almost done.

I'm wrapping up my Cleveland visit...it's been nice leaving my cellphone in my suitcase and not being anywhere near a computer with internet access. It's been quite grounding, and an eye-opening experience to be honest. Cleveland is actually a really cool place, with grounded, honest, beautiful, and most of all...real people living here. What you see is what you get...no bullshit, no facades. They tell it like it is to your face whether you like it or not, then will hand you a beer and light your cigarette.

I've got to hang out with some old friends here (but not all the ones I wanted to see), and I've met some incredible new people. It's renewed my faith in this city...smack in the middle of a blue county in a red state.

I've also realized just what "Dirty Cleveland" can mean. More on that later.

I'll write all about it when I get back to San Francisco...but right now, a winter storm is coming, a front is pushing through, and the rain outside has just turned into snow. I have to run down to my sister's place to change my clothes and get ready for my grandfather's birthday dinner.

Hopkins might be closed tomorrow morning due to snow; I might be staying here longer than I anticipated...we'll see.