October 8, 2004
It was 4:15 am on Friday when the alarm went off reminding us that we were on vacation, and demanding that we start having fun! Our first day of fun would be a 7 hour drive to Santa Cruz, interupted by a stop in about 3 hrs at Santa Barbara to get Nancy a double cappachino at the Santa Barbara Brewing company, and then a big plate of carbs at Esau's cafe just across the way on south State St. That was our routine whenever we drove 101 north. It was built into the timetable!!
I drove. It was familiar. Early morning traffic allowed a smooth drive up the I-5 and the I-405 through the heart of L.A. before the rush to work would clog the freeways with the 7 to 9 commuter crowd. The weather was nice, but with a fog bank off the coast north of L.A. reaching up towards Santa Barbara, shrouding the line of oil rigs from north of Zuma up towards the Channel Islands. As we drove 101 past Oxnard and the Sun cleared the Santa Monica mountains it pushed the fog bank further west, and the oil rigs emerged from the sea like giant alien structures far offshore.
Besides our Santa Barbara stop, there was one more stop for gas, and we rolled into Santa Cruz in the early afternoon. Sara and her two roommates, rent an apartment a couple of blocks from the beach in Capitola on the east side of town. One of her roomies was home--so we settled in, and went out for a walk to the beach. Surf was up and there were a bunch of surfers trying to share waves. (I'm told that Santa Cruz was where the modern wetsuit was "invented", primarily for surfers to use in the colder water of Santa Cruz winter season.
We love Santa Cruz and planned on taking Sara's bed away from her for two nights! She is always willing to sleep on the couch. We bribe her by taking her out to dinner and shopping while we are there.
While Sara and Nancy went shopping downtown, I went fishing off the pier in Capitola for a couple hours--didn't catch anything but a bit of sun and some local color. I didn't see anyone else catch anything either. I think people fish there just to get outside, watch the gulls, and the sea lions.
Sara and her roommates had a color TV which was very inadequate. They did have cable, but the TV was only a 12" and didn't have a remote. So to change the channel one had to get up and go turn the knob. It was like living in the dark ages of TV dom. Not only that, I couldn't read any of the scores because the screen was so small. I promised them that on our return trip I was going to buy a new TV first thing so I wouldn't miss the World series and football games scheduled in two weeks. I considered that part of the bribe for welcoming us back there on our return. While I was there I also fixed Sara's bedroom lamp with a new plug and switch, and glued and refastened the trim that was loose on her Volvo. I also replaced a bulb in their outdoor light. It is nice to have a man around the house!!!
Oh yes, there was a good coffee house called Coffeetopia within walking distance that opened at 6 am, so I could get up early and drive over and read the paper. And Nancy could walk over later for her double Cappachino. Between the surf just a couple blocks in one direction and the coffeehouse in the other, Sara's apartment was all together a great place to spend the first couple of days of our trek to the Oregon Trail!
We planned to get an early start on Sunday morning with a double cappachino to go, and a goal of reaching Ft. Bragg on the Medocino Coast by mid afternoon.
Monday, November 01, 2004
Friday, October 29, 2004
The Oregon Trail--Part I--Preparations
October--2004
A few months ago Nancy decided that we should take a two week driving vacation, something we had not done for 25 years. She had a taste of the wanderlust about a year ago when two of her friends had invited her to go along on a driving trip through Arizona and New Mexico, with a destination of Denver to visit their relatives. She went! She enjoyed seeing Santa Fe, the Navajo Nation lands, the sweeping vistas of the Southwest deserts, and the crispness of the Rockies. She enjoyed the trip alot, but since she was a "guest" she felt that she might have enjoyed it more with the freedom to pick the iternerary and activities. It did get her enthused for another driving trip, however.
Being on the road together for two weeks on an old fashioned sightseeing tour had a certain nostalgic appeal to both of us. After all, we both grew up in families where a vacation usually involved packing up the car and heading down the road to see the sights, camp out, or stay at a cabin at a lake or river.
Where to go? We had been looking for potential future retirement locations on the west coast, and most of the best suited locations were to the north. I was really interested in checking out Bend, Oregon, and Nancy thought she would like to check out Northern California and the Oregon coast. Since our daughter, Sara, was living in Santa Cruz, it seemed like we could start and end with a visit with her. When to go? Early October seemed to fit. The summer crowds would be gone, there might be some good fall color in the northern forests, and the weather, while cooler, could still be agreeable. So Nancy started planning! New maps and guidebooks for California and the Pacific Northwest were acquired. I got on the internet and searched for all the good sites for information on Oregon. I signed in on the state websites for visiters, and started getting lots of great publications in the mail covering everything from Golf in Oregon, to all the scenic routes and and their sights. Nancy worked the internet sites for all the interesting towns, B&Bs and campsites which she might include as destinations. She asked her quilting contacts where all the good quilt stores were along the northern California Coast and up into Oregon. I checked out the potential golf course stops! Nancy started making a list of what to pack! Since we planned to camp some of the time we were going to have a full load in the olde Mercedes! When we hopped in the car we were going to be prepared!!
As October approached Nancy was busy working on our itinerary, working out our day to day driving milieage, our overnight stops, sights not to be missed, and B&B and camping options. We would leave on Friday, October 8 and return on Monday, October 25, a total of 18 days. That was slightly more than two weeks, but was rationalized by including a couple of extra weekend days, and a Friday drive day to Santa Cruz with a Monday drive back.
Thursday October 7 it was done! Instructions had been written for Matt. (He was excited to have the house to himself for a couple weeks!) The trunk of the car was packed. By bedtime the bags were packed and ready for an early start. The alarm was set for 4:15. At 5 am we would be launched!
A few months ago Nancy decided that we should take a two week driving vacation, something we had not done for 25 years. She had a taste of the wanderlust about a year ago when two of her friends had invited her to go along on a driving trip through Arizona and New Mexico, with a destination of Denver to visit their relatives. She went! She enjoyed seeing Santa Fe, the Navajo Nation lands, the sweeping vistas of the Southwest deserts, and the crispness of the Rockies. She enjoyed the trip alot, but since she was a "guest" she felt that she might have enjoyed it more with the freedom to pick the iternerary and activities. It did get her enthused for another driving trip, however.
Being on the road together for two weeks on an old fashioned sightseeing tour had a certain nostalgic appeal to both of us. After all, we both grew up in families where a vacation usually involved packing up the car and heading down the road to see the sights, camp out, or stay at a cabin at a lake or river.
Where to go? We had been looking for potential future retirement locations on the west coast, and most of the best suited locations were to the north. I was really interested in checking out Bend, Oregon, and Nancy thought she would like to check out Northern California and the Oregon coast. Since our daughter, Sara, was living in Santa Cruz, it seemed like we could start and end with a visit with her. When to go? Early October seemed to fit. The summer crowds would be gone, there might be some good fall color in the northern forests, and the weather, while cooler, could still be agreeable. So Nancy started planning! New maps and guidebooks for California and the Pacific Northwest were acquired. I got on the internet and searched for all the good sites for information on Oregon. I signed in on the state websites for visiters, and started getting lots of great publications in the mail covering everything from Golf in Oregon, to all the scenic routes and and their sights. Nancy worked the internet sites for all the interesting towns, B&Bs and campsites which she might include as destinations. She asked her quilting contacts where all the good quilt stores were along the northern California Coast and up into Oregon. I checked out the potential golf course stops! Nancy started making a list of what to pack! Since we planned to camp some of the time we were going to have a full load in the olde Mercedes! When we hopped in the car we were going to be prepared!!
As October approached Nancy was busy working on our itinerary, working out our day to day driving milieage, our overnight stops, sights not to be missed, and B&B and camping options. We would leave on Friday, October 8 and return on Monday, October 25, a total of 18 days. That was slightly more than two weeks, but was rationalized by including a couple of extra weekend days, and a Friday drive day to Santa Cruz with a Monday drive back.
Thursday October 7 it was done! Instructions had been written for Matt. (He was excited to have the house to himself for a couple weeks!) The trunk of the car was packed. By bedtime the bags were packed and ready for an early start. The alarm was set for 4:15. At 5 am we would be launched!
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Ghostbusters--A Political Rant
I wonder how we have managed a course of action in the last four years, that puts our society in a constant state of stress. It used to be that stress was caused by working too hard, a boss who was a pain in the rear,too many kids, no kids, not enough money, not enough sex, unemployment, smog, mental illness, divorce, death of a loved one; all the normal stuff of life. Usually it was there for awhile, and then something good happened and it went away. At least until the next bummer came along.
Maybe I am just getting old, and wishing for some respite from continuing conflict in the world. Why do people hate each other? There really can't be that much difference between humans and what they want that would justify hate. And yet hate has been passed from generation to generation among some peoples who to this day still fight and kill each other with regularity.
In the USA, we have developed a divided country and have painted the map of states with red or blue, depending on who is voted for, a conservative or a liberal. So now are we to be defined by color all over again? Who is going to be considered "colored" and how are divisions going to be made? Will we have red sections and blue sections in restaurants? Who will disdain who the most?
Have I missed something? Was it always like that, and I just never paid attention? Or did it start when Conservatives became more in control of government after not having consolidated power for so long a period of time? Where cooperation, compromise and moderation was once the norm, the opportunity for abuse became reality.
With control of Congress and the Office of President, there was no effective opposition to stop foolishness, corruption, and in general, bad government. That is not to say that Republicans could not be effective in governing, but with majority control of both houses of Congress and the Presidency, there was no one who could cry "STOP"! to cause debate and compromise and produce more measured and effective results in decisions affecting the welfare of all citizens of this great country.
The 9/11 attack gave opportunity for additional power to the Presidency to act in retaliation without an adequate measure of thought regarding the various potential consequences of our actions. And here we are mired in a bog of stress caused by politics and guns and bombs and violence that seems to have no end.
The "Dogs of War" on the right have been convinced, mostly by deception, that force is the only response to solve all the terrorist activity in the world, and it is up to us to "stay the course" and use all our resources and young soldiers in the effort! Those who disagree, see parallels to Vietnam, which was a terrible mistake, also made by politicians who deceived, and resulted in a vast waste of life and resources. It ended with a sigh of grief over those who were lost for nothing of value.
In a fantasy world we could "CALL GHOSTBUSTERS", and they would come and trap evil in a magnetic box!
We need to stop and think about ending violence and wasting lives.
Maybe I am just getting old, and wishing for some respite from continuing conflict in the world. Why do people hate each other? There really can't be that much difference between humans and what they want that would justify hate. And yet hate has been passed from generation to generation among some peoples who to this day still fight and kill each other with regularity.
In the USA, we have developed a divided country and have painted the map of states with red or blue, depending on who is voted for, a conservative or a liberal. So now are we to be defined by color all over again? Who is going to be considered "colored" and how are divisions going to be made? Will we have red sections and blue sections in restaurants? Who will disdain who the most?
Have I missed something? Was it always like that, and I just never paid attention? Or did it start when Conservatives became more in control of government after not having consolidated power for so long a period of time? Where cooperation, compromise and moderation was once the norm, the opportunity for abuse became reality.
With control of Congress and the Office of President, there was no effective opposition to stop foolishness, corruption, and in general, bad government. That is not to say that Republicans could not be effective in governing, but with majority control of both houses of Congress and the Presidency, there was no one who could cry "STOP"! to cause debate and compromise and produce more measured and effective results in decisions affecting the welfare of all citizens of this great country.
The 9/11 attack gave opportunity for additional power to the Presidency to act in retaliation without an adequate measure of thought regarding the various potential consequences of our actions. And here we are mired in a bog of stress caused by politics and guns and bombs and violence that seems to have no end.
The "Dogs of War" on the right have been convinced, mostly by deception, that force is the only response to solve all the terrorist activity in the world, and it is up to us to "stay the course" and use all our resources and young soldiers in the effort! Those who disagree, see parallels to Vietnam, which was a terrible mistake, also made by politicians who deceived, and resulted in a vast waste of life and resources. It ended with a sigh of grief over those who were lost for nothing of value.
In a fantasy world we could "CALL GHOSTBUSTERS", and they would come and trap evil in a magnetic box!
We need to stop and think about ending violence and wasting lives.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
San Francisco--Haighted It the last day--Day 4
A QUICK MORNING WASHDOWN!
Sunday Morning at home is usually started early sitting outside at Pipe's Cafe in Cardiff having morning coffee and lots of carbs, while reading the Sunday paper. Farley's was an excellent substitute, and since our landlord was gone for the weekend her Sunday Chronicle was just laying there on the stoop looking for a reader! I was standing in the doorway at the top of the stoop looking out, mouth agape, wondering what was going on! It was pouring rain! Here at last was the kind of weather that would make our day in the City something much different from all the sunshine we saw day after day in San Diego! I told Nancy that we would have to drive to Farley's if we wanted to stay dry, so we dashed across the street to the Volvo and drove the 2 blocks. By the time we got there, the rain had let up, and in another 15 minutes the Sun had begun to peek through the clouds. It looked like it would not be the slow paced, wet, misty day we had been looking for all week.
While we absorbed caffiene, we planned our last day. Our plane would take off just after 4 pm, so we had a good part of the day to tour around as we desired. Matt had never made it to Cal State SF, so we thought we should take a ride over that way so he could see the campus. The trip to that side of town dictated that we cruise the Ocean Beach area, drive through Golden Gate Park, and hit the Haight district for brunch and shopping.
When we got back to the apartment about 9:30, both Matt and Sara were up and about and were talking about where we could go to eat! We shared the plan we had devised at Farley's and decided to pack up everthing in the car so we did not have to come back before heading to the airport later in the day. Nancy left a nice note for the landlord and hoped she would look kindly on us and let us return sometime in the future! To that end we left the place in immaculate condition!
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH SARA
The designated driver headed us down 16th street westward in the general direction of our first destination, which was either going to be Golden Gate Park or Cal State SF. For a moment I forgot myself and actually had possession of the map, noting what I thought would be the best route to take. I was given an opinion reminding me of my rightful place in the back seat, while the designated driver and her mother discussed the way to go. Earlier in the week, they had made a trip to Haight and I presumed that they knew the right route.
We passed through Harvey Milk Plaza in The Castro , and headed west past the Panhandle towards Golden Gate Park. The designated driver had been to a concert there recently so knew her way around. There was a mob at the park waiting in a line for something to happen, which Sara surmised must be a free concert since it was near the area where her concert had occurred. I wistfully thought that perhaps, since it was a younger crowd, they were in line to have a demonstration of some type, since the park was very close to Haight and to three universities (USF,UCSF, & SFSU). That would have been a great way to spend some of Sunday, carrying a protest banner in the park in San Francisco!!
MATT'S TOUR!
We headed south towards SFSU to give Matt a view of the Campus, since he had missed his college friend and his anticipated tour. It was a a nice campus, institutional looking, with alot of student housing apartments in the area. It was next to a big park and only a few blocks from the beach. The most exciting aspect of the campus was that it was right across the street from Harding Municipal Golf Course, which has an excellent reputation as one of the best public courses in San Francisco! I think I will encourage Matt to attend!
We took the Ocean Beach route past the Zoo and back towards Golden Gate Park. It was a sunny morning, but a bit blustery. Not many people appeared to be at the beach, although it was difficult to tell since there were big sand dunes between the road and the actual beach area. Even on a sunny day my guess was that the water temperature was probably 10 degrees colder than in San Diego, which did not make the air temperature hospitable for sun bathing, but was probably great for a brisk walk along the shore! We didn't stop, although I had the urge to say something. It was obvious, however, that the designated driver was moving on to a destination which had a possibility of providing an opportunity to quiet the growl in Matt's stomach.
We reached that famous intersection, Haight and Ashbury, and Sara turned on her parking radar, driving around the streets looking for the one open space in the area. It turned out to be a couple blocks south of Haight St, and as usual, after a couple tries, she successfully paralleled the Volvo into the space.
LOVE THAT HAIGHT!!
The Haight commercial area is about 4-5 blocks long. The west end butts up to Golden Gate Park and ends with the famous Ameoba Music store. The Ameoba is a San Francisco force in promoting the music business, has been there forever, and is a cavernous space filled with new and used records, including old LPs as well as new CDs. Rollingstone Magazine calls it "The World's Greatest Music Store". Sara bought a jazz CD by someone I had never heard of!
It was almost 1 pm, and the street was very busy with mostly a younger crowd shopping and looking for brunch. We walked the length of the street past all the psychadelic shops selling tie dyes, and smoking paraphenalia, some old record stores, and a wide variety of eateries, serving crepes to tacos. Matt and I browsed through a big music/instrument store which specialized in guitars and drums. Nancy and Sara shopped for shoes.
THE PORK STORE!!
After looking in the windows of most of the prospects for eating establishments, Sara and Nancy decided that we should stand in line at a joint called "The Pork Store" which obviously had been there for a long time and had a line out the door. I looked in the window and saw huge plates piled high with omeletes, hash browns, and biscuits and gravy. It looked like my kind of place, and based on the amount of food to consume, I thought a better name might be "The Porker Store"! In about 20 minutes we were in and seated at an "A" table in the front window! Nancy ordered an omelet and hash browns, and I ordered the biscuits and gravy, and we split it all between us. We managed to clean our plates! Matt and Sara each ordered a pile of carbs also, and Matt got rid of his growl! A picture on the wall from a century ago showed a butcher standing in front of the storefront in an apron. The sausage gravy on the biscuits I had eaten was probably his recipe.
FINIS!
We took another walk up and down the street, and decided there was nothing wrong with getting to the airport a bit early. So off we went, the designated driver once again in charge of our destiny. It turned out that to get to the airport we had to go back through the Mission District to the Potrero District which was where our apartment was located, head south on Potrero Ave and connect into the freeway going south to SFO. As we passed through Mission I noticed another small old storefront with a sign that said "The Pork Store". It must have been a chain! Sara asked if Nancy wanted to drive around and try to find her ancestral home since we had some time and had no luck with our earlier effort! Nancy decided that she would find it on her next trip. I think she wanted to have a good reason to return in the future!
Sara left us off at the terminal with hugs, and headed back to Santa Cruz. We went to gate 90 and plopped down to wait for our boarding to be called. The plane was full--it took an hour flight time to get home. The Sun was bright and there was a gentle ocean breeze as we got off the plane. We stopped at El Indio in Old Town to get some Mexican take out to eat at home, as we had done many times over the years.
And went back to the old routine.
Sunday Morning at home is usually started early sitting outside at Pipe's Cafe in Cardiff having morning coffee and lots of carbs, while reading the Sunday paper. Farley's was an excellent substitute, and since our landlord was gone for the weekend her Sunday Chronicle was just laying there on the stoop looking for a reader! I was standing in the doorway at the top of the stoop looking out, mouth agape, wondering what was going on! It was pouring rain! Here at last was the kind of weather that would make our day in the City something much different from all the sunshine we saw day after day in San Diego! I told Nancy that we would have to drive to Farley's if we wanted to stay dry, so we dashed across the street to the Volvo and drove the 2 blocks. By the time we got there, the rain had let up, and in another 15 minutes the Sun had begun to peek through the clouds. It looked like it would not be the slow paced, wet, misty day we had been looking for all week.
While we absorbed caffiene, we planned our last day. Our plane would take off just after 4 pm, so we had a good part of the day to tour around as we desired. Matt had never made it to Cal State SF, so we thought we should take a ride over that way so he could see the campus. The trip to that side of town dictated that we cruise the Ocean Beach area, drive through Golden Gate Park, and hit the Haight district for brunch and shopping.
When we got back to the apartment about 9:30, both Matt and Sara were up and about and were talking about where we could go to eat! We shared the plan we had devised at Farley's and decided to pack up everthing in the car so we did not have to come back before heading to the airport later in the day. Nancy left a nice note for the landlord and hoped she would look kindly on us and let us return sometime in the future! To that end we left the place in immaculate condition!
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH SARA
The designated driver headed us down 16th street westward in the general direction of our first destination, which was either going to be Golden Gate Park or Cal State SF. For a moment I forgot myself and actually had possession of the map, noting what I thought would be the best route to take. I was given an opinion reminding me of my rightful place in the back seat, while the designated driver and her mother discussed the way to go. Earlier in the week, they had made a trip to Haight and I presumed that they knew the right route.
We passed through Harvey Milk Plaza in The Castro , and headed west past the Panhandle towards Golden Gate Park. The designated driver had been to a concert there recently so knew her way around. There was a mob at the park waiting in a line for something to happen, which Sara surmised must be a free concert since it was near the area where her concert had occurred. I wistfully thought that perhaps, since it was a younger crowd, they were in line to have a demonstration of some type, since the park was very close to Haight and to three universities (USF,UCSF, & SFSU). That would have been a great way to spend some of Sunday, carrying a protest banner in the park in San Francisco!!
MATT'S TOUR!
We headed south towards SFSU to give Matt a view of the Campus, since he had missed his college friend and his anticipated tour. It was a a nice campus, institutional looking, with alot of student housing apartments in the area. It was next to a big park and only a few blocks from the beach. The most exciting aspect of the campus was that it was right across the street from Harding Municipal Golf Course, which has an excellent reputation as one of the best public courses in San Francisco! I think I will encourage Matt to attend!
We took the Ocean Beach route past the Zoo and back towards Golden Gate Park. It was a sunny morning, but a bit blustery. Not many people appeared to be at the beach, although it was difficult to tell since there were big sand dunes between the road and the actual beach area. Even on a sunny day my guess was that the water temperature was probably 10 degrees colder than in San Diego, which did not make the air temperature hospitable for sun bathing, but was probably great for a brisk walk along the shore! We didn't stop, although I had the urge to say something. It was obvious, however, that the designated driver was moving on to a destination which had a possibility of providing an opportunity to quiet the growl in Matt's stomach.
We reached that famous intersection, Haight and Ashbury, and Sara turned on her parking radar, driving around the streets looking for the one open space in the area. It turned out to be a couple blocks south of Haight St, and as usual, after a couple tries, she successfully paralleled the Volvo into the space.
LOVE THAT HAIGHT!!
The Haight commercial area is about 4-5 blocks long. The west end butts up to Golden Gate Park and ends with the famous Ameoba Music store. The Ameoba is a San Francisco force in promoting the music business, has been there forever, and is a cavernous space filled with new and used records, including old LPs as well as new CDs. Rollingstone Magazine calls it "The World's Greatest Music Store". Sara bought a jazz CD by someone I had never heard of!
It was almost 1 pm, and the street was very busy with mostly a younger crowd shopping and looking for brunch. We walked the length of the street past all the psychadelic shops selling tie dyes, and smoking paraphenalia, some old record stores, and a wide variety of eateries, serving crepes to tacos. Matt and I browsed through a big music/instrument store which specialized in guitars and drums. Nancy and Sara shopped for shoes.
THE PORK STORE!!
After looking in the windows of most of the prospects for eating establishments, Sara and Nancy decided that we should stand in line at a joint called "The Pork Store" which obviously had been there for a long time and had a line out the door. I looked in the window and saw huge plates piled high with omeletes, hash browns, and biscuits and gravy. It looked like my kind of place, and based on the amount of food to consume, I thought a better name might be "The Porker Store"! In about 20 minutes we were in and seated at an "A" table in the front window! Nancy ordered an omelet and hash browns, and I ordered the biscuits and gravy, and we split it all between us. We managed to clean our plates! Matt and Sara each ordered a pile of carbs also, and Matt got rid of his growl! A picture on the wall from a century ago showed a butcher standing in front of the storefront in an apron. The sausage gravy on the biscuits I had eaten was probably his recipe.
FINIS!
We took another walk up and down the street, and decided there was nothing wrong with getting to the airport a bit early. So off we went, the designated driver once again in charge of our destiny. It turned out that to get to the airport we had to go back through the Mission District to the Potrero District which was where our apartment was located, head south on Potrero Ave and connect into the freeway going south to SFO. As we passed through Mission I noticed another small old storefront with a sign that said "The Pork Store". It must have been a chain! Sara asked if Nancy wanted to drive around and try to find her ancestral home since we had some time and had no luck with our earlier effort! Nancy decided that she would find it on her next trip. I think she wanted to have a good reason to return in the future!
Sara left us off at the terminal with hugs, and headed back to Santa Cruz. We went to gate 90 and plopped down to wait for our boarding to be called. The plane was full--it took an hour flight time to get home. The Sun was bright and there was a gentle ocean breeze as we got off the plane. We stopped at El Indio in Old Town to get some Mexican take out to eat at home, as we had done many times over the years.
And went back to the old routine.
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
San Francisco--Nancy & Me--Day 3
TEAM NANCY/MARK VS. TEAM SARA/MATT
It was Saturday in the City. The plan was for Sara and Matt to spend the day together. Sara, our designated driver, had her car, so Nancy and I anticipated using the MUNI system to zip around town as we desired. The Sara/Matt team were going to MOMA where there was a big exhibit of modern POP art which included some things by Andy Warhal as well as some of the other icons of the genre. They then were to hook up with a friend of Matt's who was going to school at Cal State SF and have a wild time with the college crowd.
The Nancy/Mark team plan was to have a nice lunch somewhere, and play it as it came! As usual I started our day at Farley's with two big cups of caffiene and a scone loaded with butter and jam. Nancy had her customary double cappachino and a muffin and wrote some more secrets in her journal. By the time I got through the Chronicle and the crossword, the last of the caffiene had been downed and was kicking in, and we were both raring to get our big day together in gear!
It was now closing in on 10 am and back at the apartment the Matt/Sara team was up and almost ready to blast off in the Volvo towards City Centre and MOMA (and the pile of people sure to be in attendance or at least in line in the area waiting to get on the Cable Cars).
ZAPPING!
We tidied up after them, (just like at home), and when things were neatly stowed, walked up a block to the bus stop to wait for the #22 electric powered bus. We sat on the bench and I wondered how often the bus came by on Saturday compared to during the week, visualizing our day being spent sitting on benches waiting for some form of transportation going in the right direction. Since I had time to ponder on things, I wondered what would happen if one of the overhead electric lines, which powered the buses and trolleys throughout the city, would fall on me for some reason. I had read a warning on a panel in one of the electric trolleys that there was 600 volts of electricity running through the trolley panel, and assumed that the buses had the same zapping power if one were to get zapped! I had not heard of anyone getting zapped, but there were overhead lines on just about every street of any size in the whole city, and I could not imagine that some zapping had not occurred on a regular basis. Perhaps there was an understanding among all the residents of the City that such things as zapped and sizzled persons were not to be discussed because it would be very bad for the tourist business and would cause the pile of people to dwindle to a small mound! About that time in my pondering, #22, which was firmly attached to the electric line, came humming up to the stop. We flashed our 3 day passes and hopped on just like we knew what we were doing and where we were going.
WALKIES!
Our plan was to do some walking tours of the Mission and Castro Districts, which, as it happened, were both right on the #22 line to the east of us. Nancy had an old picture of her great-great-etc standing in front of his store/house which was located in the Mission district. She didn't have the address specifically, but had been by it once with her mother years ago and thought she could find it if she got into the right area. The Mission district actually was the site of an old Spanish mission which no longer existed. But a nice newer one was there with a big spire/tower and a mission school. Both the Castro and Mission areas were originally part of an original Spanish land grant in olden days. A bigwig Spanish guy called Jose de Jesus Noe', was the last Mexican Acalde (Mayor) of "Yerba Buena". That was the name of the settlement prior to Jan 30, 1847 when it was changed to San Francisco ( after St Francis of Assisi). There is still a Noe' St. and a Noe' Valley named after him in the area. Yerba Buena Island still sits in the bay between the City and Oakland!
Nancy said we would go to the Castro district first and have lunch, then come back to the Mission and walk around there. Of course we made the error of getting off the bus at Mission St instead of Market and ended up in the Mission district. We were going to wait for the next bus, but in looking at the map, saw it was only 6-7 blocks to Market, so we decided that we could probably walk there in the time we would have to wait for another bus. And we did beat the next bus!
GAY WAY!
The Castro district is the center of the gay community in the city. Harvey Milk was the first elected gay city supervisor. He had opened a camera store when he came to this area, and the store front is still a much visited location. While in office he was shot and killed at the city hall by a nutcase , former city supervisor Danny White. He also killed Mayor George Moscone in his rampage. The nutcase pleaded insanity due to uncontrolled rage caused by a sugar overdose, and was found guilty of only voluntary manslaughter. It was a very famous trial and the defense became known as the "Twinkie" defense. ( It was the White Milk and Cookie trial--that's the truth!) The Plaza at the south end of Market St is named Harvey Milk Plaza in his honor.
Market St. is a straight line northward to the heart of downtown on the MUNI "F" line. There is an underground connection to BART, and above, buses, and trolleys all ply this route which ends at Fisherman's Wharf. It seems to be the city's busiest corridor. Castro is a vibrant and busy neighborhood filed with cafes, bars, health clubs, gay oriented boutiques, and all the other businesses necessary to support a fairly sizeable community. The old Castro Theater is the last of the 1920's single screen movie palaces left in the city. These days it tends to play classic movies, and I suspect whatever mainstream movie that appeals to the local gay community. It still has the old classic Pipe Organ used during the silent film era.
It is one of the best preserved communities in the city with streets lined with trees and rows of old refurbished and colorfully painted Victorian row houses. While the homes have small garages on the ground floor, it seems that everyone parks on both sides of the street. All the streets are lined with parked cars. (I noticed this all over the city).
We had a very nice lunch at a sidewalk cafe called the Cafe Flore'. I had a hamburger with fries, and Nancy had a veggie burger with a salad. Nancy said it was the best veggie burger she had ever had in her entire life! And that is saying something! A perfect place for lunch! We need to go back.
We drank a bottle of Pelligrino sparkling water and enjoyed the activity and swirl of people, trolleys, cars, and buses around the Plaza.
MUSEO DE CABLE CAR
It was after 1 pm, and the afternoon was still before us. I looked at the map and instead of a walk around the Mission district, I thought that a trip to the cable car museum near Nob Hill might be interesting. I was ever the tourist! Nancy was game so we walked out to the trolley stop and hopped on the "F" line trolley headed downtown. My thought was that we could hop on a cable car downtown to take us to the museum. Wouldn't that be cool. Well, we got down to the Market St cable car stop, and as usual there was a line of tourists a mile long waiting to get on. Nancy said it was only 5-6 blocks up the hill, and if we started walking maybe we could hop on the cable car at one of the other stops. So we started up the hill and at each stop along the way there was a group waiting to get on a car that was all ready full when it got there. We ended up climbing all the way up to the museum. I think we got there almost as fast as the car that left at the same time, and I know that walking was alot faster that waiting in that line. I think if we lived in the City we would be in very good physical condition!
The museum also was the maintenance and mechanical building that housed all the machinery that powered the cables that pulled the cars up all those hills. It was all open for viewing, and it was fascinating to see how the system worked with the two big electric motors turning the huge pulleys with the cables running through them. The exhibits showed the history of the system and there were many pictures of the city before and after the earthquake and fire of 1902. All the cable car and the buildings were destroyed or burned in the 1902 earthquake. While some of it was rebuilt after, most of the new system was converted to electric trolleys, which were much more efficient and easier to build. Only a couple of cable lines survived, and the original steam driven system was converted to electric power. The whole system was refurbished in the 1980's( at the cost of a zillion $ or so) and should now last another century as the only existing working cable car system in the world. The Cable Car Mechanical and Maintenace building was refurbished as well and the museum was much improved. The only existing original cable car is on exhibit in the museum. That car happened to be on exhibit in Baltimore at the time of the earthquake and escaped the destruction. Finding out how the cable system worked was very interesting, and educational too!
NANCY KNOWS EVERYBODY!!
As we exited the building and were standing on the corner consulting our map, we heard a voice yell, "Hey Nancy!" One of Nancy's friends from San Diego wheeled by in a VW with her husband at the wheel and another couple in the back seat and yelled out the window, "We just went to Alcatraz!", then whipped around the corner without even stopping. What are the odds of that! It is well known among all her friends that Nancy cannot go anywhere without bumping into someone she knows. The stories I could tell!
LA BACCA DE VINO
We walked up Nob Hill and were standing in front of the Fairmont Hotel when Nancy's cell phone rang. It was Sara (on Matt's cell), wondering where we were. They were done with the art exhibit at MOMA and since we were just a few blocks away they came and picked us up. They had not heard from Matt's college friend. So we decided to head back to the apartment, clean up a bit, and all go out for a nice dinner together. We looked in Nancy's dining guide and picked a nice place called Bacca over in the Castro district. I called for a reservation at 8 pm, and we all took a breather for an hour or so before going out for one last meal!
The designated driver was back in charge of our transportation, so we drove around looking for the restaurant and ended up in a neat little neighborhood in upscale Noe' Valley, just east of The Castro.. As usual, the designated driver drove around the side streets looking for the one open parking place and finally found success on a side street a couple of blocks from the restaurant. While we were walking around a bit, Matt's friend finally called him on his cell! Matt told him he was on his way to a big family dinner and would get back to him later! We got there right on time, were seated at a very good table, had two bottles of wine and some very good food, and some good conversation. Most of the time it was me against the rest of the table. I usually held my own by making sure everyone had a full wine glass at all times.! Even Matt had wine! It was our most expensive meal of the week--I put it on the credit card! So the bill will be out of sight for about a month!
Matt never did get back to his friend.
It was Saturday in the City. The plan was for Sara and Matt to spend the day together. Sara, our designated driver, had her car, so Nancy and I anticipated using the MUNI system to zip around town as we desired. The Sara/Matt team were going to MOMA where there was a big exhibit of modern POP art which included some things by Andy Warhal as well as some of the other icons of the genre. They then were to hook up with a friend of Matt's who was going to school at Cal State SF and have a wild time with the college crowd.
The Nancy/Mark team plan was to have a nice lunch somewhere, and play it as it came! As usual I started our day at Farley's with two big cups of caffiene and a scone loaded with butter and jam. Nancy had her customary double cappachino and a muffin and wrote some more secrets in her journal. By the time I got through the Chronicle and the crossword, the last of the caffiene had been downed and was kicking in, and we were both raring to get our big day together in gear!
It was now closing in on 10 am and back at the apartment the Matt/Sara team was up and almost ready to blast off in the Volvo towards City Centre and MOMA (and the pile of people sure to be in attendance or at least in line in the area waiting to get on the Cable Cars).
ZAPPING!
We tidied up after them, (just like at home), and when things were neatly stowed, walked up a block to the bus stop to wait for the #22 electric powered bus. We sat on the bench and I wondered how often the bus came by on Saturday compared to during the week, visualizing our day being spent sitting on benches waiting for some form of transportation going in the right direction. Since I had time to ponder on things, I wondered what would happen if one of the overhead electric lines, which powered the buses and trolleys throughout the city, would fall on me for some reason. I had read a warning on a panel in one of the electric trolleys that there was 600 volts of electricity running through the trolley panel, and assumed that the buses had the same zapping power if one were to get zapped! I had not heard of anyone getting zapped, but there were overhead lines on just about every street of any size in the whole city, and I could not imagine that some zapping had not occurred on a regular basis. Perhaps there was an understanding among all the residents of the City that such things as zapped and sizzled persons were not to be discussed because it would be very bad for the tourist business and would cause the pile of people to dwindle to a small mound! About that time in my pondering, #22, which was firmly attached to the electric line, came humming up to the stop. We flashed our 3 day passes and hopped on just like we knew what we were doing and where we were going.
WALKIES!
Our plan was to do some walking tours of the Mission and Castro Districts, which, as it happened, were both right on the #22 line to the east of us. Nancy had an old picture of her great-great-etc standing in front of his store/house which was located in the Mission district. She didn't have the address specifically, but had been by it once with her mother years ago and thought she could find it if she got into the right area. The Mission district actually was the site of an old Spanish mission which no longer existed. But a nice newer one was there with a big spire/tower and a mission school. Both the Castro and Mission areas were originally part of an original Spanish land grant in olden days. A bigwig Spanish guy called Jose de Jesus Noe', was the last Mexican Acalde (Mayor) of "Yerba Buena". That was the name of the settlement prior to Jan 30, 1847 when it was changed to San Francisco ( after St Francis of Assisi). There is still a Noe' St. and a Noe' Valley named after him in the area. Yerba Buena Island still sits in the bay between the City and Oakland!
Nancy said we would go to the Castro district first and have lunch, then come back to the Mission and walk around there. Of course we made the error of getting off the bus at Mission St instead of Market and ended up in the Mission district. We were going to wait for the next bus, but in looking at the map, saw it was only 6-7 blocks to Market, so we decided that we could probably walk there in the time we would have to wait for another bus. And we did beat the next bus!
GAY WAY!
The Castro district is the center of the gay community in the city. Harvey Milk was the first elected gay city supervisor. He had opened a camera store when he came to this area, and the store front is still a much visited location. While in office he was shot and killed at the city hall by a nutcase , former city supervisor Danny White. He also killed Mayor George Moscone in his rampage. The nutcase pleaded insanity due to uncontrolled rage caused by a sugar overdose, and was found guilty of only voluntary manslaughter. It was a very famous trial and the defense became known as the "Twinkie" defense. ( It was the White Milk and Cookie trial--that's the truth!) The Plaza at the south end of Market St is named Harvey Milk Plaza in his honor.
Market St. is a straight line northward to the heart of downtown on the MUNI "F" line. There is an underground connection to BART, and above, buses, and trolleys all ply this route which ends at Fisherman's Wharf. It seems to be the city's busiest corridor. Castro is a vibrant and busy neighborhood filed with cafes, bars, health clubs, gay oriented boutiques, and all the other businesses necessary to support a fairly sizeable community. The old Castro Theater is the last of the 1920's single screen movie palaces left in the city. These days it tends to play classic movies, and I suspect whatever mainstream movie that appeals to the local gay community. It still has the old classic Pipe Organ used during the silent film era.
It is one of the best preserved communities in the city with streets lined with trees and rows of old refurbished and colorfully painted Victorian row houses. While the homes have small garages on the ground floor, it seems that everyone parks on both sides of the street. All the streets are lined with parked cars. (I noticed this all over the city).
We had a very nice lunch at a sidewalk cafe called the Cafe Flore'. I had a hamburger with fries, and Nancy had a veggie burger with a salad. Nancy said it was the best veggie burger she had ever had in her entire life! And that is saying something! A perfect place for lunch! We need to go back.
We drank a bottle of Pelligrino sparkling water and enjoyed the activity and swirl of people, trolleys, cars, and buses around the Plaza.
MUSEO DE CABLE CAR
It was after 1 pm, and the afternoon was still before us. I looked at the map and instead of a walk around the Mission district, I thought that a trip to the cable car museum near Nob Hill might be interesting. I was ever the tourist! Nancy was game so we walked out to the trolley stop and hopped on the "F" line trolley headed downtown. My thought was that we could hop on a cable car downtown to take us to the museum. Wouldn't that be cool. Well, we got down to the Market St cable car stop, and as usual there was a line of tourists a mile long waiting to get on. Nancy said it was only 5-6 blocks up the hill, and if we started walking maybe we could hop on the cable car at one of the other stops. So we started up the hill and at each stop along the way there was a group waiting to get on a car that was all ready full when it got there. We ended up climbing all the way up to the museum. I think we got there almost as fast as the car that left at the same time, and I know that walking was alot faster that waiting in that line. I think if we lived in the City we would be in very good physical condition!
The museum also was the maintenance and mechanical building that housed all the machinery that powered the cables that pulled the cars up all those hills. It was all open for viewing, and it was fascinating to see how the system worked with the two big electric motors turning the huge pulleys with the cables running through them. The exhibits showed the history of the system and there were many pictures of the city before and after the earthquake and fire of 1902. All the cable car and the buildings were destroyed or burned in the 1902 earthquake. While some of it was rebuilt after, most of the new system was converted to electric trolleys, which were much more efficient and easier to build. Only a couple of cable lines survived, and the original steam driven system was converted to electric power. The whole system was refurbished in the 1980's( at the cost of a zillion $ or so) and should now last another century as the only existing working cable car system in the world. The Cable Car Mechanical and Maintenace building was refurbished as well and the museum was much improved. The only existing original cable car is on exhibit in the museum. That car happened to be on exhibit in Baltimore at the time of the earthquake and escaped the destruction. Finding out how the cable system worked was very interesting, and educational too!
NANCY KNOWS EVERYBODY!!
As we exited the building and were standing on the corner consulting our map, we heard a voice yell, "Hey Nancy!" One of Nancy's friends from San Diego wheeled by in a VW with her husband at the wheel and another couple in the back seat and yelled out the window, "We just went to Alcatraz!", then whipped around the corner without even stopping. What are the odds of that! It is well known among all her friends that Nancy cannot go anywhere without bumping into someone she knows. The stories I could tell!
LA BACCA DE VINO
We walked up Nob Hill and were standing in front of the Fairmont Hotel when Nancy's cell phone rang. It was Sara (on Matt's cell), wondering where we were. They were done with the art exhibit at MOMA and since we were just a few blocks away they came and picked us up. They had not heard from Matt's college friend. So we decided to head back to the apartment, clean up a bit, and all go out for a nice dinner together. We looked in Nancy's dining guide and picked a nice place called Bacca over in the Castro district. I called for a reservation at 8 pm, and we all took a breather for an hour or so before going out for one last meal!
The designated driver was back in charge of our transportation, so we drove around looking for the restaurant and ended up in a neat little neighborhood in upscale Noe' Valley, just east of The Castro.. As usual, the designated driver drove around the side streets looking for the one open parking place and finally found success on a side street a couple of blocks from the restaurant. While we were walking around a bit, Matt's friend finally called him on his cell! Matt told him he was on his way to a big family dinner and would get back to him later! We got there right on time, were seated at a very good table, had two bottles of wine and some very good food, and some good conversation. Most of the time it was me against the rest of the table. I usually held my own by making sure everyone had a full wine glass at all times.! Even Matt had wine! It was our most expensive meal of the week--I put it on the credit card! So the bill will be out of sight for about a month!
Matt never did get back to his friend.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
San Francisco--Across the Golden Gate--Day 2
FARLEY'S
Friday was our second day all together in the City. Surprisingly, it was another bright, sunny morning in a city known for grey skies. I was first up and out, making my way up the street to Farley's for some of their nice strong coffee and a scone with lots of butter and jam. I was not the first customer that morning, and some other early riser had been nice enough to leave a copy of the day's Chronicle for me to read. ( I also left it in good condition, but with the crossword completed. I wonder how many readers it had during the day,and if they were disappointed that the crossword was completed!) In about 30 minutes Nancy joined me with her double cappachino and muffin, and preceded to write the latest thoughts of her adventure in her journal. Since I had allready consumed the paper, she mentioned that there was a row of journals on the adjacent shelf where guests could write comments or produce some art. I picked up a couple and paged through noting that most of the pages were filled with poorly done drawings, some comments, and some crayon work by children. There was an occasional page where visitors wrote some nice words about the heavy caffiene content of Farley's brews.
I found a reasonable looking journal with mostly blank pages and proceeded to create a three stanza poem describing the bright morning sun, the city as seen from the hill on which Farley's (and I) was perched, and my excitement and anticipation of the day before me! I signed it not so creatively as "A Visitor from San Diego". I'm sure that many who read it in the future will wonder why someone from "sunny" San Diego would come to San Francisco and write an ode about "sunny" San Francisco! San Francisco's mood is supposed to be cool, foggy, misty, wet, with umbrellas, raincoats, hats, and a muted romanticism personified by the towers of the Golden Gate probing above a fog bank rolling into the bay. I think that Nancy was probably disappointed with the weather while we were there, and would have much preferred the need for an umbrella at least part of the week!
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
We headed back to the apartment a bit after nine, and both Matt and Sara were almost up and ready to go. Sara wanted coffee, so it was back to Farley's for a quick stop. Our plan for the day was to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge (GGB) to Sausalito, get some takeout for lunch, and drive to Muir Woods to eat under the redwoods. Our designated driver loaded us up and headed across town towards the bridge. I had a map, and trying to be a good designated back seat driver, made some very excellent suggestions regarding what looked like the best route to take across town. My suggestion was quickly derided by the designated driver, who was fully supported by her mother, to whom I then gave the map! After driving wildly up and down hills in the general direction of the the other side of town, we soon were on Rte 101 north heading to the Presidio and the GGB. It now costs $5 to cross the bridge, but only when you are coming in from the north. Going out is a free ride. That's something to remember! On the north end of the bridge is a big parking area with great views of the bridge and the City across the bay. There were tour buses, lots of cars, and a pile of people walking around taking pictures of each other with digital cameras, so they could "spam" them to all their friends when they got home to prove they were actually there! The designated driver made me go back to the car to get my camera, and I joined the crowd. (Unfortunately, since I was the photographer during the whole trip, I have no pictures of myself to prove that I actually am writing this memoir from my own memories!)
We looked hard at the bridge for awhile, viewed the west side of Alcatraz, visited the very fine restrooms, and piled into the car to our next stop at Sausalito.
SAUSALITO AND MUIR WOODS/BEACH
It had been about 30 years since I had last been to Sausalito, and as we drove into town it was hard to remember what it had been like back then. My impression was that it had been a bit touristy, but still quaint and village-like, with a seaside beachy feel. The bay ferry makes a stop here, but I suppose today it mostly brings tourists or perhaps some boat owners who may have their private boat moored at the marina. It still has a village-like feel to it, but in 30 years the main street has become just an upscale tourist destination filled with shops selling art, trinkets, and things to eat. It is probably a nice ferry ride, but otherwise I didn't think it was worth a visit anymore. We did find a nice deli which had good sandwiches, and loaded up for our picnic stop at Muir Woods which was next on our intinerary.
Muir Woods is only a few miles west of Sausilito. It is probably the most visited redwood grove in the world, and is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. GGNRA is the largest urban National Park, emcompassing 76,500 acres. It includes Alcatraz Island, the Presidio, Cliff House, Ocean Beach, and Stinson Beach and more! As we cut inland off of 101, it became more mountainous and the road became more nauseous, weaving back and forth as it snaked into the back country. With the designated driver tailgating the row of cars in front of us, and taking the curves ala Mario Andretti, riding in the back seat provided good excercise for my abs, alternating tenseness and relaxation, tenseness and relaxation, as she wheeled and braked around the curves. Since I had earlier gave up giving guidance, I just endured!
As we approached Muir Woods we noted a sign stating that the first parking area was full--which I thought was odd for a Friday! I could not believe that the pile of people could extend so far out into the countryside. We passed a sign that said "Stinson Beach", and the designated driver said that she always wanted to go there. "That's where they have great white sharks!", she said.
So the decision was made to go onward and share our lunch with the great whites! In a mile or so I saw a sign that said "Muir Beach Overlook" and said "Turn in there". To my surprise the designated driver actually took my suggestion and whipped the wheel left up the entry road. We entered a parking lot high on the cliff overlooking the ocean, and I noticed a number of picnic tables. A perfect place for lunch! There was an outhouse, picnic tables, four old WWII gun and observation bunkers, a friendly local yellow lab, and a path out to a viewpoint overlooking a beach far below. The wind was blowing a bit, whitecaps were pitching over the bows of a few boats a mile or so off the coast, and the sun was sparkling off the spray whipped up by the wind. Best of all, there were only a few other people in sight! The sandwiches were to big to eat in one setting, but good. Matt ate all of his! The lab got all the scraps. (He roamed from table to table, laying underfoot looking for opportunities)
STINSON SHARKS!
Stinson Beach was another 5 or so miles down the road. It was a nice surprise! A quiet place this time of the year. Very out of the way, and yet a big, long beautiful beach that must be very crowded during the summer months. We stopped and walked a bit on the beach, and read the warning signs regarding the Great White (Someone was killed in 6 ft of water a couple of years ago). We shopped through the few funky stores in the little downtown area. There was a very nice art gallery filled with quilts and the work of local artists. Nancy got the lowdown on all the good quilters and quilt stores in the north bay area.
I was drawn to an old guy who had an small outdoor flea market--more like a garage sale. Next to his chair was a half empty bottle of bourbon that occassionaly fueled his sales pitch. I ended up buying a set of matching 1950's bedroom lamps with period shades for $10. (originally $20). I am a sucker for a deal! With all the shopping activity by Nancy and Sara, mine was the only purchase! Taking action is such a guy thing! So Stinson Beach was a worthy destination for a day trip out of the city!
CHINATOWN, MY CHINATOWN!
It all started in 1848 when two Chinese men and one women arrived in San Francisco on the American Brig, Eagle. Then in 49 there was the gold rush. and then the railroads..., and now San Francisco has the largest Chinatown outside of Asia.
Our plan for the evening was to eat in China Town and have an after dinner drink in North Beach. So we headed back to the GGB, paid our $5 toll coming in, and the designated driver barrelled over hill and dale to China Town, where we drove around looking for the one open parking space on the street. We finally gave up and when we saw a sign for a parking ramp, deciding that ten or so bucks for parking for the evening didn't seem so bad, considering the alternative of driving around for an hour. Plus, we were on vacation! It was in the budget!
We walked up and down and around China Town. Nancy and Sara shopped, and Matt wandered in and out of a few stores as well. Sara and Nancy each bought a silk billfold, and a couple of small silk coin purses. Matt was looking for something for his girlfriend--but didn't find anything worthy. I just stood around outside the stores fascinated by the variety of people moving up and down the street. Everyone who takes a trip to the west coast usually starts or ends in SF. And they all go to China Town. If one listens and observes, all languages sooner or later pass by on the street.
We had dinner at a well known "middle class" place on the fringe of China Town and North Beach called Lichee Garden on Powell St. Nancy found it in one of her dining out books. It was a very reasonable family style place filled with chinese families eating very large plates of all kinds of good chinese food, and drinking 7UP poured from 1.5 liter plastic bottles! We ordered a pot sticker, egg rolls, the highly recommended egg foo yung, sweet and sour pork, a beef dish, and chow mein with pan fried noodles. Nancy and I split a bottle of wine, and Matt and Sara had Chinese beer. How did I remember all that?It must have been memorable! It filled the table and us too!!Surprisingly, we managed to devour most all of it, although we did take home a couple of boxes of leftovers that we ended up leaving in a trash bag at the apartment! Even the fortune cookies were good, although the fortunes were pretty bland!
CITY LIGHTS
To walk it off, we hoofed it down a couple of blocks and spent some time at that famous bookstore, City Lights. It is right across the street from the Condor Club (I remember Carol Doda topless) in the heart of North Beach. I found a stool to sit on, and looked at a few left wing radical publications while the rest of the left wing radicals in the family wandered about looking for something to sooth their literary souls.
North Beach is a great place to walk at night just because of all the action. Lots of cafes and night spots, and of course, lots of people. But it is not just tourists--many locals as well! It's a date place! We stopped at a cafe, got a table at a window, and I had a double expresso which should have kept me awake all night, but didn't.
So day 2 covered alot of territory, from Stinson Beach to North Beach! Give me some rest!
Friday was our second day all together in the City. Surprisingly, it was another bright, sunny morning in a city known for grey skies. I was first up and out, making my way up the street to Farley's for some of their nice strong coffee and a scone with lots of butter and jam. I was not the first customer that morning, and some other early riser had been nice enough to leave a copy of the day's Chronicle for me to read. ( I also left it in good condition, but with the crossword completed. I wonder how many readers it had during the day,and if they were disappointed that the crossword was completed!) In about 30 minutes Nancy joined me with her double cappachino and muffin, and preceded to write the latest thoughts of her adventure in her journal. Since I had allready consumed the paper, she mentioned that there was a row of journals on the adjacent shelf where guests could write comments or produce some art. I picked up a couple and paged through noting that most of the pages were filled with poorly done drawings, some comments, and some crayon work by children. There was an occasional page where visitors wrote some nice words about the heavy caffiene content of Farley's brews.
I found a reasonable looking journal with mostly blank pages and proceeded to create a three stanza poem describing the bright morning sun, the city as seen from the hill on which Farley's (and I) was perched, and my excitement and anticipation of the day before me! I signed it not so creatively as "A Visitor from San Diego". I'm sure that many who read it in the future will wonder why someone from "sunny" San Diego would come to San Francisco and write an ode about "sunny" San Francisco! San Francisco's mood is supposed to be cool, foggy, misty, wet, with umbrellas, raincoats, hats, and a muted romanticism personified by the towers of the Golden Gate probing above a fog bank rolling into the bay. I think that Nancy was probably disappointed with the weather while we were there, and would have much preferred the need for an umbrella at least part of the week!
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
We headed back to the apartment a bit after nine, and both Matt and Sara were almost up and ready to go. Sara wanted coffee, so it was back to Farley's for a quick stop. Our plan for the day was to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge (GGB) to Sausalito, get some takeout for lunch, and drive to Muir Woods to eat under the redwoods. Our designated driver loaded us up and headed across town towards the bridge. I had a map, and trying to be a good designated back seat driver, made some very excellent suggestions regarding what looked like the best route to take across town. My suggestion was quickly derided by the designated driver, who was fully supported by her mother, to whom I then gave the map! After driving wildly up and down hills in the general direction of the the other side of town, we soon were on Rte 101 north heading to the Presidio and the GGB. It now costs $5 to cross the bridge, but only when you are coming in from the north. Going out is a free ride. That's something to remember! On the north end of the bridge is a big parking area with great views of the bridge and the City across the bay. There were tour buses, lots of cars, and a pile of people walking around taking pictures of each other with digital cameras, so they could "spam" them to all their friends when they got home to prove they were actually there! The designated driver made me go back to the car to get my camera, and I joined the crowd. (Unfortunately, since I was the photographer during the whole trip, I have no pictures of myself to prove that I actually am writing this memoir from my own memories!)
We looked hard at the bridge for awhile, viewed the west side of Alcatraz, visited the very fine restrooms, and piled into the car to our next stop at Sausalito.
SAUSALITO AND MUIR WOODS/BEACH
It had been about 30 years since I had last been to Sausalito, and as we drove into town it was hard to remember what it had been like back then. My impression was that it had been a bit touristy, but still quaint and village-like, with a seaside beachy feel. The bay ferry makes a stop here, but I suppose today it mostly brings tourists or perhaps some boat owners who may have their private boat moored at the marina. It still has a village-like feel to it, but in 30 years the main street has become just an upscale tourist destination filled with shops selling art, trinkets, and things to eat. It is probably a nice ferry ride, but otherwise I didn't think it was worth a visit anymore. We did find a nice deli which had good sandwiches, and loaded up for our picnic stop at Muir Woods which was next on our intinerary.
Muir Woods is only a few miles west of Sausilito. It is probably the most visited redwood grove in the world, and is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. GGNRA is the largest urban National Park, emcompassing 76,500 acres. It includes Alcatraz Island, the Presidio, Cliff House, Ocean Beach, and Stinson Beach and more! As we cut inland off of 101, it became more mountainous and the road became more nauseous, weaving back and forth as it snaked into the back country. With the designated driver tailgating the row of cars in front of us, and taking the curves ala Mario Andretti, riding in the back seat provided good excercise for my abs, alternating tenseness and relaxation, tenseness and relaxation, as she wheeled and braked around the curves. Since I had earlier gave up giving guidance, I just endured!
As we approached Muir Woods we noted a sign stating that the first parking area was full--which I thought was odd for a Friday! I could not believe that the pile of people could extend so far out into the countryside. We passed a sign that said "Stinson Beach", and the designated driver said that she always wanted to go there. "That's where they have great white sharks!", she said.
So the decision was made to go onward and share our lunch with the great whites! In a mile or so I saw a sign that said "Muir Beach Overlook" and said "Turn in there". To my surprise the designated driver actually took my suggestion and whipped the wheel left up the entry road. We entered a parking lot high on the cliff overlooking the ocean, and I noticed a number of picnic tables. A perfect place for lunch! There was an outhouse, picnic tables, four old WWII gun and observation bunkers, a friendly local yellow lab, and a path out to a viewpoint overlooking a beach far below. The wind was blowing a bit, whitecaps were pitching over the bows of a few boats a mile or so off the coast, and the sun was sparkling off the spray whipped up by the wind. Best of all, there were only a few other people in sight! The sandwiches were to big to eat in one setting, but good. Matt ate all of his! The lab got all the scraps. (He roamed from table to table, laying underfoot looking for opportunities)
STINSON SHARKS!
Stinson Beach was another 5 or so miles down the road. It was a nice surprise! A quiet place this time of the year. Very out of the way, and yet a big, long beautiful beach that must be very crowded during the summer months. We stopped and walked a bit on the beach, and read the warning signs regarding the Great White (Someone was killed in 6 ft of water a couple of years ago). We shopped through the few funky stores in the little downtown area. There was a very nice art gallery filled with quilts and the work of local artists. Nancy got the lowdown on all the good quilters and quilt stores in the north bay area.
I was drawn to an old guy who had an small outdoor flea market--more like a garage sale. Next to his chair was a half empty bottle of bourbon that occassionaly fueled his sales pitch. I ended up buying a set of matching 1950's bedroom lamps with period shades for $10. (originally $20). I am a sucker for a deal! With all the shopping activity by Nancy and Sara, mine was the only purchase! Taking action is such a guy thing! So Stinson Beach was a worthy destination for a day trip out of the city!
CHINATOWN, MY CHINATOWN!
It all started in 1848 when two Chinese men and one women arrived in San Francisco on the American Brig, Eagle. Then in 49 there was the gold rush. and then the railroads..., and now San Francisco has the largest Chinatown outside of Asia.
Our plan for the evening was to eat in China Town and have an after dinner drink in North Beach. So we headed back to the GGB, paid our $5 toll coming in, and the designated driver barrelled over hill and dale to China Town, where we drove around looking for the one open parking space on the street. We finally gave up and when we saw a sign for a parking ramp, deciding that ten or so bucks for parking for the evening didn't seem so bad, considering the alternative of driving around for an hour. Plus, we were on vacation! It was in the budget!
We walked up and down and around China Town. Nancy and Sara shopped, and Matt wandered in and out of a few stores as well. Sara and Nancy each bought a silk billfold, and a couple of small silk coin purses. Matt was looking for something for his girlfriend--but didn't find anything worthy. I just stood around outside the stores fascinated by the variety of people moving up and down the street. Everyone who takes a trip to the west coast usually starts or ends in SF. And they all go to China Town. If one listens and observes, all languages sooner or later pass by on the street.
We had dinner at a well known "middle class" place on the fringe of China Town and North Beach called Lichee Garden on Powell St. Nancy found it in one of her dining out books. It was a very reasonable family style place filled with chinese families eating very large plates of all kinds of good chinese food, and drinking 7UP poured from 1.5 liter plastic bottles! We ordered a pot sticker, egg rolls, the highly recommended egg foo yung, sweet and sour pork, a beef dish, and chow mein with pan fried noodles. Nancy and I split a bottle of wine, and Matt and Sara had Chinese beer. How did I remember all that?It must have been memorable! It filled the table and us too!!Surprisingly, we managed to devour most all of it, although we did take home a couple of boxes of leftovers that we ended up leaving in a trash bag at the apartment! Even the fortune cookies were good, although the fortunes were pretty bland!
CITY LIGHTS
To walk it off, we hoofed it down a couple of blocks and spent some time at that famous bookstore, City Lights. It is right across the street from the Condor Club (I remember Carol Doda topless) in the heart of North Beach. I found a stool to sit on, and looked at a few left wing radical publications while the rest of the left wing radicals in the family wandered about looking for something to sooth their literary souls.
North Beach is a great place to walk at night just because of all the action. Lots of cafes and night spots, and of course, lots of people. But it is not just tourists--many locals as well! It's a date place! We stopped at a cafe, got a table at a window, and I had a double expresso which should have kept me awake all night, but didn't.
So day 2 covered alot of territory, from Stinson Beach to North Beach! Give me some rest!
Monday, September 20, 2004
San Francisco--"A Pile of People"--Day 1.
ARRIVAL
My wife, Nancy, decided that we should have a family meeting in San Francisco for a week.
Her roots go back to the early days of San Francisco and she has a sense of homecoming" every time she visits. It has been probably 20+ years since our last visit, and she wanted to take Sara and Matt and have us all spend some time together discovering her history. She got on the computer one day with a credit card in hand, made airline reservations, and a phone call setting up a weekly rental, and announced to everyone that they should block off the week on their calendars! And that was that!
So she flew up on a Monday. Sara lives in Santa Cruz and was going to pick her up and the two of them were to spend three days together doing girlie things before Matt and I arrived on Thursday. Nancy's plane arrived Monday at about 10:20. At 11:30 I got a call on my cell phone from Sara wondering whether Nancy had made her flight, because she had been driving around the airport for an hour and had not seen her. I called Nancy on her cell phone. She had been waiting outside patiently at the curb for over an hour on the upper level. Sara had been driving around and around the lower level. They finally did get together!
Aren't cell phones handy sometimes! (Sara is Santa Cruz "organic" and doesn't want a cell phone)
When Matt and I arrived on Thursday, I called Nancy cell to cell, and they were just a minute away from picking us up, on the lower arrival level! Experience is a great teacher!
DIGS!
Nancy had a friend who knew someone in SF who rented out an apartment in her home on a weekly basis to "select" recommended people--and I guess we all passed muster. It was located in the Potrero district which is directly south of downtown a few miles and east of the Castro and Mission districts. It is a quiet neighborhood with great views of the downtown skyline. It is also the home of the Anchor Brewing Company, and is the neighboorhood where O. J. Simpson grew up. There is still a mural of him on a wall in the local recreation center. Better still, it had a great coffee house called "Farley's" just a couple blocks from us. During the week it opened at 6 am, and since I generally get up early, I was often one of their first customers. With the exception of Matt who is not a coffee person, we all made it our daily launch pad!
TOURING WITH THE TOURIST "PILE"
We picked up some sandwiches at a local deli, and had a pleasant lunch in the back garden at the apartment and planned our adventure for our first afternoon together in the City. I was ready to do touristy things, especially since Matt had never been to the City before and needed to see the sights.
Since Sara had a car, she was the "designated" driver. I thought to be the "designated" backseat driver, although every time I made a comment I was yelled at and beat down! Sara had been to the City a number of times during the last few years and knew her way around reasonably well. She fit right into the city driving milieu; she complained about everyone who stopped or cut her off, and usually was fully supported by her mother who had a tendancy to flip them off as we drove by! We drove downtown, parked in a parking structure, and headed out to Union Square to buy a 3 day MUNI pass. We figured we then could use public transportation most of the time and ride the cable cars as much as we wanted. (Cable Car fare is $3, everything else about half that!). I thought the tourist season would be winding down and that mid-week would be somewhat quiet! But there was a pile of people in town. There was an outdoor art show in Union Square. On Thursday! Of course the lines were so long to get on one of the cable cars, that we decided we could probably walk to where we were going before we would even get on one! Buses and the electric trollies proved to be a lot easier to use and were really the best way to get around, although not so "romantic". We played tourist and spent most of the day on the embarcadero, walked Pier 39 with the pile of people, saw all the sea lions laying about, gawked at the horde of tourists taking pictures and buying trinkets and stuff, went to Fisherman's Wharf, visited the amusement "museum", and looked at the old WWII submarine. Matt and Sara wanted to go see the Ripley's Believe it or Not exhibit, so for an hour, Nancy and I walked over to Ghiradelli Square and had an ice cream and sat on a bench!! Matt and Sara thought that Ripley's was really "cool" and well worth the 12 buck admission! I guess the oddities must have been odious enough to entertain and "gross out" the younger generation! By the time one hits 60 or so, nothing much is odd anymore!
THE BUENA VISTA!
We all walked up to the Buena Vista "Saloon" where Sara and Nancy attacked some "Cosmos" and Matt and I each had a Sierra Gold Ale. (nice and hoppy) We looked out the window at the Cable Car turnaround station and watched the mass of people lined up to take the ride up Nob Hill, back down to China Town and finally to the Market Street stop. It reminded me of the most popular "E" ride ticket at Disneyland on their busiest day of the year! I knew we had to ride the Cable Car at least once for Matt since he had never been on one, but did not look forward to standing in line for an hour or so to do it! Maybe later at night would be better. The cars ran till 10 pm. We walked back down to the embarcadero and caught a trolley down to pier 23.
PIER 23
At pier 23 there is a very old hangout called "Pier 23" which Sara knew from a prior trip that was a very popular bayside eating and drinking joint with the locals. It was very casual, and relatively inexpensive. The menu showed basic seafood, hamburgers/sandwiches, some live music, and what seemed like a younger downtown crowd. I thought it was perfect! We sat outside with a great bay view, had a beer, fish and chips, ahhh! Dinner for 4 with drinks and tip was about 60-70 bucks!! And that included salad and a big plate of calimari! My kind of place!
COIT TOWER
Right above pier 23 to the west is Coit Tower. That was another must see, and Sara said she knew about some "secret" stairs just a block or so away that went all the way up the hill. My thought, as I looked up at what seemed to me a rival of the Mattehorn, was no way! Couldn't we just go back and get the car and drive up there? No one was going along with that! So we were off on our adventure! And indeed, there appeared to be steps leading upward at the end of a small street . So up we started. I wondered aloud if I would make it with my "heart condition". I was reproached with some disdainful stares! I climbed! There were homes built into the "cliff" on our way up, and it seemed to me that many of them had no other access other than the stairs we were climbing. I envisioned people hauling up bags of groceries and gasping as they climbed to altitude.
About halfway up, there was a road cut into the side of the hill which provided access to some of the homes, and to a fancy restaurant called "Julius' Castle", which was a converted mansion perched on the edge of the cliff. The views were spectacular, at least 180 degrees all across the bay. There was valet parking, and some cars parked near the "castle" with a couple of valets hanging loosely about. I walked over and checked the menu posted outside the entrance. . It looked pretty upscale, $$$$. Maybe it would be suitable for just a special occassion sometime! Onward up the next section of steps, and by some more homes until the top was reached and spilled us out onto the parking lot of the Coit Tower. The climb felt like a great accomplishment!!
The tower was originally built as a signal tower. It is 210 ft high and is on Telegraph Hill near the bay (alt. 274 ft). A donation of $100000 was made by Lillie Hitchcock Coit to build the tower back in 1933. She had been rescued as a young girl by the fire department and dedicated the tower in honor of the City firefighters. A couple years after it was built a project was commissioned to cover the inside walls of the lower level of the tower with painted murals. They are in a herioc style, have been well preserved, and represent the work and activity of the residents of the area. For a small fee we all hopped on the elevator for a ride to the top observation deck. The Chinese elevator operator/guide gave us a short talk about the tower on the way up-most of which I couldn't understand. I gave him a buck anyway on the way down! It was the sunset of a bright clear day, and not only did we see the sun go down, we saw all the lights of the city and the bridges sparkle as night settled in. It was the best and most beautiful time of day to visit.
Going down the steps was alot easier, although it was dark and not well lighted in some areas. Just as I was saying that everyone should be careful and hang on to the rail, Nancy actually slipped on a step and took a tumble against the rail and hit her back on it. She had to stop and sit for a moment! It was a sore spot for a week! But we made it the rest of the way safely and now know a "secret stair" spot in San Francisco that is probably not known to many "tourists".
MATT'S CABLE CAR
We still had to get Matt on a Cable Car. We caught a trolley back to Fisherman's wharf and walked up to the Cable Car turnaround . It was about 8:30 pm. There was still a fairly long line waiting, but it was only about a third as long as what we saw in the late afternoon. It looked to be about a 45 min line. While we waited we were serenaded by a old grizzled, bearded banjo player who looked to be a regular at this location. He had a big pile of quarters in the banjo case sitting out front of his stool. He obviously was doing well financially! With the pile of people passing by him in line every day, I thought that he probably made enough picking his banjo to live in one of the local high rise penthouse apartments in the area.
We finally got on a Cable Car. All four of us had to hang on to a bar and stand on the outside "running board". I think Matt thought that was cool. (I did too!) Our operator did lots of "ding-dings" on his bell, and had some humerous remarks here and there as he pulled on the levers, alternately braking and grabbing the cable to make it stop and go! Yes, it was just like an "E" ride at Disneyland.
When we got down to the end of the line at Market Street, there was a pile of people waiting to hang on all the way back to the other end!
Our first day in the City--we had a great time just being part of the "pile"!
My wife, Nancy, decided that we should have a family meeting in San Francisco for a week.
Her roots go back to the early days of San Francisco and she has a sense of homecoming" every time she visits. It has been probably 20+ years since our last visit, and she wanted to take Sara and Matt and have us all spend some time together discovering her history. She got on the computer one day with a credit card in hand, made airline reservations, and a phone call setting up a weekly rental, and announced to everyone that they should block off the week on their calendars! And that was that!
So she flew up on a Monday. Sara lives in Santa Cruz and was going to pick her up and the two of them were to spend three days together doing girlie things before Matt and I arrived on Thursday. Nancy's plane arrived Monday at about 10:20. At 11:30 I got a call on my cell phone from Sara wondering whether Nancy had made her flight, because she had been driving around the airport for an hour and had not seen her. I called Nancy on her cell phone. She had been waiting outside patiently at the curb for over an hour on the upper level. Sara had been driving around and around the lower level. They finally did get together!
Aren't cell phones handy sometimes! (Sara is Santa Cruz "organic" and doesn't want a cell phone)
When Matt and I arrived on Thursday, I called Nancy cell to cell, and they were just a minute away from picking us up, on the lower arrival level! Experience is a great teacher!
DIGS!
Nancy had a friend who knew someone in SF who rented out an apartment in her home on a weekly basis to "select" recommended people--and I guess we all passed muster. It was located in the Potrero district which is directly south of downtown a few miles and east of the Castro and Mission districts. It is a quiet neighborhood with great views of the downtown skyline. It is also the home of the Anchor Brewing Company, and is the neighboorhood where O. J. Simpson grew up. There is still a mural of him on a wall in the local recreation center. Better still, it had a great coffee house called "Farley's" just a couple blocks from us. During the week it opened at 6 am, and since I generally get up early, I was often one of their first customers. With the exception of Matt who is not a coffee person, we all made it our daily launch pad!
TOURING WITH THE TOURIST "PILE"
We picked up some sandwiches at a local deli, and had a pleasant lunch in the back garden at the apartment and planned our adventure for our first afternoon together in the City. I was ready to do touristy things, especially since Matt had never been to the City before and needed to see the sights.
Since Sara had a car, she was the "designated" driver. I thought to be the "designated" backseat driver, although every time I made a comment I was yelled at and beat down! Sara had been to the City a number of times during the last few years and knew her way around reasonably well. She fit right into the city driving milieu; she complained about everyone who stopped or cut her off, and usually was fully supported by her mother who had a tendancy to flip them off as we drove by! We drove downtown, parked in a parking structure, and headed out to Union Square to buy a 3 day MUNI pass. We figured we then could use public transportation most of the time and ride the cable cars as much as we wanted. (Cable Car fare is $3, everything else about half that!). I thought the tourist season would be winding down and that mid-week would be somewhat quiet! But there was a pile of people in town. There was an outdoor art show in Union Square. On Thursday! Of course the lines were so long to get on one of the cable cars, that we decided we could probably walk to where we were going before we would even get on one! Buses and the electric trollies proved to be a lot easier to use and were really the best way to get around, although not so "romantic". We played tourist and spent most of the day on the embarcadero, walked Pier 39 with the pile of people, saw all the sea lions laying about, gawked at the horde of tourists taking pictures and buying trinkets and stuff, went to Fisherman's Wharf, visited the amusement "museum", and looked at the old WWII submarine. Matt and Sara wanted to go see the Ripley's Believe it or Not exhibit, so for an hour, Nancy and I walked over to Ghiradelli Square and had an ice cream and sat on a bench!! Matt and Sara thought that Ripley's was really "cool" and well worth the 12 buck admission! I guess the oddities must have been odious enough to entertain and "gross out" the younger generation! By the time one hits 60 or so, nothing much is odd anymore!
THE BUENA VISTA!
We all walked up to the Buena Vista "Saloon" where Sara and Nancy attacked some "Cosmos" and Matt and I each had a Sierra Gold Ale. (nice and hoppy) We looked out the window at the Cable Car turnaround station and watched the mass of people lined up to take the ride up Nob Hill, back down to China Town and finally to the Market Street stop. It reminded me of the most popular "E" ride ticket at Disneyland on their busiest day of the year! I knew we had to ride the Cable Car at least once for Matt since he had never been on one, but did not look forward to standing in line for an hour or so to do it! Maybe later at night would be better. The cars ran till 10 pm. We walked back down to the embarcadero and caught a trolley down to pier 23.
PIER 23
At pier 23 there is a very old hangout called "Pier 23" which Sara knew from a prior trip that was a very popular bayside eating and drinking joint with the locals. It was very casual, and relatively inexpensive. The menu showed basic seafood, hamburgers/sandwiches, some live music, and what seemed like a younger downtown crowd. I thought it was perfect! We sat outside with a great bay view, had a beer, fish and chips, ahhh! Dinner for 4 with drinks and tip was about 60-70 bucks!! And that included salad and a big plate of calimari! My kind of place!
COIT TOWER
Right above pier 23 to the west is Coit Tower. That was another must see, and Sara said she knew about some "secret" stairs just a block or so away that went all the way up the hill. My thought, as I looked up at what seemed to me a rival of the Mattehorn, was no way! Couldn't we just go back and get the car and drive up there? No one was going along with that! So we were off on our adventure! And indeed, there appeared to be steps leading upward at the end of a small street . So up we started. I wondered aloud if I would make it with my "heart condition". I was reproached with some disdainful stares! I climbed! There were homes built into the "cliff" on our way up, and it seemed to me that many of them had no other access other than the stairs we were climbing. I envisioned people hauling up bags of groceries and gasping as they climbed to altitude.
About halfway up, there was a road cut into the side of the hill which provided access to some of the homes, and to a fancy restaurant called "Julius' Castle", which was a converted mansion perched on the edge of the cliff. The views were spectacular, at least 180 degrees all across the bay. There was valet parking, and some cars parked near the "castle" with a couple of valets hanging loosely about. I walked over and checked the menu posted outside the entrance. . It looked pretty upscale, $$$$. Maybe it would be suitable for just a special occassion sometime! Onward up the next section of steps, and by some more homes until the top was reached and spilled us out onto the parking lot of the Coit Tower. The climb felt like a great accomplishment!!
The tower was originally built as a signal tower. It is 210 ft high and is on Telegraph Hill near the bay (alt. 274 ft). A donation of $100000 was made by Lillie Hitchcock Coit to build the tower back in 1933. She had been rescued as a young girl by the fire department and dedicated the tower in honor of the City firefighters. A couple years after it was built a project was commissioned to cover the inside walls of the lower level of the tower with painted murals. They are in a herioc style, have been well preserved, and represent the work and activity of the residents of the area. For a small fee we all hopped on the elevator for a ride to the top observation deck. The Chinese elevator operator/guide gave us a short talk about the tower on the way up-most of which I couldn't understand. I gave him a buck anyway on the way down! It was the sunset of a bright clear day, and not only did we see the sun go down, we saw all the lights of the city and the bridges sparkle as night settled in. It was the best and most beautiful time of day to visit.
Going down the steps was alot easier, although it was dark and not well lighted in some areas. Just as I was saying that everyone should be careful and hang on to the rail, Nancy actually slipped on a step and took a tumble against the rail and hit her back on it. She had to stop and sit for a moment! It was a sore spot for a week! But we made it the rest of the way safely and now know a "secret stair" spot in San Francisco that is probably not known to many "tourists".
MATT'S CABLE CAR
We still had to get Matt on a Cable Car. We caught a trolley back to Fisherman's wharf and walked up to the Cable Car turnaround . It was about 8:30 pm. There was still a fairly long line waiting, but it was only about a third as long as what we saw in the late afternoon. It looked to be about a 45 min line. While we waited we were serenaded by a old grizzled, bearded banjo player who looked to be a regular at this location. He had a big pile of quarters in the banjo case sitting out front of his stool. He obviously was doing well financially! With the pile of people passing by him in line every day, I thought that he probably made enough picking his banjo to live in one of the local high rise penthouse apartments in the area.
We finally got on a Cable Car. All four of us had to hang on to a bar and stand on the outside "running board". I think Matt thought that was cool. (I did too!) Our operator did lots of "ding-dings" on his bell, and had some humerous remarks here and there as he pulled on the levers, alternately braking and grabbing the cable to make it stop and go! Yes, it was just like an "E" ride at Disneyland.
When we got down to the end of the line at Market Street, there was a pile of people waiting to hang on all the way back to the other end!
Our first day in the City--we had a great time just being part of the "pile"!
Friday, September 10, 2004
At Play in the Sun
We're having a heat wave! Some times it almost gets tropical in San Diego. There has been a big high pressure area sitting over Southen California this week pushing temps up and almost breaking records in some areas. It's been in the high 80's in some places along the beach which has really brought out the sun worshipers. Of course it drops to a manageable 62-65 at night in the beach area--so it's not intolerable like I am sure it is further inland. It's a reminder that Socal is pretty much a semi arid desert climate. San Diego only averages about 9 inches of rain each year, and during the last 4-5 years has recieived on average only about half that. We are actually in a drought of sorts and many of the reseuvoirs are at very low capacities. So we drag more water from up north and from the Colorado to water the lawns and wash the cars!
I am now playing golf early Wed morns with the men's club I belong to! This week we had a four man scramble tournement with each team composed of an A,B,C,& D level player (A being best) In our group I was the "B". (My handicap index is 13.2 at the moment and trending down towards my goal of a single digit! then perhaps I will be an "A"). Unfortunately our "A" player didn't show up! That put our team at a big disadvantage in a scramble format. In a scramble, all four hit a shot, then you pick the best result, and everyone hits from that location, etc. So, e.g., if one of the team hits it on the green 6 ft from the hole, everyone gets to putt from that location. There are four chances to make the putt. The team posts just one score! Ya gotta figure that with a good "A" player hitting a lot of good shots, scores are going to be low--maybe the winner will be 13-15 under par with handicap. Most of 4-man teams had a 3.5 handicap, and because we were playing without our "A" player we got 5.5.
I hit some great drives on the right holes putting us in good position to get on the green. Our "D" player made some good putts, and we ended up with no bogeys, and 6 birdies. Add our handicap strokes and we ended up the winners! It was 50 bucks apiece! Could have knocked me over with a sand wedge!
It was so much fun that the next day I went out on a half day boat out of Oceanside harbor to see if my luck would hold and would fill my bag with some Calico or Sand Bass, or maybe a yellowtail.
Every time I go fishing on the Thursday P.M. boat, I always manage to meet up with a couple of old fishermen who are weekly regulars. This week it was Mike who was 80--and a retired civil engineer. So I leared a bit about engineering. I also met Kay, who I remembered from the last time I went a few weeks ago. She was probably in her late 60's, 5 ft tall with a spining outfit bigger that she was. Mike and Kay knew each other--of course--since they usually came the same day of the week. Mike said Kay kept busy either fishing, or pulling the slots at the Indian casinos around San Diego. I kidded Kay that she was helping to buy all the Indians a Mercedes.
Of course, Kay outfished us both! The fishing was pretty slow. I caught only one Calico Bass, and a small White Sea bass which had to be released. Mike caught and released a couple small White Sea bass , and Kay caught 3 nice Calicos. I gave my bass to Mike for his dinner!
But it was a nice day on the water. I did see a guy in a private boat near us land a 20lb yellowtail. He chased it all around us to land it with his small boat. There were 18 on our boat--and I think the jackpot fish was about a 3 lb sand bass. The only excitement was when a guy next to me caught an eel about 3 ft long, and the deck hand really didn't know how to handle it. He was pushing it around with a net and didn't want to handle it because it was ugly and someone said he could get "shocked" to death! I don't think most eels are "electric" It was the first eel I ever saw caught on a fishing boat--so who knows--kind of funny though! He finally pushed it off the deck through a scupper slot. Only thing I didn't like about it was that he cut the leader above the sinker and left the hook and sinker in the eel, which probably doomed the eel! A hook will usually rust out in a few days, but I hate to think that the poor eel would be sitting on the bottom "tethered" to that sinker wondering whether he was ever going to escape his ball and chain.
Ah well! Guess I am just a bleeding heart, even for ugly creatures!
I am now playing golf early Wed morns with the men's club I belong to! This week we had a four man scramble tournement with each team composed of an A,B,C,& D level player (A being best) In our group I was the "B". (My handicap index is 13.2 at the moment and trending down towards my goal of a single digit! then perhaps I will be an "A"). Unfortunately our "A" player didn't show up! That put our team at a big disadvantage in a scramble format. In a scramble, all four hit a shot, then you pick the best result, and everyone hits from that location, etc. So, e.g., if one of the team hits it on the green 6 ft from the hole, everyone gets to putt from that location. There are four chances to make the putt. The team posts just one score! Ya gotta figure that with a good "A" player hitting a lot of good shots, scores are going to be low--maybe the winner will be 13-15 under par with handicap. Most of 4-man teams had a 3.5 handicap, and because we were playing without our "A" player we got 5.5.
I hit some great drives on the right holes putting us in good position to get on the green. Our "D" player made some good putts, and we ended up with no bogeys, and 6 birdies. Add our handicap strokes and we ended up the winners! It was 50 bucks apiece! Could have knocked me over with a sand wedge!
It was so much fun that the next day I went out on a half day boat out of Oceanside harbor to see if my luck would hold and would fill my bag with some Calico or Sand Bass, or maybe a yellowtail.
Every time I go fishing on the Thursday P.M. boat, I always manage to meet up with a couple of old fishermen who are weekly regulars. This week it was Mike who was 80--and a retired civil engineer. So I leared a bit about engineering. I also met Kay, who I remembered from the last time I went a few weeks ago. She was probably in her late 60's, 5 ft tall with a spining outfit bigger that she was. Mike and Kay knew each other--of course--since they usually came the same day of the week. Mike said Kay kept busy either fishing, or pulling the slots at the Indian casinos around San Diego. I kidded Kay that she was helping to buy all the Indians a Mercedes.
Of course, Kay outfished us both! The fishing was pretty slow. I caught only one Calico Bass, and a small White Sea bass which had to be released. Mike caught and released a couple small White Sea bass , and Kay caught 3 nice Calicos. I gave my bass to Mike for his dinner!
But it was a nice day on the water. I did see a guy in a private boat near us land a 20lb yellowtail. He chased it all around us to land it with his small boat. There were 18 on our boat--and I think the jackpot fish was about a 3 lb sand bass. The only excitement was when a guy next to me caught an eel about 3 ft long, and the deck hand really didn't know how to handle it. He was pushing it around with a net and didn't want to handle it because it was ugly and someone said he could get "shocked" to death! I don't think most eels are "electric" It was the first eel I ever saw caught on a fishing boat--so who knows--kind of funny though! He finally pushed it off the deck through a scupper slot. Only thing I didn't like about it was that he cut the leader above the sinker and left the hook and sinker in the eel, which probably doomed the eel! A hook will usually rust out in a few days, but I hate to think that the poor eel would be sitting on the bottom "tethered" to that sinker wondering whether he was ever going to escape his ball and chain.
Ah well! Guess I am just a bleeding heart, even for ugly creatures!
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
The Poem Unwritten--a poem
"The Poem Unwritten"
It's sometimes hard,
To think in Rhyme,
And write the words,
That beat the tyme,
Of poetry.
Those moments that,
The pen won't flow,
The eyes just stare,
The mind is slow,
Awandering.
To grope the muse,
And shake and moan,
One might as well,
Just leave the poem,
Unwritten!
By Mark Worden
2003
It's sometimes hard,
To think in Rhyme,
And write the words,
That beat the tyme,
Of poetry.
Those moments that,
The pen won't flow,
The eyes just stare,
The mind is slow,
Awandering.
To grope the muse,
And shake and moan,
One might as well,
Just leave the poem,
Unwritten!
By Mark Worden
2003
Bubbles--a poem
"Bubbles"
Bubbles come from everywhere,
Lightly float up in the air,
Soar like Monarch Butterflies,
Gentle wings upon the skies.
Bubbles fly up to the moon,
Orbit round, and then to soon,
Float of to race,
Far off in space.
Bubbles fall down to the Earth,
And with decent, a cause of mirth,
They tickle worst,
Just when they burst!
Bubbles are a gift of joy,
Are blown by every little boy,
With soap and water and a ring,
A small soft breath exhaling.
Bubbles can be used to dance,
Champange music, in a trance,
Glitter off of candlelight,
Light the music of the night.
Bubbles seem to be the cause,
To brighten eyes, and give one pause,
To feel how great that life can be,
So long as bubbles float up free.
By Mark Worden
2002
Bubbles come from everywhere,
Lightly float up in the air,
Soar like Monarch Butterflies,
Gentle wings upon the skies.
Bubbles fly up to the moon,
Orbit round, and then to soon,
Float of to race,
Far off in space.
Bubbles fall down to the Earth,
And with decent, a cause of mirth,
They tickle worst,
Just when they burst!
Bubbles are a gift of joy,
Are blown by every little boy,
With soap and water and a ring,
A small soft breath exhaling.
Bubbles can be used to dance,
Champange music, in a trance,
Glitter off of candlelight,
Light the music of the night.
Bubbles seem to be the cause,
To brighten eyes, and give one pause,
To feel how great that life can be,
So long as bubbles float up free.
By Mark Worden
2002
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Weekend Update
Was this a busy weekend? Here it is, Sunday night and I am not sure that I really accomplished much. I did fix the water lines to the icemaker and the water in the door this week. The ice maker line was easy. It was a standard 1/4 " plastic line and the Home Depot had the line and the parts it took to "splice" it. The water line was 5/16" and I had to chase all over town to find it. So what should have been one trip to the store and about 20 minutes on the "job, took a couple of days of fooling around. Must have pulled that refrigerator away from the wall about 5 times over the 3 days I fooled around with it! Every little job is a learning experience. Seems I am into plumbing lately. Last weekend I changed out our 3 toilets to low flush, and replaced the bases on all our bathroom faucets, since they were all corroded due to the wonderful water we have here. Isn't that interesting!!!
I decided that the old Gateway computer we had just was not cutting it. It is a sad state of affairs when the computer that Nancy and I have is about 6 or 7 yrs old and our son Matt has a newer high powered desktop as well as a newer laptop his friends gave him for his birthday this year. Nice bunch of friends huh! So last week I went out to Fry's and bought a "new" refubished Compact desktop that he tells me is a lot better than his. I feel much better now. It is the dream of every male to have something bigger and better than the next guy, and certainly that goes for fathers and sons! In retailiation, he went out this weekend and bought a $600 surround sound stereo system for his 32" TV that he has in his room upstairs. I bought him that TV last year for Xmas since his old 25" inch hand me down finally had finally flickered out! (It was on sale at Best Buy Cheap!) So now he not only has a bigger TV upstairs than we have downstairs, but it also has a sub woofer that will rattle the walls! I think the only way I will be back in the primo position in this house in regards to such things is when he leaves next year to transfer to a university to finish his education! He has vowed to take all his gismos and gadgets with him.
Of course, that means that I will have no one on my "staff" to go to if I have a problem or need some direction with all this stuff that goes on somewhere on the inside of my computer. I had better sit down with him periodically and start soaking up the technical aspects of Windows XP.
I did manage to spend most of the day on Saturday out shopping with Matt for a new printer and, of course, his sound system. It is not often I get to spend most of a day with Matt. We even had a hotdog lunch at Costco. As soon as we got home his girlfriend came over and they were gone!
Garage saleing was pretty mediocre this week. Found some good golf balls cheap, and a brand new Footjoy golf glove still in the package. The neatest thing was a very nice sound system for my new computer for $15. It has picture frame speakers and a subwoofer and I think retails for around $80. I offered it to Matt, but when he tried it he said the high range on the speakers wasn't up to his standards, but the bass was very good. It was new condition and I thought it sounded great! Sooner or later, everything turns up at a garage sale! Garage Saleing sometimes seems to me like a strange thing to do fairly regularly on Saturday morning. I can't really think of anything I really "shop" for or need. Many weeks I spend $0. Some weeks maybe $2-3. Sara wants me to find her a 9 ft+ surfboard, and one of these weeks I will bump into one. New ones cost $550-650, and I will probably get a good one for $2oo-250. It gets me up about 6:30 and off to the local java joint for coffee and I am back by 9 am. I listen to a fishing show on a local radio station from 7-9 am as I drive around town. Pretty good way to start the day!
Did an open house Sunday afternoon from 1-4. Had three people show up! Quick read a James Patterson Murder mystery while I was there! Market has slowed down lately. I think people were getting fed up with pricing. Home values have gone up over 30% in the last 12 months! I have a couple clients right now who are selling and moving back to Kansas. One is selling a 1400 sq ft condo here for 438000 and buying a 2500 sq ft 4 bedroom home on a nice lot in Manhatten Kansas for about $220000. Of course it is all location! It is a long way to the beach from Manhatten, Kansas! The other has a 3100 sq ft home which will sell for about $800000, and I'm sure they will be very happy with somethng at less than $250000 as well! If one doesn't mind Kansas, seems like a pretty good move--pay cash for a house, put the rest in the bank or investments and relax. No more rat race! It appeals to me. But I think maybe Oregon/Washington. Funny thing is, everyone still wants to move to San Diego. And, they all need a place to live. Builders can't build enough new homes to keep up with demand in California, so I doubt if we will see much reduction in pricing in the future. But it will level out. Can't keep going up at a 30% a year rate for very long.
I must have been busy this weekend. Didn't even get down to the beach to do a little surf fishing.
I decided that the old Gateway computer we had just was not cutting it. It is a sad state of affairs when the computer that Nancy and I have is about 6 or 7 yrs old and our son Matt has a newer high powered desktop as well as a newer laptop his friends gave him for his birthday this year. Nice bunch of friends huh! So last week I went out to Fry's and bought a "new" refubished Compact desktop that he tells me is a lot better than his. I feel much better now. It is the dream of every male to have something bigger and better than the next guy, and certainly that goes for fathers and sons! In retailiation, he went out this weekend and bought a $600 surround sound stereo system for his 32" TV that he has in his room upstairs. I bought him that TV last year for Xmas since his old 25" inch hand me down finally had finally flickered out! (It was on sale at Best Buy Cheap!) So now he not only has a bigger TV upstairs than we have downstairs, but it also has a sub woofer that will rattle the walls! I think the only way I will be back in the primo position in this house in regards to such things is when he leaves next year to transfer to a university to finish his education! He has vowed to take all his gismos and gadgets with him.
Of course, that means that I will have no one on my "staff" to go to if I have a problem or need some direction with all this stuff that goes on somewhere on the inside of my computer. I had better sit down with him periodically and start soaking up the technical aspects of Windows XP.
I did manage to spend most of the day on Saturday out shopping with Matt for a new printer and, of course, his sound system. It is not often I get to spend most of a day with Matt. We even had a hotdog lunch at Costco. As soon as we got home his girlfriend came over and they were gone!
Garage saleing was pretty mediocre this week. Found some good golf balls cheap, and a brand new Footjoy golf glove still in the package. The neatest thing was a very nice sound system for my new computer for $15. It has picture frame speakers and a subwoofer and I think retails for around $80. I offered it to Matt, but when he tried it he said the high range on the speakers wasn't up to his standards, but the bass was very good. It was new condition and I thought it sounded great! Sooner or later, everything turns up at a garage sale! Garage Saleing sometimes seems to me like a strange thing to do fairly regularly on Saturday morning. I can't really think of anything I really "shop" for or need. Many weeks I spend $0. Some weeks maybe $2-3. Sara wants me to find her a 9 ft+ surfboard, and one of these weeks I will bump into one. New ones cost $550-650, and I will probably get a good one for $2oo-250. It gets me up about 6:30 and off to the local java joint for coffee and I am back by 9 am. I listen to a fishing show on a local radio station from 7-9 am as I drive around town. Pretty good way to start the day!
Did an open house Sunday afternoon from 1-4. Had three people show up! Quick read a James Patterson Murder mystery while I was there! Market has slowed down lately. I think people were getting fed up with pricing. Home values have gone up over 30% in the last 12 months! I have a couple clients right now who are selling and moving back to Kansas. One is selling a 1400 sq ft condo here for 438000 and buying a 2500 sq ft 4 bedroom home on a nice lot in Manhatten Kansas for about $220000. Of course it is all location! It is a long way to the beach from Manhatten, Kansas! The other has a 3100 sq ft home which will sell for about $800000, and I'm sure they will be very happy with somethng at less than $250000 as well! If one doesn't mind Kansas, seems like a pretty good move--pay cash for a house, put the rest in the bank or investments and relax. No more rat race! It appeals to me. But I think maybe Oregon/Washington. Funny thing is, everyone still wants to move to San Diego. And, they all need a place to live. Builders can't build enough new homes to keep up with demand in California, so I doubt if we will see much reduction in pricing in the future. But it will level out. Can't keep going up at a 30% a year rate for very long.
I must have been busy this weekend. Didn't even get down to the beach to do a little surf fishing.
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
STATIC
Here it is two weeks after I "hired" my Mr. fix-it/painter to rebuild my deck and paint my house. Where has he been? He came around the other day and told me that because it took me a few days to make my mind up initially, he had scheduled another job for an old lady in Escondido. Hey! I partial paid him $1200 up front for the paint job and another $950 for the deck. He has been drawing interest on my money with no sweat produced.
But he is now at work! I have actually seen him sawing and pounding! I told him that it would be nice if the job could be done by the end of August! That seemed reasonable to me. I have not seen enough progress so far this month which would lead me to expect that he will meet that target. He is also doing my neighbor's house at the same time. My wife Nancy is not enthralled with having a stranger in the back yard pounding and painting for the next few weeks, even though "Don" is a very nice guy. The backyard is piled up with lumber and "stuff". It is all a disruption to what is the normal flow of life. It's like two months of unwanted static!
Perhaps we are getting old and less flexible! Ah, I tell her. Just wait til it is all done. The house will look nice. The deck won't fall down! We can then call the termite company and have the house tented and gas all the leftover termites eating away within the bowels of the house. We can take a few days when they tent it and go somewhere for a mini vacation. Then I will buy her a new high end stove for the kitchen and all will be well in our little world again!!
But he is now at work! I have actually seen him sawing and pounding! I told him that it would be nice if the job could be done by the end of August! That seemed reasonable to me. I have not seen enough progress so far this month which would lead me to expect that he will meet that target. He is also doing my neighbor's house at the same time. My wife Nancy is not enthralled with having a stranger in the back yard pounding and painting for the next few weeks, even though "Don" is a very nice guy. The backyard is piled up with lumber and "stuff". It is all a disruption to what is the normal flow of life. It's like two months of unwanted static!
Perhaps we are getting old and less flexible! Ah, I tell her. Just wait til it is all done. The house will look nice. The deck won't fall down! We can then call the termite company and have the house tented and gas all the leftover termites eating away within the bowels of the house. We can take a few days when they tent it and go somewhere for a mini vacation. Then I will buy her a new high end stove for the kitchen and all will be well in our little world again!!
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
To Many Golf Goofs!
I have been playing golf early each Wednesday Morning in the weekly men's club tournement at San Loius Rey Downs Golf Club in Bonsall. Don't try to find Bonsall on the map--It is mainly a corner store and gas station although in the last few years some developers have started building tracts up in that area--It is east of Oceanside and still has a rural flavor and feel to it, but I wonder for how long.
The golf club was originally built by a wealthy horse breeder who owned a big patch of land which included his horse ranch. He decided to develop some of it with some homes oriented to retirement, as well as building a golf and tennis resort. I would guess it has been there for a good 30-40 years now, and still has a tennis club as well as an inn where one can stay and enjoy the area. The Clubhouse, Resturant, and the golf course is very nice for the $$ it cost to play there, and if one is a member of the men's club (only $100 a year) there are discounted green fees. So there are about 500 members in the club. On Wednesdays about 100 usually play in the morning. There is another big group that plays regularly on Sat morns.
My goal this year was to get my handicap into the single digits. I'm slowly making progress. I have improved from an 18 to a 16 and am still trending down. This morning I thought I was going to really get it together. I was only 1 over standing on the 9th tee. That was very , very good! As I left the 9th green, however I was 3 over!! I guess I lost my "grip"! But a 39 on the front still was very good. If I could do anything close to that on the back nine, I could be a possible winner of the tourney--say I shoot an 82--with my 16 handicap that would be a net 66. Even Tiger would be proud of that score!
Parred #10, bogeyed #11, doubled bogeyed #12, tripled bogeyed #13, etc. and added up a 47 on the back nine for a total of 86. Better than some scores I have recently posted, but an opportunity missed!! With my net 70 I may still be in the money somewhere, but there is a precipitous drop in the payout from first place to an also ran down the page of the leaderboard somewhere. Maybe instead of $80 only $5? Oh, what could have been!!!
The golf club was originally built by a wealthy horse breeder who owned a big patch of land which included his horse ranch. He decided to develop some of it with some homes oriented to retirement, as well as building a golf and tennis resort. I would guess it has been there for a good 30-40 years now, and still has a tennis club as well as an inn where one can stay and enjoy the area. The Clubhouse, Resturant, and the golf course is very nice for the $$ it cost to play there, and if one is a member of the men's club (only $100 a year) there are discounted green fees. So there are about 500 members in the club. On Wednesdays about 100 usually play in the morning. There is another big group that plays regularly on Sat morns.
My goal this year was to get my handicap into the single digits. I'm slowly making progress. I have improved from an 18 to a 16 and am still trending down. This morning I thought I was going to really get it together. I was only 1 over standing on the 9th tee. That was very , very good! As I left the 9th green, however I was 3 over!! I guess I lost my "grip"! But a 39 on the front still was very good. If I could do anything close to that on the back nine, I could be a possible winner of the tourney--say I shoot an 82--with my 16 handicap that would be a net 66. Even Tiger would be proud of that score!
Parred #10, bogeyed #11, doubled bogeyed #12, tripled bogeyed #13, etc. and added up a 47 on the back nine for a total of 86. Better than some scores I have recently posted, but an opportunity missed!! With my net 70 I may still be in the money somewhere, but there is a precipitous drop in the payout from first place to an also ran down the page of the leaderboard somewhere. Maybe instead of $80 only $5? Oh, what could have been!!!
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Friday, July 23, 2004
A Digital Life
I finally broke down and got a good digital camera. The pictures I was producing with my palm pilot just were not cutting edge! The lens on the Zire 71 was so small that it amazed me that it picked up anything. Pictures taken with it were instant email quality and worth one quick look and a delete button.
The new camera was purchased at Wall Mart, which was a surprise to me, since, to my knowledge, I had never before been daring enough to enter one of those stores where one had to sort through huge piles of consumer goods. However, it was right next to Best Buy, and I had to comparison shop. Wal Mart is a very scary place! But they had the best prices and a good selection of cameras so I guess they won again, and I made a contribution to their world wide dominance in retail!! It was really kind of a dreary place, though!
As I was plugging the download cord into my computer, and hooking up the battery recharger to an outlet, I looked around the room at all the gadgets and connections that it takes to be considered at the minimum level of the digital age: Hi speed internet connection by Cox, digital phone line from Cox, Palm Pilot cradle hookup and recharger, 3 cell phone cradle rechargers, printer hookups, wireless box set up for the 3 computers in the house (one a laptop).
Our cat even has a digital chip surgically implanted for identification. I think that is a great idea. That is about the only thing I personally am missing. In the next few years I predict that tatoo parlors will start offering chip implants which will not only provide identfication to old codgers like me wandering the streets in a daze, but will also allow people to "google" directly into their cerebelum by wireless connection 24/7.
I often wonder if all these gadgets improve the quality of life, or just complicate and add stress to it!
The new camera was purchased at Wall Mart, which was a surprise to me, since, to my knowledge, I had never before been daring enough to enter one of those stores where one had to sort through huge piles of consumer goods. However, it was right next to Best Buy, and I had to comparison shop. Wal Mart is a very scary place! But they had the best prices and a good selection of cameras so I guess they won again, and I made a contribution to their world wide dominance in retail!! It was really kind of a dreary place, though!
As I was plugging the download cord into my computer, and hooking up the battery recharger to an outlet, I looked around the room at all the gadgets and connections that it takes to be considered at the minimum level of the digital age: Hi speed internet connection by Cox, digital phone line from Cox, Palm Pilot cradle hookup and recharger, 3 cell phone cradle rechargers, printer hookups, wireless box set up for the 3 computers in the house (one a laptop).
Our cat even has a digital chip surgically implanted for identification. I think that is a great idea. That is about the only thing I personally am missing. In the next few years I predict that tatoo parlors will start offering chip implants which will not only provide identfication to old codgers like me wandering the streets in a daze, but will also allow people to "google" directly into their cerebelum by wireless connection 24/7.
I often wonder if all these gadgets improve the quality of life, or just complicate and add stress to it!
Monday, July 19, 2004
Painting, Homeowners Assns, and Termites
I got a letter from the homeowner's association a couple of weeks ago. It seems that every time the landscape committee walks around inspecting the development, they send me a letter suggesting that I paint the garage door, clean the stains off the stucco on the front of the house, or paint my fence! I usually hold them off for a few months until they send me a couple more reminders, then I take an hour or so some Saturday and do it! One time they sent me a letter asking me to attend one of their monthly meetings to explain why I had not completed the task they had "assigned" me months ago. I decided to accept their invitation. You know what they say, only a fool represents himself in front of the HOA board. But, since the HOA board president lives next door to me, and I had been the real estate agent for the Treasurer when she bought her house, I thought I might have someone there who might keep me from being led away in chains!
My goal was to try to create a more neighborly way to deal with a problem owner like myself, who was just a bit slovenly, but, in general, a pretty good neighbor!
The meeting was held at one of the board member's home. Cookies and coffee were served. We all sat around the kitchen table. It was right neighborly!! When the agenda came around to me, I told them that the task had been completed. (I wanted to remove their edge!) However, I read the board the letter and indicated that I did not appreciate the threatening tone. After all, it is a small development and most everybody knows everybody else. I asked the board members if they would have sent this letter to their best friend. One of the younger, least experienced with life members said "that was not the point, and I wasn't his friend in any case!", which I thought was a telling answer. My client treasurer spoke up and was very nice, and thought perhaps the letter could be "tuned up" a bit. When I mentioned that the board has to understand that this letter sounded like the first step towards "foreclosure" of my property, the response was,"Oh no! No one would do that". I reminded them that they had the power to do just that!
I think there were at least two of the board members who would have taken pleasure in doing so--to anyone they could squeeze into that foreclosure position! In any case, the topic was closed with the direction to the HOA manager to see if a re-phrasing of the "request" letters could be reviewed!!
The letter I got a couple weeks ago "suggested" that I should paint my house. Well, it probably should be painted. But it is a 3-4000 $$ job and I sure wasn't going to take that on at my advanced age of 61.5 yrs.
One of my neighbors happened to be having her house painted when I got home from work one day, and my Board President neighbor was standing out front talking to the painter. He was thinking of painting his house too! I told him I got a letter from the board suggesting that recently and he said "Man! I told them I would talk to you and that they should NOT send you a letter"! (He remembered my history with letters.) We bounced it around for a couple days and put together a package deal on both houses!! So it looks like I will be clear of letters for the next few years, or until one of my trees starts breaking up the neighbors sidewalk with roots!!
Unfortunately, we have a deck off the master bedroom upstairs that has been producing multiple colonies of termites for a number of years. It is something that should be repaired prior to painting. Every time I step out on it I shake it a bit just to see if it will still hold me up! I figured that on a Saturday I could get out there, rip off some of the most badly damaged wood , nail in some replacements, and I would be home free!! Except, every time I removed a board, the structual piece underneath it or beside it was rotted or termited! Not only that, the deck turned out to be the only part of the house that was well built, using 3.5 " nails. So it was going to be hard work taking it apart, and most all of the structual wood had to be replaced. It is the deck from hell, and unfortunately I do not think I am up to the task. I consulted my painter who also does carpentry, and he estimated $1500 with a gleeful look on his face. I added it to his all ready inflated pricing for the paint job!!
There goes my golf budget for about 5 years!! When all is done I am going to have the termite guy out and have him tent the house with me in it and kill every living thing in every nook and cranny. I will die like a bug, but in peace, knowing that my wife can stand out on our newly rebuilt repainted deck without worry and watch the sunset, sip a margarita, and think of how I was gassed and died with no pain.
My goal was to try to create a more neighborly way to deal with a problem owner like myself, who was just a bit slovenly, but, in general, a pretty good neighbor!
The meeting was held at one of the board member's home. Cookies and coffee were served. We all sat around the kitchen table. It was right neighborly!! When the agenda came around to me, I told them that the task had been completed. (I wanted to remove their edge!) However, I read the board the letter and indicated that I did not appreciate the threatening tone. After all, it is a small development and most everybody knows everybody else. I asked the board members if they would have sent this letter to their best friend. One of the younger, least experienced with life members said "that was not the point, and I wasn't his friend in any case!", which I thought was a telling answer. My client treasurer spoke up and was very nice, and thought perhaps the letter could be "tuned up" a bit. When I mentioned that the board has to understand that this letter sounded like the first step towards "foreclosure" of my property, the response was,"Oh no! No one would do that". I reminded them that they had the power to do just that!
I think there were at least two of the board members who would have taken pleasure in doing so--to anyone they could squeeze into that foreclosure position! In any case, the topic was closed with the direction to the HOA manager to see if a re-phrasing of the "request" letters could be reviewed!!
The letter I got a couple weeks ago "suggested" that I should paint my house. Well, it probably should be painted. But it is a 3-4000 $$ job and I sure wasn't going to take that on at my advanced age of 61.5 yrs.
One of my neighbors happened to be having her house painted when I got home from work one day, and my Board President neighbor was standing out front talking to the painter. He was thinking of painting his house too! I told him I got a letter from the board suggesting that recently and he said "Man! I told them I would talk to you and that they should NOT send you a letter"! (He remembered my history with letters.) We bounced it around for a couple days and put together a package deal on both houses!! So it looks like I will be clear of letters for the next few years, or until one of my trees starts breaking up the neighbors sidewalk with roots!!
Unfortunately, we have a deck off the master bedroom upstairs that has been producing multiple colonies of termites for a number of years. It is something that should be repaired prior to painting. Every time I step out on it I shake it a bit just to see if it will still hold me up! I figured that on a Saturday I could get out there, rip off some of the most badly damaged wood , nail in some replacements, and I would be home free!! Except, every time I removed a board, the structual piece underneath it or beside it was rotted or termited! Not only that, the deck turned out to be the only part of the house that was well built, using 3.5 " nails. So it was going to be hard work taking it apart, and most all of the structual wood had to be replaced. It is the deck from hell, and unfortunately I do not think I am up to the task. I consulted my painter who also does carpentry, and he estimated $1500 with a gleeful look on his face. I added it to his all ready inflated pricing for the paint job!!
There goes my golf budget for about 5 years!! When all is done I am going to have the termite guy out and have him tent the house with me in it and kill every living thing in every nook and cranny. I will die like a bug, but in peace, knowing that my wife can stand out on our newly rebuilt repainted deck without worry and watch the sunset, sip a margarita, and think of how I was gassed and died with no pain.
Sunday, July 11, 2004
Twas a gloomy day on Moonlight Beach, a day after the 4th
Clouds hung low in the sky! A wispy wind rippled the waves as they rolled towards the shore. Only tourists on vacation dared onto the beach, looking for a stray ray of sun to complete their annual tan.
Small patches of sand crabs thrust their feeding filters into each acending wave, leaving small wakes in the sand as the sea inhaled the froth back down into its fathoms.
A lone fisherman silently dug fingers into the sand, feeling for the wriggling crabs as they desperately dug deeper to escape imprisonment in the fisherman's bait box, and perhaps a fate of unimaginable horror, being impaled and ripped apart by giant creatures of the sea.
Most escape, and the fisherman is selective, chosing only the youngest, softest and most vulnerable to carry away from their sandy home to an unknown fate. The bait box is attached to the fisherman's belt, and seems cozy. An occasional wave splashes over the crabs huddled together in the box, giving them refreshment and a false hope of escape.
By the end of the day, the bait box will be empty! All the crabs will have been impaled! Sea creatures will have terrorized and tortured these small innocent crustaceons, each in its turn. Some will have their flesh picked and sucked til it is but a shell. Others will have been shocked and smashed and eaten in their entirety!
The fisherman will have hooked and fought a 16" corbina and many surf perch. Each will have fought valiantly, only to be lifted from the sea in defeat. All creatures hooked on the fisherman's barb will be greatly relived to be released and allowed to speed back to the depths to tell their tale of near disaster, a true fish story, if ever there was one!
Twas a gloomy day on Moonlight Beach, the day after the 4th.
Small patches of sand crabs thrust their feeding filters into each acending wave, leaving small wakes in the sand as the sea inhaled the froth back down into its fathoms.
A lone fisherman silently dug fingers into the sand, feeling for the wriggling crabs as they desperately dug deeper to escape imprisonment in the fisherman's bait box, and perhaps a fate of unimaginable horror, being impaled and ripped apart by giant creatures of the sea.
Most escape, and the fisherman is selective, chosing only the youngest, softest and most vulnerable to carry away from their sandy home to an unknown fate. The bait box is attached to the fisherman's belt, and seems cozy. An occasional wave splashes over the crabs huddled together in the box, giving them refreshment and a false hope of escape.
By the end of the day, the bait box will be empty! All the crabs will have been impaled! Sea creatures will have terrorized and tortured these small innocent crustaceons, each in its turn. Some will have their flesh picked and sucked til it is but a shell. Others will have been shocked and smashed and eaten in their entirety!
The fisherman will have hooked and fought a 16" corbina and many surf perch. Each will have fought valiantly, only to be lifted from the sea in defeat. All creatures hooked on the fisherman's barb will be greatly relived to be released and allowed to speed back to the depths to tell their tale of near disaster, a true fish story, if ever there was one!
Twas a gloomy day on Moonlight Beach, the day after the 4th.
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Not just another 4th of July at the Del Mar Fair
During the last 5-6 years, my wife Nancy has worked at the Del Mar San Diego County Fair setting up the Student Showcase on the first floor of the Grandstand. As a valued employee, she gets free tickets and a parking pass, so I have always had the ability to go visit just about any time I wanted. One year, she and both our kids were working at the fair. The only way I got to see them was to go! So I went alot!! Over the years, I have seen just about everything at least two or three times, and have had lots of "fair" food. Every year it seems all pretty much the same! I have a big bag of kettle corn. I have a chocolate dip soft ice cream cone. I have a hot dog on a stick and lemonade. I have a dozen of those small, hot donuts that the old ladies make over in one of the sales pavilians. And, of course, I have a basket of those fresh potato "chips" with a bit of vineger and catsup. I do try to stay away from all the deep fried battered stuff. I swear, every very overweight person in San Diego County seems to go to the fair on the day I go. That seems to keep me from over-indulging!
The fair runs for about 3 weeks and usually ends on the 4th of July with a big grandstand extravaganza!! I usually try to pick my days I visit the fair based on the appeal of the evening concerts at the grandstand. The concerts are generally weighted towards the younger set, the country fans, and the Hispanic fans. The "younger" concerts always hurt my ears, and make me "vibrate". Country Western is not really "hot" with me, and Hispanic all sounds the same--in spanish!! Most of the concerts are free in the general "admission" seats. In the better boxes, and tables in the front part of the grandstand one can reserve seats for 12-20 bucks, and have waitress food and drink service, plus a much better view of the concert. In addition, with a reserved seat, one does not have to stand in line, rush up the escalator or stairs, and hustle to get the best seat available in the "stands" 1 1/2 hrs prior to the concert. One can just amble in anytime! What a luxury!
Since I usually was alone at these things (Nancy always works), I always was one of the "peons" in the general admission area, rushing in early to stake out a seat!I usually ended up soewhere under the balcony overhang and couldn't see the fireworks after the band concert. Then I would have to move or leave the grandstand.
This year I didn't see any concerts to my liking, and had no big urge to go to the fair just to hang around. I decided, however,I was not going to miss the Grandstand show on the 4th. It starts at 7:30 with a concert by the U. S. Navy Southwest Concert Band, then about 30 minutes of fireworks, then a pop concert by a "headliner". It is a BIG Sheeow!
But this year it was going to be different!! I was detgermined to go first class!! Soooo, the first day of the fair I bought a reserved ticket for the 4th extravaganza--cost $18 (not including fair admission since I was free)! My seat was front row, right in the middle of the stage!! Wow!! It was at a table with food and drink service. Where the elite meet to eat!!
On the 4th, the group that my wife works with has a pot luck buffet set up in the back room on the first floor of the grandstand--so I was all set. I had the best seat in the house at a table, as well as a source of food at the buffet!! All I could wish for beyond that, was that the waitress would go back to the buffet and load up a couple plates for me and deliver them to the table!! Fat chance! The waitresses work for the catering food service and were probably going to be ticked that I brought my own food!! Ah well, I could handle that!!
It was great to notice the long line outside the grandstand waiting for 6 pm to come around so they could rush in to grab the best FREE seat! It was great to cruise right into the front of the grandstand about 1/2 hour before the concert and be SHOWN to my FRONT ROW CENTER seat. It was great to go back to the buffet, fill up two paper plates with all kinds of picnic food, then go back to my "table" and eat leisurely while waiting for the concert to start. It felt great to turn around in my seat and look back at the thousands of people in the stands, ALL BEHIND ME!!
During the evening I stood for the National Anthem twice along with everyone else. I also stood when the Navy Band played Anchors Aweigh (I was Navy). I oohed and aaahed at the fireworks! The star of the concert after the fireworks was Mary Wilson of the Supremes. She was much better that I thought she would be-and had two very good backup "Supremes", and they sang all the great hits of 30 years ago!
It was $18 well spent!!
The fair runs for about 3 weeks and usually ends on the 4th of July with a big grandstand extravaganza!! I usually try to pick my days I visit the fair based on the appeal of the evening concerts at the grandstand. The concerts are generally weighted towards the younger set, the country fans, and the Hispanic fans. The "younger" concerts always hurt my ears, and make me "vibrate". Country Western is not really "hot" with me, and Hispanic all sounds the same--in spanish!! Most of the concerts are free in the general "admission" seats. In the better boxes, and tables in the front part of the grandstand one can reserve seats for 12-20 bucks, and have waitress food and drink service, plus a much better view of the concert. In addition, with a reserved seat, one does not have to stand in line, rush up the escalator or stairs, and hustle to get the best seat available in the "stands" 1 1/2 hrs prior to the concert. One can just amble in anytime! What a luxury!
Since I usually was alone at these things (Nancy always works), I always was one of the "peons" in the general admission area, rushing in early to stake out a seat!I usually ended up soewhere under the balcony overhang and couldn't see the fireworks after the band concert. Then I would have to move or leave the grandstand.
This year I didn't see any concerts to my liking, and had no big urge to go to the fair just to hang around. I decided, however,I was not going to miss the Grandstand show on the 4th. It starts at 7:30 with a concert by the U. S. Navy Southwest Concert Band, then about 30 minutes of fireworks, then a pop concert by a "headliner". It is a BIG Sheeow!
But this year it was going to be different!! I was detgermined to go first class!! Soooo, the first day of the fair I bought a reserved ticket for the 4th extravaganza--cost $18 (not including fair admission since I was free)! My seat was front row, right in the middle of the stage!! Wow!! It was at a table with food and drink service. Where the elite meet to eat!!
On the 4th, the group that my wife works with has a pot luck buffet set up in the back room on the first floor of the grandstand--so I was all set. I had the best seat in the house at a table, as well as a source of food at the buffet!! All I could wish for beyond that, was that the waitress would go back to the buffet and load up a couple plates for me and deliver them to the table!! Fat chance! The waitresses work for the catering food service and were probably going to be ticked that I brought my own food!! Ah well, I could handle that!!
It was great to notice the long line outside the grandstand waiting for 6 pm to come around so they could rush in to grab the best FREE seat! It was great to cruise right into the front of the grandstand about 1/2 hour before the concert and be SHOWN to my FRONT ROW CENTER seat. It was great to go back to the buffet, fill up two paper plates with all kinds of picnic food, then go back to my "table" and eat leisurely while waiting for the concert to start. It felt great to turn around in my seat and look back at the thousands of people in the stands, ALL BEHIND ME!!
During the evening I stood for the National Anthem twice along with everyone else. I also stood when the Navy Band played Anchors Aweigh (I was Navy). I oohed and aaahed at the fireworks! The star of the concert after the fireworks was Mary Wilson of the Supremes. She was much better that I thought she would be-and had two very good backup "Supremes", and they sang all the great hits of 30 years ago!
It was $18 well spent!!
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Golfing Gone Wild
As one of my major goals this year, I have previously mentioned that I wanted to join a men's club, get an official handicap, and play more golf with the intention of acheiving a single diget handicap index once before I am to old to hit the ball over 200 yds.
So, I joined the Oceanside men's club, since I had been playing that municipal course most often when I played. Plus it was cheap! Only 50 bucks to sign up and get into the Southern California Golf Assn, which runs the handicap system.
I have played about 12 times since then and have established an index of 15, which means that I have been posting scores mostly in the high 80's. Now, for a high percentage of golfers that might seem like a great acheivement. Fortunately, however, I do feel that I can improve considerably with alot of practice and play. I can hit all the shots, handle the distance of most courses up to about 6600-6700 yds, and putt reasonably well. While I feel I have been improving, my scores have been inconsistant due to the fact that I am still missing to many shots--mostly off the tee.
For example, today I played a course that was about 6400 yds. On the front nine I had 4 pars, 4 double bogeys, and one triple bogey and shot 47. All the big scores were mostly caused by wayward tee shots into the water, out of bounds, or way over into the trees. There were about 6 bad shots that caused 11 extra strokes on the front. Not a very good start. I was pretty pissed--but keeping it to myself--and being cool. I was playing with a couple other guys who probably thought that my 47 looked pretty good. Not to me though! But I never give up! The mental aspect of the game is as important as the physical part! Ask anyone!
I always feel bad if I don't break 90 for the whole round. So as I walked off the 9th green, I was calculating what I needed to do to get that done, and thinking that maybe a 40 on the back nine was not out of reach if I started concentrating and keeping my head down a bit better while I was swinging the club.
Keeping a good thought, I put a good swing on the tee shot on 10, then hit a wedge shot that wasn't to hot, but ended up better than it should have about 12 feet below the hole, and made the putt for a birdie!
OK, I said to myself, now things are going to change! So, I double bogeyed the next two holes!! Bad tee shots--one in the river, and one out of bounds. Then, par, bogey,bogey, par,and par. I am at the 18th and I'm still figuring what I need! If I birdie the last hole I can shoot a 40 on the back for an 87. It's a par 5 and I hit my tee shot in a fairway trap. Boo! I hit a pretty good 7 wood about 200 yds though, and have about a 50 yd sand wedge over a tree to the pin. I take a couple of nice practice swings, then a very bad swing at the ball and hit it way past the pin. Ah well, I can 2 putt for a par and a 41. It is a long downhill putt that I read badly and I end up 3 putting for a 42. I am disturbed!!! But as I add up my score 47+42=89. I percieve that to be less that 90!! Still to much, though.
Every time I have a score like that I think that with more practice, and more concentration, I will become more consistent, miss fewer shots, and score consistently in the low 80's like I did about 30 years ago. Of the 17 shots I had over par this time, I look back and think that there were at least 6 or 7 shots that I could have eliminated with hitting just 3 more tee shots in the fairway.
Or maybe I am just like golfers everywhere, who go over every hole and always end up with 6 or 7 "if onlys" in each round they play(and sometimes more). I guess perhaps the goal is to reduce the "if onlys" to the point where one becomes satisfied that the score really matches the extent of the ability available. I don't think I am there yet! But there sure have been a lot of scores in the high 80's the last few weeks.
So, I joined the Oceanside men's club, since I had been playing that municipal course most often when I played. Plus it was cheap! Only 50 bucks to sign up and get into the Southern California Golf Assn, which runs the handicap system.
I have played about 12 times since then and have established an index of 15, which means that I have been posting scores mostly in the high 80's. Now, for a high percentage of golfers that might seem like a great acheivement. Fortunately, however, I do feel that I can improve considerably with alot of practice and play. I can hit all the shots, handle the distance of most courses up to about 6600-6700 yds, and putt reasonably well. While I feel I have been improving, my scores have been inconsistant due to the fact that I am still missing to many shots--mostly off the tee.
For example, today I played a course that was about 6400 yds. On the front nine I had 4 pars, 4 double bogeys, and one triple bogey and shot 47. All the big scores were mostly caused by wayward tee shots into the water, out of bounds, or way over into the trees. There were about 6 bad shots that caused 11 extra strokes on the front. Not a very good start. I was pretty pissed--but keeping it to myself--and being cool. I was playing with a couple other guys who probably thought that my 47 looked pretty good. Not to me though! But I never give up! The mental aspect of the game is as important as the physical part! Ask anyone!
I always feel bad if I don't break 90 for the whole round. So as I walked off the 9th green, I was calculating what I needed to do to get that done, and thinking that maybe a 40 on the back nine was not out of reach if I started concentrating and keeping my head down a bit better while I was swinging the club.
Keeping a good thought, I put a good swing on the tee shot on 10, then hit a wedge shot that wasn't to hot, but ended up better than it should have about 12 feet below the hole, and made the putt for a birdie!
OK, I said to myself, now things are going to change! So, I double bogeyed the next two holes!! Bad tee shots--one in the river, and one out of bounds. Then, par, bogey,bogey, par,and par. I am at the 18th and I'm still figuring what I need! If I birdie the last hole I can shoot a 40 on the back for an 87. It's a par 5 and I hit my tee shot in a fairway trap. Boo! I hit a pretty good 7 wood about 200 yds though, and have about a 50 yd sand wedge over a tree to the pin. I take a couple of nice practice swings, then a very bad swing at the ball and hit it way past the pin. Ah well, I can 2 putt for a par and a 41. It is a long downhill putt that I read badly and I end up 3 putting for a 42. I am disturbed!!! But as I add up my score 47+42=89. I percieve that to be less that 90!! Still to much, though.
Every time I have a score like that I think that with more practice, and more concentration, I will become more consistent, miss fewer shots, and score consistently in the low 80's like I did about 30 years ago. Of the 17 shots I had over par this time, I look back and think that there were at least 6 or 7 shots that I could have eliminated with hitting just 3 more tee shots in the fairway.
Or maybe I am just like golfers everywhere, who go over every hole and always end up with 6 or 7 "if onlys" in each round they play(and sometimes more). I guess perhaps the goal is to reduce the "if onlys" to the point where one becomes satisfied that the score really matches the extent of the ability available. I don't think I am there yet! But there sure have been a lot of scores in the high 80's the last few weeks.
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Bush Administration general policy statement
I have been trying to figure out just exactly what the Bush administration's goals have been during the past few years, and finally his Vice President, Big Dick Cheney, his major policy maker, has clarified it during this last week! As I now understand it, the administration's major goal in response to any opposition or questions to any of the actions that have been taken by the admistration is as follows:
1. Foreign policy: " Why don't you go fuck yourself!"
2. Fiscal policy: "Why don't you go fuck yourself!"
3. Environmental policy: "Why don't your go fuck yourself!"
4. Energy policy: "Why don't you go fuck yourself!"
5. Domestic policy: "Why don't you go fuck yourself!"
6. Educational Policy: "Why don't you go fuck yourself!"
This response is very succinct and I congratulate Mr.Big Dick Cheney for being so forthright. He has clarified the administration's position in regards to their atttitude towards those who might question the direction which they have taken in all the major areas of their administration of our great nation's business and interests for the present and future.
This obviously is a much clearer and more honest expression of the current admistration's position in it's approach to solving many of the complex problems facing our country. Presumably the Bush admistration assumes that this simple response, with the proper follow through, will ensure a better future for our children and children throughout the world!! Let us all repeat "Why don't you go fuck yourself"! There! That should do it!!
1. Foreign policy: " Why don't you go fuck yourself!"
2. Fiscal policy: "Why don't you go fuck yourself!"
3. Environmental policy: "Why don't your go fuck yourself!"
4. Energy policy: "Why don't you go fuck yourself!"
5. Domestic policy: "Why don't you go fuck yourself!"
6. Educational Policy: "Why don't you go fuck yourself!"
This response is very succinct and I congratulate Mr.Big Dick Cheney for being so forthright. He has clarified the administration's position in regards to their atttitude towards those who might question the direction which they have taken in all the major areas of their administration of our great nation's business and interests for the present and future.
This obviously is a much clearer and more honest expression of the current admistration's position in it's approach to solving many of the complex problems facing our country. Presumably the Bush admistration assumes that this simple response, with the proper follow through, will ensure a better future for our children and children throughout the world!! Let us all repeat "Why don't you go fuck yourself"! There! That should do it!!
Friday, June 18, 2004
On a boat out of Oceanside
I had been watching the fish counts from the various landings here in the San Diego area, noting that each week has been an improvement. This last week the Sand Bass and Calico Bass have been congregating in the Kelp and on the reefs offshore a bit to have their annual sex orgy, so they have been actively building up their energy by chomping on anchovies skewered on the end of hooks thrown over the side of the boats.
So I decided to hop on a 1/2 day boat out of Oceanside harbor on Thursday afternoon to try my new Daiwa Sealine SX 20 reel and Shimano Tallus 10-20lb rated rod with new 15lb line loaded on. I got there a bit early for the afternoon boat and was just in time to catch the morning group coming in. As they walked by not many were carrying any bags of fillets, and one old grizzled fisherman was just shaking his head at me. That did not bode well for the afternoon.
I thought, "well, I guess I will just enjoy the ride", not feeling good about the fact that the "bite" just happened to turn off on the one day I decided to venture forth.
The boat had a good load of around 32 fisherman on board. It was a nice boat and had plenty of room to fish with that load. Now that school was out there seemed to be a number of families on board, so there were lots of kids, and lots of rental rods across the rail. Some were obviouly on vacation. That meant they were probably from Arizona somewhere, and only saw the ocean once a year. That usually means lose lines and lots of tangles during the afternoon. For those of us with more "experience" that results in an afternoon of defensive fishing, i.e. keeping a taut line and a certain distance from your neighbor on the rail.
On the other hand, bass fishing is perfect for novice fisherman, so it would be fun watching kids catch fish and get excited about it!! That, of course, assumed that there would be any fish willing to cooperate. If not there would presumably be alot of whining and running around going on!!
We were off! And suprisingly, after about 15 minutes, we pulled up a couple miles straight out from the harbor and dropped the anchor!! I guess the Captain had gone south in the morning to fish kelp beds and went bust, so he was at least trying a new spot in the afternoon. Out went the sardines, and how do you do!
Rods starting bending and bass started hitting the decks. For three hours we did not move the boat, and the bite was pretty continuous. I limited out on bass (10) and filled my sack with some nice size fish in a couple hours. Since some were not so fortunate I even caught some "extra" to give away. Also had about 5 nice barracuda on, but only landed one, which was OK. One barrie was all I wanted to take home. I actually quit fishing about 45 minutes before we pulled up the anchor and headed back to the harbor. I got bored catching fish! Don't remember that ever happening before. To much of a good thing,I guess!!
Everyone on the boat caught some fish, even all the kids, between getting their tangles straightened out! And I have a bunch of fillets in the freezer! A very sucessful day on a boat out of Oceanside!!
So I decided to hop on a 1/2 day boat out of Oceanside harbor on Thursday afternoon to try my new Daiwa Sealine SX 20 reel and Shimano Tallus 10-20lb rated rod with new 15lb line loaded on. I got there a bit early for the afternoon boat and was just in time to catch the morning group coming in. As they walked by not many were carrying any bags of fillets, and one old grizzled fisherman was just shaking his head at me. That did not bode well for the afternoon.
I thought, "well, I guess I will just enjoy the ride", not feeling good about the fact that the "bite" just happened to turn off on the one day I decided to venture forth.
The boat had a good load of around 32 fisherman on board. It was a nice boat and had plenty of room to fish with that load. Now that school was out there seemed to be a number of families on board, so there were lots of kids, and lots of rental rods across the rail. Some were obviouly on vacation. That meant they were probably from Arizona somewhere, and only saw the ocean once a year. That usually means lose lines and lots of tangles during the afternoon. For those of us with more "experience" that results in an afternoon of defensive fishing, i.e. keeping a taut line and a certain distance from your neighbor on the rail.
On the other hand, bass fishing is perfect for novice fisherman, so it would be fun watching kids catch fish and get excited about it!! That, of course, assumed that there would be any fish willing to cooperate. If not there would presumably be alot of whining and running around going on!!
We were off! And suprisingly, after about 15 minutes, we pulled up a couple miles straight out from the harbor and dropped the anchor!! I guess the Captain had gone south in the morning to fish kelp beds and went bust, so he was at least trying a new spot in the afternoon. Out went the sardines, and how do you do!
Rods starting bending and bass started hitting the decks. For three hours we did not move the boat, and the bite was pretty continuous. I limited out on bass (10) and filled my sack with some nice size fish in a couple hours. Since some were not so fortunate I even caught some "extra" to give away. Also had about 5 nice barracuda on, but only landed one, which was OK. One barrie was all I wanted to take home. I actually quit fishing about 45 minutes before we pulled up the anchor and headed back to the harbor. I got bored catching fish! Don't remember that ever happening before. To much of a good thing,I guess!!
Everyone on the boat caught some fish, even all the kids, between getting their tangles straightened out! And I have a bunch of fillets in the freezer! A very sucessful day on a boat out of Oceanside!!
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Sunday in the surf!!
It was one of those days in surf city. My wife had to work most of the day, so we both got up fairly early and went to "Pipes" for breakfast! Lots of calories and carbs!! Read the Sunday paper and drank to much coffee as usual!! While my wife was slaving away today, my main gig for the day was to hit the beach for a couple of hours of fishing for the elusive corbina. So, at about 1:30 pm I headed down the hill to Moonlight Beach. It was sunny, and the tide was out with moderate surf. I found some sand crabs for bait and waded out a bit. Almost immediately I saw a Corbina cruising the shallows and casted to him, but he wasn't interested. I moved down the beach a bit and saw three more corbies that were all nice sized. I spent an hour chasing them and a few more--but must have missed their lunchtime because they just were not interested in my offerings.
Since I was so intent on fish that were just not interested, I probably passed up a chance to work on the perch, which are always around. It was the first day in a long time where I didn't catch at least one fish of some type!!
Ah well, the sun was bright, the water was warm, and there were alot of bikinis on the beach!!
Since I was so intent on fish that were just not interested, I probably passed up a chance to work on the perch, which are always around. It was the first day in a long time where I didn't catch at least one fish of some type!!
Ah well, the sun was bright, the water was warm, and there were alot of bikinis on the beach!!
Friday, June 11, 2004
Ennui
It was one of those weeks that passed by and left me feeling that I really didn't accomplish much. I didn't feel much like working. I went into the office every day--checked email--looked at what was new on the MLS--but I played golf on Wed, which was broker's caravan day. So, I didn't even go look at new listings for the week! I did play pretty well, and felt that I was making good improvement towards my goal of getting a single digit handicap index this year. I keep saying that reaching that goal is #1 on my list for the year! Maybe I need to reassess that! I may be actually taking it to seriously at the expense of other important goals I should be pursuing!!
Well, I did have two of my past clients call and tell me they were thinking of selling and moving to Kansas! (Kansas?) I actually put together a listing package for them, and had a meeting!! I guess I could consider that a business success for the week! Of course, that will depend on whether or not they do in fact decide to move and list their property with me. Keep a positive thought!!
Another old client called, left a message, and was thinking of selling and buying a larger home, and wanted to talk about it.
I called back and left a message--but have not yet contacted her. Sounds like procrastination on my part! Better call her tommorrow. Maybe that's part of my problem! I am just taking a week off from dealing with people in a business sense?
Oh ya! I did also go surf fishing for an hour on Thursday after "work". Only caught one small perch. The tide was high and there was to much kelp in the surf to make it much fun! Another contribution to what might be called a "bad attitude"?
Then there is the San Diego County Fair! My wife has been working long hours for the last 2 weeks setting up the student art and woodworking show. The fair starts today, and now she is going to be working just about every night till 10-11 pm. The fair is always a unique 6 week period. One year she, our daughter, and our son were all working the fair. The only way to see them was to go to the fair. Lucky they could get me lots of free tickets, so I could just stop in when I wanted!!
Anyway, it certainly changes schedules for awhile!!
Maybe the last contribution to my current "attitude" was going to the driving range, which happens to be near the fairgrounds, and finding out that the range is closed during the fair. I had forgotten that they use it for parking! That could be the biggest bummer of all, considering the potential impact on making more progress towards meeting my #1 goal for the year!!!
Ah well! It's the weekend! I have nothing planned! Maybe I will go to the fair to visit my wife!
I
Well, I did have two of my past clients call and tell me they were thinking of selling and moving to Kansas! (Kansas?) I actually put together a listing package for them, and had a meeting!! I guess I could consider that a business success for the week! Of course, that will depend on whether or not they do in fact decide to move and list their property with me. Keep a positive thought!!
Another old client called, left a message, and was thinking of selling and buying a larger home, and wanted to talk about it.
I called back and left a message--but have not yet contacted her. Sounds like procrastination on my part! Better call her tommorrow. Maybe that's part of my problem! I am just taking a week off from dealing with people in a business sense?
Oh ya! I did also go surf fishing for an hour on Thursday after "work". Only caught one small perch. The tide was high and there was to much kelp in the surf to make it much fun! Another contribution to what might be called a "bad attitude"?
Then there is the San Diego County Fair! My wife has been working long hours for the last 2 weeks setting up the student art and woodworking show. The fair starts today, and now she is going to be working just about every night till 10-11 pm. The fair is always a unique 6 week period. One year she, our daughter, and our son were all working the fair. The only way to see them was to go to the fair. Lucky they could get me lots of free tickets, so I could just stop in when I wanted!!
Anyway, it certainly changes schedules for awhile!!
Maybe the last contribution to my current "attitude" was going to the driving range, which happens to be near the fairgrounds, and finding out that the range is closed during the fair. I had forgotten that they use it for parking! That could be the biggest bummer of all, considering the potential impact on making more progress towards meeting my #1 goal for the year!!!
Ah well! It's the weekend! I have nothing planned! Maybe I will go to the fair to visit my wife!
I
Monday, June 07, 2004
Weekend update 6/7/04--Garage Saleing
Saturday morning I was on my own since "Garage Sale Bob", my saleing buddy was actually on a vacation weekend with his wife!!I know he hated to miss out on our Saturday morning excursion, but what are you going to do!!! Guess he has to spend a little time with her now and then!!
I really go just to have something to do for a couple hours when I get up early and when I go alone I get to listen to "Let's Talk Hookup!" a local fishing show Hosted by Pete and Marty. Marty is none other than Marty Milner, the actor from TV's Route 66 and Adam Twelve, and many, many movies. He must be in his mid 70's by now, and I know he "hooked" onto this show because he gets to go on great fishing trips all over the world on a regular basis--and as a host I would guess he gets to go free!!! What a wonderful way to retire!! I know he misses some Saturdays because he still goes to some RTE 66 conventions as a celebrity guest--and probably makes some dough signing RTE 66 memorabilia. I talked to him one year at the Fred Hall fishing show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds where he and Pete had a booth. They were selling t-shirts and stuff that said "Let's Talk Hookup!" What a great way to make a living, having a radio show on Sat and Sun mornings, and then going fishing!
But I digress!!
My list of desires included a Long Surf Board and a vacuum cleaner for my daughter Sara in Santa Cruz. A Keyboard instrument for My son Matt, and just about anything olde for my main squeeze.
One of the first garage sales had a vacuum which I carefully looked over. It wasn't an expensive model, but it had all the parts, and looked OK, although it was kind of dusty! I asked the seller if it worked!! Like he would tell me that it didn't??? But he sounded honest when he said it worked fine and they had just been using it to vacuum the patio!! That explained the red dust!!!
I am known as a tough barginer! A Lady once kicked me out of her garage sale for insulting her with an offer that she thought was too
ridiculous!! I figured that the vacuum cost about $69 new. My goal is to do about 10 cents to the $ compared to retail--so I asked him if he would take 5 bucks. He said sure and I gave him a $5 bill thinking I had got the best of him!! Then he said, "Let me give you a discount", and gave me a buck in change! So I think he got the best of me in that I offered him more than what he thought it was worth!!!
I really didn't know what to think about that!! It was bothersome. Was I losing my prospective!!
When I got home I cleaned up the vacuum, and actually tried it out on the living room rug. It worked fine!! It looked to be as good as the one we bought for ourselves at a garage sale for $10 a year ago. So maybe I did make a good deal and he was the kind of seller I like to deal with, one who just wanted to "move it".
I recently upgraded the radio in my old Mercedes to a pretty nice panasonic with a CD player, so I have been looking for CDs every week.
My top price is $1. I have bought some good ones for 50 cents-but a buck is ok. So I found a very good Mariah Carey Live concert CD for a buck. I also look for classic LPs since we are one of the few in the world who still have a turntable. Last week I found 2 classic Miles Davis albums, and a Modern Jazz Quartet for 50 cent per, this week I found a Miles Classic, Sketches of Spain, 2 Steely Dans, and a Joni Mitchell Concert album for 25 cents per. Not bad!!
Still looking for the longboard--which is going to cost big bucks, even at a garage sale, and the Keyboard, which I am probably going to have to get at Costco!!
I really go just to have something to do for a couple hours when I get up early and when I go alone I get to listen to "Let's Talk Hookup!" a local fishing show Hosted by Pete and Marty. Marty is none other than Marty Milner, the actor from TV's Route 66 and Adam Twelve, and many, many movies. He must be in his mid 70's by now, and I know he "hooked" onto this show because he gets to go on great fishing trips all over the world on a regular basis--and as a host I would guess he gets to go free!!! What a wonderful way to retire!! I know he misses some Saturdays because he still goes to some RTE 66 conventions as a celebrity guest--and probably makes some dough signing RTE 66 memorabilia. I talked to him one year at the Fred Hall fishing show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds where he and Pete had a booth. They were selling t-shirts and stuff that said "Let's Talk Hookup!" What a great way to make a living, having a radio show on Sat and Sun mornings, and then going fishing!
But I digress!!
My list of desires included a Long Surf Board and a vacuum cleaner for my daughter Sara in Santa Cruz. A Keyboard instrument for My son Matt, and just about anything olde for my main squeeze.
One of the first garage sales had a vacuum which I carefully looked over. It wasn't an expensive model, but it had all the parts, and looked OK, although it was kind of dusty! I asked the seller if it worked!! Like he would tell me that it didn't??? But he sounded honest when he said it worked fine and they had just been using it to vacuum the patio!! That explained the red dust!!!
I am known as a tough barginer! A Lady once kicked me out of her garage sale for insulting her with an offer that she thought was too
ridiculous!! I figured that the vacuum cost about $69 new. My goal is to do about 10 cents to the $ compared to retail--so I asked him if he would take 5 bucks. He said sure and I gave him a $5 bill thinking I had got the best of him!! Then he said, "Let me give you a discount", and gave me a buck in change! So I think he got the best of me in that I offered him more than what he thought it was worth!!!
I really didn't know what to think about that!! It was bothersome. Was I losing my prospective!!
When I got home I cleaned up the vacuum, and actually tried it out on the living room rug. It worked fine!! It looked to be as good as the one we bought for ourselves at a garage sale for $10 a year ago. So maybe I did make a good deal and he was the kind of seller I like to deal with, one who just wanted to "move it".
I recently upgraded the radio in my old Mercedes to a pretty nice panasonic with a CD player, so I have been looking for CDs every week.
My top price is $1. I have bought some good ones for 50 cents-but a buck is ok. So I found a very good Mariah Carey Live concert CD for a buck. I also look for classic LPs since we are one of the few in the world who still have a turntable. Last week I found 2 classic Miles Davis albums, and a Modern Jazz Quartet for 50 cent per, this week I found a Miles Classic, Sketches of Spain, 2 Steely Dans, and a Joni Mitchell Concert album for 25 cents per. Not bad!!
Still looking for the longboard--which is going to cost big bucks, even at a garage sale, and the Keyboard, which I am probably going to have to get at Costco!!
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Memorial Day
I was in the Navy during the Vietnam War era. I was fortunate, perhaps, that I was not ordered to Vietnam, and was not "at risk" during my time served. My Father, however,was part of the Greatest Generation and was in the front lines during many of the great battles of WWII. He was wounded twice and was a decorated infantry G.I in the 7th Armored Division. And, that is about the extent of what I know about his experience in the great war! He was no different than most of the veterans of that war who found that the experience could only be discussed with others who were there and shared it! No one else could understand. Veterans of that war, on both sides of the battle, could sit and talk to each other many years later about their similar feelings and shared experiences. Yet during the war, they would have shot each other on sight.
I happen to think that is true of most verterans who were in the front lines of any war, whose lives were in danger on a daily basis, and whose goal it was to kill another human being. They saw the inhumanity of war and the degradation of the human race which was necessary to hate and kill without hesitation. The enemy had to become something other than a human being, a heine, a kraut, a Tojo or Jap, a slant or gook. And when they got back to the real world they had to live in, they found that it was a false reality and no one who had not been on the battleground could understand how they felt when they were there.
Some were not able to adjust back to what others would consider a normal life. And to all who were not where they had been, there was still no understanding, and not enough support to make them well.
There are alot of young men and women, who like me, served their country in the military, but were fortunate to never be at war and in the line of fire. On Veteran's day they may honored because they were willing to step forward, to be availiable just in case. But Memorial Day is the most important day to honor those who put their lives on the line and lost them for a cause which was thought to be honorable and worthy of that risk, and to the benefit of our nation and humanity.
Someday we can all hope that all humanity will find that violence usually solves no problems, and there will be no living veterans of wars left to remember what war was like. If that comes to pass, perhaps it will be because of those who were there, making those who were not fully understand the reality of war. And we can honor them for that as well!
I happen to think that is true of most verterans who were in the front lines of any war, whose lives were in danger on a daily basis, and whose goal it was to kill another human being. They saw the inhumanity of war and the degradation of the human race which was necessary to hate and kill without hesitation. The enemy had to become something other than a human being, a heine, a kraut, a Tojo or Jap, a slant or gook. And when they got back to the real world they had to live in, they found that it was a false reality and no one who had not been on the battleground could understand how they felt when they were there.
Some were not able to adjust back to what others would consider a normal life. And to all who were not where they had been, there was still no understanding, and not enough support to make them well.
There are alot of young men and women, who like me, served their country in the military, but were fortunate to never be at war and in the line of fire. On Veteran's day they may honored because they were willing to step forward, to be availiable just in case. But Memorial Day is the most important day to honor those who put their lives on the line and lost them for a cause which was thought to be honorable and worthy of that risk, and to the benefit of our nation and humanity.
Someday we can all hope that all humanity will find that violence usually solves no problems, and there will be no living veterans of wars left to remember what war was like. If that comes to pass, perhaps it will be because of those who were there, making those who were not fully understand the reality of war. And we can honor them for that as well!
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