This is my friend and colleague, Christopher Esposito, Hotline & Volunteer Services Director of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. I have had the immense pleasure and opportunity to recently work on a fairly crucial project for the Foundation. Over a 2 month period, I assisted in transforming what was formerly known as the Northern California AIDS Hotline to what is now known as the Statewide HIV/AIDS Hotline. I was so fortunate to work with a dedicated and fantastic crew who worked fast and furiously to encompass an additional 10 rather large Southern California counties' resources into the existing hotline. The Hotline is Trilingual (English, Spanish, Tagalog) and provides callers with HIV/AIDS education, information, referrals, and emotional support. The now California HIV/AIDS Hotline is expected to take about 120,000 calls in the coming year. Volunteering for the Foundation has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The people who come through the office, both staff and other volunteers, are some of the most positive and energetic people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. The SF AIDS Foundation is just one of the many socially-conscious organizations in this city. I think San Francisco is one of the more socially responsible cities in this country. By the way, Christopher says he needs a date so drop me an email if you're interested and I'll make sure he gets the message:)

Ok, see this train to your right, I need you to virtually hop aboard so I can take you on a BART ride under the SF Bay to a secret location in the East Bay. BART stands for Bay Area Rapid Transit and I think it is the most effcient mode of public transportation out here. I hope you all enjoy the picture because I risked my life to snap this shot just for your viewing pleasure. Just notice how close the train is and imagine where I had to be to take this picture:)

Ta-da, did everyone make it with me? Wow, where are we...wherever we are, it sure is lovely. This picture was taken in the Berkeley Rose Garden, high up in the Berkeley Hills. I know, I know, I'm being tricky and not sticking strictly to within the city limits of SF. But Berkeley has a very special place in my heart since I spent 4 years of my adult life here procrastinating from my studies:) If you look between the 2 trees in the center of this picture, that would be San Francisco if my digital camera had a zoom lens but it doesn't so we all have to imagine.