do not pee here

We are back from San Francisco and I know I say this every time I come back, but I love that place. I want to eat it and drink it and sleep all over it. San Francisco still gets so excited about books, art, food and life. It's a celebration that is contagious.Though, someone needs to tell San Francisco that the election is over. They can take down all the Vote for Obama signs. Obama won!  They could replace those signs with  DO NOT PEE HERE.  This year I saw more people  urinating on the  street  or sidewalk than ever before. I am not even talking about  homeless people. I get that most stores and restaurants in SF only let paying customers use their bathrooms, but if you look like a tourist, just pop in into a hotel! There are bathrooms in the lobbies. Really, there is no need to pee all over a city. It's just gross. Some other things I noticed while we were in the City:

~I can't escape balls. They do add a bit of cheer to life so I am glad I see them everywhere!
~People really are not buying anything. We saw very few people walking around with shopping bags.
~Homeless people approach women to ask for money more than they approach men.
~Lots of  people littering. This is totally unacceptable. Use a garbage can! WTF?
~Lots of young people smoking. This is beyond me. I have a lot of friends who smoke and that scares me (but they aren't twenty years old anymore). I don't understand why anyone today still smokes or why anyone would start. Who wants cancer? I really do not understand smoking in a huge crowd of people where everyone is standing so close together that you can feel the heart beating of the person next to you. You know those crowd smokers would be the first ones to complain if you sprayed heavy perfume on while standing next to them, too. I did notice that a lot of the smokers were European and that locals would cough really loud  as smokers walked by. Coughing: it's the new symbol of protest!
~I love watching people take photos. Everyone in SF was taking photos of everything and asking each other to take photos of them with their friends.  Even joggers were stopping to take photos!  Not once was I ever asked to stop taking photos.  San Francisco, will you marry me?
~I had the same conversation about art and cameras too many times in two days. Many people told me if they had a nicer camera they'd be a better artist. Well that is just about the silliest thing I have ever heard and that is what I told them. The only art supply that matters is the one in your head.  It's not like the art masters had the finest Canon digital cameras! Use your hands, use your eyes, use your imagination!
~Things I remember from my childhood about San Francisco are still the same and still inspire me in the same ways they did 25 years ago.
~People get way too excited over the Christmas tree in Union Square. It's not even decorated that great. The one at Pier 39 is cuter!  The Union Square tree was for sure not worth standing around 2 hours waiting for it to be lit up. Soooo anti-climactic. You should always trust the Jewish girls on matters related to Christmas trees.

I'll be uploading more of my San Francisco photos in the next few days and will link to them.

I am thrilled to be an Honorary Gutter Girl this week!  My mission was to create some art about my favorite four letter word. Go take a look and  be inspired by the art of the Gutter Girlz.

Comments

[Jane]

See, now my favorite four letter word, that I actually want at the end of a fucked-up day, would have started with F. :-) But cake is way cuter, and probably more accessible.

[Julie]

During the summer, I always enjoyed the smokers in front of Starbucks who would glare at me if I left the car running near them while I waited to pick up my kid. Smokers apparently find car exhaust offensive.

[Bobby C]

I remember when my parents went to San Francisco. My Mom also fell in love with the city and it was amazing to feel such a sense of excitement over the phone. I felt that same feeling again while reading your blog tonight.

I smoke, and I started around 14-15 yrs old. I think I started with the idea of being “cool” around friends. It is a horrible habit! No excuses, but I am a very polite smoker. I really never smoke around anyone who does not. It feels embarrassing. Food for thought on quitting…….

I would never urinate in a public place, though if I were in the woods. More than likely!

Wish I lived in a city where there was constant photos being taken!!! I would totally love it~

[rachel whetzel]

So giddy to have you in the gutter with us!! I love you, Linda!!

[amanda]

I am so glad you had fun!!

[CarrieJ]

Kids do it because they feel like they are "getting away with" something. They want to rebel, but they don't have the guts to do it in an original way ... that is how I started. Thank goodness I grew up and quit --- the baby growing in my tummy certainly helped at the time!
I want to go to San Fran so bad! Sadly the farthest west I have ever been is Baton Rouge, LA. I feel like I would be a better artist if I could go SOMEWHERE that had not tried to secede.

[Jake]

ESPECIALLY as a smoker, I hate to see young people smoking. Hate it. It's so not necessary. I agree with Bobby: I also started when it was still "cool" to do it. I really wish I never started. I rarely smoke around non-smokers. Also because I find it really embarasing that I still smoke. One day-
That mom needs to "curb her peeing children." So unbelievable. Honestly: buy a coke at McD's or a coffee at Starbucks. And use the loo. There are so many options to getting to a loo without having to spend a lot of dough.
I LOVE using old flash cube cameras. Which reminds me: I want to get another one. :)
Glad you had a blast in SF!

[Sandy]

SF sounds pretty cool except for all the pee,smokers and trash. Maybe they can work on all of that. We can only hope.

I need to get out more, I've never heard of the Gutter Girlz before your post but they sound like they are really right up there with me, lol. I love your creation. It's wonderful as always.

[Liz Ness]

Oh, how I miss Peir 39 (it's a young-kid-memory-sort-of-thing, I'm sure).

I'm totally cracking me up about the peeing all over town thing, too. My grandmother (she was born in SF and lived in Burlingame from the 1930s to 1998) used to complain about the young kids making out on the beach... So, in a strange way, you've reminded me of her (that's a good thing). You would have loved my granny -- she was a bohemian and an artist through and through.

[Glenda Tkalac]

Saw you and your awesome art on the Gutter Girlz site when I went to see what the next challenge was! I am still thinking about my word, I know it's the F-bomb but I'm thinking I'll do like you and use a much more G rated one. I mean everyone can swear right? haha Loved your take on the challenge and congrats on being an hononary Gutter Girl!

[JustMeAgain]

LOL...I can't believe people actually pee on the streets of San Francisco! Now that's something totally out of the ordinary! Too funny that you even have the picture to show it. But of course, that's why the camera never leaves your hands! :D (Liz, I would have loved meeting your granny, too!)
So glad you didn't break your tradition!
Traditions are always important! I love your art page! Cake is one of my favorite words, too! Mmmm, now I want some cake! Thanks for that! LOL.

[linda woods]

As the comments reflect, most people over 30 started smoking when they were teens and back then there was less info about how bad it was. And, I get that it is really hard to stop after years of use. I don't get why kids TODAY even start, tho.

Bobby and Jake: thanks for such honest and open comments. So cool of you.

Sandy: I've been wanting pecan pie ever since I read you had some :)

Glenda: Can't wait to see what you create!

Liz: your grandma sounds cool!

Carrie: I always wanted to go to Baton Rouge. I bet they have good pie there.