A letter to my city supervisor 2011

Dear Supervisor Mirkarimi,

    As Archbishop Niederauer said during the funeral of Lt. Vincent Perez and firefighter/paramedic Anthony Valerio, a major earthquake will come to San Francisco. Like them, we will give our best to help do the most good we can. Like them, we will rely on our training, the equipment we have prepared, and luck to pull through. Sadly, the latter is not under our control. As this event reminds us, even some of our best can be laid low. But they were not alone; in the wake of the tragedy, we should recall that the rest of their team did succeed in extinguishing that fire before it could claim more lives. By staffing the incident appropriately the danger could be successfully addressed, even in the face of such a loss.
    We cannot staff our city for the kind of earthquake we expect purely with full-time, professional first responders. With thousands of people per square mile and an expectation of many major fires, our few fire, police, and paramedics on duty will be busy with the most significant incidents, leaving thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of smaller incidents to be handled by citizens.
    The San Francisco Fire Department’s NERT program can allow citizens to respond effectively, within our training, using the equipment we as volunteers have been taught how to prepare in advance, and help pull our city through the next big quake. For that to happen, the program must remain fully funded and tightly integrated with all other city preparedness efforts.
    I will do what I can as one citizen, but no matter how much training I take, alone I cannot resolve the incidents we expect in Hayes Valley. I need more NERTs working alongside me and that means I need more opportunities for my neighbors to be trained and more awareness of the program throughout the city.
    I thank you for your support for the NERT program to date and hope that you will continue to see the great return on investment which it provides.
   
    Best wishes,
    Dinah Sanders, Hayes Valley NERT co-coordinator

Handy city info for your address 2010

I was checking to confirm who my city supervisor is when I found this handy dandy service from the San Francisco government. Just type in your address (or a cross street) and you'll find out

• Your parcel information (block & lot, zoning, lot area)
• Elected officials with links to their home pages (Board of Supervisors, U.S. House of Representatives, State Senate, State Assembly, BART Board of Directors)
• Street information with – woo hoo! – street sweeping info for both sides of your block
• Nearest school and public library

Hooray for public information!

Highly recommended: 5 years of All Over Coffee at SFPL 2009

"Everything is its own reward"

- Paul Madonna

There's a free show downstairs at San Francisco Public Library through August 23rd, 2009, and I strongly encourage you to visit. This work is lovely to see full-size and up close, plus there's lots of good insight into the artist's process and philosophy.

After spending time with his art and listening to him speak in an older KQED video in the exhibit, I am fairly certain that Paul Madonna might understand better than most people my motivation for and pleasure in my project to walk every street in San Francisco, every block.

Beautiful city.

Additional resources:
SFPL exhibits page
Paul Madonna's website
All Over Coffee in the San Francisco Chronicle
Artist Talk event from June 25th is among the content here (but SFPL has unfortunately not caught on to the idea of permalinks for the videos. Sigh.)

Found! 2006

I just got a call from my old pal and one-time next door neighbor Jun. He'd just gotten a call from someone who found a strange little map book with lots of markings in it and his number among others on the front page (the only blank paper I'd had one time when I was changing mobile phones and needed to document my contact list). My number and "if found, contact..." had been on the inside of the cover which had just come off and been left at home on the fateful day.

Two things found: a old friend and the book. Yay!

Now I just need to meet up with the finder and get the book back to do a little data backup.

Lost 2006

One San Francisco cross-street directory, heavily marked with 3 and a half years of walking routes. Dropped somewhere on Haight Street yesterday.

Reward $20.

Tall Ships 2005

It was beautiful today. My friend B.J. and I went down to have a look at the tall ships visiting the city and wound up sitting on the edge of pier 30 enjoying the lovely weather.

I always wish to live near the sea.

A visit to the best most dangerous block in San Francisco 2005

Hi, hi. I'm fine. No, really, just doing offline stuff.

This past weekend I installed new carpet, "Flor", in my kitchen and it's swell. And frog green.

I also took a walk to a highly dangerous spot: Divisidero between Haight & Oak. There temptation awaits. I managed to resist the suction power walking past the door of Comix Experience, but was pulled into The Other Shop. There among the moderne vintage items I discovered a simply wonderful Japanese print in a great frame for a steal of a price.

Then I headed on to my intended destination, Gamescape, and bought not only the additional game from Loony Labs (makers of Fluxx and Chrononauts) which I had come for, but also an expansion set for Carcassonne, a Cheapass game called "The Big Idea", and something called "Gloom" in which the goal is to make your family as miserable as possible while inflicting happiness upon your opponents families. Much fun to come at my house!

I could have left the danger zone then, but no, no, I went on to Cookin', the treasure house of every cooking implement known to man. There I obtained a hand-held juicer for lemons or limes for the making of really proper cocktails. See above.

My wallet significantly lighter, laden instead with lovely new things, I walked back home, stopping along the way for a sandwich and a juice - excellent and so inexpensive - at Courtney's Produce at 14th and Castro.

So, all is very well in my world. The kitchen improvement - take that, you ugly lino! - inspired me to clean the kitchen, and then the living room. I have some pretty nasturtiums from the backyard on the table and everything is lovely. Also I made pasta puttanesca for dinner and it was delicious.

Hope you're making your life nice in whatever way you can. Even the little stuff, step by step, counts. It's how I got here. Add something good, subtract something bad. Little by little, until one day everything in the room is what you want to have there. Home.

Such a GOOD weekend! 2005

Creatively productive day Friday. That Certain Someone picked me up after work. Dinner at Citrus Club on Haight. Sitting in bed surfing the web. Spooning.

Farmers' Market at the Ferry Building Friday morning. Aidells Maple & Smoked Bacon sausage sandwich with Seeds & Suds mustard. Fresh snap peas. Tasting cheeses and balsamic vinegars. Selecting and eating Recchiuti chocolates - Peanut Butter Puck, Honeycomb Malt, special of the day (Fleur de Sel caramel topped with pecan encased in bittersweet chocolate; simply fucking incredible. One of the top ten chocolate experiences of my life.), Fleur De Sel, Cardamom Nougat, Tarragon Grapefruit, Bergamot Tea - on a bench looking out at the bay. Sailboats. Clouds. Sunshine. The Bay Bridge. Yerba Buena Island.

Walking up Sacramento to Mason and down to Geary. Buying tickets at the Curren for "I Am My Own Wife" (about which more in a couple weeks no doubt). And then seeing Kung Fu Hustle at the Metreon.

Stop what you are doing now and go see Kung Fu Hustle. It's got more life and fun and excitement in it than the last 10 American films I've seen. If I could pre-order the DVD today, I would, and I'll definitely be seeing this one at least twice in the theater.

Grinning like maniacs. A Manhattan and a cheese plate at The View atop the Marriot Hotel looking at, well, the view. Trying to figure out what was going on at the ice rink. Walking across Yerba Buena Gardens to find it was a demonstration game of sled hockey. Very cool. Chatting briefly with a player as he got back into his wheelchair. Coming home and watching the original Star Wars "A New Hope" (laser disc version, not this bullshit "Greedo shoots first" crap).

Sleeping in. Languid lazing around. Puttering around the house. Soup for dinner. The win-win debate: movie or play a game?

Thank you, Gavin 2005

One year ago, in San Francisco City Hall, our mayor did the right thing.

He said that the right to marriage which can be enjoyed by an adult man or woman applies to that person regardless of the gender of his or her spouse. If four individuals can marry when paired in opposite sex couples, there is no sound legal reason for the state to deny those same individuals that right when paired in same sex couples. Further, we have a moral obligation to fight such discrimination.

We are Americans. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men [and women] are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I wish happiness to those brave couples who came to our beautiful city to proclaim their love, commitment and obligation to each other. Happy anniversary!

A fun night at the Odeon Bar 2004

I had a great Thanksgiving this year. A good visit with family, especially with my beloved Grandma Susie. Lots of good food, music, watching sci-fi with Uncle Larry, everyone singing along with Alice's Restaurant, my mum's homemade pumpkin pie, a perfect turkey from Aunt Lynn, and my dad's delicious stuffing.

When I got home and was checking email, I found to my surprise an announcement that the Mahatma's back in town and performing as Wink Pain in the Wink & Yoni show at the Odeon Bar starting ostensibly in 10 minutes. I still had the rental car, thought "what the hell", changed clothes and - since these things never start on time - arrived just in time for the opening band, Nice Pants.

I enjoyed Nice Pants very much even though it was their first gig. Just a violin & ukelele duo performing great 20's and 30's sounding tunes. Quite fun!

Then on came Wink Pain & Yoni Wannalea with their sunglasses, alarming hair, cheesy come-ons and Don Ho classics. Despite the fact that the entire room was stoned on L-Tryptophan (or, more scientifically accurately, blissful & lethargic after over-eating), they put on a good show and I expect it was only the post-feast-indolence which prevented the throwing of panties onto the stage.

And how was the Odeon Bar? Just fine. Crass and outrageous and unprententious and real. (And no porn on the t.v. this time, just a surreal film and something about how to cut the head off a live chicken. Just look at the band, your drink, and the smiling faces around you and you'll be fine.)

Soul patrol 2004

I won't be around this Sunday evening (the 17th) to enjoy Lord Loves A Working Man's next show, so I hope you'll head over to the Hemlock Tavern at Polk & Post to hear that great 60's Memphis soul sound. They're the second of 3 bands, expecting to go on around 10pm. The cover's only $5, so even penny pinchers can afford a night out!

I was at Hemlock Tavern a while back to meet up with a couple of friends before one of them did a show there and was really impressed. It's a beautiful little club and the staff were great.

A bunch of walking 2004

Streets completed today:
Ord
Carson
Castro
Bemis
Dolores

Nice weather, though it got pretty windy toward the end.

Now I'm home just hoping that this runny nose is allergies and not a cold. Given the amount of travel I have coming up, I don't need a head start on getting sick. Time for a hot shower and a preventative retreat to the bed with hot tea and something trashy to read.

Big walk? 2004

I've been craving a great big walk again, so I think one might happen tomorrow (Sunday). If you're interested in hooking up with me for all or part of it, leave me a comment, email me, or use other communication methods I've provided to you. Given my short night last night - stayed until closing at 12 Galaxies - and busy day today - Grandma's 90th birthday party, it is unlikely I'll be up before 10am and therefore unlikely that the walk will start before 11am.

Since it's been windy, I am inclined against a beach walk. I'd kind of like to finish off a couple major streets. I think I only "owe" a few blocks of Castro south of Clipper. Might be a Eureka Valley/Noe Valley/Glen Park sort of ramble. I could be convinced to do Telegraph Hill or Union Street or any number of other places if I have an enthusiastic walking companion, though.

Gypsy date(s)? 2004

Anyone want to try to get tickets to this incredible evening of Roma food and music on Monday night?

I was already thinking of going to see this band - famous from the Guca Brass festival in Serbia - at Ashkenaz tomorrow night, but the possibility of a delicious meal and an added performance by the Extra Action Marching Band is very enticing.

If you want to go, let me know as soon as possible; the show is expected to sell out.

Music alert! 2004

Don't forget: Lord Loves a Working Man tonight at 12 Galaxies (on Mission near 22nd)! Show starts at 9pm, LLAWM on about 11pm.

Moving towards a move? 2004

This may come as a shock to those who know how much I love my current apartment, but I'm thinking of moving elsewhere in the city. My housemate is planning to move and, though we've managed pretty well, it's quite clear that this is not an ideal apartment for a non-couple. There just isn't enough privacy for us to have people over without the other person being affected by noise. Even a normal conversation level in one of the rooms with the doors closed still produces enough soundbleed for inflection if not words to be understandable in the other room.

It's a great place for a couple, though, so if the two downsides we've found with the place - no laundry and a perceptible slope to the floors - don't overpower your appreciation for the view, the quiet, the light, the efficently-laid-out little kitchen, the hardwood floors, the quirky curving front staircase, and the, let's say it again, amazing view, then you should let me know you're interested in talking to our landlady once we let her know we're moving out.

I have been thinking about keeping the place on my own, but the more I think about the impact of doubling my admittedly very low rent, the more I realize I'd probably rather weather the expense of moving and not have to give up going to so many concerts and dinner out with friends.

Which brings me to thinking about where to move to.

I still need an easy commute - I am not a morning person and do not want to have to get up more than 20 minutes earlier. That means I need easy access to Muni or BART to get me over to the Transbay Terminal (or all the way to the east bay where I work).

I like being in a neighborhood which is pleasant to walk around in (and in which there are no drive-by shootings).

I like being within 2 miles walking distance of most places I would like to visit.

I love the main sounds I'm hearing from outside being wind blowing across the trees in the neighbor's yards. (The joy of a house way up on a hill on a long street people tend not to drive on because it doesn't seem to go much of anywhere).

Ah, and that's the hardest thing about the moving idea. The noise. This is probably the best combination of "quiet retreat" and "2 or 3 blocks from Muni, movie theater, and restaurants" and "incredible view" it would be possible to find.

So then I come back to trying to figure out not to move, how to survive when approaching half of my take-home pay would be going to rent. Sure, I could have people over to my place for dinner & drinks instead of going out. I know it's unlikely, given my furniture and the space I'll need, that I won't be able to move without my current rent going up 150% and then saving an extra $100 or so a week to make up the difference just doesn't seem like that big a difference. And then I'd have a fantastic two-bedroom apartment all to myself. That's pretty darn attractive.

So maybe I won't move. Maybe I'll throw a large proportion of my pay out in the street every month for the benefit of living in a place that's bigger than I need and which permits setting a ball down so it can roll from one side of the house to the other.

But, man, then I'll be broke. And I'll still have to walk 5 blocks to the laundromat.

Here I once again break out the calculator and the budget and start working the numbers again...

***

But first I spent a few minutes looking through the apartment listings in Craig's List and after one too many "wall-to-wall beige carpet" listings, I find myself determined to make staying put work financially until fate drops another golden opportunity in my lap.

So, if you hear of a "quiet, big enough for my furniture, has a gas stove, isn't too far from muni/BART, no upstairs neighbors, in a nice neighborhood with laundry nearby" apartment in San Francisco, do let me know. Otherwise I'll be here trying to pinch my pennies everywhere else in my budget but rent.

A visit to the Conservatory 2004

Interesting branching pattern. (Treo 600)

 

Totally weird leaf pattern.

 

That totally weird leaf pattern again.

 

Big leaf. I'm holding my fingers just above it to show scale.

 

The gothest lil' red flowers in the place.

 

This kind of lush green view just hits me straight in the pleasure center.

 

 

 

The same, looking up a little to see some big red flowers and the glass roof of the conservatory.

 

 

 

Oo! Carnivorous plants!

 

 

 

Cool carnivorous plants. Wish we could get some of these beauties for the bathroom to eat the little gnats. They're about 3 or 4 inches long. (The plants, not the gnats).

Flickr comment from gwen: "try californiacarnivores.com , they sell online but the nursery's just up in Sebastapol and it's a very nice Sunday drive, we just visited last wkd (there's a set on my account www.flickr.com/photos/gwen/sets/20505/ ) and it's amaaaazingly cool. Though they're pretty high-maintenance...the flytrap we brought home needs to have its half inch of purified standing water at all times and needs 4-6 hours direct light until it goes dormant in the winter, at which point it's supposed to live outside. I just hope I don't forget to water it."

 

 

 

More carnivorous plants.

 

 

 

Carnivorous plant in closeup.

 

 

 

Some symmetry for Corey.

 

 

A bright hibiscus, not nearly so big as the ones she [Grandma Susie] used to grow, though.

 

 

 

 

Hibiscus from another angle.

 

 

 

So many layers and textures.

 

 

 

Great colors. Might use this for a site palette sometime.

 

 

 

A firework of a flower.

 

Pointy ferocious plant (and a nice pattern for Corey).

Flickr comment from him (indigoskynet): "H-O-T!!! I can only imagine how this reflects in UV frequencies...all sorts of intensity!"

 

A different bloom of the same ferocious plant.

 

Now I'm seeing this pattern all over.

 

Pity this picture doesn't really do justice to the color of this hibiscus. Amazing!

 

More incredible variations in shape & color. These ones really make you notice these are the sex organs of the plant.

 

Only decent picture I got of the outside of this beautiful building. Time to start saving for a real little camera instead of using my phone.

[Or just wait for phone cameras to get a lot better, I note in 2012 as I migrate these images from Flickr!]

The Black Rider 2004

Amazing show. Parts of it pretentious. Parts of it making fun of pretentiousness. Incredible, though not easy to swallow, music. Great performances (especially by Nigel Richards). But most of all, jaw-dropping production designs. It's beautiful. Also ugly at times when it wants to be. Quite an odd, but wonderful show.

Note: I found it hard to cozy up to until late in the second act. Then it hooked me good at the Crossroads.

By the way, the gorgeous photo above by Derek Powazek was not color corrected. That's how it came out of his camera, which tells you something about how well the production designers achieved their goals.

The Life 2004

I have been living one hell of a life the past week and a half. It's been fun, but now I'm tired and needing to take a lazy Sunday to recover. Pride 2004 will just have to carry on without me.

In chronological order:
Suffered massive comment spam attack. Obtained great big set of data to recognize that comment spam pattern even when I only get one isolated message. Very handy for those abuse reports.

Saw Rube Waddell at Cafe Van Kleef. Great band, great bar.

BBQ with my old out-laws (B.J.'s parents). Genetic and official ties aren't the important part; they and B.J., his wife Bev, and her parents are part of my extended family.

Allergy attack prompting this message to my co-workers:

Hi,

I got woken up at 4something in the morning again with these horrible allergies and took the half tablet of Benadryl which doesn't normally make me too drowsy to function, but apparently when combined with either especially bad allergies or that time of day makes it impossible to wake up.

I am now moving sluggishly in the direction of the office ("...what rough beast slouches towards Emeryville...").

Regular allergy sufferers, first, my profound sympathies. Second, how the heck do you cope with this? Do I need to go to the doctor and get some prescription stuff to be on all the time? Do allergy shots help? And how long into summer do you usually suffer?

Representing all the dwarves (with Bashful manifesting in his Tardy aspect and Groggy, Itchy and Scratchy substituting for Greedy, Doc and Happy),

Dinah

Hanging out late at Tantek's place with Min Jung, Matt, Dunstan, Simon and Jane.

Dinner at Crepes on Cole with the WaSPs and party at Tantek's place. (Matt's pictures)

Thought I'd get a good night's sleep to recover from the prior 3 short nights. Allergies woke me up at 4am again.

Back to Cafe Van Kleef for As Is Brass Band (oh joy!) and my delighted introduction to 1 Man Banjo (Sean Lee), about whom you'll be hearing more. Caught ride home with the band and thus reached bed around 3sumpthin.

Set alarm for 7:30a.m. Woke up at 7:28a.m. Had a surprisingly functional and creatively charged day at work.

Expected to come home and go to bed early. Instead went to dinner with Dunstan and Min Jung, joined after a while by Tantek, Matt and Anil. Then we rambled around North Beach and ended up at the Bubble Lounge where champagne, foie gras, and chocolate with strawberries were consumed. (Here's a picture which sums up the decadence of the evening). Some of the party were interviewed by an HBO TV crew for Real Sex. Dunstan expressed a certain preference which I can hardly wait to see the footage of; I think I may want that sound bite as a system error sound. I stroked Matt's head until he became blissful. I got to see Liz, which was a pleasant surprise.

Finally, O joy! Sleeping in.

High tea at The Palace with a bunch of beautiful, intelligent women to celebrate Heather's upcoming wedding. Certain topics were approached and then veered away from ("You can't talk about that here; we're at The Palace!") and Anil would have been thwarted from making certain hand gestures, had he been there.

Went to Kaiser's pharmacy finally and picked up some of their generic Claritin stuff. I look forward greatly to non-sneezing, non-itching nights and days.

Started some food marinating, napped, cooked and then headed out at midnight to NIMBY in Oakland for the Extra-Action Marching Band benefit for their mission of good will from Amsterdam to Sarajevo. Wonderful humans. I got to see a few Burning Man art pieces I'd only enjoyed in pictures before and listened to more great music. Amazingly, I arrived during Freddi Price's second song, "Oh Father". and got to hear his whole set including an extremely-heartfelt version of John Lennon's "God". Wish I'd had the equipment to record that; it was perfect. Yes, Lennon's song when you thought about it, but in that moment, fully Freddi's.

The poor guy had some turbulence in the first part of his set. The power on the stage went out while he was singing, so there was a little dicking around fixing it and then he started belting the song out with no mike and no stage lights and no guitar amp. Just as people were huddled in close, clapping, feeling the raw version, *boink* back comes the power. A cheer from the crowd. Freddi's sideways smile, a grin and he steps up to the mike to really launch into it and *pwing* his guitar string breaks. Blink, blink, and then he roars with laughter. One song with no high string, followed by a quick string change, and then back into it. A great show, most definitely.

Oh, and Extra-Action was huge fun; there were other good bands to be heard (e.g. LOOP!STATION), art & wild outfits to be enjoyed and all the lunatic pleasure of an all-night party. I contributed a vegi dish to the food choices (recipe coming later) and kept the marching band hydrated during their set. At the end of the night, which is to say at 6am this morning, I gave four happy people a ride back into San Francisco and returned the City Carshare car. In bed by just after 7am and slept until 11:30am or so.

I feel pretty good. My legs are tired from standing and stomping my feet on cement all night, but it was fine fine fun. I encourage you to get out and do something. Share yourself. Appreciate what other people have to share. Life is good.

Small plates and a full course meal on a Friday night 2004

Last night was an excellent way to round out the week. I walked from the transbay terminal to the Mission district and had dinner with my friend Lenny at Esperpento (mmm, spicy potatoes, spicy chicken, grilled asparagus, garlic shrimp, good bread to sop up the sauces, and the best sangria in town) followed by the benefit for Right to Write at Amnesia.

That was a hell of a show. As much as I adore Amnesia - gotta make it down there more often - I think this line-up better do a repeat performance at a larger venue. The Whoreshoes are a ton of fun (I need to hear the song about "let me be your bull" again); Lord Loves A Working Man is getting amazingly good (and should really start thinking about their first CD); and good ol' Rube Waddell, even with Max and Freddi just having done a fantastic set with LLAWR, can get the whole place on their feet stompin' and hollerin'.

So, I stayed to the end. Closed the bar. Caught a cab home. Got to bed a little before 3am and slept pretty solidly.

Now it's coming up on 2pm, I've had my shower and a great big glass of water, but no breakfast. Today being officially "Stairway Day", I had planned on doing another nice big walk and making sure to include one of the city's many beautiful staircases, but I find I have a blister starting on the ball of my left foot. I guess the only walk I'll be doing is to the drug store to buy insoles for my newest shoes. I'm hoping if I am nice to it today and wear the right things tomorrow, I'll be able to get some walking in.

Larry (Reverend Whupass of Rube Waddell) said that he'll be playing at the Odeon Bar tonight and I would like to see what he does when he's not being a Rube. Plus I feel I ought to give the poor ol' Odeon a second chance. Larry says the porn isn't usually on the screen and it would be nice to be able to write up a review of an evening there that wouldn't scare away quite so many folks. (I do note though that my previous review is now no longer the #2 hit for a search for "odeon bar" on Google and is instead one of the last. Not sure what prompted that demotion, but I'm betting it has something to do with last week's comment spam attacks.)
Given how I'm feeling right now though, I don't know if I'll make it down for the show. Not even sure if I'll try to get out for the KFOG Kaboom. Too many late nights in a row and now my body clock is all discombobulated.

(It's now almost 3pm. I got distracted by the Google result thing and then reading some email and having a little snack. I think maybe it's just going to be a spacy day.)

Still walking, but not today 2004

Three years ago, I set myself a goal: walk every street, every block, in the city of San Francisco. I'm making very good progress. Not sure what percentage of the city I've covered, but some mighty big streets are checked off the list - Mission, Market, California, Fulton, Lincoln, Embarcadero - and quite a few little ones too. Today I was going to take another big walk and check off a few more, but I didn't feel well and so haven't left the house.

It's frustrating, particularly when it's so unnecessary. The reason I don't feel well is the same one with which pretty much every other woman between puberty and menopause is familiar. In order for our bodies to shed the womb lining from last month and create a fresh new environment for potential new life, our innards do a bit of readjustment and this process can get quite uncomfortable. If I was going to have kids it might be worth it, but I've had a tubal ligation, so ain't nobody gonna be checking in for stay in this hotel. Cramps are for me, a completely pointless annoyance.

They were never as bad before my operation as they've been since - I fear my doctor, trying to be helpful, did something which reduces cramping in most women (lasering some region on the side of the womb or something?) but which had the opposite effect on me - and I'm still, several years later, perfecting my response to a bad bout. (Some months are definitely worse than others.) A nap remains the best medicine. Orgasm often helps a good bit, but, as I don't find pain a turn-on, doesn't necessarily leap to mind as the best course of action. So, I take some Ibuprophen and lie down. Today I took 400mg and then another 200mg when that didn't seem to do the trick. That got it down to a dull throb and I was able to doze for a while. I think next time I'll try 800mg.

Believe me, if there was an easy way to give my womb away to someone who actually wants one, I would. I ain't usin' the damn thing and the maintenance is hell.

Rubbery legs and progress 2004

I took another great big walk today. Rode the Muni train to Sunset & Taravel, walked up Sunset to Judah, Judah to the Great Highway by the sea, up to Fulton, all the way in on Fulton to Broderick, over on Grove to Alamo Park, down Pierce to Haight and dinner at Axum Ethiopian restaurant. *whew*

Thanks to previous walks Fulton now joins the list of streets I've walked the entire length of:
Agate Alley, Aldrich Alley, Alma Street, Alpine Terrace, Annie Street, Anson Place, Beale Street, Belden Street, Belmont Ave, Berwick Place, Brady Street, Brenham Place, Buena Vista Avenue, Burritt Street, California Street, Campton Place, Carl Street, Cedar Street, Century Place, Charlestown Place, Chatham Place, Clarendon Avenue, Claude Lane, Clearfield Drive, Cleary Court, Clifford Terrace, Collingwood Street, Conservatory Drive, Cornwall Street, Cosmo Place, Cushman Street, Dale Place, Darrell Place, Dehon Street, Derby Street, Drumm Street, Edgewood Avenue, El Polin Loop, Elwood Street, The Embarcadero, Emma Street, Fella Place, Fernandez Street, Ford Street, Fulton Street, Germainia Street, Gold Street, Golden Court, Grand View Avenue, Grand View Terrace, Haight Street, Halleck Street, Hangah Street, Hardie Place, Harlan Place, Hemlock Street, Heron Street, Hoffman Street, Ivy Street, Java Street, Julius Street, Kobbe Avenue, La Ferrera Terrace, Landers Street, Legion of Honor Drive, Levant Street, Lick Place, Lily Street, Lincoln Way, Loma Vista Terrace, Lombard Street, Maggie Alley, Maiden Lane, Marine Drive, Mark Lane, Market Street, Mars Street, Marvel Court, McDonald Street, McDowell Avenue, Meacham Place, Merrie Way, Mesa Street, Midway Street, Miller Place, Mirabel Avenue, Mission Street, Mission Rock Street, Monroe Street, Montclair Terrace, Museum Way, Napier Lane, Newell Street, New Montgomery Street, Noe Street, Olive Street, Ophir Alley, Parkhurst Alley, Parnassus Avenue, Pearl Street, Peter Yorke Way, Petrarch Place, Piedmont Street, Pink Alley, Plaza Street, Pond Street, Potomac Street, Powell Street, Presidio Terrace, Quincy Street, Rincon Street, Robert Kirk Lane, Romain Street, Roosevelt Way, Rose Street, Ruckman Avenue, St. George Alley, Scotland Street, Sea View Terrace, Security Pacific Plaza, Shannon Street, Sharon Street, Shephard Place, Spear Street, Spofford Street, Sproule Lane, Stanton Street, States Street, Steveloe Place, Taraval Street, Tea Garden Drive, Telegraph Hill Boulevard, Tillman Place, Torrens Court, Treasury Place, Trinity Street, Troy Alley, Upper Terrace, Uranus Terrace, Van Ness Avenue, Vermehr Place, Vinton Court, Vulcan Stairway, Walter Street, Washburn Street, Western Shore Lane, Whiting Street, Withrop Street, Woodland Avenue, and probably a bunch of others I haven't remembered to mark off in the index pages of my Rand McNally San Francisco CrossStreet Directory.