Punk Smurf pens a bilingual blog

Shirley Tan, who had received a temporary reprieve and was scheduled to be deported and separated from her partner of 23 years, Jay Mercado, and their two children on April 22, was saved at the last minute by a private bill introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein, according to a message sent out by the family’s rep. Melanie Nathan:

“A private bill was introduced on the floor today on behalf of Shirley Tan. She will not have to leave the USA until this session of congress ends, and unless UAFA - Uniting American Families Act passes through Congress. A great big thanks from the Tan-Mercado family to Rep. Speier and her amazing staff as well as Sen. Feinstein and her staff, all of whom showed extraordinary care and diligence through the process. A special mention to the organizations that lent their support. Marriage Equality, Immigration Equality, Out4Immigration, Love Exiles and all the Media that remained so patient and supportive. Sen Boxer is sponsoring UAFA and we now hope that Sen. Feinstein will do the same as many many others are in as bad a predicament as  Shirley Tan has been. When I spoke to Jay today she was crying with joy and said the whole family including the boys were absolutely overwhelmed with emotion. The news was conveyed to her directly by Senator Feinstein’s office. It has been a long and arduous process and so a very special thank you goes to Attorney Phyllis Beech, San Francisco and Fresno.”

Earlier today San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that he’s running for Governor of California on Twitter. He also made the announcement on Facebook, and a three-minute YouTube video.

By Tom Lanham
Special to The Examiner 4/16/09

Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention.

Just ask Canadian folk-rocker Serena Ryder, who arrived at an unusual solution for the tennis elbow that was stifling her strumming. The tendonitis grew so painful, the petite powerhouse couldn’t play the big, full-sized guitars anymore.

That’s when she discovered vintage parlor guitars, popular in the late 1800s. “They were these tiny guitars, originally invented for women to play to the men in drawing rooms, and they’re amazing. I actually fell in love with their sound,” she says.

Now Ryder, 26, is an obsessive collector of parlor six-strings and their equally-comfortable competitors, half-sized guitars.

Next week at Slim’s, she’ll be playing a parlor, plus two half-sizes she tracked down on tour.

“They’re called Matons, you can only get them in Australia, and they’re the best I’ve ever found,” she says. “I actually have someone who’s making me a parlor guitar right now. He’s been crafting it for the last two years, and he keeps on sending me pictures of it. Other than that, if I can ever find any parlor better than the ones I have, I’ll get it — they’re that great.”

Plus, it beats the singer’s last obsession — sew-on buttons. It recently took her two full months to whittle her monstrous collection down to a prize 45.

All of these quirky eccentricities add up to some thoroughly refreshing songwriting on “Is It O.K.,” Ryder’s brainy U.S. debut for Atlantic.

From the chiming opener “Sweeping the Ashes” to a forlorn “Dark as the Black” finish, Ryder’s soulful rasp wends through tales of breakup, despair, even death, justifying her 2008 Juno win as Canada’s Best New Artist.

Ryder’s upbringing was equally odd. She hails from the rural Ontario village of Millbrook, population 3,000.

“The only thing that I knew of the outside world was by TV,” she says. “There was no bus that left town, no train — the only way to get out was by driving.”

Her biggest thrills were long woodland walks and the annual Millbrook Fair in June. “I had my first crush on the carny who ran the Octopus ride,” she says. “And I ended up writing an early song about him, which started out ‘I’m only 9/ What are you?’”

But she isn’t serenading any new beaus in her Toronto parlor; she’s looking inward instead: “I’ve actually been falling in love with myself and my life. Because only then can you truly love others and be loved in return.”

If you go

Serena Ryder

Opening for Paolo Nutini

When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 22
Where: Slim’s, 333 11th St., San Francisco
Tickets: $11
Contact: www.slimstickets.com

I just ordered Serena Ryder “is it ok” tablature and lyrics book

Currently listening to Emerson Hart (album: Cigarettes & gasoline)

Being the gentleman he is, Trevor escorted me back to the hostel, making him miss his last train home after the ballgame. (I didn’t know until the next morning.) Fortunately, his friend Shawn - who’s restoring one of the windmills in Golden Gate Park - had offered him a place to crash.

Thursday June 3rd was going to be our last day together. I mailed my postcards (one for my grandfather, one for my favorite uncle) and checked out the crookedest street in the city: Lombard Street. After that we cruised to the Castro for a visit to “A different light” bookshop. All the rainbow colored flags down the streets are very cheery. I picked up Diablo Cody’s memoir “Candy Girl - a year in the life of an unlikely stripper” (an interesting read! Plus there were references one sees returning in the JUNO movie) but was unable to find “Passing for black” by Linda Villarosa (they didn’t carry that). We were able to find Echo #3 in a rainbow colored comic book store called - get this: “Whatever” To me that meant I could finally resume reading. Yay! After that we went to Golden Gate Park (because I wanted to see the Japanese Tea Garden) and strolled through a rose garden. I was able to take a few close ups with my cell phone. (And they’re pretty decent.) Trevor and I drank Jasmine tea, and I was slightly amused and annoyed at the same time by the Cantonese women running the tea stand. I told Trevor if they’d been Japanese ladies, customers would be treated with utter respect.

Anyhoo, by then the garden was closing and we thought it would be nice to head towards to Indonesian restaurant on Post St. (I told Trevor I’d take him out for Indonesian food - he’s never tried that before.) There was an ad in that tourist brochure for “Indonesian Restaurant” on Post. (It’s off Union Square, folks.) First off, though, Trevor insisted we made a brief stop at Ghirardelli where he treated me to chocolate. A lot of chocolate When we got t o the one advertised Trevor spotted another Indonesian restaurant, right on the corner of the next block! I quickly scanned the menu of Indonesian Restaurant; it wasn’t exactly food I’d have people eat if they’re having Indonesian food for the first time. Heck, it’s not exactly the type of dishes that make my mouth water either. So, we walked on to the next one called “Borobudur“, and lo and behold: those were the popular dishes.

Photo courtesy of Trevor V.

On a side note: I visited the Borobudur temples on Java, Indonesia when I was six. I remember it was a heck of a ride, and it was hot out. The temples themselves didn’t make a lasting impression. HEY, I was six. Gimme a break.

Trevor and I got there just in time; we got the last free table and yes, the people who came in after us had to wait. It got to a point where people started lining up outside! (If that’s not good advertising for the restaurant, then I don’t know what is.) Anyhoo, I picked the rijsttafel - which, to contrary belief, is a Dutch invention and very popular in the Netherlands, not in Indonesia - from the era the Dutch colonials were in Indonesia. I figured it was the best way to get him acqainted/introduced to several Indonesian dishes. I’m glad he liked it, and I taught him a few phrases in Bahasa - thank you (terima kasih) being the most important one.

The day was over all too fast and we parted on Bartol St. Funnily enough, Trevor don’t like saying goodbye, so like me, he didn’t say it either. July 4th was a day I spent packing my duffel; with my left arm in a shoulder immobilizer it did take me more time than usual. Sarah had offered to come and pick me up so I could spend my last day with her in her family, but I texted her the previous evening to decline her offer. I did plan to go to the pier (Fisherman’s Wharf) to watch the fireworks later in the evening. I wandered though Chinatown for the last time. As the evening wore on it got windier and fog started to settle over San Francisco. Again. Obscuring the upper half of the Transamerica Pyramid. I heard the noises, but couldn’t see the fireworks. Oh well… Both Sarah (and her family) and Trevor helped me enjoy my visit very much. Thank you. I’ll be back. And I’m taking AJ with me!

Photo courtesy of Trevor V.

I watched the Pride Parade on Sunday, but ended up missing a part of it; Trevor had trouble crossing Market Street. And so did I - I was stuck at Kearny and Market and trying to figure out how on earth to cross Market. I missed Cyndi Lauper (one of this year’s Grand Marshalls), BUT one of the guys on the Bud Light truck… A dead ringer for Anderson Cooper. Sans shirt Oh, John Barrowman was doing his thing at the Pride parade in Toronto, ON. OMG!

Photo courtesy of Trevor V.

My friend Sarah and her family drove into town, got stuck in traffic, and missed the parade entirely. (With kids she figured it was easier to take the car instead of BART. And after having heard of her adventures on the Parisian subway I completely understand her decission.)

I got my first cupcake (unfortunately the make-it-yourself part is gone) and a stack of CDs at the “V”-store. (Avenue Q!) Trevor and I went to see Wall-E later that evening, which is actually nothing like Johnny 5, and funny. Great entertainment. Interesting to see an animated movie with hardly any dialogues and two robots with human traits convey something humans around the world understand.

Dinner’s served! *nom nom nom*

The next day Trev and I did a cruise around the bay (yes, I am such a tourist), made a quick stop at Trader Joe’s (I like this store) to pick up something for lunch, the aquarium at Pier 39 (got some great pictures), went to see the Painted Ladies.

Photo courtesy of Trevor V.

Photo courtesy of Trevor V.

Photo courtesy of Trevor V.

Then we were off to Cupertino, CA to meet Toby. He’s a bigger puppy than I thought, but very friendly. (I think he wanted to kiss me.)
After a quick walk around the block we took the Highway 17 bus to downtown Santa Cruz, where my friend Sarah picked us up. Apart from a quick breeze through Saturn, to get a drink, I didn’t get to enjoy a meal. I’d hope to next visit. I got to sleep in so I was fit to spend the day at the Boardwalk (and the beach) with the Meltons. (Sarah: The turkey and apple sausage was rather good!) Both her kids are well behaved: Laura is quite the chatterbox and Travis (the youngest of the two) is shy and adorable, and I’m sure he’s going to be a heartbreaker in a decade or so. I also befriended the house pets: the dog is utter cuteness with its big puppy eyes

and the cat was rubbing me like crazy, like it was in serious need of some petting. Even my black backpack got a healthy dose (was that because it still smells of Sheba?)

The sun was shining, I was in great company - life is good. Travis, Sarah, Trevor and I rode the carroussel as Laura and Joe took a spin in one of the bumper cars (if only my arm…). I tried garlic fries (they’re quite good) and later on Trevor and I went for a walk. We initially planned to go to the lighthouse, until we saw the tide was coming in (see the pic below). We got inked instead - for fake! (Yeah, that’s crouching tiger and hidden dragon for ya ) Trevor and I went for a walk at the end of the day; he wanted to show me the sea lions. Unfortunately, we spotted only two.

Photo courtesy of Trevor V.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Melton
Joe (Sarah’s husband) cooked us steaks, haricots verts and corn on the cob. It was good, but the size of the steak was a bit out of my league. We played a simple but fun card game called “Guillotine” after the kids had gone to bed, and when Sarah fell asleep on us Joe and I had a good talk about all kinds of things. The next day we drove to Redwood State Park, walked a trail, got a few great shots (unfortunately, I got no pics of squirrels), and drove to Brookdale (Sarah and Joe wanted to show me the place where they got married - the place is supposed to be haunted, but unfortunately I didn’t sense anything out of the ordinary). Then it was time for me to go back to San Fran to be in time for the ballgame.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Melton

Photo courtesy of Sarah Melton

Sarah was kind enough to drive out to SF. We met up with Trevor and headed to Isotope, an incredibly cool comic shop on Fell St. Propietor James (who recommended “Chow” for a meal) and Matt (who promised me two plastic comic sleeves, and is currently reading Echo #4) were working. Then it was time for Sarah to drive back to her family, as Trevor and I headed for AT&T Park for the ballgame.

The Chicago Cubs have been playing well this season. And yes, the SF Giants lost. My friend AJ from Chicago called and it was nice for her to hear the Cubs were winning. Apparently, they lost the night before. It was nice to hear her voice again, and I asked her if she would move to San Fran with me. She didn’t have to think about it; she replied she would. The spectacular post game fireworks was obscured by the fog. Still had a lot of fun, though

Photo courtesy of Trevor V.

The flight wasn’t all that bad. I lucked out and got seated next to Norma. Married with three children, and living on an island called Hawaii. We talked about traveling - she just got back from a visit to cousins in Danmark (her grandparents are Danish and moved to the US) - and we talked about injuries. When the time came to have dinner, she cut up my chicken. And she helped me open up some packs (you know: those tiny wrapped up pretzel thingies and such). In the end we swapped E-mail addresses and phone numbers.

Sarah and Trevor were waiting for me, and Sarah even wore a flower in her hair We drove into San Francisco, and the closer we got to Broadway and Kearny the more stripclubs we saw. Naughteh. We joked about it (AJ, I wonder why you recommended it, is it right up your alley?) and on the prowl for a parking spot I suddenly spotted… “Is that a rat?” Sarah lost it and cracked up; she was paying attention to the traffic in front of her she hadn’t noticed. (It was a rat, by the way. And I’m not talking about the human kind!) Anyhoo, they helped me get settled (I currently reside in a large room in a quiet side street off Broadway called Bartol) and I was glad Trevor was with me. My muscle man. I could not have managed without him. And thank you, Sarah, for driving the crazy traffic. By the time I got settled in nicely, we all were hungry, so we drove to Chow on Church. The food is simple, but yummie. And we got to sit on the patio

Photo courtesy of Trevor V.

After that Sarah drove home and Trevor and I slowly trekked back towards P*rnville. We went by Moscone Convention Center, but the carrousel was already closed by then, and visited the Beat Museum - which was really around the corner of the place where I’m staying. We ended up enjoying drinks (H2O) on the top deck with a great view

The next day Trevor and I went to City Hall via UN Plaza, saw five weddings (mostly same sex) and got our pic taken on the same steps many couples posed. I joked we got hitched as well, which in itself is a bit of a “queer” wedding, eh? It’s wonderful to see all those people finally being able to marry. We checked out the photo exhibition on the sub level. Then we went to the Asian Art Museum (awesome pieces!), before riding the carroussel at the Moscone Convention Center. Tee-hee-hee! After a tasty dinner at Chevy’s, a Mexican restaurant, we got MUNI passes and rode the cable car to Fisherman’s Wharf. We wandered around till the sun was down (checked out the very touristy Pier 39) before heading back. Passing by the strip joints Trevor and I hear “Gentlemen, come in.” Erm… Nope. Somehow, I “lack” the curiousity to actually walk into a dive like that. There’s just no appeal in women vying (begging?) for your attention to get some dinero. I don’t get off on that.

Photos courtesy of Trevor V.

The vertigo’s back with a vengeance. Unfortunately. And I think it’s a side effect of jet lag. Yesterday was short but not sweet: I was nauseous and had a lie down. Today, the dizziness comes in waves but I’m not nauseous. Dunno what is better. To my biggest surprise my shoulders are doing well - although the torn muscle has been acting up quite fiercely (and that hurts like a b*tch!)