leaving my cats and dogs...

over-packed as usual

the cat next door ~ Husbando calls him "the big ass orange cat"

Fernando?

Scutaro?

Brie!

Rocky?

Margo?

I can't keep track of all the dogs' names ~ I do know that a lot have been
adopted, especially the puppies. I had another pleasant few hours at the
SPCA and the walk to/fro was extra nice hot yesterday morning. November
is the new October ~ I made that up. Applaud.

Ginger and I head to Philly tomorrow. Umbrellas all packed. Tonight we
will watch the election, hoping that the Great Plotniks will join us. They
are back from their l-o-n-g and wonderful trip to Spain and Portugal.

sorrow, outrage, revenge

We weren't looking forward to this play, except for the fact that Olympia
Dukakis is playing the Greek Chorus Leader role. Well, last night she
called out sick and we were initially disappointed, but guess what?
It really is a GREAT play,  ACT pulled out all the stops with this 45 minute
drama about a daughter who wants to kill her mother who killed her
father who killed another daughter.  Lots of weeping and hysteria, but
somehow it all worked and special applause to Rene Augesen who must
be exhausted after she emotes superbly through her role as Elektra. Whoooosh.

I predict big holiday sales this year. Our downtown SF was packed last night with
shoppers ~ hordes of them. That's right, it is November. Hmmmmmmmmm.

sunday sugar rush

Dynamo Donuts ~ 24th St. and York

Worthy of Mother's silver

We had never bought these famous bacon donuts before, so this morning my
walk included a stop-off at Dynamo where there was a short line. Since
we know these probably aren't too good for our health, I only bought two
and because they are $3 each, that was enough of a treat for us. They are
cake donuts and I actually prefer the Krispy Kreme® kind, but not a
crumb remained, you'll be happy to hear.

The setting back of the clocks screwed up my inner timer, as usual. I
would prefer Daylight Savings Time all year round.

memorial week

Taco Bell in Pathetica (Thursday)

Playground ~ 39th and Ortega (Sunday)

I missed Charlie's official service since we were in Chicago, but the Blogmaid
and I met his daughter, Jen, at his favorite restaurant in Pacifica. We had a very
pleasant time and had some laughs and tears as we remembered this fine and
funny man. Like many of us, she was a Daddy's Girl and misses him terribly.
Jen was wearing his favorite Giants sweatshirt as we ate his favorite food and
each pocketed a handful of the secret sauce, just as he would have done.

There was a Borders mini-reunion at the sad occasion of Stacey's memorial
last Sunday. She was only 36 and had a two week surprise hospital stay
before she died of cancer, quickly. It's shocking that one so young and vibrant
could be gone without time to plan or prepare. She had just started her new
job at City Target and was soooooo excited about that. The Big Box Family
was there to show our support and remember her impact on our lives.

more than a food court

The Buckhorn Grill

What a difference the new City Target has made ~ the Metreon Center is
now bustling with new restaurants and lots of customers. It used to be
deserted and vaguely depressing. Yesterday Dancing Jen and I had a
lovely (and delicious!) lunch here at the Buckhorn and we spoke of
many things and analyzed many people. A very nice time, thanks, DJ.

scenes from a celebration

BART did a great job with the crowds

I leaned on this security barrier

A fashion statement

It's always Halloween in SF

Not easy to see through her...

Back home at La Taqueria ~ still all Giants

Next year I'll hit Market Street for the World Series parade. But I was a
bit late for that, early (I thought) for the City Hall. Not so, thousands of
people ahead of me. Still, it was good to be there for people-watching
and smoke-inhaling, even though I don't care much for crowds. I'm glad
I went, just to soak up the atmosphere and think back to the days at
Candlestick when we'd be part of a crowd of 5,000 or so on a foggy
night. My city sure has some crazies, but maybe these were imported
from small towns to the East or North? Anyway, it was a blast, but so
very nice to come home to a quiet house...

My favorite question was from a young woman. "Is there a parking
lot close to here?" Quite a few people asked me WHY the barrier was
there and I just smiled and said, "Security" and then it turns out that
Husbando and I were close to each other, but the cell phones weren't
working. I was impressed with BART and Muni getting all those people
around town. Lots and lots of kids and dogs ~ combining the event
with Halloween made it all seem even more surreal than it was. Ah, Frisco.

happy halloween

So much going on today~ I have an early meeting at the deYoung and then I
head to the parade downtown. Husbando will already be there, so we might
communicate via cell phone, or not. Rain is predicted for tonight, not good
for the little ones. I hope to have some unusual parade photos for you in
tomorrow's post. They expect a good turnout (subtle humor) and I'm glad
I'm tall ~ it helps for parades.

Reminder ~ you can go online and donate to the Red Cross. This Sandy
storm in the East is beyond belief. Horrible. What hath global warming done?

life outside baseball

I still spend my Monday mornings at the SPCA ~ these photos were from
a week ago and I'm pleased to report that most of the black kitties have
been adopted with the Halloween and Giants special promos. No fee
for black or orange colored animals and I bet they were generous with
what that constitutes. The pups are Sid and Nancy and he was adopted.
They are HUGE for 4 month old dogs, but adorable, of course. Their
tails wagged in complete circles. Nancy awaits her new forever home,
I hope it's a large one. Yesterday she had a new pup roomie and they are
getting along just fine, snuggling and rough housing. This stint starts my
week off on the exact right note, as you can probably tell.

World Series Game #4

Dream come true and lots of other glorious cliches. We need new tee shirts
for the parade on Wednesday. I'm up early again for KNBR and the above
Chronny this morning. It's still not easy to believe this, by the way. Special
thanks to my Giant friends who make this even better, if possible. I mean
what would I do without the Blogmaid loving or hating baseball with almost
every single damn game?

World Series Game #3

Here we have the fans gathering in front of their park in Detroit. I know they
are filled with hope and honestly, I have trouble when the TV cameras study
their public sorrow as the game wound down last night. Our amazing Giants
won 2 to 0 with Vogelsong, Timmy and Romo pitching gems again. I do
believe we will win it ALL and the toothless Tigers will retreat to analyze why
they lost. I have come to believe that there is a lot of behind-the-scene stuff
that the Giants do right ~ scouting teams and looking for individual strengths
and weaknesses of each player, employing someone just to practice pitch
with the left hand, etc. (One of the Detroit players complained that they never
had batting practice with a left-hander.) And of course Skipper Bochy is
calm and very, very smart. So tonight? It's possible that we could sweep
and bring that trophy home one more time ~ just try to imagine that!

playing catch-up

There was no baseball (!) yesterday, so I have time and space to review the
fabulous movie Argo and encourage you to see it. We went downtown last
Sunday morning and after the movie we had lunch at Super Duper, right
next to Target. City Target is already a destination for many of us and I'm
sure their sales are above plan because they are so well-stocked and busy.
Anyway, the garlic fries at Super Duper are better than the ballpark and
cheaper too, and the burger is just fine.

As you may know, Argo tells the story of the release of the Iran hostages
back in the early eighties. Edge-of-your-seat kind of film. Excellent.

The Great Plotnik's birthday was yesterday and since it doesn't end in zero
or five, he didn't have to agonize. Plus he is in Spain and it's always easier
to have birthdays in another country. Happy Birthday, Great Plottie...

Tonight the Giants are in Detroit and it will be cold, like so many of our
summer games here in SF. We could use another WIN.

World Series Game #2

Do you know Mad Bum? He's all of 23 now and pitched us to a 2-0 Win last
night. Exhausting, all this wonderful baseball. Perhaps we'll wrap up the
series in Detroit, or maybe they'll be back in our Jewel home field if we
lose the 3 games back there. I am doing other things during the day, but
first things first ~ that was one hell of a game. Especially loved Prince
Field being tossed out at home plate and the bunt foul ball that didn't
roll foul. Ah, this is such fun. For whomsoever doesn't know every name
of every player on our roster, meet Madison Bumgarner, one of our great arms.

World Series Game #1

The national media predicted that the BEST PITCHER IN THE WORLD
(Verlander of the Detroit Tigers) would squish our Giants and yet, and
yet...we won! Zito and Timmy pitched beautifully and our Panda (above)
hit three (did you say 3?) home runs. It was a wonderful first game with
so many feel-good stories. Once again I'm up early reading the sports
news and listening to KNBR and smiling. Oh man, this is such fun.

musical history lesson

Last night we went to the new digs of the SF Playhouse to see Bloody,
Bloody Andrew Jackson, a one act rock musical and about the best
way I know of to learn history. Andrew Jackson founded the Democratic
Party and was called a jackass, hence we have the donkey as our symbol.
Was he a fine, upstanding patriot? Well, no, he loved to kill Indians,
Brits and Spaniards and he loved dueling and cockfighting. We had
a splendid time and we like our seats and the lush new lobby, too.

the Giants win the pennant!

I'm up early to savor last night's win ~ listening to KNBR and reading the Sporting
Green. The final inning was incredible in the pouring rain and we were all afraid
that the umpires would call a dry-the-flooded-field break in the 9th inning with one
out to go. Oh, man, what a night. One would think our 9 to 0 win would be a
laugher, but who could leave this game?

The World Series starts tomorrow night, here. Amazing. So many heroes these
past two weeks. Will Zito pitch the first game? Husbando watched some of the
debate and reported that our President knocked it out of the park too.

Game #7 ~ tonight

Sorry, Mr. President and Man with Romnesia, I can't watch the debate tonight

because our Giants are going to battle with St. Louis for the honor of giving

me a heart attack at some point in the World Series. Well, I won't pass out

if St. Louis plays Detroit, but if our Giants win again tonight the exquisite

torture begins again. Vogey pitched a wonderful game last night and Matt

Cain is on the hill tonight. It's all so very exciting. Even if they lose tonight

(what?) it's been a great post-season and way more than this fan expected.

It was raining cats and dogs on my way to the SPCA, but by the time I

was ready to leave about noon today, the sun was out and I got to lug my

wet rain coat and brollie all the way home. But let's hope the skies are

clear tonight for Los Gigantes, so it was an easy sacrifice.

oh, beautiful man

This is a small exhibit at the deYoung, up on the second floor. Although it's
supposed to be featuring assorted ballet costumes, the best part of the show
are all the videos where you can sit for hours and watch this incredibly
talented man dance. There is one special room with memories of when Nureyev
visited San Francisco and was arrested (briefly) for smoking pot. This was
back in the 70's and it's fun to read all the old newspapers. Worth seeing,
especially if you're a ballet nut, which I am not.
 

redemption

Barry Zito pitched the game of his life in St. Louis last night. And he saved
the post-season for us because if we had lost, that was IT. So the Giants
are home for Game #6 Sunday night. This would make such a great book ~
how Zito pitched poorly for years and was maligned by the fans and not
allowed to pitch in the 2010 World Series. Zito who kept working, surprising
everyone this year by winning more games than he lost and by working
every day, changing and improving his pitching, etc. Really, it's one of the
reasons we love baseball, because it inspires us. And I believe "they" said
that in this 5 to 0 win, Zito never pitched over 86 mph. Now we only need
to win two more games and we head to World Series 2012.

what is so rare?

As shirt sleeve weather here at the beach? Yesterday morning the Blogmaid
and I walked down in Pathetica and then enjoyed a latte and crumble cake
at the renowned Chit Chat Cafe. The waves were pretty high and we
watched three brave surfers as we talked about everything under the sun,
which is so welcome every October here in San Francisco.

The Giants lost Game #4 in St. Louis last night. They must win tonight or
we all become instant Detroit Tiger fans. Well, at least I do.

welcome to the city!

Yesterday I visited the new City Target store down at the Metreon Center
on Mission and 2nd (I think). In any case, it's just as wonderful as I expected
and we don't have to drive to Colma anymore. I bought three basic tops
because I want to help the economy of Guatemala, poked around the store
and had a latte at the new Target Starbucks. When we walked around Chicago
we popped into their new City Target and now we welcome a second store
here in SF out at Geary and Masonic. Love this new Target strategy. City
folk need quality products at low prices too!

I spent a lot of time watching the Giants in game #3 yesterday. We lost
and there was a 3 hour rain delay. Tedious. Love/hate baseball, as usual...