Month: June 2007

Cooper and I accidentally bought a new used car today…whoops.  It is a 1999 Audi A6 quattro.  Actually, it was not accidental, we had decided on our trip to Solvang that it was time to get something that 1.) had more power, 2.) was a bit more impressive when arriving at a wedding or when driving a bride/groom around 3.) had AC that didn’t squeal for 30 seconds when you turn it on and 4.) wasn’t a box on wheels.  It only took a week to find something better than the Sidekick.  The new/used car has a bit of a dent in the front by the headlight which helped in keeping the price tag down, but other than that it is beautiful, luxerious, and has POWER!!  I actually screamed when I first put my foot on the petal because the car took off faster than I anticipated.  Now just say a prayer that it doesn’t fall apart or cause us any issues.

I suppose there comes a time when you need to move on from the car you grew up with in high school.  The Sidekick/”Cow-mobile” hold a lot of memories for a lot of people. If anyone would like a forever loved Suzuki Sidekick…it is yours!

The new child: (I particularly like the badonkadonk of the car)

(I particularly like the badonkadonk of the car)

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Life is passing by so quickly.  I have been having a hard time keeping straight where I need to be and what I have been doing.  Case in point #1: the other day a friend called and asked how my trip was.  I had to think long and hard about where I had been if I had been anywhere and what I had been doing.  I drew a complete blank.  Case in point #2:  it was 3:00pm on a Thursday afternoon and it was time to leave for our SoCal trip.  I didn’t print any directions and there was only a slight possibility that I had a map in my car.  I was banking off the thought of using street signs to get us where we needed to be (although I didn’t really know where we were going).  Luckily, Cooper had it all planned.  I don’t think we would have made it if he hadn’t planned ahead.  Case in point #3: I went to the Feist concert earlier this week and about an hour before the concert was to start (I assumed) I still hadn’t taken the time to figure out where the concert was or what time it actually started.  Again, luckily Maggie had it all planned out.  Case in point #4:  I had arranged to get beers with a friend the other night and I couldn’t recall what time we were to meet or where we were to go.  Thank goodness he called to remind me.  Gosh. 

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I saw a man surfing the bart ride the other day.  He didn’t hold on to anything as the car jerked or ascended/descended…instead, he balanced/bopped on his knees to keep from falling…all while wearing a suit/tie and reading the paper.  Pretty impressive.

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Speaking of bart (an event that is now a big part of my life and allows for me to do a great amount of people watching)…the train conductor who I normally get to hear on my way to SF sounds exactly like Morgan Freeman.  I am sure it is not Morgan Freeman, but there is something about riding to work thinking that the the best narrator ever is driving my bart train makes me feel all warm and cozy inside. 

I have butter coating my throat.  How many danishes can one person eat in a weekend, you may ask?  I don’t even want to admit to the number we ate while in the danish capital of SoCal…Solvang.   Instead, let me pretend like I didn’t spend the weekend giving my jaw muscles a workout and show you activities that do not require mass amounts of eating. (I have only made dinner for myself once in the past week and a half.  disgusting): 

 I am trying to get Cooper to use this photo on his intro page of his website.  I wish you could have seen the rest of the wedding party! 

Miniature horse farm.  I guess these are similar to a dog, but in horse form.  

A stop at a lavender farm.  I LOVE lavender…too bad a bottle of lotion costs as much as a bottle of really nice wine!!

Speaking of wine, we did a lot of wine tasting.  At the first wine stop we pretended to know what we were doing, but I think the wine guy caught on that we are wine stupid.  He could have put anything under our noses and we would have loved it.

A glamour shot at the mission

Another glamour shot at the mission (please reference the previous post to view more of my mom and myself covering our faces…she has taught me how to hate being on the other end of the camera lense). 

More wine tasting.  This time at an organic vineyard.  My dad certainly got his $10 bucks worth!! If only the owners knew how much he had…hahahahaha

Cooper excitedly tasting some wine.

You wouldn’t know it, but my mom is also excitedly tasting some wine

After a few nights in the Danish world, we decided to bring it to the next level and stop in Santa Barbara to enjoy the world with the rich and beautiful people.

With a belly full of comida, it was time to head back and start fasting.  If only my little car didn’t feel like a cardboard box while in 70 mph winds.

This weekend was devoted to 1.) parental time and 2.) eating.  On Friday night we ventured to Alameda for an amazing German meal at Speiskammer.  My dad managed to drive from SoCal to the east bay in a short amount of time, then arrived at the restaurant wearing his scrubs.  I love my dad.  I was actually proud that he arrived at the restuarant in his scrubs.  That is just who he is.  

Saturday we went to the farmer’s market in San Francisco.  I had never been to this gastronomic land, but boy oh boy is it just as good as everyone says it is.   I am feeling word stupid at the moment so I think I’ll just post pictures to recap:

A happy papa with a flat of apricots.

Fin-dog and myself at Taylor’s for burgers.

Cooper not drinking coffee at the coffeeshop

Father’s day celebration, a hint to my dad to consider not working

Sunday I took the parentals to the Berkeley Thai Temple. 

My mom and I don’t really like having our photos taken.

Finney eating mango with sticky rice

Cooper enjoying his b-day present from my mom. 

I happy, smily ending to a great weekend

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I am proud to report that the company I now get to work for was featured in the 7×7 magazine!!  This link shows a mighty fine photo of all my co-workers.

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Mr. Greg Flanagan (pictured in a previous post devoring his sister’s wedding cake) made a surprise appearance for C-dog’s b-day.   What a friend to drive all the way from SLO to be a special delivery for Cooper. 

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Tomorrow we are off again to spend more time with the parents.  We will be driving to Solvang, CA to enjoy the clog wearing danish town.  I hear a trans fat filled danish calling my name!  I can’t wait!!! 

used tea bag collection

Some call it odd, gross, ridiculous…others call it unique, creative, or a good use of recycled materials.  I call it my collection.

I collected used tea bags.  (my own used tea bags).

It started junior year in college and ever since then I have been hooked.  There is something about opening up a little stained packet and seeing all the amazing images and tones.  It is like a party in a box, but rather than a box it is a little piece of paper with dried leaves inside.  I never know what I am going to see when I open up the packet and dust off the tea.  I wonder how many tea bags I will have collected when I am in my 80s.  Maybe my living space will be covered with bags all over the place, drying their hearts out. 

If you really think about it, this is a pretty cheap collection compared to some of the other items that could consume my world (i.e. cats, shoes, figurines, bags, baseball cards, cars). 

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Tomorrow night we are taking my parents out to a German restaurant in Alameda (in homage to my German roots).  I wouldn’t be surprised if my dad shows up in his lederhosen.

tree stump, so calm, so cool

I feel like I am melting.  It is sad how wimpish people get after they adjust to life in the bay area…can’t handle the cold and can’t handle the heat.  The weather channel says that it is only 74 degrees in Oakland right now, but I think it is probably 20 degrees hotter in our apartment.  I feel like I am melting. 

My parents are coming to visit this weekend so it is time to clean the apartment once again.  If only it wasn’t a sauna in here!  I can’t even come up with words my brain is such mush right now.   Try saying that ten times fast…such mush, such mush, such mush, such mush, such mush, such mush, such mush, such mush, such mush, such mush, such mush, such mush, such mush, such mush, such mush.  

  

 
“Soft Serve,” mixed media on canvas…work in progress

This weekend was without question a weekend fit for a king/queen.  Although the bay area doesn’t really have any of the four seasons (compared to other states), Cooper and I pretended that it was summer on Saturday and ventured through the Temescal Street Fair.  Street fairs are undoubtely the one thing about the bay area that marks the start of “summer”…and I love them.  The Temescal Street Fair was actually extremely fun to go to because 1.) there were not hoards of people there like there are at all of the SF street fairs, 2.) the food was actually kind of reasonably priced…a beer for $3…who woulda thunk it? and 3.) they had REALLY good food.  We started our consumption junction of a day at the Bakesale Betty stand where they featured their fried chicken sandwiches stuffed to the brim with really good coleslaw.  Words can’t describe how great this sandwich was.  If only we had brought our camera.  We sat on stools with an old metal ironing board as our table and wolfed the perfectly battered sandwich down while dropping coleslaw left and right.  It was a fantastic experience.  We then got beerz.  The beers led to a desire to share a small slice of Lansplitter pizza which at that time was $1/slice.  While our stomachs settled we walked through the fair, watched the different musical acts and then ventured to my favorite art scrap consignment shop.  I made Cooper stay in a corner while I bought him a birthday gift (yes, a really nice something from a scrap store, lucky guy!), then we walked the streets of Oakland to a Scandinavian store.  When we returned to the street fair we watched the crowds salsa dance (something the two of us still long to be able to do) then headed back to Bakesale Betty for their strawberry shortcake.  If you want to make a really really good strawberry shortcake…their recipe is posted here.  I have a new favorite bakery! 

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Cooper the superhero

This evening Cooper and I decided to enjoy the late night sunset by going to an outlook on Grizzly Peak Blvd and eating burritos as the sky turned orange.  I would have to say that the spots on Grizzly Peak may have the best views of the bay area. 

Mamma MaLou’s Broccoli Raisin Salad

I hope not to offend any vegetarians, but I have to profess my love for bacon.  I love the smell of bacon.  I love the salty, crunchy taste of bacon.  Without question bacon warms (and hardens) my heart and soul.  I pondered today what I would ask for if I had one last meal…it most certainly would have to include bacon and lots of it!  I made my mom’s broccoli raisin salad yesterday for lunch while listening to the free transistor radio my brothers found in someone’s trash. The title of the recipe includes nearly all the ingredients except for the most important one…bacon!  If you are looking for a good, easy summer salad…let me know and I’ll send you the recipe.

I love bacon.

A.M. only transistor radio. 

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Stained glass window blue potato chip

Trader Joe’s now offer blue potato chips.  They are pretty good, but the best parts of the chip are the amazing colors and formations.  We were searching for a chip with the virgin mary on it, but could only find the one above which looks like outer space with the sun in the middle.   

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Cooper and I felt a little left out yesterday.  We went to a park in Berkeley to enjoy the perfect weather only to find that all the regular dog owners and their pooches were having a dog-bq.  We sat on the grass and watched as all the lucky dog owners enjoyed time mingling with their animals and eating a hot dog (hahaha).  Someday we may get to be part of their group.  Gosh, I feel like I am in middle school and want to be part of the “cool clique.”  I thought I was passed those days, but apparently not!  Anyhow, the dog who is always the main attraction at this park is a little guy (kind of pug-ish looking, but I believe he is something else) whose owner launches a basketball via a large slingshot.  The pooch runs the ball down and herds the ball back in a Harlem Globetrotter sort of way.  He bounces the ball on his nose or does a 360.  Pretty cool tricks, I must say. 

sweet potato tree

It is funny the things that grow when you do nothing to nourish it.  When I returned home from Mexico our sweet potato started a new life of its own.  I love this no nonsense tree…and the best part is I don’t have to do jack to keep it growing!

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The other day I was listening to NPR and they mentioned the use of a hurdy gurdy.  Hurdy gurdy is most certainly not something I hear or say in my everyday conversation.  The two words compliment each other so well, hurdy and gurdy.   Hurdy is the yin to gurdy’s yang. Perhaps I will name my first dog hurdy gurdy.  Or maybe one dog will be hurdy and the other gurdy (like a male and female dog).  

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Speaking of hearing things, today on KCRW (my favorite online radio station), a marching band played Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing.  So creative.   

Hickory dickory dock, detail

My how time flies.  How is it June already?  Today Cooper and I did our own little things then realized midday that it was 4:00pm and time had flown by us faster than a speeding bullet.  Before we know it we will be in a nursing home and recalling the days when Cooper had a full head of hair or swapping stories about purchasing gas (which will probably not be in existence when we are in a nursing home) and paying $3.50/gallon or laughing about the time when we used computers all day every day.  Ha. 

In an effort to record the memories of this time that is passing me faster than I realize, I am going to list the highlights from the past couple of days:

1.) Feeling the warm sun mixed with the fresh bay breeze while on long walks.  I had a moment earlier today when I realized how much I missed recognizing the feeling of the bay air (sorry to be so touchy-feely).  Oh, man…it is quite refreshing.

2.) Going to the dog park and having 3, yes 3!, people say hello to us!  The great semi-clean air must be spreading joy and happiness to everyone. 

3.) Experimenting in the kitchen making pesto, cinnamon rolls, Asian lettuce wraps, and lots of attempts at pina coladas.

4.) Painting an ice cream cone on a canvas.  The summer spirit has infected me. 

5.) Cooper potentially booking numerous new destination weddings.

6.) Reading a new book…Name all the Animals.  Heart wrenching but so good.

7.) Getting excited about a company called Design Public.  I don’t like to talk about work stuff, so that is all I am going to say. 

8.) Sleeping in.

9.) Appreciating my health and happiness.

10.) Enjoying a simple life.

Vintage Disney book detail, circa 1965

A stack of musty smelling Childcraft books, circa the 1950s-1960s

I am still in the process of working on several paintings using old children’s books found at a recycled art scrap store.  The images in these books include classic 1950’s illustrations and photographs…a time period that I am really very much drawn to visually.  Without question, working with Don Fritz at Santa Clara instilled in me techniques and content matter that I was very much wanting to experience and play with…I feel so fortunate to have been able to learn from him.   His pieces are undoubtedly thick with layers of symbolism and very planned meaning, whereas my paintings are a bit more innocent.   

I hope to have some of the paintings up semi-soon, although I will have to work on my web design skills with Cooper first.  I find web design work a bit daunting so hopefully my patience will hold up and work to my advantage.   I never thought I would be dating someone who has just as patience as Mother Teresa.   Maybe Cooper is the male equivalent to Mother Teresa.  Hmmmmm…I think I can see a resemblance.

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Last night Cooper and I met up with our college friends, Pat and Rachel Rue.  Cooper and I had the same reaction to Pat when we said hello…we did a “we’re not worthy” greeting.  Pat is in the process of starting his own brewery (a.k.a. The Bruery) in SoCal.  Yes, Pat is our Beer Idol.  Before going to dinner Pat shared with us some of his wheat beer, his saison beer, and the last bottle of his first very highly acclaimed and award winning beer of wonder.  Oh my, his beers were SOOOOOOOOO good.  His wheat beer was very light and refreshing; his saison was perhaps one of the best spicy beers I have ever tasted…the anise flavors were delectable; but, hands down the award winning beer was something I have never tasted in a beer before.  I really don’t know how to describe it…we drank small amounts of the high alcohol “liquid of wonder” which was layered in flavor after flavor after flavor.  It had hints of a perfectly aged whiskey or brandy which developed into a creamy caramel aftertaste.  This would go so great with Jon Fowler’s raspberry butter cream chocolate (TPR Physics teacher who made the best butter cream chocolates I have ever laid my taste buds on).   Pat’s beers are quality, quality beers.  Come August/September when he hopes for distribution to begin, keep an eye out for a Bruery beer.  I can guarantee you will come away with a new appreciation for the bubbly beverage.