Miss Us?

It's Chinatown Jake

Get Off Of Me!

Backstage

Hey, DUCKING Fodgers

SIT DOWN

Congrats Phillies!

Fine Dining and the Cats

I'm reading a front page article in the SF Chronicle about the restaurants in the Bay Area which are rated in the newly released 2010 Michelin Guide. Lo and behold there's one in my home berg of Los Gatos which got two stars. Manresa. Made me realize how the small town I grew up in has evolved. Now, I know that 2 stars in an excellent rating from Michelin (3 stars awarded ONLY 71 times in their 110 year history) and it's pleasing to think of such a fine restaurant is based in LG. However, I'm sitting here laughing because I know the folks I grew up with, my fellow Wildcats, would easily have given the ole Burger Pit 5 stars! Charbroiled beef with a salad bar. What more could you want? In the day THAT was a Friday night on the town. We did have Los Felice, La Hacienda (waiters in tuxes) and the Red Coach Inn but those where you were dragged to when Aunt Mary or Grandma visited. No, the Burger Pit was where it was at. Then change began. The Grog and Sirloin appeared. Old Town opened. The Wine Cellar. Mimi's Rooftop Cafe. The later is where I gamely ordered my first shot of expresso, NOT knowing at all what I was getting....ordered because at 18 I was trying to impress....oh my. When it came in that teeny tiny cup and I took my first sip I nearly choked to death. Such a sophisticate. Promptly poured it out in the flower box and swear on my next visit all those flowers were dead. To this day NOT an expresso lover. Strong black coffee yes but expresso isn't my cup of tea. (har har) All of those restaurants are long gone. Even the legendary Cats finally bit the dust. By the way does anyone else know the names of THE Cats? Way back when I was told, Leo and Leona. The one with the eyes open is Leona. Leo, of course, is sleeping on the job. Could all be folklore. Don't know. Just one of those stories told to you at a young age and for whatever reason you remember...forever.

OMG

When in the hell does your body start to loose flexibility? Right after kindergarten? Maybe it's the colder weather I'm experiencing up here or just a complete lack of overall fitness? How can that be? I walk a mile with the dog daily and lift a few weights. Apparently those attempts at exercise are menial and don't frigging count. Got a very early start this AM, furiously sanding spackle and then placing the magical blue painter's tape in preparation for today's painting. Been balancing on the ladder, lying on the floor, squating, etc., in order to get the tape properly placed. Just took a 10 minute coffee break and sat down in the front room recliner to check the news. In those 10 minutes I apparently set like the spackle. Honestly, I feel like the Tin Woodsman when he got rained upon and rusted. I can barely move. Sigh.

It's Pink

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Not Me!

Nope. I'm not raking up these leaves.

Loma Prieta Quake

20 years ago and about this time.....5:07pm if my memory serves me well. Was at Candlestick with dear friends Christa and Jeff and their oldest daughter Molly. Jeff scored the tix from a scalper. We were in section 44 (right field) 2ND to last row from the top. When the rumble started Christa said "sounds like people stamping their feet"....somehow I knew it was a quake and yelled "sit down." As we were rocked back and forth in our seats by the 6.9 magnitude, you could hear the joints (if that the correct construction terminology) creak....my eyes were closed but I did sneak a peak and looked toward the press box across the field. The light towers were swaying and some poor soul was on one hanging on for dear life....I recall thinking what is it going to feel like when this section gives way and we fall backward onto the pavement....it was a thought driven by curiosity not fear....I vividly remember the sense of calm that engulfed as I thought I was going to die.....oddly, I was okay with it. After 15 seconds of eternity it was over and a huge cheer erupted from the crowd. The woman in front of me, (with an A's cap on...the enemy) turned around, looked at me and asked, "What was that?" I grinned and uttered, "That was an earthquake. Welcome to San Francisco!" There are many memories of that evening and the days which followed including my up close and personal visit to the epicenter off of Summit Road....BUT, the image that is forever ingrained in the mind's eye is what I observed from the back seat of the Lawrence's car as we made our way across the Golden Gate Bridge. After spending nearly 2 hours to get through the city, it was dark as we drove onto the bridge....mid span I turned to look back at the City by the Bay.....all I could see was the fire in the Marina....that world renown skyline didn't exist....just a vast orange glow in the pitch black darkness.

As The Sun Goes Down

The golden and pink hues gleam. Really lovely.

After The Storm

Snow on the Mountain

It's Final

I'M KEEPING HER!