say what you want. say what you will.

perhaps cliche, but worthwhile, to take moment to review what i am thankful for.

i am thankful to still be alive
perhaps it was just the capriciousness, or short sited-ness of youth but i never expected to live into my 30's and frankly given my long history of misadventures... it never seemed likely.
and of course... their have been dark moments where i wanted nothing less
but somehow i am still here.
i sometimes feel like i'm living on borrowed time....and am thankful
giving more opportunities to learn, to grow, to have new adventures and to meet new people
I am thankful to still be alive

i am thankful for my health
ok i fucking *hate* the cpap machine, but its a relatively small inconvenience...
and my asthma, tho worse than in my 20's is still well on the manageable side of things, and is generally doing better this year than last.
and so far i've recovered from all my bike accidents without any permanent injury (other than scar tissue in my right lung, and reduced breath capacity)
it goes without saying we know many folks who have not fared so well.
even my right wrist, which was shattered, and healed crooked after my first major accident in 96 in pasadena (i couldn't afford the surgery) is remarkably functional all these years later.
I am thankfulgrateful for my health

i am thankful for my families both consanguineous and genial.
though all families are weird, mine (at least the maternal clan) is far more on the quirky side than the dysfunctional...
and i am grateful to have such caring, supportive, intelligent, capable, accepting, and loving members in mine. i would not be who i am today if it weren't for them.
nor would i be who i am today if it weren't for the network of friends that support me, and on occasion put me in check.
as someone who started out introverted and shy, as well as wierd and perpetually the new kid...
it's still *staggering* to me how many friends and friend groups i have far flung across the globe. literally hundreds...
i both beam with pride to know i've managed to cultivate such an extended network of friends, and that their is something inside me that so many of you would want to cal friend...
and i am grateful, grateful everyday for the blessing and good fortune...the friendship i am offered.
and not just the quantity...but the quality.
but i have so many friends who are great characters, interesting people, and above all good hearted.
i don't get to see _any_ of them (you) as much as i'd like, life takes us in different directions, as we get older we nest more, marriage and of course kids takes that to a whole 'nother level... but true friends remain even over distances of time and space
i know that even after time passes i will be welcomed with open arms and broad smiles... that even apart i am in your thoughts and hearts, and that you, yes you, all of you are in mine.
I am thankfulgrateful for all the wonderful people that are my family

I am thankful for the bay area
a perpetual boom town, full of freaks, wanderers, and fringe elements. A mix of so many diverse cultures particularly latino (spanish by way of pan-american indigenous infusion) and asain (pan-pacific) not to mention this are still seems to draw a lot of transplants from the eat coast. Historically a place people come to reinvent themselves, or make their names, a welcome refuge for all kinds of outsiders. This place that staged the war in the pacific, that fostered the micro-processing revolution, cradle of modern psychedelic experimentation... that has been a home to the beats the hippies, black panthers, the punks, and of course the LGBT community... its easy to go on and on...
no sf isn't the only interesting place in the world, we don't have a monopoly on cool...
but it is a very unique place, a historic place, and a historically unique place... where people have such a zest for living... where so many intelligent people and so many driven people come together to reinvent the future... where outsiders who would are persecuted, beaten, and killed in other parts of the country, and world... can be themselves without fear, and even yes, pride!... where so many smart people revel in being dumb... where hedonism and excess are virtues as are not taking yourself to seriously... this city and these people do so many amazing and wonderful and unique things.
This place where i've found so many wonderful friends, and communities.
I am thankfulgrateful for this home.

I am thankful for the tech industry and my "career".
Ya know, I got my degree in performance art.
i really believed in it, and it was some of the best years of my life, i don't regret it at all.
when i graduated the only work experience i had was retail and mailroom clerk
survival in america as part of the unskilled work force is a terrifying proposition.
i pretty much just fell into webdev because i was in the right time and place
i have a lot of skills and talents, most of them are not money makers
and I'll be honest, i'm not that smart, certainly not by silicon valley standards, i'm dyslexic, slow at math, and a poor typist... it hasn't made things easy...
of course i am very competent at what i do, but i'm not a star player, on innovator...
but i've been more employed than not, and survived two crashes, and i'm still getting by.
and though tech work can be volatile, esp as a contractor... when i work i'm paid well, and afforded a modicum of respect and freedom.
the son of mini-cab/bus driver, and a secretary/admin/office manager
i have a very clear idea how much harder, still my life could be without this
I am thankful grateful for my career.

I'm so FUCKIN happy i could cry...
and yes that's hyperbolic... but *barely*
such good news...
the most miraculous thing has happened!

for such a cosmopolitan city, s.f. has always been drastically... even fighteningly, ...practicly offensively lacking in late night food options...
(in-fact one of the first web pages i ever wrote was a directory of all eight of them)
until now its basically been your choice of sparkies or bagdad (and bagdad gave up the ghost, they're no longer open all night)

but a new era is upon us!
a thrilling epoch in san francisco history
Naan n' Curry has opened a 24 Hour restaurant!
thats right 24 hour ethnic cuisine... round the clock...anytime!
do you grok just how wonderful that is?!!?
i mean sparkies will always have a special place in my heart... good shakes, (usually) good music and (a tendency toward) cute waitresses... not to mention years and years worth of memories... but the lighting is harsh, the selection limited, most of the food mediocre...and the prices steep for what they offer.
but now we have for the first time in at least 12 years...
an all night food alternative that is good.
an all night venue one would patronize even during the day.
an all night place with something other than dinner or fast food.
an all night eatery with a reasonably priced menu.
its a truly joyous moment in annal of the bay area

so my friends...
here is the information you've been waiting for:

Naan n' Curry 24 hour branch:
366 O'farrell north side between Taylor & Mason
Call in pick orders: 415.346.1443
peruse the menu on-line http://www.naanncurry.com
accessibly via 38 geary. two block walk north west from powel station / bart
parking is a bit tight, but their are three spots just past the taxi que infront of the hotel across the street

but my friends, you must know this wonderful gift comes with a responsibility!
do not forget this novelty...
do not take it for-granted...
its been 12 years in coming...
we must exercise this option to keep this option!
we must patronize late night it for it to stay in business 24 hours
i beseech you, my nocturnal friends, my fellow gastronomic adventurers... next time you are out late and in need of nourishing go to these fine folks, prove to them their is a sustainable market for good food at odd hours.