Oh Tannenbaum!

The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing others' loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas. - WC Jones

In an effort to embrace the spirit of Christmas, today I am going down to Glide Memorial with a friend to help the folks there serve lunch to over 600 of our less fortunate citizens.

As I sit down with friends tomorrow to feast and celebrate, I will be counting all my blessings.

I hope you do too. Merry Christmas!

Street Art in La'ie

Aloha and then some ...

I just returned from ten glorious days in Hawaii where I went to run my first marathon – there is an emphasis on “first” marathon because I know it will not be my last. The experience of the marathon was quite amazing. The idea of running 26.2 miles was always a real mystery, it felt like this unknown distance during which anything could happen including hitting that dreaded “wall” people talk about. I think I did hit a “wall” at around mile 22 but I still pushed on to complete the race in a respectable time of 5:02:04.

The remainder of my time in Hawaii was very relaxing and I am very grateful to my friends with whom I stayed. They made me feel as if I had a home away from home there and I had complete freedom to relax as much as I needed. While I was there I read a fascinating book called “Born to Run” – it is a book about the Tarahumara people in Mexico and their approach to running. Quite inspiring – as said, I will be running quite a lot more in my future and god wiling, I will tackle an ultra marathon one day too.

I was really impressed by how friendly people are in Hawaii, there is a sense of island friendliness you don’t really get on the mainland. Perhaps the warm weather inspires people to be more open. I know there are some challenges and like any big city Honolulu has its fair share of crime and homelessness, but the time spent on the North Shore was very special.

I feel recharged and ready to tackle the holiday season.

Starry Starry NIght

This week a friend took me out into the ‘country’ to see the Milky Way and Shooting Stars - there was a meteor shower this week but we missed it by one day, the show however was still fantastic! Seeing stars at night is something I don’t experience very often and in fact, only if I am very lucky (and remember to look up) I get to see one or two faint stars in the city sky. I was thinking how sad it is that some folks never get to see the sky at all. Living in big cities with all the light pollution you simply aren’t exposed to the night sky and I guess then one is also not exposed to the wonders that night sky holds.

The natural world holds so many wonders. When I see the stars in the sky I wonder what it must have been like 200 years ago when we were not living like we are today – surely we were more in touch with what was going on above us, around us and beneath us. I wonder what kind of impact this out-of-touch-ness has on our souls and out ability to survive.

As much as I am a fan of progress, I can’t help wonder how we would fare if one day all of this was no longer here – no electricity, no structures, no conveniences.

How many of us would survive? I bet not everyone would.

I trust that I will be one that does.

People Behaving Badly

I’ve been wondering recently what pushes people over the edge. This week there was a horrid shooting incident at an army base here in the US leaving about 13 people dead. The day after another man went on a rampage in Florida because he was unhappy about his life. There have been many mass shootings all over America this year, more than I have ever seen before.

So what it is that makes people go over the edge? That makes them go so far that they do things without thinking of the consequences and somehow seem to lose their morals along the way. I have always been fascinated by this idea that it takes just one second between action and non-action.

Fascinating as it may be though, I can’t understand it. We who live in the so-called “developed” world lead a very privileged life. We have access to basic services (even the homeless folks if they want it) so how can circumstances make us worry so much about the “What If” that we snap.

I think so much in life is based on the energy we put out to the universe. I guess I am a “glass half full” kind of girl that believes we can always make lemonade out of lemons. I’ve been running a lot in preparation for my upcoming marathon and a quote I recently read comes to mind – not only when I’m running, but also along the lines of that trigger: Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

That’s a good thought for life. Change is painful as are some of our circumstances, we can choose how we respond to our circumstances.

This is one thing we have power over.

Time Travel

Last week I had to travel to the East Coast for business. I was in Waltham, Boston and in Bristol, Connecticut to meet with my client ESPN. Getting there meant I had a long drive ahead of me on the one day, it was so very pretty. This time of the year the leaves are in their full autumnal glory. I felt really blessed to see it all especially since it was such a sunny day out there...these are rare this time of the year. On the way home from Boston we were delayed on the tarmac for about 20 minutes because of the arrival of air force one, we got to see the plane from the window and I thought to myself that this may be the closest I would ever come to President Obama in person. That was pretty cool.

Back at home in a very sunny San Francisco, this weekend I attended the West Fest in Golden Gate Park – this was the celebration of 40 years since Woodstock. Even though this was not my era, it was great to see so much tie dye and so many people still living the vibe of that time.

I was observing people and wondered to myself how easily we judge people by the way they look. This thought occurred to me while I was watching some of these wasted old hippies running around somewhat intoxicated by whatever their pleasure during the day. I thought of how they looked like they were having so much fun and although we may look at some of them and think how wasted they look, these people may well be very respected in and successful in life since otherwise they might not have the freedom to do the things they do. How do we know unless we engage. So, live and let live and do not judge unless you want to be judged yourself.

Our past does not define us; it is a part of what makes us who we are today and we have the power to choose out future.

Life is full of limitless possibilities.

Fall in Connecticut

Tales of the Journey and Homecoming

I just returned to San Francisco after being away on vacation in Europe for almost three weeks. It was great to get away and see old friends and it was also very good to come home. I had some very interesting experiences while I was away, mostly a realization that my life has changed and very possibly that I am growing up.

Firstly, I was in Ibiza for a week and had the pleasure of celebrating my 42nd birthday there. I realized while I was out with my friends and as they were planning to go to the season closing party at Space, that I simply did not have a burning desire to be inside a night club and opted instead for a leisurely stroll through the old town. I found this very gratifying. I also realized as we were drinking copious amounts of beer every night that I am very thankful for the healthy lifestyle that I am exposed to and embrace here in San Francisco. Don’t get me wrong, I love beer and wine and a good party, but with some moderation. (I hope I don’t sound like an old fart here)

Every year since I had left London, I have felt somewhat obligated to visit, to check on my friends, and my ‘affairs’. After this visit though, I feel this is no longer necessary – again, don’t misunderstand me, I love to see my friends, but the London streets exhausted me. The people all dress the same and there is very little color. I saw a girl on the tube one day wearing red shoes and it struck me as so unusual in the environment. I also noticed how many foreign languages are spoken in London and I found this a little disturbing. (I suppose I was expecting to hear more English)

Having said all of that, what I do love about London is the access to art and all the wonderful old buildings that are steeped in history that is incomparable to anything here in the States. I visited the Tate and the Tate Modern, as well as the Royal Academy of the Arts and I stumbled across Leake Street – an amazing street filled with very good graffiti. These were all wonderful experiences that left me feeling enriched.

I will go back to London, but perhaps not too soon and perhaps also for other reasons than I had before. During this trip, I have confirmed again that I am at home in San Francisco and that is what matters more than anything to me.

This is where my heart lies. (for now, because, who knows what the future holds)

Be well.

Leake Street - London

The Sun is shining ...

... and the crazy people are on the streets. What is it about warmer weather that brings the strange people out?

I am always amazed that as soon as the temperatures go up, we get to see (and often smell) the zaniest, craziest, maddest people on earth walking the sidewalks of the city.

This afternoon as I was walking down Market Street to get my weekly Sushi down at Montgomery Station, I must have noticed at least five different people either having very loud conversations with themselves, swatting imaginary flies, just sitting there picking their noses or simply walking around emitting the most vile odor you could ever imagine!

Homelessness is a big issue here in San Francisco. Many ‘alternative’ people are attracted to this city because it provides a lot of support for its homeless citizens and the climate here is very tolerable. This city also has a wonderful kinetic energy that attracts the more liberal type and diversity is celebrated in all its forms.

I don’t think there is a simple answer to homelessness so I am not going to even offer solutions here, nor am I going to criticize the fact that there are so many people on the streets. It is a very complicated issue, it is not simply about feeding people, or putting people into homes, it is a complex set of circumstances that drives people to live on the streets and it is all part of what makes this city so special. (Yes, even the smelly ones)

I appreciate all forms of life and I believe we all have a place on this wonderful planet of ours and if someone offends you, cross the street.

Namaste.

Mr Big

Chillin' on a Sunday afternoon.

Today is the 9th Day of the 9th month of the 9th year of this century. The number 9 is an interesting number. There is a lot of data written about it on Wikipedia but the piece that interests me most is that it is the first composite lucky number. I like the idea of lucky numbers, everyone needs at least one that they have faith in. I personally like the number 5 but I like the idea of number 9 being a BIG number and today is the last time we will ever see single digits forming this pattern in our lifetime, that in itself is exciting.

Last night I was invited to a rehearsal of Il Travatore (The Troubador) by the SF Opera Company – All I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW – the lead vocalist sang songs that made sound sigh, it was so hauntingly beautiful. I am always pleased when I am exposed to culture of this nature. I’m not the biggest opera fan but I feel richer for having experienced this last night.

In another 'cultural' event, this mornings ride on the Muni was quite amusing, I had to wait for three buses before I could get on, there was a police woman controlling how passengers got on the bus. It really fascinates me that in some cultures people simply know how to be respectful during the morning commute and find ways of squeezing themselves onto mass transit of sorts, but here, in my neighborhood, someone felt that it was necessary to police how people got onto the vehicle...fascinating!

Maybe in out next evolution as humans occupying this planet we'll have figured out how to live in harmony with each other. Until then, let's have some fun with nines. We can go the whole nine yards, dressed to the nines on our way to cloud nine.

Spotted Art

Seen in Bluxome Alley at roughly 430 Townsend street

The First Day of Spring?

September is my favorite month, not only because it is the month of my birthday but also because it has always represented the beginning of spring – growing up in the Southern Hemisphere one gets used to the idea that in September the spring flowers start to come out and the days start to get longer. The promise of summer just around the corner makes many people smile.

For us folks living in the Northern Hemisphere the start of September brings with it the realization that fall is on its way and the days are getting shorter. Living here in San Francisco this is a little different, one does not get to experience seasons like many other places. The weather is mild year round and we have an unusual summer climate. There is fog that rolls into the bay and the temperatures are typically about 20 degrees (Fahrenheit) cooler than 10 miles away.

The upside is that we don’t need any air conditioning during July and August and as the rest of the country slowly moves into the fall season during September, the fog rolls back out to sea and we have the warmest most wonderful months until November when the chill sets in.

September is the month where this city really comes alive. There are street fairs, concerts in the park and random city activities every weekend, a lot of fun is to be had all around.

So shine on all you spring bunnies, enjoy September, where ever you are.

Food and Wine Week

"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance." - Benjamin Franklin

This week has been a veritable feasting of food and wine. On Tuesday I was invited to a dinner party and was amazed by the sumptuous menu of Chipino, Chicken cooked in aniseed, Mediterranean vegetables and a steamed egg dish with anchovy. It was all very very tasty and the company and wine was also brilliant!

The following evening I went to UVA wine bar in the Lower Haight. It was buzzing last night not only because it is a popular place but also because they were having a natural wine tasting as part of Natural Wine Week. It was delicious! Many wines, (all Italian and natural) and great food to go with it – we ordered the Wild Boar Ragu and a Spicy Pepper Pizza.

One of the many things I love about San Francisco is the availability of good food and wine and the people that love to consume it.

7 more days until training begins again. (I may need to work twice as hard to make up for the feasting)

Il Hombre

Seen at Upper Playground on Fillmore Street

Life Has a Mind of it’s Own

I’ve been enjoying a Friday at home and I have just finished watching the film The Soloist, it is an intriguing story of a very talented cello player who’s mental health led to him become homeless. The film was an interesting insight to the effects of mental health but it also had a really good tale of what expectations we have of each other and what we learn when those expectations are not met.

There are always lessons to be learned in life and often they come from our perceptions being different to the reality. Our minds can tell us we are experiencing things when in fact our inner voices are speaking the truth. As long as we continue to grow from the lessons then nothing is lost.

Yesterday I had a cataract removed from my eye – I got the cataract after a series of surgeries my eye had undergone for a detached retina two years ago. This was a fairly simple surgery, in fact the most commonly performed surgery for over 65year old people...the hardest part was not eating all morning because although it was a simple procedure, it still required anesthesia. After the previous surgeries, this one being easy was a great relief.

Now that the procedure is over, the countdown to get back to boot camp and back into training begins – 13 days . . .

Love Birds

Seen on Fillmore Street.

The Universe Knows Best

Having faith in the Universe is an interesting concept. There are many references both in pagan and popular culture that reference this idea of “having faith in the Universe”. Max Ehrman wrote in Desiderata that “the universe is unfolding as it should” .

Of course there are many arguments that everything in life is choice and we create our own destiny and there is no such thing as a “Universe” that guides us, but sometimes I have to believe that the choices we are presented with are guided by “something” else.

What that is, I can’t say I have an answer to, but I would like to believe that everything is, and will be, as it should be. For some, our history determines our future, and we can choose to stay in a place we think we are destined to be, but I think we can make conscious choices to be taken in another direction and that is the power of choice. The rest, we have to trust.

Right now, everything in my life feels pretty good and I will continue to trust that everything is indeed unfolding as it should. All I can do is make the choices I think are correct and for the rest, I will trust the process.

What’s in a name...and how Epic is not epic at all...

Last night I went to a restaurant along the Embarcadero called Epic .

Epic. The dictionary definition of the word epic is: heroic; majestic; impressively great...the slang definition of Epic (compliments of urbandictionary) is described as ”Being unusually large, powerful or wonderful.” – That does not apply to this place; it is neither, large, nor powerful and certainly not impressively great.

This restaurant is in one of the most awesome settings overlooking the Bay Bridge. The view was stupendous, the company was great but the food was disappointingly mediocre.

This got me thinking about the name. The whole idea of calling a restaurant Epic sets the expectation of an awesome or ‘impressively great’ experience. Our food was neither. On the flip side, there is always the potential that in a few years time this venture will turn out to be an epic disaster when patrons do not return because the food is not so epic after all...the view, one can see for free just in front of the place.

Having just totally knocked this place, I do want to add that the ambiance inside held promise, it has a nice bar which looked like a cozy place to drink a whiskey on a gray day, but if anyone asked my opinion...I would rename the place, perhaps then one would take it at face value and enjoy it for what it is and not expect an epic experience.

On another note, it has been sunny here in San Francisco all week. This is a good thing; a sunny San Francisco puts a spring in my step and a smile on my face - now that IS epic.

Happy Friday!