AIN'T NO POWER LIKE THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE, 'CUZ THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE DON'T STOP

Took part in the war protests today. I keep wanting to say "anti-war protests" but really, that would indicate that I was pro-war. We actually were commenting that there were a couple of people with "NO WAR" signs, in which there was a red strike through the "WAR" bit, which kind of made it a double negative, like no no war, but we didn't think they'd really appreciate having us point it out.

My favorite signs were probably the "DUDE, WHERE'S MY WAR?" ones (with a particularly 'duh' looking one of Dubya). Favorite protestors were the group dressed up like Rosie the Riveter with signs that said, "We can do it! But we shouldn't. No War on Iraq." Favorite cheer was by a group of cheerleaders singing "Pies to the warmongers! Pies to the warmongers!" One of my cohorts was very sad because he didn't have a sign. By the end of the march, he'd managed to obtain one. Very happy boy.

All in all, it was a beautiful day for fattening up that old FBI file.

It was sunny, and tens of thousands of people showed up. The most recent estimate I heard was about 80,000, but I think that's inaccurate. Sounds low to me. The march ended up taking forever and being a bit grueling because of the number of people involved, and I think some people ended up leaving because they were tired. We ended up moving so slowly that we started to refer to it as a "Protest Mosey" as opposed to a "Protest March." I know that a bunch in our group had kids and they could only take it so long. At any rate, it was great to see so many people. Really funny, too, what a social event it was. Cries of people greeting friends and hugging and all that.

We're very civil here in our civil disobedience. Andy was telling me that during the Gulf War protests, some of the participants started fires in trash cans, and others, following behind them, put the fires out. The police tend to be cool and calm about the whole thing--I guess they kind of have to be. But it's cool to see the fellow marchers helping those with strollers, saying "excuse me" if they bump into someone else...also funny to see all of the people lining the streets to watch the protests, like it was some kind of parade.

Speaking of which, the Gay Pride Parade is much better organized. I think gay men would just not put up with any of this moseying business. They would be in the front saying, "Come on, people!" I'm sure of it. The whole march would have taken twenty minutes, and would have been far more stylish.

We were talking about Gay Pride Parades at the DEVO concert in the park as well. We were walking toward the concert like, as one of my friends put it, "Like some kind of indie Gay Pride Parade, only we're not gay, and not particularly proud." We started referring to ourselves as the "Indie Shame Parade."

Anyway, on the walk home I think I may have stress-fractured my ankle again. I can't really walk right now, but I'll see what it's like tomorrow.

DEVO!

They were awesome. Amazing. Very tight. It's always depressing when you go to see a band live, and it's obvious that they must have some geniuses in the recording studio and post-production, because they suck live. Devo isn't one of these bands. They were amazing.

Have I mentioned that?

Partial set list, because I think I might be missing something:

Freedom Of Choice
Girl U Want
Whip It
Uncontrollable Urge
Satisfaction
Mongoloid
Come Back Jonee
Gates Of Steel
Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA
Blockhead
Gut Feeling

There was one guy in the crowd who had brought all of their vinyl, and every time they'd start playing a song, he'd raise the appropriate record over his head. Like, just in case they forgot which album it came off of. Look! Here it is! It was the potato one! Some guy was dressed as a potato, and another one was dressed as a pineapple. There was also a crowd-surfing Pekingese. Very surreal. Didn't need drugs.

They wore the little red hats, by the way. The ones that look like steps. And they dedicated one of the songs--either Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA or Blockhead--to the President. And they changed the words in "Come Back Jonee".

(Datsun->Nissan)

"eyes full of teardrops,
Jonee jumped into his Nissan"

We got to talking at the show, and a bunch of us are going to get together and do a high tea before I leave, which should be fun. One should always come up with an excuse to wear cool hats.

You know, it suddenly occurs to me that if the concert had happened anywhere else, I would be commenting on all of the 'unusual' haircolors, hairstyles, leather, piercings, that kind of thing, and yet, well, that seems normal to me now. Two of the people in my group had mostly shaven heads, with the small remainder dyed in purple, green, pink, and blue. I wouldn't think to mention that, which is kind of nice. I guess the funny thing is that I really noticed and commented on the guys that looked like uptight corporate types--I kept wondering what they looked like twenty years ago, because they were so obviously fans.

Max has spent the last couple of days working on meteor rocks. He said that the results were disappointing, but all I can think of is, how cool would it be to spend a couple of days working on meteor rocks? He affirms that his superpowers are still intact. Evidently they weren't kryptonite.

I have nothing interesting to say.

POSSIBLE FREE BIG MACS IN YOUR FUTURE

Last night, I turned on the television, and they were showing this giant innertube in the bay with the Taco Bell logo on it. Evidently, if a home run is hit out of the park (we're in the middle of the World Series) and it hits this giant innertube, Taco Hell is going to give everyone in the country a free taco.

So then this morning, I'm looking at the photos of the ATF nabbing the sniper dude, and right behind all of them, there's this big ad banner for some kind of "Big Tasty" sandwich at McDonalds....

BACK IN SAN FRANCISCO

Well, I've been back in San Francisco for a while now. I'm really enjoying myself--sometimes I forget just how many friends I have and what a good life I have here. Seriously, I have just about the best friends in the world, and my spirits get raised so much. At the risk of sounding like certain actresses, there's something sincerely uplifting about being around people who are actually excited to see you. It sounds dumb, but I've been to three different events at which my attendance was a surprise present for someone else, and it just made me want to cry. I was determined that I was going to come out of my self-imposed exile, and it has been so incredibly worth it.

I just feel so fortunate. I've been to gallery openings for friends, luncheons with the "nerd elite" (indie rock musicians), coffee with writers, dinner with the aforementioned NASA scientist who I decided to see after all (really nice guy, very pleasant evening), Buffy nights, and individual lunches and teas with people who I care a lot about. It's been kind of healing. I'm alone in a beautiful apartment in the Mission with big windows, lots of lights, two cats, and the most comfy down duvet imaginable. Living next door is the publicist for the Grateful Dead, incidentally.

I am really fortunate.

I don't know where the future is going to take me, but for now, it's all right, and I'm happy in a way.

The part of my heart that didn't want to give up on Matthew has finally let him go. I am aware that I manufactured virtues in someone who didn't have any. I recognize that he's essentially worthless, as awful as that sounds, and I no longer expect anything different. And I'll be all right.

I swear one of these days I'll go back to being less serious again. It's been a while. Spending time with friends has made me remember this funny girl I once was, and you know, I think I liked her.

Oh, P.S., this Friday we're going to see DEVO. I'll tell you how it goes.