Here are all the photos from my drive to Texas, just click on photo of Lulu.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Stop sign with color digitally added
Just an example of posting a photo from Flickr to my artyfartyparty blog.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Loving this quote from CS Lewis
"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken.
If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal.
Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.
But in that casket—safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation.
The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly save from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell."
- C.S Lewis
The Four Loves
If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal.
Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.
But in that casket—safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation.
The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly save from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell."
- C.S Lewis
The Four Loves
Friday, November 23, 2007
Excerpt from tourista advice email
A new friend from Austin is coming to visit San Francisco in late December. Here is an excerpt of my email to her, describing some places to go see. Just posting it here so I can remember these same things if anyone else asks!
There are truly a bazillion great things to see and do in the SF bay
area, but here are some ideas for you from the local girl perspective:
1 - Union Square, San Francisco. It should wildly festive during that time, great shops, people watching, lots of places to eat. The dopey thing I love to do is saunter into the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, act like a hotel guest and head for the guest room elevators at the far back of the lobby. These are glass elevators - punch the button for the top floor and enjoy the free (and great) view! From there it is just a couple of blocks to walk into the world-famous Chinatown (which is a bit touristy but still pretty interesting). While you're in that part of town, I would check out the SF MOMA.
2 - Drive up to Point Reyes. This is a full day's trip, but one of my favorite things to do ever. So incredibly beautiful. If you have the time, you could drive out to the lighthouse and see if you can see whales, then circle back to check out the very cute towns of Inverness and Point Reyes Station. The latter has fantastic art galleries and restaurants and a funky old bookstore. I like to send people to the Cowgirl Creamery.
If it were me, I'd leave from Berkeley, drive out Sir Francis Drake Blvd through Fairfax to Point Reyes and then take Highway One back from Point Reyes through Stinson Beach, over Mount Tam, down into Mill Valley and then back to Berkeley. It's a peak time for whale watching.
If you are even a little bit of a bird watcher, this would be the day to bring your binoculars along. Actually, you'd want them for the whales too.
3 - Check out Berkeley's 4th Street - just a nice local's shopping street with a Peet's coffee, great local bookstore, an OUTLET of Crate and Barrel, and so on.
4 - If you are going to go to Green's for breakfast or lunch, it makes a very nice morning to stroll along the marina. If you're up for a bit of a longer walk, you can keep going all the way along Crissy Field to the Golden Gate bridge (about a mile and 1/2) and stand on that spot where Kim Novak falls (throws herself?) into the bay in the movie Vertigo. :)
There are truly a bazillion great things to see and do in the SF bay
area, but here are some ideas for you from the local girl perspective:
1 - Union Square, San Francisco. It should wildly festive during that time, great shops, people watching, lots of places to eat. The dopey thing I love to do is saunter into the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, act like a hotel guest and head for the guest room elevators at the far back of the lobby. These are glass elevators - punch the button for the top floor and enjoy the free (and great) view! From there it is just a couple of blocks to walk into the world-famous Chinatown (which is a bit touristy but still pretty interesting). While you're in that part of town, I would check out the SF MOMA.
2 - Drive up to Point Reyes. This is a full day's trip, but one of my favorite things to do ever. So incredibly beautiful. If you have the time, you could drive out to the lighthouse and see if you can see whales, then circle back to check out the very cute towns of Inverness and Point Reyes Station. The latter has fantastic art galleries and restaurants and a funky old bookstore. I like to send people to the Cowgirl Creamery.
If it were me, I'd leave from Berkeley, drive out Sir Francis Drake Blvd through Fairfax to Point Reyes and then take Highway One back from Point Reyes through Stinson Beach, over Mount Tam, down into Mill Valley and then back to Berkeley. It's a peak time for whale watching.
If you are even a little bit of a bird watcher, this would be the day to bring your binoculars along. Actually, you'd want them for the whales too.
3 - Check out Berkeley's 4th Street - just a nice local's shopping street with a Peet's coffee, great local bookstore, an OUTLET of Crate and Barrel, and so on.
4 - If you are going to go to Green's for breakfast or lunch, it makes a very nice morning to stroll along the marina. If you're up for a bit of a longer walk, you can keep going all the way along Crissy Field to the Golden Gate bridge (about a mile and 1/2) and stand on that spot where Kim Novak falls (throws herself?) into the bay in the movie Vertigo. :)
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Trek to Austin
Austin was pretty good - mostly work and very busy, but beautiful weather and improving relationships with the Austin office folks. I'm going back again Nov 5 - 7 and Nov 11 - 16, so am planning to do a bit more than just hotel to office to hotel next time. I've started using Priceline and am getting some great hotels for tiny prices, too. Oakville Grocery opened a satelite store in the fancy new mall just across the street from the Austin office, so I walked over there for lunch several times and had broccolini salad and chipotle chicken and such.
I'm again giving serious thought to moving there. I'd abandoned the idea when I was feeling uncertain about work, but things have improved quite a bit. Boss keeps backing me up and increasing my role and visibility, he walks his talk, and my one-on-one with our CEO also gave me a positive read. It's also exciting to be on the brink of going public. When I'm out there, I get so much more done - amazing the difference it makes to be at HQ in person. I am in my lease at my current place through January, so wouldn't probably make a move until after then. Austin truly is a fun, creative, dog-friendly, artist-friendly, affordable place to be, so why fight it? I do loathe the packing and hauling part of the whole moving thing though, ugh.
Right now, I'm house and dogsitting for P, sitting on her humungous couch with a dog snuggled up to me on either side (and snoring!) - very cozy and lovely. My painting class starts at 9 am at College of Marin, but it's so cold that I'm not sure I want to stick the dogs in the backyard to go paint. Argh. I wish I could leave Lulu inside, but she still chews things up when she gets bored, which is pretty quickly.
Laura's mom is still hanging on, but barely. She's been moved to a nursing home but is not expected to live more than a few days - although that's been the prognosis for weeks. Luckily, Laura was able to get her on Medical (or Medicaid or something) so some of the financial burden is relieved.
I'm again giving serious thought to moving there. I'd abandoned the idea when I was feeling uncertain about work, but things have improved quite a bit. Boss keeps backing me up and increasing my role and visibility, he walks his talk, and my one-on-one with our CEO also gave me a positive read. It's also exciting to be on the brink of going public. When I'm out there, I get so much more done - amazing the difference it makes to be at HQ in person. I am in my lease at my current place through January, so wouldn't probably make a move until after then. Austin truly is a fun, creative, dog-friendly, artist-friendly, affordable place to be, so why fight it? I do loathe the packing and hauling part of the whole moving thing though, ugh.
Right now, I'm house and dogsitting for P, sitting on her humungous couch with a dog snuggled up to me on either side (and snoring!) - very cozy and lovely. My painting class starts at 9 am at College of Marin, but it's so cold that I'm not sure I want to stick the dogs in the backyard to go paint. Argh. I wish I could leave Lulu inside, but she still chews things up when she gets bored, which is pretty quickly.
Laura's mom is still hanging on, but barely. She's been moved to a nursing home but is not expected to live more than a few days - although that's been the prognosis for weeks. Luckily, Laura was able to get her on Medical (or Medicaid or something) so some of the financial burden is relieved.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
one of those days
OY
Here is how it goes sometimes. Came in to my office at 8 am for a meeting to discover I should have been here at 7 am instead, but failed to note properly.
Then, at our 8 am meeting, I discovered that the project file I worked on for 5 hours yesterday got corrupted somehow when I sent to my boss last night. So when he opened it, it looked like I'd done no work. To his credit, he tactfully said,
"I don't quite understand this file."
And then it turned out that about 1/2 of the assumptions I needed to make in creating the project file last night were overturned or invalidated in that 7 am meeting. Which it turned out I myself had scheduled in the first place, telling the Austin team cheerfully, "Oh I have no problem with early morning meetings."
How do I de-doofus my day?
Where is the "re-do" button?
Here is how it goes sometimes. Came in to my office at 8 am for a meeting to discover I should have been here at 7 am instead, but failed to note properly.
Then, at our 8 am meeting, I discovered that the project file I worked on for 5 hours yesterday got corrupted somehow when I sent to my boss last night. So when he opened it, it looked like I'd done no work. To his credit, he tactfully said,
"I don't quite understand this file."
And then it turned out that about 1/2 of the assumptions I needed to make in creating the project file last night were overturned or invalidated in that 7 am meeting. Which it turned out I myself had scheduled in the first place, telling the Austin team cheerfully, "Oh I have no problem with early morning meetings."
How do I de-doofus my day?
Where is the "re-do" button?
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
silliness from P
I removed ones that were just boring results or too much personal info:
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Charlie CRV (hmmm, not very catchy)
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Cherry Garcia Ginger Snap
3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),
Pink Dog (I don't think I'd hire a detective named Pink Dog, personally.)
4. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),
The Green Americano (bleah! gross!)
5. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),
Dwight Warren (or Warren Dwight) Funny how that matchs P's, eh?
6. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy),
Burberry Brit Hot Tamales (wee hoo - I may have to legally change my name now)
7. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),
Wait, I can't tell you or else you'll find me when I enter the program!
8. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),
Houston Hartford (I can't remember who my fifth grade teacher was, isn't that sad? So I went with my fourth grade teacher, who I adored.)
9. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).
Winter Agapantha (Not sure how incognito I'd be with that moniker...)
10. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Tangerine Blousey
11. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
Banana Shake Coastal Oak (grooooovy)
12. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather + “Tour”),
The Painting Thunderstorm Tour
Well, I'm sure the time I spent on this forwards world peace, so I can rest easy that I'm not just putzing about.
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Charlie CRV (hmmm, not very catchy)
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Cherry Garcia Ginger Snap
3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),
Pink Dog (I don't think I'd hire a detective named Pink Dog, personally.)
4. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),
The Green Americano (bleah! gross!)
5. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),
Dwight Warren (or Warren Dwight) Funny how that matchs P's, eh?
6. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy),
Burberry Brit Hot Tamales (wee hoo - I may have to legally change my name now)
7. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),
Wait, I can't tell you or else you'll find me when I enter the program!
8. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),
Houston Hartford (I can't remember who my fifth grade teacher was, isn't that sad? So I went with my fourth grade teacher, who I adored.)
9. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).
Winter Agapantha (Not sure how incognito I'd be with that moniker...)
10. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Tangerine Blousey
11. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
Banana Shake Coastal Oak (grooooovy)
12. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather + “Tour”),
The Painting Thunderstorm Tour
Well, I'm sure the time I spent on this forwards world peace, so I can rest easy that I'm not just putzing about.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Dudes of 1975
My dear friend Stacey sent me this gem, a page from a 1975 JC Penney catalog. Wow, too much sexiness all in one place!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Speaking of mojo pirates
OK, so my last post was about my buddy Carl in Napa and his story of how the computer stole his mojo. I have since been thinking a lot about that and feel like I can confidently state that the television has either already stolen my mojo or is trying to.
I had a little funny moment this morning when I was actually thinking that, boo hoo, someone who's had her mojo sucked out by the television was also thusly incapable of mustering up enough hutzpah to call Comcast and say "turn it off!" Sad, sad. Oh the limpness.
I think this must be where drugs are actually helpful. Drugs, in my case, being Peet's coffee, which I am now able to enjoy again in moderation after 6 months of quitting all coffee. I had a nice big mug of this wonder beverage and then actually did call and tomorrow at 8 pm, the television will be kaput. They don't even have a term for "undoing just the TV part but leaving on the Internet and phone" at Comcast because, I assume, they really don't want to think about that reality.
The thing that sent me over the edge (in addition to the coffee) was finding myself searching out places to go travel and get away from "it all." The prices were not what I wanted and I didn't want to spend time in a car or a plane to get to anywhere, not matter how lovely. And then I realized that I could create a perfect vacation replicant at my own home if I gave myself the breathing space to read a book and the permission to eat grilled cheese sandwiches. So that will save me several hundred dollars as well as that nagging 'rat race' feeling.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Free time, computers and mojo
I'm starting to think that 'being rich' for someone who wants to do lots of art is equivalent to having loads of free time, not necessarily loads of cash. At least that's how it feels at the moment. Nearly everywhere I look I see an idea for a project that I don't have time for and feel frustrated. I guess that's better than not feeling inspired.
What I did have time for was to plan out a new "traveling journal" using a Ning group (and inspired by an existing Ning Project called Artbook Coalition.) So far, I have signed up 3 friends to participate via Ning invite and 1 friend via good old-fashioned word of mouth. In fact, this friend was very funny about it. I was asking him if he'd like to take part and if I could contact him via email. He said,
"Oh no! The computer stole my mojo. So I gave it to the Salvation Army." I laughed and told him I'd get him the traveling artbook by hand.
"I do have my mojo back, by the way," he said.
"Oh, that's very clear. We can all see the mojo," I said.
We also agreed, sadly, that the television is also a bad mojo destroyer, but I am having a hard time getting to the "atom bomb of step one" around TV watching.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Thursday, July 05, 2007
brit wit
I have a word of the day for you! I have been listening the newsabout the release of journalist Alan Johnston. His fellow journalist
was interviewed about how much Alan was enjoying talking with his BBC colleagues just after his release (after having no one to talk to for 4 months of solitary confinement) and that he was still the same humble, funny and mordant conversationalist.
Ok, so sad mental note #1, can you imagine an American journalist using the word mordant in normal discourse?
And slightly cheery mental note #2, at least we have the Brits.
mordant
Pronunciation: 'mor-d&nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle French, present participle of mordre to bite, from
Latin mordEre; perhaps akin to Sanskrit mrdnAti he presses, rubs
1 : biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style : INCISIVE
My buddy Beth's comment (on receiving the above in email this morning):
Speaking of mordant, especially after such a painful ordeal, he said
he immediately got rid of the haircut with "that just-kidnapped look."
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
i love joe strummer
I always forget how much I love everything he ever created. Somehow listening to his tunes the past couple of days has been saving my sanity at work, which is still quite weird.
Johnny Appleseed is the one with the most "juice" right now. Brings out that kick-ass confident eight-year-old in me.
But I also appreciate his ability with language (poetry!), his humble attitude, his sense of humor.
Check out these lyrics, for example, off the Global A-Go Go album:
Bhindi Bhagee
Well, I was walking down the High Road
And this guy stops me
He'd just got in from New ZealandAnd he was looking for mushy peas
I said, no, we hadn't really got 'em round here
I said, but we do gotBalti, Bhindi, strictly HindiDall, Halal
and I'm walking down the road
We got rocksoul, okra, bombay duck-ra
Shrimp beansprout, comes with it or without - with it or without
Bagels soft or simply harder
Exotic avocado or toxic empenada
We got akee, lassi, Somali waccy baccy
I'm sure back home you know what tikka's all about - what tikka's all about
Welcome stranger to the humble neighborhoods
You can get inspiration along the highroad
Hommus, cous cous in the jus of octopus
Pastrami and salami and lasagne on the go
Welcome stranger, there's no danger
Welcome to this humble neighborhood
There's Balti, Bhindi, strictly HindiDall, Halal and I'm walking down the road
Rocksoul, okra, bombay duck-ra
Shrimp beansprout, comes with it or without
So anyway, I told him I was in a band
He said, "Oh yeah, oh yeah - what's your music like?"
I said, "It's um, um, well, it's kinda like
You know, it's got a bit of, um, you know."
Ragga, Bhangra, two-step Tanga
Mini-cab radio, music on the go
Um, surfbeat, backbeat, frontbeat, backseat
There's a bunch of players and they're really letting go
We got, Brit pop, hip hop, rockabilly, Lindy hop
Gaelic heavy metal fans fighting in the road
Ah, Sunday boozers for chewing gum users
They got a crazy D.J. and she's really letting go
Oh, welcome stranger
Welcome stranger to the humble neighborhoods
Well, I say, there's plenty of places to eat round here
He say, "Oh yeah, I'm pretty choosy."
You gotBalti, Bhindi, strictly HindiDall, Halal, walking down the road
Rocksoul, okra, bombay duck-raShrimp beansprout, comes with it or without
Let's check it out
Welcome stranger to the humble neighborhoods, neighborhoods
Check out all thatPor-da-sol, por-da-sol
Walking down the highroad
Johnny Appleseed is the one with the most "juice" right now. Brings out that kick-ass confident eight-year-old in me.
But I also appreciate his ability with language (poetry!), his humble attitude, his sense of humor.
Check out these lyrics, for example, off the Global A-Go Go album:
Bhindi Bhagee
Well, I was walking down the High Road
And this guy stops me
He'd just got in from New ZealandAnd he was looking for mushy peas
I said, no, we hadn't really got 'em round here
I said, but we do gotBalti, Bhindi, strictly HindiDall, Halal
and I'm walking down the road
We got rocksoul, okra, bombay duck-ra
Shrimp beansprout, comes with it or without - with it or without
Bagels soft or simply harder
Exotic avocado or toxic empenada
We got akee, lassi, Somali waccy baccy
I'm sure back home you know what tikka's all about - what tikka's all about
Welcome stranger to the humble neighborhoods
You can get inspiration along the highroad
Hommus, cous cous in the jus of octopus
Pastrami and salami and lasagne on the go
Welcome stranger, there's no danger
Welcome to this humble neighborhood
There's Balti, Bhindi, strictly HindiDall, Halal and I'm walking down the road
Rocksoul, okra, bombay duck-ra
Shrimp beansprout, comes with it or without
So anyway, I told him I was in a band
He said, "Oh yeah, oh yeah - what's your music like?"
I said, "It's um, um, well, it's kinda like
You know, it's got a bit of, um, you know."
Ragga, Bhangra, two-step Tanga
Mini-cab radio, music on the go
Um, surfbeat, backbeat, frontbeat, backseat
There's a bunch of players and they're really letting go
We got, Brit pop, hip hop, rockabilly, Lindy hop
Gaelic heavy metal fans fighting in the road
Ah, Sunday boozers for chewing gum users
They got a crazy D.J. and she's really letting go
Oh, welcome stranger
Welcome stranger to the humble neighborhoods
Well, I say, there's plenty of places to eat round here
He say, "Oh yeah, I'm pretty choosy."
You gotBalti, Bhindi, strictly HindiDall, Halal, walking down the road
Rocksoul, okra, bombay duck-raShrimp beansprout, comes with it or without
Let's check it out
Welcome stranger to the humble neighborhoods, neighborhoods
Check out all thatPor-da-sol, por-da-sol
Walking down the highroad
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