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Monday, 18 June 2007
Badgers and Mule Deer and Bears, Oh my!
Topic: Vacation

It's been a long time since I set foot in Yosemite, other than stopping for a moment on my way through.  In fact, I can't recall a single substantial visit since the early/mid 90s. Stupid, considering how close it is (4 hours to the Valley), and how much I like it there.

Two of the members of my road trip had never been before, so I decided to spend a few hours in the park before we headed back towards the Bay. 

Here's how the day went, in brief bites...

Bye Bye BFE: Hawthorne's so small that even gassing up the car at 7 a.m. I run into people I know...specifically, my brother in-law, on his way home from the graveyard shift.

Breakfast: At Nicely's in Lee Vining, CA, next to Mono Lake.  Mmmmm...biscuits and gravy

Tioga Parties: Bad jokes about "Tioga parties" abound as we drive up and through Tioga Pass (elevation el. 9,943 ft. / 3,031 m); portal to Yosemite from the Nevada facing side.

The High Country: First stop is Tuolumne Meadows (pronounced "too-all-oh-mee"), which is not far into the park's eastern end. I've stopped there before, but never really hiked around, so I decided to stroll the ½ mile to Soda Springs.

High points: dipping my toes into the Tuolumne River, and following an animal which we jokingly referred to as a "beadger" (not beaver nor badger), but which, on reflection, was probably a marmot.

A Wet One: shortly down the road from Tuolumne Meadows I pull over at Tenaya Lake. Ever since I went to New Zealand in 2002 I like to not just look, but immerse myself in places I visit.  At Tenaya Lake, this takes the form of wading in the surprisingly temperate (for a mountain lake) water.  Ahh... refreshing!

View from the Top: Shortly up the road from Tenaya Lake I pull out to Olmsted Point, a spectacular view of Tenaya Lake, Tenaya Canyon, Clouds Rest, and-most impressively-Half Dome, peaking (I meant that word) up from a not-yet visible Yosemite Valley. Clambered over the rocks here to get some photos of each other. I love this spot!

The long down: Highway 120 down towards the Valley is a 45 minute gauntlet of trees, the view of which no one but me really seemed to appreciate very much.

Grin & Bearing It: Spotting the Tuolumne Grove pullout, I did just that, and we hiked down the one mile and 400 feet in altitude to the grove, through a beautiful old forest of white fir, Douglas-fir, sugar pine, and incense-cedar. At the bottom, half the party went into the grove and the other half walked all that way for nothing, since they sat at a picnic table instead of doing the couple of hundred yards through the "Sequoia Gigantea", thus missing out on the change to walk along, atop, and crawl though one of these fallen giants. Their loss.

Highlights: we saw a bear in the trees at a bend in the path. We heard then saw baby birds in a small hole in the side wall of a tunnel tree. We saw a mule deer doe on the return loop. Hope the bear didn't find her!

Lowlights: See the next entry!

Flattened Cranes: Knowing we'd probably not be having a full meal until after leaving the park, I pulled into the Crane Flat rest area. An ice cream bar, egg salad sandwich, water and one Lunchables later, I felt ready for the rest of the afternoon. The name of Crane Flat led to a series of smart-aleck comments about various flattened wildlife, mostly from me.

The Valley Floor:

Too many people at Bridalveil Falls, so I didn't stay at the bottom long.  I led my party back along the path, then took a detour to wade in the stream flowing down from the falls. It was 97°F, so, whew, did that feel good! I sat on a rock in the stream and enjoyed the cool. As at Tuolomne Grove, half of my little party didn't join in this. Again, their loss!

As we drove towards Half Dome, we pulled over to gawk at some Mule Deer. Four of them. Two bucks and two does. No bears this time.

Exit, stage west: Our brief tour of the Valley over, I set the Prius for points west.

Sushi: Not a conversation. More a dissertation on it. Not everyone found this appetizing.

Cooing o'er Cows: Someone in the car likes cows. We saw a lot of them. We heard a lot of "awww"s.

No Chains Required: Upon reaching the outskirts of the East Bay, it was suggested that we stop in Livermore or Dublin to get dinner. After it turned out there wasn't a Marie Callender's for 30 miles, there was a consensus about going to an Applebee's. Once we got there I recalled why I never go to these places.  The menu is...bland. S.F. has spoiled me for restaurants.

Cool sweet cool: Arrive back in my neck of S.F. It's 59°F. That's a 38° drop from afternoon in Yosemite.

It's good to be home.


Posted by molyneaux at 12:01 AM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, 19 May 2009 10:56 PM PDT
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Sunday, 29 April 2007
Retro Entry -- Clothing Optional
Topic: Just Cause...

Just found a note I'd scribbled on a receipt Saturday December 16, 2006 in Berkeley. I was trying on clothes at Shoka. One pair of jeans elicited the following from friend-cum-fashionista, Becky:

 "Where did your ass go?"

 No sale.


Posted by molyneaux at 8:43 PM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, 19 May 2009 10:57 PM PDT
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Saturday, 28 April 2007
Shaken Not Stirred
Mood:  cool
Topic: Eats n Drinks

Part 1: Dim Sum

Dim Sum's my first meal of the day today, as I join my friend Steve and his two rambunctious sons for lunch. We stroll down Balboa to a local place I've never been before. The food is pretty good, but there's a lot of the dishes that just aren't my bag. Some really yummy buns, though!

We're joined by Steve's brother. I really like Steve, but he's straight married man, so I figured, can it hurt to meet his gay brother? His brother's a nice guy, but we don't get a chance to talk too much. They're off for a hike, but the time they expect to get back is after my presumed dinner engagement with Terry and Carol, so we have to part company early, alas.

Best moment of this part of the day: As we walked from the restaurant I grabbed the shoulders of Steve's oldest son and pushed him around like he was staggering. For the rest of the walk he was excitedly telling me to "Make me drunk again!"

This is how kids end up with Child Services, isn't it?

Part 2: From Agave to Elderflower

Evening rolls around and I pick up Terry and Carol and we head across the Golden Gate to get dinner at Guaymas in Tiberon. The food is very good, but we arrive later than we'd hoped to and the wait to get drinks, seated, and fodd is longer than any of us would like. The only real downside is that they screwed up my first margarita order and then I find it and the subsequent margie kinda bland.  Tommy's, how you're ruined me!

Back at Terry's, the forst order of business is to mooch a glass of the soon-to-be-released St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur from Carol. Not sugary like so many liqueurs, sniffing this you get flowers and fruit. It's got a flavor that hints at lychee. The first time I sipped it a few weeks ago I was surprised how it hot the front of my tongue and spread across the sides. Great stuff, and I need to get a bottle as soon as I can find one.

Armed with  this delight to the palette, I plop down as Terry pops the new Casino Royale film into the DVD player, and, thoughg I'm really tired, I somehow make it through the film without dozing.

I'll admit it: I'm no Bond fan. I don't think I've ever really gone out of my way to see a Bond picture, and I don't think I've sat all the way through any of them since the Roger Moore days. But I liked this film. It's tongue ocassionally touches cheek, put its not planted there. Bond's a serious customer and a misanthrope. I liked that a lot of the film was about the game in the casino, rather than excessive action sequences, albeit there were plenty of the latter for my taste.

If this is the shape of things to come, I'm more likely to see the next one. That's not to say I'll got out of my way to do so.

But what would you expect? I'm a tequila snob, not a martini man.

Maybe if 007 started sipping some Reserva...

 


Posted by molyneaux at 12:01 AM PDT
Updated: Wednesday, 20 May 2009 1:37 AM PDT
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Sunday, 22 April 2007
A Pleasant Walk, A Pleasant Talk
Topic: San Francisco

Bleary morning.

Was out too late last night at a party at my friend Marty's place. No drinking, just out much too late.

Hauled my headachy carcass out to have breakfast with Ben. After that we strolled into Golden Gate Park and went to the top of the DeYoung Museum, from which we could see Ben's new house over in the Sunset. I checked out the distances between the Museum, Botanical Gardens, etc., in preparation for visitors I'll have here in a few weeks.  All very walkable.

Golden Gate Park is a size enigma. It seems huge when you drive past it. I mean, it goes on for over 50 (short end) blocks. You drive and drive and drive along this wall of trees.

But then, you walk through it, as I did this afternoon with my friend Steve and his two boys. We started from our Outer Richmond neighborhood and walked all the way to Stowe Lake and onto Strawberry Hill, then back again, each way being about half the Park's total length. You look at that on a map and it looks long. You walk it...it's nothing. Steve's two young sons, alternately riding and walking their bikes, had no trouble doing it.

Given that, and given how close I am to the park, it's stupid that I'm not there all the time.  Maybe this little walk will make get me out there more often.

 


Posted by molyneaux at 6:57 PM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, 19 May 2009 10:58 PM PDT
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Thursday, 19 April 2007
The Position? No, De-Position!
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Work Stuff

I can't talk about it.

Let me clarify:

I can't talk about specifics. I can't talk about the case.

I can, however, talk about the experience.

I've never been deposed before. Today, I was. Nearly seven hours (with breaks) of questioning. Tedious. Nerve wracking. Why? First, there's the mind numbing detail to be discussed. Second, there's the questions, especially when you know they're trying to get you to say or characterize something in a particular way to help their case.

You have to be honest—sworn testimony and all— so you start worrying that maybe you misremembered something and it'll come back to haunt you.

It ended just before 5, but it's not over. I probably have to appear at the hearing.

Oh, and then I have to do another deposition for a client of mine.

I can't talk about it, but I don't like it.

I could, however, go have a couple of stiff drinks.

I did.


Posted by molyneaux at 12:01 AM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, 19 May 2009 10:59 PM PDT
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Sunday, 15 April 2007
Tequilapalooza 17, Tommy's 42, Becky 0
Topic: Eats n Drinks

Let's just say someone who shall remain nameless—but whose real name is Becky—got a little overly lit.

Not-Becky and Maurice


 

 


Posted by molyneaux at 12:01 AM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, 19 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT
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Sunday, 8 April 2007
Night of the Living Easter:
Topic: San Francisco

Anyone who knows me knows that the only thing that I'm religious about is my devoutness in giving up Catholocism for Lent...a tradition I've held to year round since 1979. I'm very much in agreement with the line of thinking that goes Christianity is an idea that's never been attempted.

Anyway, due to this, Easter tends to clip right under my radar, except that it affects my ability to park in the Mission due to all the Church services.

However, today I was out amongst the Easter bonnets at the invitation of a guy I met recently. But, being San Francisco, this wasn't any typical Easter Pagent.  It was the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence's* 28th Anniversary Celebration: "It Came from Dolores Park!"  Where else can you sit out on a lawn in the San Francisco sun, listen to a drag version of Ethel Merman, rock out to a band in clown makeup, or behold the glory of the Hunky Jesus contest, in which one of the judges is wearing a skintight green latex bondage-style bunny suit and mask, complete with ears? This year's contestants included Pogo Jesus (on a pogo stick), Jew Jesus (a kvetching woman), Jesus Christ Superstar (glittering gold with two floosie disciples), and Zombie Jesus ("braaaains!"). In a nod to tradition, it was "Old Skool Jesus" who won... but how could he lose? The guy was literally dragging a life-sized cross around the park!

Oh, and I was out in the sun for hours without sunscreen and didn't even go pink, let alone burn. 

Guess Easter miracles do happen!

* The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are self-described 21st century nuns, typically men in wild habits with elaborate drag-style makeup. They are social activists, and many of the Orders are non-profits within their respective countries raising money for AIDS and other charities and community service organizations, and have been leaders in the campaign for safer sex and personal responsibility.


Posted by molyneaux at 11:09 PM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, 19 May 2009 11:00 PM PDT
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Saturday, 7 April 2007
Freefall
Topic: Just Fun

This is a recent entry from a science fiction based comic strip called "Freefall" that I've been following for a while. It's silly, but there's some interesting "hard" science in it.  Worth a look!

Click here for the current Freefall strip

Click here for the start of the current "Robomuggers" story

Posted by molyneaux at 12:01 AM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, 19 May 2009 11:01 PM PDT
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Saturday, 24 March 2007
Must-See-TV...ME!
Topic: Eats n Drinks

Recently I was on TV...for a few moments anyway. Local PBS station KQED's program "Check Please" featured a piece on the restaurant Amber India in Mountain View., and Terry and Carol and I happened to be there for Carol's birthday when they were shooting there last fall.

The show finally aired on the 22nd of March.

If you have iTunes or a Mac... http://kqed02.streamguys.us/anon.kqed/tv/checkplease/cp209iPod_Hi.mp4

If you have Real player: http://www.kqed.org/.stream/real/tv/productions/checkplease/cp209.rm.ram 

We appear three times at least, the first time about two fifths of the way in.

I have to disagree with the people they have reviewing the restaurant, which I've always enjoyed, and which is often picked as the best Indian Restaurant in the Bay Area.

 


Posted by molyneaux at 12:01 AM PDT
Updated: Tuesday, 19 May 2009 11:02 PM PDT
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Saturday, 2 December 2006
Symphony in Silly (retro-entry)
Topic: Cinema

(I was having problems posting to this blog for months...finally figured out what's wrong, so following are some long overdue entries!)

Today the Silent Film Festival hosted something not entirely silent, it was a program of early and formative Disney Silly Symphonies. Yes, yes, I know. Silly Symphonies aren't silent. Bur the films exhibited spanned the awkward era of the transition from silents to sound, so it was suitable subject matter of the Silent Film organization. I'd forgotten about the program until Becky reminded me of it a few days earlier. I asked Jim Shelton and his girlfriend (also Becky) to go, as well as co-worker Rob and his girlfriend. I also asked John-O to go, but he was too busy, but did offer to join for brunch. The day started with John beating us (myself, Jim and the two Beckys) to Ti Couz for crepes. After stuffing ourselves we lost John and headed for the Castro. I bought tickets while Jim got a haircut. After some window shopping and the purchase of a mooing can fort Jim's Becky (don't ask), we got in line for the film. This was Jim and Becky's first time at the Castro, and luckily the organist was playing before the show. Rob and Stephanie showed up just before the curtain rose, and had to leave right after the film due to a two hour parking meter limit. Hi...bye!

The films were fun, if crude.  Many I had not actually seen before, but knew of from all the books on animation I read in the 80s and 90s.  Technically brilliant for their time, as in typical of Disney films, some still left me a little underwhelmed in their entertainment value. As much of a film history buff as I can be, I often find Disney shorts to be cloying.  After the film there was a panel discussion about the them. I didn't get much from it, as I've read extensively on the subject, and I outright disagreed with a few points (no, there was nothing innovative about a character moving towards the camera and into extreme close-up, even in 1929...it was a common gag). Still, some of the films were fun, and I'm glad I went.

Afterwards we went to Cafe Flore for a post-cinema refreshment, and after returning Jim and his Becky to their abode, my Becky and I went to the ocean and watched the sunset. Since our lateness out of the Castro caused her to miss her dinner plans, there was nothing for it but a margarita at Tommy's (and food).  We tried a tequila I'd not had in a long time, but neither of us was hot on it, so we won't be having that one again in a margarita.

 


Posted by molyneaux at 12:01 AM PST
Updated: Tuesday, 19 May 2009 11:08 PM PDT
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