Day 31 - Lots of stuff + a recap

My day was pretty productive and included a lot of new things. I put REAL SUGAR in my coffee (good idea, Steph). I went to an estate sale, but didn't find anything. I tried a new Indian restaurant for dinner and it was good. I made all new files for my business and got organized. All well and good, but not very exciting, I know.

So I guess for my new thing today I will claim a new addition to this blog. On Sundays, I will list a few of the entertaining things I fell across during the week that did not make it to its own blog post. Please enjoy.

A grandma with a Hello Kitty backpap

A grandma who sent the bartender back to fill up her straight up a bit more

A guitarist making the most painful faces – but he shredded so it's OK

A couple hundred sailboats milling around the St. Francis Yacht Club (wish I had a camera)

The most beautiful, biggest moon (though the camera does it no justice)

Day 30 - Visited Orinda

"The time is growing short. Erie, you must leave immediately or the hope of saving Caldor will be lost."

"But how will I know the way?" The young elf's eyes were filled with doubt as she looked at the king. "I am just one small being who knows of no land past the woods."

"Cordin will be your guide and your defender. He is my best warrior and I trust him with my life. Yours will be in his good hands."

Erie looked at the warrior as he stepped forward. His deep blue eyes were kind but worried. "My lady, I promise you, no harm will come to you under my watch. Please. We must hurry. It is three days time to Orinda and Greybeard needs your help."

~ Excerpt from the fiction in my head


I was wrong. Orinda is a suburb of San Francisco.

Day 29 - Ventured to a new venue

Just like yesterday, I finally visited a music venue I've passed a few hundred times. The Boom Boom Room focuses on blues, boogie, groove and soul music. They support local and/or smaller bands so I was excited to see who I might encounter tonight. San Francisco's Tracorum is self-described as rock and soul/rhythm and blues. For the short hour I was there, they played a variety of songs, from rock to reggae to surf to funk styles. Definitely a band to enjoy live and in the intimate venue, the crowd really got into the groove. It was a mixed crowd - young professionals and older couples, music lovers and people on the prowl - which made people-watching a sport. Besides having a good house beer, the Boom Boom Room offers music most nights of the week so stop by.

Day 28 - Visited a record store

There's a record store I've passed many times and always wanted to visit. Grooves at Market and Octavia. It's all vinyl - plus a smattering of 8-tracks and cassettes. I'm not a vinyl collector, not even casually, but always love a stroll through a music store. Aisles of legends snuggled in worn jackets that surely could tell a story or two. I found a few albums that I remember my dad having, and it made me smile. I walked out with a book on learning to read music, one of my goals for this year with my new keyboard. Finding new music is exciting but reveling in history is fulfilling.

Day 27 - Ran twice, or, Fell for reverse psychology

NEVER have I went for a run and then decided an hour later that it wasn't enough and more would be a good idea. That's madness.

I was happy with my 2-mile warm-up. At the gym, I struggled through a very hard leg workout, ending with trainer Antony's advice that a run tomorrow would be a great idea to keep the legs feeling fine. But he then continued:

Antony: Well, actually, the best thing is for you to go run right after you leave here - just a slow, 3-mile run - but I doubt I could get away with suggesting that to you.

Me, in my head: Oh, really? Watch me. I'm going to run the heck out of those three miles.

Me, running 10 minutes later: Wait a minute...damn it!


NUTSHELL: The second run went well. Antony is knowledgeable and clever. I will not die if I push myself. I need someone else to push me. An open mind and/or a big ego is necessary for the push to work.


For any NIKE+ runners - challenge me to a run! Log our times online and keep each other on track for fitness goals. Drop me a line in the comments if interested!