 10th floor, but it really is the 12th floor. The first floor is the "Street Level," and the second floor is the "Mezzanine."

At night, I like to look out at all the other high rise complexes and count the number of televisions that I see on. It is also nice watching the fog creep in at night and slowly dissipate during the day.

We love the place, and tonight we might even try out the fireplace for the first time.

--Mike