Another Gay Day

A Test of Strength? No, LIFE

2009-09-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

It has been a very trying time in my life. The death of my boss and mentor has jolted me to the core. I thought, as with all of his trials, he would triumph. How do I let go, how do I say good-bye to someone who has impacted me so greatly?

On top of this, my grandmother, whom I love so dearly, is starting her first major battle with sickness at the age of 96 (she had to have a pace-maker put in a few years back). If we could all be so lucky. The doctors have said there is nothing they can do and slowly my grandmother's heart and body are degenerating. Her mind is sharp and she is able to move about of which the family is very fortunate and grateful to still have and enjoy.

Additionally I just found out my 42 year old best friend had to have two lymph-nodes removed from her neck after having an abscess in her tooth that then caused her lymph-nodes to swell to an extraordinary size. All tests have come back negative, cancer and sexually transmitted diseases, but the oncologist is very concerned and the lymph-nodes have been shipped to Maryland for further tests.

This is a lot for anyone to manage, singularly, on their own; one battle at a time please, but to have to grieve and worry through all three is a new challenge.

Not to say I have any difficulties compared to my mentor's family or what my grandmother is personally going through, wondering when the next phase will begin and what that will be. Imagine hearing from the doctors there is nothing they can do. And my friend, my dear friend, having to wait for the results of the further tests, wondering if she will begin the battle with a form of cancer or some other unknown-at-the-moment condition.

With my boss's death, people are saying, 'I was meaning to visit him' or 'I wished I had called'. With my grandmother, the family wonders if there is more we could have done or can do now. And with my friend, we all hope the results come back negative and that we have many more years to spend with her.

I have found through other losses in my life, there really isn't enough time. My family is very close and they have spent thousands of hours with Grammie and I saw Grammie at least weekly, but, of course, we wonder 'could we have spent more time, could we have experienced that time with more love and attention?' 'Could we have brought her more joy by doing more things?'

Only one person can answer that question and we seldom dare to ask. A common phrase is "life gets in the way". I'm sure each of these people have said those exact words about another person in their life who is no longer living. Why do we question our connections at the time of possible departure or after the death of someone? Wouldn't it be better to evaluate and re-evaluate all of our relationships? Maybe I should put in my calendar, monthly, an examination of one friend or a few friends or family; what have I done with them this past year, what can I do to let them know I love them?

I know, it won't happen and I don't think it's practical, really. Family is family, we are stuck with the good, with the difficult and with the continued drama that close-knit loving people endure. Would you really want it any other way? Friends are people we choose to spend our time with. We get something in turn from our interactions. They know us on a level that family doesn't, and they continue to choose to be with us as we continue to be with them.

My boss and mentor taught me to experience life to its fullest. I have heard that all throughout my life from those who regret decisions they have made in their past and from others who wished their lives were different. I am fortunate. Though my life is not perfect, I am pleased with my choices and where I am in my life. Yes, I would make a lot of changes along the way, if I had the chance, mostly to avoid the pain and heart-ache of past mistakes and choices that did not lead to a great conclusion. But we don't have that ability, and neither do the 3 wonderful individuals I talk about here.

What we can do is remind our family, our friends, our loved ones that they are important, that they matter, that you love them and you wish and hope for nothing but joy and happiness in their lives and a painless and long-way-away death surrounded by family and friends with the knowledge you did everything you wanted to do and you told everyone you wanted to tell that you love them... and I DO love them oh so much.

My Heart Aches

2009-09-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

Today I grieve for the loss of an amazing life.

Read his blog: http://radiowalker.wordpress.com/

If you have not met Jeffrey, you truly missed out. Each of us who knew him and were enveloped in his passion for life were really, really fortunate. The ride, at times, might not have been smooth sailing, but damn it was a hell of a lot of fun!

I could say more but, frankly, I'll let the man speak for himself.

Read his blog, experience his life. He truly is an amazing life.

Present is past

2009-05-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

Talking to friends on the Vineyard and listening to James Taylor makes me think about years past; growing up in Maine where family was always around.

Growing up in Maine, I had a very large, extended family. My mother was one of 6 and each of her siblings had children and even some of their children were having children.

I must have had 20 or more cousins (at least it seemed that way) and I was the youngest or one of the youngest of the gang so I learned a lot from them that maybe I wouldn't have learned about until later in life if they weren't around; things about family gossip, sex, smoking, dirty language and all the other things that move us from the clutches of innocence to the realm of reality.

Innocence may be nothing more than ignorance but I do think of my childhood fondly. I was so fortunate to be brought up in the bosom of love and care. I felt it with every smile, every wrinkling of the nose from my mom, every warm hug from Nana, every laugh from a cousin, every night I went to bed, knowing when I got up in the morning there was a family, oh so eccentric, unbelievably funny, all too often annoying, just a little bit crazy, and more loving than anyone could ever imagine; there to say to me, with the warmest of hearts, "good morning".

More to come.

* * * * * *

We glide along the night darkened country roads warmed from the hot summer day. We are returning from a day of swimming at the lake and being with family and friends. The caressing breeze cools my face and neck and I hear, in the distance as we ride by, frogs and crickets and see the familiar and welcoming flickers of the fire-flies in the fields passing by. I look up into the pitch-black night sky and I can millions of far-a-way stars and planets flickering, like the fire-flies in the fields below.

There are no street or porch lights to shine our way, just the limited focus of the car's headlights, which are no match for the darkness of these impenetrable ancient woods. No words are spoken, no music is heard other than that from the night creatures of rural Maine.

This is a familiar scene for me, growing up in rural Maine. Summers are about being with family and friends, swimming in sun-warmed lakes, sand in our feet, bug bites on our arms and legs and no worries in our souls. Just thoughts of what we would be doing tomorrow during another long summer day and night.

* * * * * *

Crickets creek, frogs shreek, fire-flies blink and I am looking up at the warm summer night sky wondering who, so far away, is looking back.

* * * * * *

Amsterdam

2009-04-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

"The verdure of the trees reflecting strongly upon large windows which are kept bright and free of dust, add infinitely to their luster and magnificence." wrote a visiting American back in the 1700's.

This succinctly explains Amsterdam to the modern traveler as it did during the revolutionary years of Europe and America.

The brick and stone buildings shine with spotless oversized windows that reflect the branches and leaves of the tree-lined canals.

Amsterdam is a place you must experience, rather than just explore. My first visit in 2000 was about exploring, visiting the sites, going to the Keukenhof and the cheese auctions in Alkmaar. My time was spent mainly in the center between Centraal Station and Dam Square, very bustling and busy and hosts to the travelers and locals who like the adult night life. Because of this, Amsterdam did not enthrall me as Paris, Egypt or Bruges did and still do.

This time I came to work and I've done more than just explore, I've experienced Amsterdam, and now I have a very different perspective of this place of 700,000+ people. There are the frustrations of running a business in this aged and lovely city, but there are also the triumphs and joys of spending one's precious time here.

Let's start with the basics.

Amsterdam began to emerge from a sleepy fishing village in the late 1200's at the mouth of the Amstel river. Lords van Amstel feuded with counts and bishops that lasted for another century.

By the late 1300's, controlled by the Dukes of Burgundy, the little city perfected the method of curing herring (in 1385) and started to become a truly rich port as it also became the stopping ground to export beer and other wares from its mutli-purpose built homes that were also warehouses.

In 1452, the second major fire caused legislation that outlawed any buildings being constructed of wood. A few years earlier the marriage of Philip the Good of Burgundy to Isabella of Portugal put the Low Countries (as Netherlands was known at the time) in control by the all powerful Habsburg dynasty. FYI: Philip's son, Charles the V became, in later years, the King of Spain.

In 1568, the Dutch Revolt under William of Orange (a Protestant) arose and the power of the Catholics eroded quickly and within 10 years the Alteration occurs, where the Catholics are expelled from Amsterdam. William of Orange was assassinated in 1584, when he was shot on the staircase of his quarters in Delft (not sure if any of his porcelain broke from the shot).

In 1634 tulip mania begins in Amsterdam and Rembrandt becomes a Dutch sensation and in 1648, after many decades of war with Spain (80 years), the Treaty of Munster ends the fighting and the Netherlands is born.

For the pilgrims of the new world, later these United States of America, prior to sailing across the Atlantic, they went to Leiden to escape persecution from the British and stayed for 11 years before setting sail in 1620. There is a museum in Leiden describing their time in the Netherlands.

The 17th and 18th centuries were of great expansion and creation of wealth for the people of Amsterdam, including the creation of the East India Company as well as it's expansion around the world, including New Amsterdam, later to be called New York City.

In the 1960's, as in other parts of the world, strife and riots shook Amsterdam and droves fled the city and not until the late 1980's was the city once again a place of tranquility.

For those who are use to loud noises from city life, Amsterdam has to be one of the most silent cities in the world due to the few cars, relatively speaking, that travel throughout its streets. But when you are at street level, the site is anything but tranquil. There are throngs of people, bicycles, trams and mopeds and each one is plying their way through the narrow streets of Amsterdam. But, thankfully, most go about without any incidents of crashing into one another, it's actually quite remarkable!

When you visit this city, and please spend at least a week, rent a bicycle, it is the only real way to get around. Their bikes are single speed and many do not have hand breaks, just use your pedals to break. It takes getting use to. Many of the bikes are Chinese made and they sound it... the clanking of cheap metal can be constantly heard along bike paths all over the city. New and shiny just is not seen in the bikes of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is a city that loves the arts and they have many museums, some are famous, like the Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum whereas others are unique, like the Torture Museum, Hashish and Marijuana museum as well as distinct as the Bag and Purse Museum.

The most famous is the Rijksmuseum which holds some of the cities best and most valuable works of art.

There is a lot of construction going on at the Museumplein at the moment, with renovations happening at the Rijksmuseum and with the just-begun new construction at the Stedelik Museum, which will be a white box made of what looks like fiberglass (but one can only guess - possibly cement) with a very large overhang. This is the upscale part of Amsterdam with extremely large homes and expensive international shops all within walking distance of the 1860's built Vondelpark with its English inspired landscape covering 110 acres.

The I AMsterdam is a campaign to advertise this fascinating city. Art can be found all over Amsterdam, from the classical to the modern, from the religious to the outrageous, as you can see below.

Art can be VERY subjective.

Of course the Netherlands is known for it's tulips and a trip cannot be complete in the Spring without visiting one of its flower attractions. The Bloemenmarkt is the last remaining floating flower market in Amsterdam and it is very touristy, selling bulbs that are shipped all over the world.

Bloemenmarkt is one canal long and not anything special. For the truly outstanding, go outside of Amsterdam where the real flower gardens are to be found.

One of the charms of any city is to find a place that makes you feel welcomed. Mine was this little watering hole next to a more famous pub Cafe Belgique. But I like this one much more.

This great little watering hole is called Bols Proeflokaal De Drie Fleschjes and is located at Gravenstraat 18 and is owned by a man who lives the good life. He opens it up when he feels like it and he hangs out with the patrons while a bartender tends to their needs. They rent out the barrels to businesses and when the barrel runs out, you either buy another fill or another name goes on it. A great little spot that is not too well known but well worth a walk-by to see if it is open. They sell great beers (some from Belgium) and some Dutch gin (genever or jenever) and their phone number is: 020-6248443.

Of course one of the greatest draws are the canals. Amsterdam first started with the Amstel river and as time went on, the fishermen and farmers diverted some of its water into canals and over time, more and more fortified canals were built to make Amsterdam the water-laden city it is today. It is actually below sea-level, with only the heart of the center of Amsterdam being about 7 feet above sea water.

Boathouses on one of the many canals in Amsterdam. At a time, not too long ago, it was cheaper to own a houseboat than it was to buy a house or flat, but the city felt too many houseboats were congesting the city's canals, so increased taxes have now made living on a houseboat a luxury or a privilege rather than a convenience of euros. Many of them are floating gardens and hold a romantic voice in peoples' hearts and minds, even from those people who are just floating by.

One way to see the sites from the canals is to take one of many canal boat rides that are available to all, for the right price. But if you are lucky, as I was, ride with a local, the time spent can be quite wonderful.

The Atlassian Amsterdam office crew had the good fortune of doing just that. Valerie, who is part of our partner program and who is responsible for the European partners, invited us on her boyfriend's (Nicholas) 21 foot boat to cruise the canals in what was definitely the nicest weather Amsterdam has had in 2009. It is late in the evening and I still didn't need a jacket.

Atlassian crew enjoying the ride along the canals in Amsterdam.

You see many of amazing buildings - grachtenhuizen (canal houses) - all along the route. Many buildings built in the 1600 and 1700's with some later in the 1800's and even the 1900's.

This row of canal houses are on the Herengracht many of which were built in the 1600 and 1700's. Some of them may be leaning a little to the left or the right, but they still show their true majesty after 350 years.

Amsterdam has many styles of buildings which most were built after 1521 (since they are of stone) and the 1600 and 1700's are the majority of the buildings.

This row of canal houses is unique since all of them have shudders

I also love this row of canal houses with their lovely red shudders

One of my favorite buildings is currently the Theatermuseum. I am hoping to go inside later this week. The Theatermuseum was built in 1617 and was known as the Bartolotti House and was built in the Dutch Renaissance style of Hendrick de Keyser. This building is located at Herengracht 168.

Another of my favorite buildings is the Concertgebouw or Concert Hall in the Museumplein.

Concertgebouw is a Neo-Renaissance building that was open to a public architectural competition and the architect AL van Gendt won. There are two music halls and the Grote Zaal (main concert hall) has almost perfect acoustics even though the architect had no musical knowledge. It's first concert was on April 11, 1888 with 160 musicians and a 600 person choir. In 1983 the foundation was having subsidence issues and the entire building had to be lifted to remove the old original supporting piles, which were 43 feet deep, and pour in concrete pilings that are now 59 feet deep.

And here we have reflections on a canal.

Canal houses reflected on a canal

One of the more famous areas is that of the 7 bridges. Since we were boating through it, I only got photos of half of the bridges, but it is still amazing to see.

Part of the seven (7) bridges, which is one of the most photographed in all of Amsterdam.

As we were boating along, we heard this music and found this.

A Rock and Roll band were standing in and on an American car while playing and singing to the crowd.

On the eastern side of Amsterdam, we found this pizzaria.

Boats motor up and give their order and in a few moments, pizza is handed through the window at this pizzaria.

One great event during our evening of boating was Sherali's daughter got to be captain.

Our new captain Jasmine drove under 5 or more bridges and did a spectacular job... we were all so proud of her!

For three times now, I have run into this canal performer and sure enough, during our boating, I saw him again!

This canal performer blows his horn while cranking his organ and maneuvering his boat... and he actually sounds really good.

One of the more famous sections of Amsterdam, also on the east side, is the Red Light district.

The Red Light district is famous and infamous for the women in the windows and the legal prostitution. People in the business are treated with respect and have public and business clout. Just another example of the tolerance that is Amsterdam.

As stated before, Amsterdam is a very quiet city, especially outside of the center, you just don't have those constant city humming noises that you do in most others and in the early nights it is even quieter, quite serene actually.

This is one example of a canal at night with lights reflecting off a calm, benevolent canal.

So why the three XXX's on flags, posts and elsewhere?

For many people, it represents pornography and debauchery, which Amsterdam is well known for, but in fact the flag of Amsterdam depicts three Saint Andrew's Crosses and is based on the escutcheon in the coat of arms of Amsterdam. The flag was adopted on February 5, 1975... so there!

One of the most interesting and peaceful places in Amsterdam is just four blocks from the frenetic Dam Square is the Begijnhof.

Begijnhof from the outside.

Begijnhof - English Reformed Church was built in 1419 for the Catholic sisterhood sanctuary known as the Bengijntjes for single women who did not take monastic vows but educated the poor and took care of the sick. The church was turned to a Protestant denomination following the Alteration in 1578.

the green past the church.

Begijnhof Chapel, across from the church, still holds symbols of its Catholic past.

People continued to practice their Catholic beliefs, in secret, at the Begijnhof Chapel until 1795 when tolerance returned, including religious freedoms.

Begijnhof - Het Houten Huis - No. 34 - is the oldest building in Amsterdam from around 1420 and one of the two remaining all wooden structures/buildings in Amsterdam since the city banned wooden buildings in 1521 due to devastating fires and also since most of the buildings in the Begijnhof were not built until after the 1500's.

Begijnhof - Palm Sunday celebrations, surprisingly, no palms, but some other branch was used as the reverend spread holy water over his congregation. Plaques that came from some of the buildings at the Begijnhof can be seen on the far wall.

These are close-ups of the various plaques that came from the buildings inside the Begijnhof. Of course they have a religious note about them. If you can guess what they say or are about, good for you. I'm still guessing.

A truly magnificent spot just north of Vondelpark is Hollandsche Mangege, or the Netherlands Horse School. This building opened in 1882 and was designed after the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. In the early 1980's the building, and school, were threatened with demolition but due to a major outcry from its neighbors, funds were raised and the school continues today.

Hollandsche Mangege's beautiful entrance.

Hollandsche Manege - a sweet horse who just wanted to say hello.

One of the two large corrals where students can learn how to ride as well as how to train their horses. Each of the students, on top of getting lessons, must perform duties at the Hollandsche Manege, like feeding the horses, cleaning the stalls and taking care of their gear.

The cafe overlooks one of the corrals. Barring the smell of horse manure, it is quite lovely.

These are the horses in the Hollandsche in 2007... oh so cute.

Adaptation

2009-03-29T00:11:00.000-07:00

What makes an otherwise intelligent human being make the choices we make when we fly?

For instance; sitting in a seat that is too high for one’s legs to comfortably be parallel to the floor for, oh, say, 10 hours and to do it happily?

What otherwise intelligent human being would take the idea of eating food that is at best, bird feed, and at worst, 100 year-old landfill?

I receive a meal known to the airline industry as breakfast. It consisted of a quite tasty strawberry banana yogurt and some kind of breakfast sandwich that when opened revealed a meat with puss-like white edges and a cheese that probably looked its best when it was still in the cow’s utter as milk. Upon further investigation, the bread was completely devoid of any resemblance of actually having yeast used in its baking, if that’s what you can call it, baking. Actually formation would be a better word.

You would be right in suggesting other airlines may have better foods, say Air France would have decent cheeses and breads, and wine, but let’s face it, it’s still cheese, bread and wine that you would never eat and drink in a French cafe, or a French home.

But we do it, we do it once, twice, maybe even three times a year or more because we are, if anything, adaptable creatures. If it means I must eat a block of bread and a cheese so colored that one wonders if it was dipped in Cheez Whiz prior to being boarded, then one does so to end up at their final destination, whether it be Paris, San Francisco or Sheboygan. Sometimes it is the destination and not the journey.

Paris!

2008-07-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

Sunset over the Seine

I was in Paris from Monday, July 7 to Monday July 21... which means I was there for Bastille Day. Every visit I make to Paris just confirms my love affair with the most wonderful city in the world... well at least for me.

At the bottom of this post I will list what helped me, what suggestions I would give and my do's and don'ts of Paris.

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A little history about Paris.
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Its earliest inhabitants are from around 4200 BC and mostly on the Ile de la Cite. A sub-tribe of the Celtic Senones called the Parisii lived here. The Romans came and conquered Paris in 55 BC due to the river Seine, which had deep waters that could carry very heavy loads, not too swift currents and stable banks supported by hard turf or stone. This made Paris an ideal place for fishing and for armies since the only way to get to it was via the river Seine.

The Romans loved their Lutetia (as they called Paris) and wanted to make it the Rome of the west. But in the 5th century AD the Franks showed up and kicked out the Romans and named it Paris after the early tribes known as the Parisii, then Atilla the Hun arrived and was purported to have murdered 11,000 virgins on their way to Paris, but by a change of plans, Atilla went to Orleans to deal with the Visigoths and spared Paris. This was envisioned by a young girl name Genevieve, who later became the patroness of Paris, St. Genevieve.

In 1,100 AD the first King Dynasty was created by King Philippe Auguste and his families reign lasted until 1314.

2nd Age arrived with Henri IV and his families dynasty lasted until 1643.

3d Age arrived with Louis XIV and his families reign lasted until the 1789 revolution and returned until 1795

4th Age arrived with Napolean from 1795 to 1815 with his banishment to Elba. He returned only to be banished once more... this time beyond his life.

The 5th Age was the Paris Commune, a powerful group of men who ran the city/country from 1815 to 1871. With the 3rd revolution they were gone and followed was a more democratically elected group of governors and leaders.

6th Age was the Treaty of Versailles after WWI, which, as we know, catapulted the world into WWII and in 1940, the de Gualle years began, albeit as a General, and then he disappeared until one falling government after the other (dozens in less years) and until the people called for his service to his beloved country. de Gualle was in power until the 1969 student riots from the Sarbonne (as student riots around the world proved to be a potent change in national/international politics). de Gualle just didn't want to do it anymore, and the new age came with Mitterand and others.

- - - - -

Les Marais

Les Marais is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris and was for the Aristocracy for many years until the move west left Les Marais less than ideal. It became a home for the less fortunate and even Place des Vosges, the quintessential Parisian square was slated for destruction at one time.

Since the 1970's les Marais has had a kind of renaissance of its own and it has become the place to live again. It is away from the throngs of tourists that you find in other parts of Paris and you are so close to the river, to public transit, great parks, wonderful museums and little pockets of lovely neighborhoods that it is surprising it ever became an undesirable place to live. Rue de Rosiers is a wonderful Jewish community that is quiet on Saturdays but thriving on Sundays. Les Marais is also the unofficial gay neighborhood of Paris with many clubs, shops and restaurants catering to the gay clientele.

Les Marais was perfect for us, we loved every minute of it. I would stay in Les Marais when I return... and I WILL return.

Our Life in Paris

Our apartment in Les Marais was wonderful with 2 bedrooms, a shower/bath, washer and dryer and wonderful windows that opened into the garden courtyard.

We spent many an evening in the living room talking about our day and/or planning for tomorrow. I would usually sit by the window and download my photos on my laptop on the small table between the two lovely windows. We had great breakfasts of delicious fresh fruit, baguettes and brie (Brillet Savarin). I miss it so much!

Fromager - ask for the Comte (18 months) and Brie called Brillet Savarin (like butter only better)

On our way to the Cafe Musee in Les Marais we saw this cat sitting on a scooter

Cafe in les Marais

Cycling in Paris

Interior of the Metro

Interior of the Metro

Interior of the Metro

Buildings in Les Marais

Some of the rarest buildings in paris from Medieval time, 1400's. Most of these buildings were torn down to make way for wide streets and to prevent the ever-present fires

Old city wall in Les Marais, built in the 1200's

Buildings in Les Marais

Buildings in Les Marais. I liked this building near our apartment for two reasons. One: the unique idea for hanging planter boxes by putting a rod across their courtyard. The other is you can trace the track of the chimney's to their ultimate destination, the smoke stack

Buildings in Les Marais

Buildings in Les Marais. This is a great example of Haussmann's grand renovation of Paris in the mid to late 1800's (1852 to 1870). Baron Georges-Eugene Haussmann worked for Napolean III, Napolean I's nephew.

Place des Vosges

Place des Vosges has existed for more than 400 years. It has a symmetry that is unmatched almost anywhere in the world. Its 36 house (9 on each side) has a beautiful garden in the middle surrounded by stately homes all with the same style roof, stone and brick, but each has its own wrought iron style and may have different decorations on the outside of their windows and archways. It was built from 1605 to 1612 by Henri IV and was the first royal city planning of its kind. Henri II was killed during a tournament at the Tournelles (jousting) and through their grief families tore down their stately homes and moved to what is now the Louvre. At its inaugural it was named Place Royale and was used to celebrate the wedding of Louis XIII to Anne of Austria. The Arcades are used for shops and eating. Even though it was called the Place Royale, no royal ever lived at Place des Vosges.

This is a lovely restaurant where we often ate breakfast, Ma Bagnogne. Their petit dejeuner is scrumptious with their buttery-good croissants and hot chocolate.

People eat their lunch here and bring their children to play (there are seesaws and dirt boxes). We noticed during the week it is mothers who tend to the children, but on the week-ends it is a veritable father's park... as well as many tourists walking through

One of four Cortot's fountains, from 1825

Hotel de Sens

Hotel de Sens has a storied past. It is a Medieval structure, meaning built in the 1400-1500's (1475-1507 to be exact) and it is a private residence (Hotel refers more to a private mansion than a place to crash after a long trip), originally for the Archbishop of Sens (Paris was a part of Sens at this time) and then through its history Nostradamus lived here, as did one of Henry IV's wives, Marguerite de Navarre (known as Margot and she looked into the courtyard, in amusement, as her new younger lover slayed her older lover - not the King). During the 1830 revolution a cannonball was shot at the Hotel and you can still see it in the wall (see photo below). There are interesting protective barriers, including chutes that allowed for scalding hot water to be poured down on intruders and there is a dungeon to hold prisoners.

See the cannonball, it is over 170 years old and still embedded into the Hotel.

Balcony in the courtyard of the Hotel de Sens

The gardens to the back of the Hotel de Sens

A tiny dragon above the back door of the Hotel de Sens, that opens onto the lovely gardens

St Paul St Louis Church

This church is from 1627 with a 180 foot dome. Delacroix's Christ in the Garden of Olives can still be found in this Jesuit Church. It is on St. Antoine in Les Marais.

Izrael - spice shop

A wonderful spice shop in the Marais called Izrael at 30 Rue Francois Miron +33 1 42 72 66 23. They also sell great meat/cheese/spinach pockets and seasoned artichokes for a nice appetizer.

Inside Izrael, an awesome spice shop, and more! Located at 30 Rue Francois Miron +33 1 42 72 66 23 in the Marais

St. Gervais - St. Protais

This lovely church, located in Les Marais is from the 6th century! It is named after two Roman martyrs (killed by Nero),

St Gervais St Protais stained glass

Musee Carnavalet

Musee Carnavalet is one of the state run museums, which means it is free admission. What is unique about this museum is in encompasses two beautiful buildings that were stately homes and they have recreated many of the rooms as well as other unique rooms/stores from various periods of Paris' past.

The museum occupies two adjoining mansions (the Hotel Le Peletier de St-Fargeau and the Hotel Carnavalet). The main building, The Hôtel Carnavalet, was built as a town house in 1548 by Nicolas Dupuis. The Hotel Carnavalet is a Renaissance jewel that in the mid-1600s became the home of writer Madame de Sevigne. The 17th century Hotel le Peletier was added to the museum in 1989 to contain the larger part of the museum's 20th century interiors.

Elegant staircase

Louis XV room contains art from the Bouvier collection and paneling from the Hotel de Broglie

Detail of the wall panelling in a music room

Musee Carnavalet window overlooking garden

Ballroom of the Hotel de Wendel

Ballroom of the Hotel de Wendel

Signs used by shops through various centuries

Musee Carnavalet Fouquet Jewelry Boutique from 1900 is an Art Nouveau decor from Rue Royale and is by A. Moucha

Musee Carnavalet Fouquet Jewelry Boutique from 1900 is an Art Nouveau decor from Rue Royale and is by A. Moucha

Musee Carnavalet Fouquet Jewelry Boutique from 1900 is an Art Nouveau decor from Rue Royale and is by A. Moucha

Seine at Dusk on a River Cruise

Grand Palais at dusk

Notre Dame at dusk

Seine at dusk

Eiffel at dusk

Seine at dusk

14th of July - Bastille

Bastille 14 July - part of the military procession

Bastille at Place des Vosges - military fighter jets in procession flying overhead

Bastille 14 July - waiting at the Place de la Concorde for fireworks

Bastille 14 July - waiting at the Place de la Concorde for fireworks

14th of July Fireworks!Bastile 14 July - fireworks!

lle St. Louis

Waterspout found on Ile St. Louis

Marionette store in Ile St. Louis

Passerelle des Arts is near Ile St. Louis and people hang out on this bridge to play music, have picnics and meet friends, family and people anew

Palais Royal

Palais Royal, next to the Louvre, has an interesting courtyard with modern art.

Jardin du Palais Royal

Louvre

The Louvre started as a Medieval Palace back in 1165 AD and over time buildings have been added, edifices have been stripped and resurfaced with more current design qualities, with the end result culminating in the current structure we see today, begun by Napolean III and ending in 1873 with the fire of the Palais des Tuileries.

Louvre with glass pyramid designed by I. M Pei and is the new entrance and opened in 1989. I. M. Pei also was the architect for the Boston skyscraper, Hancock Tower as well as the JFK Library in South Boston.

Louvre with glass pyramid and horse statue

Louvre glass pyramid with fountain

Louvre glass pyramid with fountain

Louvre pyramid within a pyramid

Inside the Louvre under the glass pyramid. This is the entrance.

Louvre - Spiral staircase with a tube used as a lift

Louvre - Spiral staircase with a tube used as a lift - people coming off

Louvre Cour Marly French sculpture

Louvre Apollo Gallery

Louvre - Winged Victory

Louvre glass pyramid at dusk

Louvre glass pyramid at dusk

Louvre glass pyramid at dusk

Louvre glass pyramid at night

Louvre glass pyramid at night

Louvre glass pyramid at night

Jardin des Tuileries

Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel was built from the orders of Napolean I from 1806-1808 as an entrance to the former Palais des Tuileries, which burned during the third revolution of 1871 by the Paris Commune (some call it an uprising) and their is now talk of rebuilding it at a cost of $380 million dollars! It was originally built in 1564 for Catherine de Medici (yes THAT Medici family from Italy) and it linked the North and South wings of the Louvre. The gardens beyond this Arc run parallel to the Seine and run straight through the Place de la Concorde and are in even line with the great Arc de Triomphe celebrating Napolean's conquests, which you can see them both within the arch of the Arc

Jardin des Tuileries with their statuary amongst their shrubbery with the southern section of the Louvre with its western most outer reaches ending. This is where the Palais des Tuileries would have begun and connected to the northern section of the Louvre.

Jardin des Tuileries were constructed originally in the 1600s as part of the grand Palais des Tuileries

Jardin des Tuileries provides wooden sailboats for children to push around the pond. It is around 1 euro per 1/2 hour or so.

Here they are with the sticks and their wooden sailboats

Jardin des Tuileries - A funny sign that was found in translation

Jardin des Tuileries statue and the ferris wheel

This statue is Riviere by Aristide Maillol done in 1943 and is part of the statuary in the Jardin des Tuileries. I thought it looked a lot like the statue of the lady (representing oppression) being run over by the carriage of Freedom above the Grand Palais

I just thought the reaction of this statue said it all when it came to the fact that he had a pigeon on his head and poop running down his arm... but the more I think about it... maybe it's a reaction to the size of his family jewels... hmmm.

Ferris Wheel at the funfair in the Jardin des Tuileries. I am petrified of heights and I will NEVER get up in that thing... the pin holding the seat could easily fall out and you tip over and fall out. What? That's rationale thinking!

Another view of this 10 story ferris wheel.

OK, remember when I said NEVER?

Get me off this thing!

Trampoline at the funfair in the Jardin des Tuileries. Notice what the kids are jumping next to, right in the trampoline itself... a priceless statue... only in Paris!

Looking at the Louvre from the ferris wheel. Notice the pattern of the cut shrubbery that has the statuary strewn throughout

Right Bank from the Jardin des Tuileries on the ferris wheel

On the left with the green dome is the Opera National des Paris Garnier built from 1862 to 1875 (in the baroque and classical styles) and part of the 2nd Empires' opulent times, Napolean III - Napolean's nephew. Funny enough Ballet is now performed here, whereas opera is mostly performed at the new Opera Nationale de Paris Bastille (which is voted as the 2nd ugliest building in Paris after the Pompidou). On the right upon the hill is Sacre-Coeur basilica (Sacred Heart - specifically Christ's) began in 1875 but was not completed until 1914 but even then its consecration did not happen until 1919, obviously due to the first world war. The Bell Tower is 252 feet high with a bell weighing 18 1/2 tons and the clanger itself weighing 1,900 pounds!

Check out the little kid climbing up this rock-climbing wall

He reaches the top!

A proud poppa as his sun talks to the rock-climbing attendant

One of the crazy rides at the funfair

Jardin des Tuileries funfair funhouse. It kind of looks like the Pompidou in a strange way. As you might have heard, Parisians believe that if they had a choice as to which building gets torn down first it would be the Pompidou. The Opera house in the Bastille would be their second choice... you decide.

The Pompidou... kind of looks like the funhouse, no?

Musee d'Orsay

Musee d'Orsay from the river Seine on an evening cruise

The Musee d'Orsay, in 1986, was converted from a railroad station (closed in 1939 - see photo below) into the museum it is today. As a railroad station it officially opened on the 14th of April 1900 (Bastille) and was part of the Great Exhibition that includes the Petit Palais, Grand Palais and the Pont Alexandre III. Its collection covers the artistic period of 1848 to 1914, which includes Impressionism, Art Nouveau, Naturalism, Symbolism, Neo-Impressionism, Sculptures from that time period as well as furniture

Musee d"Orsay when it was Gare d"Orsay from 1900 to 1939

Musee d'Orsay's great clock in the great hall, which they call the center aisle.

Musee d'Orsay - some of the inner construction of this previous railroad station

Musee d'Orsay - some of the inner construction of this previous railroad station

This is looking from the wall of the Musee d'Orsay towards the curving ceiling above

Musee d'Orsay

Musee d'Orsay

A close-up to all the tile work on the walls and ceiling of the Musee d'Orsay

Musee d'Orsay

I loved this room in the d'Orsay. I actually gasped when I turned into the door and saw this room for the first time. It is just an amazing space with amazing statuary

Musee d'Orsay's great room for statuary

Musee d'Orsay sculpture by Jean-Joseph Perraud - Le Despesoir 1861 to 1869

Musee d'Orsay sculpture by Ernest Christophe - Le Comedie Humaine ou Le Masque 1857 to 1859

Musee d'Orsay sculpture by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux - Woman Bitten by a Snake 1847

Musee d'Orsay sculpture by Edgar Degas - Little Dancer Aged Fourteen 1879 to 1881 - being at Boston Ballet for 4 years, I can truly appreciate the position of the feet, her stature and the expression on her face... over 100 years later and it is completely recognizable for me

Musee d'Orsay sculpture by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux The 4 Parts of the World Holding up a Celestial Sphere 1867 to 1872

Musee d'Orsay sculpture by Emile Antoine Bourdelle - Hercules the Archer 1909 to 1923

Musee d'Orsay's Rodin's Gates of Hell

Musee d'Orsay's Rodin's Gates of Hell

Pantheon

Pantheon (All Gods) was built as a dedication to the one and only patron St. Genevieve by King Louis XV after he survived from a very serious illness. Due to money issues, it was not completed until 1789. It is in the shape of a Greek cross and was a return to the Neoclassical style

Pantheon columns at its outer entrance

Pantheon ceiling in the outside entrance

This massive structure is 110 meters long, 84 meters wide and 83 meters high (360 feet by 275 feet by 273 feet), giving it a very balanced feel since the width and height are almost identical.

Pantheon Ceiling with the great dome

Pantheon with its huge frescoes, beautifully done

More of the Pantheon's huge frescoes

Pantheon's major dome, which is iron-framed and is 272 feet high and weighs 10,000 tons, was modeled after St. Paul's of London

Known as the Foucault pendulum, physicist Leon Faucault, in 1851, demonstrated the rotation of the Early with his pendulum, which is 67 meters high (almost 220 feet high)

Pantheon Crypte to hold France's great men per the French Revolution of 1789. These include: Voltaire, Rousseau, Marat, Victor Hugo, Marie Curie, and Louis Braille

St. Etienne du Mont

This is the church that the Parisian's have flocked to during times of war, especially when it was knocking on the Parisian's fortified walls. This is St. Etienne du Mont, but really should be called St. Genevieve, who is the patron saint of Paris. Inside is the shrine to St. Genevieve, and many years past her remains were held here. She is the patron saint due to the fact the city was ready to be invaded in 451 by Attila the Hun and his army but Genevieve had a premonition this would not happen, and it did not (they went to Orleans instead). In 464 during a siege by Childeric, Genevieve snuck past the line of defense and smuggled in grain for the starving city.

The rood screen is the walk above from the two spiraling staircases, very rare in Parisian churches

The church was begun in 1492 (yes, sailed the ocean blue) and was completed in 1626. The wooden pulpit is held up by Samson, clutching a bone in one hand and a slain lion at his feet.

Kneeling/prayer chairs at St. Etienne du Mont

St. Chapelle

St. Chapelle is inside the Palais de Justice which is the seat of the French judicial system. St. Chapelle was built in 1248, by King Louis IX to house Christ's crown of thorns (now at the Louvre) and its architecture allows for blazing light to enter through its large stained glass windows which depict over 1,000 religious scenes. It has a two-tier structure, one for royalty, the lower for commoners. The spire rises 245 feet above and was erected, for a 5th time (previous ones burned) in 1853

St. Sulpice

St. Sulpice and Fontaine des Quatre Points Cardinaux - St. Sulpice is near the Jardin du Luxembourg, which is one of the loveliest spots in all of Paris. The church was begun in 1646 and took more than 100 years to complete.

Latin Quarter

Old Wall in the Latin Quarter, built in the 1200's

Latin Quarter Shop

Eiffel

Built by architect Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Universal Exhibition, it was meant to be a temporary exhibit but remained and was the tallest structure until the Empire State Building in NYC in 1931. It is 1,063 feet high and has 3 levels. The first is 187 feet high, the second is 376 feet high and the third is 905 feet up. You can either take the double decker elevators or you can actually walk up Eiffel, all 1,665 steps. It is 10,100 tons of weight and it takes 60 tons of paint to paint it every 7 years.

Some people love it, others, like myself, are less enthralled by it. I found the paint color makes it look like an elongated rusted bird cage, but I can appreciate the design and the artistry involved.

That's Eiffel in all its brown glory

See the double decker elevator in the leg on the right?

You can see people climbing the stairs in the leg of the best

l'Ecoute

l'Ecoute is located in Les Halles area and it just outside the grand church of St Eustache

Alexandre III and Petit and Grand Palais with Invalides in View

Probably one of my favorite spots in all of Paris is the Pont Alexandre III with the Grand Palais and Petit Palais on the Right Bank and Invalides and the Dome Church on the Left Bank. It is one of the most beautiful spots in all of the world's cities. The bridge and two Palais were built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. The bridge was named after Tsar Alexander III (father of the ill-fated Nicholas II) who laid the first stone in 1896.

Signage on the Pont Alexandre III

Pont Alexandre III and the Dome Church, part of Invalides. The bridge is in the style of Art Nouveau and was designed not to obscure various views from around the city.

Pont Alexandre III with Grand Palais.

There were wedding photos being taken on the Pont Alexandre III

Pont Alexandre III with the Grand Palais

One of my favorite views over the bridge looking into the river and seeing Eiffel (looks better from afar).

Grand Palais is also in the Art Nouveau style and the enormous glass roof (with beautiful ironwork) is 160,000 square feet! The structure weighs 8,500 tons, actually 500 tons more than Eiffel Tower.

Petit Palais was built at the same time as Pont Alexandre III and the Grand Palais and currently houses the Musee de Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris.

Close-up of the sculpture work on the Petit Palais

The grand door of the Petit Palais

Invalides and the Dome Church

Invalides is for military refuge, those who need medical attention or those in declining years. The Dome Church was completed in 1676 with the request from the Sun King, Louis XIV (who commissioned so much building in his time). The Church was to house the Royal Family, but hat was abandoned. In 1840 King Louis_Philippe installed Napolean's remains. It has now become a French military memorial with other important military figures entombed here.

Dome Church which was first gilded in 1715

Dome Church statue

The Dome Church Altar

Looking down at the tomb from the Church's altar area.

The tomb and its lovely sculptures

Napolean's tomb is surrounded by exquisite sculptures.

Dome Church - Napolean's Tomb

Musee Rodin

Auguste Rodin

Gates of Hell

Musee Rodin

The Thinker

Musee Rodin is the only museum where I have seen this happen. Don't know how or who started it, but everyone who comes out of the museum takes their sticker pass (that you wear on your clothes) and puts them on the railing and street lights along the street just outside the entrance of the Rodin Museum.

Jardin du Luxembourg

OK, if anyone wonders what makes you feel like you are truly in Paris, I would say, go to the Seine, go to Eiffel (although I would not) and eat at cafes and daily have bread, cheese and wine. But also, I would suggest anyone who is in Paris during the warmer months to visit this unbelievably beautiful, 60 acre park. It has it all. It has fountains, sculpture, wooden sail boats, carrousel, pony rides, comfy chairs to sit and enjoy as well as concerts, a Marionette theater and next door a really delicious luncheon place. Just to the north of the jardin is St. Sulpice.

Many of the sculptures within the park were erected in the 1800's and are of many of France's queens. There is even a bee-keeper school in this park.

Wooden sail boats for rent

This girl was the most stylish of the bunch and seemed to have fun pushing the boats around the pool

These guys came over and started singing various songs, some in English, others in Spanish but then security came over and told them to leave.

They were filming in Jardin du Luxembourg

Can you see the people they are filming or the guy with the microphone?

Carousels are at almost every large park in Paris. We even had one just outside our Metro stop at St. Paul in Les Marais

Each child had a stick and tried to place the stick on the next available ring to try to capture the most rings per ride

This was an American band from New Hampshire. They were traveling to France, Germany, Italy, Austria and England

Pantheon is in the background

Flower and Bird Market on Ile de la Cite - Sundays only

Take the Metro to the Cite stop (Ile de la Cite) and come up the stairs to a unique flower and bird market, one of the last in all of Paris. Once you have had your fill of birds and flowers, take a quick walk over to Notre Dame.

Metro stop Cite

Fish

Dove and parakeets

Chipmunks... yes, chipmunks.

Parakeets

Fancy hens

Bunnies!

Parakeet

Beautiful birds

Notre Dame

Notre Dame's first stone was laid in 1163 and was completed 170 years later in 1330. The Church is so associated with Paris' history that it is hard to associate one without the other. Its gargoyles are famous as are the North and South Rose Windows.

Notre Dame massive Nave

Side of Notre Dame's Nave

Notre Dames Altar

Notre Dame stained glass windows

South Rose Window is 43 feet wide and retains some of the 13th century stained glass work.

Notre Dame back of altar

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Books that I found helpful and/or interesting

* The Rough Guide Phrasebook - French - This little book is English to French, French to English, a menu section as well as a section on cursing.

* DK Eyewitness Travel - Paris - This book breaks Paris down by neighborhoods and gives wonderful historical significance to all that you see. This book also gives wonderfully visual street maps, building cut-outs as well as great self-guided walking tours throughout the city. By far the best travel books out there.

* City Walks 50 Cards for Paris called Adventures on Foot by Chronicle Books. Great walks in various places all around the city and each one gives you information on what you are walking by and why it is significant.

* Seven Ages of Paris by Alistair Horne - published by Viking Books. This book travels through the history of Paris from a small fishing village to the world-class powerhouse city that it is today. Reading this book while in Paris made me enjoy this lovely city on an entirely new level.

French or no French?

I survive quite well with knowing almost no French, but you may be able to enjoy Paris on a different level by knowing the following:

* Menu/restaurant items
* Numbers for pricing when buying gifts/souvenir
* Military time
* Days of the week
* Torresse for outside (to eat outside the restaurant on their outside tables)

Meals

* Cheeses: comte, brie brillat savarin
* Find a neighborhood Brasserie and Patisserie and Fromager (cheese shop). Also go to local grocery stores for great wines. The wine shops will have unique wines but a cheap way to try new wines is to: 1) get the house wine at the restaurants you visit and 2) go to Monoprix and other grocery stores to try other wines. We found an 8 euro bottle of wine that we just loved.
* In Paris the concern for the French culture has dragged the idea of culinary experimentation buried into the ground miles thick. In other words, most French restaurants have the same menus with only a slight variation. Tradition has prevented culinary wonder, but, truly, Paris menus and restaurants and food, in general, are better than anywhere else in the world. Let's hope their love for food will propel them into the 21st century and they can start to experiment again and grow like those in California, New York and London.

San Francisco Flora

2008-04-26T14:56:00.001-07:00

Here are some San Francisco flora I have photographed throughout the past few months.

Twins on an Epic Journey

2008-03-13T22:06:00.000-07:00

Yup, that's right, an epic journey starring identical twins Gleep and Gloop.

They began in the depths of my kidney and after months of residing in darkness, their weeks of planning have come to fruition and their epic journey has begun!

Monday morning was like any other morning, get up, take a shower, water the plants in the garden, feed the neighbors cats and take a bike ride to work. And this particular Monday was even more exciting because we had two new employees starting with two more starting later in the week.

I arrive at work, with what was a lovely ride on a sunny, warm day, and one day after Daylight Savings just began, to boot.

I arrive at work and introduce the new staff to the office, go over some initial informational stuff and start planning my day, which included getting ready for the additional two new employees later in the week... then something just didn't feel right.

My stomach was upset, which it was since breakfast with Laura and friends on Sunday morning. I thought little about it and had some lunch, sandwich, and soon my upset stomach was beyond upset... it was down right angry!

I try to walk it off, so I walk around the office, go down the hall, but nothing made it feel better. Then I realize things are really feeling worse, not just in my stomach, but my side and my angry stomach was throwing a hissy-fit... uh oh, this is it... once I thought about it, I knew... (whisper) kidney stones.

OK, I lock my cabinet, gather my things and walk into Giancarlo's office and ask him if he wouldn't mind taking me to the closest emergency room... he looks at me and says, "Are you kidding or are you serious?"

I was serious.

Giancarlo grabs his things and we are off to the elevator and down to the front entrance of the building, then it hit me, I couldn't even walk to his car, so I pick up my iPhone (thank you Atlassian) and call 911 (emergency). I tell Giancarlo, "Are you sure?" was his response, "the car is right here". This is after I noticed he drove the car on to the sidewalk, right next to me. In less than 1 minute the ambulance sirens are heard... thank gosh!

In less than another minute the ambulance is in front of us and I somehow walk into the ambulance and they shut the doors... but wait... we are not leaving. They ask me all these questions as the pain increases to the point that I can't open eyes, because if I do, they will eject out of my head!

They want to take my blood pressure but I am flinging my arms around like a kid trying to catch a firefly and he can't grab it. "Please hold still" says the EMT. Hold Still? Are you kidding me, I'm having a freaken' baby and in case you haven't noticed, I am a guy!

They check my heart and other vitals... vitals are good. At this point I am screaming, not moaning, but screaming like a banchy (whatever that is).

They rated my pain as 10 out of 10... gee, do you think? They even ask me if I want morphine (I said no - didn't trust them). Reason I said no to the morphine is the guy tried to tap a vain and well, his attempt was more painful then the two twins (you know, Gloop and Gleep) playing Gladiator with my insides.

Still we sit there as they ask me inane questions (Name, Age, Birthday, History, Modern Architecture, the Cosmos).

Finally after I screamed, "What are we doing... h o s p i t a l!" they decide they should go.

Finally, we'll be at St. Mary's in no time... the engine starts and the EMT with me is telling me to hang on (yeah I have nothing better to think about) and down the street we go, yet wait, we stop. What? Why are we stopping? (I am thinking this as I am literally kicking and screaming!) We stopped because they are not using the sirens... that's right, my agony will be prolonged because my vitals are good, no reason to bother the traffic, I'm just a man having TWINS!

We go down steep San Francisco hills, my feet practically dangling over my head from the gravity. "Hang on" the EMT says to me. "THANKS" I respond in between the F and S words!

Finally after 15 minutes, should have been 3 with the sirens, but whatever, we arrive at St. Mary's... by the way, I'm still kicking and screaming, slamming my feet onto the gurney and writhing in painful agony (kind of redundant.. but again, TWINS!). I'm in St. Mary's and the doctors who are manning the ER are busy, so I stay in the gurney, screaming, writhing, kicking, swearing, swearing and swearing while others walk by, I hear people talking, some even laughing (better not be at me!) and no one, I mean no one stops by to see how I'm feeling. But then again, I think they knew how I was feeling and I probably didn't send out a vibe of 'friendly person'.

Finally a nurse comes over with an Irish brogue and starts asking me the same questions as the EMT's, when we started debating Carl Sagan's Cosmo's theories, that's when I lost it. "Where is the F'ing doctor!". He'll be here very shortly, then she disappeared.

I am wheeled into a room, or so I think since my eyes are still closed... you know, popping-out-of-my-head-from-the-pain-fear, and finally, after at least an hour, I hear, "Did you take any medication?" Take any medication, what, do you think I have a bottle of morphine attached to my bike? OK, we'll give you some morphine and after I complained of feeling sick to my stomach, they said they would give me something to soothe that feeling... or at least that's what I heard, but who knows.

10 minutes passes and I feel no effects from the medication, another 10 minutes passes and I finally notice my legs were no longer attacking the gurney. Painful, but at least I wasn't literally climbing and grabbing onto the walls.

Then I must have passed out (or someone knocked me out, wouldn't put it pass them from all my screaming) because the next thing I knew I heard Laura's voice, "Ernie, Ernie, are you ok" By that time I was. The morphine had kicked in and the pain had subsided. That is when I hear I do have twins, two 3 millimeter stones, on, as I had stated, an epic journey.

Laura was so wonderful to stay with me, gently and calmly and even went to the pharmacy to pick up my medication... how wonderful is that!

So, how was your week?

To Almost Die Is To Live! My story at SF Pillow Fight 2008

2008-02-17T10:17:00.000-08:00

This is my 3rd year of doing the pillow fight, and I never get tired of it... although this time I almost died!

I'm one to climb into the thick of things when an event happens; Time Square on New Year's Eve, Amsterdam for Queen's Day and down into the depths of Herman Plaza during the annual Valentine's Day Pillow Fight.

We all meet up at Herman Plaza shortly before 6 PM and strategize... where to begin, where to meet after, etc.

Five minutes until six and the tension mounts, with many poised with their weapon of choice, whether down, polly fill or memory foam. Some have costumes, others just a desire to bash the person standing next to them.

Many people come in groups or teams while others come alone, with the hopes of meeting that special someone, whether it be the Kmart special or the Ralph Lauren Summer Series.

Four minutes to six and we head towards the edge of the pillow pit... I, being of sound mind and body, gently move into the center of the pit, wondering what happened to the rest of the crew. I suddenly realize I am abandoned and alone, having to win my victory with my own two arms and a Cuddle Down pillow wrapped in a Ralph Lauren soft yellow King case.

One minute to six and I bow my head, not to pray, but to save the chance from a powerful left or right hook that could bring stars floating above my head.

Clang, clang, clang, it is 6 PM and without hesitation I swing with abandon, feeling the contact of soft feathers with hard head... boy that felt good. Bop, someone got me... I must return with a comparable response, so I swing in the direction whence it came, nothing.

My eyes are closed through this time, all of four minutes and suddenly, from gasps of laughter I suck up a feather and it blocks my wind pipe!

I try to quickly move outside the pillow pit but, as one would guess, I am pummeled and pounded by the army of softness. This would be funny if it wasn't me! So this is how I am going to die, at a pillow fight. I see the headlines, "Man Dies Amidst Feathers and Revelers". A make-shift memorial is set up at the plaza, piles of pillows and candles commemorating the first casualty of the San Francisco pillow fight. Will I be responsible for the end of this campy wonderment?

I move forward, still gasping for a breath of life, boff, hit again. I raise my arms to move soldiers out of the way, hoping the next step will result in a dislodged feather, also fearing another will follow its lead and enter my wind pipe. Will I become the pillow in which I swung only moments ago?

One more cough, one more chance to save my own life, it's not pretty or stylish gasping among the glowing lights, flinging pillows, and the sounds of human laughter, but death isn't pretty either. One more cough ought to dislodge this light and inconsequentially sized death tool. Feathers don't kill people, people kill people!

Finally, after another cough, I feel the soft edges of a feather pass my lips... is this what chicken foreplay feels like? Ahhh, beautiful, wonderful, gentle air fills my lungs and I can once again stand up straight and hold my pillow without shaking.

I slowly walk around the plaza, stopping on occasion to take in that elixir of life, air. Things begin to return to color, including my cheeks... feel the rush of my blood carrying oxygen to my brain... ahh.

Here are photos from friends who attended... you know, the one's who abandoned me!

http://picasaweb.google.com/tarkasteve/SFPillowFight2008

http://www.flickr.com/photos/superoni/sets/72157603914274803

Biking in the rain... yeah, right!

2008-01-24T16:08:00.000-08:00

If you ever wanted to know what a non-violent rant is... this is it!

First, if ever there was a time someone could talk me into throwing away the green-way and start using the highway, this is the time.

I had to go to the doctors today for a pre-op exam. It was raining just a bit as I left the office at around 12:15 pm and headed towards 21st and Noriega to see my doctor. As I am riding down 17th street through the mission, I encounter a steady stream of rain that gradually, but ultimately, moved into the torrent category.

Do you know what it is like to ride a bike with water running UP your nose? Think of drowning while participating in the geriatric tour-de-france... lovely. Who needs to breathe while riding up hills and dodging cars?

After 30 minutes of riding in a vertical flood, I finally make it to my doctors, with every last inch of my head, arms, hands, legs and feet drenched and freezing from the cool temperatures. I would have been dryer coming out of a pool!

The woman at the counter asked me if I was all right, looking up at me with big, frightened eyes. Then again, she always looks at me with big, frightened eyes.

After an hour or so at the doctors office, I turn around to head home so I could then go to the hospital for tests (x-rays and blood work). Once again as I am heading back, on 21st towards Golden Gate Park, the rain decides I have not had enough pounding for one day, so it starts to pick up tempo. As I am riding down a long gradual hill, with the wet rode and splashing cars behind me and before me, through my blinded, wet eyes, I realize that the Judah line subway train is at the bottom. Will it move out of the way before my wet break pads and drenched tire rims slow me down to the point of looking like Wyle E. Coyote on the dessert floor? Splat! It moved.

I get home and quickly focus my attentions on the hospital, with my soaked clothes, head and shoes. I reach the hospital, walk along its well-waxed floors and get onto the elevator to go to reception to check in, only to be told I will have to come back tomorrow, there is a backlog.

I thanked them kindly, after crying like a little school boy who just lost his favorite toy, and carried my sorry looking, wet, lame, pathetic body back to the elevator, back through the lobby and out into that wonderful place we call home... wet, miserable, tired, annoyed and yes, finished.

You have won today mother nature. You have beaten my good-natured, hug-a-tree attitude. But I will return, refreshed, renewed and ready to pedal again.

So send me your rain, send me your wind, drop those temperatures... bring it on!

Just not today.

I say adieu. I am tired, I am cold, I have no energy left; as Kramer once said on Seinfeld, "stick a fork in me Jerry, I'm done."

Ernie

The Day After

2008-01-05T22:06:00.001-08:00

On Friday, January 4, 2008 San Francisco was hammered with a very severe winter storm that was basically a hurricane without the name. Winds of over 75 mph, rain of 2 inches or more with 1 million people without power. Further east, the Sierra Mountains got 4 feet of snow with 4 more on the way and Reno had some flooding that affected thousands.

In Golden Gate Park many massive trees fell from the weight of the storm and more are still vulnerable from the compromised soil and the continued wind and rain.

Below are a few photos from this rough and tough day.

This is right next to the Chaplain William D. McKinnon statue - you can see the statue in the upper right.

This was a massive eucalyptus tree. It took out another tree on its way down.

This is a large tree that fell into Stow Lake. The ducks could not get through. See the duck on the left side... can't get through. The trunk of this tree is above.

Some of the ducks of Stow Lake.

This is a utility shed at the start of Golden Gate Park at Stanyon and Page streets.

Pretty strong structure.

Another tree that succumbed to the storm.

See the wave on the left coming up to Seal Rock!

As of today tens of thousands are still without power and more rain is expected for the next week. Mudslides will cause poorly or foolishly built homes, on high cliffs, to fall and most of us still love living here!

A True Act of Kindness

2007-11-20T22:45:00.000-08:00

I was on the bus the other day, Saturday to be exact, and I was heading over to Union Street because a friend of mine was to be, soon, closing her store, Tate & Kennedy, to move to Boston and I wanted to say my goodbyes.

Before I got there this older woman, wonderfully dressed with a wrap around her head, got onto the bus and a younger woman stood up and offered this lovely woman her seat. Without skipping a beat the lovely, older woman handed the younger woman, who gave up her seat for her, a lovely bouquet of flowers. The younger woman smiled so wide and strong that the entire bus felt the joy in her smile and heart.

As the younger woman was getting off of the bus, she turned around and said to the older woman, "You have made my day".

30 Days of No TV - 24 days and counting

2007-11-16T20:12:00.000-08:00

I think someone or something is testing me. During these 19 days I have been tested by various events happening in San Francisco and with myself.

On day two of my personal restrictions to television, we have the strongest earthquake in over 18 years, 5.6, then 1 1/2 weeks ago a horrible tragedy has happened to our beloved Bay, an oil spill of over 58,000 gallons.

As most understand, during tragedies, whether man-made or natural, most people turn on the television to get the latest up-dates on the event. It was hard for me not to turn on the television, but with the help of the internet, I was able to read articles put up by local t.v. stations (no, I did not watch their program via the web) and I would ask people in my office, the following day, questions about the events at hand.

Then just a few days ago I became suddenly ill and was finding myself stressed from heart palpitations and feeling weak and lightheaded. I don't know about you, but whenever I am ill, I curl up on the sofa or bed, wrap myself up in a nice warm comforter and rest my head on a nice fluffy pile of pillows and watch a nice, heartwarming movie on the tv.

And finally I was just diagnosed with having kidney stones!

But so far, with all of these events, I have kept that blasted television off! And as time goes on, it has become easier and easier. I have gone out with friends, or I've picked up a book or better still, picked up the phone and talked to people I haven't spoken to in months, whereas before I would have just plopped down in my chair and left the world alone.

And I guess that was the whole point, I was tired of leaving the world alone. So now, I leave the television alone and, frankly, we are both happier for it.

No Television for 30 Days

2007-11-04T19:05:00.000-08:00

Starting on Monday, October 29th I decided to not watch television for 30 days. I'm not a huge television fan but I do like to watch PBS programs as well as the usual programs (Seinfeld, Frasier, Simpsons, etc.). I noticed that I have been watching a LOT of television in the last month, sometimes falling asleep in a chair after resting in front of the t.v. for a few hours... that's right, a few hours.

I'm not sure what I will get out of this test to myself, but I hope it is something more than what I was getting out of watching television.

Funny enough, the time when television is important is during a regional or national/international crisis and on the 2nd day, Tuesday, we had a 5.6 earthquake, the strongest shake in almost 18 years! I really wanted to turn on the television, but thankfully I could find out what was going on using the internet, so I was fine. I also called a few friends just to get their feed on it as well.

I posted a blog at the office and we had a discussion on the fact that everyone only watches the high-brow programs (except for a few brave souls who told the truth). It's funny how everyone says they watch PBS and yet it is the reality programs that continually rate the highest week after week... of course, I am the exception :)

One week later, I have to say, I have been getting more done than I thought, but it is harder to break the habit of television than I thought it would be as well, especially during my normal week-end viewing, when I usually watch a movie on Saturday and cooking/gardening shows on Sunday... and Sunday night, so far, is the worst. This is the night I settle down after enjoying my week-end to relax in front of the t.v. before going to bed to start my workweek. Luckily I love going to work, so it's not about destressing to go to a place I don't want to go, but this habit of Sunday evening television goes back further than a month ago, Sunday night television stems from my childhood... that is a long tradition that is very difficult to break.

I decided to look at the numbers, because I like numbers and they have a way of clarifying things. Say you watch 4 hours of television a day, which by today's standards is not bad. One hour for your morning news and three hours for your nightly watching, 8 - 11 pm. Four hours Monday through Friday and then 10 hours on the week-end for a total of 30 hours a week. That relates to 1,560 hours per year, or more importantly, 65 days or almost 18% of your entire year. Now if you factor in a 7 hour night of sleep, that equates to 25% of your wake time sitting in front of the t.v. instead of engaging with other people, including your spouse, your children, your friends.

Imagine spending 25% of your life being passive but awake. If you live to be 80 years old, that is 20 years sitting in front of the television... I don't know about you, but that makes me feel sick to my stomach.

So far I have listened to a lot of podcast programs, including "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me", "Says You", "Real Time, with Bill Mahr" and the WGBH Classical Program among some other podcasts while cooking dinner, cleaning the house or working in the garden (pots on a deck).

Another thing I have done is I am writing again... that is a wonderful surprise.

But the most remarkable thing is I find myself wanting to go out. I want to get out of the house and start being with people, which was the entire point of this test, to be an active part of life instead of being a passive participant in my own life. And this has happened in just 7 days.

What will happen after 30 days, will I go back to watching four hours a night? I hope not. But I'll probably take a few hours during my Sunday evenings to watch a program or two or maybe a movie, just for the heck of it. Best of all, I won't have any reason to feel guilty about it, because I was able to make something of my week before taking a well deserved Sunday rest.

Now, what about you? Will you be a passive participant or active participant in your life? Watch t.v., just don't watch it night after night, there really are better things to be doing.

An Evening at the SF Tea Garden

2007-10-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

I often go to the Tea Garden in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, and during the morning hours and beyond their evening hours (before 9 am and after 5 pm between Nov - Apr and after 6 pm from May - Oct) it is free.

In the Spring the Azaleas and trees are in bloom. In the fall trees start to change their leave's colors and the sun rising and setting has a softer glow on the garden.

I have taken a few photos for your enjoyment.

Photos from the garden

2007-10-13T20:21:00.000-07:00

These are some photos from the garden. Don't you just love gardening!

Anemone

Daisy

Geranium

Cymbidiums

Ranunculus

Zinnia

The End of an Era - Pavarotti dies today

2007-09-06T00:19:00.000-07:00

The news of Pavarotti's death brings back many wonderful memories for me, as I'm sure it does for many opera fans. I don't quite remember how or when I began to listen to opera, but I do know who was the first singer to peak my interest, Pavarotti. His charisma and love of the art of opera is apparent the moment who hear him sing... Nessun Dorma is probably his signature performance and I have never heard a better rendition.

I remember the night I went to hear and see Pavarotti perform. It was a night in Boston at the old Boston Garden with my two great friends, Tim and Michele. They took me out to dinner and I bought them two tickets for the concert. It was important for me to bring friends who appreciated Pavarotti, and opera for that matter, as much as I did.

Later when Michele and Tim separated and Michele moved to London, we were taking the train to Paris from London and as we passed beautifully blooming lavendar fields, we listened to Pavarotti on the disc player while drinking wine and looking forward to Paris. What a beautiful moment in time for me, a moment I will never forget.

Pavarotti had his critics. For some strange reason it was seen as "selling out" to perform in a way that attracted "the masses", but who cares how people are introduced to opera, as long as they have the opportunity to listen to it and to learn to appreciate it. Pavarotti broke so many barriers and introduced a beautiful art form to millions upon millions who did not have the opportunity or desire prior to him.

Pavarotti will be missed by so many, especially his family and friends, but we are fortunate that his music, his talent and his love of opera will be with us for all time.

Bravo Pavarotti, Bravo.

Martha's Vineyard

2007-07-25T06:34:00.001-07:00

Another beautiful week on Martha's Vineyard with my friends, who are now like my family. Here are some wonderful photos of the island we call home, if only occasionally.

Our house on the Vineyard

Some of my MV friends - Carolyn, Wendy, Bridget, Wendy and Janet

The lovely gingerbread cottages in the Tabernacle - which we can walk to... the community sing on Wednesdays is a hoot!

A working barn on the Vineyard

An Alpaca Farm on the island... so cute.

Janet and Wendy model alpaca hats

The Granary Gallery - sister to the Field's Gallery - the best.

A statue at the gallery.

Edgartown Harbor

Edgartown lighthouse

East Chop lighthouse.

My friend's peacock at her Down Island Farm.

Edgartown - by the Chappy ferry.

Some wonderful Vinny things to do:

Beach baby! The beaches are great and the water is lovely. State Beach is calm and lovely which is between OB and Edgartown. If you want surf, head south to South Beach... but just be careful of the undertow... it really can drag you under.

Community Sing at the Tabernacle - every Wednesday during July and August.

Kayaking... many companies will meet you at your choice of kayaking location.

Gallery hopping... the Vineyard has some wonderful galleries, including the Fields Gallery and Granary Gallery. We also like the galleries in Edgartown and OB.

Shopping - Vinny Haven is a great shopping location, as is OB and Edgartown. And get the two local papers, the Times and Gazette. They list yard sales and estate sales. They are worth attending... remember this is a resort island, so some of the items people are trying to get rid of when they move off-island can be quite spectacular. Also any church bazaar can offer a find for the week... go to them.

Menemsha - just go and you'll see why. The sunset dinners on the beach (get your lobster at Larsen's) are an added treat.

Chilmark Fleamarket - Wednesdays and Saturdays - a great market for all that is the Vineyard and please, stop by the Chilmark Chocolates just south of Beatlebung corner... great cause and really delicious island chocolate.

Chicama Vineyards - a little vineyard that sells pretty good wines. Their mustards are also a speciality that people love.

Events/plays/entertainment - the island has some wonderful events, including concerts at the Tabernacle, outdoor Shakespeare plays, bar hopping in Oak Bluffs (OB) as well as great auctions to help raise money for local causes. These include library expansions, land bank purchases and other wonderful organizations.

Sailing - if you have your own boat, you know what sailing around the Vineyard is like, if not, you can take a day or sunset tour around the island on the many sailing vessels located in Menemsha and Edgartown. James Taylor's brother has a catamaran that he rents tours on... fun, fun, fun!

Sightseeing - the entire island is a photographer's dream. The marshes all over, cliffs in Aquinnah, farms in Chilmark, and all the harbors at dusk and dawn can give you photos that you treasure for a very long time.

Wendy Davis took this photo.

Wendy Davis took this lovely sunset photo... beautiful.

Local Artists - they can be found all over the island and you can meet them at the Chilmark Fleamarket and at the Old Agricultural hall (locals call it the Aggie Hall) and other local events, including church bazaars. Jewelry, paintings, sculptures, clothing, pottery (try to find the Mad Potter - really unique work) and other wonderful wares... worth the investment of time and money - truly talented artists who love what they do.

Humphrey's - best sandwiches on island. The old store going to Menemsha/Aquinnah is sadly gone, but OB center and Edgartown continue to sell those wonderful sandwiches. They stop serving at 3:30, so go early!

Martha's Vineyard Glassworks - see the men and women create some of the best blown glass on island. They'll even ship if you are worried about getting it home in one piece.

Scottish Bakehouse and Eileen's pies - great pastries and pies. I even have friends who when they get on-island go to Eileen's before unloading their suitcases at the house... that's how good they are!

And the best Apple Fritta's anywhere can be found at the Old Stone Bakery in OB center... but go early, they sell out really fast!

Breakfast to wake up for - Linda Jean's has the best breakfast on island. Prepare to wait... but you can always shop OB center while you wait.

Bicycling - some of the nicest biking on the east coast. To go from East Chop to West Chop is a lovely route (about 10 - 12 miles total) as are the routes around the State Forest in the center of the island. Another great route is the eastern side from OB to Edgartown... just lovely early in the morning before all the cars are out headed for the beach or work. That is when you see all the lovely birds that call the island home or are stopping for a rest before continuing their migrations. If you are lucky, you might even see a deer or two.

There is so much more to do, including an arcarde (in OB) for the kids as well as a miniature golf in Vinny Haven - these are just two additional things to do that add to the fun that is Martha's Vineyard.

2007 San Francisco Fireworks!!

2007-07-05T06:21:00.003-07:00

Here are 3 photos of the SF fireworks 4th of July display in 2007, shot from my balcony in the Haight.

Virginia Tech and South Korea's Response

2007-04-17T22:20:00.000-07:00

The tragedy at Virginia Tech has really shaken me and I think many people around the world, as well. What could be in a person's heart to commit such an act?

I am equally incensed by the reaction from the South Korean government. They send their condolences but insult this country by stating "concern about a possible racial backlash". How dare they assume American's, a country of immigrants, would react in a mob mentality.

This country has its problems, but I will not accept this blatant, insulting remark from the South Korean government and we, as a nation, should demand an unequivocal apology.

Valentine's Day and 3,000 Pillows

2007-02-20T21:24:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder what 3,000 people and a bunch of pillows
looks like... well I never did. But when I heard I
could whack some strangers with an old pillow, I
thought "I must be there!"

You know how people say part of the fun is the
journey, not the destination, well riding your bicycle
with a pillow in front of you might seem a bit odd and
it creates a few looks - just think of a poor-man's
air bag - but after a few jokes with fellow bike
commuters, I make it to my destination.

I got there at the strike of 6:00 pm and there was a
huge circle of people with cameras and cell phones
taking pictures and movies of the insanity. When you
are in it, it is a world all unto itself.

This is an embeded YouTube video:

First, you don't look up, because if you do, BOP!
right in the face.

Second, you are constantly turning and moving because
people are swinging their arms and moving their
bodies, so you feel like those ping-pong balls in a
Bingo machine (B6... B6!).

Third, you start laughing so hard that you can barely
shoulder the strength to swing a light, feather filled
pillow... but somehow you summons the muscles to
rejoin the battle and fight on.

Occasionally a pillow will break open and feathers fly
through the air, buoyed by a new weather system
created from 3,000 swinging pillows.

Bonk, someone just got me in the gut.

"Doh!" spleen attacked.

But retaliation, sweet revenge is only a swing away.

As you start to figure out where you are, you edge
your body towards the side, where the throngs of
on-lookers are wondering if they should have brought a
pillow - until they see someone removing a feather
from their nostril while exiting the fluffy-fly-by
event, and suddenly three pillows hit you at once and
the melee drags you back in.

Eventually the battalion of cotton-clad pillow cased
warriors disband to once again lay their heads down
and dream of a world unto itself.

Friends and the New Year

2007-01-18T20:02:00.000-08:00

My two best friends in the entire universe visited right after Christmas and stayed for the New Year. We have known each other for almost 10 years now (they have known each other for more than 20) and we just click and mesh. I can't imagine my life without them.

Wendy is in ethics, writing content for websites intended for employee instructions on company policies. Ruth runs the Office for the Arts at Memorial Hall at Harvard University.

Wendy is a writer and has some amazing scripts, mostly plays, but some manuscripts as well. Ruth is a poet (soon to be published) and has just found her amazing gift only a little over a year ago. I could not be more proud and more in love with these two amazing people. Too bad they're women and I like men.

They arrived Thursday night, after a long journey from the East Coast. I waited by my bedroom window, looking, hoping the next set up headlights would be theirs... and finally it was!

Richard, a long time friend of Ruth's and Wendy's from the old theater days at the New Ehrlich in Boston picked them up at the airport. Some of the best stories come from those days, let me tell you. What people do for art, it is truly a work of love to work at the theater. Being an actor is one thing, being a theater manager is something completely, all together different. It takes your body, and the breadth and depth of your soul to run a theater. They say actors give a little piece of themselves for each performance, but I assure you, you can see, over there - stage left, the body parts of the stage manager, costume designer, and lighting director.

They arrive and I run down, missing a few steps along the way and we give each other hugs and kisses. It felt like I just saw them the day before, even though it has been almost a year! Oh how I miss them.

Richard, after saying his goodbyes, headed home (it was almost midnight) and planned on coming back the next morning to give the famous, and infamous, Richard Freeman tour of San Francisco.

Ruth, Wendy and I drag the suitcases up four flights of pressure treated decking stairs (outside) to plop the suitcases in the livingroom and sit outside on the deck, enjoying the nice nighttime air, and we talked and talked and talked about all that is frivolous and all that is important.

Ruth talks about her work and poetry, Wendy also tells us her latest work and relationship hurdles and I discuss my new life in San Francisco and what it has meant to me. Then at 12:05 am we retired... actually more like 1:30 am because I remember commenting it was like 4:00 am for them!

Friday morning arrives and we have our toast, yogurt, fruit and orange juice and Richard arrives for the first leg of our journey. First stop, twin peaks. I look at them from my office every day, but have actually never gone up to take a view from above. It is spectacular, as you can see from the photo. It is a great way to see how the city is laid out and where each neighborhood is, truly great first stop.

View of San Francisco from Twin Peaks, looking east.

We then head over to Ocean Beach (the same name of the Martha's Vineyard Beach that we go to every year together!) and let Wendy touch the Pacific Ocean. We walk a little and then hop back into the car to stop at an overlook of Golden Gate Bridge. It was a fabulously sunny day, just perfect to enjoy the sites.

Wendy in front of Golden Gate Bridge. To the right is the Marin Headlands.

Oh yeah, Wendy has a video camera and she is great at narration while filming, so while we are driving across "the bridge", we give our facts about the bridge. Surprisingly the truth was not that far off. Construction began in 1933 and was completed in 1937 for a cost of under $35 million! It is still the 3rd longest single-span bridge in the world, 4,200 feet. The two main steel towers rise 746 feet from the ocean surface, and their piers sink more than 100 feet below the surface. The bridge carries more than 40 miilion cars a year and the piers (which the towers stand on) have to withstand a tidal flow of more than 60 mph twice a day. Now that is a bridge.

We drive past the Marin Headlands and head over to Tennessee Beach, a lovely and secluded area just beyond Sausalito. But before we reach the beach, we pick up another friend from the theater days, Gaila. Everyone says their hellos and gives their hugs and kisses and then we head over to the beach.

Wendy, Richard, Ruth and Gaila

The pond above the beach was overflowing from recent rains and it has created a stream that eventually succumbs to the ocean, cutting off access to the beach. But the spirit and desires of the people have created little rock bridges to get over to the beach. The cliffs are spectacular, eroded by the elements to a point of looking like great buttresses of a gothic church, beautiful.
Tennessee Beach

After debating about what was flying above (hawk or turkey vulture - Gaila was right, it was a turkey vulture) we walked back to our car and had a nice lunch at a place that looks like a dive but ended being delicious food, but don't ask me the name, I have forgotten.

We say our goodbyes to lovely Gaila (who I forgot to mention has also started writing poetry of her own - lovely) and head back to San Francisco, with full stomachs and even fuller souls.

Richard continues our tour, including a drive down Lombard Street and a drive up Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower, wonderful as always.

Saturday we decide Wendy should take a ride on the cable cars (Ruth has been to SF many times), so we head over to Powell Street to catch the cable car to North Beach, to the deliciously chocolatey place known as Ghiardelli Square, or as Wendy calls it, Mecca! We walk around the neighborhood and have our soup in a bread bowl and then off to Mecca... can't you just smell the chocolate?

Saturday night we go to Paul K near the Civic Center of SF. Richard works there and is famous for his explanation of what they have for dessert. You almost want a cigarette after those descriptions. Each of us had a different plate of entrees and we were all wowed by it. The duck was the most delectable I have ever had in this world, it is the chef's signature dish and it shows. Speaking of signature dish, the chef is hot... I asked to have him for dessert, but he was too busy to oblige.

Sunday we went to the new de Young Museum. It is in my favorite part of the city, Golden Gate Park and it was, yet again, a perfectly blue-sky day. This time Richard's husband Sean came along. It was nice to spend time with him, as well. We had fun looking around the museum, seeing all the art, young and old.
One of the exhibits at the de Young. The shadows are Richard, Sean, Ruth and Wendy

My particular favorite is their Polynesian and East Indies galleries. I think they have done such a spectacular job at designing the space and displaying the artifacts... it almost envelopes you in the warm wood tones... go and see and feel for yourself.
The de Young Museum. Opened in October 2005.

Yes, you are right, Sunday is New Year's Eve, so shouldn't we have some wonderfully embarrassing stories about drunken debauchery... ok, here it is, we saw the glow of the fireworks behind the buildings and trees in front of us and we ate chocolate out of the box, how's that for ringing in the new year!

Monday, Ruthie spent the day at Richard's studio (did I mention Richard is a famous painter, his artwork is showcased at Paul K's) and Wendy and I went to Chinatown. Just as an FYI, the best place to go anywhere in the world on New Year's Day is Chinatown. It was the only place in San Francisco that was happening on New Year's Day. We went to the fortune cookie factory (not all it's hyped up to be) and walked all around Chinatown and went in and out of every shop on Stockton and Grant Streets, including my favorite, the Wok Store on Grant. If you are looking for beautiful fabrics, go to Chinatown.

Wendy and I get back and meet up with Ruth and we eat at a nice place on Market... think I can remember?

And before I knew it, it was Tuesday morning and time to say goodbye. I braved a smile and gave long hugs, turned around, went upstairs and cried, no, whaled from the emptiness of my home. Only minutes ago my living room was alive with joy and comfort, alive with laughter and warmth, alive with care and love.

Ciao my friends, I count the days to when I am able to be with you again.

SF Air Race Show and Fleet Week 2006!

2006-10-15T21:34:00.000-07:00

Once a year San Francisco has what is called Fleet Week! The Navy brings in ships and vessels, including air craft carriers and destroyers. It is sometimes hard to listen to the propaganda about joining the armed forces, but they are still amazing to look at.

This aircraft carrier from San Diego had jets flying off and landing on it as it was moving in the bay.

After the fleet comes in (all those sailors in San Francisco... nice), the air race begins. The air race is a year-long race of single engine planes flying through huge pillars (air-filled).

They start where they finish, flying through the checkered pillars then they head towards their next pillars, sometimes they have to fly straight up into the air and do some other tricks before coming back down and heading towards their next pillars.

Currently the US flyer, Kirby Chambliss, is in the lead... but there is one more race to determine the ulitimate leader.

It is hard to explain the exhiliration of watching these single-engined planes twisting and turning and lifting and swooping through their paces, all in the hopes of being number one. Each pilot has two runs and there were two pilots who didn't finish their first run, but they had their second run to try to beat the current leader.

Each plane must pass between the pillars at the blue or red line, if they are above a certain level or below, they are deducted 3 seconds, well actually, they have 3 seconds added to their time. So it is hard to know who wins just by watching, but their website says Chambliss wins again!

Check out this website to get a better idea of what the flying is like and to see who is in the lead: http://www.redbullairrace.com/

After the race the Blue Angel's did their air acrobatics, which were truly amazing. They actually get, when in form, only 18 inches from each other! Can you imagine moving that fast and only 18 inches from the next one, yikes!

Are they copying the bird or is the bird copying them?

What do you think they are saying to each other? "Do I look fat in this jumpsuit?"

This is how close these planes get to the crowd, the sound of them flying directly overhead is deafening!

2006 Folsom Street Fair

2006-09-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

*** Caution, photos may be offensive to some ***

How does one explain the Folsom Street Fair? It is touted as the largest leather festival in the world, and my guess is they are probably right. But it is probably the largest S & M fair, the largest nudist fair and the largest public sex fair in the world, all rolled up in one.

It is the last Sunday of every September and runs on Folsom Street from 7th to 12th or so. It can be free to get in or just a few donation dollars for local charities... as one booth said, "Torture for Charity!" There is a bicycle parking (run by the San Francisco Bike Coalition) area that is monitored and keeps the bikes safe and there is even a place to hold bag check place (you'll understand why in a moment) that costs $5 for the day.

This was the only person I saw wearing a diaper, but it wasn't the most unusual item. It is this that makes me wonder how people get down to the festival. I'm sure they didn't ride public transport looking like that. I now understand why there is a bag check station.

There is a lot of bondage and S&M at the festival, but it is not what you would expect. I was surprised at how respectful people were of each other and of each person's boundaries. Everyone was laughing and no one was going through anything that they didn't want to.

This man was a lot of fun, just having a great time.

"Turn your head and cough"

These are clothes pins that are pinned onto the person. You will notice a circular pull on each line of pins. When he has had enough, they yank the pull and all the pins rip off the man's body. They call this a zipper and it is very painful. After they were done he collapsed for a few seconds, then stood up and looked quite happy. So, how was your day?

As you can see, there were some very lovely ladies at the fair. There were many people without a stitch of clothing... one wonders, where do they put the cell phones?

This is just one of many people who were getting spanked, paddled, cropped and whipped. This guy with a really cute end was enjoying the spanking and the attention very much.

This quite lovely Asian lady was whipping a guy who had some kind of hooded contraption (like a gas mask - seen below) covered in vinyl and tied to another person. He seemed to enjoy it.

Can you explain this one to me?

This lady, who looked so much like one of my high-school teachers, kind of disturbing, just decided she was a bad, bad girl.

Other things that happened were men, completely naked, who had weights attached to their "tea bags" and were swinging the weights back and forth. There were others who were enjoying themselves in front of all, and many having groups of fellow citizens enjoying themselves in a nicely organized circle... anyone welcomed.

I could say more, but I think that is for an in person discussion.

So again, how was your day?

Garden photos... more to come

2006-07-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

Passion flower (Passiflora - "Lavender Lady") with a delectable strawberry (Fragaria) in the background... mmm.

Salvia Leucantha "Mexican Bush Sage"