Mad Men, now streaming live on Netflix!

We started watching Mad Men this weekend. We plan to watch the whole series on Netflix, while drinking cocktails, and eating casseroles and Jell-o desserts.  

We're absolutely hooked and loving every minute of the few episodes we've watched so far.  Wow that dashing Don Draper.  It's hard to be so torn between loving and hating the era, but I, for one, think we need to bring back the pitcher of Bloody Mary's in the conference room, don't you?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get my caboose into the kitchen to freshen up my husband's martini.

Hooray for Zoo Zealand!

Remember that little penguin who swam all the way to New Zealand and officials were "allowing nature to take it's course" on?  Well, he was finally removed from the beach and given surgery to help him survive nature's course of mistakenly eating beach sand and driftwood, and is being housed in the zoo for now!

 Lost Penguin Perks Up After Surgery

I'm hoping that this means he'll be rescued for real from here on out, and I'm sure that someone will write a children's book about him and his valient little life story.

P.S. How in the world are the EXPERTS not able to tell if it's male or female?? Did anyone else read that?

Lost Penguin

My heart breaks for this Emperor penguin who swam all the way to New Zealand from Antarctica!  Researchers won't take him home in worry that he may have caught a disease from swimming in the warmer water, and becuase the logistics of getting him back to Antarctica this time of year are too difficult.   Read the article in the SF Chronicle at sfgate.com here:

Stranded Emperor Penguin Won't Get Trip Back Home

Wildlife officials say the penguin has been eating wet sand, likely mistaking it for snow, and Simpson said its plight has sparked entreaties from around the world asking New Zealand to help the penguin get home since it was spotted Monday.
--Nick Perry, Associated Press

I wish they'd at least take him in at a zoo and take care of him. Don't you just love Emperor penguins??
Photo: Richard Gill / AFP/Getty Images

Jimmy Choo to the Rescue

My only "Black Friday" purchase arrived in the mail. As a public transport comuter, my handbag is like a little sidekick, taking care of me the whole day; this one is like my new best friend. I'll take a quick moment to remember the amazing Marni bag that it's replacing, and look forward to the future with you on my shoulder. I sure love a good hobo.

The Art of Simple Food

I long for a life filled with good friends, good conversation, good food, and good music. Tonight, I had all four at one time, and it was lovely. A wonderful end to a wonderful day.
Switched it up a little and went to a different church this morning. It was a great chance for me to remember all the people that God has made and placed here, serving, living, sustaining; also a great chance to remember where God has placed me.

Shake Shake Shake Sonora

Had an amazing weekend building new friendships and relaxing in Sonora this weekend. What a rejuvination of my soul.

We booked it out of the City Friday night, and met up with two other couples for dinner and piled into one big car for the drive out, and arrived at our gracious host's a few hours later, ready for the weekend to come. Saturday morning we drove up the hill to Yosemite, down into the valley floor and up to Badger Pass, where we spent a not so lazy afternoon cross-country skiing, before hot chocolates at the posh Awanee hotel, not without waterfalls, a very wolf-looking coyote, and all of the splendor of the Yosemite Valley. Spent a fanastic night back in Sonora, with wine for the not pregnant, pizza and conversation for all. Family style church Sunday morning, and then boys and girls did boy and girl things (like burning the yard waste pile & riding motorcyles and reading & chatting under blankets), before heading back to our seperate lives in seperate places.

cross country

I don't know if I ever brought this about from our last little day adventure in winter; we're headed off to another, this time for a weekend, and with four others. Yosemite bound, to passively enjoy nature [and friends], and have some cocoa after we dry out from all the snow that's supposed to fall on us.

Donner Lake Nat'l Park, January 2010

so my darling I'll succumb

sometimes I want to pretend I can fit in, when I realize they invite me because they just don't know; but inevitably:
-I drink gin, not vodka; Trappist beer, not Bud Lite.
-I wear bangs, not eye-makeup; cardigans, not date tops.
-I listen to bands you've maybe never heard of, not top 40.
-I go to church, not brunch.

and I like it.

Overheard at Luella

To Chris and Chase during Ali's Birthday dinner Saturday night:

"My life is so understaffed right now, I have no time for anything! I realized I haven't talked to some of my best friends since January, and forget about laundry."

I hope you gnome where you're going

Andy's old roommate got a new roommate and they threw a housewarming party. Since they are two of a kind, they made it a twin themed party, and you had to wear matching ensembles with a buddy. Andy and I went as garden gnomes (NOT Elves, despite the holiday time of year, GNOMES, with a G). We were a hit. What you can't see in this picture is probably the best detail, aside from the hats which were key; I made Andy a little red pouch that attatched his belt (worn on the outside of his cardigan) which he filled with nuts and coins.


Schnitzvite!

judgement

I try hard to keep an open mind in fairness, kindness, and in want of self-improvement. I don't even know where to begin my thoughts now.
I had a conversation tonight that broke my heart. It's good to know, that while I think I'm growing, and recognize that I am a work in progress, not everyone sees it that way.
While I put strong weight on the perception of me by others, the question now becomes: do I continue to be what I am and simply publish a more carefully edited version, or do I try to become more what other people want me to be?

you + me + mistletoe

Things to include to my holiday to-do list are:
i. Ice skating at embarcadero plaza
ii. Find roasted chestnuts and eat them hot
iii. See the Barney’s and Macy’s (with puppies!) holiday windows
iv. Make mulled wine and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life”
v. Egg nog latte in a red cup held with two hands
vi. Attend lighting ceremonies around town, beginning with the Market Street Lighting on the 16th.

Sign-up sheets will be available in the foyer after the service.

H-A-LL-O-W-EE-N Spells Halloween.

THIS was a great Halloween. I love Halloween. It's a contender for favorite days of the year, especially when you have friends like mine who throw awesome parties and come up with clever costumes. Fan-freakin-tastic, I must say.

See how they run!


David takes my milkshake, two blind mice, and Larry Byrd





We carved an Exploding Dog pumpkin and WON funniest pumpkin in the contest Andy's building at work sponsored.

We are the stars of San Francisco

Sometimes I feel so happy about my life that I want to just scream. (In a few days life at work is going to get so full and creep over the rest of my life like a fungus that suffocates a plant.) Perhaps insert background Mates of State song gleefully bounding out happiness.
Praise the Lord for my spirit which is renewed and for the joy I'm finding in life these days. May was a little shakey, June was a rough one, July broke my spirit, August was a blessing, September full of lessons and sunshine, and October has started so well and continues, brimming with hope.


I live here. Come join please.



Unexpectedly went dancing Saturday night which ended up being the best and fullest night. I've missed dancing and I've missed adventures, the random nights are the best. After dancing til wee hours we were sweaty and went in search of sprinklers at my favorite park. Instead what we found was a soapbox car and race lane left over from that afternoon's Soapbox Derby (I so love my city). We of course pushed it onto the street and up the hill to ride down. The second time we went higher, and got busted by the 5.0. It's okay, the Po' can't hold us down.




"One more night, that was a good one." -Stars

My heels are high, my eyes cast low.

Stars at the Fillmore. A fantastically good show and night.



Yes please and thank you very much.
No poster, what?

my thursday was better than yours

Pretty sure. Thank you SF Moma and great company.


Frida Kahlo exhibit.

Serious highlights from the rest of the night:

Half-Life of a Dream: Contemporary Chinese Art from the Logan Collection

"This is the land of dreaming, in which the context is vivid, but the particulars are hard to grasp." --Jeff Kelley

and

I love this Rothko, and my time spent sitting in front of it.
From the permanent collection.


This is how I understand the world and what it feels.
This is how I see/meet/know.

WHAAHOOOO!!!

I'm an aunt!!

The Adventures of Baby Stenz

The Stenslers are going to be parents, and I am going to be an aunt, I'm going to be an aunt, I'm going to be aunt!!

Autumn blew the quilt right off the perfect bed she made.

I've been called "different" by several boys on multiple occasions lately, and it's piqued some thought in me. Phrases have included "intriguing," "a-typical," "not-cookie cutter," and the ever unifying word "different." It occurred to me earlier this summer how interesting it is that so few years ago we aimed for homogeny, being like everyone else, fitting in while now we strive for the opposite, to be unique, noticeable, distinct; I drive at my own created style and signature touch.
Even tho it has been my unrealized goal to be different, my inability to attract or retain a boys attention, and the recent comments on my being "different" begs the question of is different an attractive quality or a hindrance to getting a date? Where is the line drawn between different-attractive and different-weird? Also, if I'm so different, why do I attract the same type of boys?

dancin' shoes: ON

sam brown always says it best.

nice.

Yesterday was such a good day:

I signed up for another season of kickball!
I bought a plane ticket home to San Diego to see good friends and shower Courtney and Baby Christenson, to get a little sunshine with Casey as she recovers, and to catch up with my wonderfully missed friends. Aug 7-13 will hopefully be 5 days of straight sundresses.
I wore super hot shoes that made me feel fabulous.
I have a place to live! The first choice that at first chose someone else, chose me second. I'm on my way over now to drop off my deposit.
Met up with long lost family, my mom's cousins and their daughters whom I have not seen since I was maybe 2? They are fun, and dinner was fantastic!
THEN, met up with the girls for a well-deserved night of dancing since we all FINALLY have a day off of work today.

This month's excersise in trust and dependencey feels like it is working out, and I feel thankful for the understanding.