Yes, the same 9 students as last week! I think Luigi helped me and
I felt a bit better this week and actually answered some questions
without waiting for la maestra to point to me. I did ask about internet
cafes and then we discussed (in English, thank God) those peculiar
Italian keyboards which Dancing Jen complained about when she
traveled there almost two years ago. Well, I'll just deal with it, and
no one will point out all my errors, I'm sure.
The rest of the day was all work and no play, except maybe a little
constructive work gossip now and then. I helped with two interviews
and for the first time in a long time we are maxed out on payroll,
meaning no more interviewing and subsequent paperwork for a
week or two. I've started working on reviews because I want to
get all 22 of them written and delivered before I leave for Italia.
No easy task.
But, hooray ~ I'm taking a personal day tomorrow, so I have three
off in a row and I can regain my equilibrium. We have writing group
Thursday night and I need to put fingers to this American keyboard
and come up with SOMETHING. It is late (for me).
Monday, March 05, 2007
Sunday, March 04, 2007
what is so rare as a sunday brunch?
I was able to leave the big box at noon today and we met our friends Steve and Marita here at Green's ~ you can see the Golden Gate Bridge in the far background. We haven't been here in years and I didn't think the food was as good as I remembered, but the place was packed and of course it is such a beautiful setting that this didn't matter too much to us.
Then we headed over to the Magic to see "Bot", one of the Hot House brand new plays, and I do want to mention the young man (Jonathan Rosen) who is a high school senior and one terrific actor. Today almost felt like a REAL Sunday to me and the city was quiet and strangely traffic-free. Weird.
Then we headed over to the Magic to see "Bot", one of the Hot House brand new plays, and I do want to mention the young man (Jonathan Rosen) who is a high school senior and one terrific actor. Today almost felt like a REAL Sunday to me and the city was quiet and strangely traffic-free. Weird.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
a quick recommendation
I have been leafing through this book by Francine Prose, in between my deep and marvelous moments with Luigi and Rick Steves. Here from page 23 of "Reading Like a Writer".
"Alice Munro writes with the simplicity and beauty of a Shaker box. Everything about her style is meant to attract no notice, to make you not pay attention. But if you read her work closely, every word challenges you to think of a more direct, less fussy or tarted-up way to say what she is saying."
Prose writes that we all start as slow readers, but now we tend to skim. She finds that if she copies an entire graph from a talented author, her own writing becomes more fluid. Something to think about on a Saturday morning. Now, to get ready for my other life...
"Alice Munro writes with the simplicity and beauty of a Shaker box. Everything about her style is meant to attract no notice, to make you not pay attention. But if you read her work closely, every word challenges you to think of a more direct, less fussy or tarted-up way to say what she is saying."
Prose writes that we all start as slow readers, but now we tend to skim. She finds that if she copies an entire graph from a talented author, her own writing becomes more fluid. Something to think about on a Saturday morning. Now, to get ready for my other life...
Friday, March 02, 2007
a sight tourists never see
The last time I was the closing manager at the big box, I witnessed this
wonderful scene. It was about midnight and the garbage men were
using the cable car tracks to send those big garbage cans sliding all
the way downhill on Powell Street, from Sutter to the truck waiting at Post.
"All right", I said a little too loudly. What a sight.
wonderful scene. It was about midnight and the garbage men were
using the cable car tracks to send those big garbage cans sliding all
the way downhill on Powell Street, from Sutter to the truck waiting at Post.
"All right", I said a little too loudly. What a sight.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
the house of the tragic poet
That's in Pompeii ~ I'll be there on April 12th. Our tour guide (Ginger of Summerland) called me last night, she's not one for the electronica posta, so I have a bunch of scribbled notes and will build myself a scratchy little itinerary to share with you all at a later date. I spent some more quality time with Luigi (sheesh, his enthusiasm wears me down!) today and then I had homework to do for class next Monday night. I need a 7 letter word for "where to find a town plan", second letter is "e". In Italian, needless to say. Now I discover that Linda is more than learned in this, my new 2nd language, I'll have to be extra careful here in this blog.
We had lunch at Westlake Joe's, then watched this movie pictured above. Not as good as the others, but amusing, sort of. Oh, and I bought the converter at Radio Shack, one less item to fuss about on my list.
We had lunch at Westlake Joe's, then watched this movie pictured above. Not as good as the others, but amusing, sort of. Oh, and I bought the converter at Radio Shack, one less item to fuss about on my list.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
sleeping with luigi
Yesterday I bought a CD and small phrase book (together!) for under $10.00 at the big box. My accent is not quite authentic and I'm guessing some will know that I am not Italian. Last night I listened to Luigi help me say, "are guide dogs allowed?" along with a few other useful phrases. I fell asleep before I could learn how to camp out in a tent or trailer, but then when I awoke at 4am from force of habit, I decided maybe I should spend a little more time with my new Italian friend. Same thing! Sound asleep when I should have been learning how to get some tokens for the shower at my campsite. Drat.
Meanwhile, in my country, I went to yoga this morning and then took a long nabe walk in the sunshine this afternoon. Came back to be with Luigi and this time I actually read the phrase book and pronounced a few words with him in my absolutely perfect Italian. "Accetta le carte di credito?" Hope so!
Meanwhile, in my country, I went to yoga this morning and then took a long nabe walk in the sunshine this afternoon. Came back to be with Luigi and this time I actually read the phrase book and pronounced a few words with him in my absolutely perfect Italian. "Accetta le carte di credito?" Hope so!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
his pilgrimage, my pilgrimage
I saved an article from the April 23, 1984 New Yorker entitled, "Resonance", by William Zinsser. Most of you who know me realize that I do not have an ear for music, so saving and photocopying this piece, giving it to friends who are going to Venice, and reading it again now, is indeed an oddity in my life. My music appreciation is mostly about words, although Husbando always has eclectic music playing a casa (mostly jazz, Latin, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf, classical), so when I listen, usually down in my office, my meager CD collection consists of Tom Waits, Joan Armatrading, Alison Krauss, Julie Fordham, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the Magnolia movie soundtrack and Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys.
This article (which I will give to TGP and Mr. Z) is really a travel piece ~ the author goes to Venice with Willie Ruff, a bassist and French-horn player. Here is why Ruff was traveling to Italy. "I'm going to Venice to play Gregorian chants on my French horn in St. Mark's cathedral at night when nobody else is there," he said. "I'll take my tape recorder along and make a tape of what I play."
St. Mark's inspired innovative composers from the 1500's when Venice was the center of the musical world. Why St. Mark's? What inspired them was the richness of the acoustics in the Basilica. Now, reading Rick Steve's Italy, I see that I won't be the only visitor here (another small American joke). Thankfully the cafes on the square take up a whole page in this travel book...I have an ear for cafes.
Isn't it peculiar what we save throughout the years?
This article (which I will give to TGP and Mr. Z) is really a travel piece ~ the author goes to Venice with Willie Ruff, a bassist and French-horn player. Here is why Ruff was traveling to Italy. "I'm going to Venice to play Gregorian chants on my French horn in St. Mark's cathedral at night when nobody else is there," he said. "I'll take my tape recorder along and make a tape of what I play."
St. Mark's inspired innovative composers from the 1500's when Venice was the center of the musical world. Why St. Mark's? What inspired them was the richness of the acoustics in the Basilica. Now, reading Rick Steve's Italy, I see that I won't be the only visitor here (another small American joke). Thankfully the cafes on the square take up a whole page in this travel book...I have an ear for cafes.
Isn't it peculiar what we save throughout the years?
Monday, February 26, 2007
scusi, errrr, ummm, un bagno?
Nine (nove) people in my Italian class tonight and of course now I realize that I should have been doing this months ago. It felt good to learn new and different words and phrases ~ I like our teacher (Cecilia, with all those tricky Italian chs) because she forces us to speak out loud all the time. She is from a small town near Venezia and has all sorts of little "inside Italy" tips to share with us. For instance, the language is changing and the natives are using more of the familiar (tu) and less of the formal (Lei), not that I will use either I'm afraid. The other students are all set to go to Italia within the next two (due) months too, one for a 6 (sei) week stay.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
oh what a night!
It was a long hard Saturday at work after not enough sleep, but I perked up once we arrived at The Marsh for this gem of a sold out show. We have long been fans of Geoff Hoyle, so it was a pleasure to watch his extremely talented son, Dan Hoyle in "Tings Dey Happen". Dan spent 10 months in oil rich Nigeria and here he recreates the people he met while he was studying there as a Fullbright scholar. Powerful stuff.
Then we zipped up to the party to spend a hilarious few hours with the writing group and some assorted partners. How special to have One Foot back in town and to see Ms. Q again. The food was beyond description, but suffice it to say that Chef P's dessert took up most of TGP's post this morning. We laughed at each other and ourselves ~ sort of like the writing group meetings, but with some memorable add-ons. I don't think I've laughed this much since the good old days when we'd have all day together up at Wally's retreat.
I was up later than usual, but that's OK. Got the big box open at 6am for the heavenly 3 hours of quiet before customers arrive. Always lots to do because Saturday ends our week and figures need to be filled in, emails sent, and preparations made for the new week. It's all good though and we're ready for the Oscar ceremony here in Bernal Heights, but I'll miss the ending, I'm afraid as I have another 6am open domani. Italian classe lunedi notte. Prego.
Then we zipped up to the party to spend a hilarious few hours with the writing group and some assorted partners. How special to have One Foot back in town and to see Ms. Q again. The food was beyond description, but suffice it to say that Chef P's dessert took up most of TGP's post this morning. We laughed at each other and ourselves ~ sort of like the writing group meetings, but with some memorable add-ons. I don't think I've laughed this much since the good old days when we'd have all day together up at Wally's retreat.
I was up later than usual, but that's OK. Got the big box open at 6am for the heavenly 3 hours of quiet before customers arrive. Always lots to do because Saturday ends our week and figures need to be filled in, emails sent, and preparations made for the new week. It's all good though and we're ready for the Oscar ceremony here in Bernal Heights, but I'll miss the ending, I'm afraid as I have another 6am open domani. Italian classe lunedi notte. Prego.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
busy saturday looms
I'll be lucky if I even have a chance to check emails anytime before bed, so I'll write now so as not to disappoint anyone. (That is a mild little joke.)
Yesterday was spent in a 5 hour long meeting with Bossman's Bossman and as a result I didn't get any of MY Monday work done, so I'm feeling work-related distress and didn't sleep well last night. It's so silly, really, but that's how I am.
We are going to the Marsh at 5pm to see "Tings Dey Happen" and then on to The Great Plotnik's for a dinner party with the writing group. And you thought we writers were not very social. Well, think again.
So now I'll build a sandwich, plunk in those carrots and enjoy that 1/2 grapefruit for breakfast. Blogless believes that fruit juice doesn't count in The Five, but she's wrong. Oh, and I'm buying some more Euro's today...only 6 weeks until the trip!
Yesterday was spent in a 5 hour long meeting with Bossman's Bossman and as a result I didn't get any of MY Monday work done, so I'm feeling work-related distress and didn't sleep well last night. It's so silly, really, but that's how I am.
We are going to the Marsh at 5pm to see "Tings Dey Happen" and then on to The Great Plotnik's for a dinner party with the writing group. And you thought we writers were not very social. Well, think again.
So now I'll build a sandwich, plunk in those carrots and enjoy that 1/2 grapefruit for breakfast. Blogless believes that fruit juice doesn't count in The Five, but she's wrong. Oh, and I'm buying some more Euro's today...only 6 weeks until the trip!
Friday, February 23, 2007
my exciting private life
(Here is yesterday's 10 minute write on CARROTS...)
One of the greatest inventions in the past 20 years. Small, already-washed
skinned baby carrots in plastic bags. We keep a bowl of them in water in our
refrigerator and I always grab a handful to put in with my sandwich that
I pack for work. The husbando nibbles on them throughout the day like
candy, but as attractive as they are, carrots have never been one of my
weaknesses. Nothing that's good for me has ever attracted me on a
daily basis.
I don't think these designer carrots have as much flavor as the original
version that called for peeling and scraped fingers. But to me that isn't
the point because I have to carefully plan and count my daily requirement
of the five required fruits and vegetables. I wish I cared more for fresh
veggies, but I don't. I grew up at a time when the people who lived in
California felt superior to the rest of the country because we always
had fresh produce available. But not me, I longed for See's Candy,
french fries and later, double malt scotch.
It's easiest if I load up on the fresh stuff in the morning hours, although
Chef Husbando always provides me with a dinner salad. So here is the
daily count, because I know you are so interested:
1) apple juice
2) 1/2 grapefruit
3) lime juice with hot water
4) carrots (w/ snow peas sometimes) for lunch
5) fruit juice with lunch (no more Cokes®!)
6) large dinner salad with bleu chees
One of the greatest inventions in the past 20 years. Small, already-washed
skinned baby carrots in plastic bags. We keep a bowl of them in water in our
refrigerator and I always grab a handful to put in with my sandwich that
I pack for work. The husbando nibbles on them throughout the day like
candy, but as attractive as they are, carrots have never been one of my
weaknesses. Nothing that's good for me has ever attracted me on a
daily basis.
I don't think these designer carrots have as much flavor as the original
version that called for peeling and scraped fingers. But to me that isn't
the point because I have to carefully plan and count my daily requirement
of the five required fruits and vegetables. I wish I cared more for fresh
veggies, but I don't. I grew up at a time when the people who lived in
California felt superior to the rest of the country because we always
had fresh produce available. But not me, I longed for See's Candy,
french fries and later, double malt scotch.
It's easiest if I load up on the fresh stuff in the morning hours, although
Chef Husbando always provides me with a dinner salad. So here is the
daily count, because I know you are so interested:
1) apple juice
2) 1/2 grapefruit
3) lime juice with hot water
4) carrots (w/ snow peas sometimes) for lunch
5) fruit juice with lunch (no more Cokes®!)
6) large dinner salad with bleu chees
ignore rare error below
Make that Daniel Craig in yesterday's movie. I was thrown off by his eyebrows during the entire film and I blame them entirely for any mistake I made afterward.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
did you say carrots?
The rain stopped and Mollie and I were able to walk through Sutro Park and on down past the Cliff House. The air was fabulous ~ as was the ocean. As always, we had much to discuss, as walking women usually do.
Lunch with Husbando at the India Clay Pot out on Clement ~ all-you-can-eat buffet with about 10 items in big copper pots.
Then this afternoon yet another movie about Truman Capote and the murders in Kansas. "Infamous" stars Toby Jones, Jeff Daniels, Sandra Bullock and Greg Daniels. It's pretty good, but not great.
In between I wrote my 10 minute Round Robin piece on (of all things) carrots and now I'm doing prep work for the work week that starts all too soon tomorrow. It was a fine weekend and I'm feeling refreshed, thank goodness.
Lunch with Husbando at the India Clay Pot out on Clement ~ all-you-can-eat buffet with about 10 items in big copper pots.
Then this afternoon yet another movie about Truman Capote and the murders in Kansas. "Infamous" stars Toby Jones, Jeff Daniels, Sandra Bullock and Greg Daniels. It's pretty good, but not great.
In between I wrote my 10 minute Round Robin piece on (of all things) carrots and now I'm doing prep work for the work week that starts all too soon tomorrow. It was a fine weekend and I'm feeling refreshed, thank goodness.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
happy lunch, sad movie
We had a perfectly delightful time with Mr/Ms Plotnik out on West Portal at Fresca Restaurant ~ eating too much and chatting up a storm. Then to visit Dancing Jen at her indie book shoppe and back home through St. Francis Woods. Many thanks to TGP and the Ducknik for picking up the check(nik). Our treat next time...
We had "Half Nelson" here from the Flix® and since I love to watch movies on a grey day, that's what we did. Very difficult movie. I guess like everyone of you, I have known too many people with too many addictions and this was excrutiatingly painful. But, my, such fine acting. These two just about broke my heart and I had to sit and think long and hard when the movie was over. Do I recommend it? I do indeed.
We had "Half Nelson" here from the Flix® and since I love to watch movies on a grey day, that's what we did. Very difficult movie. I guess like everyone of you, I have known too many people with too many addictions and this was excrutiatingly painful. But, my, such fine acting. These two just about broke my heart and I had to sit and think long and hard when the movie was over. Do I recommend it? I do indeed.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
the view from 52 floors up
I helped sell a few books tonight in the Carnelian Room at the Bank of America. It was actually in a small private room and even though we didn't sell a lot of books, it was such a magnificent setting and the speaker was so interesting, that it didn't really feel like work ~ except for dragging 3 cartons of heavy books to/fro a few blocks.
The speaker was Bart Ehrman and what I found most interesting was when he talked about the recent discovery of the Gospel of Judas. Faithful readers know that I'm a sort of lazy agnostic, but this man is a professor with a good delivery and vast knowledge. He has written "Misquoting Jesus" (recently released in trade paperback) and about 6 other books. He thinks Dan Brown should have done some research before writing "The
DaVinci Code", but appreciates the fact that more people are interested in religion from a historical point of view now because of that page turner.
Meanwhile, back at the big box, John Amaechi drew a sizable crowd and lots of media attention. Honestly, I was happy to miss all the frenzy. I did see the basketball star and yes, he is indeed gorgeous, and Bossman said he was very pleasant to everyone.
Two late nights in a row ~ not normal.
The speaker was Bart Ehrman and what I found most interesting was when he talked about the recent discovery of the Gospel of Judas. Faithful readers know that I'm a sort of lazy agnostic, but this man is a professor with a good delivery and vast knowledge. He has written "Misquoting Jesus" (recently released in trade paperback) and about 6 other books. He thinks Dan Brown should have done some research before writing "The
DaVinci Code", but appreciates the fact that more people are interested in religion from a historical point of view now because of that page turner.
Meanwhile, back at the big box, John Amaechi drew a sizable crowd and lots of media attention. Honestly, I was happy to miss all the frenzy. I did see the basketball star and yes, he is indeed gorgeous, and Bossman said he was very pleasant to everyone.
Two late nights in a row ~ not normal.
Monday, February 19, 2007
the heart of downtown
Each corner of Union Square now has a distinctive heart (they raise money for SF General Hospital with these) and of course this is my favorite by the talented Mr. Asmussen. I enjoy watching the tourists drape themselves all over these hearts, taking 15 photos each of the same exact pose. Then they walk over to Powell Street and snap yet another picture of a cable car. Then they walk into the big box and buy our local interest books and maps. With all this sunny weather maybe we'll make plan for Feb. ~ bonus time?
Sunday, February 18, 2007
aunt jemima, uncle ben & the nfl
After work today we drove down to Fort Mason to the Magic Theatre to see "Rust", a new play by Kirsten Greenidge. It could have used a bit more editing, but I'm glad we saw it because it is thought provoking and clever. Randall is a black football superstar haunted by memories of his mother as he comes to terms with his identity.
It was another warm and beautiful day and the entire world was out and about and parking was difficult down by the Bay. Good thing I had my mojo working....
It was another warm and beautiful day and the entire world was out and about and parking was difficult down by the Bay. Good thing I had my mojo working....
Saturday, February 17, 2007
nature red in tooth and claw
This is a daily write I did back in July of 2004. Even if I
cracked 47 eggs this afternoon I wouldn't find even one
creative thought. So I regurgitate...
A phrase has been running around and around in my head for about
four days. "Nature red in tooth and claw".
My step daughter-in-law emailed me about a baby robin that she had
been watching since it was in the egg. She was attached to the
whole process and gleeful when the little guy broke out of his shell.
Well, something must have taken him because he wasn't quite ready
to fly when he disappeared. The mother robin chirped and cried and
I think Kathy probably shed a tear or two also.
I wrote back to say that as bad as human beings are to each other
and to animals, nature in the raw is even more violent. I can't
bear to watch those programs where lions chase and capture
deer or other sweet innocent animals. Even though it is all part
of the process and as natural as can be for animals, it is very
distressing to watch. I prefer to hide and pretend that they all
get along in a nice campfire setting at night, sharing their coffee
and marshmallows.
Kathy then replied using the "nature red in tooth and claw" quote that
she attributes to Tennyson. I had never heard it before and for some
reason I really like it.
cracked 47 eggs this afternoon I wouldn't find even one
creative thought. So I regurgitate...
A phrase has been running around and around in my head for about
four days. "Nature red in tooth and claw".
My step daughter-in-law emailed me about a baby robin that she had
been watching since it was in the egg. She was attached to the
whole process and gleeful when the little guy broke out of his shell.
Well, something must have taken him because he wasn't quite ready
to fly when he disappeared. The mother robin chirped and cried and
I think Kathy probably shed a tear or two also.
I wrote back to say that as bad as human beings are to each other
and to animals, nature in the raw is even more violent. I can't
bear to watch those programs where lions chase and capture
deer or other sweet innocent animals. Even though it is all part
of the process and as natural as can be for animals, it is very
distressing to watch. I prefer to hide and pretend that they all
get along in a nice campfire setting at night, sharing their coffee
and marshmallows.
Kathy then replied using the "nature red in tooth and claw" quote that
she attributes to Tennyson. I had never heard it before and for some
reason I really like it.
Friday, February 16, 2007
a belated valentine dinner
Husbando met me after work and we walked up to Bush Street for dinner at Sam's Grill. Good old SF restaurant with just about the best sour dough bread in the world. The salmon was delicious, the waiters did not refer to us as "you guys" and there was no perky background music whatsoever. We are rarely downtwon on a Friday night and man, it was jumping. Of course, it was about 80º out and folks were feeling frisky.
The big box mortar store is getting a little crazy because John Amaechi (the gay basketball guy) is going to sign his books here next Tuesday night and there is a lot of interest, if I may understate here for a minute. Fortunately I am booked (hahaha) at another event at the B of A, so I won't be part of the chaos.
The big box mortar store is getting a little crazy because John Amaechi (the gay basketball guy) is going to sign his books here next Tuesday night and there is a lot of interest, if I may understate here for a minute. Fortunately I am booked (hahaha) at another event at the B of A, so I won't be part of the chaos.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
plum perfect
This is what we see when we open the shutters in our bedroom. Like life, this blossom season is so short that we seem to appreciate it more every year. When the next rain hits, the trees will be bare. San Francisco is exploding currently with white and pink blossoms and today it is probably 70º (at least). The air is clear and sweet. Seems like almost everyone is smiling knowing what the 6 o'clock news will bring tonight with more photos of snow plows and incredible bad weather in the Midwest and East.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
two wongs and all is right
Today was the dreaded "floss more or else" visit to Right
Wing Wong, my nagging dentist. And guess what? No
cavities and the gums are looking better. Way better.
There might be something to that flossing and extended
brushing business after all. God, I am a slow learner.
Then this afternoon to Dr. Kyra Wong out on Taravel. The
big box does offer excellent eye insurance and I could have
splurged on another pair of $600 glasses for $30, but for
the first time in years, "no change" in the eyesight, so I
had the thorough yearly exam and an encouraging chat with
the good doctor. I'm about to email my friend Mary in Arizona,
to tell her that I believe her advice from last year was spot
on. I've been taking Lutein every day for a year and Dr. Wong2
mentioned it herself as an excellent vitamin for the eyes. Of
course I believe this is why my vision hasn't diminished this year.
Husbando and I are great fans of René Augesen who has the
leading (difficult) role in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler at ACT. It is
not a comfortable play by any means, but worth seeing. I was
exhausted after The Audit (bleahhhhhh) and the late Monday
closing, but stayed awake through more of the play, so that tells
us a lot right there. Worth seeing? Yes indeed. The Great Plotnik
will give us all a much better review tomorrow!
Wing Wong, my nagging dentist. And guess what? No
cavities and the gums are looking better. Way better.
There might be something to that flossing and extended
brushing business after all. God, I am a slow learner.
Then this afternoon to Dr. Kyra Wong out on Taravel. The
big box does offer excellent eye insurance and I could have
splurged on another pair of $600 glasses for $30, but for
the first time in years, "no change" in the eyesight, so I
had the thorough yearly exam and an encouraging chat with
the good doctor. I'm about to email my friend Mary in Arizona,
to tell her that I believe her advice from last year was spot
on. I've been taking Lutein every day for a year and Dr. Wong2
mentioned it herself as an excellent vitamin for the eyes. Of
course I believe this is why my vision hasn't diminished this year.
Husbando and I are great fans of René Augesen who has the
leading (difficult) role in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler at ACT. It is
not a comfortable play by any means, but worth seeing. I was
exhausted after The Audit (bleahhhhhh) and the late Monday
closing, but stayed awake through more of the play, so that tells
us a lot right there. Worth seeing? Yes indeed. The Great Plotnik
will give us all a much better review tomorrow!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
back to the present with a yawn
Smooth closing last night at the big box, but I didn't get
to sleep until about 1 am last night. Then today I work with
another manager from the Westfield Center store on the
most tedious of all of my odious tasks, The Audit. We
have an off-putting 3 page list of detailed questions about
things such as double signatures on triple forms, bank deposits
made before noon, security tags on books and DVDs (only
the shop lifters are able to remove these) and whether
all the employee files are up to date and in order. Right.
I remember both times I was trained on The Audit business
and I went to sleep both times ~ once I was standing up.
Then tonight is ACT, so it will be a long day. However I do
see some blue skies over Bernal Hill and that warms my
mean little auditor heart.
to sleep until about 1 am last night. Then today I work with
another manager from the Westfield Center store on the
most tedious of all of my odious tasks, The Audit. We
have an off-putting 3 page list of detailed questions about
things such as double signatures on triple forms, bank deposits
made before noon, security tags on books and DVDs (only
the shop lifters are able to remove these) and whether
all the employee files are up to date and in order. Right.
I remember both times I was trained on The Audit business
and I went to sleep both times ~ once I was standing up.
Then tonight is ACT, so it will be a long day. However I do
see some blue skies over Bernal Hill and that warms my
mean little auditor heart.
Monday, February 12, 2007
let's wrap up NYC.05
Here, for now, is my final NYC piece from 2005. It was
another Round Robin daily write after we returned. I
wrote more, back then, but the rewrite process would not
be to my liking this morning. Tonight I get to close the
store and I want to use my morning for home tasks like
de-cluttering and puttering.
New York isn't as mean as it used to be. In a way that's sort of
sad because we used to come back from a trip there feeling
so lucky to live in a more refined place. This time when we
came home across the Bay Bridge, all I could say to Husbando
was, "my, God, what a small city".
The natives are kinder, friendlier than they were before Sept. 11th
knocked us all out of commission. If we were hurt out here, they were
crushed and smashed back there and everyone knew someone
who was killed in the Twin Towers. I was surprised at the visible
number of police everywhere and when we went to see Grand
Central Station we were amazed to see so many soldiers with
guns ready and eyes surveying every inch of that magnificent space.
Not once was I afraid and our little neighborhood on the West Side
felt safe and secure. A few more days there and we'd be chatting with
the neighbors, for heaven's sake. People were friendly with
directions and free with advice. The waiters all treated us well
and didn't force food on us the way they used to. When we walked
under The Gates strangers offered to take our photo and
not for a moment did we think that maybe they were going to steal
our camera. The car honking has died down too, not completely,
of course. There are signs at the intersections that say, "only honk
in an emergency", and in New York there are always emergencies.
No longer do people smoke in restaurants and everyone picks up
after his or her dog. It's getting Veddy California there in the Big
Apple. It still has that wonderful electricity, however, and people
are walking with an air of excitement that can only be found in
Manhattan.
(I removed the final line before my writing friends even had a
chance to say "get rid of that!". So there.)
another Round Robin daily write after we returned. I
wrote more, back then, but the rewrite process would not
be to my liking this morning. Tonight I get to close the
store and I want to use my morning for home tasks like
de-cluttering and puttering.
New York isn't as mean as it used to be. In a way that's sort of
sad because we used to come back from a trip there feeling
so lucky to live in a more refined place. This time when we
came home across the Bay Bridge, all I could say to Husbando
was, "my, God, what a small city".
The natives are kinder, friendlier than they were before Sept. 11th
knocked us all out of commission. If we were hurt out here, they were
crushed and smashed back there and everyone knew someone
who was killed in the Twin Towers. I was surprised at the visible
number of police everywhere and when we went to see Grand
Central Station we were amazed to see so many soldiers with
guns ready and eyes surveying every inch of that magnificent space.
Not once was I afraid and our little neighborhood on the West Side
felt safe and secure. A few more days there and we'd be chatting with
the neighbors, for heaven's sake. People were friendly with
directions and free with advice. The waiters all treated us well
and didn't force food on us the way they used to. When we walked
under The Gates strangers offered to take our photo and
not for a moment did we think that maybe they were going to steal
our camera. The car honking has died down too, not completely,
of course. There are signs at the intersections that say, "only honk
in an emergency", and in New York there are always emergencies.
No longer do people smoke in restaurants and everyone picks up
after his or her dog. It's getting Veddy California there in the Big
Apple. It still has that wonderful electricity, however, and people
are walking with an air of excitement that can only be found in
Manhattan.
(I removed the final line before my writing friends even had a
chance to say "get rid of that!". So there.)
Sunday, February 11, 2007
the ellis island notes
(gees, you make this so easy ~ here are more scribblings from my travel diary of 02/05)
It's misleading when I look at the photos from ten days ago when we took
that boat out to Ellis Island. The sky is bright blue with only a few
wisps of clouds and the sun is shining on the beautiful New York
skyline in the background. But it was cold, the wind whipped through us
as we stood in line for more than an hour waiting to get on the ferry
boat for the quick trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
We didn't disembark at the Statue this trip because we were there just
to see Ellis Island. It was redone back in the 80's, but somehow we
hadn't gotten there before. It didn't look imposing when we went inside,
but there was a solemn feel the moment we walked in the door.
There were three floors and it was massive with lots of open
space and rooms on the sides filled with photos and mementos.
I loved looking at the B&W photos of the immigrants and the belongings
that people donated to the museum. The courage. Young women in
their early twenties with two and three children and old beyond their
years. Weighed down with layers of clothing and responsibility. How
incredibly difficult it must have been to leave their friends and families,
how frightening not to speak the language or know how to buy and
prepare food.
But look, these people are all smiling. They are excited and hopeful.
And these photos were taken after the humiliation of the long lines
of the immigration process on Ellis Island. The body searches, the
forms, the shortening of names because the bureaucrats didn't know
or care enough to get the last name correct. Often their luggage was
pilfered while they lined up and waited for their piece of the American
pie. They were indeed tired and poor, but they had the promise of
freedom and we in turn received the bravest of the brave.
It's misleading when I look at the photos from ten days ago when we took
that boat out to Ellis Island. The sky is bright blue with only a few
wisps of clouds and the sun is shining on the beautiful New York
skyline in the background. But it was cold, the wind whipped through us
as we stood in line for more than an hour waiting to get on the ferry
boat for the quick trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
We didn't disembark at the Statue this trip because we were there just
to see Ellis Island. It was redone back in the 80's, but somehow we
hadn't gotten there before. It didn't look imposing when we went inside,
but there was a solemn feel the moment we walked in the door.
There were three floors and it was massive with lots of open
space and rooms on the sides filled with photos and mementos.
I loved looking at the B&W photos of the immigrants and the belongings
that people donated to the museum. The courage. Young women in
their early twenties with two and three children and old beyond their
years. Weighed down with layers of clothing and responsibility. How
incredibly difficult it must have been to leave their friends and families,
how frightening not to speak the language or know how to buy and
prepare food.
But look, these people are all smiling. They are excited and hopeful.
And these photos were taken after the humiliation of the long lines
of the immigration process on Ellis Island. The body searches, the
forms, the shortening of names because the bureaucrats didn't know
or care enough to get the last name correct. Often their luggage was
pilfered while they lined up and waited for their piece of the American
pie. They were indeed tired and poor, but they had the promise of
freedom and we in turn received the bravest of the brave.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
only two years ago?
(This is from a Round Robin 10 minute write about 2 years ago. What a trip!)
It was pouring rain last night when the Super Shuttle let us out at 87th
and Central Park West. We saw our first "Gate" after wiping off
the window for the 100th time on the long, steamy ride from JFK airport.
"Look!" I said to my husband, "oh, they didn't roll them up the way
I was afraid they would in the rain".
We thought our niece's apartment was on the corner of Central Park W,
and we couldn't wait to get out of that over-heated shuttle, but we
were wrong. She actually lives at the corner of Columbus and
W. 87th, so we dragged all our luggage along the broken pavement,
past all the movie-set brownstones for another block. Despite
the rain, it was wonderful to be out of enclosed spaces where the
entire world is sneezing and eager to pass on new germs to us.
After finding the apartment, Husbando read me the set of instructions on
locks and keys while I cursed and fumbled - still in the rain, no
free hands for an umbrella, of course. And where was that damn
thing packed anyway?
Our heavy winter coats were completely soaked as we finally
entered Jill's basement apartment. It was small, HOT and messy and
totally, absolutely perfect for our week in NYC. We are living out
of suitcases and longing for our first NY bagel this morning.
We are here to see Christo's Gates in Central Park and just to
enjoy ourselves in this world's greatest city.
Last night we walked on Columbus and marveled at so many
people being out in the rain as late as 10pm. Stopping for soup and
a salad, we decided that folks need to leave their tiny living spaces
and join the human race and get a break from their relentless
central heating. God, I so love this city.
It was pouring rain last night when the Super Shuttle let us out at 87th
and Central Park West. We saw our first "Gate" after wiping off
the window for the 100th time on the long, steamy ride from JFK airport.
"Look!" I said to my husband, "oh, they didn't roll them up the way
I was afraid they would in the rain".
We thought our niece's apartment was on the corner of Central Park W,
and we couldn't wait to get out of that over-heated shuttle, but we
were wrong. She actually lives at the corner of Columbus and
W. 87th, so we dragged all our luggage along the broken pavement,
past all the movie-set brownstones for another block. Despite
the rain, it was wonderful to be out of enclosed spaces where the
entire world is sneezing and eager to pass on new germs to us.
After finding the apartment, Husbando read me the set of instructions on
locks and keys while I cursed and fumbled - still in the rain, no
free hands for an umbrella, of course. And where was that damn
thing packed anyway?
Our heavy winter coats were completely soaked as we finally
entered Jill's basement apartment. It was small, HOT and messy and
totally, absolutely perfect for our week in NYC. We are living out
of suitcases and longing for our first NY bagel this morning.
We are here to see Christo's Gates in Central Park and just to
enjoy ourselves in this world's greatest city.
Last night we walked on Columbus and marveled at so many
people being out in the rain as late as 10pm. Stopping for soup and
a salad, we decided that folks need to leave their tiny living spaces
and join the human race and get a break from their relentless
central heating. God, I so love this city.
Friday, February 09, 2007
nine times out of ten, count 'em
Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about
originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply
try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often
it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten,
become original without ever having noticed it.
C. S. Lewis (1898 - 1963)
Sometimes when I can't think of one little item to put
in this blog, I go mucking around and find a quote that
means something to me. Our best writing is the
difficult from-the-heart as honest as we can possibly
be stuff, and that's what the reader wants too ~ it
doesn't even have to be original. Isn't that a relief?
originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply
try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often
it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten,
become original without ever having noticed it.
C. S. Lewis (1898 - 1963)
Sometimes when I can't think of one little item to put
in this blog, I go mucking around and find a quote that
means something to me. Our best writing is the
difficult from-the-heart as honest as we can possibly
be stuff, and that's what the reader wants too ~ it
doesn't even have to be original. Isn't that a relief?
Thursday, February 08, 2007
mind the green onions
Last night's pasta was exquisite, but next time (like tonight) Husbando won't put in so many green onions. The key to the whole thing was the beyond belief cottage cheese. Well worth the $8. He
used the bow tie noodle, by the way.
After dinner we watched this artie Danish film "Soap" .Charlotte and Veronica are two lost souls who fall in love. Veronica is a gorgeous transexual (dark) and Charlotte a woman (blonde) who likes to bare her breasts a lot in public and private. I think I liked the movie (from Flix®) better than Husbando did, so it's time I rent a nice action or war movie for him. He did not object to the nudity, I noticed, just to all the emotional girl movie stuff...which I enjoyed thoroughly.
I had a nice long ocean walk with Mollie this morning, before the rains really hit. Now I need to write for tonight's group. OK, okay.
used the bow tie noodle, by the way.
After dinner we watched this artie Danish film "Soap" .Charlotte and Veronica are two lost souls who fall in love. Veronica is a gorgeous transexual (dark) and Charlotte a woman (blonde) who likes to bare her breasts a lot in public and private. I think I liked the movie (from Flix®) better than Husbando did, so it's time I rent a nice action or war movie for him. He did not object to the nudity, I noticed, just to all the emotional girl movie stuff...which I enjoyed thoroughly.
I had a nice long ocean walk with Mollie this morning, before the rains really hit. Now I need to write for tonight's group. OK, okay.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
marlena offers comfort
Marlena Spieler is one of our favorite food writers in the
Chronny and last week she wrote about this dish that we
will have for dinner tonight. Husbando made a special trip
to the Cowgirl (shouldn't that be Cow woman?) Creamery
at the Farmer's Market on the Embarcadero and spent
$8.00 for one pound of about the best damn cottage
cheese you would ever want to taste. I don't do the grocery
shopping (drat), but he who does says that at Trader Joe's
the cottage cheese is $2.59 for two pounds. (Get out
your calculators...)
Anyway, one time Marlena wrote about her feet killing her
in Europe and her sweet husband wore her heels while she
wore his big comfy guy shoes. I like that story.
Husbando says, "this is an offshoot of a Jewish dish".
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Marlena's Pasta with Cottage Cheese
Serves 4
This is my ultimate comfort food.
INGREDIENTS:
12 ounces to 1 pound pasta (choose flat or twisty noodles,
hollow penne or ditalini, elbow macaroni or shell shapes)
2 to 3 tablespoons butter or extra virgin olive oil
3 to 4 green onions and/or 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
Coarse grains of salt
Coarsely ground pepper
1 pound cottage cheese
INSTRUCTIONS:
Instructions: Cook pasta in lots of rapidly boiling salted water
until al dente. Drain and toss with the butter or olive oil
until well coated.
Toss with the green onion and/or garlic, then add your
seasonings. Serve the hot pasta with dollops of cool fresh
cottage cheese.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The rain has finally arrived and there is a robust fire in our
world's smallest fireplace. Life is good, very good. I'll
report on the pasta tomorrow. You're welcome.
Chronny and last week she wrote about this dish that we
will have for dinner tonight. Husbando made a special trip
to the Cowgirl (shouldn't that be Cow woman?) Creamery
at the Farmer's Market on the Embarcadero and spent
$8.00 for one pound of about the best damn cottage
cheese you would ever want to taste. I don't do the grocery
shopping (drat), but he who does says that at Trader Joe's
the cottage cheese is $2.59 for two pounds. (Get out
your calculators...)
Anyway, one time Marlena wrote about her feet killing her
in Europe and her sweet husband wore her heels while she
wore his big comfy guy shoes. I like that story.
Husbando says, "this is an offshoot of a Jewish dish".
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Marlena's Pasta with Cottage Cheese
Serves 4
This is my ultimate comfort food.
INGREDIENTS:
12 ounces to 1 pound pasta (choose flat or twisty noodles,
hollow penne or ditalini, elbow macaroni or shell shapes)
2 to 3 tablespoons butter or extra virgin olive oil
3 to 4 green onions and/or 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
Coarse grains of salt
Coarsely ground pepper
1 pound cottage cheese
INSTRUCTIONS:
Instructions: Cook pasta in lots of rapidly boiling salted water
until al dente. Drain and toss with the butter or olive oil
until well coated.
Toss with the green onion and/or garlic, then add your
seasonings. Serve the hot pasta with dollops of cool fresh
cottage cheese.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The rain has finally arrived and there is a robust fire in our
world's smallest fireplace. Life is good, very good. I'll
report on the pasta tomorrow. You're welcome.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
that friday feeling
My weekend starts tomorrow and of course the oft-delayed
great rains will be here as well. That's OK. Our friend Mollie
is in town from Portland and we had scheduled our first
Ocean Beach walk for Thursday morning, but that might
turn into coffee and chatter instead.
The fabulous Salon Mistressnik The Writing Salon invited
me to join her Round Robin class for three days as a
substitute. I miss taking this class which forces me to write
every single day, but I didn't think I could handle that and
the Italian classes too. I'm not surprised to see that see has
an extremely long list of writers this session ~ once you take
the course, you would see why. I worry about her having to
read all those 10 minute essays each and every damn day.
And organize them for regurgitation at the end of the week.
Yikes and argh.
Eric Maisel also teaches writing via email. He offers one for
travelers that I probably should have taken at some point.
I plan to write a lot during and after my trip, but I'm a little
worried that I will concentrate too much on finding a
computer (not to mention searching for the correct word)
and will miss some to the richness of this experience. Yet
we all know that writing makes every trip at least 10 times
more interesting. Well, maybe 5.
great rains will be here as well. That's OK. Our friend Mollie
is in town from Portland and we had scheduled our first
Ocean Beach walk for Thursday morning, but that might
turn into coffee and chatter instead.
The fabulous Salon Mistressnik The Writing Salon invited
me to join her Round Robin class for three days as a
substitute. I miss taking this class which forces me to write
every single day, but I didn't think I could handle that and
the Italian classes too. I'm not surprised to see that see has
an extremely long list of writers this session ~ once you take
the course, you would see why. I worry about her having to
read all those 10 minute essays each and every damn day.
And organize them for regurgitation at the end of the week.
Yikes and argh.
Eric Maisel also teaches writing via email. He offers one for
travelers that I probably should have taken at some point.
I plan to write a lot during and after my trip, but I'm a little
worried that I will concentrate too much on finding a
computer (not to mention searching for the correct word)
and will miss some to the richness of this experience. Yet
we all know that writing makes every trip at least 10 times
more interesting. Well, maybe 5.
Monday, February 05, 2007
san francisco values
Where else in America would you find thousands of people gathered to watch a huge ship come under a bridge? On Super Bowl Sunday, no less? Pardon me if I'm feeling a little smug, but don't you just love it? There are tons of fabulous ship and GG Bridge photos (see The Great Plotnik's blog, for one), but I borrowed (ahem) this one because it illustrates our amazing citizens.
And yes, we did see Queen Mary 2 because we were down at Fort Mason to see "Pain and Pleasure" at the Magic Theatre. I liked it, Husbando didn't. It was the merciful one act play and we were out of there by 4pm, just in time to see the show. I didn't have my camera, but Flickr® works just fine, if you want to do a search. Anyway, when QM2 was only 27 ft. under the bridge! Amazing. And the beauty of the sailboats, fire boats spraying water, tourist boats there to welcome her was indeed a sight that I'll never forget. Yesterday was another one of those, "my god, how lucky I am to live here!" kind of days.
And yes, we did see Queen Mary 2 because we were down at Fort Mason to see "Pain and Pleasure" at the Magic Theatre. I liked it, Husbando didn't. It was the merciful one act play and we were out of there by 4pm, just in time to see the show. I didn't have my camera, but Flickr® works just fine, if you want to do a search. Anyway, when QM2 was only 27 ft. under the bridge! Amazing. And the beauty of the sailboats, fire boats spraying water, tourist boats there to welcome her was indeed a sight that I'll never forget. Yesterday was another one of those, "my god, how lucky I am to live here!" kind of days.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
speaking of creativity
Last night we watched "Sketches of Frank Gehry" from the Flix® ~ it's terrific if you like his work, which we do. I'd like to see that Disney Concert Hall down in L.A. and of course maybe even one day to the museum in Bilbao, Spain.
Of course I enjoyed hearing that he is terrified when he sees the finished product for the first time. And I liked seeing how he works, with lots of space and talented people to exchange ideas with. Inspiring stuff.
Of course I enjoyed hearing that he is terrified when he sees the finished product for the first time. And I liked seeing how he works, with lots of space and talented people to exchange ideas with. Inspiring stuff.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
a genuine nice guy
Last Sunday morning Brian Copeland was in our big box chain book store and we had a delightful chat. I told him how much Husbando and I loved his long-running play "Not a Genuine Black Man" and I even admitted that I welled up at one point. If you've seen the play, you'll know where that happens. He asked if he could sign his book (same name as the play) and of course I said yes and then I invited him to a book signing. Here I go again. I can't help myself, but I just think he is so wonderful and I bet it will be a huge success. Maybe this time I won't feel so 100% responsible for the success of the event. Maybe.
Tuesday,
March 20
7pm
4th floor
Meet Brian Copeland at Borders Union Square
I have about 6 or so weeks to get really nervous.
Tuesday,
March 20
7pm
4th floor
Meet Brian Copeland at Borders Union Square
I have about 6 or so weeks to get really nervous.
Friday, February 02, 2007
how are those 900 pages?
I am returning Sacred Games to the big box chain store
because it's very bloody violent (chopping and slicing of
assorted body parts is just not appealing) and I finally got
around to reading the review in the Jan. 15th New Yorker.
Seems the novel "owes much to Bollywood films" and I
have never been a great fan of those. Perhaps if I were
sitting on the beach in the Canary Islands for two weeks
with nothing to do, I'd give Mr. Chandra a better chance.
So I'm going to finish Pompeii by Harris and also Berendt's
The City of Falling Angels before the trip. This book is
all about Venice, especially the opera house that was only
recently reopened after that terrible fire. I try to read a
graph in Rick Steve's Italy travel book every night. For
instance I did just learn that Italy is 9 hours ahead of us
here on the West Coast. Also that artichokes (carciofe)
are in season and plentiful in April. Yeah!
Gotta run to squeeze a lime and pack a lunch.
because it's very bloody violent (chopping and slicing of
assorted body parts is just not appealing) and I finally got
around to reading the review in the Jan. 15th New Yorker.
Seems the novel "owes much to Bollywood films" and I
have never been a great fan of those. Perhaps if I were
sitting on the beach in the Canary Islands for two weeks
with nothing to do, I'd give Mr. Chandra a better chance.
So I'm going to finish Pompeii by Harris and also Berendt's
The City of Falling Angels before the trip. This book is
all about Venice, especially the opera house that was only
recently reopened after that terrible fire. I try to read a
graph in Rick Steve's Italy travel book every night. For
instance I did just learn that Italy is 9 hours ahead of us
here on the West Coast. Also that artichokes (carciofe)
are in season and plentiful in April. Yeah!
Gotta run to squeeze a lime and pack a lunch.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
let the lime hug my liver every day
a cut and paste from Ms. Beetnik's Breast Cancer Adverture blog:
Health Tip #2: Limes
Every time I go to see Efrem Korngold at Chinese Medicine Works, he works on my liver because my liver, which is an incredibly important organ, is weak. Like the majority of other Americans, I've led a life of excess...too many unhealthy, over-processed foods that have had all the nutrients sucked or bleached out of them, too much work and not enough play, too much worrying about money money money... all of which overtaxed me and my poor liver.
What happens when your liver isn't working optimally? Well, its job is to rid your body of numerous nasty toxins. If that doesn't happen, you end up f....cking yourself over in oh so many ways. For example, I need my liver to get rid of excess estrogens in my body - not all my estrogen, but the EXCESS estrogen. If my liver doesn't do that, I can end up with estrogen dominance, which can, for some women, be a contributing cause of breast cancer (or breast cancer recurrence).
There are many ways to work on strengthening your liver. Efrem does acupuncture focused on just that. He also gives me herbal concoctions.
But if you don't want to do acupuncture or get the herbs, here are two simple tips for strengthening your liver: 1) Drink a cup of hot water with the juice of one lime in it every day (or as often as you want), and 2) Add 1/2 to 1 tsp. a day of lecithin granules to your diet.
Efrem said that the lime drink is like "giving your liver a big hug." My lips puckered big time, the first time I tried it. Now I'm used to it, though. In fact, I like it.
Health Tip #2: Limes
Every time I go to see Efrem Korngold at Chinese Medicine Works, he works on my liver because my liver, which is an incredibly important organ, is weak. Like the majority of other Americans, I've led a life of excess...too many unhealthy, over-processed foods that have had all the nutrients sucked or bleached out of them, too much work and not enough play, too much worrying about money money money... all of which overtaxed me and my poor liver.
What happens when your liver isn't working optimally? Well, its job is to rid your body of numerous nasty toxins. If that doesn't happen, you end up f....cking yourself over in oh so many ways. For example, I need my liver to get rid of excess estrogens in my body - not all my estrogen, but the EXCESS estrogen. If my liver doesn't do that, I can end up with estrogen dominance, which can, for some women, be a contributing cause of breast cancer (or breast cancer recurrence).
There are many ways to work on strengthening your liver. Efrem does acupuncture focused on just that. He also gives me herbal concoctions.
But if you don't want to do acupuncture or get the herbs, here are two simple tips for strengthening your liver: 1) Drink a cup of hot water with the juice of one lime in it every day (or as often as you want), and 2) Add 1/2 to 1 tsp. a day of lecithin granules to your diet.
Efrem said that the lime drink is like "giving your liver a big hug." My lips puckered big time, the first time I tried it. Now I'm used to it, though. In fact, I like it.
molly, you served us well...
I've clipped and emailed hundreds of columns by Molly Ivins
over the years and now she's gone. That feisty, funny
spokeswoman for the "little guy" who could see through all
the political bullshit in Texas and Washington D.C. We know
it wasn't an easy death, breast cancer just isn't. Thank
you, Molly, for devoting your life to us. Today I'll read all
the tributes and I already like learning that she used the
many awards she had won over the years as trivets on
her dining room table when she hosted parties.
Which leads me to the sell this morning. My friend Loren is
walking the walk, so today I will talk the talk. The thermometer
is up and we need to help raise $1800 so she can qualify for
the "Avon Walk for Breast Cancer:" again. Go ahead, it's an
easy way to feel good this morning, and Loren's walk last
year inspired us all. We'll do this for Molly and the thousands
of other women who have died too soon from this horrid disease.
One of the best blogs around is My Great Breast Cancer
Adventure by my teacher and special friend, Jane. She has
devoted a lot of time doing research and keeping her body
strong through diet and exercise. She has replaced ice cold
vodka shots with beet juice over assorted dried and soaked
nuts and even I have started her lime-a-day with hot water
routine. This morning I will toast her and Molly and Loren
Lenore's Diary and I promise to continue to harangue you
readers for money for the thermometer and walk.
over the years and now she's gone. That feisty, funny
spokeswoman for the "little guy" who could see through all
the political bullshit in Texas and Washington D.C. We know
it wasn't an easy death, breast cancer just isn't. Thank
you, Molly, for devoting your life to us. Today I'll read all
the tributes and I already like learning that she used the
many awards she had won over the years as trivets on
her dining room table when she hosted parties.
Which leads me to the sell this morning. My friend Loren is
walking the walk, so today I will talk the talk. The thermometer
is up and we need to help raise $1800 so she can qualify for
the "Avon Walk for Breast Cancer:" again. Go ahead, it's an
easy way to feel good this morning, and Loren's walk last
year inspired us all. We'll do this for Molly and the thousands
of other women who have died too soon from this horrid disease.
One of the best blogs around is My Great Breast Cancer
Adventure by my teacher and special friend, Jane. She has
devoted a lot of time doing research and keeping her body
strong through diet and exercise. She has replaced ice cold
vodka shots with beet juice over assorted dried and soaked
nuts and even I have started her lime-a-day with hot water
routine. This morning I will toast her and Molly and Loren
Lenore's Diary and I promise to continue to harangue you
readers for money for the thermometer and walk.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
the mysterious creative process
Last night was an intimate yet successful gathering for Eric Maisel and I came away with three important concepts that I can immediately apply to my writing life:
1) to get unblocked and to start thinking creatively, break an egg. I did that this morning even before my first cup of coffee and although there must be all sorts of symbolism to this act, what I found was that I kept picturing that gooey egg as I worked on my rewrite project.
2) write first thing in the morning ~ I usually do, but I read and answer emails and sometimes I think that my friends get my best work, which is OK if I have unlimited time, which I don't.
3) fall in love AGAIN with whatever I'm working on. Something inspired me originally and I need to reconnect with that. This helps overcome all that negative self-chatter (I'm too tired, I have no talent, I'm not really a writer, I hate rewriting, etc.) and that also seemed to work for me this morning.
And now I need to send the piece out. 538 words that I'm relatively satisfied with, thanks fo my writing group and Eric.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
sunny morning at the sundance
Yes, I recommend the Sundance coffee shoppe ~ I sat outside in the sun here yesterday and read a short story entitled "Bear Meat" by Primo Levi (Italian, you know). This was stunningly beautiful in its simplicity and I started having DEEP THOUGHTS about things that make us stronger in life and I feel an essay bubbling somewhere inside my itty bitty brain. When I write it, my dear writing group friends will say, "more details", "expand this thought", "give us some examples" and "get rid of this last line or paragraph..."
Closing the store was a snap and I didn't hiss or fume once. Tonight is the Eric Maisel event at 7pm.
Back to the Sundance ~ note water dish for Livvy B. and I was impressed with the friendly baristas but because I am a business woman, I worried that their payroll was too high for the amount of customers on a quiet Monday morning. Plus, the place lacks Writing Salon publicity items which I trust will not be the case next time I visit.
Closing the store was a snap and I didn't hiss or fume once. Tonight is the Eric Maisel event at 7pm.
Back to the Sundance ~ note water dish for Livvy B. and I was impressed with the friendly baristas but because I am a business woman, I worried that their payroll was too high for the amount of customers on a quiet Monday morning. Plus, the place lacks Writing Salon publicity items which I trust will not be the case next time I visit.
Monday, January 29, 2007
may I be the first? and the last?
to correct this morning's headline ~ make that:
SLEIGHT OF HAND
...I was testing you. You failed.
SLEIGHT OF HAND
...I was testing you. You failed.
a slight of hand in vienna
Can Edward Norton do anything wrong? We both enjoyed this movie last night (from the Flix®) and even though I need to think about it a little more, and perhaps discuss it with The Doctor tonight at work (part of my job), suffice it to say that this is well worth seeing.
Tonight I close the store and will do a better job than I did before. The first time doing anything there is always a little snarly for me because of the constant interruptions from customers and other little surprises. Plus it's a mess and I like neat and organized, at least on the surface.
This morning I will walk the nabe and visit a new coffee shop (just what this city needs!) up on 24th and Harrison.
Tonight I close the store and will do a better job than I did before. The first time doing anything there is always a little snarly for me because of the constant interruptions from customers and other little surprises. Plus it's a mess and I like neat and organized, at least on the surface.
This morning I will walk the nabe and visit a new coffee shop (just what this city needs!) up on 24th and Harrison.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
my parallel universe
The neighbors next door are still up, sitting under one of
those big portable heaters talking quietly and maybe
finishing the last of the brandy. Their upper deck features
the same spectacular view as you see in commano about
once a week and they have strung little white lights all
around the railing. They are probably in their 20's and
love is still probably very new because we don't hear any
raised voices or slamming doors as we have from other
young neighbors in the past.
I like listening to the Len Tillum show on KGO. He is an
outspoken lawyer and I swear to god that half of the issues
from callers have to do with problems people have with
their neighbors. We have always lucked out in this respect.
The houses are so close to each other in this crowded city,
and we read horror stories of the lunatic-next-door, yet our
neighbors have always been decent and respectful. There
was one busy drug dealer once, but that was long ago.....
those big portable heaters talking quietly and maybe
finishing the last of the brandy. Their upper deck features
the same spectacular view as you see in commano about
once a week and they have strung little white lights all
around the railing. They are probably in their 20's and
love is still probably very new because we don't hear any
raised voices or slamming doors as we have from other
young neighbors in the past.
I like listening to the Len Tillum show on KGO. He is an
outspoken lawyer and I swear to god that half of the issues
from callers have to do with problems people have with
their neighbors. We have always lucked out in this respect.
The houses are so close to each other in this crowded city,
and we read horror stories of the lunatic-next-door, yet our
neighbors have always been decent and respectful. There
was one busy drug dealer once, but that was long ago.....
Saturday, January 27, 2007
next Tuesday night!
I was carefully taught to be responsible for the entire world, so of course I'm already fretting about this event that I instigated for next week. If you are a writer, or know some of those creatures, I think you/they will enjoy meeting Eric. Many thanks to the Salon Mistress for sending out an email to her many students and fans.
Tuesday, Jan. 30th
7pm
Borders Union Square
Post & Powell
4th Floor
(415) 399-1633
Be there or my Wednesday post will be filled with misery. Thank you.
Tuesday, Jan. 30th
7pm
Borders Union Square
Post & Powell
4th Floor
(415) 399-1633
Be there or my Wednesday post will be filled with misery. Thank you.
Friday, January 26, 2007
from the sublime to the ridiculous
Yesterday Neti and I walked Stow Lake twice while we solved most of the problems of this world. Then we went to the Mandalay Restaurant out on California (near 7th Ave.) ~ my first Burmese food which tasted suspiciously like Thai. But good.
Returned to the big box retail store to wade through 118 new emails (sheesh, I hadn't finished answering the ones from last Sunday). Here, in a nutshell, is the subject matter:
.vertical transportation issues (escalators worse than elevator)
.3 missing trash cans ~ the homeless wheel our recycle cans/bottles away
.disciplinary issues ~ ncns=no call, no show & a written warning
.scam artists galore...how come they always win?
.plumbing problems
.new policy for PT people ~ paid sick days (yeah San Francisco!)
.and a few even more tedious issues that I won't bore you with
Light rain today and I enjoyed the misty walk home from BART after work.
Returned to the big box retail store to wade through 118 new emails (sheesh, I hadn't finished answering the ones from last Sunday). Here, in a nutshell, is the subject matter:
.vertical transportation issues (escalators worse than elevator)
.3 missing trash cans ~ the homeless wheel our recycle cans/bottles away
.disciplinary issues ~ ncns=no call, no show & a written warning
.scam artists galore...how come they always win?
.plumbing problems
.new policy for PT people ~ paid sick days (yeah San Francisco!)
.and a few even more tedious issues that I won't bore you with
Light rain today and I enjoyed the misty walk home from BART after work.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
not quite 900 pages
...but I am certainly enjoying Sacred Games because it is
so incredibly interesting to read about a policeman's life
in India. I also just finished Monkey Hill, a long short story
in a December New Yorker written by Paul Theroux whom
I have long admired. Dig out your old unread magazines
because this is an excellent piece. It's about a wealthy
American couple visiting an exclusive resort in a small
town in India. Neither can be called heroic, if you get my drift.
And yesterday I had to call the AOL help line, so you can
see that I have an Indian theme to start today's post.
Last night we had dinner at this relatively new restaurant
on Church Street. Husbando had pasta and clams and I
enjoyed the steelhead trout. It was packed and a little
noisy, but we yelled at each other and returned home in
time to watch the 8pm Jon Stewart rerun.
"Pescheria - San Francisco Restaurant & Menu Guide"
BTW (Back to Work) tomorrow. I can do it. 6am start.
so incredibly interesting to read about a policeman's life
in India. I also just finished Monkey Hill, a long short story
in a December New Yorker written by Paul Theroux whom
I have long admired. Dig out your old unread magazines
because this is an excellent piece. It's about a wealthy
American couple visiting an exclusive resort in a small
town in India. Neither can be called heroic, if you get my drift.
And yesterday I had to call the AOL help line, so you can
see that I have an Indian theme to start today's post.
Last night we had dinner at this relatively new restaurant
on Church Street. Husbando had pasta and clams and I
enjoyed the steelhead trout. It was packed and a little
noisy, but we yelled at each other and returned home in
time to watch the 8pm Jon Stewart rerun.
"Pescheria - San Francisco Restaurant & Menu Guide"
BTW (Back to Work) tomorrow. I can do it. 6am start.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
just a bit more walk talk
When I wrote yesterday, I didn't really think clearly about my favorite walk spots...all I thought about were the happy memories. As a result I forgot two from Santa Barbara ~ that beach across from my friend Ginger's home in Summerland
(where Kevin Costner lives) and also the long East Beach walk down in the main part of town. I also neglected Ginger's cowboy moutain walk in Manhattan, Kansas. The Lands End walk is spectacular, but doesn't feel safe for solo walking to me (thanks to the Chronicle and to Armistead Maupin) and Bernal Hill is impossible to walk now because the ghost of Sidney (our Jewish Irish Setter) still romps there and it doesn't seem right to hike there without him.
We have always rented homes with fireplaces up at Sea Ranch. Heaven. So quiet and peaceful that you won't want to turn on a tv to spoil the mood. Unless it's the World Series or an important Giants game, that is.
Dinner at The Front Porch was:
3 fried chickens
1 burger (me)
1 veggie stew
1 crab and porridge (TGP)
Really fine service too, warm and friendly.
To clear up future confusion, I might be the only woman in the world with two close friends named Ginger. Both are walkers
and we have already established the fact that I am more than lucky in friendship.
Now off to the Pesheria for some fish food. I'll review it quickly tomorrow.
(where Kevin Costner lives) and also the long East Beach walk down in the main part of town. I also neglected Ginger's cowboy moutain walk in Manhattan, Kansas. The Lands End walk is spectacular, but doesn't feel safe for solo walking to me (thanks to the Chronicle and to Armistead Maupin) and Bernal Hill is impossible to walk now because the ghost of Sidney (our Jewish Irish Setter) still romps there and it doesn't seem right to hike there without him.
We have always rented homes with fireplaces up at Sea Ranch. Heaven. So quiet and peaceful that you won't want to turn on a tv to spoil the mood. Unless it's the World Series or an important Giants game, that is.
Dinner at The Front Porch was:
3 fried chickens
1 burger (me)
1 veggie stew
1 crab and porridge (TGP)
Really fine service too, warm and friendly.
To clear up future confusion, I might be the only woman in the world with two close friends named Ginger. Both are walkers
and we have already established the fact that I am more than lucky in friendship.
Now off to the Pesheria for some fish food. I'll review it quickly tomorrow.
from monday morning
Who could grow tired of this ever-changing view from our back room? The fact that this is our "summer room" and lacks insulation (translate ~ it's way below 30º here most days and nights) only adds to our appreciation and the at least twice daily, "oh, come look now!" calls between Husbando and myself.
Thanks for all the walk comments. I'm constructing another little graph on the subject for this afternoon. Off to yoga...
Thanks for all the walk comments. I'm constructing another little graph on the subject for this afternoon. Off to yoga...
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
walk, breathe, remember
This morning's walk at Crissy Field was such a fine tonic
after eating too much at the delightful Front Porch
b.day dinner last night. A good time was had by all!
Here is a list of my favorite walking places, in order:
1) Crissy Field ~ sea air, boats, dogs, GG Bridge
2) Monterey to Pacific Grove ~ right on the ocean
3) Bluffs at Mendocino ~ begin or end walking around
the homes and inhaling the fireplace aromas
4) Sea Ranch ~ note the deer on land, sea lions in ocean
5) Ashland, Oregon ~ only walk without water!
6) Erie Canal in Pennsylvania ~ picnic along the way
7) Central Park in NYC
8) Stow Lake in GG Park
9) Ocean Beach ~ this might be #5, too lazy to switch
10) Millennium Bridge (London) to/fro the Tate Modern
Finally met with L & L today to see photos of Italy ~
shots of buildings, cemeteries, rivers, canals, churches
and the glory that was Pompeii. I love that they included
their hotel rooms, I'll do that too. The toddler girl colored
quietly and intently and then introduced me to her 3
companions: Lilly, Rosie and Lambie. (Lamby?) I was
immensely pleased to learn that there are internet cafes
all over Italy and I am not to worry.
Discussion with Husbando about avoiding Bush tonight.
Tempting, no?
after eating too much at the delightful Front Porch
b.day dinner last night. A good time was had by all!
Here is a list of my favorite walking places, in order:
1) Crissy Field ~ sea air, boats, dogs, GG Bridge
2) Monterey to Pacific Grove ~ right on the ocean
3) Bluffs at Mendocino ~ begin or end walking around
the homes and inhaling the fireplace aromas
4) Sea Ranch ~ note the deer on land, sea lions in ocean
5) Ashland, Oregon ~ only walk without water!
6) Erie Canal in Pennsylvania ~ picnic along the way
7) Central Park in NYC
8) Stow Lake in GG Park
9) Ocean Beach ~ this might be #5, too lazy to switch
10) Millennium Bridge (London) to/fro the Tate Modern
Finally met with L & L today to see photos of Italy ~
shots of buildings, cemeteries, rivers, canals, churches
and the glory that was Pompeii. I love that they included
their hotel rooms, I'll do that too. The toddler girl colored
quietly and intently and then introduced me to her 3
companions: Lilly, Rosie and Lambie. (Lamby?) I was
immensely pleased to learn that there are internet cafes
all over Italy and I am not to worry.
Discussion with Husbando about avoiding Bush tonight.
Tempting, no?
Monday, January 22, 2007
day one ~ fireplace & poetry
Today I will have a quiet morning with msBook in front of
the fire and tomorrow I will walk Crissy Field in the morning.
I owe a bunch of emails to people and I want to read the
Chandra book between walks and naps. Tonight we are
gathering with friends that we have known for decades
(Neti and Frank) and our relatively new friends (The Great
Plotniks) to celebrate the b.day of Husbando yesterday.
All 4 of his children actually called the same day (!) and
he did three loads of laundry while I heard about that magic
dragon from Mr. Chong at the big box retail store.
I brought home a poetry book because of this one poem,
but Jane Hirshfield's After is filled with perfectly polished
little gems to help us understand our lives. Enjoy.
To Wake At 3:00
To wake at 3:00
and not want to go back to sleep
is different
from waking and wanting
not to go back to sleep.
Thoughts
come to the mind,
predictable almost as breath.
The days small errors and failures,
Wrong words that were said,
right ones that were not.
Outside the window
a truck, with yellow lights
running the length of its body
and R&L Cargo lettered large down its side,
diesels the street inexplicably backward.
Making its own deliveries
equally exhausted, from some great distance.
Jane Hirshfield
(I have learned that if I retype a poem it means even
more to me and sometimes quite differently than it did
originally ~ do you find this? Am I making any sense?)
the fire and tomorrow I will walk Crissy Field in the morning.
I owe a bunch of emails to people and I want to read the
Chandra book between walks and naps. Tonight we are
gathering with friends that we have known for decades
(Neti and Frank) and our relatively new friends (The Great
Plotniks) to celebrate the b.day of Husbando yesterday.
All 4 of his children actually called the same day (!) and
he did three loads of laundry while I heard about that magic
dragon from Mr. Chong at the big box retail store.
I brought home a poetry book because of this one poem,
but Jane Hirshfield's After is filled with perfectly polished
little gems to help us understand our lives. Enjoy.
To Wake At 3:00
To wake at 3:00
and not want to go back to sleep
is different
from waking and wanting
not to go back to sleep.
Thoughts
come to the mind,
predictable almost as breath.
The days small errors and failures,
Wrong words that were said,
right ones that were not.
Outside the window
a truck, with yellow lights
running the length of its body
and R&L Cargo lettered large down its side,
diesels the street inexplicably backward.
Making its own deliveries
equally exhausted, from some great distance.
Jane Hirshfield
(I have learned that if I retype a poem it means even
more to me and sometimes quite differently than it did
originally ~ do you find this? Am I making any sense?)
Sunday, January 21, 2007
of puffs and bongs
First I want to say that I am NOT responsible for the choice of ads from Google. Ever since I put the church photo in the blog it looks like some Christian propaganda machine. It is not easy to remain an agnostic in this life, so my reward should not be a bunch of Jesus ads.
Tommy Chong spoke to a good size crowd in our store today. He looked far, far better in his black tee shirt than he does here on the cover of his book. I liked him! He spoke of the simple things that appeal to me at this stage of life. How he learned to appreciate being able to open a door himself and walk outside after being in prison. How cigarettes and alcohol kill more people than pot does. Then a bit about karma that I had thought about before. For instance, ever since the greedy oil companies had their summer of high profits, more and more people are buying hybrids and small gas-efficient cars. I certainly wasn't expecting to be impressed by Tommy Chong, but I was.
Now my 4 in a row days off vacationette begins. Rejoice (but no more religious ads, puleeeeze.)
Tommy Chong spoke to a good size crowd in our store today. He looked far, far better in his black tee shirt than he does here on the cover of his book. I liked him! He spoke of the simple things that appeal to me at this stage of life. How he learned to appreciate being able to open a door himself and walk outside after being in prison. How cigarettes and alcohol kill more people than pot does. Then a bit about karma that I had thought about before. For instance, ever since the greedy oil companies had their summer of high profits, more and more people are buying hybrids and small gas-efficient cars. I certainly wasn't expecting to be impressed by Tommy Chong, but I was.
Now my 4 in a row days off vacationette begins. Rejoice (but no more religious ads, puleeeeze.)
Saturday, January 20, 2007
oh, so that's a key
Today after work I met Husbando at the exceedingly small
SF Playhouse up on Sutter. I did not have the vaguest idea
where Deb Margolin came up with the title of her play, Three
Seconds In The Key, so now we all know (or guess) that it's
that rectangular sort of painted area on a basketball court.
For some inexplicable reason, the players can't stand
around in there for more than 3 seconds. (I'm not a fan of
basketball.)
Anyway, this is a delight ~ a long one act (hooray!) play about
a mother fighting Hodgkin's Disease, her 8 year old son and
five realistic basketball players! I did well up once or twice
and I give it 3 1/2 Kleenex®. I enjoyed the give and take
between the very Jewish mother and the black sports hero.
The kid was terrific too, he whined like he'd done that before
in his real life.
SF Playhouse up on Sutter. I did not have the vaguest idea
where Deb Margolin came up with the title of her play, Three
Seconds In The Key, so now we all know (or guess) that it's
that rectangular sort of painted area on a basketball court.
For some inexplicable reason, the players can't stand
around in there for more than 3 seconds. (I'm not a fan of
basketball.)
Anyway, this is a delight ~ a long one act (hooray!) play about
a mother fighting Hodgkin's Disease, her 8 year old son and
five realistic basketball players! I did well up once or twice
and I give it 3 1/2 Kleenex®. I enjoyed the give and take
between the very Jewish mother and the black sports hero.
The kid was terrific too, he whined like he'd done that before
in his real life.
Friday, January 19, 2007
900 pages in 4 days?
My big box retail mortar chain store offers this generous book loan program for employees, so today I brought this huge feast of a mystery novel home for my upcoming mini-vacation. This book has had some fabulous reviews and it took the author 7 years to finish it. I haven't been reading enough lately (except for New Yorker magazines) so this will count for at least two books.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
let's focus on bread and words
This is where we buy our foccacia or is it with an "o" there on the end? In any event, I wanted mostly to show the two Chinese men sitting in the front window here, but by the time I screwed around changing batteries, they had probably done their Tai Chi and moved on to lunch plans. There is this distinct smell in North Beach ~ coffee, bread, garlic ~ but you already know this.
Today I have a serious writing project for our Tiapos group tonight. Haven't seen Chef P in ages and I know it will be the usual wonderful time at Mistress Jane's second winter home. I actually have a little bit written for tonight. Of course I am highly dissatisfied with the results, but for me that's par for the course. After 754 rewrites I might even post it here on commano. Maybe.
Today I have a serious writing project for our Tiapos group tonight. Haven't seen Chef P in ages and I know it will be the usual wonderful time at Mistress Jane's second winter home. I actually have a little bit written for tonight. Of course I am highly dissatisfied with the results, but for me that's par for the course. After 754 rewrites I might even post it here on commano. Maybe.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
gazing inward on wednesday
Here from the Dec. 25th New Yorker ~ I'm finally getting
caught up on the important parts of life that I neglected
during the Happy Holiday Retail Season:
A writer is someone who spends years patiently trying to
discover the second being inside him, and the world that
makes him who he is. When I speak of writing, the image
that comes first to my mind is not a novel, a poem, or a
literary tradition; it is the person who shuts himself up in
a room, sits down at a table and, alone, turns inward.
To write is to transform that inward gaze into words...
Orhan Pamuk
caught up on the important parts of life that I neglected
during the Happy Holiday Retail Season:
A writer is someone who spends years patiently trying to
discover the second being inside him, and the world that
makes him who he is. When I speak of writing, the image
that comes first to my mind is not a novel, a poem, or a
literary tradition; it is the person who shuts himself up in
a room, sits down at a table and, alone, turns inward.
To write is to transform that inward gaze into words...
Orhan Pamuk
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
the saints be praised
Yeah, I made it through that first closing! I had a bunch of hard working people and only one minor dust up with a customer. But, heck, I have those during the day time too. It is odd about the folks who come in one minute before 11am and need to search for a very important book. One gentleman popped over from a nearby bar looking for "How to Talk to Women". Ah yes, we are such a mystery.
Can you see the usual 15 or so Chinese elders on the lawn in front of the church here? So graceful. The light this time of year (without rain or grey fog) reminds us of Paris ~ too clear and beautiful to try to describe. Maybe the photo will do a better job than I ever could.
Today I have interviews (cafe and one 6am shelver) and a little desk work. Then I'll get into my zone for an hour or so. It's looking so much better...the genre that is My Zone.
Can you see the usual 15 or so Chinese elders on the lawn in front of the church here? So graceful. The light this time of year (without rain or grey fog) reminds us of Paris ~ too clear and beautiful to try to describe. Maybe the photo will do a better job than I ever could.
Today I have interviews (cafe and one 6am shelver) and a little desk work. Then I'll get into my zone for an hour or so. It's looking so much better...the genre that is My Zone.
Monday, January 15, 2007
one bay at a time
I have been actively working in the book shelves these past
few days and enjoying it immensely. Mystery is a mess,
but now the A through D bays are finished and I've sent
back some dogs that have been sitting there since May,
taking up valuable space. Every section in our store really
needs daily maintenance, but we certainly don't have the
payroll for that. The problem of course is that when I finish
getting the shelves perfect I want to slap the hands of the
customers who feel it is their right to pull out books and
put them back in the wrong place.
Tonight is my first closing in many years. I don't mind so
much, especially since I have my early morning productive
hours to fuss with the blog (updated yesterday!) and then
Husbando and I are going to North Beach to buy some
foccacio and have coffee at the venerable Cafe Trieste.
Caffe Trieste. I can picture the poetic One Foot now with
a tear in her left eye.
few days and enjoying it immensely. Mystery is a mess,
but now the A through D bays are finished and I've sent
back some dogs that have been sitting there since May,
taking up valuable space. Every section in our store really
needs daily maintenance, but we certainly don't have the
payroll for that. The problem of course is that when I finish
getting the shelves perfect I want to slap the hands of the
customers who feel it is their right to pull out books and
put them back in the wrong place.
Tonight is my first closing in many years. I don't mind so
much, especially since I have my early morning productive
hours to fuss with the blog (updated yesterday!) and then
Husbando and I are going to North Beach to buy some
foccacio and have coffee at the venerable Cafe Trieste.
Caffe Trieste. I can picture the poetic One Foot now with
a tear in her left eye.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
no sweetness or light
Last night we huddled in front of the fireplace and watched 1/2 of this very difficult movie from the Flix®. I was hooked though after a 14 year old prostitute was found dead and the policeMAN couldn't understand why they were starting younger and younger. This brutal sex slave business goes on right in front of our noses (and other body parts) right here in my beloved city and it is a world wide problem because (surprise) there is so much money to be made.
Now I'm going to update commano. Susan had some "issues" up at The Tonsil War, but she worked her way out of it and so will I. With a little help from my friends, APU (as per usual).
Now I'm going to update commano. Susan had some "issues" up at The Tonsil War, but she worked her way out of it and so will I. With a little help from my friends, APU (as per usual).
Saturday, January 13, 2007
a weekend in name only
By now everyone within a 200 mile radius of every big
city and small suburb knows that I open the store at
6am on Saturday and Sunday. (There, all said without a
comma. Excellent.)
It's pretty slow currently so we can all get caught up
on assorted projects we dropped last October. I'm in the
hiring mode again but have worked out a system wherein
I email the applicants first with all the details of the job
and we both save a lot of time that way.
Another thing that I love about San Francisco is that we
voted to raise our minimum wage. It is now $9.13 an hour,
and we start everyone at $9.25. What a huge difference
that makes in hiring people ~ night and day. I can look the
applicant in the eye and feel no shame. Not true before our
citizens took to the voting booths.
city and small suburb knows that I open the store at
6am on Saturday and Sunday. (There, all said without a
comma. Excellent.)
It's pretty slow currently so we can all get caught up
on assorted projects we dropped last October. I'm in the
hiring mode again but have worked out a system wherein
I email the applicants first with all the details of the job
and we both save a lot of time that way.
Another thing that I love about San Francisco is that we
voted to raise our minimum wage. It is now $9.13 an hour,
and we start everyone at $9.25. What a huge difference
that makes in hiring people ~ night and day. I can look the
applicant in the eye and feel no shame. Not true before our
citizens took to the voting booths.
Friday, January 12, 2007
life lessons, continued
Most of the young 'uns at work give me GREAT hope for
the future, and I am not being even one bit sarcastic here.
They are extremely bright and laugh at my jokes ~ what
more can we ask for? The only morning meeting I have
anymore, due to scheduling, is on Sunday. Last week we
had a quick discussion about how to handle angry customers
and I told them what Husbando taught me years ago:
Don't get into a pissing contest with a skunk.
It has nothing to do with whether the customer is right or
wrong or belongs in a mental institution. No matter what,
you are going to lose ~ so what I do is stand there (as close
as I can bear to) and look the screamer in the eye while
trying my best to look sympathetic. Then I listen. Usually
I'm thinking about what's for lunch or dinner, but I appear
to be oh so intensely concerned. I nod two or three times
and say "I'm sorry". I am a sponge. It works.
SpongeMary is heading off for five more days of retail fun.
the future, and I am not being even one bit sarcastic here.
They are extremely bright and laugh at my jokes ~ what
more can we ask for? The only morning meeting I have
anymore, due to scheduling, is on Sunday. Last week we
had a quick discussion about how to handle angry customers
and I told them what Husbando taught me years ago:
Don't get into a pissing contest with a skunk.
It has nothing to do with whether the customer is right or
wrong or belongs in a mental institution. No matter what,
you are going to lose ~ so what I do is stand there (as close
as I can bear to) and look the screamer in the eye while
trying my best to look sympathetic. Then I listen. Usually
I'm thinking about what's for lunch or dinner, but I appear
to be oh so intensely concerned. I nod two or three times
and say "I'm sorry". I am a sponge. It works.
SpongeMary is heading off for five more days of retail fun.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
I'm all like, "don't use this word, please..."
How LONG has this like business been going on? Must be more than 20 years by now, and it is certainly not limited to females nor teenagers. I am proud to admit that I'm one of those people who feel it is my right and duty to correct folks who have this lazy and exceedingly tedious habit. What is interesting is that when I make gentle fun (ahem) of someone who says "like" more than 767 times a day is that they do become aware and try to change. As with any bad habit it takes lots of work and about 90 days to erradicate it almost completely. At least that's my experience. I love a rant on a Thursday, don't you?
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
day off with pay!
Some of my gentle readers have suggested that I like EVERY
damn play that we go to, so let me be quick to point out
that I didn't particularly care for The Circle and not just
because it had the dreaded and unnecessary two inter-
missions (the set didn't even change), but it just seemed
a bit anti-woman to me. It did not help one iota that I was
sitting next to a man, dressed like Husbando, who actually
had the audacity to chuckle aloud. W. Somerset Maugham
(that W. is pretentious, no?) supposedly played for both
teams, but anyone with an ounce of sense realizes that
his favorite team was not the British Women All Stars.
Poor Bossman had to finally ask me to close one night a
week and of course I said, "yes". So Monday nights I will be
staying up v. late (the store closes at 11pm) and I've
already decided that I must take a real hour lunch instead
of working at my desk while nibbling on the wich from home.
I'll haul ass to Chinatown and explore some new restaurants.
My last scheduled closing was September 11, 2001. Beware.
I want/need/must have the new iPhone pictured in today's
Chronny ~ front page, Business Section. The price will be
just about right a year from now, after Italy is paid off.
Good work all of you (Mr. SL, Notthat, Sally) who work down
there on the Infinite Loop.
New blog on the block ~ The Tonsil War. Susan and I worked
together when there was a Capwell's. She was and is a force
to be reckoned with, and one of my many glorious memories of
her is when she was offered a shitty little raise (that's all we
ever got) and she tore up the paper that was offered to her
as a "gift" from our pinch-faced boss and refused the so-called
raise. Atta woman. Now she and her husband are battling his
cancer and I know they will win because that is Susan's M.O.
Chatty today, am I not? Off to yoga to replace curses with
chants...
damn play that we go to, so let me be quick to point out
that I didn't particularly care for The Circle and not just
because it had the dreaded and unnecessary two inter-
missions (the set didn't even change), but it just seemed
a bit anti-woman to me. It did not help one iota that I was
sitting next to a man, dressed like Husbando, who actually
had the audacity to chuckle aloud. W. Somerset Maugham
(that W. is pretentious, no?) supposedly played for both
teams, but anyone with an ounce of sense realizes that
his favorite team was not the British Women All Stars.
Poor Bossman had to finally ask me to close one night a
week and of course I said, "yes". So Monday nights I will be
staying up v. late (the store closes at 11pm) and I've
already decided that I must take a real hour lunch instead
of working at my desk while nibbling on the wich from home.
I'll haul ass to Chinatown and explore some new restaurants.
My last scheduled closing was September 11, 2001. Beware.
I want/need/must have the new iPhone pictured in today's
Chronny ~ front page, Business Section. The price will be
just about right a year from now, after Italy is paid off.
Good work all of you (Mr. SL, Notthat, Sally) who work down
there on the Infinite Loop.
New blog on the block ~ The Tonsil War. Susan and I worked
together when there was a Capwell's. She was and is a force
to be reckoned with, and one of my many glorious memories of
her is when she was offered a shitty little raise (that's all we
ever got) and she tore up the paper that was offered to her
as a "gift" from our pinch-faced boss and refused the so-called
raise. Atta woman. Now she and her husband are battling his
cancer and I know they will win because that is Susan's M.O.
Chatty today, am I not? Off to yoga to replace curses with
chants...
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
and a french dessert today
Bossman emailed this to me. Very cool.
Click Here: Check out "Video jerome murat - seg, murat - Dailymotion Partagez Vos Videos"
Click Here: Check out "Video jerome murat - seg, murat - Dailymotion Partagez Vos Videos"
only good news on tuesday
Today will be a long one, even though I was able to sleep in
until 5am. I work 10am to 7pm, then head for a quick turkey
sandwich at Lefty O'Doul's with Husbando. We will scurry
down the street to see The Circle ACT San Francisco and I so
hope it's not one of those plays with two endless intermissions.
I have ripped this from today's headlines ~ excellent news:
JetBlue announces SFO flights. We took JetBlue from Oakland
to NYC two years ago (on Valentine's Day) and the only bad
part was the schlepp from our little home to Oakland. No fun
going across/under that Bay Bridge, whether by car or van or
BART. This should cheer the poetic One Foot immensely too.
And one more link here. Dancing Jen recommended this
school for me The Italingua Institute which I mentioned in
yesterday's post. I can walk 3 blocks down from work and
matriculate. OK, this is a wrap...
until 5am. I work 10am to 7pm, then head for a quick turkey
sandwich at Lefty O'Doul's with Husbando. We will scurry
down the street to see The Circle ACT San Francisco and I so
hope it's not one of those plays with two endless intermissions.
I have ripped this from today's headlines ~ excellent news:
JetBlue announces SFO flights. We took JetBlue from Oakland
to NYC two years ago (on Valentine's Day) and the only bad
part was the schlepp from our little home to Oakland. No fun
going across/under that Bay Bridge, whether by car or van or
BART. This should cheer the poetic One Foot immensely too.
And one more link here. Dancing Jen recommended this
school for me The Italingua Institute which I mentioned in
yesterday's post. I can walk 3 blocks down from work and
matriculate. OK, this is a wrap...
Monday, January 08, 2007
florence on my mind
I have sent my check to the Italian Institute for the 6 week "Italian for Travelers" course that begins Feb. 26 and ends 4 days before I hop on the plane to Florence. I've decided NOT to take msBook after a lot of helpful input from many kind people. I'm just such a worrier and I won't have Husbando there reminding me to not leave my coat, camera, computer or purse on the chair, table, bench or bridge. Besides, when we stayed in London for two weeks, I so enjoyed solo walking to the busy internet cafe down by Victoria Station and sitting amongst all those people from all over the world while I read and wrote emails. So there will be extra adventures awaiting me without msBook.
Soon I will meet and have bird coffee with Loren and Lenore and the former will show me her Florence photos and give me more little hints which I carefully note in my Italian file folder on my desktop here. Is it any wonder I can't sleep all night? So much excitement ahead!
Soon I will meet and have bird coffee with Loren and Lenore and the former will show me her Florence photos and give me more little hints which I carefully note in my Italian file folder on my desktop here. Is it any wonder I can't sleep all night? So much excitement ahead!
Sunday, January 07, 2007
well, well, well...
Imagine this ~ an image has been up/downloaded onto commano. I am indebted to The Great Plotnik and to the good Doctor. Since msBook is mouseless, I had to use some extremely high tech methods to finally learn to do this, but the world is my oyster now. I am hosting this event and hoping for a terrific turnout. I'll talk more about it, but for now I just want to give you the time and date and I need to sit in my warm technical glow for an hour or so.
Tuesday, January 30th ~ 7pm
Borders Union Square ~ 4th floor
Eric Maisel will discuss and sign
"A Writer's San Francisco"
Please note that the magnificent Paul Madonna has illustrated this totally delightful book. And yesterday we sold 6 copies! Yeah...
Tuesday, January 30th ~ 7pm
Borders Union Square ~ 4th floor
Eric Maisel will discuss and sign
"A Writer's San Francisco"
Please note that the magnificent Paul Madonna has illustrated this totally delightful book. And yesterday we sold 6 copies! Yeah...
Saturday, January 06, 2007
trying to explain city-love
(Here's a piece I wrote for Tiapos a few months ago. I'm too tired this morning to write anything fresh. It only has one rejection slip ~ or a No Comment is more like it ~ so instead of letting it rest, as I usually do, I'll post it.)
I was listening to the radio last week ~ a rebroadcast of celebrity chef,
Anthony Bourdin, when he spoke to the Commonwealth Club here in
San Francisco. Someone in the audience wanted to know why Bourdin
was planning to move to Vietnam instead of staying here in the United
States, or perhaps making his permanent residence someplace like
France, where his talents will be appreciated. "I fell in love", he responded.
The food, their love of food, the warmth of the people, the scenery, the
air. It's not easy to explain love, is it?
We know what Bourdin means. We who have changed our lives, given
up high paying jobs and left our families to live here in San Francisco.
I'm reminded of the Japanese poet Eimi Yamada who wrote so
succinctly about people-love:
"When I say I want a man; if it's not that man, then it just won't do for me."
Immediately we are transported back to when we fell in love and had
to have THAT man ~ with all his problems and idiosyncrasies.
And I say, "when I want a home; if it's not San Francisco, then it just
won't do for me".
I was one of those people who tried living in Oakland and then Daly
City. Close, but not The Real Deal. I wanted the smelly Muni buses, the
clang of the cable car, the fog, the mighty cold breezes from the Bay,
Crissy Field, the Chronicle, North Beach, Chinatown, the Mission,
parking problems, Little Saigon, Golden Gate Park and always the hills.
A knock-me-over different view from whatever hill I'm on. And the light ~
we live in what must be the most photographed city in the world. Also
one of the most expensive, but that's love for you.
I love saying, "yes, I live right here in the City of San Francisco".
I was listening to the radio last week ~ a rebroadcast of celebrity chef,
Anthony Bourdin, when he spoke to the Commonwealth Club here in
San Francisco. Someone in the audience wanted to know why Bourdin
was planning to move to Vietnam instead of staying here in the United
States, or perhaps making his permanent residence someplace like
France, where his talents will be appreciated. "I fell in love", he responded.
The food, their love of food, the warmth of the people, the scenery, the
air. It's not easy to explain love, is it?
We know what Bourdin means. We who have changed our lives, given
up high paying jobs and left our families to live here in San Francisco.
I'm reminded of the Japanese poet Eimi Yamada who wrote so
succinctly about people-love:
"When I say I want a man; if it's not that man, then it just won't do for me."
Immediately we are transported back to when we fell in love and had
to have THAT man ~ with all his problems and idiosyncrasies.
And I say, "when I want a home; if it's not San Francisco, then it just
won't do for me".
I was one of those people who tried living in Oakland and then Daly
City. Close, but not The Real Deal. I wanted the smelly Muni buses, the
clang of the cable car, the fog, the mighty cold breezes from the Bay,
Crissy Field, the Chronicle, North Beach, Chinatown, the Mission,
parking problems, Little Saigon, Golden Gate Park and always the hills.
A knock-me-over different view from whatever hill I'm on. And the light ~
we live in what must be the most photographed city in the world. Also
one of the most expensive, but that's love for you.
I love saying, "yes, I live right here in the City of San Francisco".
Friday, January 05, 2007
a small gathering of writers
Only four of us last night and we met at our little Bernal
casa, which was quite nice for me as I did not have to
venture out into the cold. Husbando locked himself away
with the 1904 St. Louis Fair from the Flix® and was
disgusted by the racism back then. Back then.
I used this old prompt from Writer's Digest. Grab a
dictionary and randomly select five words. Use them in
an opening paragraph of a short story. I had one I wrote
in 2003, and then wrote another for last night because
Husbando said my writing has IMPROVED so much over
these past three years. Oh, heavenly praise ~ rewards
beyond my own meager dreams. May I cook dinner? May
I vacuum every room, scrub the sink? Show me how to use
the washer and dryer and I'll even do the laundry!
Great pride yesterday as we watched Madam Nancy being
sworn in. Remember, one hundred years ago women could
not even vote. Still a lot of work ahead...
casa, which was quite nice for me as I did not have to
venture out into the cold. Husbando locked himself away
with the 1904 St. Louis Fair from the Flix® and was
disgusted by the racism back then. Back then.
I used this old prompt from Writer's Digest. Grab a
dictionary and randomly select five words. Use them in
an opening paragraph of a short story. I had one I wrote
in 2003, and then wrote another for last night because
Husbando said my writing has IMPROVED so much over
these past three years. Oh, heavenly praise ~ rewards
beyond my own meager dreams. May I cook dinner? May
I vacuum every room, scrub the sink? Show me how to use
the washer and dryer and I'll even do the laundry!
Great pride yesterday as we watched Madam Nancy being
sworn in. Remember, one hundred years ago women could
not even vote. Still a lot of work ahead...
Thursday, January 04, 2007
solo walks rock
What is this tree? I usually end up walking by it on my nabe walk and have always called it "the necklace tree". There is a two block long Bessie Street here in Bernal Heights with some delightully odd little cottages. Today I must write for the group tonight and I feel quite stale and unmotivated. However the Salon Mistress taught me from Day One that no one gives a rat's ass if I FEEL like writing or not. (Oh oh. I see that flickr® here wants me to upgrade and that always strikes fear in my heart.)
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
some called him Plum
A few days before this very Merry Xmas, Mr. bla bla bla
Black dashed up from his big chain bookstore to MY little
slice of heaven and gave me this incredible book which
I am enjoying immensely. Author! Author! was published
in 1962, and contains 40 years worth of letters from the
prolific (and highly amusing) P.G. Wodehouse to his boyhood
friend, Bill Townsend.
I'm reading about a letter a day so far, but with this heavy
grey flannel flog today, I'll accomplish more. Back then
people knew and used BIG words, their vocabularies far
exceeded our currently awesome word choices. For instance
in the Introduction, Bill says, "In my impecunious youth in
San Francisco..."
From Plum's 3/23/20 letter to Bill:
"On a novel I generally do eight pages a day, i.e., about
2,500 words, but I read the stuff over all the time and do
endless rewriting." and
"As a rule, I find a week long enough for a short story, if
I have the plot well thought out."
Wodehouse made buckets of money from his work and
kept writing into his 80s. Best of all, he traveled and
lived all over the world and was able to "accept great
joy" as my poetic NYC friend writes in One Foot Out the Door.
Black dashed up from his big chain bookstore to MY little
slice of heaven and gave me this incredible book which
I am enjoying immensely. Author! Author! was published
in 1962, and contains 40 years worth of letters from the
prolific (and highly amusing) P.G. Wodehouse to his boyhood
friend, Bill Townsend.
I'm reading about a letter a day so far, but with this heavy
grey flannel flog today, I'll accomplish more. Back then
people knew and used BIG words, their vocabularies far
exceeded our currently awesome word choices. For instance
in the Introduction, Bill says, "In my impecunious youth in
San Francisco..."
From Plum's 3/23/20 letter to Bill:
"On a novel I generally do eight pages a day, i.e., about
2,500 words, but I read the stuff over all the time and do
endless rewriting." and
"As a rule, I find a week long enough for a short story, if
I have the plot well thought out."
Wodehouse made buckets of money from his work and
kept writing into his 80s. Best of all, he traveled and
lived all over the world and was able to "accept great
joy" as my poetic NYC friend writes in One Foot Out the Door.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
magnificent butterflies
As the uccello flies, it really isn't very many weeks until my
trip to Italy. I leave from SFO on April 6th. My friend and one
of the tour directors (Ginger del Summerland) and I had a
long and somewhat disjointed conversation on Sunday and
I have the names of two of the places where we'll be staying.
I keep forgetting that it's a small country and when she says,
"then we'll take the train to Rome and back to Florence", I
picture the long Amtrak® experiments here. Anyway, we end
up being in Florence for 6 nights and I love this place, even
though it's a dreaded B&B. I doubt that my Italian will enable
me to have long philosophical conversations with strangers
sipping sherry and wearing madras shorts. (Oh, the 6 nights
aren't consecutive ~ it's a to/fro kind of thing.)
Bed & Breakfast Villino Il Magnifico Florence - Venere.com
Need I say that I'm already nervous, in a good sort of way?
It's probably the longest time that I've ever been away from
Husbando, plus msBook has to stay home which means I
need to learn how to find and use foreign computers. But
Dancing Jen went ALL BY HERSELF for several months and
that inspires me. Plus I'll be traveling with 5 other women
and yet I will always have My Own Room (selfish bitch), a
phone card and two credit cards just begging to be maxed out.
trip to Italy. I leave from SFO on April 6th. My friend and one
of the tour directors (Ginger del Summerland) and I had a
long and somewhat disjointed conversation on Sunday and
I have the names of two of the places where we'll be staying.
I keep forgetting that it's a small country and when she says,
"then we'll take the train to Rome and back to Florence", I
picture the long Amtrak® experiments here. Anyway, we end
up being in Florence for 6 nights and I love this place, even
though it's a dreaded B&B. I doubt that my Italian will enable
me to have long philosophical conversations with strangers
sipping sherry and wearing madras shorts. (Oh, the 6 nights
aren't consecutive ~ it's a to/fro kind of thing.)
Bed & Breakfast Villino Il Magnifico Florence - Venere.com
Need I say that I'm already nervous, in a good sort of way?
It's probably the longest time that I've ever been away from
Husbando, plus msBook has to stay home which means I
need to learn how to find and use foreign computers. But
Dancing Jen went ALL BY HERSELF for several months and
that inspires me. Plus I'll be traveling with 5 other women
and yet I will always have My Own Room (selfish bitch), a
phone card and two credit cards just begging to be maxed out.
Monday, January 01, 2007
a fresh year awaits us...
And now let us welcome the New Year,
full of things that have never been.
Rainer Maria Rilke
full of things that have never been.
Rainer Maria Rilke
starting the new year off right!
Thanks 2007 times to Michael for the updated link list
over there on the right! My blog has changed (for me)
and has become an important part of my daily life and
now I have everything over there at my fingertips! I
am so grateful to Michael for doing this tedious and
highly technical work. (I did try to add a link once and
ended up going for a fast walk instead. Luddite.)
I have a post coming up, forming in my brain right now,
talking about this blog and what it means to me. At this
point, however, just let me say that I appreciate those
of you who read it and I love all the comments...even
the ones I've deleted. Thank you.
over there on the right! My blog has changed (for me)
and has become an important part of my daily life and
now I have everything over there at my fingertips! I
am so grateful to Michael for doing this tedious and
highly technical work. (I did try to add a link once and
ended up going for a fast walk instead. Luddite.)
I have a post coming up, forming in my brain right now,
talking about this blog and what it means to me. At this
point, however, just let me say that I appreciate those
of you who read it and I love all the comments...even
the ones I've deleted. Thank you.
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