i’ve been in the narrow slashes
velvet red and real as rashes
california’s got me wanting more
four years got me from this caption
generation came to kill
i know you and i know you will
who’ll be sleeping on the mission bells?

leave me or let me go
oceans on two sides
optimism parallel, breaking in rich tides
how they must soothe you, now day and night

hypocrisy has smashed that atavistic take
on my commitment, one mistake
how’s the new kid, all the new truths and the vileness, god forbid
i lie here waiting while the mission bells are ringing, ringing
out over the city and the sunshine and the doubt

Casa Sanchez, based in San Francisco, makes some of the best chips and salsa around. They have a restaurant at 2778 24th Street (which has been getting some negative reviews). But their main business these days must be their salsa and chips for distribution, which are excellent. They offer both fresh and roasted salsas. Now Chowhound is trying to reverse engineer the fresh salsa. Click the link to see how they’re doing.

According to the packaging, the ingredients are “tomatoes, peppers, onions, cilantro, garlic, citric acid, and sea salt.” Should be easy, right? I think what makes it tricky is getting the right mix of peppers. La Chica Guapa and I once translated a book called the Mexico the Beautiful Cookbook by Susanna Palazuelos. There is an enormous variety of peppers available for Mexican cooking, and the art of combining them requires experience and discrimination.

click photo for larger view

Laughing Squid has posted a notice of the 28th Anniversary celebration of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The free event, called Night of the Living Easter, will be held in Dolores Park from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday, April 8.

“The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence celebrate our 28th year of raising money, eyebrows (and a smidge of Hell), all for you, our community,” the announcement says. “As always, the event is free to all, and donations are gladly accepted. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to pick up some really cool Sisters’ schwag including t-shirts, buttons and indulgences! Remember: Salvation comes to those who bring trash bags and clean up after themselves. Night Of The Living Easter is a Perpetual Indulgence production.”

Two of the sisters kindly gave me permission to take the photo above during an antiwar rally in January 2003.