Tofurkey doesn't give good face. It's a cross between a very large potato and a improperly proportioned sausage. It was the subject of much ridicule - Even from the vegetarians. Looks aside, it was surprisingly tasty. The texture was nothing like real turkey but the taste was close enough. All but the ardent meat eaters seemed very pleased. I'll definitely make it again.

After dinner we watched the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special. Which is surprisingly horrible. It's reminded me of old Saturday morning cartoons they don't show anymore... Little story... Just bits of looped animation that go a long way for groan worthy gags. After it was over, we popped in The Incredibles. That movie is going to hold up for a very very long time. As Goldman mentioned while we were watching it, Pixar should really make some television specials for the holidays. The old standards aren't cutting it anymore. Some new classics would be awesome.

Peppered throughout was a lot of fine conversation, fine sake, and fine cheeses. Thank you everyone that came. I couldn't have asked for a better Last Thanksgiving in San Francisco.

Reality is a sound, you have to tune into it not just keep yelling.

Anne Carson - Autobiography of Red

Last night I was wandering around with Lane late in the evening and she remarked how it will be nice to have new streets to walk on in Chicago.

As of late, I've been trying not to get so caught up in new. It seems a lot of the time it's simply assumed that new is also better. I'm starting to think new is just the way in which we ignore old as a means to loose sight of now.

Look at this new thing!
Now I don't have to deal with that old stuff anymore!

At the same time, I love cities. I love neighborhoods and the ways in which they interact with each other and identity. I love the long gradual shifts in culture they contain. I love the fact that they work at all.

I love the possibility of discovering all of that in Chicago.

And the cycle of learning more about what I already know continues...

Strangely without contradiction.

At least for now.

And it's like "Fuck. I gotta take advantage of this California while I still can." Others it's like "Fuck. It will be another year before I know winter again." Neither here, nor there. Which is somewhere else. And strange.

Maybe I should start sleeping in.

It's exciting. And a little bit sad. I mean, I looooove California. San Francisco was the first place that every really felt like home to me. I doubt I'll feel so strongly about Chicago. Now days I feel like anywhere could be home if I wanted it to be. A bigger question right now is that I want to own one and I want to spend less time there. My trip to Thailand put a bit of the travel bug in me. I want to go places for long enough to be there. The lower cost of living in Chicago makes both much easier. Also, as mentioned before, I think the change of pace will be very good - It's an opportunity to clean off the bed for reals.

My imminent and triumphant return to Central Standard Time is in fact imminent. In June of next year Ms. Lane and myself are moving to Chicago.

I have a lot more to say on the subject, but not right now. My dinner just arrived...