sf giants, world series champs.

the giants parade in san francisco took place last wednesday. this is what I was walking into...the view from my window.

I never went in 2010, so it was pretty fun to have been there. crazy, loud, and couldn't see much of anything. saw the back of matt cain's head, the side profile of tim lincecum, and brian wilson ever so quickly. becasue I'm so short, I just had to keep jumping up and down...

and because wednesday was also, halloween, we went down in costume. I dressed as an Identity Crisis.

here's my co-worker, khalid, dressed as the mad hatter from tim burton's alice in wonderland. there's no question that he ended up winning our company's costume contest.

he was actually pretty scary but people kept bothering to take pictures with him. and funny enough, he actually made a lot of tips in doing so while we were down there watching the parade! fun day...

bah-sten.

red eye to boston for labor day weekend with the family.

 an excuse to eat, shop, and not work out. I freaking love this city...

not much on the agenda to be honest. eating. shopping. eating. perhaps a sight or two. eating, again.

 jfk memorial museum and library.

highlights included:
the oval office.

worn by jackie o. (givenchy)

a segment of the berlin wall.

atrium.

when purchasing canoli in boston, you go to one of two places: mike's pastry or modern pastry. it's basically like choosing between pat's or geno's in philly for cheeseteaks. or like in tokyo: sushi dai or daiwa sushi. either way, you really can't go wrong...

so we opted for the one with the longer line -- mike's it was.

they offer an assorment of italian goodies, but it was the canoli we came for. went all out with the chocolate variety: chocolate dipped shell stuffed with the sweetened ricotta filling and then dipped in chocolate chips.

the biggest, and probably the best canolo I've ever had.

didn't get to get my slice of boston cream pie, but this boston cream puff suffices, I suppose.

then off to grill 23 and bar for a steak dinner.

bone-in rib eye. medium rare. 'nuff said.

truffle tots.

o rings. mushrooms. asparagus.

and as if that wasn't enough food already, a giant slice coconut cake and lime sorbet for dessert.

eating continued...
there's this restaurant called wagamama. didn't get a chance to try it while in the uk, but lucky for me, they had a location in boston!
duck dumplings.

giant plate of chicken katsu curry = comfort food.

the streets are always so picturesque...

milk street -- reminded me of my coworker brandon, so I had to take a picture.

quincy market.

somewhat akin to the ferry building with a myriad of food options.

ice cream, of course.

and fries for the road.

final food stop was mississipi mud pie from big y.

oh so chocolatey and gooey. I want this right now.

yup! looks like all ten pounds gained have been properly accounted for.