It's true, Mission Chinese, also known as Lung Shan Restaurant, has lived up to the reputation perpetuated by the soul patch wearing, fedora donning, Mission hipsters. We finally ate at the little store front restaurant that could and does! The ambiance? Crowded and cramped with a funky eclecticism. The music? Definitely Spotify Chill mix. My favorite dish was the appetizer peanuts and the appetizer pickled vegetables. Both were really outstanding. 
When last we left, many summer adventures were on the horizon for our intrepid blogger...so a quick review of some of those adventures. We dragged ourselves for a mini vacay to "Lazy Bear" in Guerneville on the Russian River. This is a weekend for thousands upon thousands of Gay Men who have quite frankly just let themselves go and have created a whole subculture around big hairy unkempt men. Yes, I know I have just participated in the ultimate reductionism but my blog, my rules. Added to that, I actually really like the Bear community, super nice guys! 
Yosiell shocked at the debauchery at the pool party.
A Nattie Light in a Lil' Hustler Coozie, could there be any better reminder of our revered Southern friends, Med and Bill.
During the weekend, I attended two hikes with about 70 other people. Lots of fun! I never tire of the redwood majesty!
My favorite part was watching all the muscle bound gym bears struggle with the minimum amounts of cardio required to climb a hill. Shaden freud? You betcha!
The second hike was along the coast. Beautiful but overcast. Kinda eerie in a Kate Bush Way.
Soon after the weekend, anniversary and birthday festivities rolled around. For our anniversary, we went to the Claremont in Berkeley and enjoyed small plates off the menu, each one paired with a wine tasting. Although the food was absolutely terrific, pairing with the wine set us over the top. The price tag was moderate for Bay Area standards but probably could feed a family of four by any other standards (just a little bit of the first world guilt shining through).
Creme Brûlée! My all time favorite dessert...side note: on most weekend evenings, there is a Creme Brûlée food truck in the Castro...what a civilized town!
Becky and Tom, treated Rusty and I to mixology lessons. We went to a class on how to make several different drinks. I guess this is what is meant by being a lifelong learner! We were in the very back of the class where the Juvenile Delinquent kids typically sit. Awesome Birthday present.
Speaking of incredible presents, Yosiell painted this as a birthday present. At first I thought it looked like a Peter Pan Lost Boys type of image but someone else said more like Lord of the Flies...either way, it's incredible.
Speaking of Birthday surprises, Monique and Lance dragged us yet again to the wine country and treated us to a few bottles of liquid sunshine, and a hearty lunch! California living sometimes does not suck!
Rusty with a mild bubbly buzz! The sparkling wine at Viansa is not bad.
On my actual Birthday, we went to the Jean Paul Gautier show at the De Young Museum. Talk about visual over-stimulation...my eyes were aching afterward. The mannequins all had faces projected on them that actually moved and talked...cool but creepy!
My favorite of course, Gautier fashions photographed by pierre et gilles.
Madonna's touring Bustiere! Side Note: I was recently dragged to another Madonna concert, the MDNA Tour. The concert was great, but the doors opened at 8PM and she didn't start until 10:30PM. She apparently doesn't know the average age of her audience. Before the concert though we went to a place recommended by our neighbor Judy called Henry's Hi-Life...pretty much steak, baked potato and salad...it was featured one time on the television show, Man vs. Food. It was old school and perfect!
Somewhere in there we managed to take our two favorite boys to the symphony to see the Wizard of Oz. The movie ran as the symphony played the entire score. It was really fun to watch with the symphony. Before that we took the boys to a small restaurant that specializes in Carnival Food. The best thing on the menu was the mini corn dogs...one of the boys had a hamburger with cheese squished between two donuts...I'm pretty sure that delicacy won't be going mainstream anytime soon. The fried candy bars were a delicious ending to our the heart attack inducing feast!
Well folks, that brings us up to the start of school. After school started most activities came to a screeching halt as I focused on being the new guy! Perhaps our most exciting moment this year as a school was the day the Space Shuttle Endeavor flew over. We had two people on our gym roof trying to spot as the shuttle approached. We managed to do a full school all call just before the shuttle arrived and managed to get all students out on the field or blacktop for this momentous occasion. The shuttle flew directly overhead! What good fortune. A really good omen for the school year if you ask me!
Rusty was on the Golden Gate Bridge at the time and also took some fabulous photos. The photos are much more professional looking...very cool.
Pure Awesomeness!
Farewell shuttle program...you inspired us to dream of stars and moons and things greater than ourselves!
October, of course, is all about the Pumpkin. We took a quick trip to Castro Valley for the Pumpkin Patch and purchased way over priced pumpkins, on the way back the local Safeway was selling pumpkins for about a third of the price...curses! It is statements like that keep moving me ever closer to crotchity old man status.
Other news, Di Drew has turned 40 Years old...in honor of this we are trying to arrange a trip next summer to Oz...let us know if you are interested. Miss you all and we shall see our North Carolina homies this Thanksgiving...
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