You Ain't Ready for This Jelly!

There are too many sea creatures that I'm enamored with: The irascible seals, those playful dolphins, the lazy sloth, the slithery serpent, etc. But I think one of the more beautiful sigths to behold is the floaty, ethereal, and mysterious Jelly Fish. I just find them so beautiful. But, you better watch out! That beauty is fake. Like a passable tranny in dim light, you'll be lulled into submission and get stung! You ain't ready for that jelly! The threadlike tentacles around the edge of the bell can sting - Ok, I'm just fear-mongering. Their "stings" are not powerful enough to pierce human skin. But the part about a passable tranny is true. Most M to Fs I know carry daggers, or swiss army knives, or a mini-screwdriver...I'm just saying.

Check out my fuzzy video below of these beautiful creatures at the Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39. They showcase Moon Jellyfish and the Brown Nettles, what I'm displaying is the former. The scientific name for this creature is Aurelia Aurita (cool, no? Like an old school drag queen). If I had a moon jelly fish pet I'll name her Aurelia Aurita too, but if it's a male, I'll call him Paco. Like other jellies, it primarily drifts with the current, even when swimming. They usually feed on crustaceans, mollusks, protozoas, and medusae.

FYI:Very tricky to find the entrace of the Aquarium of the Bay, you even need to go through some shops, but if you follow the signs you won't get lost.

Roe, Roe, Roe That Boat!

Food, glorious food. What is it about you that makes humans just go Lady Gaga over you? You're not merely a source of energy, but a reliable way to bring a smile to our overstuffed faces. Today, my posse and I went to Japantown for a much-deserved lunch break. Where else can you find bite-sized morsels of goodness floating around in front of you but in this flourescent lit structure of contrived Japanese-ness called Japantown. I doubt that Japan looks anything like this place, but I'm willing to go along for the ride.

I, of course, am referring to Isobune. They treat you right here. Warm, moist towels to start, all the sushi that your wallet allows you to eat, and - Gasp! They validate parking (they're one of the few establishments in J-Town that do). To those un-initiated, you simply sit down, watch the sushi boats float by and grab the ones you'd like to introduce to your digestive track, and your bill will be calculated by the stacks of plates you've accumulated (they're color coded).

My new favorite is the Uni sushi. Why? Cause it's indescribable and simply tastes delicious. There's also the special, called Happiness Sachi, which is a combo of uni, bbq eel, and crab salad. Yummmeee.

So, there you go. Don't miss out on this culinary experience. Seeing your food float by in front of you is not only fun, but also a testament to the fleeting nature of the culinary experience!

Sunset Musings at Ocean Beach

A while back, my bosom buddy, Chiqui Channing and I went on a leisurely stroll on Ocean Beach. We first had dinner at the Beach Chalet (hmm, so-so, not memorable at all) then went on a nice walk. Ocean Beach is a mere 15 minute drive from my hood (NOPA, formerly known as Western Addition) and it amazes me how we can just get stuck in our own immediate vicinity when there are so many amazing things to do around the city. Is it laziness? Are we superglued to our couches? Do we even realize how many people would love to just get up and take a brief ride to see a beautiful, bonafide Pacific Ocean sunset?

Well, Chiqui was eager to display her new, "authentic" designer shades, so she asked me to take this picture with my phone. After our impromptu photoshoot we scanned the sights and realized that this beach could use some warming up. Cold weather means bundled up bodies - boring. Shirtlessness is what it's all about!

Looking at the picture I'm realizing how much magnetite Ocean beach sand has. Did you know that during the last ice age the Sacramento river dumped large amounts of sand on the Pacific shoreline, about 20 miles west of where it is now? These sands were carried by the wind and covered the SF Peninsula creating a sand dune province. After the ice age, the sea level rose and covered these sands, they are now offshore sand bars that are pushed to the beach during the summer months. I studied all this and it was sooo not asked in my midterm Oceanography exam. Que lastima!

Thanks, Oceanography class!

Free Admission? No Thanks.

Recently visited the California Academy of Sciences on one of those free days. Well, we got what we paid for. Long lines, snarky crowds, and noisy kids. What is it about humans that make them go crazy when there are free samples, or a gift with purchase, or free oxygen. It's like they can't survive without it. It wasn't all a bust. Luckily, we got to see the albino crocodile (it got hospitalized shortly after), and the giant sea bass, and handled some pretty cool sea urchin. BTW, sea urchin is so yummy in sushi form. Check out picture below. No, of course you don't eat the spikey things, it's what's inside that counts - or so claims all unattractive beings, but in the case of sea urchins, it's true.

So, if I learned anything that day, it's that Free isn't always what it's cracked up to be. I'd rather pay the $5.00 entrance fee...what's that? It's $24.95 for young looking adults like me?...Ummm, on second thought...

Anywho, check out that giant fish. Is it just me or does the sight of that giant fish make you hungry for some fish and chips? Bangusilog? Mc Donald's Filet-O-Fish? Boullabaise? Ariel's bottom half? Oh, the culinary possibilities!

Trannies Are Everywhere in San Francisco

I've asked myself more than a few times, "What is it about San Francisco that seems to promote the abundance of transgenders?" Perhaps it's because we all seem to come from such different places and this difference in backgrounds make us accepting, not wary, of the new and unfamiliar. The other evening I was walking down TL and stumbled upon a group of asian trannies. They seemed to be having a grand time just traipsing around in their skimpy attires.

I asked one of the fierce chicks, why they thought the trannies abound in this city. Her reply: "It's because of the demand. This city demands new and unusual things. Right now, we're relatively new and unusual so we're in demand. Tomorrow, San Franciscans will want something even more unusual. So, perhaps in a decade or so they'll want to be with a half human - half android partner." I thought about this and I realized how "normal" I was.

I asked if I could take her picture, she agreed. It took us 10 minutes to find the an acceptable background. We both liked the fence. Her name is Fantastica a la Mode. Fierce, right? She's a natural in front of the camera. I wished her a fruitful hunting, she stated that she did not need luck for San Francisco is the place of "Chasers", e.g. Tranny Chasers, Chubby Chasers, etc. Pretty much everyone has a market here.

As we parted ways, I contemplated whether aliens will really be the next "in" thing. One can only dream.