Cable Car sign

Representative Nob Hill Architecture

Paddleboard and BOB

On today's Sunday Beach Stoll with the doggies, caught this paddleboarder going by with a nice juxtiposition of the Golden Gate (aka Big Orange) Bridge.

Saturday makeup picture -- Curving down Lombard

Sorry about missing Saturday's photo. It was a very busy day (we went to see Wicked -- SPECTACULAR!!!)

Anyway, this shot is taken (by the wife, I didn't balance the camera as I was taking the curve) as we drove down Lombard street in our new car (kind of a ritual -- new car, new trip down Lombard). Coit tower is in the distance.

Ironic ocean sign

Dentist light

This view will scare a lot of people. I had a picture of the drill too, but that was just beyond decorum to show that.

The Battery and the Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge sits at the edge of the old Presidio. Peppered along the coast on the Presidio are a series of old batteries -- defensive positions where canons could be placed to fire on invading ships.

This is the entrance to one of those batteries, just west of the bridge.

New car -- last view

Rya's "West Side"

Our Goddaugther is throwin' some gang signs in those oversized sunglasses.

Concrete Foot Bridge

The dirty snail on the door...

Spring Sticks 2009

Way back in March of 2007 I posted a picture about the Trader Joe's Sticks.

Everywhere has a harbinger of spring. Some places have the robins, some places have the redbud trees. We have the Trader Joe's daffodils. Sold as little green sticks, you snip a little bit of the bottoms, put them in water, and within about 24 hours -- Magic.

New car view #2

Sad Eye Arnie

This boy needs a home.
Description:
Hair/color: Gold with white markings, medium length
Gender: Male
Age: 4-5 years
Breed: Golden Retriever mix

Arnie is a 4-5 year old male golden retriever mix. He is neutered, microchipped, and up to date on all his shots; is gold in color with white markings on his nose and chest. Arnie is a sweet boy who suffers from fear of the unfamiliar. He is completely housebroken, but not leash-trained, and needs a home with direct access to a secure yard. He is somewhat of a couch potato and prefers to spend most of his time in his bed except when he's letting you pet and love on him. He gets along with dogs of all sizes, age, and gender, and completely ignores the cat in his foster home.

Arnie is one of 150 dogs rescued in January 2008 from a hoarding situation in the Nevada desert. When Arnie came to his foster home a year ago, he hid from humans, cringed when he was approached, had never worn a collar, and never slept indoors. Now he comes to his foster family and their visitors for attention, will sit on command, sits up and begs, and is currently working on offering his paw for a treat and walking on a leash.

Arnie would do best in a quiet home without children. He needs someone with patience and understanding to allow him to get used to his new surroundings and who can offer him a fairly routine life. Experience with fearful dogs is a plus.

If interested, please see his listing at www.gratefuldogsrescue.org

New Car view #1

Caryn and I got a new car -- a Toyota RAV4. This particular one has the "SmartKey" system, which requires nothing more than to have the key in your pocket to start the car.

Yeah, it's cool!

Chinese Pavillion Ceiling

This is the ceiling in the pavillion in yesterday's picture.

Chinese Pavillion, Golden Gate Park

Cut Down Tree

Butterfly on log

Stowe Lake -- Golden Gate Park

Spring Blossom

Missed yesterday's pic, so here it is...

Where's Waldo -- Squirrel Edition

Squirrels are actually a pretty rare site in San Francisco, but this one caught my eye during my time at Golden Gate Park this week. He blends in nicely with the tree, don't you think?

Waterfall at Golden Gate Park

Stow Lake at Golden Gate Park.

Puddle reflection

I was walking in Golden Gate park yesterday. It has rained quite a bit in the last month, but the rain has stopped now (probably for quite some time), There are still some puddles in the paths at GGP, and I just liked the way the image of the tree above it was captured. This muddy, nasty puddle still provided a reflective surface.

It has resonance with many other things in life.

Bison in Golden Gate Park

I'm embarrassed to admit this.

I lived in the Presidio for almost 5 years. We lived just over a mile from this location, and I NEVER knew it existed until today.

I honestly thought I had become pretty well versed about San Francisco, but I got handed my butt on this one.

Anyway, this bison paddock is in the western end of Golden Gate Park.

Ziggy -- Pet Assisted Therapy Dog

Ziggy is now officially a PAT dog. He and Caryn visit 2 facilities, twice per month each. I'm so very proud of both of them.

Fruit parfait dessert

Some Trader Joe's frozen "Mangolicious" blend layered around some whipped cream.

Simple, elegant, and YUMMY!

Pioneer Mother

This statue is "The Pioneer Mother" by Charles Grafly. It is found by Stowe Lake in Golden Gate Park.

You can see more info about it here.

Cake Icing up close

I've got the head cold from hell. It got so bad yesterday that I just couldn't post a picture. This is the make up pic.

Our precious God Daughter

Our good friends Sina and Joneise held a blessing for their beautiful daughter Raissa-Ann. We were honored to be selected as one set of her God Parents.

What a sweetie!!

Arnie plays Peek-a-boo