Hello from the other side!

In recap: it was tough, but so very worth it. The walk was amazing, full of astounding men & women all walking to make a difference, help fund early detection programs, and fight for a cure. I met a number of breast cancer survivors who were walking strong. There were people of all shapes and sizes, supporting each other throughout. My team (The Walking Bombshells) were all a girl could hope for in a team - funny, sassy, smart, supportive, and, well, walking.

I walked a marathon over the weekend (you all know me pretty well; the hardest thing i did was stop on Saturday at the half-marathon point, knowing that i could go the whole marathon on Saturday, and wanted to, but that i would pretty seriously injure myself doing so) - we started in Golden Gate park, walked through the Presidio to the Golden Gate, went over the bridge and through the waterfront & Sausalito into Mill Valley. We camped at Chrissy Field (did you know that, when foggy, the foghorn blows every few minutes, ALL NIGHT LONG?), which was strange - like camping in your own back yard, but in a city of little blue tents. Sunday we started at the field, walked 4-5 miles through the Presidio, then walked down the Marina, all the way UP Union Street & back DOWN again, and then all the way UP Gough and up to the top of Pacific
Heights, where we lunched at Lafayette Park. Down Sacramento street to Arguello, back into the park, and around and about there. They certainly didn't skimp on our up & downhill walking on Sunday. ;)

A big shout-out to Mo, who did a marathon & a half, and Heidi & Heather, who each did a marathon. You girls are the bomb.

And big ups to all of my sponsers & supporters - you are ALL making a difference. Thank you!

The walk approacheth!

This weekend, i'll be setting out with the bombshells to walk a TON in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. I'm still stunned by your generosity of donations and support - and thank you again. Below the not-so-elusive "more", you can find details about where to cheer us on, how to visit us on Saturday evening, and the closing ceremonies. We'd love to see you!

Finally, if you'd like to sponser, there's still time! Thank you again, for everything.
Heather | Heidi | Mo | meriko

1) Cheer us on!
The following locations are the best places for friends, family, stalkers, and
complete strangers to cheer us on:

Saturday, June 28, 2003:

Presidio Maintenance Parking Lot (Mile 2.10)
Lincoln Blvd. near 25th Avenue gate, Presidio, San Francisco
Peak viewing times: 8:00 am 9:30 am

Dunphy Park (Mile 9.3)
Bridgeway between Napa & Litho Streets, Sausalito
Peak viewing times: 10:00 am 1:00 pm

Bay Front Park (Miles 13.0 & 16.6)
425 Sycamore Avenue, Mill Valley
Peak viewing times: 11:00 am 3:30 pm

Sunday, June 29, 2003:

Lombard & Ruger Streets, near the Lombard Gate of the Presidio (Mile 4.2)
Peak viewing times: 8:30 am 11:30 am

Marina Green--east end of field near Fort Mason (Mile 5.5)
Marina Blvd. between Buchanan & Beach Streets
Peak viewing times: 9:00 am 12:00 pm

Ross Playground (Mile 11.9)
Corner of Arugello Blvd. & Edward Streets, San Francisco
Peak viewing times: 10:00 am 2:30 pm

2) Attend an Opening or Closing Ceremony!
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer San Francisco event will begin on Saturday, June
28, 2003, at Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park on John F. Kennedy Drive
between 30th Avenue & Crossover Drive. The Opening Ceremony will begin promptly
at 6:30 am and will last approximately 30 minutes. For friends and family
attending the ceremony, there is parking available at various parking garages
in the area. There is also street parking and metered parking available in the
area.

The Closing Ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 29, 2003, at Speedway
Meadow in Golden Gate Park on John F. Kennedy Drive between 30th Avenue &
Crossover Drive and will begin at 4:00 pm. For friends and family attending the
Closing Ceremony, there is ample street parking available in Golden Gate Park.
Guests should plan to be at the ceremony site by 3:30 pm and we suggest they
plan to arrive earlier to secure parking. The ceremony should conclude at
approximately 4:30 pm, at which point I'm going to hit Macaroni Grill and eat a
mountain of pasta.

3) Bring us snacks Saturday night!
The Wellness Village is located at Crissy Field, Mason Street in the Presidio,
San Francisco. Friends and family visiting the Wellness Village can park from
noon until 7:30 pm in the Presidio parking lots along Mason Street. They're
giving away free panties. I shit you not.

4) Wear one of our t-shirts!
We're not making any money off of these, but they are awfully stylin'...
http://www.cafeshops.com/bombshells03a
http://www.cafeshops.com/bombshells03b

Long morning in bed with the husband and cat creatures.

Coffee. Cottage cheese. A bit of reading. Some cookbook fondling.

A Naomi. A long walk, testing out the skort, chatting.

A meander through the market. Iced tea. Tiny sour cherries, destined for whisky. St. Pat's cheese. Basil. A luscious fig.

A streetcar from Milan.

Treated to a sumptious lunch, luxuriously lingering, at Zuni Cafe.

A walk home. Effiicient prep-work.

A lovely supper with the Leckmans. (And some quality Ely time.)

A gander at the DVDs at Lost Weekend, to decide we'd rather cuddle and read.

And back to the bed, with the husband and goblin creatures.

(And yes, the title is referring to the song by our friends, Ministry.)

I can't wait to see this one on Sunday. Would you look at that kitchen?
[MLS] [pictures]

Over the last week, i've learned a few key lessons:

1) Brunoise is a very good cut to practice when you're feeling hyper-stressed and obsessive-compulsive. I did the bell peppers, celery, and shallots in a nice bruniose for the etouffe on Sunday night, and it brought be back down to a place where i could interact with humans who aren't coworkers again.

2) Having regular lunch plans and getting out of the office to execute them is wise. Thanks to Miss Carol, Mike, and William this week!

Just what the meriko ordered - a leisurely evening, away from the terminal, with my best girlfriend, oysters, salad, a gin & tonic with lots of lime. A visit to the bookstore, a walk to the fuzzy dog and black cat, and some slightly trashy but very amusing BBC TV. And then being walked back home. I'm starting to feel human again.

Thanks, love. 8)

[warning: this is a rambling post of boring-daily-stuff.]
Things are getting a bit better. Wednesday is thoroughly over, which is Good. I have so much gratitude to Russell, Naomi, and the lovely bartenders at Last Supper Club for putting up with me Wednesday evening.

Yesterday i had another lovely lunch with William. Having a regular lunch date to get out of the office is a very wise thing indeed, and seeing William isn't so shabbby, either. It's really nice to have someone who is a good friend, and a peer to chat with.

Last night, i posted some menus to Mary Anne's challenge. It sort of rings in with the original pantry question that Heather posed for me, and i'm wondering if i shouldn't start a similar sort of game on Gastronome once a month. Post a list of ingredients, and ask folks to come up with menus. Good fun. The results page in Mary Anne's journal is here.

I probably need to work this weekend, and need to focus hard and catch up for a few days, but i'm having a really hard time finding the willpower to do so. Anyone have any good advice for buckling down?

I'm looking forward to potentially seeing Beca tonight (if i don't have to work late), going to the Farmers' Market tomorrow morning (if i don't have to work tomorrow in the office), and seeing Wicked with Mike & Mere (which is happening no matter what). Sunday, back to the house touring. There are some promising places to gaze at; we shall see. And above all this weekend, i need to WALK WALK WALK. If the sun comes back, i'll be trying out my nifty commuter skort. So sporty & stylish, all at the same time. I'm still secretly hoping that something falls through during contingency on the Bache street house. Is that horrible of me?

And finally, happy birthday, Miss Heather!

Some days, being a manager well & truly sucks.

(Other days it's ok, and even rewarding, but today is just one of those days that well & truly sucks.)

Home again -- it's truly good to be home. Goblin is glad too.

Seattle was HOT, we didn't get the house (but we're the backup, so if someone wants to push the people who's offer is in process right now, we won't argue), and there will be more updates soon.

Home is Good.
(Especial thanks to Andy for taking care of goblin, the mail, and dropping us off and fetching us at the airport. What are we going to do without our perfect neighbors?)

It's not our house... but neither is it our house. There were three offers, all very similar in price. They're sleeping on it, and will make a decision in the morning. Likely when we're on the plane. Aaauuuugh!

We've just finished signing papers - we have made our first offer on a house, ever tonight.

Maybe tomorrow we'll have our first acceptance. If you feel like pulling for us, now's the time!

We are SO very live. Go check out www.apple.com this morning! New QuickTime! 3GPP! Live, live live!!

Shortly, i will serve mimosas to the early 5am testing crew.

It is far, far too early to be embarking on a drive to work. That is all.

All you need to know about today is that i ran into the phrase:
"It's balls to the wall demi glace good."
In reference to the comic How Loathsome.

Courtesy of the Isotope Lounge. Thanks guys - it was exactly what i needed today.

Yes, i'm in love again. Whooo-boy. I need to slow down - you know what they say about relationships that move too fast....

We looked at so many houses today. The one we saw yesterday that we liked was blown away today by this house on Basche street [MLS Listing]. Gorgeous hardwood floors. Tasteful colors on the walls that i actually liked - the sort that i imagine i would never be brave enough to do myself, but that Beca would encourage me towards, gently. Two attic bedrooms upstairs, with a full bath. Clever use of space throughout. (I fantasized about attic rooms when i was a kid. Love sleeping in attic rooms. It was one of the major plusses of the suite in which we spent our honeymoon.) The main level is built for the kind of entertaining i love. The kitchen is large and well-night perfect; terra-cotta colored tiling on the floor, the sink bordered on the outer edge by a tall bar with stools, for guest lounging. And uh, did i mention the 6-burner professional Thermidor stove? Twice? It deserves double-billing. The flow of the front of the house is great.

While the bottom/basement only has a one-car garage, it has THREE other finished rooms, plus a laundry room, plus a room plumbed to become a bathroom someday. And a wee yard out back, brick with a border of garden. Perfect for a grill and a table and an umbrella, and a border of herbs and veg.

Oh yeah. The main bathroom is sorta ska/deco themed, with remarkably tasteful black and white tiling, and a claw-footed tub.

Did i mention the thermidor?

Two drawbacks.
1) 1-car garage.
2) Offers are due gulp on Tuesday.

Call us, Naomi Lempert! You're our only hope!