March 13, 2005
If they don't burn this whole place down
Arrived home twice within twelve hours to see otherwise sensible young men urinating, one across the street on Mario's house, and th' other on my side gate. When I approached him, he shrugged and moved out of my way. I had the mild satisfaction of chasing him, fly open, into the street while he yelled, mildly, "But there's nowhere to pee around here!"
Anna said that I should have asked him where he lived, so that I could go pee on his house.
The ever-present public urination, defecation, and eating all make up one of the facets of this city, which, eight years after I moved here, continues to enchant me. On consecutive weekend days in March, I rode my bicycle around for pleasure and for errands; I sat outside with friends in the park; ate a wonderful meal within view of the bridge, the western hills, and the docs of Oakland; and I read in the sunlight with the windows open.
