day by day by day

Back in So. Cal.

2013-02-14T07:38:00.001-08:00

Yesterday (02/14/2012), Anna and I flew back to Long Beach. We worked at Russ's house for a while, and then Russ, Anna and I had dinner at Ka Shabu, a japanese restaurant in Huntington Beach, where you cook your own dinner in a burner on the counter in front of you. Beef, pork, veggies, and rice.

Oh, followed by gelato. (Yes, it turned into a cheat day).

Last couple days in San Francisco (2013-02)

2013-02-13T07:41:00.002-08:00

Our last couple days in San Francisco were largely uneventful work days. Spent part of Monday in a coffee shop (Rodger's Coffee & Tea), and all of Tuesday in coffee shops (the Ferry Building and then the Metreon).

Our last dinner was a seafood special, courtesy of Groupon, at Sinbad's.

We're a little sad to leave this city we love, but we're also glad to return home. We'll be back!

More fun in San Francisco (Feb 8 - 10, 2013)

2013-02-10T17:16:00.000-08:00

On Friday (02/08), we spent most of the day working, of course, but had lunch with a small AirBnB Meetup group. We met Matt and Jennifer from Chicago, who run an upholstery business and a SCUBA diving training business, and were traveling to San Franscisco for fun. We also met Lenny, an AirBnB engineer, part of the new Meetup division they're starting. Ironically, Lenny actually knows Jessica, our AirBnB host (whom, unfortunately, we will not be able to meet personally).

Then we worked for a couple more hours at Rodger's Coffee and Tea, and then closed up shop early and strolled around the Mission District for some thrift store shopping. We came away with a number of $4 and $7 shirts, as well as a couple warm $7 coats (it's cold in San Francisco!). Thrift store shopping in San Francisco is a blast--there's so many of them, and they're so well-stocked that people here really have no excuse for buying brand new clothes. Ever.

On Saturday (02/09), we did quite a bit of walking. We started at the Ferry Building, with a fantastic Saturday Farmer's Market, and the most fantastic bakery (Acme Bread Company) on earth. We chilled, read the newspaper, and ate challah bread.

Then we headed back to our apartment, and hit the laundromat to wash our new used clothes, and ventured deep into the Mission district for dinner--a fixed-menu Italian place (yes, we ate Italian in the Mission district--go figure). The restaurant had no wine or beer to offer, but encouraged us to hit the liquor store next door to satisfy our thirst. It being Wheat Day, I jumped on this, and we enjoyed a PBR tallboy with our ravioli and gnocchi.

On Sunday (02/10), Anna and I participated in the Love 'em or Leave 'em Valentine's Day Dash, a 5k race through Golden Gate Park. It was actually a fairly low-turnout event, probably less than 500 runners total. Loved seeing the kids' dash--some as young as 3 and 4 years old, I think.

We followed that up with an Extended-Wheat-Day lunch at Buca di Bepo (my most favoritest restaurant on earth), chocolate cake and coffee for desert, and a leisurely evening at home.

Piano bar

2013-02-07T18:07:00.002-08:00

Yesterday (02/06/2013), Anna and I returned to the Dueling Pianos show at Johnny Foley's Irish pub in San Francisco. We'd been there before, on Anna's birthday last year, and had a great time--we actually stayed until just after midnight (those of you who know us will know what this means).

This time we didn't stay quite until midnight--11:30, I think. The two dueling pianists were different from the pair we'd seen last year, not quite as fun, musically, but perhaps a little edgier in the comedy department.

If you haven't seen a piano bar show like this, put it on your bucket list. Some players are a little risque, some crass, and I'm sure there are some that take things too far. But when the entertainers are just right (an appropriate combination of musical and comedic talent), it's an amazing experience. The players are typically the kind of musical genius, of which most of us at least know one or two--they can play by ear, they have an immense mental library of lyrics, and they can flip from country to rap to heavy metal in the blink of an eye. The premise, only loosely employed, is that bar patrons can bid on requests, and the players must play the currently highest-bid song. If you don't like a song they're playing, bid up your own song instead.

Of course, there are some staple tunes that the musicians are probably tired of playing--Piano Man, Hotel California, Johnny Be Good, Sweet Caroline, etc. Rarely do they ever play a whole song from start to finish, and often times they roll from one to another without even batting an eye, modifying the lyrics on the fly to tell a joke, or drop some innuendo on unsuspecting listeners. But all the comedy and sometimes-crudeness aside, the music is really something to behold.

Both times, I've felt a little bit like a kid at the circus--grinning from ear to ear, swept away by the music and the banter and the musical genius we're witnessing.

The only downside is that they generally start so late at night--9:30 in this case. If the show started at a more reasonable hour, we'd probably go again and again.

For now, I guess we'll make it an annual affair.

First day in San Francisco - 02-2013

2013-02-05T19:04:00.001-08:00

Anna and I arrived in San Francisco today (02/05/2013). (LGB - OAK) We'll be here for about a week. Anna has a client meeting, and I'm tagging along for fun. We're staying at a tiny apartment (courtesy of AirBnB) near 16th and Mission. We can walk to BART, and the bus line is even closer.

Around lunch time, we took a bus over to Whole Foods and stocked up for the week, agreeing to limit eating out to a handful of Groupons.

Mostly a work day today, but it's great to be back in San Fran!

Robert's Cottages on the Strand in Oceanside

2013-01-29T17:19:00.001-08:00

Lovely little cottage on the beach. We've been here for about a month. Wish we could stay here longer--fantastic spot. Maybe we should buy the 3-unit building just down the street?!?

the capture and rescue of princess leia

2009-05-14T19:55:00.000-07:00

Aloha from Hawai'i!

2008-08-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

We just spent a very full weekend seeing a bit of Oahu. I'm going to do a series of blog posts recounting different adventures. Here are a few random photos...stay tuned for more.

view from the lanai of our condo (compliments of the CEO of RIM Architects)

A surfer dude off to catch some waves at sunset

a rack of surfboards on Waikiki Beach

the oh-so-cool-looking Banyan Tree

we're home!

2008-08-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

ok, so we've been home for a week. I can't believe that our fabulous month in Maine is already over...but we're already gearing up for 2009! It will be the month of June, though, as we've booked someone else for July and August.
It has been very pleasant in Sacramento since we've returned home - low to mid 90s - very reasonable for this time of year. Yesterday, Wayne and I played roller hockey with a soccer ball out in front of our house. I'm sure the neighbors were laughing at us, but it was fun, and a great workout.
I am gearing up for our trip to Hawaii - we're leaving Friday morning. On the agenda so far is Diamond Head, the Pearl Harbor (USS Arizona) Memorial, snorkeling, parasailing, and lots of sunning.
I will be sure to post updates of our island excursion. Cheers...

wayne and riley's camping trip

2008-07-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

Wayne and Riley went to Oak Point in the canoe overnight last night - they had some rain this morning, but it was a clear beautiful night.

lake party day, and a bit of privacy on the deck

2008-07-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

Today, we enjoyed the afternoon at Megan's summer lake party - complete with swimming, a boat ride, egg toss, water balloon fight, hot dogs, and make-your-own sundaes! There are also photos below of the "privacy wall " going in on the deck. Enjoy!

the first days of vacation

2008-07-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

Following their safe and timely arrival Sunday night, Monday morning brought exploration of the camp via trips to the river called "walkie talkie adventures". We went to the public pool Monday afternoon, and spent Tuesday afternoon at the lake with Megan and some friends.
Here are the pics...enjoy!

the benches are in...and the boys come home tonight!

2008-07-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

Paul installed the benches yesterday evening - we were worried that they would take up too much of the deck space, but they are perfect and look wonderful. We also did the mowing and sanded about half the deck before running out of paper for the sander. I am so excited that Wayne and Riley are coming tonight, and we have two weeks of vacation!!

more from Maine...

2008-07-11T15:51:00.000-07:00

pics of the bench side tables in progress...and Helen, Terry and me at dinner last night. Enjoy!

around the camp

2008-07-08T05:03:00.000-07:00

Sunday was a manual labor day - we cleared brush, kept the fire going, mowed lots of grass (Pepere came over and helped, too!), and did some weed-eating. Monday was back to real work inside on the computer, though we did get in an afternoon kayak session. It hit 88 degrees on Monday!

misc pics from the last couple of days...

2008-07-06T05:21:00.000-07:00

At Aunt Theresa's 4th of July/birthday party, Anna won the potato sack race, Wayne and cousin Doug won the egg toss, and Aunt Terry got egg all over her front. Next day, we took the canoe out from Eagle Lake to Soldier Pond. Enjoy...

the day of the steps...

2008-07-04T10:05:00.000-07:00

the steps are complete - here are the photos... Happy 4th of July!

the platform is complete!

2008-07-02T04:07:00.000-07:00

the boys finished the floor of the deck yesterday (Tuesday), and it looks fantastic. Pepere, Aunt Jan and Uncle Dana, Paul and Helen came over to sit on it after work :)
We now have to finalize our bench and staircase plans so we can start those tomorrow. (Today is a day off to enjoy!) We finished off our day yesterday with a campfire in the fire pit.
Here are the latest photos (taking this morning):

deck update - day 2 am at the RRC

2008-07-01T07:18:00.000-07:00

last night we finished off day one with a relaxing sunset ride on the lake in the party boat.
woke up at 5:30am this morning - definitely not on purpose. early morning does have its advantages though - I have done some accounting, cut up a watermelon, made breakfast, pulled weeds, and made a lasagna - all before 7:30am pacific time :) here are the latest deck pics:

day one at the RRC

2008-06-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

we arrived yesterday afternoon to drizzly rain, after flying into Manchester on Saturday, enjoying an early breakfast with family on Sunday morning, then driving north about 8 hours. Our place is always in better condition than we've left it, as my in-laws treat it like their own. After sleeping in a bit this morning, Paul and Wayne did some work on the deck, and I made the big arrival shopping trip to the grocery store and local Miller's Discount Department Store for food and supplies. Now it's time to hit the laptops and get some work done. It so so incredibly green here - they have had so much rain. It's gorgeous, but it's also made gardens very difficult to thrive this year. Will try to post some updated deck photos later today...

RRC deck update

2008-06-26T14:15:00.000-07:00

Paul has begun the foundation...

lincoln logs home movie

2008-06-08T17:26:00.000-07:00

by the rilester.

my sista has a blog...

2008-05-26T12:38:00.001-07:00

check it out: http://heynicetamischa.blogspot.com/

northern maine news update - snow plow parade

2008-04-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

http://bangornews.com/news/t/aroostook.aspx?articleid=163298&zoneid=175

photo by Julia Bayly of the Bangor Daily News

quote of the day

2008-04-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

"It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers."

- James Thurber