Mythical Creatures

Mythical Creatures
Originally uploaded by preshaa

Flashback Friday: my Buddy.

When I was a young teen, early morning always began as such: I'd hear my parents moving around the house, and at around 630, my mother would say "Buddy. Buddy, go get Leslie up." In my somewhat creaky home, I would hear four paws carry their owner up the stairs, an off rhythm beat. Dog sniffing and a headbutt at my door would swing it open, and in would come Buddy, my Airedale, round side of my bed, where he would promptly stick his face in mine. Mostly, I would be somewhat awake already for this and greet him affectionately. Occasionally, I would pull the covers over my head and the dog-nosed-nudging would become more and more insistent. The best? When I scooted over towards the wall and patted the bed. Buddy would jump on up, turn in a circle (likely stepping on me -- it was a twin bed) and snuggle on in.

He was such a silly dog. We taught him to shake his paw, but he was overzealous, and it got to the point where I could sit with my back to him and he would scratch it by continuously "shaking." When I was in 8th Grade, I came out of math class to see him sitting outside. Once, I was driving home from my friend's house in a bad storm, and my mother said he sat by the window until I pulled into the driveway.

Best friend. I still miss you.

Hey there, SF! Be rad!

photo: Darryl Bush / AP

"With its winding brick road and manicured gardens, the famous curvy stretch of Lombard Street looks like something ripped from the pages of a storybook. On Wednesday, it received a makeover that transformed it into the world's largest version of the Candy Land board game."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/19/BAEB19AQRI.DTL#ixzz0OlYn3PTj

quagmire of admire

she is just so epic. multi-leveled epicness. (photo from here)

And there was this place, and I was there.

This week, I have been housesitting in an eclectic neighborhood in San Rafael. Respite from the city and fog has been unexpectedly nice --- I can't tell you how much better one sleeps to the sound of crickets and fountains than to the cacophony of buses and errant yelling men. Houses in this niched 'hood do not even remotely resemble track homes, and upon every one, there is some mark of creativity, individuality, or, in some cases, inadvertant artistic neglect. Went for a walk, took some photos....

The sign on that chair says 'I have flying monkeys and I'm not afraid to use them.' Also, yes, that is a giant martini glass sitting on the arm. Also also, a mini-chair sits on the ground next to the giant one. I wake up really early here, likely because there are no curtains on the windows and the sun lightly filters in. So close to the bay, the air is fresh and I walked through the backyard to the dock. This place is good for the soul.

Kitty!

Bill and I went to Pixar last night to see a short film Laura co-produced -- Real Men Go Hunting. My first time at the Pixar campus in Emeryville, I couldn't resist making Sully and Mike Wazowski pose for a picture my nieces will enjoy. They were good sports, even if Mike was a wee bit fiesty. Monster vixen.

LOLz

not my mom. but could be b/c she's a funny awesome lady. :)

To be honest? 30.

Last week, my mom and I went to the movies. Crazy cineplex with your neon lights and gaggle of teenage kids working at snack bars and ripping tickets... we gave our tickets to the ticket guy and my word, if he wasn't the most awkward 15 year old ever. This exchange followed between my mother and I:

Me: Wow, now that was what I call awkward adolescence.
Mom: Honey, I think he thought you were cute.

Me: No way. I could like be his mom.

Me: .............
Me: Holy crap! I could totally be his mom!!!!!

But let's be honest. I know it's kindof trendy to be overwhelmed by thirty, but I'm actually digging it. I like the way it rolls off the tongue. 30. Let's do the inevitable recap; it's not like I loathe my life and am disappointed in myself or anything, so at this measuring post in my life, I'm like, wow, this is a.o.k. When I was 15, I thought 30 was ancient. I thought I would be married with kiddos and have this crazy idyllic life with a house and dog. Hell, I thought that would happen by 25. But as I grew into myself and moved around in this eclectic world, I realized different timelines for me ...unknown timelines. All that stuff will happen in some way, shape, or form, someday. I'm not worried. And yes, I don't want to be an OLD mom. And it makes me nervous that my parents are aging and I want them to be able to enjoy my onedayfamily, but still, I really believe things will work out as they may. They have so far.

30. Thirrrrrrty. BooYA. say it with me now.

one more time, just listen.

should bes

Sure, Actress Marcia Gay Harden goes to the New York premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Whatever, that's great. But look at how freaking happy those little girls are! Are they wearing robes? They are wearing robes! And are those books? BOOKS! Undiluted happiness.