Says Granite

Well life has been just lovely so far on my unearned vacation. i’ve been sunning, exploring, chasing rainbows, shooting photos along the way. Slowing to a snail’s pace after running amok in San Diego hasn’t been easy, but i can say i’m adjusting quite well to the calm 3 weeks in.

It’s been a pleasure not blowing my hair dry, applying a face of makeup, and foregoing showers some days. Don’t worry, i still shave and paint my toes. You know i’ve never believed in deodorant to begin with.

So it seems there’s a return to simplicity theme prevalent in my travels, and also, a return to that which is natural (like– REALLY natural). i decided when i landed here that i would quit the sleeping pills i’ve popped for 3 years. after 3 weeks, i can sleep a full night through, unassisted.

While i never considered myself an alcoholic, i was consuming at least 3 (work related) beers per day in San Diego. i’ve had 4 since stepping off the plane.

This is major, people! Feelin’ pretty swell.

Thanks for reading, and continue to follow as i lead journeys of other kinds. Although life in SD might have provided more explicit blogging material, a break from the norm is good. Right?

Thanks for reading,

(LAST WEEK’S POST)

The only brewpub in Kauai happens to be walking distance from my house. And really, there is nothing else a person can walk to save for the beach on this remote part of the island. Figures.

A big Saturday night indeed, we pulled into Waimea Brewing Company at 9:30pm to a packed parking lot of about 10 cars. Inside we sat at the bar, and of 6 or so house brews i chose the porter. Dark roasted malts and coffee flavor, i’d declare it a 6 out of 10 on the awesome scale.

i was curious to meet some locals, so i chatted the bartender.

‘do you have a computer?’ i asked.

‘No.’

‘Well, i hear people’s hard drives crash out here all the time because of the humidity. Have you heard about this or know what i can do?’

‘That’s crazy, i’ve never heard of that.’

hmmm.

‘Do you live in Kekaha?

‘Yeah.’

‘Living here is SO interesting!’

‘What’s interesting?’ he said with a tinge of strife.

‘Oh, i dunno…’ (gesturing around with my hands) ‘Everything is interesting!’ hearty laughs on my behalf.

This man does not like me and thinks i was making fun of his culture.

‘So my landlord was telling me there’s some chicken traps we can get. To capture the chickens and roosters and take them to the humane society?’

‘We just shoot them. No one cares enough about chickens to drive them to the humane society.’

‘Yeah,’ i said. ‘i didn’t think that sounded right… Can i sample the red ale?’

bartender, and everyone else looked at me like i was crazy. In a shot glass he poured me a taste.

‘Have you ever had Luau Leaf soup?’ i asked.

‘No, but at parties and Luaus, we usually have Taro leaf sauces, mostly with squid, or chicken.’

‘i totally want to go to one of these parties! How do i get in?’

No response…

there has to be a list i can get on. i’ll look into it this week.

thanks for reading,

granite.

(LAST POST)

i actually wrote a farewell blog on my way out of town, but for some reason decided not to post it right away.  The last two weeks i spent in San Diego were far from a treat. In that time, i pried the pen from my hands and threw it out the window before San Diego ‘The Chapter’ had been written. i suppose i struggle with untidy endings, and i’m not even sure this classifies as one. Leaving my home, losing my car and saying goodbye to loved ones was anti-climatic, unresolved, and not how i drafted the story at all.

i re-read that never-to-be-posted blog entry tonight, glad that it’s just another icon in my documents folder. If you’re wondering why saysgranite has been inactive for a month, it’s because i prefer not to present myself as a whiny wimp. That silly farewell letter is a tired inventory of all the struggles that didn’t end in my favor; bitter account after account of all the ‘failures;’ and finally, how leaving San Diego was the ultimate, losersome move.

The build-up to departure was surreal. It wasn’t until the last two weeks of August that i actually realized i was leaving, and set out to spend time with the people dearest to me. One night i was out with a friend, having a grand time like so many before, when i realized my luck… Personally and professionally, my mid 20s were pretty kick ass times, thanks to living in SD. Suddenly the end wasn’t reading so sad.

Granted, it’s not like the end to my life in North Park was the end of my life entirely. When most people hit rock bottom, moving to Hawaii isn’t exactly high on the list of options.

Given this grand opportunity, i scaled down three years worth of possessions to two 45 pound bags, one piece of carry-on luggage, and my computer bag.

A wise man told me, ‘people pay thousands of dollars for this kind of treatment.’ So there it is. i’m treating myself to a break, and focusing on where i’ll land after this segment wraps.

Ellipsis is more accurate than End…

thanks for reading,

granite.

(LAST ENTRY)

It’s what we eat to smile, and what we cry into when we’re sad. Ice cream: not the entire focus of my latest gastro-adventure, but close enough. San Diego’s greatest frozen desserts, oh my… where to start in a year round summer city? Like most projects, i started on the internets, then moved on to the pre-screening phone call process. Says granite, ‘So the sorbet is made in-house?’ Says Quietly ‘no.’

CLICK!

i just spent 6 hours all about town dropping ice cream like Hunter S. did acid. In a sugar-high fog, final stop number 8 yielded lost keys, tow truck drivers and some new friends (a three part sequence common to several of my flavorful misadventures). Says my talented photographer as we wait for AAA (an extra few minutes because i gave the wrong cross street), ‘oh, it’s never a dull moment…’

Yeah. No matter how cold the adventure, i try to keep things hot.

Thanks for reading,

granite.

In my humble opinion, ice cream is best enjoyed with super hot male company.

(LAST WEEK’S POST)

Oy! i am tired. It’s been another full week of fantastically awful food and beverage consumption. Monday at Toronado was all about the Chimay (there’s soemthing wickedly delightful about ordering a 9 dollar draft for 3 bucks every Monday). Last weekend’s San Diego International Beer Festival at the County Fair was another stellar event… Keep your eyes peeled for my upcoming article on SDNN.com highlighting some of the winners. Jesus, there were 311 beers to choose from! i drank a lot (shocking), and consequently macked a lot of fat kid food. Ice cream bars, fried zuccini… i’ll stop there.

And now a fun filled weekend celebrating what it is to be an unemployed, but independent (debatable) American. i’ll be drinking beer before most of your sorry asses are out of bed at FM 94.9’s live broadcast from Stone World Bistro and Gardens. Tastings every hour starting at 9am- for 94 cents! i might not wear underwear!

This 4th of July i thought, why battle crowds at booze free beaches when i can stay in my neighborhood, ride my bike to my favorite brewpub, and drink some of my favorite beers. At Blind Lady this Saturday and Sunday, Alesmith beers are the feature, with 7 brews on tap.  For those of you living under a rock, Alesmith won ‘Small Brewing Company of the Year’ at the Great American Beer Festival last year and produces my current favorite, Speedway Stout. YES!

And so it seems i just cannot get away from beer. Have a great holiday weekend, i know i will. Belch.

thanks for reading,

granite.

(LAST WEEK’s POST)

Pizza has always had a special place in my heart. Before i was born, my grandparents owned a pizza house in Orange County. Throughout my life Nana made us pizza at least once a week. If i try hard enough, i can still taste her pie; twice baked dough, crunchy with a little chew, basic tomato sauce, dried oregano, mozzarella and thick cut pepperoni. Bella.

In high school, my first job was working at a pizzeria. i loved making pies, eating pies, and yes, playing grab ass with boys in the walk-in freezer.

When i first started this blog, i was interested in doing a story on pizza pies in San Diego. i was amazed at how many fine pizza establishments there are in San Diego, and so began a week-long binge in search of the best… by the end of the experiment i was fat, angry, gassy, and in overall gastrointestinal distress. And somehow a sun-dried tomato wound up in the ignition of my car!

You can read that initial blog post here:

http://www.saysgranite.com/2008/10/

i’m a dedicated woman, people.

Lots of exciting news this week in pizza; Lefty’s Chicago Pizza opened their Mission Hills location, and Pizzeria Luigi’s second store is located 3 doors down from Livewire on El Cajon Boulevard in North Park.

Take a gander at some of the first photos you’ll see of both new establishments. And of course pay them a visit for a slice or two!

Thanks for reading,

granite.

(LAST WEEK’S POST)

It’s that time again… another exciting week in beer. i love me some Allagash, and recently, i’ve been seeing more and more taps around town besides the usuals (Curieux and White). The first time I tried Allagash Black was a month or so ago at Jaynes Gastropub; what a crafty concept- a Belgian style porter? All i love about both styles of beer marry in this seamless, flavorful brew.

This past weekend i was excited to walk in unexpectly to an Allagash party at Blind Lady Ale House, and now   Wednesday night at Neighborhood will again celebrate one of the best craft breweries in the nation.

Here i am doing a preview tasting… life is rough.

The morning after, especially.

Thanks for reading,

granite.

(PREVIOUS ENTRY)

i am sick of shit in its many forms. i do not like stepping in it. This week is about cleaning up.

Thanks for reading,

granite.

(LAST WEEK’S POST)

Monday was wild. I took a fantastic trip to Hollywood with my partner in crime, the talented photographer and trouble maker, Mr. Edwin Real. We celebrated with a late-night meal in Little Tokyo; Kama, short ribs with daikon root, grilled asparagus, and some tuna in a phlegm-like mountain potato paste that neither of us could choke down after one courtesy bite. ‘You have some hanging from your chin.’ Laughter abound.

At 1:20am Mr. Real was returned to his car in the condition i found him. In North Park, i settled at my desk to read a hard copy of Mutineer Magazine. OK, to read my article in Mutineer Magazine. Shit, i drove to Hollywood to get my hands on a copy before it officially hits newsstands June 3rd. Read my entry ‘Hollywood Recap’ for the, well, recap (right over there ——>>>>>>). Let it serve as a preface to the online article in Mutineer on pages 49-52 (June/July) issue. Please and thank you.

Tuesday was off to a rough start, but my spirits lifted quickly at the sight of a rather nice and kindly edited feature on SDNN.com’s home page: 8 Great San Diego Microbrews. Read, enjoy, and post your comments to SDNN’s website.

i popped into Blind Lady Ale House for a beer,  and to drop off an early issue of Mutineer. Swinging open the front door, i entered San Diego’s craft brewing vortex. i avoided composing that email all day. i dreaded the words that failed to appear in ‘compose mail.’ And there he was, right there, drinking an Automatic #1. A conversation better had in person, i thought so anyways. Check in later for the complete story.

It was a good day overall. i ate my lunch at the Embarcadero and reflected on how much i love San Diego. i snapped a couple photos. Sitting quietly in the sun, i looked off at Coronado, behind me at Little Italy’s high rises; a smile as someone reeled in a fish.

Sound like i have a sensitive side? Fuck that noise.

Thanks for reading.

granite.