"Hey Barkeep!"

My heartfelt thanks to all of you who came out last night to support me and support a great cause!

I was truly truly honored to see each and everyone of you as I made my first (and possibly only) foray into the world of bartending. I got to see family and friends, both old and new, meet and mingle over cocktails. And if that doesn't warm your heart, well, then you're dead inside.

Thanks again to each and everyone of you.. and thanks to the Mercury Bar for being such great hosts. (I'll be back for the ribs!) With your help, over $200 was raised towards the Tallship Educational Academy!


Now back to your regular scheduled programming.......

NOLA Week, Part 2: Finding Beauty

Five days down in the South, and there's been so much to take in.
I've been listening to stories, working with locals. and listening to local news radio. And like I just told someone back on the West Coast, the sh*t is bananas.

I'm here with a fantastic nonprofit called Relief Spark that has been here since November 2005. Sydney Ray and this grassroots organziation work with many of the other non-profits; providing donations, supplies, and volunteers. And in fact, its been a very effective way to see many different aspects of the Katrina fallout; as opposed to working with just Habitat or just Hands On New Orleans. Do not misconstrue as they are wonderful organizations... just different.

First up, we took a tour of the lower 9th Ward. Things are still eerily quiet....

And guess what? Sydney Ray also has a Westie(Chica)! ... She joined us for the tour too.
You can see here 1 dog was found on 9-29 by the SPCA... Although I was told by some people that the LASPCA really only picked up dogs that didn't seem too sickly and aggressive.. And let others to go it on their own. I couldn't believe my ears...!

It was heartening to see some rebuilding in action.
You can see where the floodline rose up to on the house below. This building was lucky...

And then we happened upon the Brad Pitt house! ... Well, thats what people are calling it. It's really the Holy Cross Project.The framing wood is entirely Forest Stewardship Council certified, and is 'blue' because of the use of a proprietary 'Bluwood' nontoxic borate treatment that protects against mold, fungus and reduces the need to use toxic pesticides to frequently spray homes for termites.
I will leave you with some beauty found in the Holy Cross District. The Doullut Steamboat House was built in 1887 by a riverboat pilot. In 1912 Milton Doullut's son built its twin across the street. On a beautiful sunny day, they were a sight to behold. I have not been able to get a story on how they were able to survive however. I think its just a testament to a house built with care and technique, as opposed to most of the Shotgun Houses that populate the area.

NOLA Week, Part 1: Whistling Winn-Dixie

I was not too pleased with the way my morning started.. But then again, I rarely am when I have to get up before 6am. Having to fight my Hello Kitty suitcase for what seemed an eternity didn't help matters either. At the airport I played dumb and checked-in at the Paper Ticket Counter.. (huh?? what????). After a small reprimand, I ended up at the short security checkpoint at the end of the terminal. Huzzah! A power-hungry TSA agent insisted I carry my laptop IN HAND and consolidate my handbag and my laptop bag because I had too many carry-ons. Excuse me ma'm, which airline do YOU work for? Oh none? I see. Orange Level Security at its best. (So far the best part of my morning is D getting me to the airport in most excellent time. I would say it was the joke he cracked about the army, and bugles, what WAS the joke exactly? But it was 5:45am... nothing is cute at 5:45am.)

Flight to LA consisted of a toddler crying HIS HEAD OFF on the plane. Mother and son were a good 6 rows ahead of me and there was some hullaboo about being seated in an emergency exit row. The child was already crying like a hellcat. But then some "helpful" person in the seat in front of me volunteered to trade seats. WTF???? I was THIS tempted to say .. "Actually, I rather you not." But I held my tongue and suffered the next 55 minutes for it.

ENOUGH of that. Anyway...by the time I arrived at Louis Armstrong International Airport, I had a full set of Louis Vuitton luggage under my eyes. ... Can I volunteer sufficiently in a zombie-like state?... Seems I have arrived on a nice low-humidity day; so things are looking up.

Driving through the Garden District to get to the condo, I am in awe of all the amazing homes here. Each and every one an architectural wonder. I have a roomie here in NO, James, who has so generously offered to drive me around. From Burbank, he's a Claims Resolution Specialist who's been here not long after Katrina hit. He's giving me some good scoops. He even takes me out to dinner at Felix's Uptown(Original French Quarter location shuttered by Katrina) where we gorge on oysters é raw, Rockefeller, Bienville, and grilled. YUM. Aside: methinks James has taken me under his wing as he calls me "sweetie" when I drop my Winn-Dixie bag only to find my grape jelly has broken. Before I meet with the director of Relief Spark tomorrow morning, he's taking me for my first cup of chicory coffee.

Can't quite get a gauge of the overall "mood" of the City yet.. but the few people James has introduced me to today(as a volunteer) have showered me with hugs and "God Blesses". They had me at "Would you like a Mojito?..."

A bit bleary eyed from the travel and the sights; I never even took my camera out. But I intend to have a full days worth of pictures to share tomorrow

Anniversaries

Fortunate or not, D and I celebrate our anniversary on 9/11. At first I felt it a dubious shadow that cast itself upon "our day"... but it's actually a wonderful remedy to an otherwise somber day that serves as an reminder of death. My morning started tearful and melancholy(and snotty) and as I was still feeling a bit under the weather... I didn't think I'd be able to see my honey. Which, of course, made me even more glum.

But when I told D I would be homebound, he delighted me by saying.. "Well, guess what! I'm coming your way!" And there my Honey was at 7pm... with flowers, a bag full of groceries, cheery flowers, and.. a sore throat. (OOOpsss!! My bad!)
And yet we were undaunted. I was so happy to see him, and have him in my arms on this day, this day that I deem "Life is Too Ficking Short Day", we were going to have a lovely evening.

I put his cheery red flowers in water:

And I cooked up our brontosaurus steak...

Aftes dinner, we did some Nyquil® shots, turned on the Hello Kitty humidifier, climbed into each other's arms and called it a night! Ole!

Continuing on with anniversaries, I had hoped to see New Orleans during the 2year anniversary of Katrina, but figured a (Northern) California girl wouldn't be able to survive an August day down south.. so.. I will embarking to New Orleans this Sunday instead. For five days I will be doing some volunteer work gutting houses and spending time at an animal shelter. ( I will do my best not to bring home 22 new doggies.) And of course, I'm looking forward to experience some night life and beignets.. !!!! Because you know what? Life is too ficking short!!

PS. I can't hold it in any more. This week's Mad Men is BRILLIANT.

Passive Agressive Meerkats

Have not been feeling my Deezy Best the last few days... in fact, I believe a family of meerkats has taken residence in my lungs... It certainly didn't help that I came across this:

Link

I laughed so hard, but the meerkats wouildn't budge. My laughter turned into snorts..... D didn't think it was too cute; but I blame the meerkats.

Enjoy.. I'll be back soon.....

Our Guide to Style

.. You KNOW I would tune into Tim Gunn's Guide to Style with anticipation. Who else would describe a pilled skirt as a "shaved hamster"? LOVE it.

And when he tells you that fashion is about fit and silhouette, he knows what he is talking about.
He is really talking Style. People did you notice the capital "S"??.. This isn't a second-rate-who-the-eff-are-you? host giving you tips. This man has an eye like no other. And when he tells you "thats a lot of look", you better pay attention!
... Makes me think back to the outfits I left the house with this week. ... Would they have passed muster with Tim?

The important takeaways this week... and listen carefully....
One cannot address issues of style, until order has been brought to the closet.
How can you have confidence if you don't own your look?
Ladies and gentlemen... all together, Own Your Look! Look for fashion inspiration, not fashion emulation....

PS. I did not mention Tim's partner in fashion, Veronica, because although she can be Fierce, I cannot abide by her hair right now. And until that is rectified, I will not mention her again.

A * I O U

Crap! ... I was trying to get at some lint under my keyboard. .. Now I have just broken the "e" key off. I'm typing on some rubbery business each time I press where the "e" should be. I suppose its manageable But having a gaping hole on my keyboard where a very popular vowel used to be is incredibly offputting.

Labor Day

Does anyone find it ironic that we celebrate Labor day by being as leisurely as possible?
.. I managed to fit a lot in.. and actually spent a good portion of it on my own. I took an invigorating run/walk with LCee this morning but other than that, opted to spend time alone with Sake, in my City.

First stop: Blue Bottle! Sake and I braved the line for a steaming latte. aaaahh. So soothing.
Then came a stroll through the Castro and lunch alone with the Bible. No, not that Bible, this Bible:

Clocking in at 840 pages, this sucker added 4.4lbs to my tote bag today. And I will go on record to say that this will be the only time Sienna "F&cking" Millr makes me her bitch.

Back to my Labor Day, I came home and actually labored in my yard, planted some Quartz Scarlet Verbena in my bottom terrace and did general clearing, trimming, and cleaning. One thing is always a guarantee whilst working on the yard, people always stop to chat. Today I met a gaggle of french tourists who not only delighted in my pretty flowers, but also took pictures of Sasa posing on the stairs. (See sidebar for an idea of her picture perfectness.)

After the outside, it was time to work on the inside. There was dusting to be done, along with two loads of laundry. What had come over me?? I guess thats what happens when I am left to my own devices. I realized at one point that it had been some time since I spent the day alone, nowhere to go, no one to see. Just Sake and I alone with my thoughts. I thought I would be lonely, but it was strangely enjoyable! And the day isn't even over yet!

My "Real Age"

I took a "real age" test today.
What does that mean? Well, according to Longevity expert Dr. Michael Roizen, everyone has two ages: your chronological age and your real age. Your real age is determined by your lifestyle rather than your birthday. Funny how his quiz didn't ask me about my crystal meth habit.

According to him, although I am *cough* *cough* 38, my Real Age is 32.4 I lost almost a whole year because on average I drive 5 to 14 mph over the speed limit. Damn.

Curious? Take the abbreviated quiz here.
Let me know your results!

Everybody Run! The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun...

My attitude towards guns has always been a healthy mixture of apprehension, respect, intimidation, and fear. I didn't grow up around them; and like a lot of people, my main familiarity with them has been through media reports of gang shootings and Hollywood depictions. And though I always thought Kelly Garrett and the rest of the Angels always looked so cool chasing down bad guys with their pistols, I never thought it could be for me. Don't get me wrong. As a little girl, I do remember running around the house with my fingers in gun formation, yelling "Cover me Bree!" over my shoulder. But the fear of having an actual gun in my hands made me cringe with fear.

When D brought out his Mossberg I just curled up into a little ball in the couch, refusing to hold it. When he urged me to even just touch it, he swears I just curled up into an even littler ball. But secretly, somewhere deep down, I knew I wanted to be an Angel.

This past Sunday I got my very first taste of shooting firearms. The Boys go shooting at the range regularly enough, but up till now, I was never able to make it. They chose a great Gun Club in the Los Altos hills... and on a beautiful bright Sunday, we made a day of it.

I got to shoot clay pidgeons and even did some target practice with pistols!
As Laino showed me how to load and aim, I became increasingly nervous. But surrounded as I was by 6 other comfortable gunhandlers, I knew everything would be alright.

Admittedly, I was shocked by the kickback the first time I pulled the trigger. I was slightly in awe of the power I could feel coming out of the muzzle. But when I hit the pidgeon on my 2nd or 3rd shot, it started to feel like fun! I couldn't believe that I actually got the shotgun to do what I wanted it to do. A certain part in me kicked in, and I wanted to get better at this delicate balance between (wo)man and metal. Did it happen in the course of one afternoon? No. Did I have (parden the pun) a blast? YES. My respect for guns certainly grew; but truth be told, I think a bit of my fear did too....

Lock, stock, and two smoking barrels.

Superbad!

On a clear day, you can shoot forever.

"You can take the redneck out of Ohio...."

Panda Porn?

So, just a big more background on the Panda Breeding happening down in San Diego...

Natural breeding success (April 24, 2007)

Adult female Bai Yun surprised the Giant Panda Team by demonstrating she was ready for breeding a few days earlier than anticipated. The adult male, Gao Gao, and Bai Yun were allowed to mate naturally today. With the successful pairing, researchers are optimistic about conception. Over the next several months, Bai Yun's behavior and hormone levels will be monitored; however, if a pregnancy occurs it will not be determined until just days before she gives birth.

And the resulting 20-day old cub had its first exam yesterday!Covered in fine white fur, it weighed in at a robust 23.5 ounces and measuring 11.4 inches in length,

Even Steven...

It is always great to get a random compliment to start your day.
A young fellow sat down in front of me on the Muni this morning. I thought nothing of it until he slowed down to walk behind me as we exited our way up to street level. "My god," I thought. "Maybe he wants to rob me!" I walked as fast as I could (while still looking non-panicked) up the escalator. And as he turned to exit on the east side, he said to me.. "I'm sorry to bother you. But you are a beautiful woman." I could only gush back a thank you. "I bet you're married, have a boyfriend or something like that, huh?".. "Yes, something quite like that. But you are incredibly sweet. Thank you!"

... Good gracious. All that and I hadn't even put on my purple patent slingbacks on yet!... I could barely fit my head into the elevator up to work. But lest I got too carried away with myself, it turns out my laptop had contracted a virus and my workday got f&cked up for a good 3 hours. Can we call it Even Steven now?

I Want One!

I know.. its been a while...
But guess what time it is????
THAT's right!!!!!!!!!!!! Its time for ..*booming voice* PANDA CAM!!!!!!!!!!!

Bai Yun just had a cub 2 weeks ago.. Her fourth!
Go visit and check out the new Mama! Its fun watching her lumber around her den.

*Enter Cliche Jumping/Falling Song Here*

Well here I am, back on land, safe and sound!
What a wonderful day it was.

I ended up jumping from a height of 18,000 feet along with LaLa and RayRay. And I can assure you that a 90-second freefall is not likely an experience any one of us will soon forget; particularly as RayRay had a DVD made of her jump!

For hours afterwards we had permagrins and days later... I can still close my eyes and muster the terror I felt as I peered out the plane, saw Salinas Valley laid out before us, and felt the wind whipping my face. Never mind me yelling out at my trusty jumpmate J.R... "I can't do this! I can't do this!".... But its that moment of letting go, falling out and feeling that ridiculous giddyness as you give in to the rush.........................(And BTW, thats RayRay on the verge of her jump, not me.)

I highly recommend anyone try this once in their life.... Just don't ask me to sing you Creed songs to get you amped...

Might as well JUMP!

For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to jump out of a plane tomorrow. So wish us godspeed when LaLa, RayRay, and I tumble out of plane over 10,000 feet up in the air.

Having done a jump once before I know the absolute buzz that is in store for me. (It is RayRay's first time.).. I am by no means an extreme sport-type, but I must admit the high you get from skydiving is indescribable. I look forward to the sh*teating grin thats going to be plastered on my face.... and the big wooooooohooooooooo I'm going to let out when each one of my girls lands eagerly after me.

I'm not nervous right now, but I suppose things could be different once I'm up there on the plane. This outing in fact has forced me to think about getting about "getting my estate in order". Once finished here, in fact, I will be taking pen to paper and writing my will..... Who wants my collection Jean-Luc Picard figurines?? Speak up now or forever hold your peace....

Craving a Laugh?

I rather thought listening to Terry Gross and NPR's Fresh Air at work would be relatively harmless. Her voice is oh-so-soothing and I can usually crank out a packet of reports in a nice relaxed manner.

Today, however, her program was quite disruptive and sent basically a constant barrage of chuckles streaming out of my cubicle. She had Paul Rudd as a guest and goodness gracious he is my new hero! I suspected he had the potential for kooky humor ever since I saw him in Laz Buhrmann's Romeo and Juliet. .. I love his way of throwing caution to the wind with his comedy, and yet he balances it with this understatement that absolutely floors me. His many collaborations with Judd Apatow and the gang, has only cemented it. As I chuckled my way through the interview, I got the yearning- no, craving - for more laughs. (Side note: He said when most people come up to him on the street, they like to open with, "You know how I know you're gay??" AWESOME.) Did I ever tell you that I love to laugh? I mean.. I love it. I need it. I yearn for it. That moment when you feel it bubble up inside you? And then it just.. BOOP.. pops out? And once it is out, it, in my case, is uncontrollable. Forget about the whole opposable thumb thing; this separates us from the animals.. Its the best feeling in the world.. But I digress...

In any case, I wanted to inject more silliness into my day. So it was YouTube to the rescue.
I found the scene I wanted with Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and Steve Carrell (and that 4th guy.. dont' know him). Enjoy, laugh, giggle, chuckle. Guffaw even.... Without further ado, here's a little Afternoon Delight.. ...


I dont' remember this music video from Anchorman.. perhaps it's on extra on the DVD? And it's not just the fact that its funny and ridiculous; its that they look like they are having an absolute ball doing all this. You want to join in!!

Memory Lane is Full

My little Mac'y has been gaining weight. In fact, it just can't take on any more.... Her Startup Disk is almost full! .. I can't believe it. I've never done this before. I've managed to fill up an entire computer! Wow...........

So until I get started on burning backup discs and begging the Apple store for help, I've been deleting away. When am I ever likely to use the Italian HelpMe files for Garageband? (Actually, can someone answer this? I've been deleting and freed up 1gb. But then, the more I delete, the less memory I have! HUH??) I'm even combing through my pictures and deleting anything that's basically just crap. Inevitably this whole exercise has turned into a walk down memory lane.

I got to a batch of pics from RJ's first Easter Egg hunt. I hav a quite a few shots from that morning so I figured I'd be able to find 1 or 2 to delete . But he's adorable in each one. I almost decide on this gem (doubleclick on pic to see larger version); but lookey lookey there to the right. Check out little Sasa leaving a little Easter treat on the lawn there! ... Can't delete that! That's classic!

So I guess its back to Memory Lane.......

A Battle

I have been battling a cold, and I can't really tell who's winning.
The noseblowing phase didn't last very long, but right now I'm feeling pretty light-headed, woozy. Great conditions for laying in bed and finishing up Harry Potter, but not so great for getting anything accomplished, at work... or otherwise.

And so it goes....

“Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms”

It has been a strangely dog/animal focused week for me; and not in a good way I think. My days and mornings have been spotted with tears and anger. First and foremost:
MICHAEL VICK. WHAT THE FARK IS WRONG WITH YOU???
Hanging? Electrocution? How can anyone do that to a living animal? Clearly, you don't see these dogs as animals. Just fighting machines to be used for your enjoyment. I say enjoyment as I would as a NFL Quarterback with Nike endorsements, you wouldn't need this as a side income venture!!!
It is mortifying to hear that dog fighting is growing in popularity... Training these creatures for aggression and bloodthirst. I am glad to hear Nike is holding off on his merchandise. I hope the book is thrown at him.

And then we have 2 teenage girls in Santa Rosa who set a 8-week-old kitten on fire?? Watch out North Bay, those are 2 potential serial murderers in your midst. A defenseless creature in a cage that you feel would be fun to terrorize. And look, little Adam is fighting to live. His tail and the tips of his ears have been amputated, and his entire back is nothing but raw tissue, the skin having been burned completely off. And yet, look at that face! Eye of the Tiger BABY!!!

Then I hear about one of Oprah's golden retrievers accidental death. Goodness gracious!

And to top it all off, I've been reading about Barbaro the winner of the Kentucky Derby. ... .. By the time I got to the end of his story, I was in absolute tears this morning. And this time it wasn't just my eyes getting misty. My cheeks were wet, nose running. And although I am definitely not a horse hater, I can't say that I've harbored any sort of particular fondness for them either. But what magnificent creatures horses are! I must meet one now....

As this week nears its end, I can't wait to spend time with little Sake to Me. Indeed, she is often the best medicine for what ails me.




And if you see Michael Vick, kick him really hard for me. Just as I'm sure he's done to so many dogs already.

Ahoy Mateys!

In the world of adventure and physical challenges, I am what you call a late bloomer. I have only in recent years pushed myself to explore new experiences that I would have previously had run (very fast)away from.

This year will be no different as I am taking on a sailing challenge this October on behalf of the Tallship Education Academy and I humbly ask for your support with a tax-deductible donation at this link. Not only will I be learning how to sail on the San Francisco Bay, I will also be raising money for an educational program that ties academics into sail training and give young students an educational experience that would change how they view themselves, their future and their community. Something I myself never had; hence, the late blooming.

Founded by Caitlin Schwarzman in 1998 at Mercy High School in San Francisco, the Tall Ship Semester for Girls is set apart by four unique elements. First, the students are racially and socio-economically diverse, second, all students’ have demonstrated financial need is met, third, students are all drawn from the San Francisco area and their lessons at sea are tied into their lives during the culminating six weeks in their home community and finally, this program is the only all-girls sail training program in the country.

The 3-days Women’s Challenge is designed to give 12 participants a taste of what the girls will experience during a semester at sea, and all proceeds will benefit the Tall Ship Semester for Girls program. I will be part of a small group that will work together aboard the Schooner Seaward to learn the important skills necessary to sail a large schooner in San Francisco Bay and along the coast. Success will depend not only on individual sailing knowledge but on the strength of the group’s ability to work together as a team. Quite frankly, success will also depend on my ability to avoid seasickness, my not so great ability as a swimmer, and how I deal with the bathroom situation. ACK!

I hope you can help with my fundraising goal (its a doozy!)this year in making a Semester at Sea a reality for a deserving student. And I promise I will have stories o’plenty after my 3 days on the Sea!

I do encourage you to read more about this accredited program: www.tallshipacademy.org
And read about last year’s crew in the San Francisco Chronicle!

ALL DONATIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE