There are days that I absolutely love not having a car anymore. When my parents and I circled the block 15 times looking for a parking spot and then finally gave up and they just headed home to their hotel, I thanked God that I didn't have to deal with that headache every day. When I looked at the parking meter this weekend and saw $3.00/hr, my wallet was very very happy that I don't have a car. And when I get a few minutes to read my book on the way home from work, I enjoy that time. However, my relationship with public transportation is definitely love/hate and there are days that I pine dearly for my trusty little Yaris.
Last night was one of those times that I would have given my left arm for a car. I had to "run" by the grocery store to pick up a chicken for dinner. And if I had planned ahead properly, I would have just gone down to the Ferry building and picked it up at lunch, but apparently my brain wasn't working today and that didn't even cross my mind until after I had gotten to the grocery store. So the "run" to the grocery store was going to take 3 buses but I still didn't think it would take me 2 hrs and 15 minutes to get home. I rode the 10 to the 49 but for some reason, I had to wait 30 minutes for the 49 to come. In the middle of rush hour, there was only one 49 that passed in 30 minutes. ?!?!?!?! Come on MUNI, let's re-think that schedule. So by the time I got on the 49, it was already 5:45. Then, for some completely unknown reason, it took FOREVER to get to my next stop. So I was going all the way across the city, should it really take 40 minutes? I couldn't help but think that if I had my car, I would have been at the grocery store and finished an hour ago. It took me 5 minutes to buy the chicken and then I had to wait for the 22 to come to get home. Which took another 20 minutes. So, it was 7:15 by the time I got home. 2 hours, 15 minutes to pick up a chicken. So the fundamental question is: does the time you save by owning a car make up for the extra expense of having a car in the city? Most of the time, I answer NO! to that question, but every now and then, I waver and a teeny, tiny voice in the back of my head whispers,
"maybe?"
And to add insult to injury, when I got to the grocery store, they were all out of the usual chickens that I buy - the $2.99/pound chickens. Instead, all they had were $6.99/pound chickens. I had fallen asleep on the bus and apparently was still in a walking state of slumber, because I thought, "Hmm, $6.99/pound isn't really that much more - it won't make a difference. It'll be about the same price". Yawn. Then the lady handed me the chicken with the little price sticker and that woke me right up. $24.95 - POW! A three and a half pound chicken at $2.99/pound is around $10, which was all the money I had to spend on the chicken. A 3 and a half pound chicken at $6.99/pound is much MUCH more than that. Yes, I am an accountant and yes, I should be able to do that math but the brain was just not functioning last night. I just stood there with the $25 chicken in my hand and cried a little bit inside. Because, really, what can you do after they've picked it, wrapped it, and price-stickered it. I'm not the type of person that is going to hand that chicken back.
When I finally got home around 7:15, took the dogs out and started cutting up the chicken into bits, I found that, to add insult to injury, the chicken that they picked out for me was pear-shaped. There were these GIGANTIC legs and thighs and teeny-tiny little breasts. I buy the whole chicken because it's more economical that way, technically, but I have to say that I merely tolerate the legs and the thighs and the wings. They are not the part of the chicken that I generally look forward to. I am a breast girl. So, my $25 chicken was really even more disappointing than I originally thought.
Let's see if I can find a way to tie the chicken thing back into the car thing. The bus took so long to get me where I needed to go, that it lulled me to sleep and I bought a ridiculously expensive chicken while still under the influence of the bus. If I had a car, I would have been bright, chipper and refreshed when I arrived at the grocery store (an hour earlier as well, when there might have still been cheap chickens) and could have made an intelligent decision about the chicken that I purchased. And, to reiterate: Does the time you save by owning a car make up for the extra expense of having a car in the city?
"maybe"?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Good intentions
Well, I had good intentions to take the doggies to Golden Gate Park today and do some picture-taking and exploring to try and give you guys some more local info on this blog. It didn't happen. But it's a good reason - today was very overcast and cold, not a great day for a walk in the park. And, AND - it is supposed to rain tomorrow. Possibly up to two inches. I am so excited I can hardly see straight. I was at the grocery store today and bought one of those newspapers from the homeless guy and he warned me about the rain that was supposed to be coming. I set him straight and told him that I'm from Portland, I welcome the rain. I bask in the rain. I LIVE for the rain. Oh absence does most definitely make the heart grow fonder.
Morning view, South side of the park, looking west towards the Ocean. This is the highest point in the park, and it is always very windy here. Most of the time, you feel like you're going to get blown down the hill when you reach this point. This is a dog park and the is part of the off-leash park, so there is always a dog or two out frolicking in the grass. Not our dogs, of course.
This is a little ways down the hill from the last picture, looking towards Buena Vista park and a really hilly part of the city. The sun was just starting to come up and warm the buildings with it's light. I've really come to love our morning walks, everything is so quiet and pristine - even on cloudy days.
This is on the Northwest corner of the park, heading East back towards the City.
And this is right at the end of our walk. We live on the Northeast corner of the park, and as we walk along one of the paths going East, we come across this view. Always wonderful, this morning it was beautifully hazy, rosy and peaceful.
This is standing in the Northwest corner of the park and looking up the hill at the main off-leash section of the dog park. This field is always filled with all sizes of dogs, tumbling, sniffing, running, chasing, yelping. They always look like they're having so much fun and it always bothers me a little bit that our doggies can't join in the games.
This is the same view as the first picture above, but in the evening light instead of morning. There is a drinking fountain at the top that also has a little low drinking fountain for doggies. Even though it is low, though, it is still too high for my doggies.
This is at the top of the doggie off-leash field area. The sun is starting to go down so much sooner now. The seasons are so non-existent down here that it surprised me when the days started getting shorter.
So, beginning at the front door, here is the entryway (above)
Just to the right of the front door, the walk-in closet which we have stuffed to the gills. No more acquiring stuff that needs to be stored for us. There's just nowhere to put it. I also got my bench work-space all set up yesterday, with tools put away and everything in its place. There is a jewelry-supply store here in the city, so I got a new torch and a bunch of other stuff to prepare to start working again. The only thing that I still need is a crockpot for my pickle (it takes the oxidation off of silver after you've heated it up). And it's been impossible to find a simple, basic crockpot in the city. I looked at Goodwill, I went to the vintage cookware store up the street, and I finally caved and was going to spend full price and get one at Bed, Bath and Beyond. My choices there were a fully digital, high tech crock pot, or a double-crockpot. Yes, you heard me - two crockpots on one base. Who even needs that? So, my parents are coming down next week and I'm just going to have to wait for them to bring down my old one. Ridiculous. I am itching to get back to work, though.
Then, we turn around and the enter The Room. Bedroom, living room, library, den, office - all rolled into one room. The room. I really, really love it here. It's so warm and cozy at night and so light and airy during the day with the sunlight streaming in all those windows. And it's a lot more spacious than our last place, and we're paying 15% less!!
Now we are standing on the other side of The Room, looking back towards the entry-way. That bike rack has been worth its weight in gold, I tell you what. I don't have any idea where we would have put our bikes at either apartment if we didn't have that rack. There just simply was no place else to put them. Best thing I ever bought, and I used a gift card to buy it, so I didn't even really buy it! Yay!
Standing by the bed, looking towards the kitchen. It took me two weeks to get that stupid Imac mounted up on the wall, and when I did I felt so triumphant. It actually involved four trips to the hardware store, a screw extractor, the purchase of a cordless drill and a metal file. But it's worth it. Now I can watch tv in bed from time to time. We don't do it often, but every now and then it's a special luxury. Also another benefit to having a studio as we would never in a million years put a tv in the bedroom.
Looking back from the kitchen into The Room from one last angle.
The dining room. We haven't seen the top of the table from the day we moved in until yesterday. Looks rather nice, I think. Tonight we have plans to actually eat at it. We put the lighting in ourselves. There was only one light in the kitchen and it is this awful, bluish, cold, harsh overhead globe light. I felt like I was in a hospital with it on. So a trip to IKEA for some overhead lights in the kitchen and a hanging lamp over the table was much needed.
And finally, the kitchen. It's still a bit messy as the last box contained most of our glasses, and you can only wash and dry about 8 glasses at a time on our drainboard, so criticize me if you will. I love the lights - they add a whole extra dimension to the kitchen and make it really enjoyable to work in, instead of the institutional feel it had with the other light. I must confess, I am in love with this kitchen. Whoever put those countertops in was brilliant - you can't see anything on them. Everything blends in. I love it. I am in kitchen heaven here, compared to the last place.
So, today was a day of running errands and baking things indoors. But, I uploaded a bunch of pictures from the camera, and found a bunch of shots that I took from a morning walk with the doggies and an evening walk with the doggies, which I had actually taken to share with all of you so that you could see the lovely park that we live next to, and experience vicariously how nice our little walks have turned out to be.
Morning view, South side of the park, looking west towards the Ocean. This is the highest point in the park, and it is always very windy here. Most of the time, you feel like you're going to get blown down the hill when you reach this point. This is a dog park and the is part of the off-leash park, so there is always a dog or two out frolicking in the grass. Not our dogs, of course. 
This is a little ways down the hill from the last picture, looking towards Buena Vista park and a really hilly part of the city. The sun was just starting to come up and warm the buildings with it's light. I've really come to love our morning walks, everything is so quiet and pristine - even on cloudy days. 
This is on the Northwest corner of the park, heading East back towards the City.And this is right at the end of our walk. We live on the Northeast corner of the park, and as we walk along one of the paths going East, we come across this view. Always wonderful, this morning it was beautifully hazy, rosy and peaceful.
In the morning we do one full circuit of the park and in the afternoon, when I get home from work, we head out again and do two full laps.
This is standing in the Northwest corner of the park and looking up the hill at the main off-leash section of the dog park. This field is always filled with all sizes of dogs, tumbling, sniffing, running, chasing, yelping. They always look like they're having so much fun and it always bothers me a little bit that our doggies can't join in the games.
This is the same view as the first picture above, but in the evening light instead of morning. There is a drinking fountain at the top that also has a little low drinking fountain for doggies. Even though it is low, though, it is still too high for my doggies. 
This is at the top of the doggie off-leash field area. The sun is starting to go down so much sooner now. The seasons are so non-existent down here that it surprised me when the days started getting shorter.
So the other thing I have to share with you today is a tour of our new apartment. My mom noted that we hadn't put up even one picture of our new place and I have to admit that is because, until yesterday, we still had unpacked boxes and little odds and ends everywhere. Yesterday, I finally sucked it up and put everything in its place. And now I'm not ashamed to post pictures.
So, beginning at the front door, here is the entryway (above)
Just to the right of the front door, the walk-in closet which we have stuffed to the gills. No more acquiring stuff that needs to be stored for us. There's just nowhere to put it. I also got my bench work-space all set up yesterday, with tools put away and everything in its place. There is a jewelry-supply store here in the city, so I got a new torch and a bunch of other stuff to prepare to start working again. The only thing that I still need is a crockpot for my pickle (it takes the oxidation off of silver after you've heated it up). And it's been impossible to find a simple, basic crockpot in the city. I looked at Goodwill, I went to the vintage cookware store up the street, and I finally caved and was going to spend full price and get one at Bed, Bath and Beyond. My choices there were a fully digital, high tech crock pot, or a double-crockpot. Yes, you heard me - two crockpots on one base. Who even needs that? So, my parents are coming down next week and I'm just going to have to wait for them to bring down my old one. Ridiculous. I am itching to get back to work, though. 
Then, we turn around and the enter The Room. Bedroom, living room, library, den, office - all rolled into one room. The room. I really, really love it here. It's so warm and cozy at night and so light and airy during the day with the sunlight streaming in all those windows. And it's a lot more spacious than our last place, and we're paying 15% less!!
Now we are standing on the other side of The Room, looking back towards the entry-way. That bike rack has been worth its weight in gold, I tell you what. I don't have any idea where we would have put our bikes at either apartment if we didn't have that rack. There just simply was no place else to put them. Best thing I ever bought, and I used a gift card to buy it, so I didn't even really buy it! Yay!
Standing by the bed, looking towards the kitchen. It took me two weeks to get that stupid Imac mounted up on the wall, and when I did I felt so triumphant. It actually involved four trips to the hardware store, a screw extractor, the purchase of a cordless drill and a metal file. But it's worth it. Now I can watch tv in bed from time to time. We don't do it often, but every now and then it's a special luxury. Also another benefit to having a studio as we would never in a million years put a tv in the bedroom. 
Looking back from the kitchen into The Room from one last angle. 
The dining room. We haven't seen the top of the table from the day we moved in until yesterday. Looks rather nice, I think. Tonight we have plans to actually eat at it. We put the lighting in ourselves. There was only one light in the kitchen and it is this awful, bluish, cold, harsh overhead globe light. I felt like I was in a hospital with it on. So a trip to IKEA for some overhead lights in the kitchen and a hanging lamp over the table was much needed.
So, that's the apartment. I'll try to get a shot of the great view that we have out of our living room windows towards the park some other time. And I'll leave you with one last pic - of the doggies enjoying their new home, in their favorite place to be:
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Bluegrass Festival
This weekend was the Bluegrass Festival. It was really fun, with some good music but a little of the sheen wore off for me this year. It was just SO crowded. People, people everywhere you turned and you couldn't get anywhere near the stages. I guess that's the price you pay for an amazing, absolutely free concert.
There are six stages at the Festival - Porch, Banjo, Arrow, Rooster, Star and Gold. The stages are clustered in one area of Golden Gate Park, around Speedway Meadow, in little knolls and valleys. It really is a terrific setting. The Banjo stage is where the big names play, and it's nearly impossible to get a seat for shows there, atleast anywhere near the stage. So unless you come early in the morning, park your blanket right in front of the stage, and don't move all day, you're probably not going to get to "see" a show at that stage. Unfortunately, this year, the acts that we wanted to see were all spread out between the stages, so we couldn't just park a blanket. Which meant that we ended up being really far away from most of the shows. In fact, we watched Aimee Mann from way to the side of the Arrow stage, and didn't actually see any of the show. It's weird sitting in a giant crowd of people, listening to music when you can't see the performer. It kind of feels like you've plunked yourself down in the middle of a million people for no good reason. Live music, for me, is all about watching the performance, and if you can't see it, then...yeah. So. The Rooster stage is set in the nicest little valley, but unforunately, the valley is a dog-leg, so if you're at the back, you most definitely can't see the stage. We "saw" Billy Bragg from at the back of the valley, so again, another show that we couldn't actually see.
So anyway, for the complete rundown: Saturday was a beautiful, sunny day, but with ridiculous amounts of wind that made it quite chilly. We got to the festival a little late, but in time to hear the second half of Okkerville River at the Gold stage, and the crowds hadn't arrived yet, so we actually had a really nice little patch of grass. We sat and listened to the good music, and ate our sandwiches and sipped a cold beer. This part of the festival, before everyone and their mother arrived, was really the best part. Then, we headed to Boz Scaggs at the Rooster stage, which I mentioned above is the dog-leg. We couldn't get anywhere close to actually seeing the stage, so we just sat to the side in a relatively uncrowded area and listened. Then it was time for Billy Joe Shaver at the Arrow stage. This stage is kind of out in the open, and the wind was really starting to pick up, so it got kind of chilly. And Billy Joe Shaver is getting a little old, so his set wasn't my favorite - his voice was a little shaky. I laid down and took a little nap, which was nice.
At this point, the crowds had arrived en masse, and getting anywhere was kind of a pain in the ass. We stood and listened to a couple of songs from The Duhks and then headed to the Banjo stage for a couple songs from Gillian Welch, and then we were just kind of over it. The wind was pretty much howling at this point, and I was getting pretty chilled to the bone. By the time we got home, the wind was literally howling, and rattling the windows. I've never heard it blow so hard in San Francisco, and the wind is always blowing here. It was pretty crazy.
Sunday, we had good intentions to get to the park early for Dr. Dog, but we ended up late again and only caught the last two songs of the act. Which was really a shame because this was the main show that we wanted to see, it was early, so it wasn't crowded at all and the two songs we heard were amazing. :( Well, you win some you lose some. The rest of the day was just one big mob of people. We listened to Billy Bragg without being able to see the stage, we listened to Aimee Mann without being able to see the stage, and at the end of the day, we headed to see Neko Case. We were with one of Neil's friends and she pushed us right into the middle of the crowd, pretty close to the stage, which should have been great, but with everyone standing up, we still couldn't see anything. I absolutely love Neko Case and was really looking forward to seeing the show. Well, the music was great but I didn't see anything. And I was just so over the crowds at this point. There was this guy next to me that just had no sense of his personal space, he kept crowding me and crowding me and finally I had to just completely relinquish my spot to him. He was actually standing on our blanket, right next to Neil. So, after three shows where I didn't actually see the performers at any point during the show, I called it quits. I guess crowds like that are just not my cup of tea. I must getting crotchety in my old age. :) I headed home to a nice, warm house and a big bowl of potato-leek soup and homemade rolls. Neil stuck around for the last show of the night.
Overall, there was still good music to be heard, and I still think the festival is amazing and cannot believe that it is offered free. But the lineup wasn't quite as strong as last year, and I really didn't feel like I actually got to "see" many shows. So overall, this year it was kind of a meh... alright, but not outstanding. One final but, though: but October in San Francisco is really a lovely time to be outdoors enjoying good music. If you're looking for a time to plan a trip down to the City, I would encourage you to come at this time of year.
I also don't think I updated you on the doggies and our session with the trainer. It went really well, it was very informational, and it really encouraged me that I'm on the right track with the doggies. The one thing she told me that I thought was good was that this "treating" as we walk is not really a training mechanism, it's more of a management tool and we will probably have to walk like that forever. There's not really a good way to train dogs not to be reactive on the leash - it's their instinct. However, with good management and lots of treats, we can make it okay. And we've continued to have successes and failures, but their failures are a little bit more mellow now. I can usually distract them pretty quickly with a treat, now.
In another new, exciting development, the dogs have developed allergies to something. Swarley is so itchy, he just can't stop scratching himself - he's almost tortured by it. I feel so bad for the little guy. And Lola scratches a lot too, but doesn't seem quite as tortured by it as Swarley. This morning, though, she had a little rash all over her belly. So I'm going to pick up some Benadryl and we've changed their food to grain-free, fish-based, to try to address most of the food allergies that doggies have. Poor little dears.
I have a three day weekend, with the Columbus Day holiday on Monday that no one else in the working world recognizes but, here at the Foundation, we get it off! :) YAY! What to do, though? Although this is supposed to be a blog about our life in a new city, I've really fallen off on exploring the city and reporting on it to you. Maybe I'll try to find something new in the City that I haven't seen/experienced yet, and try to actually blog about something interesting. Don't hold your breaths, though, I will most likely end up sleeping in and being ridiculously lazy instead.
There are six stages at the Festival - Porch, Banjo, Arrow, Rooster, Star and Gold. The stages are clustered in one area of Golden Gate Park, around Speedway Meadow, in little knolls and valleys. It really is a terrific setting. The Banjo stage is where the big names play, and it's nearly impossible to get a seat for shows there, atleast anywhere near the stage. So unless you come early in the morning, park your blanket right in front of the stage, and don't move all day, you're probably not going to get to "see" a show at that stage. Unfortunately, this year, the acts that we wanted to see were all spread out between the stages, so we couldn't just park a blanket. Which meant that we ended up being really far away from most of the shows. In fact, we watched Aimee Mann from way to the side of the Arrow stage, and didn't actually see any of the show. It's weird sitting in a giant crowd of people, listening to music when you can't see the performer. It kind of feels like you've plunked yourself down in the middle of a million people for no good reason. Live music, for me, is all about watching the performance, and if you can't see it, then...yeah. So. The Rooster stage is set in the nicest little valley, but unforunately, the valley is a dog-leg, so if you're at the back, you most definitely can't see the stage. We "saw" Billy Bragg from at the back of the valley, so again, another show that we couldn't actually see.
So anyway, for the complete rundown: Saturday was a beautiful, sunny day, but with ridiculous amounts of wind that made it quite chilly. We got to the festival a little late, but in time to hear the second half of Okkerville River at the Gold stage, and the crowds hadn't arrived yet, so we actually had a really nice little patch of grass. We sat and listened to the good music, and ate our sandwiches and sipped a cold beer. This part of the festival, before everyone and their mother arrived, was really the best part. Then, we headed to Boz Scaggs at the Rooster stage, which I mentioned above is the dog-leg. We couldn't get anywhere close to actually seeing the stage, so we just sat to the side in a relatively uncrowded area and listened. Then it was time for Billy Joe Shaver at the Arrow stage. This stage is kind of out in the open, and the wind was really starting to pick up, so it got kind of chilly. And Billy Joe Shaver is getting a little old, so his set wasn't my favorite - his voice was a little shaky. I laid down and took a little nap, which was nice.
At this point, the crowds had arrived en masse, and getting anywhere was kind of a pain in the ass. We stood and listened to a couple of songs from The Duhks and then headed to the Banjo stage for a couple songs from Gillian Welch, and then we were just kind of over it. The wind was pretty much howling at this point, and I was getting pretty chilled to the bone. By the time we got home, the wind was literally howling, and rattling the windows. I've never heard it blow so hard in San Francisco, and the wind is always blowing here. It was pretty crazy.
Sunday, we had good intentions to get to the park early for Dr. Dog, but we ended up late again and only caught the last two songs of the act. Which was really a shame because this was the main show that we wanted to see, it was early, so it wasn't crowded at all and the two songs we heard were amazing. :( Well, you win some you lose some. The rest of the day was just one big mob of people. We listened to Billy Bragg without being able to see the stage, we listened to Aimee Mann without being able to see the stage, and at the end of the day, we headed to see Neko Case. We were with one of Neil's friends and she pushed us right into the middle of the crowd, pretty close to the stage, which should have been great, but with everyone standing up, we still couldn't see anything. I absolutely love Neko Case and was really looking forward to seeing the show. Well, the music was great but I didn't see anything. And I was just so over the crowds at this point. There was this guy next to me that just had no sense of his personal space, he kept crowding me and crowding me and finally I had to just completely relinquish my spot to him. He was actually standing on our blanket, right next to Neil. So, after three shows where I didn't actually see the performers at any point during the show, I called it quits. I guess crowds like that are just not my cup of tea. I must getting crotchety in my old age. :) I headed home to a nice, warm house and a big bowl of potato-leek soup and homemade rolls. Neil stuck around for the last show of the night.
Overall, there was still good music to be heard, and I still think the festival is amazing and cannot believe that it is offered free. But the lineup wasn't quite as strong as last year, and I really didn't feel like I actually got to "see" many shows. So overall, this year it was kind of a meh... alright, but not outstanding. One final but, though: but October in San Francisco is really a lovely time to be outdoors enjoying good music. If you're looking for a time to plan a trip down to the City, I would encourage you to come at this time of year.
I also don't think I updated you on the doggies and our session with the trainer. It went really well, it was very informational, and it really encouraged me that I'm on the right track with the doggies. The one thing she told me that I thought was good was that this "treating" as we walk is not really a training mechanism, it's more of a management tool and we will probably have to walk like that forever. There's not really a good way to train dogs not to be reactive on the leash - it's their instinct. However, with good management and lots of treats, we can make it okay. And we've continued to have successes and failures, but their failures are a little bit more mellow now. I can usually distract them pretty quickly with a treat, now.
In another new, exciting development, the dogs have developed allergies to something. Swarley is so itchy, he just can't stop scratching himself - he's almost tortured by it. I feel so bad for the little guy. And Lola scratches a lot too, but doesn't seem quite as tortured by it as Swarley. This morning, though, she had a little rash all over her belly. So I'm going to pick up some Benadryl and we've changed their food to grain-free, fish-based, to try to address most of the food allergies that doggies have. Poor little dears.
I have a three day weekend, with the Columbus Day holiday on Monday that no one else in the working world recognizes but, here at the Foundation, we get it off! :) YAY! What to do, though? Although this is supposed to be a blog about our life in a new city, I've really fallen off on exploring the city and reporting on it to you. Maybe I'll try to find something new in the City that I haven't seen/experienced yet, and try to actually blog about something interesting. Don't hold your breaths, though, I will most likely end up sleeping in and being ridiculously lazy instead.
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