Anniversary

It was seven years ago today...!

Time Flying

When we first moved to California and I started working at the leftie radio station, I realized that I was 10-20 years younger than the majority of my co-workers. It was the first time (at a job) where people treated me like a kid. I tried to ignore them.

Flash fifteen years later -- I start a new job where the majority of my co-workers are 10-20 years younger than me. Somehow the continuous not-quite-fitting-in theme makes me feel at home.

I think I like surprising people by not acting my age, both then and now.

Fionn Regan

While sitting in a pub in Galway, we heard a few songs from this Irish singer-songwriter. The bartender wrote down his name for us on a napkin and when we got back to London it was one of the CDs I bought on my birthday. Here's a sweet video from his album.

Adventures in Noogling

A few things I learned today:

-- New employees are identified as "Nooglers"
-- Giant real time word search projection screens in the lobbys.
-- The toilet seats are heated!!
-- New dot com lingo as in "We like to dogfood our applications."
(I'll explain later.)
-- People here are nice geeks not corporate goons. yay!

Also, the song that was playing when I entered the magic fantasy lunch room was (no kidding) "I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight" by The Cutting Crew, which for some odd reason was the cringe worthy song heard throughout our recent visit to Dublin. This worldwide power ballad conspiracy made me start laughing hysterically -- which I had to quickly suppress lest people think this "Noogler" was standing in the middle of the lunch room hysterical with joy, at...all...that...delicious...free....food. I guess I could have been giddy over that alone, but really, it was The Cutting Crew!

Hey librarian -- do I blame the Divine DJ?

Earth Day

If I wasn't so tired from pulling weeds I'd walk back to the garden with my camera and take a picture of all the work we did there today. Instead, here's Sweetpea inspecting my muddy gloves.


Plus, a message from the gardeners at Trinity College. Happy Earth Day!

Jet lagged

The concept of time is still murky, yet slipping away so quickly this week. tick tick tick. We greet Friday night at The Alembic with our friend Trott (who is also celebrating a new job -- change is in the air) at this nice spot that would be nicer if I didn't have to skirt a bum on Haight Street to get in the door. Excuse me crazy person, I need a drink.

On the way back (while attempting to get Trott to invite us over for whiskey) we spot a bunch of girls on a stoop celebrating Spring Break and discuss the option of crashing their party. Our wishes are heard (as I am a loud wisher) and they wave us over, offering us sake in dixie cups. They are from Forestville (!) and are very impressed that I was just there YESTERDAY visiting with Miss Tancho. Such a small world as we sip sake on their stoop and discuss pancake breakfasts at the Sonoma county fire station. A good-time Friday night with friends and friendly strangers.

West Coast Return

Back home now after an eleven hour flight -- UK over icy Greenland to Point Reyes' coastline and San Francisco's colorful salt flats near the airport. We woke up this morning at 3 AM wondering where we were and what day it was. Now we are jet lagged zombies in too-much-fun recovery.

Limey Sunbathers

Our last few days in London were spent in a sweltering heat -- a bit toasty for Californians who escaped to the UK to enjoy Springtime temperatures and extend their scarf and glove wearing season. Instead of that stylish bliss, this past weekend Londoners were wearing tank tops and flip-flops (horrors!) and tragically we didn't pack any summertime clothes as we jammed up all our suitcase space with woolly sweaters. The solution? Instead of being confined inside the Victoria & Albert Museum (aw) we took British Light Rail to the historic borough of Greenwich to join the other pasty faced punters enjoying the unexpected heat in the park.

We strolled, we sweated, we looked at old clocks and telescopes in the Royal Observatory Museum -- We searched for the Queen Elizabeth Oak and stood on the (lower) Prime Meridian (because there wasn't a line for standing on the line there.)


We ended the afternoon in an idyllic summertime fashion by drinking pints on the back patio of the Greenwich Union -- a paradise of delicious ales brewed locally by Meantime Brewing.

That's right, it all happened yesterday (mid-April!) in London -- a place that it is usually overcast and rainy and not associated with flip-flops. Seems like an odd time and place to get down with the summertime, but there were witnesses (below) who will attest to these events and that global warming is good for beer drinking. We could have stayed until closing time.

Notting Hill

We discovered this tiny museum in Notting Hill that took us on a walk through decades of UK history --with chocolate bars, old radios, bovril cubes, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey games and biscuit tins. Quite amazing.

Bacon & Eggs Ice Cream

Rough Trade Birthday

I've been lucky enough to celebrate three birthdays in London -- the first when I turned 19. Back then I spent the afternoon happily record shopping at one of my favorite spots. Today I'll be heading back there -- this time for CDs (exchange rate be damned!) This time (as the Chef waited for me) the guy behind the counter told me that usually it's the women who stand around with their arms folded and the men flip through the records. He said it was a nice change and gave me a free pin, proving that even old ladies can still experience birthday record store bliss.

Galway/Connemara

Dublin

the Market

M&N's

Over the Ocean

Sleepy Sisters

I miss them already, but I know that they will be here -- doing this. Zzzzzzzzz.