Caption: from the USS Nimitz web site

I went on my usual run to the Embarcadero Y, from North Beach, around the east base of Telegraph Hill- not a very wise route, but one of habit. The sidewalks were so crowded I spent most of my time running in the street, which was more of a parking lot. Even the blocks behind Fog City Diner were parking lots.

I got home to check out Jason’s photos, which led me to read the Fleet Week site, reading up on the ships (where were they coming from?) and then read more history on the Nimitz. It brought home just how long we’ve been at war. From the history page of the Nimitz site:

On October 23, 2003 the Navy announced that the Nimitz CSG would return to San Diego on November 5, 2003, following a highly successful eight-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

Wait, 2003? Has it really been going on for more than 3 years? The site doesn’t list recent deployments, probably due to national security. That was the real reason I was even reading the page. I read this page after getting a link to a Time piece, “A Letter from Iraq”. More thoughts from a guy in Iraq on how long this war has been going on. Good Daily Show (on youtube) on defense of the war.

Sign at Rocco’s (couldn’t get a good shot of it) “Welcome Jarheads & Squids”… and right now it’s full of ‘em.

Last year, I had some people over on my roof to watch the Blue Angels. Afterwards they managed to hail a cab. They were gushing about the Angels and the cab driver said: “I’m from Iraq. These sounds scare me. It reminds me of war.”

I walk go to the corner liquor store to get some juice and hear this bicyclist giving bad directions to two female officers. “Go down here, then over that street, then down Van Ness…” Over Russian Hill? I help them find a steakhouse in Union Square. The cyclist turns to some sailors waiting in line to ask me more directions (yes, a line is forming) and jokes with the female officers, “Why don’t you ask these guys? They want to meet some girls!” Which just sounded odd to me in so many ways.

Officer buying a pretzel for his daughter, holding another daughter in his arms, with his wife nearby. This was right on Embarcadero.

Two officers in the back of a rickshaw.

A girl and a sailor sitting on the embankment facing the Ferry Building. Sailor is talking into a cell phone, “We’re in front of the big clock.” She goes, “Ferry Building, honey, Ferry Building.”

Three young men, walking with dropped trousers and tank tops, long hair, skateboards, doing tricks in front of two sailors.

Four swanky people, two couples, coming out of that new hotel on Embarcadero, trying to get a cab, next to two sailors also trying to get a cab. The swanky couples look really perplexed at how hard it is to get a cab, suddenly. Still, they veto the option of taking a nearby limo.

Karate class at the Y looking out the windows at the Blue Angels. “Yeah, I’ve seen them before.” Says a female black belt.

Basically North Beach is full of a whole lot of drunk barely legals- just like any other Saturday night!