Monday, May 27, 2013

The tradeoffs

Taken from the High Line.  Travel - limited time in a city, or even planning what city you'll go to and which ones you won't - is my perennial reminder that life is full of tradeoffs.  A weekend in New York will do it to you.  And, that makes it all the better.
“The art of good decision making is looking forward to and celebrating the tradeoffs, not pretending they don’t exist.”

- Seth Godin

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Dog city, Part 2

Hmm I haven't blogged in awhile, so here's some pictures of some SF dogs that I've collected recently.  Capturing these furry faces brings me so much joy, I guess I'm easily pleased.
This is Chester who I met in the Richmond district after a delicious brunch of tofu scramble and spicy potatoes at B Star Bar (also one of my favourite things).  He was a slightly overweight, lumbering fellow with the friendliest Filipino owner.
Cuddles!  Yes, that's his (or her?) name.  Cuddles was shuffling around on the 2nd floor of a Japanese mall in Japantown.
Bella was ambling along the sidewalk when I spotted her, and although not captured in this photo, was a total poser.  The moment the camera was in her face she was rolling around on her back and playing tricks!  I actually saw her the next day and was like "Hey Bella!" which 100% made her owner think I was a stalker.
I love this dog city.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Weekend peonies


Treated myself to these happy blossoms to celebrate the end of a great working week, can't wait to see them open up over the next few days. It's the little things.

Happy weekend everyone!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Nesting, Part 3

Weekend snaps from my home and my hood.
Remnants from my ritual weekend smoothie, made with a gifted blender that is my most favourite thing.
This mossy flower (?) never dies!  I bought it at my favourite florist and she assured me I'd get so sick of them I'd just throw them out green - I waited till they were lightly browning, but that still took four weeks.  Longest lasting $4.50 foliage.
There is so much lavender growing wildly outside peoples houses and on the streets, I took this walking home from my beloved Whole Foods.
It wouldn't be fair to not include a foggy picture in here.  While we have been blessed with the most gorgeous sunshine in the weeks of late, there is the occasional morning where I will wake up to a fog rolling in and I'll remember exactly what city I'm in.

New residency.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Take me out to

- the ballgame!

If someone had told me just how much fun it is to go watch a baseball game, I feel like I would have gone so much sooner!  It's always been on my informal 'checklist' of things I want to do while here, but now I just can't wait to go again.  As a kid, I can totally see how this would be the best day out ever - your parents let you eat hot dogs and for once it's ok to yell as loud as you want whenever something exciting happens.  It was the Atlanta Braves vs the SF Giants - we won 10-1 (since when am I part of this we?!) but the highlight for me was just my buddy and I rising and falling with the crowd as we cheered the Giants on, pointy foam finger in tow.
Set up for success with some delicious Anchor Steam and garlic fries - why hasn't anyone told me about garlic fries before?!  They actually give you mints for after, haha.
I don't normally post pictures of myself but I find this so hilarious - the sticker is still on my cap and I'm smiling like I've never held a hotdog before.
Go Giants!  We got some killer seats in the sunshine, but from surveying the setup of the park I feel like almost any seat would give you a pretty good view into the action - plus being there soaking up the atmosphere is enough.  I felt like I was in a movie.
New crush: Buster Posey.  Talk about an amazing name!  My internet search history now includes 'buster posey wife'   and 'how many kids does buster posey have?'  This is sort of like the time I became obsessed with Tom Brady (still am).
Another SF first, though this definitely won't be the last.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Sunday links

My favourite salad and juice combo at Evolution Fresh - I try to ignore the fact that they're owned by Starbucks and just embrace it.  C loved it too!
This weekend was eventful in small ways - I finally got to visit the original Humphry Slocombe (I had the Eton Mess and Blue Bottle Vietnamese coffee) and I saw my first raccoon!  Yes, I classify these as events.  Raccoons are way bigger and faster than you think, and they growl at you.

Anyways, this week of late I have been re-living New York vicariously through my favourite blogs - definitely want to return to central park with kids one day, we will be packing a picnic.  In lieu of children, I have been feeding friends this salad, replacing parsley with kale, and exercising my beloved blender making this loaf - which I myself have become evangelical about!  This has been playing as I do the dishes.

Finally, I have been enjoying watching this adorable animation on repeat whenever I need a pick me up - can't get enough of those little paws!

Happy Sunday y'all, here's to another great week.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Half a year

Spring has now sprung!  Roses on one of my weekend runs.
This past Tuesday marked six months being here.  I'm not counting down, but more chalking up how long it's been that I've called this fair city 'home'.

The contrast of New York a couple of weeks ago got me thinking about how much of a little San Francisco citizen I have become: I get frustrated at people who don't compost, love kale and I have an opinion on Mexican food.  I check the weather obsessively and expect it to be warm all the time but do carry a scarf around for the inevitable late afternoon chill.  Inviting a friend to sit around in Dolores Park on a sunny afternoon is totally a thing, and there will be a guy there, set with a card table, offering relationship advice for free.  Maybe he'll be naked.

As for work, a 6:50am alarm to catch the late shuttle is considered a sleep in, you have to get in early if you want to catch the strawberries in the kitchen and I have a preferred yoga class.  Most importantly, I lived my management principle of hiring people who smarter than me, and now have the Best. Team. Ever. who I am wildly thankful for.  They are forgiving of the ways I'm still trying to figure it all out, and we like to high-five a lot.  I still feel out of my depth more often than not, but I'm keeping my head above water and no matter what kind of day I had, the golden view of the city when I walk into my apartment door always makes everything ok.

I really like you, new place.  Looking forward to the next six and beyond.