It's one-thirty on a Saturday afternoon. I'm sitting on a tall stool at a small, circular table near the entrance of a Tully's at the intersection of Castro and 18th in San Francisco. Sounds from outside welcome themselves in through the propped open door. Every few minutes I hear the squeal of brakes as a bus stops in front of the coffee shop.

People sit by the front window, drinking espresso and reading the newspaper. Only a thin piece of glass separates them from the constant flow of pedestrian traffic. I've never been comfortable sitting so close to the sidewalk.

Behind me, two women are having a lively discussion about something. I can't tell the topic of conversation because I've succeeded in tuning out the words and hearing only their animated voices. I bet most guys have that ability.

Why am I sitting here writing in this notebook? Because I have a few minutes before a movie begins at the Castro Theatre. It's part of the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF). I'll be seeing Miss Match, a series of short films focused on the feeling of not fitting in. Sounds light and uplifting, doesn't it?

To be honest, it wasn't my first choice, but by the time I got to the city, the movie I wanted to see (The Ride) was sold out. I'll be coming back tomorrow night to hit the rush line. The festival will be in San Jose on the 19th and I'm looking forward to those screenings.

Twenty minutes until show time. Let's see. You can tell when people are crossing 18th Street. A voice at the corner suddenly yells out, "A vote for Nader is a vote for Bush!"

The woman behind me just swore and I involuntarily glanced at her. My dumb curiosity always gets the better of me. She paused a beat before continuing on with her rant. It's funny how a curse word catches my attention. Up to that point, all I had heard was a rapid string of "blah blah blah".

I love the sound of beans poured into an espresso machine. I'm guessing that was a three-pound bag. I have no idea. I should start walking back to the theater. Did I mention the weather is gorgeous today? Okay, I'll put my pen down now.