78. Oh Viggo!

As it turns out there is one bad thing about Cali so far--the days are all so good that spending a lazy day makes me feel guilty as rot. But today we just laid around, packed for our business trips, and went to see "Eastern Promises" which was really good.

Of course, you know, it was an interesting movie. I won't give any of that away. The acting by Viggo was great. Maybe everyone else did OK too.

But what I really want to say is...well, I can't say what I REALLY want to say. So I'll say this: Viggo is hot. Even as a tattooed tough-guy with funny mobster hair, Viggo is hot. And such a tremendous talent.

That is all I have to say about that.

77. Cat Cat Cat

Today was a first for Cameron Trichel--he spent the afternoon in the presence of a CAT. Cameron was enamoured; he just kept saying, "Cat. Cat. Cat." with perfect little 'T' sounds. If the cat went away, he'd say, "Again!" If the cat went to the top of the cat tree, he'd say, "Down!" He chased after Philo round and round saying, "Pet. Pet." and "Cat. Cat." It was The Best. Not just because Cameron knows the word Cat and the meaning of Up, Down, and Pet, but because here you had someone who was truly amazed, totally uncertain, but still completely in love. If he was separated from his cat hunt, he was distraught, and with furrowed brow he would say, "Cat. Cat." in such a way that we could only understand him to be saying, "Oh no! Woe is me!"

We have all been so small.

As for Philo, I'm sure he felt a bit annoyed and tormented. Here was this uncontrollable and not-too-steady attacker. Smaller than his people, but larger than life just the same, always coming after him yelling repeatedly. So he would say to Cameron, in that endearing and very loud way that he has of asserting his presence and needs, "Mrrwauw!" To which Cameron would reply, "Meow."

It's hard to say whether they understood one another, but one thing is for certain--Cameron did not relent. It seems apparent that as one chases one's dreams, one could benefit from such a fresh perspective: to see obstacles as if never seen before, to chase happiness with such persistence as one would kick and scream if removed from the hunt. One's pursuit is not always easy; as one gets nearer the soft warm pet of one's soul, things move, change, collide, run...and sometimes screech and howl.

What the heart must do is to look things in the face, reach out, and roar back.

76. Pomegranate

For Friday 29 September

Juicy ripe pomegranates are just about to be in season. I had my first pomegranate eating experience ever and it was lovely. It tasted so fresh -- that slightly cranberry, slightly cherry, slighty who-knows-what-but-pomegranate taste. It's a bit awkward to eat and the seeds make a weird crunchy sensation in the midst of all the sweetness, but it was so wonderful.
I love California. Because I got my Pomegranate at the farmer's market; because the farmer gave me tips on how to eat it; because it is a little bit of sunshine in my mouth.

75. The Air Out There

California is great. It's fall and we're getting new flowers. These daisy-like creatures popped up, the lavender is still going, the hydrangeas, and we have other things that are just starting to flower that I can't name so can't tell you about.

It's been in the 80s the last few days and sunny, of course. And that helps me go out and ride my bike. I'm so out of shape, but it felt so good to take a break after 6 hours of work and just go for a ride in the sun.

74. You Can't Microwave Steel Cut Oats

Dear Readers, I know I suck; I know I have been absent. It's not that I haven't been thinking of you. I had many columns planned, such as my breakfast outing to Stacks, my new daisies, and my first mountain biking trip. But alas, it is too late to talk about those days gone by. Today - Super Oatmeal.

In my routine physical checkup, it came to light that my cholesterol is "great"; that is to say GREAT!! complete with multiple exclamation points and a smiley face from my doctor who personally sent my results via snail mail. While this was good news, it was also shocking considering my genetic predisposition to high cholesterol, other crappy heart stuff, near diabetic stuff, and--if I may admit without harassment--a genetic predisposition to the junk food. Anyway, turns out my GOOD Cholesterol is exceptionally HIGH! Higher than anyone else she's seen!

And pretty much, this is my only recent accomplishment, so I seek to take credit (albeit totally inexplicable and accidental). So I asked my Doc what might be the thing I am doing so right? She said it was probably genes. Since this seemed laughable, I asked Ross, "What is the thing I am doing so right?" And he said:

IT MUST BE THE SUPER OATMEAL

At which point I realized I hadn't even made super oatmeal in forever. So when mid-day rolled around and I was hankering for a hunk of snack, super oatmeal was on the menu. Problem is, last time Ross got me oatmeal, he got me steel cut instead of rolled. Now, the taste of super oatmeal is really awesome and I'm so glad I invented it, but the other super-ocity of super oatmeal is it's speed. I always microwave the oats, which means super oatmeal is ready in about 3.5 minutes (including commuting to the kitchen and all other prep time).

Steel cut oats will not be microwaved. They will not stand for it. I tried it. They were drowning in water. I put them in for a second round, and still...nothing but drowning little oats under a pool of bubbling water. And finally their foreman shouted out for the directions and for mercy. I sent them rolling down the drain only to put their cousins in the pot on the stove-top. This too was a bit of a disaster as boiling something, stirring it for 5 minutes then simmering it for 30 is a bit...much to ask of a distracted worker in mid-afternoon. I scraped what I could from the pot and made super oatmeal anyway, but...

Maybe tomorrow I'll get it right. Super Oatmeal is a thing of beauty.

65. Workin' Hard & Hardly Workin'

Today I worked 12 hour day, catching up, documenting, meeting, you know the drill. And Philo, as usual, when not screaming in the background to embarrass me in meetings was alternating between laying on my office bed, climbing to the top of my bed in the bedroom, or hanging out under a bush in the patio. Could this be a little more equitable? Can I teach him skills?

My cat does this: So we got him this: And all he does is this:

64. Home Sweet Home

For Sunday 16 September

Dear Readers,
Keeping up the blog while on the road was too tricky and I apologize. I had many an adventure including: L'il Dinos subs in Pinehurst NC, Ring and dress shopping and centerpiece planning with Lora, Bad-ass cupcakes for Marc's birthday, and starting a batch of sea-monkeys. I saw Darcy's new baby and Marla's big belly (baby inside). I ate more ice cream than I'd care to admit.

And I was so glad to get home. I got up early and watched Six Feet Under DVD that Ross hadn't been able to wait to see. We went for brunch at Hobee's in Palo Alto which is rated #2 for Breakfast/Brunch on the peninsula. I know, why not #1 for our reunion? Well, that's Stack's and we'd already been there! Hobee's had great food--I had a south of the border omelette complete with fresh salsa and guac, along with a blueberry coffee cake we couldn't finish, and the most delicious Iced-Tea I've had in a long time--orange cinnamon, all natural flavoured...

It's good to be home!

54. Bye Bye Tucson

Tucson's been good to me. Been deep in my project work. Been deep into working out again--and learning how to do strength training with bands instead of a gym. Been focusing on my health and am ready to keep going.

On to NC for Wedding Planning with Lora (yes, it's capitalized...) which will be fun if not a bit prickly, just like this cactus with it's tender flower.

51-53. Working in Tucson

When I work in Tuc with Kath, time morphs and there's no regular work day. The energy in AZ is inherently relaxing and nothing feels pressing (even when it is).

Friend Suzanne is here too and we've been working, eating, working, working out, eating. Today's breakfast & lunch (one meal...we're being starved!) was up at Gus Balon's, which was a real old time diner, such a treat.

It wouldn't have been complete without a car chick on the lincoln...

50. Marine Adventure-Life is so cool

After a leisurely Sunday morning, we headed out to Half Moon Bay where we managed to hit low tide. The seals floated and flipped out in the water while we explored the tide pools. Funny seaweed in the brightest greens, dark reds. Pink coral. Barnacles, muscles and hermit crabs. Patchworks of anemonies appeared on the rocks. And then we found huge blossom-like ones in green with light purple, and some that were closed up and looked like giant slugs. If you touch the petal-like bits, they catch you with suction.

The Sea Stars (Starfish) were a major highlight in red, orange and brown. Then...Helmut spotted something different, a sea star with 21 legs. It was blue and it was moving fast--and it was BIG. After we called a family with young children over to check out the sea star, we realized it was on the hunt. It chased down a regular old star fish and ate it right in front of us. We'd none of us seen anything like it, that beautiful blue monster--a Sunflower Starfish.

Sun set on a clear day, and it was gorgeous, complete with Seals laying out on the rocks just off shore. As Helmut said as we all sat in wonder looking at the sea creatures, "Life is so cool."

49. SAN FRANCISCO!

Golden Gate Park, The Japanese Tea Room, The Presidio, Dinner in the marina...

Helmut and Laura are up from L.A. and we're having a blast! Helmut grew up in the city and spent about four years in Menlo Park (about two blocks from where we live now), so he toured us around. We had a leisurely day, and it was a beauty in San Francisco--sunny and warm. We got great views of the city from high on the hill and had a lovely italian dinner in the Marina (Gnocchi with yellow and green zucchini, corn, romano cheese, and pea puree...DELISH!)

48. (Grate)Full Friday

Friday 31 August


Today was one of those busy days that aren't stressful busy but fulfilling and content busy. I started the day with a 6am meeting and a little work, then had an overdue chat with Kendra and did the house-cleaning.


I headed to a salon that was 4 miles away because, well, because it got the best reviews of anywhere near here on Yelp.com which is apparently THE place that we Bay Area folk go to find the scoop. I really didn't know any way to get there besides El Camino which is a very busy 3 & 4- lane thoroughfare with no bike lane. I was so nervous about the traffic and so worried about being late that I got there in 20 minutes. Which for someone who hasn't done anything in 1.5 years and who had to wait for several traffic lights is...amazing. The way home was much more peaceful. This photo was taken on a bridge between Menlo Park and Palo Alto. I managed to find a bike shop on the way home where I bought a map and got directions home. What a lovely ride!
Feeling that if I could make an 8-mile RT commute on my bike I could do ANYTHING, I started the bathroom decal project when I got home. For a pepto-pink bathroom, I'm really pretty pleased with how it's come out.


And with company arriving tomorrow, the house cleaned up real nice. We are officially all settled. All the art is hung, everything is put away save a few boxes of art supplies in the garage.
So, what better way to kick off a holiday weekend and the official end to the unpacking, than to meet up with friends for dinner. Gargi and Jason (Jason and Ross above) hosted us at their place and we kept them up WAY too late. It's so nice to have friends already here.

And so, I am full. I can think, work, be creative, connect with friends, do projects with the Fred, and ride my bicycle. How lucky am I?