number 15

took a little trip to seattle for ward's big fortieth birthday. because forty deserves something monumental. it's official: we like trains.

(two weeks until 38 arrives and another item crossed off the list)

number 32

like paper candy, I tell you. ah, moo cards. something I could have crossed off the list back in june when that sweet little white box full of tiny cards first arrived in the mail. already time to order more.

number 26

number 26, she is finished. by the way, a fruit loop-covered doughnut is a tricky thing to manuever. awkward, unwieldy, totally unsure of herself. I should have known this. I should have known.





over the span of the summer, I hit voodoo doughnuts a total of four different times. once at the classic downtown location (where the miami vice doughnut stole my heart) and three times at the new location just off sandy boulevard. jeffrey yamaguchi, I thought of you. voodoo doughnuts would not disappoint you.



at some point, I was introduced to the most brilliant doughnut of all time: the grape ape. covered with vanilla frosting, purple sprinkles and something akin to grape-flavored pixie stix sugar, this is not a doughnut to be taken lightly. uh, I love this doughnut. more than I'd care to admit. which is why I must closely monitor consumption. am limiting intake to twice a year only. special precautions must be taken. proactive measures. must file this under 'dangerous things'. also on this list: ridiculously cute babies. augie, for instance. too much time around that kid and I want more babies. but I digress.

the cereal-covered doughnut is all showy and stuff but the grape ape, she is something special. she is a doughnut for the 21st century. sweet and sour, slightly crunchy from all that pixie stix sugar. I'm telling you, if loving this donut is wrong I don't want to be right. and I'll thank you not to judge me right now. I'll thank you very much.

numbers 18 and 36 (plus room 400)

last saturday, I surprised ward.



(which would be number 36 off the list)





I surprised him with a night at the ace hotel.



(which would be number 18 off the list)



sort of an unofficial very belated 14th wedding anniversary celebration, if you will. something to make up for the great wall of socks.



yeah, he was surprised.



and yeah, it was pretty fantastic.





that's all I'm going to say.



I do not kiss and tell.

number 1

we took a little walk across the broadway bridge.



number one officially crossed off the list.




I think I love bridges.

number 37

two months and four days before the year turns over for me, just two short months to work on the list. there are about 22 unfinished items on said list so what have I been doing all year? I don't know. but I have a lot left to do. yesterday I worked on number 37, which should have been a cakewalk except I forgot how awkward I can be with the typewriter. within an hour, I was swimming in a sea of white paper, a mess of partially typed-up lists. picture me hunched over that beautiful little hermes rocket, hunting and pecking to beat the band. but the sounds of an old typewriter are like no other and the jagged rhythm of the clack clack clack sings out the kind of song that makes a house come alive. after an hour or so, I had my list and promptly tacked it up over my old blue desk in the living room. at least there's that. number 37: done. and perhaps the most important item of all, the one I should have done first.

so I think it may have to be about the list this week. items I've actually crossed off the list and such. there are at least six or seven of those. but what should I do next? what? what?

and then, on the way home

tying up the loose end that is/was san francisco. holy smokes with the highway 101 and all there is to see along the way. we stopped about every five miles and you might think I'm kidding but I am not. between paul bunyan's giant boot and the spectacular pacific ocean and beach caves and hippie farmers markets and emus (yes, emus) and the giant-sized redwood drive-through trees, well, we never really stood a chance. it took us five days to get home. okay, not really. but many many hours. many many many hours.

it's been a little quiet here lately, yes I know. oh friends. so much going on. most of it good, a tiny bit not so good. and the postcard swap, I know. I am slow in pulling it all together this year but it's happening, I promise, it's happening.

thursday, thursday plus photobooth friday

for the record: this is the one where ezra refuses to cooperate. which, I think, makes for a more dynamic composition. but whatever. we dragged that kid all over the place. we should have known that once he'd had enough he'd pull out the big guns and refuse to participate in the happy family show we had going in the booth. smart kid, that ezra. he knows my weaknesses, he knows how to bargain. what it cost me: two more quarters (for him) plus a modest-sized chunk of my patience. but I got my san francisco photobooth strip, yes I did.



and while we were wandering the great aisles of the musee mecanique, I ran into he of the spectacular photobooth skills. he was standing on a small ladder, repairing one of the vintage arcade games. I recognized him immediately. really, how could I not? I introduced myself and we proceeded to engage in a lively conversation regarding what else? photobooths. naturally.



ah, musee mecanique. where the antique arcade games are somewhere between mildly creepy and absolutely charming.



thursday was also a day for double decker carousel rides.



and a new someone for the stranger project



plus, plenty of souvenir shopping



and of course, cable car rides.

more photobooth friday here. and I promise I'm almost done with this san francisco love affair. I promise.

wednesday, wednesday

yes, still with all the san francisco business. I am one step away from inviting everyone I know over to my house for a slide show. not that I'm proud of that but my intentions are solid. really, they are.

so, two weeks ago on a wednesday and why the mission neighborhood is sort of beating out chinatown as my favorite:


laundry that sings


climbing flowers that seem to glow plus tasty breakfasts with super rad pals named lisa


shoes that are cute plus lunches at sweet mexican places places with extremely lovely people like mati and kelly rae


murals


good lord, the murals


and the street art




good lord, the street art


really, color at every corner


ridiculous, maybe even ridonculous


and the thrift stores


I mean, really

just look at what ten dollars brought home

plus, there's fruit


which I realize is pretty much everywhere and not exactly unique to the area

but mission fruit is probably special

because I don't know

it just is.

(also swaying my vote: places where mopping is an accepted daily practice)

tuesday, tuesday

things learned on a tuesday:

wind-blown hair is the secret

sun-drenched kitchens are not to be underestimated

cars like pearl are to be loved and shamelessly adored

breakfast really is the most important meal of the day

especially when prepared by a professional breakfast-cooker

ferry rides are magic

as are most carousel rides

mexican coca cola is so much better

riley has the eye

cupcakes are the second most important meal of the day

never leave a fruit stand empty-handed

always, always run to catch the ferry

even if you don't think you're going to make it

because chances are, you will