Lynnore's Logic

Gas Lighting Pipe Needs To Be Covered

2011-06-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

This Old House

I finally got someone to change the light fixtures in my hallway & office -- look what I found.

That is the gas lighting pipe, from before this place was electrified.

It sicks out about 3". The previous fixture screwed into a nipple in the pipe. Now, it's just hanging by the wires.

This is what I want to put in it's place -- any suggestions?

There aren't any threads on the stem of the replacement fixture.

Some Ideas

2011-06-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

Here are my first thoughts on what I might like in my new kitchen

I decided I should get a stove that's 30" instead of 36" so I can have a regular size dishwasher. Then I'll get a smaller single bowl sink.

At first I thought I'd get black appliances, but that seems too dark. Now, I'm drooling over the stainless professional stoves that cost a fortune.

These are the cheapest ones I found.

The one on the left is DCS by Fisher & Paykel $2,500 & the other is Bertazzoni for $2,000 including the hood.

This is my 1950's Danish Teak table with my 1961 Denby Arabesque dishes from England

The red is the floor tile Armstrong Red II & the other swatches are the paint colors with the darker for the cabinets & the lighter for the walls.

The red tile on the left is more truer to the color.

Now What?

2011-06-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

I am second guessing my decision to remodel the kitchen & the bathroom.
I feel like whatever bid I get from a contractor, I am realistically looking at paying double.
My Dad is a retired draftsperson, general contractor, architect and he thinks it could end up costing $100,000.
So, we both freaked out.

Here are photos of how it looks now.

Looking into the kitchen from the Living room. If I close the door to the bathroom I can't open the kitchen drawer. Plus, the upper cabinets are too high. The knobs are 6' off of the ground.

This is my usable counter space. There are no electrical outlets on the other side of the sink.

The Washer & Dryer that doesn't fit & the wall that seperates the pantry from the kitchen.

The WC door & back door closed & open. When I open the back door it hits the WC door.

Bathroom w/o cabinets

I'm Back!

2011-06-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I know, it's been almost a year since my last post.

I don't want to bore you with all of the details -- I went through a bad break up.

Now, I am embarking on a kitchen/bathroom remodel and I want to chronicle it.

I bought the condo I had been renting for 8 years.

Over a year ago the owner of the unit lost it to the bank. Two weeks ago I bought it from the bank.

Now, I'm ready to do the remodel I have been dreaming about the entire time I've lived here.

The bathroom was built on a porch that was enclosed in 1910.

However, they didn't bother to straighten out the floor.
I found out decks are built at a slant so water rolls off.

Here are some of the issues I have with the original layout:

1) The floor slopes

2) It's a split bath

3) The entry to the bathroom is through the kitchen

4) The door to the WC hits the back door

5) The kitchen has a stupid 5' 9" X 3' pantry

6) The kitchen has two 1' sections of counter space

7) No dishwasher

It turns out that DBI (Department of Building Inspection) does not allow Owner/builder projects on condos, TIC's & townhouses.

I have to go legal and get permits, because I want to move the toilet.

So, I have to hire a general contractor.

I've had three different contractors come by, but I haven't received a bid, yet.

But, I drew up by hand (so, be nice) one set of plans showing how it looks now and another with my design.

Here are the floor plans, the one on the left shows how it is now and the other is the new design

Please, feel free to tell me anything you think is pertinent.

I am already overwhelmed and I haven't even picked the contractor.

This Is A Pet Peeve Of Mine!

2010-07-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

This Vehicle Is NOT,

I repeat,

A compact Car!!!!!

Pretty funny, Eh?

2010-07-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

I Heart San Francisco

I took this a few days ago...

A Guy With A Blind Cane Texting On BART

I Am Taking Sugesstions For My Decorating Column

2010-06-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

I am taking suggestions for my monthly Decorating column in

Today's Vintage Magazine.

Spectacle (2006) by Stuart Haygarth created from over 1000 pairs of prescription spectacles

(Copyright the artist. Courtesy Haunch of Venison 2010)

I would like to hear what you would want to know or learn more about in the area of decorating with vintage items or in an old house or apartment.

http://www.todaysvintage.com/decorating/

The July Article I Wrote For Today's Vintage Is Up!!!

2010-06-28T13:52:00.000-07:00

Well, the article I wrote for the July issue of Today's Vintage is out on the news stands and on line!

It's all about sprucing up your yard...vintage style!

Bringing Vintage Into Your Yard

It's summertime, time to go outside! So, your yard might need a little work...Ok, a lot of work. When working on our yards we want to create an environment that encompasses serenity, life, and eating. At least, that is what I want, but whatever your goals are, it is important to keep them in mind as you decorate. If you are quirky and stylish, the last thing you want is to go down to a big chain home improvement store and buy furniture and decorations straight off the shelves. However, sometimes when you bring in your latest flea market find or old thing from the basement, the garden starts to look more like a junkyard than the enchanted garden of your dreams.

The difference between magical and junky lies in the subtleties of placement and execution. You can use anything to decorate your yard, you simply have to be careful about how and where you place those items. The same rules apply outside as when decorating inside your home with vintage items. For instance, if you are going to hang something on the fence, make sure it is level, just like on a wall at home. Click here for more...

Check it out at

http://www.todaysvintage.com/decorating/contentview.asp?c=271311

Tobias Wolff At Writer's With Drinks!!!

2010-06-16T10:07:00.000-07:00

While I was gushing all over Corrina Bain on how amazing her performance was, she was commenting on how many people (the place was packed) were at The Make out Room on Saturday night, when Stephen Elliot enthusiastically chimed in with, "Because, the line up tonight is OFF THE HOOK" and he was absolutely right.

Charlie Jane Anders

Writer's With Drinks, a monthly book reading in San Francisco hosted by Charlie Jane Anders, is never a let down. As far as I'm concerned it's the best show in town. However, last Saturday did boast an exceptional line up, with Tobias Wolff, Lev Grossman, Taylor Mali, Andrew Lam, Corrina Bain, and Bill Carter!

Tobias Wolff

Tobias Wolff wrote This Boy's Life, (1989) which was turned into a movie, with the same name starring Robert De Niro, Ellen Barkin, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Taylor Mali

Taylor Mai Was a teacher who wrote poems, now he is a poet who writes about teaching.

Andrew Lam

Andrew Lam read his short story "The Palmist" which was read by David Strathairn on the NPR series Selected Shorts.

I heard that broadcast while I was driving and when I reached my destination I sat in my parked car to hear the whole story. I never knew who wrote it...until last Saturday night.

Lev Grossman and Corrina Bain

If you look closely at Corrina Bain's Photo, you will see Stephen Elliot's head growing out of her neck.

Bill Carter (photo from his website)

Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of Bill Carter. Here's a snippet from his bio online at http://www.billcarter.cc/, "In the last 15 years he has traveled to more than 45 countries. He is the director of Miss Sarajevo, the award-winning documentary, produced by Bono, who also wrote the theme song for the film.

Tayor Mali reciting "What Teachers Make"
BullisSchool — April 23, 2010 —

I Made Vegan Heart Shaped Banana Muffins!

2010-06-03T11:59:00.001-07:00

I came back at around 8pm last night, after abandoning my 100 degree kitchen with melted (fake) butter spilled on the floor, baking flour that had dusted every surface, a bowl of mashed bananas, and every jar and package of baking ingredients open squeezed on the tiny counter. I figured I'd give the great idea of baking vegan banana muffins another shot...and I'm glad I did.

I took this recipe from
http://www.catcancook.com/awesome-banana-muffin-recipe/

My modifications and notes are in red

Banana Muffins (makes 12 muffins) Mine yielded 8

3 or 4 Large bananas, mashed (the more bananas the moister, so I use 4) I used five

1/2 cup white sugar (original recipe calls for 1 cup, but I don’t like them too sweet) I used raw sugar

1 slightly beaten egg I used the product Egg Replacer

1/3 cup melted margarine or butter I used Earth Balance Original

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups flour

Mix the mashed banana, sugar, egg and margarine together. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together baking soda, baking powder, salt and flour. Mix wet and dry ingredients all together! Pour into greased muffin tins, and bake in 350 degrees F oven for approximately 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Mine were in an extra 10 minutes.

They came out looking and tasting really good!

It Seemed Like A good Idea

2010-06-03T09:02:00.000-07:00

Last Monday, Thomas and I went to see "Exit Through The Gift Shop" a movie about street art. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the documentary. I recommend anyone even remotely interested in art, sociology, anthropology, visual anthropology, and/or film to see this flick. And it is my opinion that it should be seen on the big screen, because it is about art.

Sycamore Alley

After seeing the movie I got caught up in learning more about Banksy's art and who I thought Banksy was in the film. The story is sewn together with clips of the guerrilla artist Banksy in shadow, wearing a hoody, with his voice distorted. Immediately I figured since he was the only one protecting his identity, so to speak, out of many people who were featured throughout the piece, that someone else interviewed was probably him. So, every time a new face would pop up on the screen I'd wonder if that was in fact Banksy and not who they wanted you to think they were.

Parking lot on Mission Street

It turns out, Banksy tagged the streets of San Francisco right around the movie opened here in the theaters...what a coincidence! OK, well I went on line and found out where they were and decided Thomas and I would go around and take pictures of them before they were painted over or stolen by art galleries looking to cash in. We didn't really have a lot of time so I just stuck with the Mission area. The first one I tried to find was already painted over. That surprised me, because it was right above Amnesia, I mean really. However, the other ones I had chosen to see were still there. After stopping and taking pictures of the first one, I realized how Bourgeois this was, but we pushed on.

The Article I Wrote For Today's Vintage Is Up!

2010-06-02T11:26:00.000-07:00

The article I wrote for the

June issue of Today's Vintage is up on line

and out on the news stands!

Let's Do The Time Warp Again!

My Experience At The Oriental Theatre

Please, check it out...

Todaysvintage.com

The Article I Wrote For Today's Vintage Is Up!

2010-05-04T08:51:00.000-07:00

The article I wrote for the May issue of Today's Vintage is out in the news stands, mail boxes, and on line!

http://www.todaysvintage.com/decorating/contentview.asp?c=268764

Of course the editor changed the title.

My title was

Would You Like A Licorice Pizza Under Your Fuzzy Navel?

I guess it was too long, or something...

I Have A Stalker!!

2010-05-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

I am terribly sorry for not posting anything in over a month.

It turns out I have a stalker.

I can't really go into the details, but I felt uncomfortable publishing excerpts from my life with someone waiting for incriminating evidence to bring me down, so to speak.

However, I don't care anymore...she's the one going off the deep end!

Ananda Fuara & The SF EcoCenter

2010-04-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes all I want is the Neat Loaf Sandwich from Ananda Fuara. Ananda Fuara is a vegetarian restaurant on the corner of Market and Larkin, run by the disciples of Sri Chinmoy a guru. The ambiance of the restaurant is, basically a shrine to the beloved leader with all of the walls covered by his artwork, a designated area of his numerous books for sale, the music blaring through the speakers composed and performed by him, and a TV that is almost always showing tapes of him doing something amazing. The service consists of his converts shuffling around (the women wearing Saris and the men in blue polo shirts and white pants) like they were told Sri was going to speak and then realized they were actually expected to work. Dazed and confused would be a nice way to put how the staff look and act. I am sure Sri never set foot in the place before his Mahasamadhi in 2007.

However, the food is excellent!

My suggestion is the Neatloaf combo only available for lunch, the Neatloaf Sandwich, or the Neatloaf Dinner, which comes with mash potatoes and gravy. The Neatloaf is vegetarian made with some dairy, but now they have a vegan version that tastes pretty good also.

Yesterday, en route to Ananda Fuara, I ended up parking on Grove Street across from the library and noticed a building I had never paid much attention to before. The big sign read SF Environment and the little sign (on paper) said it was the EcoCenter. The EcoCenter is a facility, run by the city of San Francisco that focuses on better ways we can all be more green. There happens to be a small gallery in their lobby that is showcasing Art Furniture made by Larry Berger. All of his pieces are made from found materials and recycled or milled wood.

http://www.intothewoodsstudio.com/Site/Welcome.html

I would like to leave you with some words of wisdom from the late great Sri Chinmoy

Be Happy
Be happy in the morning with what you have. Be happy in the evening with what you are. Be happy. Don't complain. Who complains? The blind beggar in you. When you complain, you dance in the mire of ignorance-condition. When you don't complain, all conditions of the world are at your feet, and God gives you a new name: aspiration. Aspiration is the supreme wealth in the world of light and delight.

The Article I Wrote For Today's Vintage Is Up

2010-03-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

Check it out!

The article I wrote for the April issue of Today's Vintage is up on their website at
http://www.todaysvintage.com/decorating/contentview.asp?c=267657

The editor took a little creative license and changed the title of the piece from Cleaning Spring to illuminating Spring. I think she gets my humor, but she is afraid the reader's won't. I shouldn't complain, the piece is about lighting...

This is in my old store on the corner of Mission and Precita in San Francisco, which is now a BBQ restaurant

The light fixtures are made from commercial whisks

From what I can tell, the editor couldn't squeeze in all of the photos I sent. They are all fantastic, I'm sure she had a difficult time choosing which photos to use.

A Ticket For Rush!

2010-03-26T17:14:00.000-07:00

Image in Public Domain. Click here to Download hi-res.

What if you want to donate more than $1?
You can email us to arrange that; FYI we'd love to talk, but a response might take a little while. Don't give up hope!

http://www.aticketforrush.com/

The Light Bulb Factory Is turning On In San Francisco!!!

2010-03-19T15:24:00.000-07:00

An Invitation To Join

The Light Bulb Factory

The Light Bulb Factory is a think tank for highly talented and underemployed individuals that meet once a week to discuss and spark ideas as well as pool resources in the area of making a living in the city of San Francisco.

Topics will include:

Starting your Own Business

What Type Of Business To Start

Your Unique Skill Set

How To Work With, Find, Or Get OPM (Other People's Money)

Your Fears And Dreams

(photo from Inclusive Solutions)

Are you in?

Please, send an email with days and times during the week you are free for one hour on a weekly basis to:

lynnore@ispyvintage.com

Is This A New Thing?

2010-03-12T15:20:00.000-08:00

Is it me or are the bike paths getting bigger?

Steiner Going Towards Oak Right Past Page.

My Article in Today's Vintage

2010-03-02T10:41:00.000-08:00

I am very happy to write for Today's Vintage, a magazine (in print and online) that features many articles about vintage items. I have a terrible time coming up with decorating tips that have to be whittled down to teeny-weeny bite size bits for easy swallowing. I have always found it easier to write twenty pages than have to say exactly what I mean in 500 words or less. To put it in perspective, five hundred words is about a page and this blog post has 784 words.

Writing this latest bit about how to decorate a baby's room with vintage furniture, kicked my ASS! I am not a baby person, per say. I think that might have come out in the article, because I could tell that it was edited in a way, as not to offend. For instance, the title of the article I submitted was not published. In retrospect, that is probably a good thing.

However, that is not the worst thing about the published article. I don't like the layout, it is very messy and they added photos of objects I would never (in a million years, even if my life depended upon it) ever use. They are far from what I would consider stylish elements, IE the lamp and S is for Sweet Pea thingy.

Other than that I am happy...the few other parts that were changed enhanced the piece. However, they didn't like my crack about eating babies...

Wait a minute...I spelled a word wrong in my original title, how embarrassing!

Here's the link for the online version http://www.todaysvintage.com/decorating/contentview.asp?c=266500

Below is the version I submitted to them...

When The Bough Breaks

Your home is finally exactly how you want it. Each room is furnished with vintage finds you have carefully selected over many years that cleverly express your unique style. It hasn’t been easy, especially when your cat decided to dig to China through the 1960 Swiss shag rug made from New Zealand wool, or when the movers reduced the 18^th century corner table into kindling right before your very eyes, and even after your boyfriend moved in with all of his tools and his fourteen-year-old dog.

Now, that a baby is being thrown into the mix, you might be wondering if sticking with your vintage style may be shelved, like jogging or clubbing. You know you will be able to find adorable vintage pieces for your little bundle of joy, but your biggest concern is whether they will be safe. Have no fear vintage can be baby friendly!

Here are a few tips that might help you maintain your sense of style while gaining a family.

1) Find baby furniture with a natural finish. Lead paint was not banned in the United States until 1978. Leave it natural or choose one of the non-toxic paint or finishes entering the market.

2) Make sure everything is thoroughly cleaned with no repairs or rickety parts.

3) Vintage crib bedding should be in the original package, unused.

4) Follow the Consumer Product Safety Commission crib safety measures

a) Crib should have a firm mattress that fits tightly into the crib.

b) Make sure that the crib is assembled properly and that no parts are loose, missing or broken.

c) There should be no more than 2 3/8 inches between the slats of the crib and there should be no missing or broken slats.

d) The crib should have no cutouts in the headboard or footboard, in which the baby's head could get trapped.

e) Doesn't have decorative knobs or corner posts higher than 1/16 inch.

You might not want to go with authentic baby furniture from the early 1900’s, but if Victorian is your style you may choose a new crib and decorate the rest of the room with antiques. If your place is already decorated with classic mid century modern pieces, Knoll kids is the place to shop for the scaled down and hypoallergenic versions of the classics manufactured just for children. An iconic theme, for example, vintage Winnie the Pooh sheets, curtains, lamps, clocks, etc. never used, are very accessible. Plus, there are stores online that carry vintage wallpaper from 1950 cowboys and Indians to 1960’s Peter Max type images.

Remember, stick with styles you already have in your house and pick a theme. The pieces do not have to be from the same era, unless a particular time period is your theme. If, you cannot pick a theme, start with one piece and build the room around it. Don’t worry, I am here to tell you that it is all do-able, you can have your baby, I mean cake and eat it, too!

Vegans In The Mall!

2010-02-22T17:13:00.000-08:00

Loving Hut a vegan chain is coming into the food court at the Bloomingdale mall...Nice!

I have been to the one on Stockton. I think the food court is a better location than China town.

Really?

2010-02-22T17:00:00.000-08:00

This is on the corner of my block!

What's the point of tagging a mattress that is left out in the street?

Last Night Was Great All You Foodies!

2010-02-12T11:53:00.000-08:00

I was a little discouraged about having to make full course vegetarian dinners. I know it is a promise I had made to myself and not something I am being forced to do. However, it started to be a little bit of a drag. Mostly, because it is difficult to be inspired on a schedule. Plus, last week's dinner was a total fiasco!

But, I am here to tell you last night was Great!!!!

Menu

Caramelized Carrots with Baked Tofu, Purple Onions, & Toasted Pecans

Over White Basmati Rice

Corn Chowder

Tomatoes Roasted with Garlic and Dried Oregano

The entire menu was completely VEGAN with NO dairy (even in the chowder) and NO sugar or honey!

I thought everything came out great except for the tomatoes, they were just good. I Think the next time I make the tomatoes I won't use a dried herb. I like the idea of simply using one herb with the garlic, but I think fresh dill would have been the magic ticket. Also, next time I will line the pan with tin foil, because I am still soaking the pan I used.

I followed a recipe for the corn chowder I found online at http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creamy-Vegan-Corn-Chowder/Detail.aspx. I believe, I will try that corn chowder again, but I will use less water. I created the tofu dish myself and it came out just how I had envisioned it in my mind.

PS--I did NOT forget to garnish the soup!!!!

Full On Homemade Vegetarian Dinners On Tuesday and Thursday!

2010-02-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

I know, I know I promised to make complete vegetarian meals every Tuesday and Thursday.
Three veg days have passed and I only cooked once...and it came out terrible!

The menu was as follows:

Baked Tofu With Pear Sauce Over Rice

Vegan Creamy Broccoli Soup

Salad with Red Leaf and Baby Mixed Lettuce, Goat Cheese, Raisins, Grape Tomatoes, Pine Nuts, and Homemade Dressing

I have to say, I was a little bouillon cube crazy. I normally use vegetable broth or stock already made that comes in a carton. However, I thought it would be more cost effective to just buy the package of vegan bouillon cubes with sea salt.

OK, let's start with the Baked Tofu...I had made the pear sauce before, but it was a little too sweet. This time I mixed up a bouillon cube with warm water, ginger, and the pear all fruit, hoping it would balance out the sweetness. Then I threw some whole pieces of Star Anise into the sauce while it was simmering over the baked tofu. However, the sauce never caramelized, so the flavors never blended together. I did throw in pear slices, but I don't think it was the right time. Nothing really came together...Oh and the rice! I'm not sure if putting a bouillon cube into the rice worked or not. I was too focused on the tofu thing to really figure that one out.

Now, on to the Vegan Creamy Broccoli Soup!

I found the recipe online at http://www.care2.com/greenliving/creamy-broccoli-soup-recipe.html# and I added garlic and used 6 bouillon cubes in 6 cups of water instead of 6 cups of vegetable broth. I believe I might have put way too many cubes in the pot, because all I could taste was the sea salt. It was so gross neither one of us ate it.

I really liked the salad, but in the midst of the stress related to the other dishes coming out so bad, I messed up on the dressing. I just didn't have the patience to stream in the oil and it never emulsified. Hence, basically ruining the salad.

So, that is another accounting of my experience making full on homemade vegetarian meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays!

Tonight I hope it all comes out better! I'll try to take it easy with the bouillon cubes...

SALUD!

When the Bough Breaks

2010-02-08T16:24:00.000-08:00

I am supposed to be writing my article for Today's Vintage about decorating baby nurseries with vintage furniture.

I seem to be stuck...I am not really a baby person, what can I say about it. "Um, lead paint wasn't banned in the US until 1978 and that really cute metal crib painted white will probably kill your kid, either slowly by lead poisoning or quickly by strangulation when his head gets caught between the really cool looking wrought iron bars on all sides of the crib."

I did however, find lots of ways to totally deck out a kid's room without trying to kill it. My problem is I have too many different ideas and now my head is spinning and I have no clue which direction to go in.

Norma's Cookies Are Not Vegetarian!

2010-02-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

I got a lot of flack from my friend Gigi about Thomas and I making cookies for his mother that included marshmallows. As a matter of fact Gigi blogged about me and my blog on her blog Veganville. Her piece starts off full of praise concerning my efforts of making full vegetarian meals a couple of nights a week. However, it takes a turn for the worst when she stumbles and gets stuck on my post entitled Norma's Cookies.

Basically, Gigi was freaked out that I would make anything with marshmallows. I personally didn't really understand why she'd be so upset about the Christmas Holly Cookies we had made. I guess Gigi was talking about the gelatin. To tell you the truth I was most concerned about the corn syrup.

I mean, we were just sending them to his mom--who is not a vegetarian--we weren't eating them!

Homemade Vegetarian Dinner On Tuesday And Thursday!

2010-01-29T15:30:00.000-08:00

I made a promise to make full vegetarian meals for Thomas and I every Tuesday and Thursday. This week was the third week of this experiment. However, Thomas had undergone oral surgery on Tuesday and was relegated to soft warm foods.

He was in a lot of pain and was basically starving by the time dinner came around. I really didn't want to take any chances, so I decided to repeat a winner from a few weeks ago, the vegetarian Shepard's Pie. Instead of carving out EAT Me on the top I just made a heart. For dessert, we had tangerine juice bars that doubled as an ice pack for his mouth. On Thursday, I made my old standard, lentil soup thick with red and green lentils, red onion, purple, red, and baby potatoes, garlic and baby carrots. It is always a hit on cold winter days when you might be a little down and in this case unable to chew food. We topped it off with chocolate soy pudding I bought in snack packs at Rainbow.

I regret I didn't take any pictures, but it just didn't seem like the thing to do. By the way, let me know if you would like any of the recipes I have mentioned.

Norma's Cookies

2010-01-25T08:35:00.000-08:00

While Thomas was explaining to me how he felt about his family being so far away, I recalled another story he told me that included the care packages his Mom had sent him every Christmas full of homemade cookies. She had stopped sending them when her health started failing.

So, all day on Saturday we made the exact cookies she had sent him annually for so many years, many years ago. We made three different kinds of cookies Peanut Butter with Hershey's Kisses, Rainbow cookies consisting of three layers--one with Maraschino cherries, one chocolate, and one with pecans--and Cornflake Marshmallow Holly cookies.

I might have had the Peanut Butter ones before, but I have never had the other two kinds. However, the Cornflake Marshmallow Holly cookies are basically Rice Crispy Treats with cornflakes instead of Rice Crispy's. Just so you know these are not health food cookies. As a matter of fact they are the opposite of health food, the anti-health food snack if you will.

They were really good!

Homemade Vegetarian Dinner Last Night!

2010-01-22T13:48:00.000-08:00

Last Night's Menu

Kohlrabi Soup w/ Tofu

I really had no idea what to do with the two different kinds of (purple and regular) Kohlrabi and the Watermelon Radishes Thomas and I bought last Saturday. I found this recipe online at http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/soups/r/kohlrabisoup.htm and followed it with a few modifications. I used soy milk instead of regular milk and fake butter when it called for butter. I couldn't find a bay leaf (don't ask me why) and I added the leftover cashew sauce I had made on Tuesday, plus a whole package of Savory flavor baked tofu. I thought it came out pretty good. However, I suggest blending the hell out of it. I had to throw it back in the blender, because at first it had the consistency of baby food.The cashew sauce was an after thought. Normally, I would have chosen one protein and would not have gone with cashews and tofu.

Green Cabbage and Watermelon Radish Salad with Sunflower Seeds and Homemade Dressing

The tricks (I have found) to a good cabbage salad (or slaw if you will) are to slice everything very thin and keep the pieces as long as possible, toss in only enough salad dressing to coat each piece, put it in the fridge a couple of hours before dinner, and then right before eating toss in the rest of the dressing. I think that chilling it with only half of the dressing keeps the salad crunchy.

Baby Potato, Purple Potato, and Yam Chips

The homemade chips were very tasty. However, really oily. I laid them out on paper bags to de-grease them, but upon looking back we probably should have patted off the front sides of them as well. We seasoned them with salt and pepper, but I think any herbs would have tasted great. The purple potatoes came out the most crunchy. I think I sliced the yams with my brand new Mandolin too thin, because they browned up way too fast, but they tasted amazing!

I had to put Thomas to work

Cheers!

Homemade Vegetarian Dinner Last Tuesday!

2010-01-21T12:21:00.000-08:00

Cooking on Tuesday night was a little rough for me. My plan was to make baked tofu in a cashew cream sauce over jasmine rice, steamed Brussel sprouts and baby carrots with fennel, and a salad incorporating some of the crazy lettuce we had bought at the San Francisco Farmer's Market on Saturday.

The biggest problem I faced was the time crunch. It was pouring rain most of the day, so my errands took longer than usual to carry out. I also think the damp cold weather irritated my foot. I was walking terribly slow with an obnoxious limp. By the time I got home I had about a half an hour to make everything. After I put on the rice and started the veggies in the steamer, I realized there was no way the rice would be done in time. I had to improvise, so I put on water for the rice noodles that I remembered I had. Those take a few minutes and are 100% brown rice, so I figured that would be an adequate substitute.

I doubled the recipe for the cashew sauce (I had found online at http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=17310.0), with less water because that was all of the starchy water left from the pasta and three times more garlic, just because. In a medium size skillet I sautéed large pieces of red onion and the Savory baked tofu I cut into cubes. I just bought the tofu already cooked. Then I poured in about half of the cashew sauce and let it reduce about a third in the pan, because I thought it tasted too strong on its own, which I think worked perfectly. However, next time I would reduce more of it and then add the rest of the sauce and reduce it again about a third and save some cashews to garnish the dish. I never made the salad.

Baked tofu in a creamy cashew sauce over rice pasta

and steamed Brussel sprouts, carrots and fennel

Yesterday, I made a salad with red leaf and just peppered in the weird lettuce we had bought on Saturday. One of the lettuces was a dark maroonish red color and the other one was green with spots the same color of red. Both of them had a strong bitter taste, but mixed with the red leaf lettuce, blue cheese, pine nuts, apples, and grape tomatoes it tasted great. I fried up a package of the Gimme Lean fake sausage with some red onion, poured in a jar of organic spaghetti sauce and threw in the rice we didn't use on Tuesday. I felt very industrious not wasting anything and it all came out great.

So, now it is Thursday and I have no idea what I am going to make for dinner tonight. I am being taunted by the huge bowl of radishes Thomas and I were hypnotized into buying at the Farmer's Market.

Wish me luck!!!

Hanging With The Tourists And The Yuppies

2010-01-19T11:32:00.000-08:00

Thomas took this by mistake, but I really like it

Well, today is Tuesday and I am wondering what to make for dinner. Last week I decided I would create full vegetarian meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Saturday, Thomas and I soldiered on (I think it took us about 7 minutes) to the Ferry Building to shop at the Farmer's Market. I haven't been since last year and Thomas has never checked it out. It is kind of a tourist destination as well as a yuppie vortex, which are two groups of people a lot of San Franciscans try to avoid. However, it has the best variety of organic produce from local farms in the city. We got there probably around 9:30 in the morning. I knew it was on the late side, but that was the best we could do. Arriving late at the San Francisco Farmer's Market doesn't mean you'll miss the best produce. It simply means you will not miss most of the tourists and city dwellers pushing those crazy kids in those gigantic strollers. We decided whole families just don't get out of the house before 9 am. Also, I think the people are a little more polite earlier on Saturday morning. I suggest getting there no later than 8 am.

Thomas took these pictures of us

We were really cold

This is where we went to escape from the maddening crowd

Immediately, we were overwhelmed by the amount of people already there, plus the amount of booths selling produce as well as prepared food, spices, pickled things, and cheese, cheese, cheese. I love cheese, but these days I am trying not to get lost in it. We just concentrated on the goat cheese, because I am convinced it is better for us. However, in the end we didn't buy any. We ended up with a bunch of different types of radishes, potatoes, chard (baby and regular), two kinds of lettuce I've never seen before, two bags of almonds, and a type of pear I have not had before, plus other things I am sure I have already forgotten about. Right now I am trying to figure out what to do with all of this, plus the broccoli and cabbage I already have.

I will let you know how it turns out!

By the way,

I found this great vegan cooking blog I would like to share!

http://tofu-n-sproutz.blogspot.com/

Homemade Vegetarian Dinner On Tuesday and Thursday!

2010-01-15T10:58:00.000-08:00

I have been a vegetarian for nineteen years. Over the years I have gone through periods when I'd cook quite a bit, other times I would go out to eat for every meal, and recently I have been eating food already prepared out of a can or the freezer. Clearly, just nuking my food was the only option the two months after foot surgery, but I have been a lazy vegetarian for a few years, now. I don't (ever) eat fish, chicken, or anything that had eyes, but I tend to depend on quesadillas and mac and cheese a little too much and the extra poundage I have acquired proves it.

Cooking full vegetarian meals just for me, feels weird. Now, that I can walk around my house, stand long enough to cook a full meal, and have a guinea pig to experiment on, I mean cook for I am determined to do so. Thomas, my willing participant in this cooking venture, is also a vegetarian.

So far so good, as I have already prepared two full vegetarian meals this week. Neither of us have ever really gone out with vegetarians who are really into food before, so this is a real treat for both of us. Both of the dinners were things I created without recipes and have never made before this week. I forgot to cut off my Spud account and they delivered the set box with organic veggies I do not usually order, so I had to get creative and just use what I had.

TUESDAY

Salad

Green leaf lettuce, plain goat cheese, red onion, pine nuts, and Mandarin oranges with homemade dressing

Roasted Root Vegetables

Red beets, yellow beets, baby potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, red onion, garlic cloves, leeks, whole sprigs of Rosemary, Thyme, and Dill

Baked Tofu

Tofu cooked in a pear and ginger caramelized sauce with fresh pear

THURSDAY

Salad

Green leaf lettuce, plain goat cheese, unsalted and raw cashews, apples, and grape tomatoes

Veggie Shepard's Pie
Vegetarian Sausage (Gimme Lean), celery, red onion, garlic, baby potatoes, and sweet potatoes

EAT ME
It's barely legible in this photo

Tomorrow, Thomas and I are off to the Farmer's Market at The San Francisco Ferry Building to figure out what we are going to eat next time.

SALUD!

Home At Last

2010-01-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

I have been back in San Francisco for over a week. However, I haven't ground into daily life, for a variety of reasons. One of which is the fact that I literally came down with a cold the day I came home. When I woke up in the morning I had a little bit of a sore throat. By the time I got off of the plane I had a full blown cold.

Good thing I was just using the cane and not still on the crutches and great thing Thomas decided to pick me up. It would have been horrible, if I had to not only hobble through the entire airport, wait for my baggage (which took over an hour) then struggle with my suitcase, make it to the shuttle area, and then get a van home all on crutches, sick as a dog. As it was, (amazing) Thomas was as close as he could get to the gate waiting with flowers, just for me.

Airport Flowers and Get Well Fruit

Christmas With The Goldfarbs

2009-12-31T12:24:00.000-08:00

I feel compelled to do a type of recap of my life as a post on this blog, because I haven't written anything for almost two weeks. However, that type of literal writing simply isn't my style. I mean, I take great pains to make sure everything I write is clear, concise, and easy to read. However, simply listing or recounting the things I have done, seen, and experienced on such a public arena seems like an exercise in masturbation and boredom. Two places one gets to that shouldn't require very much work.

I have been with my family and friends in the Los Angeles area since December 21st and having a great time. The weather is perfect and I am visiting all of the people and friends I had planned to see. I love my parents, they are like little kids, always a lot of fun. However, how do you know, if your parents are getting Alzheimer's, if they are eccentric in the first place? What, if growing up your Mom or Dad used to stand at the back door (everyday for thirty years) trying every key on the key chain, before finding the right one, even though that door was never kept locked? If they never recognized their house key when they were in their prime, then what are the signs to look for now they are old? What if my Mom always ate ice cream sandwiches for breakfast in the summer? Do we think she might be losing it, if she starts eating them in the winter or at a different time of day?

I love coming home no matter what, because it makes me see clearly how much I am loved and missed, by these crazy people I call my family and friends. Is a marriage over when your husband is addicted to phone sex, cyber sex, and real life sex with other women? Is it OK to call the guy you are having sex with your boyfriend, even though he spends days like Christmas, New Year's, and his birthday with other women? My three year old cousin squealed uncontrollably when she saw a present for her wrapped in purple and pink sparkly wrapping paper.

I am going back home to San Francisco on Saturday and I can't wait to see my cat and the guy I made out with right before I left. I hope they are just as happy to see me as I am to see them.

Ug, Parking In San Francisco

2009-12-19T10:01:00.000-08:00

This is a very cute video that wants the viewer to think that it is about how to solve the parking problem in San Francisco. However, it is quite clear that IBM's ingenious new idea is another way for the city to enforce even stricter methods in regard to parking meters in order to justify issuing more tickets.

This great new idea involves smart phones, which bothers me twice. People with cheap phones or (heaven forbid) no cell phones, won't get the breaks. Plus the fact that, if this is the wave of the future, there will be yet another reason for drivers to pay less attention to the road than their phones.

Birds Are Wiser!

2009-12-16T16:13:00.000-08:00

One of the pictures I posted last night reminded me of Dorothy Draper.

I really like this quote.

"Birds are so much wiser than we! A robin builds a nest for robins. A seagull builds a nest for seagulls. They don't copy each other - or build themselves nests as described in The Birds' Decorating Magazine."

Dorothy Draper, In the Pink (1940)

I Am Drooling!

2009-12-15T19:26:00.000-08:00

The Danish really know how to marry vintage and contemporary design with style!

Below are some photos from the latest edition of the Danish magazine RUM.
Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out who manufactured or designed these pieces.
It is hard to believe, but I do not speak or read Danish.

I did figure out that this would be around $585.00.
It would look perfect in my office.

I would move to Denmark right now, if that was going to be my living room.

I think the Eiffel Tower makes the room.

Tea and chocolate, please!

I love, love, love the table.

I have the white chair in the forefront on the left.

Freewheelin' On One Crutch!

2009-12-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

It is amazing how not being able to walk while holding something in my hand has affected me emotionally. I'm a wreck. Since, I can't go anywhere I thought more people would just come over to hang out and keep me company. I had lots of company and help at the beginning, but who wants to just come over and do nothing or someone else's chores? The sheer amount of help dwindled quickly after about two weeks. I have been unable to do normal things for SIX weeks.

However, Sunday I decided to walk with one crutch, like a cane. It is amazing to be able to walk around (albeit very, very, very slow) while holding something in my hand. I vacuumed yesterday for the first time since the operation and for the first time really liked doing it. Eating in the living room was like planning a family vacation. For six weeks eating a meal in a room other than the kitchen, meant full out planning with my bike messenger bag, a thermos, and Tupperware. If it couldn't go in the bike bag I'd have to eat it in the kitchen. Getting my morning coffee to my desk was like going on a Walkabout in the Australian bush. I was always a better person at the end of it.

From the movie Walkabout (1971)

Check It Out!

2009-12-11T17:15:00.000-08:00

That is an Xray of my foot (not the toe) between the ankle and the base of the big toe.

A stainless steel screw was inserted. Can you see where they cut the bone?

What More Do You Want?

2009-12-10T01:48:00.000-08:00

I don't know who took the picture I found it online

Nazi Trash

2009-12-08T14:04:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine just came back from Europe and showed me over 600 pictures she took. They were all fantastic, but I really liked this one. I believe it was taken in Switzerland. I had no idea there was much of a Nazi problem these days in Switzerland or anywhere for that matter.

Nazi Trash (Photo by Annabelle Port)

I Am Definitely Stir Crazy!

2009-12-07T15:42:00.000-08:00

I need to put it out in the ether that I am very lonely...sigh.

It has been five weeks since my foot surgery and my being ambulatory. I can only walk with the use of crutches. Which means I can only go so far, I can't drive and I can't carry anything in my hands. Most of my close friends have been very helpful. The ones I'm not real close to, plus a few people I considered very close are leaving me dangling with empty promises. They do that thing of volunteering much more than what is expected and I guess when I take them up on their offer, they rethink the situation and then blow me off or they were just talking and really meant nothing by saying they wanted to come over or take me out.

It is very sad to toy with the emotions of a cripple. And toying with my emotions they are. I can't say they won't be my friends, but I can say they are not to be relied upon. Actually, what is taking its toll on me emotionally, is how hard it is to organize rides to places I need to go.

I know I am being overly dramatic, but think about it...I am overly sensitive when I feel fine. However, of course there are those who I was just nice to when I have seen them in the past, who are stepping up to the plate in leaps and bounds. It is the gesture or lack there of that is so meaningful.

Write About Porn To Get Hits

2009-12-06T13:28:00.000-08:00

In the last couple of days this blog received hundreds of hits. Normally, I am lucky if I get over six people in one day clicking on my blog and most of those are my friends.

A couple of days ago I wrote about being spammed by a sex cam site. I didn't write about porn or even the site. I simply talked about the stupid emails the porn site sends out. So, now I have a bunch of pervs checking out my blog. Geesh!

I Heart Annabelle!

2009-12-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

Look what Annabelle brought me back from Europe!

I don't know where she got them, but it looks like they were made in Hungary.

Two Chocolate Bars With Poker In English On Them

She also gave me (on loan) The Boy In The Plastic Bubble DVD starring John Travolta.

That's a pretty funny DVD to loan someone who is basically housebound.

I heart Annabelle!

Four Weeks And Two Days After Surgery

2009-12-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

This time the bandage was on for two weeks.

It looks to me like the incisions are healing well and my big toe could not be straighter.

I just can't wait to wash my foot.

This is Kidra, Dr. Donatto's Assistant who made special socks for me that go over the bandage and mailed them to me when I accidentally left them there.

Secret Blog for Lynnore

2009-12-03T11:11:00.000-08:00

OK, I got this today. Do people really fall for this shit or do men just see this and think, Oh goodie another porn site?

I think this whole set up is rather interesting. For instance, the subject in the email header is somewhat personal, but then it is sent to undisclosed-recepients. The whole thing reads so ridiculous. First it starts with an email with instructions to click over to a private blog letter made especially for me, and then in the blog letter I am directed to click on a website that might ask for my credit card number and birth date.

As I kept reading and it got stupider and stupider, I kept imagining the worst about the web site. In my mind it went from a phone sex site to weird looking men with small heads, pursed lips, and squinty eyes holding their big dicks in their hands. I was eating breakfast when I read my private blog letter just for me, yogurt to be exact, so I was a little apprehensive about going to the site. However, to my dismay when I finally clicked over to the website it was just a sex cam site with women. I think I would have been turned off if it was men, but I was still disappointed, mostly because it is just the same old crap.

    From:     young5above81955@aol.com
    Subject:     Lynnore i hope this isnt a mistake
    Date:     December 3, 2009 2:25:24 AM PST
    To:     undisclosed-recipients:;

Hi Lynnore.....
I'm not guaranteed if Im still going to submit this email, although I must write it or Ill go crazy....I dont understand how else to mention this.... I have a crush on u. been thinking about you always and Im petrified to let out my feelings to you...youll know why if you knew who this is. I may regret this another day, though I think I should to tell you now. I posted a private blog letter for you ...here it is
hidden blog for Lynnore
I truely believe I'm not making a terrible decision but after planning this I know I have to click Send

Secret Blog for Lynnore

LAST UPDATED: TODAY

Lynnore...
If you're reading this I guess you got my e-mail. I'm still not completely sure about this but I can't hide my feelings any longer. I want you to guess who I am and approach me yourself. To help you out with your guessing I made a few pictures and videos with Lynnore written on my body. Theyre kind of risque photos so I had to make a profile at http://www.newfriendly.com and post them there. My username in the members area is ILuvLynnore09. Its a free website but you might need a CC or Debit to verify your age because I had to. Sigh. But anyway sign up at http://www.newfriendly.com and once you are inside search for me. I want you to guess who I am and then approach me yourself. Im shy and this is the bravest thing Ive probably ever done but you need to do the rest.
POSTED BY SECRET ADMIRER

I Am Adding A New Category To This Blog!

2009-11-30T15:15:00.000-08:00

I need to have a space to document the facts and run commentary regarding the bitches and assholes who are my neighbors. I am not sure what to call it. OK, how about The Bitches and Assholes Driving Me Crazy? The title might need some fine tuning.

I live in an apartment that was once a single family house that had been split into three units with one upstairs and two downstairs. Later, the apartments were turned into condos. Two women D and K live upstairs. One of them (D) owns the upstairs flat and K acquired the apartment next to mine downstairs with her two sisters and brother about four years ago. K rents the two bedroom apartment out to three people C, A, and J. My apartment is owned by a different woman who is independent from them.

(No Photo Credit)

Everything was great until four years ago when it was decided that since they owned two-thirds of the property they will pretend they own all of it. Because of this lopsided circumstance the couple upstairs and the tenants next to me can do what ever they want, but if I do anything besides breath, all hell breaks loose. My landlady is very young and doesn't want trouble so she just lets them run right over me and K and D are perfectly happy with that arrangement.

The last time I talked with D (the woman who owns the upstairs flat) she told that she is trying to get me to move out. I never really felt comfortable with writing about this on my blog before, but I changed my mind once she copped to harassing me. So, basically this new category will document all of the harassment. This way I will have a place to vent my frustrations and the documentation I'll need when I take them to court.

David Sedaris On The Daily Show

2009-11-23T14:50:00.000-08:00

I didn't see this when it was on June 3, 2008.

It's an interview with Jon Stewart promoting David Sedaris' book When You Are Engulfed in Flames.

Check it out!

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

David Sedaris

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

David Sedaris' New Audio Book On Vinyl

2009-11-23T09:51:00.000-08:00

This is an article from the New York Times. Click on the link to read the entire post.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/business/media/23vinyl.html?_r=1

Popular Author’s Audiobook Tries a New Format: Vinyl

By ANDREW ADAM NEWMAN

Published: November 22, 2009

As physical formats and devices have shrunk, revenues for the audiobook industry have grown, since it is more convenient to listen to an iPod while exercising and commuting than fiddling with CDs. Digital downloads grew to 21 percent of the industry’s total sales in 2008, from 6 percent in 2004, according to the Audiobook Publishers Association.

It is all the more odd, then, that Hachette Audio recently announced that the latest audiobook by David Sedaris, “Live for Your Listening Pleasure,” which features readings before audiences, would be available on the least portable of formats: vinyl.
Reminiscent of Blue Note albums from the 1950s and 1960s, the cover features a photograph of a woman sprawled on a white shag rug with a come-hither look, albums strewn about. More...

The Stitches Are Out!

2009-11-19T09:43:00.000-08:00

I just had the stitches removed yesterday.

(The purple is from the pen the Dr. used to mark the incisions. It's not permanent.)

Sarah Handicap (Curb Your Enthusiasm)

2009-11-17T14:07:00.000-08:00

I couldn't believe it when the nurse at the state of the art Presidio Surgery Center, who had swiped the fancy wand across my forehead to take my temperature and showed me the tropical scene on the fluorescent light fixtures overhead, handed me a pair of crutches right out of the dark ages. I think the United States and some third world countries are the only ones that still use the underarm crutch. All over Europe and Canada the forearm or elbow crutch is standard.

Tiny Tim, holding a crutch against his armpit

As soon as I could, I started looking for the forearm crutches on line. There are not a lot available here in the US. Most of them are very ugly and instantly evoke images of polio survivors or the kids with hip problems who used them like two canes, walking with a swivel and a side to side type of gait. Crutches have come a long way since Dickens' Tiny Tim and a time when we would just call anyone who had a walking problem a cripple. However, you wouldn't know it, if you aren't able to walk with both legs here in the good ol' U S of A.

American Forearm Crutches

(Only come in grey)

Sunday, my friend Smithy decided I needed to get the hell off of my couch and out of my house. She doesn't have a car, so we were going on this field trip with her driving my car, for the first time. Once she adjusted the seat, mirrors, checked everything out, and pulled the car around to the top of the driveway and I very clumsily sat down and shoved the crutches in the back seat, we were off. But, we didn't know where to go or what to do. So, after a lot of "what do you want to do," "I don't know, what do you want to do(s)" we went with our old standby, the beach. Half way there I decided I wanted to just go to the movies, because it seemed easier.

European Forearm Crutch

(Come in many colors, but very expensive)

What a joke! First, when Smithy pulled up to the curb (about 8" away) I couldn't figure out how to negotiate the gap with my crutches, so I made her get closer and that helped. I hobbled over to the box office in West Portal, while trying not to get bumped by the minefield of people walking all around me like Zombies, mindlessly talking on their cell phones. I finally got in line and I had to wait on an incline, which is not easy to do standing on one leg with crutches under each arm. A slight breeze or brush from a cell phone talking Zombie would have knocked me over.

Once I got the tickets and made it inside I waited for Smithy. It took quite a bit of time for her to find a parking space. Soon after she got inside, the ticket girls (there were three) gestured to the theater and Smithy noticed the steep little staircase entering the theater itself. She pointed to the stairs and I freaked. There was no way I could get up those stairs, not to mention how the hell I was going to go down them. I asked the oblivious ticket girls if that was the only way in and why they didn't tell me about it. They said "yeah" and that they didn't have to tell me, because on a small sign posted on the box office window that lists the movies, I am supposed to look for the little wheelchair icon and if there isn't a wheelchair next to the theater, then it is not handicap accessible. I guess they have never been on crutches...Assholes!

By the time Smithy came back with the car and I fell in it, I just wanted to go home. However, Smithy wasn't going for that and we ended up at The Century 20 Theaters in Daly City. The people working there were much nicer and the ticket guy reassured me that there weren't any stairs, just an escalator and an elevator. I chose the elevator. Of course, the theater we needed to get to was the furthest out of twenty. Oh, and the handicap seats are basically in the front row. However, I got used to the seats real fast. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend staring at George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, and Kevin Spacey for an hour and a half, when you feel like shit.

The Men Who Stare at Goats

FRANKENFOOT

2009-11-14T11:58:00.000-08:00

Surgery went well and I think my foot looks pretty good. However, I was very disappointed when the bandages were removed and I could plainly see that the Dr. didn't fix the hammer toe, right next to the big toe. I freaked out, but he reassured me that it will be fixed. He explained that the big fix was the bunion and the hammer toe will only take 15 minutes with a local and I'd be able to walk on it the same day. Unfortunately, that won't be done until this is healed in two months. He also told me that I will be using crutches for two months.

Check out the pictures, he had to cut into three different places on my foot. I believe bones were broken, rotated, shaved, and pushed into the correct places.

One Week After Surgery

Bruising By The Ankle

The View From My Doctor's Office

Kidra Taking Off The Bandages

Kidra Getting Closer

No Swelling

The Yellow is the Adhesive, the Purple Marks Incisions, The Red is Blood

He Forgot To Fix The Hammer Toe
(The purple on the big toe is bruising from the bandage being too tight)

Foot Surgery Prep

2009-10-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

I am having surgery on my foot Tuesday and I am starting to get nervous. The last time I had surgery (that laid me up for a few weeks) it was an emergency. Consequently, I didn't really have enough food and my house wasn't very clean. This time I got the heads up about a week ago and I want to be prepared.

Here's my list:

1) New pajama bottoms (preferably ones without little holes in the crotch) with legs wide enough to fit over the ugly shoe/boot I will have to wear for quite a few weeks
2) New T-shirts (without holes and/or stains) to sleep in
3) A new robe light and airy that fits (actually made for a woman) that doesn't make me look like a slob
4) A cute night gown that isn't too short or see through or too long, because I don't want to trip on it with my crutches or have it too twisted around me while I'm sleeping
5) Lots of comfort food that is real easy to make
6) Clean the house from top to bottom, because I probably won't clean for awhile and my Mom's coming for four days and I don't want hear about it
7) A chair to put in the bath tub to sit on while taking a shower with my foot sticking out, so it won't get wet
8) A removable shower head, so I can actually take a shower sitting down
9) Leg wax and pedicure, because everyone will be looking at my legs and toes

I've already been to Home Depot twice and I'm going back today. The first shower head had no power. The second one I bought works OK, but it doesn't fit together properly. It looks and feels like it's going to just fall apart. I bought the shower chair at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, because the ones at Home Depot were too ugly. I mentioned that to the guy helping me and he told me that if I didn't like the way the chair looked, I should decorate it. I told him he was crazy and he suggested stickers. However, I also have to return the chair, because it is defective. I just wish I would have noticed it before I put it together.

I love the pajamas and robe I bought. Everything was so reasonably priced I bought two set of PJ's for my Mom. I still have to clean my house and get the pedi and leg wax, but I feel like I'm on schedule.

Wish me luck! And if you're not doing anything for the next couple of weeks, you can come over and watch movies with me...

Match.com and Second Life

2009-10-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

I hadn't talked to one of my friends for a long time, so when I called her, I asked her if she's seeing anyone. I loathe asking anyone that question, especially a woman who is in her forties or older. I mostly do it as a manipulative ploy. That way we don't have to talk about me and my singleness, at least not right away. She said she's still dabbling in on line dating. I tried Match.com three years ago with terrible, but not surprising results. I feel I am single, because I just seem to meet men who don't really do it for me for one reason or another. So, basically being on Match.com meant I just had to deal with a bigger pool of men I didn't want to know.

I hear a lot of crazy stories from my friends about the men they meet on line. My friend (I had mentioned at the top if this post) told me a few more weird stories. One about how the guy (on the third date) went on and on about his interactions with his fellow employees. I think I had blurted out, "bor-ring!" She replied, "Maybe, but he doesn't know his fellow workers, he telecommutes. He's never even met them. He doesn't even know what some of them look like." But that's not even the crazy story.

She told me that she set up a date with a guy that looked and sounded great, kind of George Clooney-esque with steely blue eyes. The date couldn't have gone better, he was even better looking in person, very charming and interesting. Basically, she said she was immediately smitten by her date. I don't even know how he told her, but somehow it was apparent that he was looking for a girlfriend to have in his virtual reality called Second Life. He said she would be a really cute avatar. He thought they were perfect together and could have a great romance in the game.

Seriously, and I was starting to buy into all the crap I hear. That I am single, because I don't try hard enough to snare a man. If I sign up for collagen injections, plastic surgery, and Brazilian wax jobs I would not be single.

Don't worry kiddies, I haven't given up all hope. Now, not only can us single women enlarge the pool of losers we already have to chose from by signing up for Match.com, Salon.com, Yahoo Personals, eHarmony, Facebook, Myspace, MatureSinglesOnly.com, and Cupid.com we can expand it infinitely more, by looking for men in a whole other world, one that doesn't even exist. I can't wait until we can start looking for our soul mates on another planet! Or better yet why do we have to stick to our own solar system or galaxy for that matter? Remember girls, the sky's the limit!

Even Monkeys Don't Like Cheating

2009-10-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

I found this online at http://markarayner.com/archives/399

Hot Flashes And Dating

2009-10-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

My friends wonder why I am not dating or even really trying. Last week, while I was snapping pictures at an art opening a handsome, well dressed, and well mannered guy (I actually thought was attractive) started talking to me. I was really flattered, but found it very difficult to have much of a conversation. Right when I realized he was flirting with me I had a severe hot flash, but I couldn't take my coat off, because I had a crappy top on underneath. So, I kept looking away, secretly wiping my face. At some point he tried to get closer to me, but then I had a hard time focusing on his face, because I couldn't figure out which part of my lenses to look through. My new glasses are trifocals, not bifocals, trifocals. So, I started squinting and then remembered I had some cheese at the last opening and took the breath test (right in front of him) and then made a face, like it was bad. I wasn't sure what was worse, having bad breath or him knowing that I had just realized I had bad breath.

When I gave him my number (I know that's hard to believe) he told me he was leaving town and won't be back until Christmas and he will call me then. We'll see, I'm not holding my breath. Actually on second thought maybe I should spare a few innocent souls and hold it after all.

Look What I Found!

2009-10-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

(Found this on the Internet w/o photo credit)

Really?

2009-10-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Are men so homophobic they would risk their lives just so they won't have to hold onto another (gasp) man while riding on the back of a motorcycle? Basic physics tells us that leaning back and not holding onto anything or merely a strap or bar that is located behind the passenger, will promote a more bumpy ride with an increased vulnerability to falling off than leaning into the driver. When the passenger leans into the driver they are working with the (forward) motion of the bike. Not to mention they have something to hold on to i.e., the driver.

Living in San Francisco, I see quite a bit of people riding motorcycles and scooters when I'm out and about in the city. I am noticing more and more that the passengers don't seem to be holding on to anything. Albeit, the last time I rode on the back of a bike I nearly cut the driver in half, because I was squeezing his waist so hard, but to not hold on at all or just hold on to the back of the bike seat with one hand? That seems ludicrous.

I haven't been in the position to take pictures of any of this, so I started looking for some online. I found a few, but what I found a lot of were websites and blogs dedicated to instructing people on how to ride on the back of a bike. I was very relieved to see so much information on the subject. However, to my dismay these were the types of things I found. This shit is all over the Internet.

I do not agree with this at all!!!

The following is from the website Instructables (Pay special attention to step 3)

introBeing safe as a pillion passenger on a motorbike.

step 1For starters...

Before you get on ask the driver if they want you to put your feet down at the lights etc. It's actually a serious point, if they can balance with the extra weight most wil…

step 2Getting on.

Let the rider get on and get themselves set up, don't get on until they've shifted the bike to somewhere they're ready to leave from, ride-arounds are hell with a pillion p…

step 3Now you're moving.

So once you're moving there is that whole business of staying on the bike... Lock your arms behind you or beside you, this stops you tilting back when accelerating and tak…

step 4The other bits.

When it's windy it can be a bit unnerving to be coming over a bridge at 60mph and suddenly be hit by gusts of wind, try not to react to these and give the rider any extra c…

step 5Little extras and good ideas.

Things that will be of help: - Gloves, a decent pair should keep you from freezing to the bike... - A proper motorbike jacket is a plus for protection during crashes an…

Are you kidding me?

After reading step 3, step 4 seems ridiculous. How can you not react to being hit by a gust of wind going over a bridge at 60mph? Whether you like it or not if you are sticking out away from the driver and leaning back you will probably get knocked off of the bike or at least lose balance and cause the bike to react, which could lead to an accident driving on a bridge at high speeds. Weeee!

I Made A Mistake

2009-10-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

In my last post Talking Is So Underrated I wrote down the wrong dog breed when referring to my cousin Nancy's dog Moxie a Shih Tzu.

So, how do I correct that type of thing? Usually, when I write something that has been published, I have to write a statement declaring the mistake with the correction in a separate piece, without ever actually changing the error in the original publication. But, this is a blog. Let me be clear, this is my blog, I have total control. I can edit each post whenever and however I want. It seems sneaky to just fix the mistake without mentioning it. So, I am making it real clear I am doing both. I am mentioning the error in this post and I am making the correction in the original post.

Talking Is So Underrated

2009-10-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

I had a great weekend. It was one of those weekends where I was cognizant of the fact I have a blog. I would do something fun, hear something funny or interesting and I would pause to take a mental note to make sure it goes on my next post ASAP! I felt like I was narrating and directing my life, because it needed the push.

So let's see, I need a moment while I scroll down the mental list of what I SHOULD write about...Friday night? No, I can't even remember what I did Friday night...Saturday...made two pillows not important...went to Writers With Drinks at The Make Out Room, Yes! The writers and their readings, maybe...the audience, sure. See, now that I have started outlining this post, nothing seems that great anymore. My weekend experiences went from fond memories I can't wait to talk about, to an academic exercise tedious and insignificant.

On Sunday, I saw Zombieland and my cousin Nancy's new dog Moxie. After that I went to Safeway and bought a box of gumdrops, you know the chewy candies made of pure sugar covered in sugar, plus TEN different crappy cookies I plucked out of the cookie bin located in the corner of the store, along with two half gallons of unfiltered apple juice, white cheddar cheese, bananas, and my usual health food purchases. I ate three cookies on the way home and four more at home, plus half of the disgusting gum drops and then ate diner. However, I don't think that is really worth mentioning. Except, I totally recommend Zombieland and Moxie is the cutest dog I have ever seen. Oh and I feel like I'm hormonal...because of all the sugar.

Oh shoot, now I remember what I did Friday night. I went to five different open studio art openings. I promised Alan I would cover them for his website Art Business. I feel kind of bad that I forgot about the art openings. I am pretty sure I visited over fifty art studios and talked to most of the artists about their work. Anyway, I shouldn't write about the art stuff here, because my comments are going on the Art Business website.

Actually, I did have a good time at the openings. I ran into a couple of people I haven't seen in a long time and a couple I run into a lot. My friend Wickie was giving life advice free for five minutes with a friend of hers, Dana a career coach. My five minutes turned into a half an hour and then Wickie's boyfriend Jed came up and we all justed started talking about everything we could think of. (I don't think I should end that sentence with the word of.) Oh well...

Oh my God! My cousin Nancy just won a two year long battle with her landlords and was finally able to get a dog. She has been volunteering at Pets Unlimited to get in her dog fix, because her apartment wouldn't allow dogs. It's a long story, but she cat sat my cat Chloe when I went to Costa Rica for a year and when I came back Chloe ended up staying with her, so she had her a total of nine years. When Nancy got married she gave her back to me, because her husband is deathly allergic to cats. Giving her back broke her heart. So, that's when she turned her attention to dogs. Her husband isn't allergic to dogs. On August 10th at thirteen years old, we put Chloe to sleep, because she was so sick. I think that was the catalyst that gave her the courage to really get serious with her landlords about the dog issue.

Well, jumping ahead...her landlords finally acquiesced and she got Moxie, a teeny Shih Tzu, recovering from a gnarly dog mauling experience that left her with broken bones in two of her legs, a punctured rib, and a ton of other things I am not sure of, because my brain stopped listening after hearing about the punctured lung. Apparently, the previous owners were visiting a friend with Moxie, who had a viscous dog that attacked him. Then they just dropped him off at Pets Unlimited where my cousin (who had been pining away for a dog) just happened to be. Sunday during my visit with Moxie, we tried to teach him how to shake, but we didn't really know what we were doing and we weren't sure if we should shake the foot that had the cast or the good one. Anyway, he loved the sound of the clicker and the treats.

Oh, I just got an email from Mike one of the three guys I let sit in the booth I snagged at Writers With Drinks. I got to The Make Out Room an hour early and there was already a line out in front. By the time I entered the bar all of the seats at the little tables directly in front of the stage were taken so, I grabbed a booth to the side of the stage. The place was filling up fast. First a lesbo (I say lesbo, however butch dike is more fitting, but it sounds so dated) around my age, asked me if she and her two friends could share it with me. I said sure, but it kind of looked like her friends liked where they were. It turned out I actually know her. She was a friend of one of my neighbors and came into my store all of the time. I am trying to remember which pronoun she preferred. I am pretty sure it's she, but I really can't remember. Then I let a guy named Tom sit there with the condition that there would be enough room for all of us, including Barbara who had asked me (earlier) to save her a seat. The second he sat down two guys wanted to know if there was room for them. I screamed to my friend Danny the lesbo and she shook her head, so the two guys Mike and Steve (or is it Steven?) squeezed into the booth. Barbara didn't come until after the show had started. So, for about an hour four perfect strangers all excited to see Charlie Jane Anders' show, passed the time by actually talking to each other. It seemed so old fashioned, but it felt right.

Me and My Boothmate Tom
photo by Steven Black another boothmate

Here are some links
Online travel journal by Mike, one of my boothmates
Writers With Drinks

Parking Sucks In San Francisco

2009-10-07T11:32:00.000-07:00

Are you kidding me?

I found this on my friend's Facebook page...I don't know who took the photo.

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Was Crowded!

2009-10-05T12:32:00.000-07:00

Are you kidding me? Hardly Strictly Bluegrass on Sunday probably saw the most crowds in its history and had the worst lineup by far. I regret having missed the festival last year, because I was still in Las Vegas. I was told Gogol Bordello, Odetta, and of course Marty-Wilson Piper were Awesome, to quote a few of my friends.

This year I was happy to have seen (mostly heard) Neko Case. The crowd was probably the biggest crowd I was a part of in my life. I usually avoid large groups of people, because I'm short and have a claustrophobic issue. I pulled out a few tricks so I could withstand the conditions. First of all, I put my chair down kind of close to the stage up on the hill stage right, about an hour before Neko was scheduled and then left to hang out with Smithy over at the Rooster Stage where we waited for Marianne Faithful to play.

By the way, I was disappointed in Marianne Faithful's performance, even though it was exactly what I had expected, go figure. Half way through Marianne's show Smithy and I got up, because we were bored. I still had a half an hour before Neko Case started. Smithy said she wanted to get some water, so we started walking towards 19th Avenue. Right around the Arrow Stage she decided she was done and said she was going to check out whatever was happening on the Porch Stage, because it was the smallest stage and would probably have the least amount of people. Her plan was to leave from there. There was no way she was going to walk back in the direction of the rest of the stages through most of the people and all of their accessories. She reached her limit.

I decided to go to the bathroom, I mean port-a-potty down by the Arrow Stage and then worked my way back up to my chair at the Star Stage. I reached the the area where I left my chair with about five minutes to spare. However, I couldn't find my chair in the throngs of people. I knew if I could just find my chair, that gesture alone would be enough to ground me and keep me from running all the way to my car, trampling right on blankets, pushing babies out of the way, knocking joints out of people's hands, wrestling with dopey dogs, and colliding with bicyclists screaming my head off and crying my eyes out like a lunatic. I just needed to find my chair, the last thing I wanted was to have a meltdown.

I saw a guy sitting on a chair that looked a lot like mine. I asked him if he brought that chair and he said yes. A stoned guy laying on a blanket told me that he had seen another guy just come and take a blue chair. I think I gulped with the loudest sound I've heard myself make without having actually swallowed something. I didn't want to panic, so I questioned the guy sitting in the blue chair once more. Basically, it turned out that he dropped his chair off early (like me) and when he came back he simply assumed the chair he was sitting in was his. After closer inspection we both concluded it was mine and the one that was taken was his. Whew, disaster averted. However, I ended up standing the whole time during her set anyway. I was going to stay and watch the blind couple from Mali, but after Neko Case the sun was setting and it got really cold. Barbara had found me right after I found my chair so we left together. We were done, we reached our limit.

Check out my pictures on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/20746592@N00/sets/72157622398260057/

Thanks For Last Night!

2009-09-20T13:48:00.000-07:00

Tangible Intangibles, the group art show I curated was a great success. Here are some of the photos I took. I know others like Smithy Blackwell and Alan Bamberger also took some pictures at the party. I'll put those up once I get them...

The Party Is Tomorrow!!!!

2009-09-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

Tangible Intangibles

Mina Dresden Gallery

is up and looks

Beautiful!

It has a very seasonal and uplifting vibe...it will make you happy!

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!

Tomorrow between 6 and 8 pm

Mina Dresden Gallery

312 Valencia Street @ 14th Street

in San Francisco

The Show I am Curating Is Next Week!!!

2009-09-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

Mina Dresden Gallery
Presents

Tangible Intangibles
Emerging Themes from Patter Hellstrom, Atticus Wolrab, Kevin Pincus, Clare Bowers, & Charles Keatts.

Tangible Intangibles curated by Lynnore Goldfarb is an investigation of the ideas and patterns that surface while creating new bodies of work featuring mixed media and abstract paintings with strong narratives and concepts by five San Francisco artists.

Artists' Reception September 19, 2009 6 - 8 pm

Preview Thursday & Friday 5-8 pm

Mina Dresden Gallery
312 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 Phone 415 863-8312

Does A Bear Scat In The Woods?

2009-09-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

This is an actual story aired on the news. It is not from the John Stewart Show or the Comedy Channel...at all!!!

Sweet

2009-08-31T00:33:00.000-07:00

Dior's Birthday In Santa Cruz

2009-08-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

Dior wanted to get away from it all for her birthday, which is actually today. She rented a really cute little apartment a few blocks from the beach at Pleasure Point for the whole weekend. I drove down Friday afternoon to stay Friday and Saturday nights. Unfortunately, I ended up leaving early in the afternoon on Saturday. It turns out my apartment is infested with fleas and Sadie (my cat) just kept hissing and growling at Nancy. She couldn't even spend the night it was so bad. That worried me so I just went home.

Right after we got to Santa Cruz we went to the Beach Boardwalk. Sweet, the studio manufactured band from the seventies with the hits Little Willy and Ballroom Blitz, played two shows on the boardwalk. It was a little frightening to see the aging rock stars come out on the stage, in a This Is Spinal Tap kind of way. A woman a little older than me standing to my left, turned to me and said "We have nothing to worry about, we look great, compared to them!" I yelled to the 22 year old kid standing next to me, "Now do you get the movie Spinal Tap?" The whole group of geezers behind me laughed. A spectator told me that the bass player, wearing the cape, was the only original member of the band. It just made us wonder why they looked so tragic, then.

I mean, I can't complain the weather was perfect, the show was free and I was at the beach with one of my dearest friends. Here's a link to all of the photos I took. Unfortunately, I only was able to snap pics during the show, before my camera died.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20746592@N00/sets/72157622187877842/

Chloe 1996 - 2009

2009-08-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

I found Chloe at a garage sale in Berkeley thirteen years ago. I really hadn't thought about getting a kitten. I visited my friend Jesse in Berkeley and on the way home I stopped at a garage sale. I was picking and poking at everything out on the front stoop when I noticed a basket of kittens. I had and have been to a lot of garage sales in my lifetime and this was the first time kittens were part of the sale. I looked at the teeny tiny mewing kittens and thought they were really cute, but wasn't interested in taking one.

One of the little kids that lived at the house mentioned there was one more kitten, but warned me that she was not like the other ones. That definitely peaked my interest. He pointed at the screen door with two large dobermans standing at attention behind it, on the top of the stoop. I was very confused and told him I wasn't going in the house past those dogs. He laughed and asked me to look at the bottom of the door behind the screen. There they were, two tiny little ears perched above a pair of eyes that could barely see over the bottom pane of the screen door, right in between the two guard dogs. She looked tiny compared to the dogs, but she was three times (if not more) bigger than the other helpless looking kittens squirming in the basket. "I'll take her" I remember saying and snatched her up.

Today I Turn 21--What A Week!

2009-08-19T11:55:00.000-07:00

Today is my 21st anniversary clean and sober. Who knew this would happen? I mean, I got sober and clean on the backside of a botched suicide by overdose. I tried to kill myself, because I didn't want to live. The thought of getting older horrified me, because it meant I would have to live and I didn't know how to do that.

I got sober, because I lived through the overdose. That event, plus many other near death experiences, I recounted while going in and out of consciousness that morning 21 years ago lead me to believe I was immortal. I remember thinking to myself (mind you, I took enough drugs to kill a person) that if I was going to live another 2 or 3 hundred more years, I have to get clean, because there is nothing worse than an old junky. And as the story goes the rest is history...

Whenever I feel old (like now) I console myself with the thought I'm old, because I have lived...However, we all know I have nothing to worry about, because I'm pretty sure I'm going to live at least another 2 or 3 hundred more years, anyway. I'm 47 years YOUNG!!!!

Chloe In Loving Memory

2009-08-12T11:31:00.001-07:00

In Loving Memory
Chloe
R. I. P.
August 1996 - August 10, 2009

Vegetarian Shows On Food NetWork

2009-08-09T16:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a link for a petition to include some vegetarian cooking shows on The Food NetWork
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/202539242

I Am Curating An Art Exhibit!

2009-08-06T14:22:00.000-07:00

Mina Dresden Gallery
Presents

Tangible Intangibles
Emerging Themes from Patter Hellstrom, Atticus Wolrab, Kevin Pincus, Clare Bowers, & Charles Keatts.

Tangible Intangibles curated by Lynnore Goldfarb is an investigation of the ideas and patterns that surface while creating new bodies of work. This exhibit features mixed media and abstract paintings with strong narratives and concepts by five up and coming San Francisco artists.

September 17 through September 21
Artists' Reception September 19, 2009 6 - 9 pm

My New Favorite Blog!

2009-08-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

Margaret and Helen is my new favorite blog. Check it out http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/

My Article Is Up on Today's Vintage!

2009-07-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

My lastest article for Today's Vintage is up online, please check it out at
http://www.todaysvintage.com/decorating/contentview.asp?c=259340

Wham, Bam Thank You Ma'am!

2009-07-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

Yipes, what the hell happened! It seriously feels like last year I was complaining about getting "Honey'd" and now my big gripe is getting "Ma'am'd" all over the place. I clearly recall (not that long ago) turning to friends and saying things like, "Did you hear that? The girl working at Macy's just called me Honey" or "Should people younger than me call me Honey?" Now, every time I buy a cup coffee, pay for something at the grocery store, or call the phone company I get, "Thank you very much Ma'am" or "How can I help you, Ma'am?"

One time while I was playing poker at the Wynn, the dealer addressed me as Ma'am and I gave him a scornful look. One of the guys at the table spoke up and said, "If I was a woman, I would NOT want to be called Ma'am." The dealer replied, "Well, then what should I call her?" Without skipping a beat he said, "Call her Foxy!" So, for the rest of the time I was in Vegas, if someone called me Ma'am I would tell each person, "If you have to call me something, call me Foxy!" That was real fun and it definitely livened things up a bit.

Asking the guy at the phone company to call me Foxy doesn't work in the same way as it did in Las Vegas. Geesh, Barbara Boxer was called Ma'am and then she was ridiculed for saying something about it. I have no idea how to address the problem. I have tried a few things, but most of them have backfired, like with Barbara. For instance, if I say something like, "Hey, there is no need to start Ma'aming me" they simply inform me that they are merely addressing me with respect. No matter how compelling I think my argument is against that, they are not convinced. They think it shows respect and that is all that counts. I have tried calling the Ma'amer Sir (if male), but I quickly found out that guys like being called Sir. It is not really on equal footing with Ma'am. Calling someone Mister is getting closer, but unless they are a doctor or a general, it seems to go right over the offender's head. Most of the time, if I say anything about it at all, I just look like a raving, mad, bitch.

So, my new thing is to just Ma'am them back. For instance, if someone asks me, "May I help you Ma'am?" I reply, "Yes, you may Ma'am." This totally freaks the offender out, especially if the person is a man. If it is someone at a utility company, by the time the conversation is over they had stopped calling me Ma'am, Honey, Miss, or anything derogatory. It works like a charm. Every once in a while the person says something about me calling them Ma'am. I tell them, "Calling me Ma'am is just as inappropriate as addressing you as Ma'am." Then I'll add (just to turn the screw a little bit more) "Thank you very much, Ma'am."

I Love San Francisco

2009-07-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

Today, I love San Francisco and I love living here. Lately people I meet, freely tell me how much they hate it or that they will "NEVER, IN A MILLION YEARS, EVEN FOR A MILLION DOLLARS, EVER COME TO SAN FRANCISCO" when I mention I live in here. Albeit it seems like I am meeting more people from places I would NEVER, IN A MILLION YEARS, EVEN FOR A MILLION DOLLARS, EVER go to myself, but being confronted with that kind of bias, rocks me a little bit and forces me to look at who is saying this and why.

Last year a couple of months after I sold my second store, I sublet my apartment and went to Vegas. My plan was to stay for three months in the vacation condo (nobody lives in) my family has. I ended up staying in Las Vegas for eight months. I mostly played poker with men ranging in age between 22 and 70 years old who were visiting or had moved to Vegas just to play poker. Sometimes I would be at a table with the same guys for more than five hours, so chit chat was inevitable. Mostly, the banter was stuff like, "Where are you from? What do you do for a living?" That kind of thing all very calm and mundane. However, if and when I mentioned that I was from San Francisco, all Hell broke loose.

Mostly, the reactions were things like, "My wife wants to go there, but I refuse!" or "I'm not gay." Which at first was rather amusing, but eight months of this day in and day out, coming from different people, became a little macabre and quite a bit funnier. Here's a perfect example of that delightful combo of hilarity and perversion.

During the presidential campaign last year, playing a low stakes no-limit game at The Palms, I noticed that the guy to my left kept calling the Asian dealer Kim, when her name tag clearly read some thing else. So, I turned to him and said, "Her name isn't Kim." So, the 45 year old man with a front tooth missing, wearing a T-shirt two sizes too small that had a picture of President Obama dressed like Mr. T (with the Mohawk, gold chains, and earrings) looking ragged like a homeless guy with an outstretched hand saying, "Got Change?" asks me, "What the hell is wrong with you?" But, before I could answer another guy at the table chimes in with, "She's from San Francisco."

I want to hear your stories about meeting people from places (other than here) who find it necessary to tell you how they feel about San Francisco...good or bad...or the types of people you have confronted who throw around the word, "liberal" like it is a weapon.

I could not find the actual T-shirt online, but I found this...you get the picture!

Not Bi-Focals, Tri-Focals!

2009-07-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, after breakfast with my awesome new friend Patter, I checked out five eye glass stores listed in my insurance network. I hated everything. The last store I walked into was awesome. It had a variety of frames I really liked. It took an hour and a half for me to decide on a pair of frames, because there were so many to choose from. I went with a pair of Oliver Peoples, which were a hundred dollars more than the ones I sort of liked at the first place I went into on Thursday. Yeah, I started shopping for frames on Thursday.

My insurance doesn't even cover half of the cost of my glasses. They are going to cost me $500.00, with my insurance coverage. The total came to $909.00. I just don't remember having to pay that much for glasses in the past. The salesperson informed me that in the past I only needed single vision lenses and this prescription is for tri-focals.

Tri-focals, are you kidding me? I totally freaked out. To calm me down they assured me the reason mine are so expensive is, because my lenses won't have the delineation lines. Well, that helped...I feel so much better, now. What a bummer.

Dirty Laundry

2009-07-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

I made it back to San Francisco early Thursday morning and couldn't wait to check out the art shows in town. I covered five art openings the next day (Friday July 10th) Venus Gallery, Curiosity Shoppe, 31 Rausch, Electric Works, and 1AM Gallery.

This week's comments about last week's art openings are up to be viewed on Artbusiness.com.

If you can only make it to one art show this week or month I suggest you check out Electric Works: The Cresting Wave - The San Francisco Underground Comix Experience.
Artists: Mark Bode, Vaughn Bode, Guy Colwell, R. Crumb, Jay Kinney, Paul Mavrides, Dan O'Neill, Trina Robbins, Spain Rodriguez, Gilbert Shelton, Larry Todd, Randy Vogel, S. Clay Wilson. Curated by Dan Fogel.

Life Trumps Facebook

2009-07-14T18:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I saw an old friend today. When I say old, I mean I have known him a long time. He's old, but I am older than him. Johhny was my boyfriend when I was 18 years old. We had some crazy times. However, I decided not to be friends with him about 15 years ago for reasons that may not even be true.

A couple of months ago I received a Facebook Friend request from him. I realized that I was still very angry and I told him I had no intentions of being his friend, even in cyberspace, because of what he had done to me. He thought I was talking about the things he did when we were teenagers and in his words, told that me hanging onto grudges for 30 years isn't good. However, I was talking about something that had happened 15 years ago. That is when I realized 15 years is also a long time.

Today, I saw him for the first time since the last incident and we talked about what had happened and I told him that 15 years is a long time to hang onto a grudge and I was through with it. We talked for about 15 minutes. Afterward we both felt great and close. As we finished hugging, Johnny exclaimed "See, life actually trumps Facebook!"

Michael Jackson Is Dead

2009-07-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

I have been purposely ignoring all of the hoopla surrounding Michael Jackson's canonizing, I mean death. The day he died, I was more upset about Farrah Faucet dying. However, I like this article (which is beautifully written) posted on Truthdig.com, check it out...

The Man in the Mirror

AP photo / Jacqueline Larma

Images of a young Michael Jackson fill the TV screens at a downtown Los Angeles bar near the site of his memorial service.

By Chris Hedges

In celebrity culture we destroy what we worship. The commercial exploitation of Michael Jackson’s death was orchestrated by the corporate forces that rendered Jackson insane. Jackson, robbed of his childhood and surrounded by vultures that preyed on his fears and weaknesses, was so consumed by self-loathing he carved his African-American face into an ever-changing Caucasian death mask and hid his apparent pedophilia behind a Peter Pan illusion of eternal childhood. He could not disentangle his public and his private self. He became a commodity, a product, one to be sold, used and manipulated. He was infected by the moral nihilism and personal disintegration that are at the core of our corporate culture. And his fantasies of eternal youth, delusions of majesty, and desperate, disfiguring quests for physical transformation were expressions of our own yearning. He was a reflection of us in the extreme. (read more)

A New Yorker Article About My Friend Anna Sophie

2009-07-11T23:49:00.000-07:00

This is an interview in the New Yorker with my friend Anna Sophie Lowenberg, also check out her show Sexy Beijing.

This is the website for Sexy Beijing http://www.sexybeijing.tv/new/default.aspx

Posted by Evan Osnos July 10, 2009

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2009/07/qanda-anna-sophie-loewenberg.html

Q. and A.: Anna Sophie Loewenberg

Anna Sophie Loewenberg is the star and producer of “Sexy Beijing,” an online series of sly, knowing videos about a hapless, curious foreigner which has proved popular among expats, language students, and mainland Chinese. (The début episode, “Looking for Double Happiness,” has been viewed more than one and a half million times on YouTube.) The videos, which run from five to ten minutes, are loose parodies of “Sex and the City,” with Loewenberg playing a hammy version of herself, careering around town to interview construction workers, dog-walkers, cranky old men, and, on occasion, Lubavitchers about their love lives. The latest episode goes online this week. Read More...

The THIRD of July

2009-07-08T01:50:00.000-07:00

I took this coming out of the golf course in Vegas the THIRD of July...

Lights Out

2009-07-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

Saturday, I got tore up at the Venetian...I played 4 hands. My pocket 10's were beaten by pocket 8's, my pocket Kings were beaten by pocket 6's, I folded my pocket Jacks when one of my preflop callers bet into me on the flop of 2 flush, 3 straight cards and a queen. What did me in was, when I raised (all in) a reraise (preflop) with pocket kings and the raiser had aces. Lights out for me took about an hour.

My Hair Hurts

2009-07-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone! Sleeping is not so simple in Las Vegas. The weather contributes to my sleep deprivation issue as much as the sun. The temperature outside was 90 degrees at 3:30 this morning, which was the coolest it has been here in days. Air conditioning is imperative in the desert. However, sleeping with the air conditioning blasting all night, basically sucks the moisture right out of the air and all life as we know it. I can feel my skin and hair drying up as I write this. Too much air conditioning also gives me a sore throat.

On the other hand, not having the air conditioning on while trying to sleep feels like laying in an oven set to broil. Then there is the issue of the sun. I mean give me a break, the sun rises at like 5 am and in an instant the pitch black room is so bright it hurts my eyes. If I go to sleep when it is still dark outside, within a few hours I am jolted from my dreams by the sunrise with my eyes, throat, and head all hurting at once. I don't even drink alcohol. That's when I get up, go to the bathroom, down a bottle of water, get back in bed, put on my movie star--don't bug me, kid--eye mask and wrestle with the elements until I fall back to sleep for maybe another hour or two.

I know the best time to sleep in the desert is at night, because it is the coolest and darkest time of the day. However, it's Vegas, baby. Why would I sleep at night?

The Lynn Brigade

2009-07-01T13:48:00.000-07:00

I have created a monster. It is completely my fault, all of my doing. I had a bad feeling. I remember thinking, it is just a Facebook group, how much harm could this cause? Boy, was I wrong. It seemed so innocent at the time, kind of cute even. The Lynn group looked like a field of fluffy bunnies frolicking in the sun. But, once you open the door and they all come scurrying in, then what?

I was invited to join the Lynn group on Facebook, for obvious reasons, which I accepted. Right away there was one friend request from a stranger named Lynn. I did not know what to think about it at the time. I shrugged it off. Now a month later, every time I log on to Facebook there is at least one more friend request from another stranger named Lynn or some variation of the name. I don't know what to do, I don't want total strangers as my Facebook friends. I feel bad, they're harmless, like cuddly bunnies. I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, especially someone named Lynn.

Shuffle Up And Deal

2009-06-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

I know it might look like there is only one tournament when watching the World Series Of Poker on TV, but in reality there are over fifty tournaments ranging from $500 to $50,000 to enter every day, plus over fifty tables reserved for cash games, the entire two and a half months the series is at Rio All-Suite Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. This year the WSOP started on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 with the Casino Employees two-day $500 event.

The WSOP attracts thousands of players from all over the world with varying degrees of poker skill and bankrolls. Some of the people entered in the Main Event for $10,000 do not use their own money and others save all year to participate in this event. Quite a few people win seats from online sites, like Full Tilt Poker and Poker Stars and come early and play live with their own money or the stipend they won. The high-profile professionals have sponsors that not only put them in the Main Event (if not all of the events) pay them a fee, plus a per Diem. Las Vegas poker grinders usually get someone to stake them in the Main Event or several of the tourneys with smaller buy-ins.

However, not all of the players who fly into Las Vegas, from all parts of the world during the WSOP, intend to play in the WSOP tournaments. Some people like to play the other tournaments offered throughout Vegas, like in the Venetian Deep Stack Extravaganza (DSE) poker tournament series or Caesars Palace’s Mega Stack poker tournament series, with entry fees as low as $330, both running concurrent with the WSOP. However, some merely come to play in the ring games. During the months the WSOP is underway the cash games all over Las Vegas get juicier than any other time of year. Some rounders will play one or many of the WSOP satellite games at Rio to win coupons good for WSOP tournament entry. Last year, I saw many players win thousands of dollars in tournament entry coupons at the $100 satellite tables, sell them for cash, and go play the ring games.

Tournament poker playing is much nuttier than live cash games in general; so many players come merely to cash in on that crazy action. That wild hyper-aggressive play seen on TV just looks like money in the bank for the grinders who have been waiting all year for the WSOP to come into town . Shuffle up and deal!

My Article Is Up on Today's Vintage!

2009-06-30T14:53:00.000-07:00

The new issue of Today's Vintage is out already in actual magazine form and online with the first article I wrote for them, Two Mules And A Flock Of Seagulls.

Check it out at www.todaysvintage.com

However, I don't really like how a few of the photos look and there's a typo in my bio. Oh well, that's their department, not mine.

Oh and an extra special thanks to my anonymous friend Rob who edited the piece for me.

I Am Almost Awake

2009-06-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

I fell asleep around 4am and dreamed of testifying as a witness to a kidnapping, sprinkled with visions of being on the wrong side of the most horrible bad beats in poker, losing all of my money over and over and over and over. I didn't just dream one dream, but a series of related dreams. The overall feeling of my dreams were of very old Perry Mason episodes in black and white, although I don't think mine were in black and white. If my dreams this morning could have had a sound track, the music would have been those loud, heavy, disconcerted minor chord configurations, that punctuated every sentence I uttered under oath on the stand, while I testified on behalf of an innocent little girl or maybe a boy. The whole court experience was accentuated with cut-a-ways of a photo montage showing tilted close-ups of the cards I lost with, my agonized facial expression, the mouth of the guy who won as he laughed at my loss, and my hands as they shoved the mountainous pile of chips away from my side of the table.

I only got out of bed to stop losing all of my money.

WSOP Photos I Took

2009-06-28T12:29:00.001-07:00

Click on the photos to make them larger

Things Are Different At The 2009 World Series of Poker

2009-06-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been in Las Vegas for over a week and yesterday I finally made it down to Rio where the 2009 World Series of Poker has been underway for almost a month. Every year it is a circus and this year is no exception. However, every year Harrah's--the parent company of Rio and owner of the WSOP--is a little more organized. I am seeing a noticeable difference in how the separate tourneys, cash games, and satellites are set up. Two years ago I believe everything was in one big room, the Amazon Room. This year the satellites are in a separate room and the tourneys are ending up in the big room, but they are not all starting there. They are still offering cash games in the big room, but it does not look like they are spreading as many as last year. That might be, because they are still spreading games in their regular poker room, which is downstairs and about a mile away in the actual casino part of Rio. The WSOP is held in the conference area of the hotel.

Last year it seemed like every old, fat, greasy, and hairy guy playing poker had a young, blond woman, molded by plastic surgery and injections sitting behind them at the poker table. It looked like the women were just paid (by the fat slob playing) to sit behind him and watch their particular fat guy play poker. It was hard to say, if the women were all props, because a lot of those gross guys actually marry young, blond women. And when I say young, I mean they are 20 years old and the guys are 45 years old, minimum. However, yesterday I didn't see one couple that fit my usual interpretation of the Beauty and the Beast, which seems different...

Oh Yeah, It's Vegas Baby!

2009-06-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

It's Vegas alright...my hair feels like straw, the inside of my eyelids hurt, my nose may start bleeding, and I have a sore throat. I always forget about how dry it is here. For June it isn't that hot, it seems to be hovering around 95 degrees during the day, which is nice. However, it is very arid and the air conditioning just adds to the dryness factor.

Wow, not a moment too soon...it is pouring rain outside.

June 12, 2009 SF Art Openings Are Up!

2009-06-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

Whew! I got my comments in under the wire. I actually wrote them while I was in Vegas, so I apologize for not including much detail. I hit quite a few openings in one night, which usually means I run around in a frenzied state grabbing all of the literature I can find and scribbling any info I can squeeze out of the artists or curators on napkins and scratch paper as fast as I can. However, all of that stuff doesn't do me any good if I don't have it when I am writing the comments.

I have three of the openings up on Art Business, Ampersand International Arts, Pin Pong Gallery, and L's Caffe. There are a lot of shows that went up last week. I recommend, HOME at Ampersand International Arts.

http://www.artbusiness.com/1open/061209.html

Is Anybody Out There?

2009-06-21T16:23:00.000-07:00

Hmmm...I have been blogging for about a month. I feel I am finding my footing, trying to figure out what I want to do with this blog. I am glad not a lot of people are really following it yet, because I am still working out the kinks. However, I am not sure anyone beside Rob and Annabelle are reading it at all. So, I am caught in between being glad I can make my blogging mistakes without much notice and feeling like keeping this blog is too much like masturbation. Please, if you can, help me with this issue. If you are reading my blog, sign up to follow it or at least make a comment. Otherwise, it just feels downright creepy...

I Feel Good!

2009-06-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my first article for Today's Vintage. I wrote about my living room and sent a boat load of pictures. I have no idea what they will think about it. I have to give a public thanks to my new (unofficial) editor Rob. He took a piece of garbage and did the best he could, Thank God.

I really want to write about my weekend, but I still have unfinished business with Alan at Art Business. I haven't even written my comments about the art openings I went to on the 11th.

I was supposed to drive to Vegas today, but I couldn't quite get out of here early enough. I feel bad for Katie she can't wait to get here. Cat sitting for me is her stay-cation. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll just get up and go...well at least leave before noon. I'm meeting my parents at the condo, because I missed my mom's birthday and Father's Day is this weekend and my dad wants to celebrate by playing poker with me. I like the idea of playing poker with my dad a lot better than actually doing it. I need to set rules and stick to them. First of all we cannot play at the same table and when he's bored he can't sit behind me. I swear to God he makes me show him my cards and he makes faces at every play I make. The other players don't even have to look at me, everyone knows what I have, it's written all over his face.

I'll write more later, I have to write the art stuff now...

Writer's Block

2009-06-15T15:45:00.000-07:00

I feel a little tapped out...out of steam...on slow...slowly going nowhere...slowly going somewhere...somewhere I may or may not want to be...or not to be......where is my inspiration...how can I inspire...I feel tapped out...out of steam...on slow...going nowhere...going in circles...slowly...on slow...<sigh>

First Thursday Comments and Reviews are up!

2009-06-14T19:38:00.000-07:00

So, you don't know what to do this week?

Well, between seven of us at Art Business, over twenty-five art openings were covered. There are a lot of exhibits up all around San Francisco, definitely worth checking out. One good thing about these particular shows, is that they happen to be grouped together geographically, which makes it easy to pop into quite a few galleries in a short period of time. I would say the majority of the shows that opened on June 4, are in the downtown and SOMA areas, with the remainder along Divisadero between Page and Fulton Streets. I covered eight galleries that are part of the official Divisadero Corridor Art Walk and one on the corner of Market Street and Sanchez. My comments are up on Art Business Starting with Femina Potens Gallery about sixteen galleries down on the page.

Below is the actual link...
http://www.artbusiness.com/1open/firstth0609.html

Check Out This Article on Film Blog!

2009-06-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

I decided to post a few of the websites and blogs I like up on this blog. You will find them on the right side of this page under--get this--Websites and Blogs.

I am reposting an article from Film Blog Burning bridge: why the Golden Gate is the sci-fi director's favourite target

Burning bridge: why the Golden Gate is the sci-fi director's favourite target

Melted, bitten in two, reduced to a ruin by nuclear attack – these are just some of the indignities visited on the bridge in recent movies. Is it just because New York's skyline is off limits?

Here we go again ... scene from Mega Shark Vs Giant Octopus

In the closing moments of Terminator Salvation, resistance leader John Connor (Christian Bale) is hunkered down in the remains of San Francisco's Golden Gate bridge. It's been wrecked by a nuclear attack: the suspension cables have snapped, half of the north tower is gone and the bridge has turned from its familiar shade of International Orange to Fallout Grey. Welcome to dystopia, Hollywood style.
Nuclear terrorism is only the latest fictional indignity to hit the bridge. In the last decade directors have gone to town on the landmark. It's been variously melted (in 2003's The Core), bitten in two (in this year's Mega Shark Vs Giant Octopus) and picked up and dumped further up San Francisco Bay by a disgruntled super villain (in X-Men: The Last Stand in 2006).
In fact since 9/11 it's been rare to see any other American architectural icon so regularly and explicitly attacked on film. New York used to be an action/adventure director's playground, but for much of this decade the real-life fall of the twin towers has made it difficult to justify fictional onslaughts on the city's landmarks. The notable exception – Matt Reeves's controversial schlock-horror flick, Cloverfield, in which a giant sea monster beheads the Statue of Liberty – was damned by both right- and leftwing media for trivialising a mass trauma. Liberal news site Salon.com's Stephanie Zacharek spoke for many upset by the film when she accused Reeves of "[harnessing] the horror of 9/11 ... and [repackaging] it as an amusement-park ride".
In a genre that revels in wringing cheap thrills from expensive spectacle, that sort of criticism is hard to avoid. Still, directors have done their best to dodge controversy by detaching the fictional threat of terror from reality to a degree that they wouldn't have done 10 years ago. Danger has been neutered through amplification. Terror (often the product of otherworldly forces rather than human action) is directed at the city in general rather than a specific landmark (see 2007's I Am Legend, last year's The Happening and, especially, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy) or made so vast in scope that its effects are felt globally (2004's The Day After Tomorrow).
In comparison the Golden Gate bridge is a politically safe setting for a director's worst case scenario. It's far from New York (and close to Hollywood), instantly recognisable to an international audience and emotionally evocative to an American one. Unlike the Statue of Liberty, it's a genuine American construct, built during the Great Depression and therefore symbolic of the country's resilience – a visual metaphor for American unity, there to be smashed whenever a director needs to fast-track an audience into alienation and panic.
At the bridge's opening on 27 May 1937, its designer, Joseph Strauss, spoke of "[a bridge that] stands before you in all its majestic splendour, in complete refutation of every attack made upon it". Today that statement has been made a mockery of by the movie business but stands true in reality. It can take what Hollywood throws at it. Terminator's nuclear bomb won't tarnish it for long and, like that sturdiest of critically mauled action franchises, it'll be back.

OMG, The Church!

2009-06-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

Oh My God!
I am mush...The Church is playing live on KCRW Marty Willson-Piper is probably 50 years old and he still looks and sounds awesome! I literally had to stop writing my Art Business comments to post this!!!!

A friend of a friend of mine actually plays--guitar--in Marty Willson-Piper's new band. I was in Vegas when they played here last time. Lame, hugh? But, it looks like they are in the States, 'cause this is live from LA. I guess that means they're going to play here...OH shit, they're playing at Slim's tomorrow.

Oh man, this song is really good!

Poker is Calling!

2009-06-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

This is a "SHOUT OUT" to everyone I know!

Poker, poker, poker! That is all I can think about. I really want to go to Vegas and start playing. This time of year, during the WSOP, is the best time to see great action in most of the poker rooms. However, my going to Las Vegas for the summer is contingent upon two things...One, subletting my apartment and Two, working--preferably as a WSOP reporter--while I am there. I am so broke I do not imagine myself just taking off for two months without a few "ducks" in order.

Now, back to reality...I went to thirteen art openings Thursday and Friday that I need to write about for Art Business and I need to work on a presentation--to curate an exhibition--for an art gallery owner...