A house! --> Week in Review, Day 260-266

~ rode the 1 California bus

~ started the day with a boxing lesson

~ chose action before thinking, and actually got something done

~ bought my first pair of vintage earrings. From the 80's, I think? Typical me...


That's right - blue rhinestones

~ closed on our first house!!!!!!!

~ got surprised by the moving company. Originally scheduled for about two weeks from now, they called and said, "how about tomorrow?"

~ watched movers pack up all the stuff we've accumulated over eight years in one place

SF-Packed + Celebrity Sighting ---> Week in Review, Day 253-259

~ missed a client meeting because I completely forgot about it. Never happened before.

~ set up Quickbooks for the business

~ had an amazing veggie sandwich at Mission Creek Cafe

~ took the 33 Stanyan bus

~ celebrated a friend who is now a full-on American citizen!

~ took a tour of an amazing San Francisco home with the architect

~ had coffee with celebrities. Well, I was in the same coffee shop where they happened to be hanging out. Robin Williams and Craig Ferguson.

~ name-dropped on my blog

~ went to Cafe Royale and enjoyed some gypsy music accompanied by belly dancers

~ and I even knew one of the belly dancers!

~ went to the Page Bar, on Page at Divisadero

~ went to a picnic in Golden Gate Park

~ drank a cold beer in a hot shower. At 9 AM on Monday. That seems like the start to a banner week.

Food and more food --> Week in Review, Day 238-244

~ ate at Goat Hill Pizza, after years of hearing great reviews

~ went Off the Grid, the meeting of the mobile food vendors in SF. Such good food, some long lines. Check it out.

~ ate takoyaki, Japanese street food. Octopus balls. No, not those kind of balls. Just round cakes.

~ arrived (very late) at the Chili Bowl Cook Off and Skateboard Contest at Potrero Del Sol Park

~ bought a couple of piano books to step up my lessons

~ decided to take off a month from piano lessons, just to try something new

Health and music -------> Week in Review, Day 195-201

~ had a facial. It's true - I have never had one before. I am now a believer - my skin looked so, so much better than it normally does. And it included a foot massage as well as an arm and hand massage. Heavenly. This will be a nice gift to myself every once in a while, a good prize for reaching a goal.

~ tried a skin cleanser juice from the local organic food place. A mix of watermelon, apple and other juices. Not sure how much it did for my skin, but it was delicious.

~ traded coffee for tea. Yes, I got myself off coffee, just to see how it feels to be caffeine-free. It feels great. I really don't even miss the coffee, and that's coming from someone who REALLY loved coffee. Been drinking a ton of herbal tea, which my favorite being the spicy ones. Yum. I have gotten off coffee before and always find my way back, but it was nice to really listen to my body this time and notice the difference.

~ went to the symphony. They were showing the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock thriller "Psycho," accompanied by the orchestra's strings. To watch all the violins move sharply together during the famous shower scene was amazing. Symphony Hall in downtown SF is gorgeous - round building with all glass windows. It even has a balcony with a prime view of City Hall.


~ went to the Indie Mart street festival, where a bunch of independent designers, artists and other D.I.Y.ers were showcasing their wares. Very talented people. This party also included my very first visit to Thee Parkside, "San Francisco's premier dive venue." Great art and great music? Too much good stuff. So I couldn't resist:

Awesome necklace from Rene Kwong at Bliss Jewelry.

Chappo put on an amazing stage show with their feathers, euphoric drumming, passionate front man, and storytelling. Check them out right now.

Santa Monica & Pride ---> Week in Review, Day 174-180

Not too many small things, since I was pretty busy with work. But a few BIG things!

~ spent 24 hours in Santa Monica. It was a great birthday treat to sit on the beach in the warmth...



~ ... and visit a landmark. Johnny Utah would be proud.


~ had a drink with a celebrity. Well, NEXT to a celebrity. Well, KIND OF a celebrity. Tabatha Coffey from Bravo's Shear Genius and Tabath's Salon Takeover. I think she's sassy, love her hair, and she is quite wee in person. No, I did not ask her for a picture.

~ Mr. Sound set up a fabulous birthday dinner at BOA Steakhouse. Aw, yum. We started with goat cheese baklava, which combines two of my favorite things. Enjoyed a petite fliet mignon with seasonal mushrooms, and finished with cookies and ice cream. Throughout, artisan cocktails and wine. The best part was the company. :-)

~ we've lived in the Bay Are for about a decade and never attended the Pride Parade. Until this year. It was twice as long as the St. Patrick's Parade, since it included a ton of politicians and causes. Then there were the wild things!




~ my favorite part of the parade was the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers. Holy, this group is amazing and their bad-ass outfits are only a clue of how bad-ass they really are. Check them out online or at many events around Orgeon, their home state.

Tiki, the Mission and roller derby -----> Week in Review, Day 167-173

~ visited the Tonga Room, legendary tiki bar in San Francisco and rumored to be closing soon. There is a thunderstorm every 20 minutes or so over the pool in the middle of the room, and the Mai Tais are ridiculously good.

~ tried almond butter (with roasted flaxseeds for crunch). High in protein - and in calories, so careful!

~ cooked talapia and made our own rice pilaf

~ enjoyed Sunday brunch at Dolores Park Cafe on a gorgeous sunny morning

~ got dessert after Sunday brunch at the famous Bi-Rite ice cream shop. Brought home two flavors to share with Mr. Sound - salted carmel and malted vanilla with toffee and nuts. Oh, yum.

~ saw roller derby in person - the SF ShEvil Dead vs the Santa Cruz Boardwalk Bombshells. Those girls are badass.

and they haul ass.

Day 143 - Had gelato in the park

My friend Jim from college was in town for work. This is not new - he comes about once a year for a conference. We met up at Vesuvio, which is also not new, since it's favorite bar in SF. So although it was the highlight of my weekend, it was not new.

Mr. Sound and I hung around North Beach after Jim departed on conference duties. We had the most delicious pizza at Tony's Pizza and if that was not enough, walked across the street for gelato. I tried a dark chocolate crunch and seriously, it was one of the best I've ever had. I'm not a huge frozen dessert fan, but this was spectacular. We sat down in Washington Square Park, enjoying it and the sunshine.

Day 131 - Had a bourbon cocktail

Four coworkers from my previous job met up to catch up. We tried Rickhouse in the Financial District, not far from Union Square. It was very dark in the back corner where we found seats but overall, the atmosphere was great. Brick walls, dark wood, bartenders in suspenders, a huge liquor selection. The cocktails are amazing. I had a (OK, two) Kentucky Buck, which is bourbon with strawberry, ginger and lime. Delicious. And everyone else's cocktails were outstanding as well. I'm curious about the punch bowls, though I doubt I'd be as adventurous as the two guys I saw sharing one. That's a recipe for a hangover.

Aside - that networking group I mentioned last week? I'm happy to report that we're in! Let the rumpus begin!

Day 122 - Supported the Escape

Today was the Escape from Alcatraz triathalon. A 1.5 mile swim, an 18-mile bike trek, and an 8-mile run. The water is freezing and the roads are hilly. These people are amazing.

We were able to see the bike and running parts. The elite athletes make it look easy. But it's the every day people, like you and me, that are truly inspiring. People of all sizes and shapes, finishing in the top of their group, or at the very bottom, but finishing all the same. Disabled athletes, older athletes, survivors and first-timers. We stood as long as we could, cheering for everyone.

If you every have the opportunity to watch a race, be sure to cheer the athletes on - it makes a huge difference when you're the one struggling on the course.

Day 121 - Parked in a Park

There's a few weeks of depression once the snowboarding season ends. What do we do with our time on the weekends? What could be as fun? Of course, there are a huge amount of things to do in San Francisco - it's just the change that's shocking.

As I mentioned, the weather has been spectacular, almost like a real summer. So Mr. Sound packed us a picnic lunch and we sat for many hours in the park by Fort Mason. Big groups were having full-blown parties, small groups were enjoying beers, individuals were reading. It was fun, relaxing, and reminded us what a beautiful city this is. I was enjoying myself so much, I forgot to take pictures.

Happy May!

Day 115 - Visited Kirby Cove

Right on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge is the Marin Headlands, a national park known for biking and beauty. I have been there before, sure, but not like this.

Mr. Sound and I walked across the Golden Gate, which is something I have never done. I have run across it, during a race and in practice, but never meandered like a tourist over it.




Cross under the bridge and follow the footpath up the hill to the vista. Then follow the winding dirt road down to the beach. There is Kirby Cove. We enjoyed our picnic lunch by the ocean, enjoying this view.




We even took a short nap in the warm sun, right there on the grass. It was heaven. The walk back was uphill but after such a great afternoon, totally worth it. The walk across the bridge was windy and noisy but it was nothing compared to how good it felt to be outdoors on such a gorgeous day. We celebrated with burgers and milk shakes.

Day 110 - Snapped a rainbow over Golden Gate

The sky morphed from blue to gray to scary to blue to fluffy back to gray, and then it rained. The result of that was this gorgeous rainbow. Nature like this takes your breath away.

Day 100 - Saw radio in action

For 24 hours, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of SF teamed up with KGO Radio 810 for their annual Cure-a-Thon. The regular station DJs use their magical voice powers to raise money for the cause in a telephone fundraising drive. My shift began at 6 AM, and when I arrived, the on-air team was in full vigor like it was lunchtime. Amazing.

There were no radio booths, no On Air signs. The personalities stood in the middle of the room around a table, sharing encouraging words through their hand-held microphones. The 70-something-year-old head of the event was the most energetic person in the room, not slowed at all in his 30 years of participation. Volunteers arrived in teams, all smiles and big hearts. It was truly an uplifting morning.

APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!
Well, thank you, thank you. I can't even believe it myself, that I've made it through 100 days of new things. Some have been very lame, some have been very exciting, but all have been new. I've learned it takes work and dedication to keep things lively, but the results are invigorating.

Day 99 - Nighttime sightseeing

I see the Golden Gate Bridge every day and every night. But never have I seen it up close at night, like a tourist. About 9 PM, the bridge was still flush with visitors. My phone camera does it no justice - it was breathtaking.

Day 98 - Had a European lunch

Today I found myself on an outdoor patio on a beautiful day. I had been in the same spot for about an hour earlier, chatting with a friend. Unfortunately for her, she had to run off for another appointment, leaving me alone with the sunshine and a growling stomach. My plan to kill time before my next meeting was sidetracked by this luck. I had lunch here, which was actually not the unusual thing.

No, the strange part was that it felt strangely like sitting in a different country. The man across from me was reading the newspaper with reckless disregard for time. The business meeting next to him lasted for four hours. The tourists fresh from the conference center were excited and speaking French. I was eating quiche.

We were surrounded by beautiful flowers and fragrance. The courtyard seemed to fend off the tall buildings around us and the serious business they held. The sun seemed to be shining only here, the blue skies floating only over our heads.

These things never seem to happen and here they were, all happening at one time. It was a vacation in downtown San Francisco, and one I will not soon forget.

Day 97 - Tried new food

Well, these places were new to me. Nothing but good reviews for Nick's Crispy Tacos on Broadway at Polk. Of the carnitas and pescado tacos, neither were crispy but both were delicious. And the place was bizarre. Order at the counter by the door, and get assigned a plastic number in a silver stand. Turn around to sit and you're greeted by chandeliers, plush booths and deep red walls. A taco place? No, more like a nightclub. Which it actually is after 10 PM. Way to use the space.

For dessert, I stopped at Cultive Frozen Yogurt, one of the new places that allow you to serve yourself. Ten yogurt flavors, twenty dry toppings, all kinds of fruit, and even dessert sauces, it's hard to control yourself. Mine was classic chocolate/vanilla swirl with colored sprinkles and walnuts. Topped with two cherries. Yum.

I attempted a hat trick, intending to also dip into the new American Cupcake on Union Street, but I just missed the closing time. Another day...

Nick's Crispy Tacos
1500 Broadway, shared with Rouge

Cultive Frozen Yogurt
1998 Union Street

Day 96 - Visited the ocean

In tough times, I find solace in the ocean. The far-off horizon reminds me how small I am, and the continuous waves remind me that life goes on. The motion and the sound is soothing. With the news that a sick friend is deteriorating, a dose of sea water seemed apt. The Big Being Upstairs did an amazing job with the sea, though my photo does it no justice.



And a follow-up: I re-visited the tulip garden in Golden Gate Park, and this time, the tulips were in full bloom. As were the tourists.

Day 92 - Laughed at Keanu LIVE!

Please tell me you have seen the movie Point Break. Keanu Reeves as Johnny Utah ("I am an FBI agent!"), Patrick Swayze as a surfing bank robber Bodhi . C'mon, it's a classic. Anyways, the hit movie (by Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow) is now on the small stage here in San Francisco (and L.A.) Point Break LIVE! is a riot. Without an ocean or real skydiving, the story comes to life with super-soakers, fake blood, and one catch - a random member of the audience plays the part of Keanu Reeves. You gotta see it, brah.

WARNING: Cases of PBR cans are available for purchase. And this cool koozie:



Point Break LIVE!
The Action Theater at the Metreon

Day 85 - Visited the Warming Hut

Just like City Lights Books, I have passed by the Warming Hut hundreds of times. It is a cute stop along the way from Crissy Field to the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a cafe, bookstore, and gift shop combined. Don't ever need any of that stuff while running by during a workout. But today I got a lemonade and a photo.

Day 83 - Visited City Lights Books

Standing proudly on Columbus near the corner of debauchery, City Lights has been defending free speech since 1953. It was a standard stop for the beatniks in the 1960s, and alternative thinkers of today. And who would not stand behind a local, independent bookstore? C'mon.

With all this going for it, I never visited. In eight years of San Francisco residence and hundreds of pass-bys, I was uninspired (and a bit intimidated) to go in. Until today. I was greeted by nooks of books covering gardening to anarchy, with a large fiction section of atypical authors. Actually, no, it's really a large atypical fiction section of authors. Slaughterhouse-Five was mandatory reading in school, but never have I seen Vonnegut's full collection of stories, in triplicate. Same with Hunter S. Thompson, Ken Kesey, and of course, Jack Kerouac.

The shelves of different heights next to stacks of books next to skinny columns morphed browsing into an exploration. It brought electricity back into books and made me wonder at all the knowledge and stories in these shelves. It was hard, but I got away with just one book - a book on writing. Whether you're a reader or a writer, visit your local bookstore and just marvel at the wealth.

City Lights Books
261 Clumbus at Broadway