Car Show

Andrew's wife will be very happy next year: Andrew (far left) may be getting a Mercedes (no pressure Andrew)! What a wonderful husband.

Boy Band, Bird and Basketball

How I spent Thanksgiving: lots of heartfelt thanks to my friend Sara's family for a lovely Turkey day. The Boy Band (far left) kept me entertained; Son's turkey was incredible (made with lots of love); and we burned off the food playing night basketball.

Something to Sneeze About

Sauntering through Alameda this past weekend, we saw this sign. My friend and I couldn't help cracking up!

Helenium, Sneezeweed - by Betty Barr Mackey:
Looking just a bit like sunflowers, heleniums, or sneezeweed, are bright and cheerful perennials in shades of gold, rust, orange, and red. They flower in the fall with huge masses of two-inch blooms on branched stems three to five feet tall. They have a common name, swamp sunflower, which is not surprising. They are more often called sneezeweed because the inconspicuous green leaves were once commonly used to make snuff. Although native to North America, they were not popular in gardens here until European breeders worked with them.
http://home.howstuffworks.com/define-helenium-sneezeweed.htm

Lenny Kravitz and Billy Joel

Thanks to some great Oracle friends, I saw Lenny Kravitz and Billy Joel. Billy got the bigger stage and all the lights from all California-based Home Depots working for him. I think he deserved it with everything he's gone through.





Needless to say, Lenny was amazing. If I ever get to meet him, I want to say "I dig your music."

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos photos from The Mission, SF. Day of the Dead celebrates that life doesn't stop when you pass on. Life continues after death.

Happiness is a Day at the Beach

Who can not be happy roaming on the sand and surf in November with great dogs?

Fetch!

Dogs think humans have outrageous powers: This black lab wanted me to hurl the 15 pound log so we can play fetch. At least someone in the world believes in my super-human strength. :)

Into the Trees

October: Hiking in Marin (San Francisco's North Bay), then pancake breakfast. I'm soooo content.

Oscar Meyer

If I can be a child again, I want one of these Oscar Meyer wheels in the backyard. On second thought, a friend just had twins and I may send 2 of these for the kids.

Office Halloween

Here's Halloween the unofficial corporate way: have a blow-up haunted house in the office lobby. Thanks to Vanna for posing in this pic. We had the best party at work (thanks Eunice for surprising us!).

Fall Inspirations

Enjoy the Fall colors.

For Ami

Everytime I look at this, I think about Ami Vitale, my favorite photojournalist. I wish Ami well and safe wherever she's shooting in the world. Thanks for your encouragement about photography Ami.

Connections

Bay Meadows Raceway, San Mateo, California.
Some people have a way with animals. Connecting with something without saying a word is pure magic.

Raceway

Bay Meadows Raceway, San Mateo, California.
Bay Meadows Racetrack opened on November 3, 1934. In 2008, it will be closing down for redevelopment (i.e. some real estate people making lots of moula).
Mom used to get upset when dad was at the racetrack. Now that I'm older, I can tell why dad loved it there so much. The excitement, the sportmanship, the adrenaline the crowd gets when their horse is in the home stretch.

Claps

Children at Baudeogi Festival. South Korea (October 2007).
Every little bit of clapping helps an artist connect with their audience.

Love What You Do: Baudeogi Festival

Tightrope artist at Baudeogi Festival, South Korea. Celebration of performing arts culture in October 2007.

Don't think I've ever smiled this much at work - ever. :) Can't do it though, I'm afraid of heights.

Audrey and Ella

Children's laughs are like the echos of angels.

Reminds me of Dad

Seoul, South Korea (May 2007). Reminds me of my Dad, of the times he waited with me till the big yellow bus came. I know he cared about me, even though he didn't say much while we waited. With some people, you know how they feel without words.

Mais Oui, it's Par-eeee

Saw my good friend Judy yesterday at Cafe Jacqueline. We were satisfying our much needed souffle craving in this darling French Restaurant. You know how women yap and yammer, so we gabbed about one of our favorite 2007 trips, to Paris in February. I've been fortunate to play a part in helping Judy's then boyfriend plan a surprise proposal under the Eiffel Tower. Thank you Judy and Brian, for letting me remember the Eiffel Tower in hearfelt ways.

All the White Horses

As there's no traveling in August, I'll keep busy with reminiscing about the awesome trips I've had.

A bit chilly in San Francisco today. The brisk breath of cold takes me back to December 2006, Vienna. It was minus 2 degrees Celsius then, and the only shelter I found from the Winter numbness was watching the Lipizzaner Stallions. These horses are the true embodiment of Grace.

Auschwitz

Guard Tower at Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, Poland (December 2006).

Remember each and everyone, for they are individual human beings.

Prague

That's Prague Castle in the background. It was f-f-freezing for my December 2006 visit. Czech Republic warmed me up to beer that cost $1.25USD a glass vs. a bottle of water for $2.50USD.

Helpful Fuzziness

One of my favorite self-portraits.

Blessings

When I count my blessings, I count you twice.

Explode-a-rific

Has anyone ever asked, "What would your last meal on earth be?" I thought about this dilemma this Saturday morning, after hoovering up Friday night's chicken udon, chef's special sashimi platter, 2 gi-normous mishmash seafood rolls, and salad (don't forget your veggies!). All that food was sucked up passionately by me and my friend, Michael. Would I want Japanese food as my last meal? I'd certainly make room for it. But hey, this gal's home range is the Bay Area, where I'd need to add the below on the last meal plat-du-lifetime:

- divide plate into a clock

- noon to 1 o'clock: insert Lahore Restaurant's potato and pea samosas, with mango lassi

- 1 to 2 o'clock: ika, hamachi and salmon sashimi, with Sapporo beer

- 2 to 3: mom's garlic pork chops, stewed tomatoes, and accompanied with her veggie borscht

- 3 to 4: prime rib from House of Prime Rib and Mas de Daumas Gassac red wine

- 4 to 5: Dave's potato gratin and oven beef ribs

- 5 to 6: fois gras from Seasons Restaurant

- 6 to 7: sister-in-law's puttanesca pasta

- 7 to 8: Trader Joe's cornmeal pizza (any variety)

- 8 to 9: Grandpa Wagner's Belgium waffles

- 9 to 10: Roy's Restaurant's chocolate molten lava cake

- 10 to 11: garlic fries from Gordon Biersch Brewery, wash it down with chocolate stout

- 11 to 12: finish off with my own rice krispie treats

I'll exit from this lifetime with an explode-a-rific menu, and the biggest burp I can muster. Although the meal wouldn't mean much if my family and friends weren't around. I miss y'all and can't wait to catch up with what the haps is going on in your lives.