Not a Morning Person

I am not a morning person. This fact is usually well-concealed by the fact that I am married to someone who is also not a morning person. We don't try to have long conversations before 8 a.m. In a perfect world I wouldn't even be awake before 8 a.m.

On a recent family vacation, I realized that not everyone shares my disdain for pre-coffee conversation. Children under the age of 11, for instance, seem to have an abundance of energy in the early morning hours. I don't think I was ever an early riser. My fondest memories of adolescence are of sleeping.

This morning, I was awake early to listen to Dan speak on KFOG radio. For someone who usually eats his cereal reading a book, so he won't have to talk--he did amazingly well. Maybe it was the high-octane Peet's he brewed up, but he had everyone in the studio cracking up.
Thankfully, his next speaking gigs are in the evening.

Why I Miss NYC

There are many things that I love about San Francisco--the Victorian apartments, fresh produce, relative lack of vermin running around in the streets. But the longer I'm here the more I notice a certain intellectual laziness that can be best be summed up by what I witnessed on the muni this morning.

When I walked down to my stop at Masonic and Haight I saw at least 20 people waiting for the bus. Usually, there are only a handful--the late stragglers who don't mind being a few minutes late for work in the morning. But, they must have missed the early bus. Or there was no early bus.

Anyway, the 7 came, and I pushed my way on and got a seat. I'm reading perfect commute material, Sloane Crosley's "I Was Told There'd be Cake." The essays are easy to pick up and put down, and there's no plot to follow or remember.

Across from me, someone was reading "Snow Falling on Cedars" and next to me....next to me sat a woman who was struggling to complete the crossword in People magazine.

This begs the questions of:
1. why anyone would bother doing the crossword in People?
2. how anyone could struggle to come up with the answers?

Was it the "Last Name of Han in Star Wars" that had her stumped?
I myself don't do crosswords. But the crosswords I choose not to do are in the NY Times. Occasionally, I think "hmmm....I really should start doing these puzzles." But, then the Modern Love or the Magazine catches my eye and I'm relieved of the burden.

Book projects, Writing, and Life

I have been truly horrible about keeping up with this blog. But, I have a good excuse. My husband and I have been gearing up for the release of his book "The Cactus Eaters: How I Lost My Mind and Almost Found Myself on the Pacific Crest Trail"

10 years ago when I first met Dan, he handed me a rough draft of the manuscript. I quickly fell in love with it (and him). Now after long hours working to revise it, it's being released on Tuesday.

This version is funnier, better written and more honest than the one I read all those years ago. As the Los Angeles Times reviewer wrote today: "Every step toward Canada was a step toward manhood," White writes, in that voice you will grow to love. "I feared that the trail, if I never finished it, would leave me stranded in a permanent kindergarten."
If you love fast-paced, witty non-fiction it won't take you long to love this book.

To read the full review click here

Amy Sedaris and Cupcakes

I went to see Amy Sedaris and Daniel Handler last night at the Herbst Theater. I didn't know she sold her cupcakes! All those snowy days I spent in line at Magnolia, and I could have been munching on homeade snacks from a real celebrity.

Here are a few tidbits that Amy shared:
--Her brother, David, just bought a new home in London. Apparently, he likes to call her up and brag about how much money he has. Maybe that's why she feels compelled to make a few extra bucks selling baked goods?

--She has an imaginary boyfriend, Ricky, who's been brought back to life!

--Her rabbit, Dusty, is housetrained. She's named Dusty because of the dirty mop-like effect of her white paws.

--She asks her neighbors to keep a steady supply of sugar, flour, eggs, and vanilla in their kitchens in case she runs out.

--She once felt up Dolly Parton to see if she was missing any ribs.

Just an aside, my old co-worker, Ash, used to live in the Amy's building in the West Villiage. I wonder if he ever supplied her with vanilla?

Urban Wildlife Encounter

During my lunchtime run, I saw a brown hawk feeding on a pidgeon. A crowd, including two police cars, circled around the bird, which was lunching on the sidewalk on Mission Street across from the post office. Curious onlookers snapped cellphone pictures to share with their friends.

I must admit I was slightly disgusted. Whoever said nature was beautiful?

Pedestrain Rage

This isn't the most pedestrian-friendly town. Cars surge ahead into cross walks, oblivious of the bipedal right-of-way.
This morning, as I was crossing the street at Masonic and Waller, a silver lexus cut in front of me. I guess I've grown used to the driving etiquette, and I ignored the slight. But, the 60-year-old man with the cane, who was also crossing, couldn't contain his rage. He beat the passenger side door with his cane. Are we now reduced not only to road rage, but walk rage?

In another auto-related matter, Dan's car was nearly totalled by a falling tree this weekend. The tree crashed into the car that was parked one space in front of him. Does insurance even cover that?

Muir Woods aka "Beer Woods"

The Chronicle has a front-page feature today celebrating the 100th anniversary of Muir Woods. I was out there on Saturday, celebrating a little early. We found a trail that leads to German-style brew haus on the top of a mountain!

We started our journey through "Beer Woods" at the park entrance, dodging the throngs of camera wielding tourists. We connected to the Ocean View Trail, following it up about 1.5 miles through spindly redwood forests and trickling streams. There was a very annoying group of behind us--one woman had the legs of a linebacker and the booming voice of an inner city high school teacher. We tried our best to get away, but they kept gaining us.
Finally, we rested at the interesection with the Panorama Trail and followed the Redwood Trail to a three-story chalet, known as the "tourist club."The place keeps eccentric hours (it's closed the second weekend of the month) and there's no food, only fantastic brews. I downed a Speakeasy IPA, and a frothy dark beer, before heading back on the Dipsea aka "Tipsy"Trail.