De Young and De Beautiful

It was De Lovely, like a great Cole Porter song, I went ga-ga for the De Young Museum today.

My parents came in for Labor Day weekend and we figured we would get through a few SF exhibits. First and foremost on the list, Chihuly at the de Young.

It was a glassworks exhibit by Dale Chihuly. From the Mille Fiori (a 56-foot garden of glass) to the Saffron Tower (a 30-foot neon sculpture), this exhibition definitely challenges convention and the imagination--bright colors and bold installations--delicate and challenging.

(Below, some photos I took...)











Following a just an ok meal at the De Young cafe (salty Mac-n-Cheese, dried but well-flavored corn and tough, chewy burger.) we strolled over to the Japanese gardens. The weather was cool, but sunny and the gardens were lush but restrained and well-maintained.


The De Young building was a gorgeous piece of modern architecture and with the oft-delayed Academy of Sciences about to open, I have every intention of going back... again and again and again.

p.s.: the artist really reminded me of Albert Finney in Erin Brockovich, but with an eye-patch ( a bit pirate-ty, but not Johnny-Depp in the least). When we were watching the DVD of the glasswork, I kept expecting Julia Roberts to appear. :)

Snapshots

I've been MIA recently. So before getting back to some regularly scheduled programming. just some quick snapshots and captions of the past two weeks.


Finally been to my first Farmer's Market. Best strawberries I've had in a long time. It's on Thursday, near work, so hopefully I can go more often.


This is Billy in front on his current Chevron fuel station. Wonder if there is a friend's and family discount? :)


Went to the American Craft Show at Fort Mason I thought it'd be more like the one at Lincoln Center twice a year, but it wasn't. Was really colorful and very beautiful but a very high price point.

I did manage to find a new little "cute" owl to add to my collection. It looks great in my apartment. It's also green, made from recycled materials--sweaters, that is, by Woolie Originals. I love how it looks like it's in motion.

Last weekend, I was in LA for some family time. Caught up with KT (gotta love cable TV) and went to yet another Loehmann's. Had yet to go to the "best" Loehmann's, so we trooped over to the one in Beverly Hills--the women and men's store. It did not disappoint. But I still like the thrill of the search at the two NYC locations. I did pick up some cool things, and it was by far the best organized one and it had the most insanel cool "Back Room."

*Batteries Not Included

After I drove from CA to CO and back, I bonded with my little white Geo Prism... and after I came back for a visit after moving to NYC, I saw that my car was being held together with duct tape... so my car was my "White Trash Baby."

Now that I have been through my traumatic experience with this white Prius with a green stripe, I have bonded with it too. Debating whether or not to call it Wheems, Jetsam or Flotsam after the baby fix-its from the 1987 film *Batteries Not Included.

Close Call

I thought the most exciting thing that would happen to me this weekend is that I would actually drive for over an hour on my own. That hasn't happened since the summer after my junior year of undergrad, I think.

And although I continue to make an @ss of myself by continuing to assume things. It just goes to show you that life might decide to hand you a sour lemon for you to make limoncello out of some days.

Case in point...

Drove out to San Ramon area to see Billy (post-Singapore assignment) and had to have my car jumped again by AAA. (ps: this guy was friendly and came within 15 minutes of my initial call, but not as nice as the first guy) This time it took a few tries to jump the engine and he suggested that I get the car checked out. I really thought it was just that I hadn't driven it enough the previous jump.

Drove on out to East Bay, no problems. Looking back, I realize just how lucky I was. I volunteered to drive us to lunch, but when we got in the car the door barely unlocked and while the car would turn on, there wasn't enough power to turn it off.

Most dealer service department's aren't open on Sundays. So we opted to drive to the dealership after lunch and ask if we could have the car towed to dealership and then Billy would help me deal with it after work on Monday. I couldn't leave the car in front of Billy's house, because at this point, the car door will no longer lock. Wasn't sure what I was going to do if dealership said no. After ordering I had the brilliant idea of looking up the phone number to the dealership via my Verizon Navigator (best $ I ever spent).

Turns out this particular dealership was OPEN on Sundays. They suggested I get it jumped by AAA (Billy graciously used his membership). I followed his car there. We were met by Levi (Awesomely nice) who I had spoken to on the phone and he said it was likely the car battery (not the hybrid battery). He thought that he could have it replaced if that was the problem by Tuesday. Billy offered to drive me home and then pick me up from Dublin's BART station on Tuesday after work to pick up the car. Shortly after we left the dealership, Levi called and said, they had tested the battery. It was completely dead; he was amazed I hadn't just stopped in the middle of the road. I was told I could pick it up in 45 minutes with a new battery. Just like that.
I drove my newly charged Prius to visit the Chevron CEO station (CEO lives nearby) where Billy is currently training.

I also tried to buy shampoo and while the doors to the salon were open, they were closed for business on Sunday. Foiled again. ...It's a long story, but Erin knows. :) It was really the only blemish in what could have been an atrocious day. I met a Shanghainese handyman. I went to 99 Ranch and Costco and had Vietnamese for lunch.... oh yeah, and drove home successfully.

Billy was a great help... and again I have to thank IMC. During the car drama, Billy actually commented twice on how well I was dealing with the whole situation. Pre-IMC, forget it, drama-city.

Oh and just keeping count of the mis-adventures Billy and I have been on now...
1. Dead Prius
2. Italy or bust... apparently bust (in this case) and now I have way more AA miles than I will ever need
3. British Airways strike while Billy and I are in London (thus affecting American Airlines standby oppty's) R
4. 6 hour ride with Anne on NJ Transit from Philly to NYC in the dead of winter, during a "convince Billy to love NYC as much as Anne and I do trip" Oh and then the theater we went to had no heat. Yup, that was just the cherry on top of the freakin' frozen sundae.

And while each of these incidents were not the most pleasant memories, I've been glad that Billy's been there by my side for each one...

If a Cat Has Nine Lives, How Many Does a Prius Have?

My Prius is dead again. Sigh.

I've been waiting all month to go to the American Craft Show. It was a bit surprising as the styles were a little older and way pricer than I thought. I had gone to look for two b-day presents and three wedding presents. Most of what I picked up was from Woolie Originals. I got two new, little owls. And everything else I was attracted to was from... New York. I did overhear a couple of the designers talking about Evanston next week. I assume this is the Art Festival thing. But it brought a smile to my face when I heard about the festival path.

On a fun note, met up with IMC classmates Shivram and Tyler. We went to Circa for bottomless Mimosa's (!) and got the chance to catch up. It's been really nice as of late to see some many alumnus and friends.

Tomorrow I am going to get the car jumped and venture out to Billy's near San Ramon. Keeping my fingers crossed that the car will make it. Though I had thought about taking Bart, I'll have to try that one of these weekends.

Stronger, Higher, Faster...

Friday night I'll admit, I had my chocolate milk, my carrot sticks, and bologna sandwich (yes, I'm five!) and fuzzy socks on and settled in for the Olympic Ceremonies, which even 'mist all the recent controversy is still the most amazing display I've ever seen. Part of me wishes I could have seen it live and part of me was glad I wasn't there engulfed in the mass crush of people and fireworks smoke. I don't know how London plans to top that show.

I'm sure most people who watch the Olympics feel some kind of connection. I do too. For me, it really started with the Atlanta Games. I was fortunate enough to go as a sponsor's guest and had the most amazing time. I will always, always remember it for a number of reasons.
1. I fell in love with Atlanta.
2. Pin Trading (when you start trading pins with people while standing in line during closing ceremonies, you know you've got the bug)
3. Watching Cuba v. Japan in Men's Baseball Finals 8 rows behind home plate
4. Getting to go to closing ceremonies
5. Meeting Holyfield and Nadia and Bart.
6. Cheering a runner during Track and Field from last to first to last, but still chanting U-S-A.
7. Most importantly, getting to go with my father. At the time my mother suggested I go with my dad, I honestly thought that maybe I wasn't going to make it back in one piece. But it turned out to be, to this day, one of the most striking memories I have with my father. I'm not sure how good a time he had, but he made the trip so wonderful in so many ways that in all honesty it's why I even looked up the oppty that became my summer job before I graduated.

So that brings me to the other reason that the Olympics are special to me. I got to work for the USOC on Corporate Sponsorships and live in Colorado Springs, at the training facility. It was right before Sydney, so again that experience made the Olympics near and dear to my heart.
1. Getting to stare at Ian Thorpe through the glass window to the pool to watch him train
2. Meeting some great people that I still to this day know what they are up to
3. Working with some of the biggest companies in the world
4. Finally bonding with my 1996 Geo Prism and learning how to drive (for once)
5. Driving by cows, horses and antelope everyday on the way to work
6. Playing Pictionary and Taboo with the athletes
7. Choosing between WalMart and Tar-jey
8. Learning how to shoot a pistol, pretty well actually (way more fun to me than gambling)

So for Sydney, I was up at insane hours, watching and cheering people that I had actually gotten to know over the summer at an Olympics.

Part of my job had been to collect potential host material for the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. For 2012, London won, but being in NYC while it was a finalist was actually kinda cool.

And as for 2008, there is an element of pride and a hope of a good presentation to the world. There will be no stage bigger to show how far China has come and how far it has left to go. (Oh, yeah, and did I mention the Men's 400 Relay?) I was screaming at the TV. :)

I Guess I Have to Learn to Love the Road

With all the flying I've been doing lately, and friends in town, I have seriously neglected my car. This weekend was almost no different. Tried to start it and it was dead... even the doors wouldn't "tha-thunck" and lock. No keyless start, just no start...at all. I took stock and realized that I haven't started my car in a month. So I spent quite a bit of time this weekend researching how badly I might have damaged my car. Turns out, while not good, not too bad. Called AAA on Tuesday, first time I have used them since being a member for over 20 years (not sure why I had a AAA card when I was 9 or 10, but oh well). The guy who came was really nice, very friendly... though SF is more like NYC then I thought. Some chick tried to steal my technician right out from under me. When he pulled up, she came outta nowhere and starting talking about he needed to come jump "her" car, it had died, blah, blah, blah, until he pointed at me and said, "You need to wait. She called AAA; you should too." Ha! (So this weekend, I'll be driving to San Ramon... watch out everyone.)

The rest of my weekend was pretty fun too. My friend the Sophie Marceau look-a-like, came into town. We met up on Saturday and went with her friend Amy to Mama's. And I have to say, it did not disappoint at all. Thankfully we made it in before they closed, and we even ended up in a booth seat. The mgr and owner gave us the best tip ever, forget the maple syrup, they have homemade blackberry jam that is TOO DIE FOR. After a yum brunch (accompanied by a glass of milk), we headed down Union to do a little shopping and later Kara's Cupcakes.

p.s.: I am so disappointed in the recent iteration of the Hillshire Farms "Go Meat!" commercials. I have stopped chanting along. Another one bites the dust.

Home Ec Skills On Display

See me hard at work on "bridesmaid duty"! Check out the rehearsal bouquet I created with the tissue paper and ribbons and tassels (yes, that's right tassels, because what shower would be complete without tassels?!) from the presents the bride-to-be received at her Broadway themed bridal shower.

I'm One; What's Your Excuse?

I have no excuse. :)

I have an new admiration for all good parents. (When I said this to my mother Monday morning, she laughed so hard and for so long I was a bit concerned.) I also understand why I am totally not ready to be one.

Grec and Pem can this weekend with Baby W for a visit. The last time I saw Baby W was when he was not yet walking. What a difference a few months makes! This time he was walking and moving all the time. And he's like a whole person now, complete with personality and an adorable, heartbreakingly awesome smile.

I have always liked visits from Grec and Pem. They are the perfect guests that you wish for (ok, I wish for). And even with Baby W in tow, they were still a welcome addition to my now empty and too-quiet apartment.

So Saturday was jammed-packed. I finally got to see a bit more of SF thanks to Grec and Pem. (Pictures TK)
1. We started off by going to second b-fast at The Grove on Chestnut (Eggs Florentine, only so-so)
2. Then we walked to the Bay
3. Then to Fort Mason
4. Out to the walkway leading to Alcatraz
5. Then the little beach
6. Then Ghiradelli's
7. Then down to the Embarcadero, Pier 39 and then to see the Sea Lions
8. Then we took the Light Rail (muni pass works) down to Market and the Ferry Building, before arriving at the Yerba Buena Carousel.
9. I got to go on the Merry-Go-Round too and got to watch Baby W's first ride.
10. We went to the Zeum playground, where completely by chance, one of the playground people made up a song and rhymed a song with "Aunt Winnie" while I was standing there (he didn't know my name!). I got to take Baby W with me down a slide!
11. Then we went to dim sum and beard papa.

I know that was just a long list, but this post will never end otherwise. I now have a much better idea of what I live around at least. And that night, I have never fallen asleep so quickly. Sunday was great... had brunch at Squat & Gobble with Grec & Pem and A & D. While I normally love the crepes here, it was a bit too crowded for my tastes but the company was nice and the conversation was lovely.

Grec and Pem are good parents... I say that not only because of they way that they take such good care of Baby W, but also because in a short 14 months they have already perfected the art of distraction. After this weekend, I realize that I am still an immature toddler compared to Grec and Pem. I had seen almost nothing of SF since I arrived and they managed to exhaust me to the point that I forgot to be nervous about babysitting, changing diapers, feeding, or dropping the baby on its head (accidentally, of course). And you know what, they were right, it turned out fine... though I have to attribute most of that to my friend Ann who came and kept me company and played tag team with me when it came to Baby W. Wihtout her, I would have been reduced to fetal position as well.

Like the book, All the Things I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, there are a few things that I learned from Grec and Pem's visit.
1. I need to clean more; dustbunnies are my enemy
2. Babies are way more durable than I thought
3. I too, want a stuffed animal whale taller than me
4. Dustbins are my friend
5. Sharing is much easier than I thought

And to Grec and Pem: Come Back! I miss you already! :)