going swimming

 This morning I'm heading to Davis to visit my friend Susan ~ leaving the fog for some warm weather and I know that you are admiring my swim cap, as well you should. I'm not taking my MsBook Air so we all get a day or two off. See you Monday morning with a glowing report, or so I hope.

Scottsdale - the review

outdoor eating and endless lattes

see you next year!

When I catch my breath I will make notes for next year. The top photo is
the garden at the otherwise rather funky Mexican restaurant where we
had tacos on Saturday night, the one across from Poisoned Pen. That's
a definite "go back to" spot. On Sunday night we had dinner at Tommy V's,
just like we did two years ago. Again, sitting outside, but we ordered
waaaaaaaaaay too much and we hate wasting food. The waitress said
they don't allow the homeless in Scottsdale, but they exist in other nearby
cities ~ that made swallowing even more difficult. Next year we split
the entree and maybe even a salad. I like having the blog as a reference
tool when I travel to places I've been before. Oh yes, the Sunday game.
We lost. GREAT seats in the shade right behind home plate, that and a
bag of kettle corn were among the highlights (and there were many).
And just for the record, sleeping in my very own bed was so truly
wonderful last night. I'm refreshed and ready for work. Sort of.

it's a wrap

blogger turns back on murky canal

trolley is free and fun (honest)

Sooooo nice to get home. Just walking out of the BART station at 24th and
Mission after being in Scottsdale, airplanes, airports ~ oh, our air is so
very wonderful. It was a fine trip, just long enough. We didn't sleep so
great last night, so I'm heading for a nap. I will write some more notes
tomorrow before work out at the LOH. I can do it, yes I can...

well, let's just see...

We are going to try to rent our home for five nights while we are away
in November. Let's just see how this works, it would be nice to earn a
little extra income and have someone who loves SF enjoy our space.
I'll let you know if anyone nibbles.

get us to the ocean!

Lunch in Tiburon

Sunrise from our back deck in Stinson

Lifeguard chairs for an unobstructed ocean view

The back deck

7am beach walk ~ glorious

I will include more Stinson photos later, but suffice it to say that this is an
adorable Cape Cod style cottage, big enough for the three of us with all the
confusing buttons and knobs that take the entire first day to figure out. No
TV (what?), but a comfy bed and great walking, large back deck and always
ocean just a few short blocks away. The ONE grocery store charges too
much for everything, the directions to the cottage were difficult, the drive
less than perfect; but now, day #2 and we three are very happy to be here.
Husbando is reading his chonny in the sun, Ginger is puttering in the kitchen
and I am recording our vacation. Today maybe a lunch trip to Bolinas and
then we must rest outdoors in the sunshine. Heaven...

home again & back to work

Vance Kirkland is a famous Colorado artist and Marcia loves his
work and all her life she has adored bright colors, so I think
this photo is very cool. There is a lot of his work in the new
DAM, along with many other local and exceedingly talented artists.

Last night husbando fixed a classic caprese salad featuring our
very own garden tomatoes. Finally. It's lovely to be home after
a fabulous vacation. Work today, what the?

game two - sniffffffffffff

And it all started in such a satisfying manner with Pat Burrell's
home run early on. It was a long game ending with the Braves
beating our Giants by one run. I'm groggy and cranky this
morning as a result. The next game is Sunday in Atlanta
and the blogmaid and I will pretend that we don't care. The
Braves (and that damn tomahawk) do v. well on their own
turf. The Giants on the other hand...

The rest of my day off was a delight with walking, ironing,
errand-running and planning our next getaway: Sea Ranch,
I think. Today, being Saturday, is a work day.

oh yes, I forgot to prep you...

Lunch in Salinas

Funky home in Pismo Beach

The sun sets on Pismo Beach

Sorry about that. We are at the $99 a night Edgewater Inn right here
on the beach at Pismo. Had a wonderful night's sleep and yes, we did
check the mattress and drapes for bed bugs before unpacking. It is
very clean and comfortable with a view of the ocean. We can walk
everywhere, which we needed after the drive.

What is better than an old beach town where the sandy sidewalks
lead to not-great-food-but-who-cares? Some funky cottages, some
gorgeous beach homes. The ocean is the star here, nothing else
really matters. I don't even mind the fog this morning, almost
like I'm getting used to it.

Michael has put his order in for a chocolate milkshake and I will
visit him this afternoon after checking into our ultra comfortable
home in Summerland. Eager to see Ginger, the dogs and the
platypus. Michael is back in hospital with his next-to-last chemo
treatment and he seems to be handling it much better this
go-round.

gone fishin'

Well, maybe for seafood. I'm packing up now and we'll leave in
an hour or so. Hope to post tonight, but you know how internet
connections go. Or don't.

Work had been really rough the past 4 days and I soooooooo
need this time off. I know, I know, I just got back from the
Whidbey Island vaca. Women need lots of days off...