another world

This looks like some SoCal lido doesn't it? It's Foster City, some place
I wouldn't want to live, but it is pretty for a special lunch. We
celebrated the new low mortgage and the fact that husbando can wear
matching shoes now. And I no longer have to tape 3 bags to his foot
and leg when he clumps into the shower. I had steamed clams and
mussels and he the red snapper ~ all covered and dipped in butter,
but of course this was a special event so there was no cholesterol worry.

I guess I need to mention that we got lost here in the Foster City maze
AGAIN and not to be snobbish (never me), but every damn car down
here is some horrid SUV and I guess it must be all the mountain
roads and snow or whatever. These big cars (trucks) make me cranky.

shall I wear the blue raincoat?

Leonard Cohen's World Tour is coming to the Paramount Theatre
and I am going with Dancing Jen. She worked and clicked and
secured two fabulous tickets for the first night, April 13th. It sold
out in hours and they scheduled the next night which also sold
out at once. And in this economy, imagine. I have been playing
his music constantly lately and my, he is indeed the poet. Lucky
me and thanks again, dear Jen!

celebrating women

Today is International Women's Day and it is especially fitting this year
because President Obama signed the Equal Pay act. See, I have this
theory that what the right wingers REALLY want is for women to go
back into the home and let men rule the world. Like they are so good
at it. I love reading about Hillary's travels and once again commend
Obama for appointing her to that exceedingly difficult position, one
that she is handling with aplomb, of course. Special shout-outs to all
my wonderful women friends today, and to the men who also support
(dare I say it?) Feminism. We have indeed come a long way, and
miles to go before we sleep...

once again with feeling

No such thing as too many "I love my city" photos, right? I took a little
solo walk up/around the Coastal Trail yesterday, down at Lands End.
Someday I'll walk the entire stretch, but it's difficult not to stop every
few minutes to say the OMG thing about these splendid views. And the
air after all that rain is so clean and refreshing. Another blue sky day
today and I'm heading out to discuss fashion with YSL and his fans.

the bus, the big box, the world

I'm in a bit of a rush this morning, but I did want to report that
I LOVED the #33 for going to work. It meanders from 25th
and Hampshire (about 4 blocks from Casa Verde) to GGP
by winding up through Ashbury Heights, down famous old
Haight Street and, of all things, it passes right by the
wonderful Samovar Tea Lounge on 18th and Castro. It
takes longer than the #44, but it's so relaxing in the morning
and none of those dreadful school children on their cell
phones. Two certifiable crazy people, but that's about average.

Yesterday the big box let about 679 people go. Managers and
supervisors and without a shadow of a doubt, I know that I would
have been one of them. Bless the deYoung for hiring me. We
all know how rough it is interviewing for a new job when one's
ego is all smashed up, even though it is no fault of anyone who
works on the front lines in retail. The corporate Top Dogs made
some serious mistakes a few years ago and everyone is paying
now. Plus the bad economy equals tough times for too many.

snap, plug, adjust, admire...

Big thanks to Linda, Susan and Mountain Mary for their help with my
camera-to-new Mac installation. It was easy as pie and I did not have
to use that camera CD or anything. I took this photo late yesterday
afternoon to show you our lovely cloud formations, right before some
more rain. It seems like it rained ALL night, but I see some blue sky
again this morning. All good.

Yesterday we went to a REAL movie theater to see Milk the way it
should be seen. Fabulous. I brought the Kleenex® out in the beginning
when Di Fi spoke to us all once again and I did some dabbing throughout
as the memories came rushing back. It made me v. proud of my
City, but I usually am, and you already knew that.

Today I'm testing a new bus (the #33) to the deYoung. Stay tuned...

getting back to the books

I have finished reading the four Cazalet Chronicle books (thanks for
those, Blogmaid) by Elizabeth Jane Howard and I was feeling a tad
bereft and missing that big, unruly British family. So I picked up
this Special Topics In Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl that has
been recommended to me several times. I bought it at a low bargain
price at the big box and it has been waiting for me. It's a clever novel
about a young woman named Blue who travels back and forth in
America with her unusual (understatement) professor father ~ he
collects women, theories and scientific knowledge. Here's a sample:

Dad picked up women the way certain wool pants can't help but
pick up lint.

what happened yesterday?

Last night we Flixed® this What Just Happened? and it really is well
worth watching. De Niro is the producer, trying to manage Bruce
Willis (on the left) and Stanley Tucci (on the right). Sean Penn, Robin
Wright Penn and Catherine Keener also star in this funny/sad study
of the movie industry.

My day was busy and the best part was the SFMoma where I admired
the new atrium art and headed up to the 3rd Floor for the "Faces"
photography exhibit. The big box was dismal and the few remaining
employees greeted me warmly, but there were hardly any customers
and absolutely no joy. I was depressed when I left.

Husbando was thrilled with Commano2.0, thanks again Mr. Z.

buswoman's holiday

I haven't been to the Moma since I started working at the deYoung,
so today I will rectify that. I miss being downtown lately ~ all my
Borders homeless friends don't visit me at either museum. I will
drop into the big box and spread a little gossip, pick-up my blog
at Kinko's and then buy a March (eeeeeeeek) fast pass for my
no-longer fun nor interesting Muni bus life. Then to Moma and
maybe coffee with my friend Ginger. Busy day-off and all this
after a trip to Costco.

Linda, thanks for the camera-attach graph, I'll work on that,
although you make it sound like no-work at all!

yet another hurdle

Ha, Linda over there on the right once again identified a pesky
ISSUE that I am mulling over in my pea brain. I need to connect
my camera (not shown above) with my new laptop. I have a
vague memory of hi-tech agony the last time I attempted this,
but since "they" have made everything so much easier, or maybe
I'm just numb by now, it probably won't be too bad. Next week...

Today I finally get to work in the Warhol shop at the deYoung.
Come visit and say "howdy" and buy something cool.

the joint was jumpin'

Many, many people of all ages, colors and sexes in a stunning array of
costumes last night at the deYoung. The Friday night events are a
popular and inexpensive date night for a lot of folks and some just
like to head up to the 9th Floor tower to watch the sunset. The
music was LOUD and there were 4 "go go girls" dancing away
on stage ~ dressed in short sparkly silver dresses with white boots.

A lot of families with young children attend these events and
I know that can't be easy to get everyone organized and out to
Golden Gate Park on a Friday night when the parents are
probably v. tired after a week of work. I'm impressed...

oh oh, a go-go

Tonight is a "swinging 60's dance party" at the deYoung. So far
I'm scheduled up in the more sedate YSL shop, but this should
be quite the happening. Miss Trannyshack 2007 (is there more
than one?) is the host(ess) and the Bay Guardian is the sponsor. I
will report tomorrow and tell you all about it. I'm wearing my
feathers, beads, 12" wide bell bottoms and, of course, orange boots.

The left foot of Husbando is down to a manageable blue rubber
sandal and small band aid. First thing he did when we got back
home was to vacuum up all HIS cotton shreds that covered
every carpet.

Lovely sunshine today, hooray!

the printed page

Thanks to Mr. Z, I am having the second edition of this blog
printed at Kinko's. It will be a surprise for Husbando and a fine
record of the final 4 months of 2007 and all of 2008. And, alas,
to me, no writing is "real" until I hold it in my hand ~ that is
still so satisfying to me.

Speaking of the joy of the hard copy, what will we do if the SF
Chronicle goes under? It's not like it's a great newspaper, but
it is ours and The Examiner is a right wing rag that irritates
me whenever I read it.

But wait, today is Thursday and the bale of cotton will be
removed ~ oh happy day! I actually went grocery shopping
yesterday, how tedious is that?

big city blues

Here is one of my daily Round Robin pieces from last week:

I used to close the big Borders store at Post @ Powell every Monday
night. Of course I hated it, even though I was lucky because I didn't have
to do two or three closes a week. We closed at 11pm and around 9 o'clock
a saxophone player would start playing his mournful tunes a few feet
down from our door.

He was terrible, but I believe he thought he was quite talented. An older
Asian guy who probably saw a lot of TV and videos with Stan Getz, Charlie
Parker and Coltrane. He had the movements down (Craig called him
Bobblehead), but he was a terrible musician. He played the first few
bars of all the beloved standbys: Moon River, My Funny Valentine,
Begin the Beguine, etc. Ouch.

One night I was ringing at the registers and talking to a policeman who
was buying a magazine. "Can you do anything about the sax player?"
I asked with a big smile. "Oh, that poor bastard, they made him leave
from down at the Westfield Center", the cop replied.

Sometimes to amuse the staff I would walk down and stand in front
of him and push the button to my walkie talkie and let them hear the
pretty music. They threatened to kill me, but I thought it was good use
of my management skills.

I hope he has a day job and would just come out at night to practice
in public. He had the case to the instrument open, but in all those years
I never saw even a quarter resting in there.

taking Linda's advice

Of course a new printer was the solution and thanks to Linda over
there on the right for the nudge. So I'm all connected and
installed with MacBook and the new Espon NX400 that was on
sale at Target. Under $100 and such a nice clear print. It only
took two phone calls to Epson, some USB cable thing that they
"forgot" to provide. Thankfully we live close to Best Buy.

Notthat, the star of Souvenir is an opera singer and yes, it has
to be difficult to sing that role. Thankfully she does get a chance
to show off her beautiful voice once.

Husbando's foot is still wrapped in a bale of cotton which has
sloughed off onto all carpets in Case Verde. Thursday is the
removal date. His shower entails wrapping the leg in 3 plastic
bags. Hurry Thursday...

way to go, Flo...

Ginger and I went to Souvenir last night at ACT and had a fine
old time laughing and tearing up as Judy Kaye sang loudly and
completely off pitch as Florence Foster Jenkins. Madame Flo
could not sing, could not carry a tune, yet performed at Carnegie
Hall in 1944. There is a v. sweet relationship with her pianist
Cosme McMoon who was her accompanist and loyal friend. She
deluded herself and made many people happy along the way.

the British do it best

Here is Martin Shaw as Inspector Gently, one of those tough
marshmallow-inside sort of strong men. We both love any
mystery story produced in England and this is no exception. So
satisfying on so many levels. And yes, it's from the Flix® and
yes, there are more to come in the series.

benefitting from the stim

See, it works! Yesterday Husbando hobbled to the UPS store with
me and we had our new lower casa re-fi papers notarized and sent
them all off to Wells Fargo. 5.25% is a big savings for us and
many thanks to Himself for spending so many days on the
phone with assorted Debbies/Jasons/Denises to make this
happen right under the deadline. Remember when one person
in one office handled this kind of thing? Now it's a crap shoot
and you never know who you'll get on the phone. Faxes get
lost, phone batteries die when you're on hold and much sleep
is lost before it's a done deal. But I think it's a done deal...

big foot lives here

Husbando had a v. small thingie growing on the top of his foot and
"they" removed it yesterday. This leg wrap is the epitome of medical
overkill (so to speak) and he can't do housework or drive or even
grill cheese sandwiches. Faithful readers know that I don't do house-
work (a union contract sort of thing), but today I did the laundry
after a lot of "turn the top right hand button to the left" and I have
even done the dishes twice. We have to live with this massive leg
until next Thursday and neither of us is filled with joy at this point
in time. I'm cooking too, god help us all. Hurry Thursday.

lions and gorillas, oh my...

Our friend Ginger (Santa Barbara) is traveling in Africa and here
is some of her hurried email from last week. I'm sure she would
want me to publish it here in commano, don't you agree?

Unbelievable trip. Hopefully you will get the e-mail forwarded from Susan. Our first campsite was very close to a pride of lions who at night and in the early morning came walking right through camp to go out and hunt on the plane in front of us filled with zebras, giraffes, wildebeasts, and hyenas. Bets and I are in our tents where we were directed to stay, hearing that wild roar of a lion about 20 feet from your head!! Saw tons of animals and no other people - rather unusual in Africa but that was the purpose of the whole trip - to go where no man (or at least very few) had gone before!! Then of course the gorillas was a thrill beyond belief. The first day hike was the most challenging but made much easier because Bets and I hired a porter to carry our stuff - water, rain gear, jackets, etc. Not only did they carry our stuff but constantly held our hand to guide us through streams, over broken branches, and up steep slopes along with using a huge machete to cut down the vines and brush in front of us. Luxury hiking! Being close to a family of gorillas is wonderful. One hour was too short. Mom and Dad mostly eat and sleep while the kids play acrobatics swinging from branch to branch or wrestling with each other. The second day we were close enough to touch them especially when the big silverback charged me. Supposedly he was upset that another male was feeding in his prize area and wanted him out and I was in the way!! Those guys are huge and fast. As Bets and I are huddled in our "down" positions, he brushed by me leaving my heart racing and my brain feeling fear, fulfillment, and vulnerability all at once!! Off today to Kampala. We loved Kigali and all of Rwanda. We have met some very courageous, fine people. Kigali is one of the cleanest cities I have ever been in. They outlawed plastic bags 2 years ago.

part comedy, part mystery...

We went to the SF Playhouse last night and even though Landscape
of the Body wasn't the BEST play in the world, there were some
great moments and terrific acting by Andrew Hurteau and Susi
Damilano (above). Playwright John Guare is most famous for
his Six Degrees of Separation and The House of Blue Leaves, but
this is still good theater and well worth supporting these hard
working actors and the whole production team.

but does it open?

This is one of the famous Fabergé eggs (Rose Trellis design) out
at the Legion of Honor in the hugely successful Artistic Luxury
exhibit. Like bookstores, each museum has its own personality
and I'm just beginning to understand this. On Sunday I worked
at the new Lux (ahem) gift shop at it was a delightful day because
we were so busy and I didn't have even one minute to miss my
old friends at the big box. And gradually I'm bonding with a few
museum people and that is really the key to a good work world,
isn't it? The headline here refers to a small $20 egg necklace
that we sell, and I heard this question approximately 4,557 times
on Sunday. No, it does not open. Yes, it looks like it does.

theater in the rain

Husbando picked me up at the Legion last night and we drove
through heavy rain to park in front of the Magic Theatre where
we ate cheese sandwiches which he had thoughtfully provided.
Man, that was a rain! I worked v. hard yesterday and was not
looking forward to this play entitled Tough Titty because it's
about breast cancer and I knew that Oni Faida Lampley, the
playwright, died last year after her difficult 12 year battle with
this monster. But of course I was wrong again ~ it was another
life affirming message of "live damn it, live every moment now!"

Elizabeth Carter is fabulous as Angela, the woman undergoing
the battle of her life. Some good news for theatre lovers, despite
the nasty weather there was a sizable audience.

parental issues abound

This was better than we expected and W. actually painted an almost
sympathetic picture of our ex-president. Josh Brolin is terrific as
George and Richard Dreyfus really became Dick Cheney in this
Oliver Stone movie. Thank God those days are behind us, but what
a mess they left for others to try to clean up.

love and masks

Love takes off the masks
that we fear we cannot live
without, and we know
we cannot live within.
James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time

celebrate the rain

I always love opening my morning email from the blogmaid and finding
photos of RR and her cats, dinosaurs, princesses, sunglasses, pouts
and enticing joy. This is how we all should feel about the much-needed
rain that promises to last a week or so. (Thanks, blogmaid!)

My YSL day was easy and today is an at-home with new computer and
a long list of To Do's. It now stretches out luxuriously before me, but we
know it will zip by before I can say "oh, those loathsome Republicans".

the 6-day work week

I have years of experience being boss woman, so yesterday when
my new boss asked me to work today I said "yes". My goal is
to get FT at the museums, and I know that one way to accomplish
this is not to say "no" and not to grumble. It's funny how many
people shoot themselves in the foot on their way up the corporate
ladder. I have absolutely no desire to manage again, but I do
miss the benefits, especially paid vacation days and 401(k)
programs. FT jobs are hard to find anywhere and I wonder if
they will ever return. When I first started at the big box we
wanted ONLY FT people, now their goal is 20% FT and 80%
PT. I have some problems with this concept, but it's rampant
in the corporate world. And then they worry about union activity...

setting up the show

It's interesting to watch the installation process for the Andy Warhol
exhibit that begins next Saturday at the de Young. All very smooth
and organized ~ they plan these things WAY in advance. The gift
shop is ready to open too and I do look forward to working there.
Husbando and I went to the Warhol Museum once when we were
in Pittsburg (PA, not CA) and I bought the obligatory cat notes and
refrigerator magnets.

welcome, little sister

Talk about brand loyalty. New one is on the right.

Funny, isn't it? When I get a new computer all those old feelings of
excitement and fear return ~ am I smart enough for this instrument
of joy and torture? What's this button for? Oh, and the many "oooops"
and "damns!" along the way. Bottom line: I love my new and lighter
laptop and I need a day or two to play with her. The battery charged
in a few hours and her keyboard and screen seem welcoming to me.
Now I need to plan a trip because this girl wants to travel!

of coal and health care

I have been reading an article in The Smithsonian about how they
"mine" coal in West Virginia. It is a disgrace and very dangerous
because they destroy entire mountains from the top down. Of
course the people living there are too poor to mount SF-style
protests, but do NOT believe those TV spots about clean coal.

Then I read an article in The New Yorker about nationalizing
health care and it was so enlightening. It is different in every
country and that is because it builds on their existing systems.
This will happen here too ~ Medicare works, as does the Vets
health care, so with the right pushes, we grow from there.
I don't belong to Kaiser, but they provide great service to many
customers too. It won't happen overnight, but it IS happening.
This article is by Atul Gawande, a doctor in Massachusetts, the
first state to adopt universal health coverage for its residents.

See how Muni is helping me to stay current?

a rare saturday off

This movie wasn't too bad, but a great relief when Kevin finally
cleans up and wears a suit and tie. The Flix® is a little backed
up with hot new releases, so we are getting some of our #5 and
#6 choices, and Swing Vote is one of those. We also watched
the Chinese New Year Parade on TV and I felt for my friends
at the big box who had to clean-up after the people who come
in just to sit or stand at the windows and use the bathroom.

night at the museum

The entire de Young stays open until 8:45pm most Friday
nights and I was dreading my first closing shift there last
night. Who knew? The place was packed with singles, folks
on a date, families, seniors and nary one crazy person. So
different than closing the big box and I was home drinking
my Sleepy Tea by 9:30.

Here is what we (ahem) offer: hands-on-art activity for the
entire family, live (and a little loud) music in the Wilsey
Court, film screening of Belle de Jour, docent-led tour of
YSL and parlor games in the Piazzoni Murals Room. No-
host cocktail bars and the cafe was open for dining.

The music was Orkestar Sali (5 or 6 guys) playing gypsy
music from the Turkish-Romani/Bulgarian region. Little
kids were dancing and twirling and everyone applauded
wildly between sets. (I didn't even miss the pathetic sax
player bobble head "musician" at Post and Powell once
last night.) No more night closing worries for this woman!

today's round robin write

WHITE (the prompt)

I just went down to the basement refrigerator and brought up a white egg
to help me this morning. I haven't used the egg trick for awhile ~ it's
supposed to help us think creatively and focus on our writing. Other
people light a candle, but let's see how the egg works this morning.

There I just cracked it into a small bowl that we found at Community
Thrift on Valencia Street. We love that store. I managed to get some
egg juice on my fingers and now it will probably get msBook all
icky and stuck. I should call her msBook1 because a new laptop
will be appearing at Casa Verde either today or tomorrow. She will
be named msBook2. They are both white, proving once again that
I have not forgotten the prompt.

Usually the color prompts work out well for me, but today seems
to be the exception that proves the rule. Now that would be
an excellent future prompt, don't you think?

The white egg is laying here on the coffee table looking a bit
disgusting. My hands are still sticky and the keyboard seems to
be disgruntled and unwelcoming. Oh, I just remembered that white
is NOT a color, it is lack of color so that explains why I am not
going to send this piece out to the great beyond. I might just
use it in my blog because then I have killed two birds as well as
one white egg this morning.

do you know joan?

We had an all-store meeting at the de Young yesterday morning
and the new kids had to stand up, introduce ourselves and mention
a favorite artist. I am a huge fan of Joan Brown and have loved
her work since we went to some exhibit or other over at the
Oakland Museum. She lived in the Bay Area until her too-early death.

Today I'm all about msBook and writing and answering emails.
Such a pleasure to wake up, pour a cup of very strong black coffee,
head for the living room sofa and lose myself in words. (Yours
and sometimes mine.)

out of sick bay

OK, msBook is home and all cleaned up now. I'm still going to
get a msBook2 because I can't go through this ever again.
Andrew at The Total Mac is wonderful and I know he is v.
tired of my phone calls and temper tantrums. He is also
$378 richer, but it is so worth it!

Thank you again for your many nice (and funny) comments
and now to read my emails. Not a great start for my Round
Robin class, but I'll catch up.

computer dependency

Thanks for all your good thoughts. I have rented a computer
here on Mission Street because I can't stand to be away from
all of you whether on email, blogland or Facebook. Scary,
isn't it?

MsBook should be ready tomorrow and yes, I have decided
to purchase a back-up because we all know that once these
little occurrences begin, it's a slippery slope. She is almost 5.5
years and has her own (ahem) personality. This problem seems
to be in the frame and blah, blah. I will pick her up tomorrow
out on Geary Street at The Total Mac. Forever thanks to
Mistress J for suggesting this fix-it place many years ago.

Working at the Legion was great fun and I did have lunch
outside overlooking the ocean and GG Bridge on my right.
May all our computer problems be small ones!

he keeps on thinking...

Last night I dreamed I was late to my first day working at the Legion
of Honor. That is so preposterous, but the panicky feeling stays with
me. I'm pretty much over "the museum butterflies" of last December,
thankfully. Today will be fun and not very busy at the Legion, so I
can learn all the ins and outs, nooks and crannies, merchandise and
where's the break room? And of course the ocean is right outside to
be enjoyed on my lunch hour. I am one fortunate woman...

oooooooh and ouch

White swan on placid lake...

It's a 10 mile path ~ we only walked 3.5 yesterday.

Who knew? I hopped on BART at 9am yesterday and my friend Ginger
met me for a walk around Lake Chabot in Castro Valley. She walks
fast (!) almost every day and I had to push to keep up with her. It was
so very beautiful, but I am stiff and sore today. Yes, it was worth it
because we solved all of the world's problems and then had lunch
with a lemon cake dessert that we richly deserved.

Writer's group (Tiapos) last night ~ a full house and everyone brought
something to share and giggle about: elephants, dolphins, pesos in
trees, King Kong diner in Iowa (I think), wannabe stilleto heels and
growing older/up. I read a couple of big box pieces and am wondering
if/when to write "that book". Husbando says that it will come to me
when it's ready. Good advice.

accepting change

As usual, Mistress J is correct. It's taken me a few weeks to get
used to sleeping in past 5am and realizing that I have an almost
normal schedule. No midnight shifts, no 6am store openings.
Very little chaos and no major decisions to make in my work
life. Less money, but that's OK, at least I feel secure in my
museum job and am no longer gulping Imodium@ and Ambian®
the way I did for about a year before I stepped down from the
glamor of managing that unmanageable big box situation.

To that end I have enrolled in another Round Robin writing
class because I also realize that I need a push. Having the time
to write doesn't mean that I am writing. At least I know this
much about myself...

Thanks to TGP for lunch at Old Jerusalem yesterday. It
was so delicious and so filling that we ended up having only
brussel sprouts (grilled in olive oil with garlic and lemon)
and ice cream for dinner last night.

hello, neighbor

First, this isn't MY photo, yesterday was clear and sunny. There are
always l-o-n-g lines at the Academy of Sciences right across the music
concourse from me and I have never stepped inside the door until
yesterday. I gave Husbando a membership for xmas, and we went
yesterday at 8:30am for a child-free experience and it was really
quite wonderful. The albino crocodile (Claude) is in hospital, but
we saw the dark one enjoying their rock all by himself. I had to
scamper off to work, but we will return on Tuesday mornings to
have the place almost to ourselves.

use it or lose it

First, apologies for that big mother dollar sign in yesterday's
post. How off-putting.

I need to report and brag a bit about working on the floor of
the big box for the past two days. What I find interesting and
encouraging, is that my book knowledge has mysteriously
returned and I can remember authors and titles in a flash and
take the customer to the right section without checking in
the computer. When I was part of the exalted management
team there, I didn't work on the floor too much and I was quite
stressed much of the time; my memory was the shits. Now
I am my old book-loving fact-spouting self again. Fun stuff.

Alas, the big box does not have some of the books we
absolutely need to sell, so I'm hoping that will improve in
the new fiscal year. Fingers crossed.

Oh, I'm still reading The Cazalet Chronicles, thanks to
our blogmaid.

recessions I have known

I've been trying to be optimistic here and recall past recessions and
how we all got through them. However last time I didn't lose $$$
in the stock market and the banks all felt safe and secure. Being
downtown yesterday was a shock ~ closed stores, no traffic. Of
course January is always slow, but this is way worse. So much for
my sunny, optimistic self, right?

may I have those 2 hours back?

Here is Steve Coogan in Hamlet 2, which we watched last night. There
were a few worthwhile scenes, such as Elizabeth Shue always showing
up in her nurse's uniform, plus a student named Epiphany, but it was
a predictable story of a run-down teacher producing a must-see hit
play and saving all drama departments in all high schools in America.

meet mr. bucket

I've been on some sort of strange 3-day cleaning spree here and
have scrubbed down 8 high-up shelves and washed every item
along the way. I discovered that the phone only rings while going
up the step stool and of course relearned that it's often easier
to give stuff to the Salvation Army than to wash it. Why we keep
certain things always puzzles me, but I've collected 5 bags for
donation and I'm feeling productive and liking our minimalist
shelves. Oh, and my socks are now sorted by color and organized
in see-through bags. How long will that last?

Today I work in the YSL shoppe and maybe we'll see this tee
shirt again on a customer: APATHY ~ I can take it or leave it.

meet mr. gibbs

How long has it been since I watched political news all day? Frankly,
everything I know about the role of the Press Secretary I learned on
West Wing. How can these press people handle all the silly (and astute)
questions from the media? I would lose my temper or stomp out or
trip all over my words. Robert Gibbs did a great job yesterday, but
any thoughts that the press corps is going to go easy on President
Obama were quickly put to rest. And I loved watching Hillary Clinton
take over the State Department ~ imagine, me, interested in our
government again. Amazing times...

the geoff hoyle fan club

We have been fans of Geoff Hoyle since his Pickle Family Circus
days and last night we thoroughly enjoyed his work-in-progress
entitled Geezer at The Marsh. Of course it was SRO, one night
only and at age 62, Hoyle seems as limber and agile as he was
in his youth. He mentioned that people ask him if it hurts to
fall down now (he will always be a clown) and he looked at us
all and very quietly, yet emphatically, said, "yes". A bonus was
our after-theatre walk with The Great Plotniks and as TGP said
correctly, "we are the only people in SF who can't find a coffee
shop". For some reason the grim subjects of aging and death
seem easier to swallow when shared with a genius like Hoyle
and a bunch of people heading for Geezerland and trying to
avoid The Grim Reaper as long as possible.
(The photo above is from Geoff's famous 3-legged dance. A truly
hysterical performance ~ see it if you ever can!)

many celebrations this week!

Check out this wonderful cake from Mrs.TGP for President Obama and
Husbando, whose birthday it is today. It's a coffee cake shaped like our
very own castle here on Mullen Avenue. And it is yummy indeed.
We had a fine dinner party for Husbando on Monday night ~ I
know you've missed our table pictures. Check out the tulips in January...
When we pulled out the table slats and pads on Monday, Husbando
said, "hundreds of dinner parties have been celebrated on this table
throughout the years". Very sweet. Here is the after-party, a mess
equals a good time, doesn't it?

And today? I'm up early watching yesterday. Many Kleenex® being
destroyed. These are glorious times and I want to watch this
again and again. When will the DVD be out?

a very, very special day

Our hearts are in Washington, DC this morning and I am lapping up
the early TV coverage. Alas I have to work at the de Young, but I'll
catch up on everything this evening. We have so much to celebrate today.

a little R and F, please

Last night we both enjoyed ACT's Rich and Famous by John
Guare. Gregory Wallace (left) and Brooks Ashmanskas above,
are two of the four talented actors who sing, dance and cavort
for an hour and 40 minutes in this nonstop salute to fame, glory
and oops, what then? This was written in 1974 and recently
reworked by the playwright for this production. My favorite
scene was when our hero visits his parents who have invested
everything in their son ~ and let him know it. Funny stuff.

winter flix®

What fun the cast must have had making this great Coen Brothers
movie! Brad Pitt is absolutely terrific and I loved seeing John
Malkovich again. (He spends almost the entire time in his jockey
shorts and bathrobe.) Burn After Reading makes fun of the
physical fitness mania, online dating, the Washington, DC scene
and movies about the above. Of course Frances McDormand,
George Clooney and Tilda Swinton are excellent too. Lots of
applause from commano ~ rent it now.

winter tee vee

It's great to have Damages back again and after two episodes we
can say that it's just as intriguing as Season One. We have some
new characters including William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden and
Timothy Olyphant, who used to be the sheriff in Deadwood.

Then Sunday night we are back to Utah for Big Love. Do we get
a new wife #4? There's always room for one more...

all aboard and all admire

Yesterday before work we visited the Conservatory of Flowers. Note
Claude the albino alligator who lives at the Academy of Sciences. Also
admire the blue sky, especially if you live in say, Chicago.
This is the model train exhibit and it's great fun indeed. Our Am Trak
to/fro Portland in '06 did not work as well as this one.
The bridge and the Port of SF ~ not to scale, as you may have noticed.
All buildings are made from recycled materials. Transamerica is
entirely constructed of computer keyboard letter keys.

Cable cars too ~ and not in traditional places. Artistic license.
Mah jong tiles and some inside-computer part thingies make up this
lovely gate to Chinatown.