Puppies and Pretzels

This morning seems so LONG ago.

Started out (raining again) with breakfast at Starbucks and a cable car ride into Union Square. I swear those things are the most unsafe forms of public transport ever. I mean, they're fine if you're a sensible adult, really. I've just noticed how mollycoddling Brisbane public transport actually is. Like, we have giant signs saying, "STAYY OF THE TRACKS," at train stations, running along the side of the platform, next to the tracks. At the SF Airport, there were signs tucked under the edge of the platform that said, "SAFE ZONE." So basically, if you're hanging out on the tracks and a train comes, tuck yourself up under this ledge and you'll be right! The cable cars are noisy, stop and start suddenly, have people just HANGING OFF THE SIDE in the middle of traffic, and people just jump on and off. Oh, and they stop in the middle of intersections ALL THE TIME. They're also brilliant fun and run by some very amusing characters - which brings me to today's edition of S.O.M.O.T.D.!

Today's SOMOTD are not particularly strange, in fact they were rather benign - friendly even. However they were the most interesting conversation I had with a local today, so they win the award. On the cable car I hopped on in the morning, they noticed I had an accent. The conversation went something like this:

Cable Car Guy #1: Hey, this little lady's got an accent! Where are you from, Ma'am?
Me: Australia.
Cable Car Guy #2: Ah well, nobody's perfect.
Cable Car Guy #1: Yeah, I guess we won't hold that against you.

Which, I admit, amused me. They also attempted to give me fake sightseeing advice about landmarks etc. and generally had a good laugh at my expense. It was amusing.

I also visited the SF/SPCA today, and looked in on some of their training classes, which was really interesting. I also looked through their adoption centre, which is AMAZING. All of the dogs are in air conditioned rooms, with crates, mats, tiled floors, toys and DOORS. There were HALLWAYS with these ROOMS in them... it was just astounding. They've also got a huge brand new animal hospital, which is fanfreakingtastic.

Overall, I was pretty impressed with their facilities. As far as the adoption facilities are concerned, they're pretty much passing FF with flying colours. I'd say they have the same physical number of adoption pens, but it's all indoors, it's all airconned, it's all new and posh... But in terms of the training facilities, we've got a definite advantage of more space and competition sized equipment.

I went back from the SPCA to the hotel on my own, using two kinds of public transport and a fair bit of walking. Yay for self-sufficiency!

I also ate some amazing fortune cookies today. And watched three episodes of Gossip Girl. AND ate this spinach and fetta stuffed pretzel, which was something of a phenomenon in itself.

Lx

OH AND. I saw my first slice of blue California sky tonight. Yes. Tonight. At 8pm. :\