Welcome to Chapter 3: otherwise known as the week when Jeff went north to explore Canada, and Ian and I slipped back into our daily life together.
Highlights of that week definitely happened over the weekend, where each day was a new Bay Area treat. Friday night, I surprised Ian on a trip across the bay to the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland. It's such a quaint place. College Avenue is lined with boutiques and restaurants, and the streets leading off the main strip are laden with tree-line sidewalks and craftsman-style houses.
The destination was Diesel Bookstore, where David Sedaris was giving a reading. Kind of a fluke, the place was packed--we bought our 2 books, and then left because we didn't actually have tickets to see him read. We decided to grab a bite, and return to get the books signed.
Dinner was across the street (where we could spy on the goings-on) at a pizza joint that absolutely hit the spot. Maybe it was the red and white checkered tablecloths, or the groups of seemingly very nice people, but it was a great experience.
By the time we headed back over, it seemed the reading was still happening. We stood outside for a minute before someone told us we could fight our way through and sneak in the back to hear the rest, which is just what we did. Sedaris is such an entertaining guy, and even all the way in the back (with no view), it was easy to chuckle. Hate to admit that we spent the next 3 hours waiting for him to sign the books, but we're happy we waited. We asked him to simply sign his name, but then we also asked for him to draw a smiley face (I like to see what different peoples' will look like)...he sketched a side profile of an Abe Lincoln-looking figure.
We spent our Saturday at Crissy Park--it was our first time there, and it's wonderful. It may be familiar from movies--seems like a lot of films shot in San Francisco utilize its amazing scenery, and with good cause. On the strips of beach or expanses of wild fields, you have captivating views of the water, the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, and the city skyline. Pretty amazing to think that we live here. Continually. It's somewhat of a surreal reminder.
The occasion was the celebration of our friends marriage: Daniel and Ole. 
Gay marriage is finally legalized again here, and our friends were among the first to say I Do at City Hall. Saturday, it was a mix of family and friends, lots of bottles of champagne, balloons, and a bubble machine. It was a great way to spend the afternoon.
Sunday we made it to Market Street for the annual Pride Parade.
We missed the Master of Ceremonies, Cyndi Lauper. Really disappointing since we stuck around far longer than we intended just to see her, and she bailed early. Still an experience just the same.
It was a hot and sunny day, we had large glasses of beer and walked amongst the throng of interesting people, from the crazy balloon people, to the downright naked ones (all of them older men).
I think that wraps up that weekend. Good and busy, and lots of firsts.
If I were a balloon animal, my name would be Olivia.
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