David Grabstald says...

Blue Jean Blues

2012-01-02T19:10:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I'm hoping this will be a marvelous year (2012) and hopefully we'll all continue on past 2012 and prove all the Mayan calendars etc wrong!

A thought occurred to me earlier today which I just had to post and that is why in the heck have I been paying so much for blue jeans lately? Have you noticed they've gone up in price over the past several years? I mean, $200 for a pair of jeans is just silly. Dropping by the local Target recently, noticed Wranglers for $25 a pair and they looked and felt just the same as the more expensive pair of jeans.

So in keeping with New Year's resolutions, I'm going to keep one. And that is not to spend so much on blue jeans any more!

Interview with Harry Denton: San Francisco Favorites

2011-12-18T12:33:00.000-08:00

Favorite Valentine’s gift?

A friend’s special delivery one year. I opened my front door, and before me stood one of the best looking strippers I’d ever seen, holding a giant box of chocolates.

Did you enjoy the delivery?

Absolutely.

Flowers?

If you’re going to send roses on Valentine’s Day, send just one rose or two dozen, never just one dozen. Make sure the Ecuadorian roses are long stemmed with lemon leaves, to make them smell even better. And no baby’s breath, ever.

What about clothes shopping? Where does a boy find a perfect outfit to wear to the Starlight Room? And I don’t mean Abercrombie & Fitch!

There are some really fashion forward items at Rolo in the Castro, and of course many smaller specialty shops. Since I live downtown, I love a tailored suit or tux from Wilkes Bashford or the men’s department in the basement of Neiman Marcus in Union Square, that’s got everything from Armani, Gucci, and Prada, to tight-fitting t-shirts and designer denim. For bargains Loehmann’s has an amazing assortment of men’s underwear! If you have the time to sort through everything, they usually have eighty percent things I don’t want and twenty percent of things I just can’t live without! Cute boys abound here shopping on the weekend!

Once properly attired, the perfect Valentine’s Day date?

I’d take a date to dinner at Café Jacqueline on Upper Grant Street in North Beach for some of their savory and sweet soufflés as it’s one of my favorite places to eat in the city. After dinner, I’d head to Castro Theater for a show or perhaps your favorite nightclub or bar for some dry champagne. Of course, it’s always nice to stay at home with someone you love, light scented candles, turning the lights down low and dance to beautiful music.

What are your favorite Castro bars?

I love The Cafe, Lookout, Trigger & Badlands. I’ve heard Blackbird is one of the new hot spots, too, so I’m ready to pay it a visit! The hottest bartenders are at Trigger. When they take their shirts off it really makes me want to head to the gym.

And for dinner in the Castro?

Catch is my favorite place to dine in the Castro. They’ve got delicious seafood that’s not too expensive, and the heated patio is great for people watching! Come to think of it, the bartenders aren’t bad looking here either.

It’s interesting to note that the locals tend to stay in the Castro/Soma neighborhoods, while visitors love Union Square hotels, shopping, etc. Why don’t they merge more? Gay visitors and locals are a match made in heaven.

Yes, they are. But you have to understand that the Castro is truly unique. That’s why locals tend to stay there. Downtown and the Castro are just a bit too far away from each other for lots of mingling. Union Square is killer for shopping at places like Saks, Gumps, Tiffany & Co. Lots of gays shop downtown because of all the incredible shopping. Of course, the Castro has plenty of things to do (Books Inc., Café Flore, Hand Job (a spa)) and eye candy all over the place to keep any straight tourist thoroughly entertained.

I might add there is a lot of merging going on at the gay male nude revue theater downtown in Nob Hill called the Nob Hill Theater, which as far as I know is visited by just about everyone. Straight girlfriends of mine have had their parties there, and gay friends of mine went shopping there for, well, that’s another story. Luckily, the place is spotless.

And if you decided to go out on the town and money were no object?

Rent a long stretch black limo, eat breakfast at Dottie’s True Blue Café downtown, then after breakfast visit Tiffany’s in Union Square and buy diamond gifts for each other. Have spa treatments at the Huntington Hotel, then have a late lunch at Epic Roadhouse on the Embarcadero or at the Rotunda in Neiman Marcus. Then book the penthouse at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, have dinner in your room, and spend the rest of the night, how shall I put this, enjoying each other’s company. After all, romance and going a little wild is what Valentine’s Day is all about.

Canela

2011-12-14T22:44:00.000-08:00

There are certain things in life I would prefer not to live without. Gucci loafers, a cashmere sweater or two, and coffee ice cream to name a few. High on my list would also be tapas, the delightful small plates that are an essential part of Spanish cuisine. I’m crazy for all things Spanish. Arriving in San Francisco in 1998, my first encounter with the delightful smaller portions from Spain included the now-closed Timos and Esperpento, both located in the Mission.

Of all of life’s simple pleasures, none feels so right as sitting at a table with good friends and family, a glass or two of Sangria, and several shared tapas. In Spain, they’re served in bars, cafes, and restaurants, and provide sustenance for patrons before their midday meal or while bar hopping before dinner, usually very late in the evening. Executive Chef Mat Schuster and partner Paco Cifuentes have turned the former Capri pizzeria into the elegant Canela Bistro Bar. This welcome little bit of Spain in the Castro District, with some California influences thrown in for good measure, works beautifully.

After finishing college at Emory University in Atlanta, Schuster realized he loved to cook and decided to pursue his culinary studies at the Culinary Academy College of Food in San Diego. After moving to the Bay Area in 2000, stints at Whole Foods Market, Draeger’s Markets, the San Francisco Bay Club, and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy soon followed. Earlier this year, Schuster decided he wanted to open a restaurant. “Paco and I go to Spain twice a year to visit his family in Madrid,” he says. “I’m always following his mom around in the kitchen watching her cook and going to the local markets to buy lots of fresh ingredients. That really inspired me as we developed the restaurant.” Schuster adds the restaurant’s location really came down to wanting to live and work in the community they live.

Visits to Canela (“cinnamon” in Spanish) both for dinner and brunch, service has been attentive without being intrusive. Diners have many areas to sit, including a few tables outdoors, a counter at the bar, a lower dining level, or a raised area upstairs for larger groups and parties.

But of course even the best of service and the most exciting décor don’t mean a thing if the food fails to inspire. “The menu is really a combination of dishes we both like, and what’s great about food is if something isn’t working on the menu, you take it off,” says Schuster.

“A lot of our produce, meats, and cheeses are grown or made locally in addition to some of the items we import from Spain.”

One of my favorite things at Canela to drink is the pepino y menta, a refreshing combination of cucumber, mint, lime juice, simple syrup, soda, and sweet potato alcohol ($7). On my first brunch visit, I was given a small glass to sample this tasty cocktail, and at my second brunch visit, one was whipped up by a very sympathetic bartender who heeded my pleas for one after I discovered it wasn’t on the menu that day. Also to die for is a perfect salad of roasted red peppers, apples, manchego cheese, walnuts, lemon, olive oil, egg and whole-leaf parsley ($8). The flavors worked very well together through every bite. Another favorite was a seared white fish on saffron risotto with olive tapanade ($12). Schuster mentioned that they have since replaced the saffron risotto with lentil and red rice risotto.

Luckily, at dinner, I’d arrived before the crowds, which ended up having a small line out the door, which for a new restaurant, is always a good sign. A glass of Rioja ($8) started the meal off well, as you really can’t go wrong with a nice glass of Spanish red wine. A nice touch on the menu is that one can order wine by the half glass, full glass, half bottle, or bottle. For the meal, the coca flatbreads, from Majorca, were a thin and crispy treat, especially with Spanish meatballs and chives ($15), followed by an order of the garlicky gambas consisting of shrimp with paprika, sherry, and lemon ($9 tapa or $15 plate). Be sure to ask you server for extra bread to dip into the spicy sauce once the shrimp have been devoured! Don’t skip the meat and cheese board either with its luscious blend of Spanish meats and cheeses, olives, and bread ($9 small or $20 large). Soup lovers will rejoice at the gazpacho and its fresh chilled puree of tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, garlic, and olive oil ($5 cup or $7 bowl). Simply wonderful.

Of course, all good meals must come to an end, and since I’ve been watching my sugar intake, passed on the rich chocolate cake, dessert empanadas, and arroz con leche for dessert. That, I’m afraid, will have to wait until my next visit to a bit of Spain in San Francisco…Canela.

Hooker's Sweet Treats

2011-10-14T00:39:00.000-07:00

There’s something to be said about living in the upper Tenderloin, an area that sometimes reminds me that I might be living, well, anywhere else other than San Francisco. Not all bad, mind you, but urban grit and diversity at its best. Of course, when I heard about a new place around the corner from my building named “Hooker’s Sweet Treats” (hookerssweettreats.com), I had no idea what to expect when I walked through the door. All I knew, with some certainty, is that I’d be giving my money to someone and in return would be receiving something sweet and satisfying. Go figure.

Turns out this charming neighborhood coffee and sweet shop is the brainchild of creative entrepreneur David “Hooker” Williams. Williams is a good ol’ Southern boy from a small town in Louisiana called Bayou Vista. Both his mother and grandmother loved to cook, in true Southern tradition, particularly when it came to making desserts. And while he loved to cook, opening his own place took a bit more time after moving to San Francisco in 1990.

After attending school for web design, Williams landed various creative positions throughout the 1990s and 2000s doing print production at Restoration Hardware and creative production management at Design Within Reach, before being lured away as a senior creative manager at Red Envelope.

Unfortunately, the company went bankrupt in 2008.

“Since the economy was in the dumps, I was trying to figure out what to do that summer,” he says. “Being from the South, I love sweets, especially the salted caramels I’d had during the holiday season from Trader Joe’s,” he says. With lots of time on his hands, he did some research online and figured out how make the caramels using all natural ingredients.

He debuted his first sweets - sea-salted dark chocolate caramels -- at the grand opening of a local art and antique store, The Perish Trust. They were a big hit. “Everyone kept asking me if they were for sale throughout the evening,” he says. “I finally realized I should sell them and make some money.”

Networking also came in handy, especially after meeting the owners of Sightglass Coffee in SOMA, who not only sold his caramels, but also provided the coffee beans Williams used after he opened his own place in 2010. “It’s a nice relationship,” he says. “I decided in 2010 to look for a space in the Tenderloin as the neighborhood is on the verge of being the place to be.” Williams adds he appreciates the areas rough edges as it reminds him of New Orleans or the Lower East Side in Manhattan.

The former café was a bit of a mess, and in need of some major refurbishment. Yellow and red terra cotta walls gave way to, as Williams calls it, “Creole meets a little bit of the Old West.” Stepping into the space reminds one of entering some of the old buildings in the French Quarter, with blue-grey walls, antique fixtures from Kevin Randolph, and a wonderful feeling your at home. Gorgeous 1960s wallpaper Williams found in his basement adorns the walls, and antique jars from the Alemany Flea market are arranged throughout the space, including on the wooden communal table that dominates the space. “The best part about this place is that it’s a great meeting place for folks, neighbors who haven’t spoken before, which is probably why I didn’t put in Wi-Fi, so that people have the chance to chat with one another,” Williams adds.

Typically, I’m the first to arrive on a Saturday or Sunday morning, or sometimes both days, finding a prime spot around the communal table. Usually, in need of a pick-me-up and a nosh, I’ll order a robust Americano ($2.50) or a small French press ($2.50) and a sweet cheddar biscuit ($2.50 each) followed by a luscious, melt-in-your mouth sea-salted caramel ($2 for 1/$7 for 3 pieces/$20 for 10 pieces). Lately, I’ve also been lusting after a Hooker’s special known as the “third nut,” a sinful concoction of caramels, cashews, almonds, and pecans, sitting on a salted 72% dark chocolate base.

If sugar overload isn’t a concern, take a walk on the wild side with the daily bread pudding special, sometimes drenched in a bourbon caramel sauce ($5), a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie ($3), or a praline cookie.

Fans from around the world clamor to get a piece of Hooker’s Sweet Treats, including electronic music duo The Crystal Method and popular Food Network personality Giada de Laurentis, who ordered boxes of caramels for her friends. Special orders and catering for weddings are available, including custom-made labels on each box. Williams mentions online ordering is available in the winter and late fall or the upcoming holiday season. “It’s our busiest time of year, and we’re hoping to have another chocolate product out for the holidays.”

After all, you can never have too much of a good thing, especially at Hooker’s Sweet Treats.

Hooker's Sweet Treats are available at Big Bottom Market, Bi-Rite Market, pot & pantry, Rare Device, Sightglass Coffee, Trouble Cafe, and of course at Hooker's Sweet Treats cafe!

Hookers Sweet Treats: 442 Hyde St., San Francisco, CA 94109
Monday closed, Tuesday-Friday 8am-4pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am-2pm.

Food (Almost) Like Nana Used To Make: Criolla Kitchen in San Francisco

2011-10-14T00:37:00.001-07:00

Being from the South, there is a special place in my heart for good ‘ol down home cooking like my Nana used to make. Low calorie and sugar-free cookin’ were definitely not on the menu when it came to feeding her family. Cholesterol worries aside, there’s something satisfying about sitting down with friends and family for some good conversation and heaping platefuls of delicious grits, fried chicken, hush puppies, and red beans and rice.

Now, if you were thinking Criolla Kitchen is serving food like Nana used to make, or even some amazing Creole cuisine that you’ve wanted to try from New Orleans, you’d be mistaken. I’ll always make a special trip to New Orleans just to have some of the gumbo and fried oysters at the ACME Oyster House in the French Quarter. But, chef Randy Lewis does a nice job of bringing down-home Southern favorites to the Bay Area in the space formerly occupied by Bagdad Café at the corner of Market and Sanchez Streets. This corner hot spot thankfully has been busy every time that I have visited both alone and with friends for brunch and dinner. Outdoor seating makes for some fun people watching, although when the wind picks up, you’ll be glad to grab a table indoors.

A few fresh coats of paint, some exposed brick walls, industrial lighting, stainless steel touches here and there, and new art gives the place a much more upscale feel, although having an extra bathroom would be nice. I also didn’t like having to walk past all the servers and hectic kitchen to get to the lone bathroom. With servers rushing back and forth, I thought I might be knocked over a couple of times while waiting in line.

Service at Criolla Kitchen is fast and courteous, frankly, some of the best I’ve had in quite a long time. It’s nice to be served with a smile from someone who only cares that you are there and knows the intricacies of the menu. Chef Lewis’s menu, it should be noted, changes frequently, with a creative mix of Southern favorites. According to a message on the menu “you will taste Africa, and Puerto Rico, and Louisiana where I’m from; and Portugal and Cuba, and San Francisco where we share a bounty of ingredients like no other place on earth.’” So, I was really looking forward to trying some of Chef Lewis’s bounty.

You can’t really screw up a shrimp po’boy very easily, and the one I tried was served on delicious French bread with tomatoes, lettuce, and a side green salad ($10.90). The shrimp were cooked to perfection and served with a side of New Orleans remoulade. I should have ordered an extra sandwich to go, perhaps of the catfish or fried oyster variety ($10.90 each). Fried chicken and waffles ($11.90) are on the menu for both brunch and dinner, with the pieces of moist and tender chicken fried with a golden crust of slightly spicy goodness. For whatever reason, the two pieces of chicken were smaller for brunch, and a lot bigger at dinner. The server was nice enough to accommodate my request for a breast and a leg when I ordered. The accompanying buttery waffles were served with Vermont maple syrup and some of the best maple butter I’ve ever tasted. In addition to the original waffle, the Johnny-cake variety was also an intriguing choice, with a bit more texture with each bite. Accompanying cane-sugar butter and maple syrup were simply outstanding and an iced chicory coffee helped wash everything down.

At dinner, an accompanying side salad was a waste of plate space, not that it was bad mind you, but didn’t really add anything to the meal. The red beans and rice were a disappointment, in desperate need of more seasoning. Further disappointment came from the shrimp-stuffed hush puppies with bread and butter pickle remoulade ($5.90) No matter how much butter or remoulade slathered on, they remained too dry to enjoy despite having a delicious crunchy outer shell.

To stuffed for dessert, I skipped the bread pudding with Bourbon sauce and key lime pie. Tempting my tummy was the pecan pie listed on the menu, but alas it was a menu misprint and was no longer being served. Hopefully, they’ll actually have some for my next visit.

Criolla Kitchen has a special Southern hospitality that makes it a marvelous addition to the neighborhood. With excellent service, decent cuisine, and “hot spot” attitude, it’s worth a visit.

Exotic Autos!

2011-08-07T16:49:00.000-07:00

As I'm an auto enthusiast, and of course appreciate a bargain, noticed this informative article on the best exotics for the money:

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/dreaming-of-owning-a-supercar--buy-used--.htmlhttp://autos.yahoo.com/news/dreaming-of-owning-a-supercar--buy-used--.html

Just Stuff on a Saturday Night

2011-08-06T21:17:00.000-07:00

Sitting at home on a Saturday night while slurping on a grape Popsicle might not sound like thrilling good times to most people. But, as I've been at home since Tuesday evening last week with food poisoning (I hope), this is a good day on what has been many days of recovery.

Working on a kitchen remodel (my first) over the past several months has had it's own trials an tribulations, so much in fact that I've cut back on going out and spending money on other usual must-have items. But I digress. More on the remodel in another blog post.

It always seems that when you are at your most productive, or perhaps stressed out and just don't know it, life seems to throw you a curve ball that says "ya need to slow down just a bit." My curve ball arrived Tuesday afternoon. Work had been going well, I'd been working on compiling monthly training reports which I enjoy, along with helping other staff members coordinate logistics for a company off-site beach picnic as well as an all-hands staff meeting. Lunch on Tuesday went fine, ended up going to my usual lunch spot, ordering a chicken salad sandwich, no mayo, with lettuce and tomato, a dash or two of salt and pepper, and a slice of Havarti cheese. Came back to my office for some alone time, shut the door, ate the sandwich while reading the New York Times online. Later in the afternoon, I felt a little off, not really sure what was the problem, or actually realizing that there really wasn't anything wrong or a problem. Went home for the day as usual, and the adventure began.

There's a saying in one of the Harry Potter movies which mentions "better out than in" and luckily I did not become the victim of rampant vomiting or other explosive situations but felt simply ghastly. Didn't sleep well at all that night and in fact was up by 1:30 a.m. tossing and turning in bed, while also making a few stops in the bathroom for good measure. Then came the moment when I had to decide whether I was going into work or not. The bus commute would have been impossible at nearly an hour and fifteen minutes, so called in sick. Doctor's office on Wednesday where necessary samples were requested and provided. Still waiting on the results to see if I might have a nasty parasite rather than just food poisoning. Yuck!

Having little food in the house suitable for the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast)that my my Judy had always put me on in these situations, I managed a short trip to Walgreen's to pick up my favorite fruit punch Gatorade, saltine crackers and some chicken broth. Thankfully, by Thursday, I'd remembered that Safeway delivered, so placed and order which thankfully arrived a few hours later as I had a hankering for some orange Popsicles.

I've ended up staying at home most of the week, and today, Saturday, was the first day I've felt like myself in almost a week. Life as a moaning gastric recluse presents it's own challenges and thoughts. Like, "Will I ever get better?" or "Why hasn't anyone called me yet?" Fortunately, I've got several great friends and family, so one wall post on Facebook sent the network into overdrive and had the texts and phone calls coming in to see if there was anything I needed. Of course, I'm grateful for feeling better, but when you're laying in a bed for a couple of days, alone, crampy, sleep-deprived, seemingly starving, you listen to the sounds of the world outside your windows and realize that the world is still going on around you. And even after you die, it still will. So has this week taught me anything? Well, I do need to get more sleep, eat less chicken salad, and appreciate what I've got going on right now. Because you never know when things can change.

Six Ways to Look and Feel 20 Years Younger (We Hope)

2011-05-14T17:22:00.001-07:00

Love to find out new ways to look and feel younger!

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/6-ways-look-and-feel-20-years-younger

Unusual Inheritance

2011-05-11T12:16:00.001-07:00

I'm always amazed by some of the stories I read about finance and/or tales of unusual inheritances. So, thought I'd post this story from yahoo.com as it was quite a good read:

Shutting Out the Kids from the Family Fortune
by Robert Frank
Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Want to avoid raising spoiled kids?

Consider the Wellington Burt School of Wealthy Parenting.

Wellington R. Burt was a rich timber baron from Saginaw, Mich. He died in 1919 with a multimillion-dollar fortune -- one of America's largest at the time.

Yet rather than risk messing up his kids lives with a huge inheritance, he created an unusual will.

He stated that his fortune would be distributed to the family -- but only 21 years after his grandchildren's death.

His children and grandchildren weren't entirely deprived. Burt gave his "favorite son" $30,000 a year but the rest of his children got allowances roughly equal to those he gave his cook and chauffeur, according to the Saginaw News.

"I'm pretty sure he didn't like his family back then," said Christina Cameron, an heir and a great-great-great grandchild of Burt's.

Now that it's 21 years since the death of the last grandchild, the fortune is finally being turned over to Cameron and 11 others, including three great-grandchildren, seven great-great grandchildren and another great-great-great grandchild. The fortune is valued at more than $100 million. (She'll get a little more than $2.6 million, since those further up the family tree get more under a master agreement).

Saginaw County Chief Probate Judge Patrick McGraw said the estate is "one of the most complicated research projects" he's faced in his 12-year career in Saginaw.

Of course, skipping a generation is not unusual among rich parents who want to send a message to their kids (but somehow not their grandkids). Generation-skipping trusts and other estate-planning structures have been around for ages.

But Burt's will takes kid-skipping to a new, almost punitive level. Who knows, maybe his kids and grand-kids were better off for the lack of inheritance, or maybe the money would have allowed them to lead fuller, happier lives. We'll never know. It would be interesting to compare the lives of his new heirs with those who were shut out.

Topic: What Secret Talent Do You Possess?

2011-02-28T22:10:00.000-08:00

I asked a few friends this question to see what they'd answer, and besides my thoughts below, here's what they said (in no particular order):

Mine: can bake a chicken dinner from scratch without using a recipe!

Theirs:

"If I told you..." Eric Lewis

"Shhhhhh..." Cat Luedke

"Yeah, you don't want to know. It's a good party trick, though!" Molly Prager Boyll

"I plead the 5th!" Jeremy Sell

When You're Feeling Down, What Music Cheers You Up?

2011-02-19T08:54:00.000-08:00

What's The Most Trouble You've Ever Been In?

2011-02-17T22:20:00.000-08:00

I had to think about this one a bit, and the story that comes to mind is when I was about 12 years old. I was dressed for some sort of fancy party at the country club, and before I left with my parents, decided to walk the two blocks to my best friend James's house to see what he was up to.

This was the cool house to go to in the neighborhood. They were always working on their cars in the garage or driveway, ate junk food when they wanted, and had a variety of pets including, at one point, a baby deer (which was later released at a wildlife preserve in Texas).

Once at their house, James and I went to his backyard, where he proceeded to show me the large hole he had been digging under his bedroom window, which was going to be a spa at some point. To see if the hole would hold water, and to test how many people it would hold, James filled the hole up with water and then proceeded to get in. So did I. In my best Sunday suit. Which I hadn't taken off.

Didn't pay much attention to time, and, you guessed it, pretty soon my mom came knocking on the back fence gate looking for me. And she found me. In the hole, full of muddy water. In my best Sunday suit. I don't think I've seen anyone get that shade of red since that time, but suffice it to say you wouldn't want to see something like mom's face. Ever. Grounded for weeks, no tv (gasp!), and I think I might have been spanked. The joys of pre-teen adventure.

What Would You Tell Yourself 10 Years Ago?

2011-02-13T20:14:00.000-08:00

Hmmm. Interesting question. In an effort to make me blog more, I'd joined on the "Blog Once Per Week" project from wordpress.com. Simply put, I get emailed a topic to right about either daily, or with my busy schedule, once per week. So, the topic for this blog entry is the first I'm going to write about.

So, what would I tell myself 10 years ago.

- Be more patient with yourself, your family, and your friends

- No matter what, put all your money in Google stock

- Buy lots of Apple stock

- Take action sooner than later, because there is never enough time to do all the things you want to do

- Spend more time with your grandparents. They're not going to be around as long as you think.

- Material things are not as important as good friends and family. Never forget that.

- Remember to say the kind words you want to say to someone, as they really do matter

- If you have a crappy boss, or the corporate grind isn't making you happy, quit your job. Work should not be a prison....you can walk out any time you want.

- Be grateful for what you have and always try to remain humble even when you make more money or have more than your friends

- Don't compare yourself with others as you are a wonderful, unique person whose gifts and talents can be appreciated by all

- Take the vacations you want to take, don't just sit at home

- Get rid of things sooner than later. Clutter around the house isn't worth it

- Let people whom you thought were your friends go if they want to walk out of your life. Life is too short, and it's not worth the energy to keep a friend if you know you've done everything to make things right and it's still not enough

- Spend more for good sheets, good food, and donate more to charity. When you die, you can't take it with you

- Get more sleep

- Have more fun

- Laugh more

- Make your own choices more often and don't listen to all the opinions you might receive from others. You're smart and have good common sense. In the end, you're the one who will have to make the final decision.

- Be bold, daring, and go for it!

Blogging More...Here I Go!

2011-02-10T22:53:00.001-08:00

Hello!

I’ve decided I want to blog more. Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now. I will be posting on this blog once a week for all of 2011.

I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, awesome and wonderful. Therefore I’m promising to make use of The DailyPost, and the community of other bloggers with similiar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can.

If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way.

David Grabstald

A Good Place for Sunday Dinner

2011-02-06T21:07:00.000-08:00

Looking for something different and new to try, my friend Jamie and I were walking up Polk Street tonight and noticed Aicha was open. So, we decided to take a chance and were not disappointed.

Not too crowded at first (it got busier after we arrived), we were promptly greeted and told we could sit where we liked. Water in clean glasses and hot sweet mint tea were ordered and served quickly.

Our server suggested we split the $23, 4-course menu, which was a great deal and surprised us with a good amount of food. The soup arrived after our 3-salad sampler, which was fresh and tasty. Fresh eggplant, red peppers and marinated carrots were perfect.

The Couscous Royale with lamb, chicken, couscous, and other assorted veggies was well prepared and delicious. Rice pudding for dessert rounded out the meal. Not the best, but not bad either.

Overall, I like Aicha, and while the service wasn't fast, that was ok with me,as it was attentive with several helpful menu suggestions to help us throughout our meal.

Fascinating and Sad Disaster

2010-12-26T13:23:00.000-08:00

A fascinating account of a disaster which should not have happened. Very sad...

Fear/Love

2010-11-28T17:40:00.001-08:00

Another writing class exercise...

It's that time of year. The holidays are upon us. Typically, I'll visit Texas in June for my mom's birthday and then in December so they can spoil me for my birthday. My dad was a pilot for Braniff International Airways in the 1970s, so I don't mind flying ( he used to take with with him to New York, where he and some other pilots had an apartment). For some reason, about three years ago, turbulence started to bother me. Not sure why, but with a little trial and error, there is something to be said about taking a Xanax and drinking a vodka and tonic on a flight. I get so happy on flights now, and relaxed, I'm ready to help the flight attendants serve cocktails to everyone on the plane.

Once home, my mom and I will have a good-humored argument about her trying to get into my suitcase to get my dirty laundry, which I can do myself thank you very much. My stepfather Paul let's me know they've checked the bed for spiders and cobwebs, too. Not that I used to care, until I was reading in the guest bedroom one autumn afternoon, when I looked over to see a large wolf spider crawling up onto the pillow next to me. Not exactly what I like to see lounging next to me.

Gloria

2010-11-27T15:44:00.000-08:00

Gloria loves a good martini. She also loves good scotch, And then, of course, there is the whiskey. I'd met Gloria shortly after I'd moved into my condo nearly two years ago. I liked her immediately, before we'd even spoken. She seemed classy. Living in the same place for more than forty-five years does that to a person.

Gloria was sitting in the fifth row in front of me at one of the few HOA meetings I attended when I first moved into the building. To make me feel welcome, and because she was curious who I was, she moved back to sit near me. I intrigued her. She intrigued me. We knew we had to get to know one another. Looking at Gloria, she reminded me of on my my great aunts or grandmothers, perhaps a film star from the 1950s I'd seen on television or a vintage "Look" magazine. Maybe it was the Chanel purse. Or her dyed honey-blond hair that she tossed back when it fell on her face. She was the coolest senior citizen I'd ever met.

At a party a few weeks later, given by my next-door neighbor, Gloria was one of the first guests to arrive. She smelled wonderful. It might have been Chanel, or maybe something by Guerlain. Who knew? I had arrived first to the party, to bring the hostess a jar of olives, some ice cubes, and a vacuum cleaner. Gloria and I said hello to each other again, then got a couple of martinis and settled down on the comfortable Italian leather sofa near the hissing radiator in the corner. After some casual back-and-forth conversation, I asked Gloria how long she had lived in the building. In a slightly boozed-soaked voice, she told me more than forty-five years. Originally, Gloria had moved into the building with her mother after her father had died. The unit, in 1960, was a rental, which Gloria eventually purchased when the building went condo a short time later. For better or worse, she has stayed in the building while the neighborhood, the Tenderloin, slowly, every so slowly, changed. "It's more diverse than it used to be," she said. "It was rough back then, too, but has gotten a lot better." Gloria added she missed the days when everyone would get dressed up to go out for cocktails and parties. There was no Internet. There were no computers or cell phones. You invited someone to go out. Manners were important. Gloria had old-school charm galore.

A one-bedroom condo cost $25,000 in 1960, which was a lot of money back then. Of course, Gloria made good money. She worked in the publicity department of one of the film studios. I can't remember which one, since the gin had started to go to my head. There was I believe a mention of traveling around California to various movie theaters, and meeting movie stars. Darn this gin. I'll have to ask Gloria for more details the next time I chat with her. Of course, I'll be sure to serve dry martinis. I just hope Gloria will bring more great stories and the good gin.

The First Time

2010-11-26T14:07:00.000-08:00

We were asked in my writing class to write down the following items which came to mind (the one's listed below were mine) and then use these words to write about the first time you had sex. Of course, it could be fiction or non-fiction. And I'm not telling.

Mississippi River
Blue
New York
Haight Street
Apple
August
River Boat captain

It was the middle of August, and along the Mississippi River, boats and their captains kept floating past my windows along their slow journey to the sea. The sky was big and blue, and we were supposed to be doing chores. But, our teenage hormones were raging and our urges prevailed. Clothes were ripped off in a New York minute, and our celebratory groping was like a hippie celebration along Haight Street in the 1960s. Wild and scary, noisy, care-free, and a bit of a mess.

Like when you take a bite out of a crisp, sweet apple. Juicy, decadent, and fulfilling. Momentary bliss, then, back to reality.

The Writing Salon

2010-11-26T13:55:00.001-08:00

So I've started taking a marvelous writing class at the Writing Salon in San Francisco. Here are some of my notes which I wrote during our first class two weeks ago. We were asked what we wanted to write about and then what we did not want to write about.

I WANT to write about interesting people, places, and or things which I encounter on a daily basis. Hopefully, these subjects will inspire me to put pen to paper and come up with something worth reading. They're so much like good art. You simply know what you love and have to write about.

Not that I have any sort of game plan at this point, but living in the "Trendyloin" near Union Square, in downtown San Francisco, I'm sure to come across diversity galore, from the homeless people asking for money, to the little old lady who has lived in my building for forty-five years, and of course, there are folks I see having coffee at sidewalk cafes, too. Typically in my neighborhood you'll see lover fighting, someone looking for their next fix, or cops pulling over someone for speeding. It's home.

I DON'T want to write about politics or boring things I've seen on the news, the deficit, global warming, Iran's nuclear program, bad plastic surgery, Nancy Grace, physics, Fox News, who has been fighting with whom on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, local politicians that always break their promises to their constituents, or a loved one's obituary. Missing someone is one of our greatest expressions of true love. The things you never told someone while you're sitting before their open coffin at their funeral, wondering as an aside who thought the outfit they were wearing would look good on them even in death? Do they have wardrobe consultants for dead people? Just curious...how did I come up with this? Must be the coffee I had earlier today.

I also don't want to write a complaint against a neighbor or my building manager, a check for yet another bill, when that money should be going toward my kitchen and bathroom remodel fund. Why is it when you have some extra money there always seems to be something unexpected that you have to use it for? Such is life I suppose.

First Time For Everything

2010-09-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

Someone asked me for the first time this afternoon if I would like to be their sugar daddy. I told them they were shopping in the wrong sweet shop!

Nice House!

2010-09-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

So you think you've seen it all when it comes to expensive homes? Take a look at some of America's most expensive new builds in real estate! Wow!

Peanut Butter

2010-09-06T20:51:00.001-07:00

So what's with all the choices of peanut butter?

Salted and raw.
Unsalted and raw.
Organic
Non-Organic
Almond Butter
Peanut Butter
Almond Butter with Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds with organic vegan butter
Non-Butter
Etc. Etc.

And on and on the choices went as I stood for nearly ten minutes trying to decide what to buy tonight. Thankfully, the helpful young lady stocking shelves at my local Trader Joe's pointed out a few of her favorites, which helped me make a choice. Yeah! Now my jar of yummy goodness is sitting on a shelf in my fridge where I hope to remember to use it sometime this week.

Crap, I forgot the jelly! Hope there aren't as many choices. Back to the store I go.

Something

2010-09-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

I've been promising myself all day that when I got home I'd write something in my blog.

S O M E T H I N G

So there, mission accomplished.

Funky Modern Furniture

2010-08-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

Walking home the other day, I passed this funky modern furniture store, which looked like it had some unique reproduction pieces. Apparently they have stores in New York, too. Thought I'd share!

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/tribeca/white-on-white-mid-century-modern-designs-for-less-000230

Have a great weekend!

David

Quote of the Day...

2010-08-01T20:31:00.001-07:00

"The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget."

The Most Beautiful Cars in the World

2010-07-18T01:50:00.001-07:00

Love this article about some of the world's most beautiful cars!

Happy Monday!

2010-07-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

Nothing says Monday like a great pizza from Olive, eaten while laying on the couch reading "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"

I Want One...

2010-05-06T23:12:00.000-07:00

Someone paid $40 million for a Bugatti...wow!

Makes you wonder, despite the amazing car that it is, if the money might have been spent elsewhere for charity, feeding the poor, etc.

Dining in New Orleans

2010-04-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

I visited New Orleans a few years ago and not only fell in love with the city but also its culinary delights.

Happy to see a recent article in the New York Times about many of the places I'd eaten at, as well as still want to dine at on my next visit.

New Name for Home Renovations

2010-04-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

I bought my first condo last year, in May 2009 to be exact, right after I'd completed my Master's Degree in Instructional Design from San Francisco State University (big round of applause). The actual process of buying a condo had taken many years, not that there weren't any condos out there, rather, it was more my not being able to find the right unit despite an extensive search in San Francisco and the East Bay.

Once the market finally crashed, I found a great studio (some friends says it's a junior one-bedroom) condo in a restored art deco building near downtown San Francisco called the Hamilton Building. Originally a hotel in the 1930s, it's the first building to "go condo" in San Francisco (1962).

At any rate, the unit I bought was in decent shape, but needs some TLC to get it into what I consider to be "fit". So far, I've:

* Replaced the windows
* Installed new merino wool carpet
* Fixed the plumbing in the bathroom, including replacing the shower head in the shower and other plumbing goodies
* Gutted my closet and installed a great Elfa system from the Container Store
* Painted every room except for the bathroom
* Replaced the radiator valve
* Installed a peephole in my front door as well as new locks

Of course doing many of these fun projects take a bit more time, money, and energy that just watching an episode of HGTV allows. So for me, home renovation, in my mind, is now affectionately known as "writing a check"!

Sidewalk View Observation

2010-04-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

I was walking near my home in downtown San Francisco yesterday, a gloriously beautiful Saturday afternoon, and noticed a used condom on the sidewalk. My first reaction to seeing this little used gem was one of disgust. On further reflection, I thought to myself, "Well, at least someone is practicing safe sex." My feeling of disgust melted away. Now if city services would just clean the sidewalks more often!

Saving Money

2010-04-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter and Passover! Before heading to the gym this morning, found this really informative article on Yahoo! finance by Kimberly Palmer about how to save money, which of course we can all do. Interesting tips! Enjoy!

"Elisabeth Leamy, Good Morning America's consumer correspondent, pinching pennies by skipping coffee or bringing lunch to work is barely worth the trouble. (She says she ends up eating her bagged meal by 11 a.m. and buying a second one in the midafternoon, anyway.) Plus, she likes supporting the local coffeehouse with her green tea habit. She also likes saving money--but only when she can save a lot of it.

That's why she tells people how to save thousands of dollars at once, instead of a few bucks here and there, in her new book, Save Big: Cut Your Top 5 Costs and Save Thousands! By negotiating with everyone from real estate agents to doctors to grocery stores, Leamy estimates that she shows readers how to save close to $2 million--more than the cost of all of the lattes anyone could safely drink.

Plus, she notes, many people are already pinching pennies but are still struggling to spend less than they bring in. "Little things aren't enough right now," she says. "People tell me that they're skipping lattes but are paying bills late, and that slams your credit score, and then you pay much more than you would otherwise," she says.

Leamy focuses on five big-ticket areas: homes, cars, credit, groceries, and healthcare.

Buy a house, but pay fewer fees. Leamy points out that generally speaking, buying a home allows people to save a lot of money, because it forces them to save by investing in their home each time they write a mortgage check. Plus, homeowners receive tax benefits unavailable to renters. To keep as much money as possible in your bank account, she recommends negotiating discounts with your Realtor, lender, and settlement company.

Real estate agents, for example, are often willing to accept a 2 percent fee instead of the traditional 3 percent, especially if house hunters do much of the work themselves. As for lenders and settlement companies, they will often cut buyers a break on various fees, such as application fees or document preparation fees, if asked.

"Negotiating in our culture is always a little awkward, but some of these dollar amounts are too big to let embarrassment get in the way," says Leamy. Plus, she says, mortgage professionals are increasingly getting used to it these days.

Stick to used cars. New cars lose so much of their value in the first few years of ownership that they're not worth purchasing, Leamy says, especially when you can buy a certified used car that will last. "Cars these days are really well built, so the risk is lower than it used to be," she says. Leamy suggests investing time in the research phase of your purchasing process so you're sure to buy a reliable vehicle. In fact, she even says it's worth paying extra on the car to increase the chances you're getting a good one.

Leamy also recommends bringing cash to the dealership to avoid paying interest on a car loan. "Paying interest on something that is definitely going down in value is a horrendous waste of money," she says.

Defend your credit. Keeping a clean credit report--and high credit score--means you'll pay less for any type of loan you take out, including massive mortgages. That's why Leamy suggests ordering your free credit report once a year through annualcreditreport.com to make sure it is correct. If you're taking out a $250,000 mortgage, for example, a credit score of 785 instead of 635 could potentially save you $87,480 over 30 years, depending on prevailing interest rates.

Keep a grocery stash. By stockpiling groceries, you'll not only be able to purchase more items when they're on sale and save them for later (just stick meat and bread in the freezer), but you'll also be able to make use of Leamy's other big idea: Skip shopping trips. She says that many people can get by on the food they already have for a week, so why not skip shopping once a month or once a quarter? If you're used to shopping very week and spending $7,500 a year, then skipping the trip once a month could save you $1,800, or 24 percent of your annual grocery bill.

Cut deals with doctors. Just like real estate agents, doctors are getting increasingly used to patients who want to bargain with them--and making the effort is worth it, says Leamy. By asking doctors for discounts upfront, especially if you're willing to pay for their services with cash, you might be able to get as much as 50 percent off your medical bills.

Then you'll be able to afford a latte after your visit."

10 Places Not to Use Your Debit Card

2010-03-21T17:06:00.001-07:00

10 Places NOT to Use Your Debit Card
by Dana Dratch

"Debit cards have different protections and uses. Sometimes they're not the best choice.

Sometimes reaching for your wallet is like a multiple choice test: How do you really want to pay?

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While credit cards and debit cards may look almost identical, not all plastic is the same.

"It's important that consumers understand the difference between a debit card and a credit card," says John Breyault, director of the Fraud Center for the National Consumers League, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group. "There's a difference in how the transactions are processed and the protections offered to consumers when they use them."

While debit cards and credit cards each have advantages, each is also better suited to certain situations. And since a debit card is a direct line to your bank account, there are places where it can be wise to avoid handing it over -- if for no other reason than complete peace of mind.

Here are 10 places and situations where it can pay to leave that debit card in your wallet:

1. Online

"You don't use a debit card online," says Susan Tiffany, director of consumer periodicals for the Credit Union National Association. Since the debit card links directly to a checking account, "you have potential vulnerability there," she says.

Her reasoning: If you have problems with a purchase or the card number gets hijacked, a debit card is "vulnerable because it happens to be linked to an account," says Linda Foley, founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center. She also includes phone orders in this category.

The Federal Reserve's Regulation E (commonly dubbed Reg E), covers debit card transfers. It sets a consumer's liability for fraudulent purchases at $50, provided they notify the bank within two days of discovering that their card or card number has been stolen.

Most banks have additional voluntary policies that set their own customers' liability with debit cards at $0, says Nessa Feddis, vice president and senior counsel for the American Bankers Association.

But the protections don't relieve consumers of hassle: The prospect of trying to get money put back into their bank account, and the problems that a lower-than-expected balance can cause in terms of fees and refused checks or payments, make some online shoppers reach first for credit cards.

2. Big-Ticket Items

With a big ticket item, a credit card is safer, says Chi Chi Wu, staff attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. A credit card offers dispute rights if something goes wrong with the merchandise or the purchase, she says.

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"With a debit card, you have fewer protections," she says.

In addition, some cards will also offer extended warrantees. And in some situations, such as buying electronics or renting a car, some credit cards also offer additional property insurance to cover the item.

Two caveats, says Wu. Don't carry a balance. Otherwise, you also risk paying some high-ticket interest. And "avoid store cards with deferred interest," Wu advises.

3. Deposit Required

When Peter Garuccio recently rented some home improvement equipment at a big-box store, it required a sizable deposit. "This is where you want to use a credit card instead of a debit," says Garuccio, spokesman for the national trade group American Bankers Association.

That way, the store has its security deposit, and you still have access to all of the money in your bank account. With any luck, you'll never actually have to part with a dollar.

4. Restaurants

"To me, it's dangerous," says Gary Foreman, editor of the frugality minded Web site The Dollar Stretcher. "You have so many people around."

Foreman bases his conclusions on what he hears from readers. "Anecdotally, the cases that I'm hearing of credit or debit information being stolen, as often as not, it's in a restaurant," he says.

The danger: Restaurants are one of the few places where you have to let cards leave your sight when you use them. But others think that avoiding such situations is not workable.

The "conventional advice of 'don't let the card out of your sight' -- that's just not practical," says Tiffany.

The other problem with using a debit card at restaurants: Some establishments will approve the card for more than your purchase amount because, presumably, you intend to leave a tip. So the amount of money frozen for the transaction could be quite a bit more than the amount of your tab. And it could be a few days before you get the cash back in your account.

5. You're a New Customer

Online or in the real world, if you're a first-time customer in a store, skip the debit card the first couple of times you buy, says Breyault.

That way, you get a feel for how the business is run, how you're treated and the quality of the merchandise before you hand over a card that links to your checking account.

6. Buy Now, Take Delivery Later

Buying now but taking delivery days or weeks from now? A credit card offers dispute rights that a debit card typically does not.

"It may be an outfit you're familiar with and trust, but something might go wrong," says Breyault, "and you need protection."

But be aware that some cards will limit the protection to a specific time period, says Feddis. So settle any problems as soon as possible.

7. Recurring Payments

We've all heard the urban legend about the gym that won't stop billing an ex-member's credit card. Now imagine the charges aren't going onto your card, but instead coming right out of your bank account.

Another reason not to use the debit card for recurring charges: your own memory and math skills. Forget to deduct that automatic bill payment from your checkbook one month, and you could either face fees or embarrassment (depending on whether you've opted to allow overdrafting or not). So if you don't keep a cash buffer in your account, "to protect yourself from over-limit fees, you may want to think about using a credit card" for recurring payments, says Breyault.

8. Future Travel

Book your travel with a check card, and "they debit it immediately," says Foley. So if you're buying travel that you won't use for six months or making a reservation for a few weeks from now, you'll be out the money immediately.

Another factor that bothers Foley: Hotels aren't immune to hackers and data breaches, and several name-brand establishments have suffered the problem recently. Do you want your debit card information "to sit in a system for four months, waiting for you to arrive?" she asks. "I would not."

9. Gas Stations and Hotels

This one depends on the individual business. Some gas stations and hotels will place holds to cover customers who may leave without settling the entire bill. That means that even though you only bought $10 in gas, you could have a temporary bank hold for $50 to $100, says Tiffany.

Ditto hotels, where there are sometimes holds or deposits in the hundreds to make sure you don't run up a long distance bill, empty the mini bar or trash the room. The practice is almost unnoticeable if you're using credit, but can be problematic if you're using a debit card and have just enough in the account to cover what you need.

At hotels, ask about deposits and holds before you present your card, says Feddis. At the pump, select the pin-number option, she says, which should debit only the amount you've actually spent.

10. Checkouts or ATMs That Look 'Off'

Criminals are getting better with skimmers and planting them in places you'd never suspect -- like ATM machines on bank property, says Foley.

So take a good look at the machine or card reader the next time you use an ATM or self-check lane, she advises. Does the machine fit together well or does something look off, different or like it doesn't quite belong? Says Foley, "Make sure it doesn't look like it's been tampered with."

The No A--Hole Rule

2010-03-17T23:55:00.000-07:00

I've been reading this great book by Robert Sutton about no a--holes at work and life.

One quote near the end of the book really stuck in my mind. Something to think about:

"We are all given only so many hours here on earth. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could travel through our lives without encountering people who bring us down with their demeaning remarks and actions?"

Out on The Town

2010-02-18T21:58:00.000-08:00

To San Franciscans Harry Denton truly needs no introduction as he presides over one of the classic nightclubs in the city, the appropriately named Harry Denton’s Starlight Room at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in Union Square. While not specifically a gay club, Harry's mere presence and the long list of gay charity events held there make it virtually indistinguishable from one at times. GayCities contributor David Grabstald spoke to the nightlife impressario about how to get the mostess out of Valentine’s in the cool, gray city of love.

Favorite Valentine’s gift?
A friend’s special delivery one year. I opened my front door, and before me stood one of the best looking strippers I’d ever seen, holding a giant box of chocolates.

Did you enjoy the delivery?

Absolutely.

Flowers?

If you’re going to send roses on Valentine’s Day, send just one rose or two dozen, never just one dozen. Make sure the Ecuadorian roses are long stemmed with lemon leaves, to make them smell even better. And no baby’s breath, ever.

What about clothes shopping? Where does a boy find a perfect outfit to wear to the Starlight Room? And I don’t mean Abercrombie & Fitch!

There are some really fashion forward items at Rolo in the Castro, and of course many smaller specialty shops. Since I live downtown, I love a tailored suit or tux from Wilkes Bashford or the men’s department in the basement of Neiman Marcus in Union Square, that’s got everything from Armani, Gucci, and Prada, to tight-fitting t-shirts and designer denim. For bargains Loehmann’s has an amazing assortment of men’s underwear! If you have the time to sort through everything, they usually have eighty percent things I don’t want and twenty percent of things I just can’t live without! Cute boys abound here shopping on the weekend!

Once properly attired, the perfect Valentine’s Day date?

I’d take a date to dinner at Café Jacqueline on Upper Grant Street in North Beach for some of their savory and sweet soufflés as it’s one of my favorite places to eat in the city. After dinner, I’d head to Castro Theater for a show or perhaps your favorite nightclub or bar for some dry champagne. Of course, it’s always nice to stay at home with someone you love, light scented candles, turning the lights down low and dance to beautiful music.

What are your favorite Castro bars?

I love The Cafe, Lookout, Trigger & Badlands. I’ve heard Blackbird is one of the new hot spots, too, so I’m ready to pay it a visit! The hottest bartenders are at Trigger. When they take their shirts off it really makes me want to head to the gym.

And for dinner in the Castro?

Catch is my favorite place to dine in the Castro. They’ve got delicious seafood that’s not too expensive, and the heated patio is great for people watching! Come to think of it, the bartenders aren’t bad looking here either.

It’s interesting to note that the locals tend to stay in the Castro/Soma neighborhoods, while visitors love Union Square hotels, shopping, etc. Why don’t they merge more? Gay visitors and locals are a match made in heaven.

Yes, they are. But you have to understand that the Castro is truly unique. That’s why locals tend to stay there. Downtown and the Castro are just a bit too far away from each other for lots of mingling. Union Square is killer for shopping at places like Saks, Gumps, Tiffany & Co. Lots of gays shop downtown because of all the incredible shopping. Of course, the Castro has plenty of things to do (Books Inc., Café Flore, Hand Job (a spa)) and eye candy all over the place to keep any straight tourist thoroughly entertained. I might add there is a lot of merging going on at the gay male nude revue theater downtown in Nob Hill called the Nob Hill Theater, which as far as I know is visited by just about everyone. Straight girlfriends of mine have had their parties there, and gay friends of mine went shopping there for, well, that’s another story. Luckily, the place is spotless.

And if you decided to go out on the town and money were no object?

Rent a long stretch black limo, eat breakfast at Dottie’s True Blue Café downtown, then after breakfast visit Tiffany’s in Union Square and buy diamond gifts for each other. Have spa treatments at the Huntington Hotel, then have a late lunch at Epic Roadhouse on the Embarcadero or at the Rotunda in Neiman Marcus. Then book the penthouse at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, have dinner in your room, and spend the rest of the night, how shall I put this, enjoying each other’s company. After all, romance and going a little wild is what Valentine’s Day is all about.

Did You Know?

2010-02-18T21:55:00.001-08:00

In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have 'the rule of thumb'

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Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden'...and thus, the word GOLF entered into the English language.

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The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV was Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

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Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S. Treasury.

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Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better..

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Coca-Cola was originally green.

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It is impossible to lick your elbow.

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The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work:

Alaska
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The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...)

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The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

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The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $ 16,400

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The average number of people airborne over the U.S. in any given hour: 61,000

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Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair..

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The first novel ever written on a typewriter was Tom Sawyer.

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The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments...

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Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:

Spades - King David
Hearts - Charlemagne
Clubs -Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar

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111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987, 654,321

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If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died because of wounds received in battle.
If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes

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Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.

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Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?

A. Their birthplace

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Q. Most boat owners name their boats.. What is the most popular boat name requested?

A. Obsession

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Q... If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter 'A'?

A. One thousand

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Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common?

A. All were invented by women.
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Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?

A. Honey

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Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?

A. Father's Day
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In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes.
When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the
phrase...'Goodnight , sleep tight'

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It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.

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In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.'

It's where we get the phrase 'mind your P's and Q's'

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Many years ago in England , pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.
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At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!

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Thought For The Day

2010-01-29T13:47:00.000-08:00

"Honey, it's not a problem if you can't remember where you parked your car. It's a problem if you can't remember what a car is."
...Alma Walensky (my grandmother)

Lots of Relief

2010-01-18T18:43:00.000-08:00

Just thinking about all the much-needed relief aid going to Haiti, which is, of course, much needed. But it makes me wonder why we need to wait until there is a natural disaster to provide help to those in need both in the United States and abroad? Thoughts?

Something To Think About in 2010

2010-01-17T13:09:00.000-08:00

Here's an interesting opinion column I read this morning and thought I'd share. With all the devastation in Haiti, and of course in the rest of the world, sometimes it's really important to think about what being happy is all about.

A Birthday Story About Getting Old

2010-01-06T21:41:00.000-08:00

"There was a man who really took care of his body. He lifted weights and jogged 6 miles a day. One day, he took a look in the mirror and noticed that he was tan all over except for his mr. wiggly.

So, he decided to do something about it. He went to the beach, completely undressed himself, and buried in the sand, except for his mr. wiggly, which he left sticking out.

Two old ladies were strolling along the beach, one using a cane. Upon seeing the thing sticking up over the sand, she began to move it around with her cane.

Remarking to the other lady, "There's no justice in the world." The other lady asked what she meant.

She replied:

"When I was 20, I was curious about it. When I was 30 I enjoyed it. When I was 40, I asked for it. When I was 50 I paid for it. When I was 60, I prayed for it. When I was 70, I forgot about it. Now, I'm 80 and the things are growing wild on the beach and I'm too old to squat."

It's A Sin

2009-11-27T19:20:00.001-08:00

I love the holidays as do most folks. Recently, while I spent Thanksgiving at the Sonoma home of my best friend's mother, Fran, my parents went to have their dinner at my sister-in-law's parent's home.

A lovely dinner I was told with the exception of the dressing, which I'm told was out of a box rather than homemade. My mom said that really is a sin. If only that were the most evil thing in the world right now. Dressing in a box. Go figure.

Can't wait to hear about what's going to be served for Christmas.

Happy Holidays!

Going To The Gym (Sorta)...

2009-11-21T19:46:00.000-08:00

I really try to work out. Honestly. I really do. My company has its own gym which I try to go to, but being close to work it's sometimes hard to separate being at work with actually leaving my office (ok, ok, a cubicle), to spend some relaxing time working out.

Previously, I'd gone to a gym near my home, but since it closed it really wasn't convenient to go to one of their other locations. To inspire me to go to the gym, I'd even begun bringing my gym clothes/shoes in my backpack at work, which would sit in a corner as I worked diligently away. I guess I thought having it there would give me the necessary "hint hint" one needs to do something. It hasn't worked so far. With the days getting darker earlier in the day it's really hard to try to go to the gym after work.

What to do? Well, there's a great yoga class at Grace Cathedral I try to attend every Tuesday, and a stretch class on Wednesday, which I assume counts as working out.

So here I sit at my computer having not worked out most of this week (hectic schedule). I know people keep telling me one just needs to make time to go work out, but when you're stressed and tired a bowl of coffee ice cream and some DVDs from Netflix sure do make for an enjoyable sofa work out. I guess I'll just have to keep trying.

Next up...buying groceries that I know are good for me, bringing them home, and then not eating them. They just sit in the fridge and stare back at me. That's another workout for another day.

An Annoyance

2009-10-28T21:53:00.001-07:00

Someone asked me what annoys me yesterday, and while the list gets pretty long, something popped into my head this afternoon. I think what has annoyed me lately is when I'm at the gym or just walking around town, and one "family jewel" decides it needs a bit more room and plops out from the side of my underwear. Of course this usually happens when I'm in a crowd or at a place where it's impossible to adjust myself. That's the annoyance for the day. More to come.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-27T23:38:00.000-07:00

There's something that just says Fall when the store windows begin showing signs of holiday goodies, the wind starts howling, and days become nights much more quickly than in the preceding months. Of course, one of my favorite holidays of the year is Halloween as it's the perfect time of year to dress up in costume and have some fun, while eating lots of candy at the same time.

Last week I attended the Queens Are Wild Party in San Francisco, a benefit for the Stop Aids Project. Finding a costume has been much easier in recent years, as I just adore the American Conservatory Theater's Costume Shop on Market Street in San Francisco. All of the costumes have been part of their various productions, and they're quite good and matching what you want to wear with something they have in their warehouses. Not cheap, but an excellent Halloween resource.

I've received several invites to Halloween parties this weekend, but friends of mine are celebrating their one-year anniversary at a dinner, which I'll gladly attend. It's always nice to get one's mind off of work and onto more important things like friends, food, and good conversation.

About to head to bed, but will soon write about decorating my new condo (my first home), which is an experience unto itself (dealing with contractors, a diversely gossipy HOA board, and a very opinionated interior designer). Have a good rest of your week!

DG

I Just Don't Know

2009-10-07T21:04:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling there has to be more out of life than just sitting in a cube all day. So, I decided to come home and write something witty and amazing each day on my blog. It was a great thought, but I keep trying and nothing seems to be coming out. Ugh. It's almost Halloween and I wonder just where the year has gone. Even worse, people keep talking to me about the year 2012 and how it's all going to end due to the fact that all the calendars seems to stop on that date. That's something to look forward too. Not really.

At any rate, let me think about what I want to do for my big birthday in December and I'll get back to you with something witty and interesting to say as soon as I think of something.

Be Open to the Possibilities!

2009-09-03T17:42:00.000-07:00

I was sitting in my office the other day, actually a large cube with a view, thinking about what I’d write about this week about career success. And, what came to mind for job seekers is keeping an open mind to the possibilities when they’re searching for a job.

During an interview, or even when you have a job, be certain to be open to the suggestion of various job duties you might not have thought of before. For example, I’ve been a trainer at a biotech company for a few years, and before that had worked as a technical writer. In my current position, I conduct trainings, do some instructional design work, handle logistics relating to project management, and am in the process of backing up other client managers when they’re away.

The point of all this is that in a tough job market, it will always pay off to say that you’ll do more than just what you’re hired to do. If an interviewer asks you if you’d be willing to do certain job duties, in addition to the position you’re interviewing for, it’s usually a good idea to say “yes” or “let me think about it”. You must be true to yourself, but be open to the possibilities. And, if the job you have doesn’t suit you, you can always work with management/human resources to try and tailor your position to suit your needs.

Have a great week!

Thought of the Day

2009-08-03T23:50:00.000-07:00

Someone asked me today if it was true what they say about tall guys (I'm 6'3).

After thinking for a moment, I replied that yes, it was true what they say about tall guys. We can reach higher shelves.

I Had a Wonderful Time!

2009-07-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

I think we often spend too much time worrying about what we don't have as opposed to what we do have. Like tying our shoes, the good stuff in our lives might pass us right by if we don't stop to take the time to take notice.

Take this weekend for example. July 4th weekend, to be exact. Friday, which I had off, was spent doing the usual packing, cleaning my new condo, getting my hair "did", and paying bills online. On Friday evening, however, I went to meet my friend Kent and his partner as they had invited me to go with them to Sonoma to stay with Kent's mom at her lovely home in Sonoma for the weekend.

This was a nice change of pace, because in previous years, I'd be reduced to trying to watch fireworks with friends on the rood of someone's home. The only problem was that watching fireworks through the usual San Francisco fog bank wasn't really ideal.

So the point of all this is that if you're invited to do something fun for a weekend, or try something new, for goodness sakes, try...because you may not get the chance again.

Here are some fun places I visited and people I met while in Sonoma and Sebastapol (in no particular order):

Laurel Begley Ceramics: amazing ceramics from various artists in a converted barn

BeeKind: yummy stuff made out of honey as well as candles and more bee stuff

The Girl & The Fig: cozy bar and restaurant with lively outdoor patio and yummy food

Tim Chadsey: Amazing printmaker I met during the Sonoma Fourth of July Parade

Peter Lowells: Organic restaurant with a cool vibe an great food and live music from singer Amity Eliaz

Michael, Farrah, Ed and a Surprise Singing Engagement

2009-06-28T22:08:00.000-07:00

It's Sunday night, and I'm sitting on the floor of the sleeping alcove in my new studio condo in downtown San Francisco. Frankly, I miss my Nob apartment of seven years, one my friends used to refer to as the Plaza Hotel apartment due to it's size and, in their own words, elegance. Moving into a 520-square foot apartment in a historic building, from a nearly 1000-square foot apartment has been interesting, but that's another blog, for another time.

Before I get to the singing engagement, let me just say rest in peace to Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Ed McMahon, who died recently, and in my opinion, way too soon.

As part of the fun festivities with friends this past weekend, including a performance by the San Francisco Symphony and Bernadette Peters (outstanding!), I went to a great piano bar called Martunis last night to meet friends for a drink and listen to various folks warble show tunes in the back piano lounge. After some liquid courage, I was persuaded to get up and sing something. Both of my parents have singing voices of varying degrees, so I thought what the heck. Up I went to sing "Mama's Good to You" from Chicago. Using the lessons learned from singing classes taken at the New Conservatory Theater, I suppose everything went well, especially when I forgot the lyrics and began to improvise.

Which brings me to the point of this blog, which is to say that it's sometimes fun to just have fun and not care what other people think. If you want to get up and sing, do it. Think you can paint? Try! Want to earn a college degree? Go for it! If you don't try, how will you know what you could have accomplished?

What is ITEC?

2009-04-24T22:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a great video I helped produce for the ITEC department at San Francisco State University. The audio track was all me...

A Letter from Brooke Astor

2009-04-20T19:25:00.000-07:00

While going through my collection of books at the end of my apartment's entryway last weekend, I came across a slim volume entitled "A Birthday for Brooke" in honor of the late New York socialite Brooke Astor's 90th birthday in 1992.

With the Brooke Astor case getting under way, it's nice to read what Mrs. Astor wrote in her letter about her thought about life. With all the evidence at the trial partially focused on her signature, I was surprised and happy to find that Mrs. Astor had signed two different letters she sent me over a month-long period in 1996.

I'd written the Vincent Astor Foundation after seeing Mrs. Astor appear on both "Nightline" and A&E Biography to tell her how marvelous it was she was so active in her 90s and could she tell me about how she kept going, when most people at her age would have taken things a bit easier.

Her response?

"I believe that the key to life is to find a good balance between work and leisure. Working hard gives one focus and goals. With your training in journalism, promotion, and fundraising, you will always be able to find good positions. Taking time off for recreation and begin with family and friends is important too. I am sure that you will be able to find a good balance in life and send all good wishes for your success. Sincerely, Brooke Astor (signed)"

Enough said...

Something to Think About!

2009-04-08T19:28:00.001-07:00

I've been reading a great book for one of my master's degree classes called "A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future" by Daniel Pink.

In his chapter about "meaning", there were a couple of passages I'd thought I'd share:

"Say thanks. Gratitude works. Feelings of gratitude enhance well-being and deepen one's sense of meaning...think of a gratitude visit. You think of a person in your life who has been kind or generous to you but whom you've never properly thanked. You write a detailed "gratitude letter" to that person, explaining in concrete terms why you're grateful. Then you visit that person and read the letter aloud."

And,

"Take the 20-10 Test. Would you still do what you're doing now if you had $20 million in the bank or knew you had no more than 10 years to live? For example, if you inherited $20 million, no strings attached, would you spend your days the way you spend them now? If you knew you had at most 10 years to live, would you stick with your current job? If the answer is no, that ought to tell you something. This test alone can't determine your life course. But the approach is smart, and the answers can be clarifying."

Communication Tip at Work: Don't Be A Tattletale!

2009-03-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

One tip that will help you survive in the corporate jungle is to listen a lot and speak with people professionally in case you have any questions, concerns, or issues. Additionally, you must learn to gauge when to escalate an issue to your boss, or if speaking with the person directly is a better option.

Example: Person A listens to music while they’re working. Instead of using headphones, they turn the volume very low and assume it doesn’t bother their co-workers. Rather that ask Person A to use headphones, Person B goes to Person A’s boss to complain about the noise.

If this has been an issue before, this might be a good option. If not, a better solution would be for Person B to speak with Person A directly (in private) to ask if they would please use headphones. Person A will respect Person B for their professionalism. Many office relationships have been damaged by what has been called the “tattletale syndrome” or passive-aggressive behavior. How would you feel if one of your co-workers went to your boss first as opposed to speaking with you directly? Not good, right?

Bosses usually have a lot of work on their agenda and may prefer you try and work out smaller issues you have with co-workers on your own. If you’re comfortable doing so, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask someone to speak with you directly first before speaking with your boss.

The Charles Schulz Philosophy

2009-02-20T07:13:00.000-08:00

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip.

You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special!

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials... the most money... or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most!

Pass this on to those people who have made a difference in your life, like I did.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia !"

"Be Yourself, Everyone Else Is Taken!"

Lots Going On at the Zoo!

2009-02-06T13:52:00.000-08:00

Birds do it. Bees do it. Even educated fleas do it. With Mother’s Day upon us, there’s been a lot of “doing it” going on over at the San Francisco Zoo, with several mothers-to-be anxiously awaiting their bundles of joy. And, we’re not just talking about the zoo’s five pregnant zookeepers.
With a face, and for that matter a body only a mother could love, the Marabou Stork is the largest of all storks with a wingspan of more than eight feet. Currently a member of this species is “with child,” or more precisely, “with egg,” at the Zoo.
According to the National Zoological Society, “Marabou Stork nests are placed in trees or occasionally on cliff ledges. Though nest locations can be reused every year, the nest itself usually requires extensive renovations. The completed nesting platform is a structure of coarse sticks lined with twigs and leaves.” Two to three white eggs are laid in the nest and incubate for nearly a month, with both parents feeding the young by regurgitating food to them. Yummy.
Also “expecting” is the national bird of the United States, none other than the majestic Bald Eagle. Several Bald Eagle chicks have already hatched and over a dozen more are on the way. This is especially good news for the zoo and its Bald Eagle Restoration Project, which began in 1985 to help increase the number of this species in the wild.
According to a representative from the Zoo, “The population of breeding Bald Eagles in California declined from a historic high of approximately 400 pairs to fewer than 35 pairs in the 1970s. The Zoo’s off-exhibit captive breeding facility for Bald Eagles is home to seven pairs of bald eagles. Since 1991, more than 100 bald eagles produced by the breeding pairs have been released in central and southern California.”
Their nests might not be what Nob Hill residents would call cozy, but they’re rather impressive at nearly eight feet across and weighing about a ton. And unlike some Nob Hill couples, Bald Eagles mate for life.
While all birds can’t be the national bird, they can be successful parents. Take the Magellanic Penguin. The San Francisco Zoo has one of the most successful breeding colonies of Magellanic penguins in captivity, fledging more than 150 chicks in the last 20 years. One pair of chicks has already hatched, and zookeepers are expecting more.
Zookeepers mention that, “During the breeding season, these birds gather in large nesting colonies, digging burrows underground or making shallow nests under bushes with 20 nests per 100 square meters. They vacate their nest sites in winter, but use them again each year. Penguins are generally long lived and may go through 20 or more breeding cycles in a lifetime. They lay two eggs, but generally raise only one chick to adulthood. Both parents care for the chicks, taking turns finding food and regurgitating it for their young.”
That certainly gives new meaning to making sure the kids are well fed, doesn’t it? But whatever the species, mothers and their offspring will always share a special bond on Mother’s Day.

So You're Feeling Down?

2009-02-05T23:50:00.000-08:00

A friend these stories to be recently, so thought I'd share. Enjoy!

"In a hospital's Intensive Care Unit, patients always died in the same bed, on Sunday morning, at about 11:00 am regardless of their medical condition. This puzzled the doctors and some even thought it had something to do with the supernatural. No one could solve the mystery as to why the deaths occurred around 11:00 am Sunday, so a worldwide team of experts were assembled to investigate the cause of the incidents. The next Sunday morning, a few minutes before 11:00 am all of the doctors and nurses nervously waited outside the ward to see for themselves what the terrible phenomenon was all about. Some were holding wooden crosses, prayer books, and other holy objects to ward off the evil spirits. Just when the clock struck 11:00 am, Kenneth Roberts, the part-time Sunday sweeper, entered the ward and unplugged the life support system so he could use the vacuum cleaner.

Still Having a Bad Day????

The average cost of rehabilitating a seal after the Exxon Valdez Oil spill in Alaska was $80,000.00. At a special ceremony, two of the most expensively saved animals were being released back into the wild amid cheers and applause from onlookers.

A minute later, in full view, a killer whale ate them both.

Still think you are having a Bad Day????

Betty came home to find Jerry in the kitchen shaking frantically, almost in a dancing frenzy, with some kind of wire running from his waist towards the electric kettle. Intending to jolt him away from the deadly current, she whacked him with a handy plank of wood, breaking his arm in two places.

Up to that moment, he had been happily listening to his Walkman.

Are Ya OK Now? - No?

Two animal rights defenders were protesting the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn , Germany . Suddenly, all two thousand pigs broke loose and escaped through a broken fence, stampeding madly. The two helpless protesters were trampled to death.

What?!? STILL having a Bad Day????

Iraqi terrorist Khay Rahnajet didn't pay enough postage on a letter bomb.
It came back with 'Return to Sender' stamped on it. Forgetting it was the bomb, he opened it and was blown to bits.

There now, feeling better, are we?"

25 Things About Me...

2009-02-05T23:49:00.001-08:00

1) I've sung live onstage with Patti Labelle. The actual lady herself, not just an impersonator.

2) I used to be a news producer for NBC

3) I always wanted to live in New York, but ended up in San Francisco (which isn't too bad!)

4) I love cars, but haven't owned one in more than ten years. When I was 16, my grandfather bought a 1957 Thunderbird, which he used to let me drive on Sundays.

5) Despite loving to eat healthy, I adore Popeye's Chicken, Chipotle, and Taco Bell.

6) Painting abstract paintings is something I love to do for friends. Now if I could sell them, that would be marvelous!

7) I've flown alone with John Wayne on a Falcon jet my dad was flying when I lived in Southern California. He asked me who I was and I told him "David". He asked what I did for a living and I said, "I'm a little boy." I asked him what he did for a living and he replied, "I'm a cowboy!"

8) I've been to a psychic and don't recall what she said, but my mom went to one who told her I'd be a millionaire. Now if I could just remember when she said that would happen.

9) I'm in my last semester of getting my master's degree in instructional design.

10) I love to dance. Hit the clubs, throw me up on stage, and I'm ready to go! Mind you, nothing go-go implied, but the moves are there!

11) My first crushes were the flight attendants that used to serve me dinner when I'd fly to New York in first class on Braniff Airlines in the 1970s. My dad was a captain for them....

12) I attended MTV's Summer of Love Tour in 1990 in Dallas. Paula Abdul and Milli Vanilli live in person...Well, almost live and in person....

13) My writing has been featured in several magazines, newspapers, and blogs. Frankly, I was born to write! Now let a syndicate and/or great editor find me and ask me to write a column or book!

14) I wrote a weekly real estate column for nearly three years

15) Baking yummy desserts is something I do really well.

16) Working on putting together a speaking series to inspire and help people with their careers! Look forward to hitting the speaking circuit!

17) I love to go shopping in Santa Barbara and Montecito. It's a wonderful place to visit.

18) Road trips and I get along really well.

19) I speak conversational Spanish

20) I'd love to take a comedy workshop as I can tell jokes really well

21) Giving to various charities in both San Francisco and Fort Worth are two of my passions. There is always someone in need who you can help.

22) I've never been to Hawaii, owned a new car, or bought a puppy or kitten.

23) There isn't a day goes by that I don't think about my grandparents. I miss them...

24) My soulmate is out there somewhere....still working on that one...

25) Buying art from unknown artists to add to my collection is a favorite pasttime.

Changes

2009-01-21T20:20:00.000-08:00

I used to like change. Thought it was a good thing. Change in my surroundings, certain friends, or even extra change I found in my jeans three weeks after I'd worn them. Lately, there have been several changes that I've noticed which are not appreciated. For example:

1) My favorite video store is closing after being in business for 17 years. Okay, Okay, I know Netflix is great, but there is something wonderful about getting the human, in-person feedback from a woman with hair that's been dyed purple and a chic goth girl whom I simply adore.

2) My favorite yoga instructor is moving to the East Coast to work on his doctorate in Philosophy, which is fine, but it sure doesn't help my "limber factor" very much. I've known Jamie for nearly 10 years, and he's one of the best yogis in San Francisco. I love his yoga classes, but commuting to the East Coast might just be a bit too much, even for me.

3) Everyone is always busy. Busy, busy, busy. I used to talk to my friends in person. Then we started to just email each other. Now it's down to text messages back and forth. Soon we might even try telepathy. I'm waiting to attend a party where friends don't speak to each other but just text back and forth.

4) Friends and I used to host games nights at our homes. Scrabble was a favorite. Now we're playing Scrabble with each other on Facebook rather than in person. Something odd about that.

5) In my 20s, the oldest people I knew were my grandparents and I really didn't know anyone who had died. Now my grandparents are dead, the owner of a sushi restaurant down the street from my apartment was murdered, and a really nice guy one aisle over from me at work, whom I just chatted with last week, committed suicide on Saturday. Sad.

6) Two family members both have emphysema; one has quit smoking, the other continues to puff away despite having a difficult time breathing and lung cancer in remission. She mentioned to me one day she wasn't feeling well. I told her that perhaps smoking for more than 50 years might do that to a person. Originally, I was worried about her alcohol intake, but at this point, her motto is simply, "F-ck It!" I tend to agree with her, and figure she might as well continue drinking because at this point her liver is fine. It's the lungs that are shot.

7) As family members get older, which is a big change, it's nice to know that we can help them with simple tasks around the house. One really has to ask, otherwise out of pride, they may not let you know what they need done. My task, for an aunt and uncle in Texas, is to wean them off of using 150-watt bulbs in their home and switch to energy-saving fluorescent bulbs and help with simple chores around the house. I'm happy to do it, but if I didn't, I'm not sure anyone else would.

8) Yes, at long last, we have a new President. That's a great change.

Woes of Sales: Bargains Bring Back Memories

2009-01-19T17:26:00.000-08:00

Here's a column I wrote back in 1990, shortly after my Aunt Lee died. I recently found the article again, and thought I'd share:

"Estate sales have always been interesting to me. This weekend I went to an estate sale in a rather snooty neighborhood near my home. Having very little to do with on a Saturday morning, I wearily dragged myself out of bed and went to the sale.

The fact of the matter is, I was going to an aunt's house. Not that she was there, of course. She had been dead for several months. But she was there in spirit. It seemed strange to rummage through all of her pots and pans, furniture, clothing, tools, toiletries, sewing machines, jewelry, and an incredible assortment of estate sale junk.

My aunt would turn over in her grave is she knew how much the auctioneers were selling her valuables for. An antique tapestry for $125, a leather ottoman for $325, and velvet-covered chairs for $395 apiece. What was really sad was that on my budget, I couldn't buy the higher priced items.

So, off I went to hunt for cheaper items, er, bargains, with my handy faux-leather checkbook in tow. My conscience said, "Exercise self-control." My body said, "Spend money like there is no tomorrow." Tomorrow came sooner than I thought.

The first Item I bid on was a coffee cup. Not an ordinary coffee cup, mind you. It was a rare and valuable coffee cup from the days of a prosperous, successful Braniff Airways. Rare indeed.

Next item to catch my attention was a stained=gass candle holder. This was no ordinary candle holder,either. If you turn the lights out and light the candle, the entire room is showered with a brilliant array of color. "Fabulous. A necessary item in every home," I said. "Junk," said the gentleman purchasing the set of pink glasses with naked women on them sitting next to me.

But the "piece de resistance" has to be the Moroccan water pipe I discovered in a guest bedroom off the main foyer. Where, I pondered, did she get a water pipe? Matter of fact, what did she use it for? My inquiring mind wanted to know. After several phone calls I discovered it was a decorative piece in the bedroom. Yeah, that's the ticket.

So there I was in an entrance hall, standing among strangers, admiring my priceless artifacts, when a strange thought occurred to me: Have I ever taken the time to see who comes to these sales? Obviously, I did.

Several teachers from my high-school were buying up a storm. One of them wrote a $300 check. Nothing unusual, except this was the same English teacher who preached to her students to save their money and never spend frivolously. I was not in one of her classes.

As I wandered out into the front yard and meandered to my car, tears welled in my eyes. This was the last time I would come to this house. The new owners had hired people to renovate the house. The changes were nice, but I missed the way it used to look. My aunt loved to cook and hated to clean. The house was always dirty. it had a nice lived-in feel to it. She had several cats who loved to sink their claws into the furniture and relieve themselves under beds.

ONe particular memory stuck out in my mind. Because she rarely cleaned the master bedroom, a rather thick layer of dust and cobwebs accumulated. My parents and grandparents would always warn me never open the door leading into the room. My imagination ran wild so, from the age of five, I believed there was a horrible monster lurking beneath the adjustable beds.

Driving home, I assured myself before I die, I am going to have a garage sale to end all garage sales and sell most of my belongings, or maybe just give them to charity. That way, I get the price I want.

Besides, who wants to pay an estate sale auctioneer 30 percent commission?"

The Office Cold

2009-01-06T20:58:00.000-08:00

I finally got my first cold of 2009.

Perhaps it's payback from the powers that be, as I'd been laughing off the fact that I hadn't gotten a cold the last two weeks of 2008, when I'd finally had a much needed two-week vacation.

Luckily, I didn't get sick during the vacation: No cold during a road trip to Los Angeles to have lunch on Melrose with my friend Cody. No cold during my New Year's Eve visit to Santa Barbara to spend time with my friend Loren and his new wife Krista. No cold driving through the rain in an adorable rented Mini Cooper back to San Francisco on Friday.

But gosh darn it if on Saturday afternoon, during which I paid bills online, organized my closet and desk, went to the gym (a back and bicep day), and then ran some errands it finally hit me. I thought I was just a bit run down from the cold weather or working out, but no, by Sunday morning I was moaning in bed (alone), with a box of Kleenex with lotion by my bed, along with some organic chicken soup cooking on my kitchen stove.

Someone had mentioned to me once that the best cure for a cold is to stay in bed and do nothing except sleep and get up to make and drink lots of hot lemon water. They forgot to mention go to the bathroom with this remedy, but oh well. Anyway, I did stay in bed most of Sunday, but managed to watch several movies I'd rented or bought recently, including "Spirited Away" and "The Color Purple" (which I've already seen about a dozen times). Monday morning soon arrived, and I managed to drag myself to work, where it was nice to know most people weren't happy being there, due to having to come back to work from vacation.

Since Monday, the dreaded office cold has erupted up and down the aisles. First, it was the senior manager of the department. Then the lady sitting next to me, and finally the other lady across the aisle. Sniffling, sneezing, stuffy head, fever, so we do need to rest and get our medicine! It amazes me when one person is sick and they still come to work to get their work done. Please, do us all a favor and stay home. I don't want to catch your Flu, Mono, Pink eye, or other annoying condition.

Read my lips.....STAY HOME! Now where is my Kleenex with lotion?

Time to Recycle: Consider Donating

2009-01-05T22:37:00.000-08:00

Another thought as we enter 2009. Every year, I try to donate or recycle items in my home which I haven't used in at least one year. Usually, the clothes in my closet fall into this category, as well as various items in my kitchen and lining my bookshelves. What I was curious about were all the electronic items I no longer use: dvd players, old iPods, stereos, etc. In addition to donating them to various charities, including Goodwill, I found an interesting article recently from Consumer Reports which included some very useful hints and links to recycle electronic items. Below is a portion of that article, courtesy of consumerreports.org:

"If you have an obsolete but working computer, digital camera, cell phone, why not donate it to a local or national charity or other nonprofit organization? In many cases, you'll be able to deduct the contribution from your taxes.

A good place to start is with local schools and community centers, and charities such as Goodwill Industries and the Salvation Army. You might also try a nonprofit organization like Recycle for Breast Cancer (www.recycleforbreastcancer.org), which accepts a wide range of working and nonworking electronic items, and even mails prepaid postage labels for most product categories. Sites such as TechSoup (www.techsoup.org), Earth 911 (www.earth911.org), and Consumer Reports' Greener Choices (www.greenerchoices.org) can provide you with lists of nonprofit choices. Another site, Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) lets you find a local neighborhood group that will help you find a new home for your unwanted electronic items.

Before you recycle or donate an old computer, be sure to reformat all hard drives or use a dedicated program designed to erase personal data. You should also delete stored numbers and personal information from any cell phones you donate or recycle, and make sure your service has been deactivated.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Whether the law mandates that manufacturers pay for recycling, or whether consumers pay a recycling fee when making a purchase, consumers ultimately foot the bill. Voluntary recycling programs might help prevent costly legislative mandates. Here are the steps we recommend you take if you decide to recycle an old TV or computer:

Check with retailers. If the equipment still works, or if you think it can be repaired, check with local thrift stores. You might not want that big old tube TV, but someone else will. If you can't find a thrift store willing to take it, find out if any local charities might be interested. Some of the sites listed in this report include links to groups that accept donated electronics. Electronics retailers are also getting into the act. Best Buy sponsors recycling events where you can drop off electronics of all kinds, from TVs to fax machines. Check their Web site to see if there is an upcoming event in your neighborhood.

Check for public programs. To see if your town sponsors collection days for TVs and other electronics, or if it has a drop-off point for electronics waste, click on the map supplied by the Electronic Industries Alliance (www.eiae.org). You can also find recyclers and recycling events in your area, and locate energy- efficient or environmentally friendlier "green" electronics, by visiting my GreenElectronics (www.mygreenelectronics.com), sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

Consider a private recycling firm. You can also take your electronics directly to a private recycling company. But some disreputable recyclers simply ship waste overseas instead of recycling it, according to Richard Goss, director of environmental affairs for the EIA. In response to this concern, a coalition of environmental groups recently established a voluntary program known as the Electronics Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship. Companies signing the pledge agree to prevent the export of hazardous computer components to developing countries, the disposal of waste equipment in municipal landfills and incinerators not equipped to handle it, and the use of prison labor. To locate a recycler in your area that has signed the pledge, go to the Computer TakeBack Campaign Web site (www.computertakeback.com/the_solutions/recyclers_map.cfm)."

Happy New Year! 2009!

2009-01-04T09:19:00.000-08:00

First complaint of 2009, other than I'm already ready for the next holiday season!

I'm sitting in my bedroom, staring at the ceiling listening to my upstairs neighbor stomp around getting ready for work. It's not like this is something new, as I've been listening to his stomping for more than a year. He insists he's quiet and always keeps his shoes off, but the shoes have nothing to do with the noise, rather, it's his walk.

My landlord, a rather affable man, is content to let us work the noise issue out ourselves, suggesting I call the police is it's that bad. I wish he'd be a more hands-on person. The thing that is most annoying is that his closet is directly above my bedroom, and because he keeps nightclub hours, he's always running into and out of the closet at all hours of the day and night dropping his shoes on the floor to change his clothes. The worst part is that this is the one room in his apartment where there is no carpet, so the noise is like a sonic boom in my apartment. Every time I try to ask politely for him to keep the noise down, or perhaps install a rug, he usually screams he's not making any noise. Very mature. Interestingly, my horoscope reads, "You have remarkable powers of concentration. Even though you're practically living in a three-ring circus and noise is audible everywhere (it even permeates your bedroom) you stay focused and centered." That's good to know!

Speaking of 2009, this is my first post in the new year, and I wasn't really sure what to write about. The upcoming inauguration, the financial crisis, what to wear on my first day back from vacation, what paintings I'm going to work on and give to friends and submit to a gallery, trying to submit queries for magazine articles to various editors, and dust mites are all in my conscience at the moment. I suppose I'm most curious about dust mites at the moment, after reading all sort of articles and watching cleaning shows telling me about the little buggers and how I must vacuum my bedroom often and change my sheets and pillow cases to keep them at bay. Who knew? Apparently they feed on our dead skin cells and their poo makes us prone to allergic reactions, etc. Yuck! Since my old vacuum cleaner recently died, I decided to buy a new HEPA vacuum from Hoover, which is supposed to help suck the little nuisances into one of its four filters.

2008 seemed to be the year that everyone seemed to be "busy" and complaining about how much money they'd lost in the financial market meltdown. Yet these same folks were the ones who were traveling to exotic locales. Isn't that a bit of a budget buster, too? Friends who were couples broke up, and several started dating new people right away. I dated a very special someone, whom I'm still friends with thankfully, but have not found the next new special someone yet, although several people have asked (the ones that look like Gollum from the "Lord of the Rings" series). No, I'm not going to be their "precious."
Usually the people I meet are from other cities or even countries. Why is it I can't meet a nice someone in San Francisco? Surely in such a cosmopolitan city there is someone out there. Fingers crossed!

So while waiting for the right one to come along, I suppose I'll keep painting abstracts and writing, working on finishing up my master's degree in instructional design (woo hoo) and try to get more freelance writing work, which I really do miss. It's not that there isn't any work out there, it's just that the competition is fierce, and editors seem to like to use only people they know, rather than taking a chance on an amazing writer like myself (selfless plug...lol). But, at least I've been thinking of freelance writing again, which hasn't happened in some time. Plus, blogging has been rather fun. Fingers crossed again that lots of people read it and advertisers want to advertise on it. Not a bad idea for 2009!

Happy New Year!

BIrthday Party Excuses

2008-12-17T15:02:00.000-08:00

My birthday was last week. A dinner. A cocktail party afterward at a favorite bar.

What surprised me most was the number of people who arrived at the bar exactly on time. I was 20 minutes late. Some people didn't stick around. Doesn't the birthday boy get to be a little bit late?

But for those people who said they were coming who never showed up, don't call me the next day letting me know why you weren't there. Instead, tell me what you bought me as my birthday gift!

Gifts That Give Back

2008-12-02T21:27:00.000-08:00

In a country with so much, it's often difficult to give a gift, or at least know what to give your friends and family.

Despite our great prosperity, even in a recession, there are still millions of other people around the world who barely have the bare necessities of life. With that in mind, I wanted to post a great article I found in "The Green Guide" magazine (www.thegreenguide.com). It contains several suggested ways to give a gift that truly matters this holiday season:

"For those loved ones who are notoriously hard to shop for, consider making donations in their name, picking organizations devoted to causes they care about. A modest donation may seem inconsequential, but as little as $20 can contribute to substantial improvements in the environment and the lives of people around the world.

In Ethiopia, AHOPE for Children provides care, housing and schooling for 60 HIV-positive children and has plans under way to care for at least 40 more. Funded entirely by donations, the International Rhino Foundation has brought Africa's black rhino population up to nearly 4,000 in 2007 from 2,500 in 2002. You can even give the gift of microloans. A $25 gift certificate at Kiva.org can be spent on loans to entrpreneurs in developing countries.

Here are a handful of charities that will turn your dollar gift into material change.

* Gifts to the International Rhino Foundation go toward saving rhino species in Africa and Asia (rhinos-irf.org)

* Help protect animals on the World Conservation Union Red List of Threatened Animals with a gift to Art for the Animals, and receive a piece of local art in exchange (artfortheanimals.org)

* Donations to AHOPE for Children help fund orphanages for HIV-afflicted children in Ethiopia (ahopeforchildren.org)

* Mercy Corps funds aid programs in regions torn by wars or devastated by natural disasters (mercycorps.org)

* Purchase gift animals through Heifner International for families in need around the world. A flock of chicks supplies eggs for a family in Cameroon ($20), and a pig can provide food and income to the smallest of farms ($120; heifer.org)

* Through Oxfam America Unwrapped, donors can choose from over 50 gifts. A pair of sheep, and their wool, allow people to make textiles and generate income ($90; oxfamamericaunwrapped.com)"

Vicoletto

2008-12-01T20:56:00.000-08:00

Vicoletto
550 Green St
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 433-5800
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
4 stars (out of 5)

My first impressions of this place were good. Friendly service, fun atmosphere (there was another birthday celebration going on behind us), and good Italian fare make me want to come back for more.

The pecorino with salad, calamari, and other appetizers were filling and would make a nice meal unto themselves. I did not like two of the three Italian wines we tried, one smelled like poo, the other was too peppery for my taste.

My main course of chicken rolled with pecorino, Italian ham, and spinach was delicious, served over some mashed spuds.

Dessert included a tiramisu for our birthday girl, which was really quite good. And, the interior design was modern and new, but the bathrooms could use a bit more cleaning.

A TALE OF TWO COMPANIES (AND VISITS TO NEW YORK)

2008-12-01T19:27:00.000-08:00

A TALE OF TWO COMPANIES (AND VISITS TO NEW YORK)
After graduating college with a degree in broadcasting, in the early 1990s, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. Months of driving around Texas to various television stations left me with an empty tank of gas, little money in the bank, and a lot of rejection from news directors. Ethnic reporters were “in”, and I was just too white with too little experience and nobody willing to give me a chance.

So, one afternoon, I wrote down a list of all the companies I wanted to work for as well as listed of all the people I knew that worked in the same city as those companies, whom I could use to network and see if they had any contacts I could, well, contact.

Viacom, the parent company of both MTV networks and VH-1, was at the top of my list. If I wasn’t going to work as a news reporter, I could darn well work as an entertainment reporter, producer, or coffee maker in New York. The details of how I was going to afford to live there, or even where I was going to live, hadn’t entered the picture yet. I just knew I needed to move and would regret not trying!

MTV Networks

I wrote a letter to the chairman of Viacom, Sumner Redstone, who in turn passed my inquiry to Tom Freston, who in turn passed my letter to a Dwight Tierney, a VP of Marketing. His administrative assistant was a real piece of work, not the nicest person on the phone. But, in reflection, I suppose she was just protecting her boss. Or maybe she really was a real dragon. After several months of back-and-forth phone calls (I don’t think there was email back then), as well as a video audition tape, and many clever in-the-mail gifts, I decided it was better if I flew to New York to try and score an interview with Mr. Tierney. Of course, I didn’t have one when I flew to New York with my friend Suzanne, but ingenuity sometimes leads to great results.

While Suzanne was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art one afternoon, I went to Dean and Deluca, dressed in a suit, borrowed one of their aprons, bought a large glass of iced tea and a brownie, which I put into a box with my resume, cover letter, and hotel information and the bottom, and proceeded to take them to the delivery entrance of the Viacom building.

This was before September 11, so security proceeded to assume I was a delivery man and took me to Dwight Tierney’s office, where I presented my box of goodies to his very surprised secretary. Unfortunately, he was out of the office, but a week after I returned home to Texas, I was invited to return to New York to meet with Mr. Tierney, which I did, as he was impressed by my efforts. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a job for me, despite all of my suggestions of what I could do for the company and his department, but in the end, I felt the satisfaction of knowing I tried my best, pursued every avenue, made all the necessary calls, and never gave up. You might not always get the job, but you will definitely have expanded your career network!

VH-1

A few years later, and having built up my career network, I decided to see if I could get an informational interview with the Director of Marketing for VH-1. As it turned out, my wonderful friend Kimberly, who was working as a corporate concierge in Manhattan, kindly sent me his contact information, along with the contact information for many other people she had met while at various cocktail parties and work functions. Cold calling is never easy, but I did manage get him on the phone (and not hang up). It’s always a good idea to have some sort of reason to be calling a person, and luckily he remembered Kimberly and was happy to set up a time for us to meet for half an hour to discuss his career and VH-1.

I flew to New York, with my updated resume (just in case he wanted to see it). Our conversation was informative and professional, but despite his high position, he did take the time to discuss what it took to get a job at VH-1, and other interesting facets of his career. Remember, an informational interview is always about the person you are speaking to, unless at some point they do ask to see your resume.

After our chat, he told me to please keep in touch (there wasn’t an opening in his department), which I did for several years, until we eventually we lost touch. Did I regret going to New York twice in search of a job with Viacom? Absolutely not! Was I a bit disappointed that I didn’t get a job? Certainly, but because I did what I wanted to do, and TRIED, it gave me the courage to ask for other informational interviews, be bolder on the phone, learn better interview techniques, and allowed me to have more confidence than I’d ever had before.

Remember, keep on keeping on!

Thought of the Day

2008-10-27T23:07:00.001-07:00

Why is it not acceptable to laugh at a funeral, but it's ok to cry at a wedding?

Quote of the Day...

2008-09-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

"I asked for ice, but this is ridiculous!" ...John Jacob Astor IV a passenger on the Titanic after it struck an iceberg

Laundry Baskets

2008-09-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

Just a thought, but why is it I refuse to use my laundry basket when my clothes are done in the dryer? Instead, I prefer to try to carry the entire load, usually dropping several items on the way back to my apartment. Just noticed that I've been doing that a lot lately. Perhaps I'm being a rebel with my laundry. Go figure.

Salaries, Salaries, Salaries!

2008-09-25T06:50:00.000-07:00

My grandmother once told me if you had enough money to pay your rent/mortgage, all of your bills, and still have money left to put into savings, you were doing just fine. Simplistic, perhaps, but very true. One of the most difficult aspects of saying “yes” to a new job is negotiating your salary, benefits, and other possible perks.

Let’s say you’ve sent a potential employer your perfect resume and cover letter, aced the phone and/or in-person interview(s), and it’s been determined you’re the best candidate for the job. Before you say yes, take the time to do your homework before accepting a first offer. This is the BEST time for you to negotiate before you begin your new job.

Typically, perhaps in your first phone call from a potential employer, they might bring up the topic of how much money you’d like to make. Let them rather than you! If you’re asked this question, defer the question as long as possible, but do have a salary range in mind:

Employer: “What sort of salary were you thinking of?

You: “After researching the current market, and with my experience, I was thinking $85,000 to $100,000 sounds about right. Does the position’s salary fall within this range?”

When you quote a range, be certain the lowest figure you mention, in this example $85,000, is the lowest figure you’re willing to accept. You’ll be able to figure this out from doing research online (www.salary.com and www.salaryexpert.com are good websites) as well as speaking with people from your job network and from informational interviews.

If your interviewer mentions the salary you want is too high for the position, consider how much lower the actual salary might be than what you want and what perks you might be able to negotiate instead. For example, I was offered a job for a prestigious company in the Bay Area. Unfortunately, the salary was $3000 less than what I was making. The hiring manager was very nice, and mentioned that while she couldn’t match my current salary, she would be able to give me a $3000 hiring bonus to make up the difference. Other things you might try and negotiate are extra paid vacation days/weeks, medical/dental insurance starting immediately instead of after several months, paid transportation costs, stock options, etc.

Remember, if you are offered a salary which you are unhappy about, won’t meet your budget, and the employer won’t budge during negotiations, your power lies in your ability to simply walk away and politely say no to the job offer. Or, if you really want to work for the company, ask the hiring manager if you could negotiate a six-month job review, at which time you could possibly discuss a bump in your salary. Remember, it never hurts to ask for what you want!

That Rental Guy: February 21, 2003

2008-08-21T20:52:00.000-07:00

Hey, Rental Guy: I recently moved into a new apartment. The couple next to me were great neighbors until his girlfriend moved out. Since then, he has been partying with his friends all weekend until 6 am Sundays. I complained to the manager, but the parties kept happening every weekend. Each time, I lodged a complaint with the manager, but because nothing happened, I eventually stopped complaining. There was one month when things were quiet, but then one of his party buddies moved in and it has been a nightmare every since. They don't go to bed until past midnight every night. Until then, I can hear their music, their loud talking over the music, and slamming every door in the bathroom every single time they use it. I got so frustrated one night that I started pounding on the wall. The new guy came over and threatened me, saying that if I make life miserable for him, he'll make it so miserable for me that I'll have to move. But I can't afford to leave so soon after having moved in. The whole situation is very upsetting and I'm afraid. Should I tell the manager about the threat? Is there anything else I can do? …Scared Silly, Los Angeles

Hey, Scared Silly: Your neighbor is obviously pleased to be single again and is expressing his repressed social life through wild and crazy parties. The next time the party is under way until 6 a.m., call the police. You’ve made an effort to express your displeasure with your landlord and your neighbors, and they aren’t taking you seriously. It’s also a good idea to keep a thorough record of each noise complaint you filed with your landlord. Additionally, if the noise is bothering you, it’s probably annoying your other neighbors. Speak with them to see if they’re having the same problem and have been threatened by the same neighbor. The more people that complain to your landlord, the better your case will be against your partying neighbors.

Hey, Rental Guy: I live in a house with five other people. I'm renting the main floor, there are two people in the basement and the other couple is upstairs in the attic. There aren't any separate units and we all share the same address. We also do not have a separate meter for our utilities so there is no way to tell who uses what. When the landlord gets the bill in his name, he just divides it equally among us. But, since I often not at home, I wind up paying for my neighbors' utilities. Is this legal? Shouldn't we all have our own meters? The landlord also divides up the water and sewage bill for the house, something I thought that he had to pay. Finally, I am suspicious that the other quarters are illegal units. Where can I find out and what could I do about it without jeopardizing my own tenancy? Thank you for your help. It is hard to get information about tenancy laws without asking a lawyer. …More Than My Share, The City

Hey, More Than My Share: The answer of whether you paying the utilities is legal depends on the agreement you made with your landlord when you moved into the apartment. According to the California Department of Consumer Affairs, “Some buildings have a single gas or electric meter that serves more than one rental unit. In other buildings, a tenant’s gas or electric meter may also measure gas or electricity used in a common area, such as the laundry room or the lobby. In situations like these, the landlord must disclose to you that the utility meters are shared before you sign the rental agreement or lease. If you become a tenant, the landlord must reach an agreement with you about who will pay for the shared utilities. The agreement must be in writing and can consist of one of the following options: The landlord can pay for the utilities provided through the meter for your rental unit by placing the utilities in the landlord’s name; the landlord can have the utilities in the area outside your rental unit put on a separate meter in the landlord’s name; or you can agree to pay for the utilities provided through the meter for your rental unit to areas outside your rental unit.” Review your lease or rental agreement to see who is responsible for paying the water and sewage. Finally, if you wish to find out if some of the other units are illegal, call the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection at 415-558-6088 for further details.

That Rental Guy: June 28, 2002

2008-08-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

Hey, Rental Guy: I enjoy reading your weekly column! I am president of our neighborhood watch and have been trying to help older landlords in my area with various tenant problems. One of the landlords I work with has a long-term tenant who is a heavy smoker. The smell when you walk past the smoker’s door is nauseating. Even after professional insulation work, the smell permeates the walls into other tenant’s apartments. I’ve been inside the apartment, and everything is covered in smoke. It looks as if it has never been cleaned and the smoke damage could run into thousands of dollars. What can the landlord do? Thanks for your help and keep writing…Ron in The City

Hey, Ron: Landlords have the option of not renting to smokers if they apply a no-smoker policy to all of their tenants. According to the Federal Fair Housing Act, “A landlord is not required to rent to anyone whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the health and safety of others or pose a risk of damage to property.” In your case, the landlord allows smokers in their building, and must deal with the consequences. Landlord attorney David Wasserman mentions that landlords who permit smoking in their buildings run the risk that smoke will cause normal wear and tear to the unit. “The smell and film may be the financial responsibility of the landlord. I recently heard about a case where the tenant's smoke infiltrated the unit of another tenant. This conduct amounted to actionable nuisance and resulted in the smoker's eviction. So it seems that tenant who smokes must keep the smoke in the unit.”

Hey, Rental Guy: I'm a fun single woman with a great standard poodle and I just landed a wonderful job in San Francisco. Should I find out where the homeless pitch their tents immediately or is there hope? I'll pay up to $2,000 a month for the right place. What are some good sources for apartment hunting? I'm moving from Denver and I don't know anyone in the Bay Area. Help! …Peg with Poodle; Denver, Colorado

Hey, Peg: Congratulation on your new job and welcome to the Bay Area! I wouldn’t run out and buy a tent just yet. Instead, begin your rental housing search at least a month before you arrive in the Bay Area. Browse the Internet to help find your next apartment. Most rental housing websites will list contact information for free, although there are rental-housing finders that charge a fee for their services. Considering your budget is $2000 per month, you should be able to find a spacious flat or apartment for both you and your precious pooch. With such a large dog, you should also consider finding an apartment or flat with a backyard. Some helpful websites listing available rental properties include (and in no particular order): Craig’s List (www.craigslist.com), AMSI (www.amsires.com), Saxe Real Estate (www.saxerealty.com), the SF Weekly (www.sfweekly.com), the San Francisco Bay Guardian (www.sfbg.com), www.sf4rent.com, and the San Francisco SPCA (http://www.sfspca.org/opendoor/index.shtml#housing). Let me know how your housing search turns out.

Hey, Rental Guy: My wife and I were looking for an apartment in the East Bay and found a charming two-bedroom apartment in Berkeley. Before we completed a rental application, our potential landlord mentioned that he would not rent to us if we had small children. Isn’t this sort of statement illegal? …Family Man in Oakland

Hey, Family Man: This sort of statement is illegal. According to the Berkeley Rent Board, “It is against federal, state and local law to discriminate on the basis of “familial status” in the leasing and renting of housing accommodations. This prohibition means a landlord cannot discriminate against families with minor children, pregnant women or persons in the process of securing legal custody of a minor child. Therefore, it is unlawful to refuse to rent to families with children under the age of 18.” You should take your business elsewhere and look for another apartment.

That Rental Guy: February 15, 2002

2008-08-15T21:45:00.000-07:00

Hey, Rental Guy: I'd like to rent my apartment on a weekly basis on occasions when I’m traveling. Would my "guest" have tenant's rights and I am unable to reclaim my home if he decides to stay, or will the police put him out on the spot? My landlord will allow me to sublet, but is it legal to do this? Thanks! …John in the Haight

Hey, John: You should ask yourself if subletting to a “guest”, that you may to have “the police put him out on the spot,” is a such a good idea. The lease agreement you currently have with your landlord will still be valid; you are still responsible for paying your rent. Talk with your landlord about any plans to have a “guest” stay in your apartment during your travels. According to the California Department of Consumer Affairs, “Under a sublease agreement, the subtenant agrees to make payments to you, not to the landlord. The subtenant has no direct responsibility to the landlord and has no greater rights than you do as the original tenant. For example, if you have a month-to-month rental agreement, so does the subtenant. The sublease agreement should be consistent with the lease, so that your obligations under the lease will be fully performed by the subtenant, if that is what you and the subtenant have agreed upon.” The sublease agreement that you and your “guest” sign will include: the due date and amount of rent due (as well as where it’s to be sent), who pay the utilities, and the date the agreement begins and ends. It would also be wise to include an inventory of your possessions in your apartment.

Hey, Rental Guy: Hi. I’m a prospective Berkeley student who’ll start school this fall (would like to move-in in June). I’m currently in San Diego and wonder how I should go about searching for an apartment. If you can help me it would really help. Thanks in advance! …Angie in San Diego

Hey, Angie: Now is a great time to start looking for a place to live. The sooner you begin your search, the better. Since you have a few months before you move, visit any neighborhood in the East Bay (in your case, Berkeley) you’re interested in finding an apartment. Ask everyone you know; Do you have friends in the East Bay that have apartments? If so, have them recommend you to their landlords. If not, conduct an Internet search to find an apartment.

The Good Life

2008-08-15T21:41:00.000-07:00

Harry Denton’s six-room, Nob Hill apartment is a lot like its grand owner: elegant, classy and decadent.
On the sixth floor of a restored Beaux Arts building on Bush Street, built by Standard Oil Co. in 1922, the famed nightclub owner took occupancy in 1995 and did most of the decorating himself. “I wouldn’t live anywhere else,” he says. “It’s really convenient to my nightclubs, favorite restaurants and places to shop.”
Denton’s love affair with the Bay Area began in 1965, when he arrived from a small town in Idaho. After holding down jobs as a bank teller in Daly City and in retail, including a two-year stint at Wilkes Bashford, Denton decided he had to have a bar of his own. “Henry Africa asked me to come work for him and said he’s teach me the bar business,” he says. Other waiter and bartender jobs soon followed, including stints at the Dartmouth Social Club and the Washington Square Bar and Grill, where he once waited on the king of Sweden and became friendly with famed newspaper columnist Herb Caen. “Both Wilkes and Henry have different management styles, but both gave me similar business advice: always stay busy, be a perfectionist, and pay attention to all the little details.”
When he isn’t attending social functions or partying at his two nightclubs, the elegant Harry Denton’s Starlight Room at the top of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel and the hip Harry Denton’s Rouge in lower Russian Hill, Denton loves to find new things for his 900-square foot apartment. It’s really a fun mix of paintings and furniture given to me by friends over the years, as well as bargains I’ve bought at Butterfields or found rummaging at flea markets,” he says. “I’m really just a bargain hunter at heart.”
The 20-foot-high entrance hall features crystal chandeliers, gilt mirrors, an antique chair covered in tiger-print fabric, and a gift wrapping closet where Denton indulges a favorite custom of giving boxes of pastries to friends and neighbors.
The cream-colored walls are covered with 74 framed photos of Denton with celebrities and politicians, including musician Carlos Santana, supermodel Christy Turlington, actor Jean Claude Van Damme, Sen. Hilary Clinton, ex-Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, and the late John F. Kennedy Jr. “One of John’s roommates from college is a good friend of mine,” Denton says. “We were all in a wedding together, and I was lucky enough to have dinner with him a few times after that. He was a real gentleman.”
A door off the hallway leads to a bedroom that Denton converted into a closet. His enormous clothes collection rests in custom-made black cabinets with tempered glass doors and brass handles. Denton uses the room’s walk-in closet as a second bedroom. On the nightstand is a humidor, a gift from actor George Hamilton. In the bathroom adjacent to the closet, Denton installed a $25 peach sink he found in SOMA, and added his favorite piece in the room, 6-foot candelabra. “I love to come in here, lights all the candles, play some music, and have a long soak in the tub.”
When done bathing, and after changing into something more comfortable, Denton relaxes across the hall on the cozy living room’s burnt-orange, down sofa. The hardwood-floor room features Baccarat vases filled with his favorite Ecuadorian roses, three gilt mirrors, a French writing desk, and a 100-year-ol lamp-statue of his “wine goddess,” rescued from one of Denton’s old establishments.
What was the apartment’s dining room is now Denton’s intimate bedroom. “I bought my four-poster canopy bed for $90 at an estate sale and had it draped in lots of raw silk drapery,” he says. “I use the Biedermeier chest as a television stand because I don’t know what else to do with it.” Other features of the room include 80 pieces of Lalique and Baccarat crystal, dozens of photographs, potted plants and scented candles. “It’s the most romantic room in the place.”
Denton is planning to paint the apartment’s all-white kitchen salmon. It features a life-size portrait of Denton by former Washington Square Bar and Grille co-worker Gary Epting, a chandelier from the Malder Co. draped with silk taffeta, an antique table and chairs, a bistro set, and an old, working Wedgwood gas stove. “It rarely sees service, but it does work,” Denton says with a sheepish grin.
His favorite piece in the room is a silver candelabra from his grandfather, Harry Denton. “It’s all I have from him.”

That Rental Guy: February 8, 2002

2008-08-14T20:55:00.000-07:00

Hey, Rental Guy: I’ve got a tough situation for you. The original owner of my rent controlled building (where I live in a one bedroom unit) rented apartments on a month-to-month basis (with no lease) to his tenants. As people in various apartments in the building died, their children moved into their apartments (the landlord did not evict them). Eventually, the original owner of the building died and his daughter inherited the building. She tried to make the tenants sign leases with a "no subletting clause" and, when that failed, brought in a management firm to get the job done. At the beginning of this year, the tenants rents were raised by the appropriate percentage and in response, many tenants had more of their relatives move in to off-set the rent increase. The apartment next to mine has 16 people in it (4 separate families with two adults and two children each). They insist that they’re all the same family and that the management firm can't evict any of them (even though they signed the lease). So, tell me, Rental Guy, how many people can live in a one-bedroom apartment? Is there a "best way" for this to be solved? …Cramped Carl in Cole Valley

Hey, Cramped Carl: I’ve got a tough answer for you. When families live under certain conditions, in this case to help pay for the rent increase, it creates a bad situation for the tenants, landlord, and their neighbors (noise, sanitation, etc.). The San Francisco Housing Code provides that “sleeping rooms must have at least seventy square feet of space for up to two occupants and an additional 50 square feet of space for each additional occupant. Additionally, children in a family under the age of six are excluded from this computation.” According to Landlord/Tenant Attorney Saul Ferster, “The owner of the building may want to check with the Division of Housing Inspection. If the apartment is overcrowded, and a citation is issued, the owner would be able to demand that their tenants eliminate the overcrowding or surrender possession of the premises. If they did not, they would be able to evict the tenants on grounds that the apartment is being used for an illegal purpose, in order to abate the violation.”

Hey, Rental Guy: My next door neighbor is getting on, you’ll pardon the expression, my “last good nerve”. You mentioned in one of your previous columns there is an easy way for neighbors to resolve their differences. I’d appreciate you letting me know the name of the organization you previously mentioned. ....Just Mad in Inner Richmond

When problems between neighbors occur, it’s important to get them resolved as soon as possible. Don’t let your neighbor bother your “last good nerve” any more than is necessary. The name of the organization is Community Boards, a nonprofit organization with skilled mediators specializing in neighbor disputes. With an 80-90 percent success rate, they’re a good place to resolve the dispute with your neighbor.

That Rental Guy: May 31, 2002

2008-08-14T20:50:00.000-07:00

Hey, Rental Guy: For the past three months, I’ve been living with a friend of mine in a small Nob Hill studio in San Francisco ( I paid part of the $800 rent). A few weeks ago, I started looking for a place of my own. This may be unusual, but I’m embarrassed to say that I have bad credit and am afraid that I won’t be able to find a place to live. Do you have any suggestions? …Scared in SOMA
Hey, Scared: It’s true that having bad credit may prevent you from finding a place to live. That’s not to say that you won’t be able to find a place to live, although it might take you longer that someone with good credit. Have you taken steps to correct your credit problems? It’s important to have letters from your creditors stating that you’ve paid your debt (or at least made an effort to) and from previous landlords stating that you paid your rent on time and were a good tenant. When you give a potential landlord a rental application, include a letter of explanation describing any bankruptcies, credit card chargeoffs, or court actions where you were sued and lost. Remember, if you’re credit is bad, you may need a co-signer for your next apartment. There are landlords who will overlook your past credit history if you provide them with the documentation and information they need to prove that you’ll make a great tenant. Let me know how things turn out!

Hey, Rental Guy: Last week, after the toilet in my bathroom backed up, I called my landlord to have the problem fixed. After sending a plumber to unclog the toilet, my landlord sent me a bill and a note telling me that I was responsible for the completed repairs. I called my landlord and told her that she is responsible for the bill. Who is responsible for the cost of the repairs? …Unclogged in Oakland
Hey, Unclogged: The plumber who fixed your toilet should be able to tell you why your toilet backed up. Your landlord is responsible for keeping the plumbing in your building in good working order. According to information provided by the Berkeley Rent Board, “Tenants may be responsible for damage they cause when they fail to exercise ordinary care. Therefore, responsibility for the plumbing bill will depend on the cause of the clog.” For example, if you dropped a hairbrush down the toilet, then you would be responsible for the bill. However, if the toilet backed up due to bad plumbing, your landlord would be responsible for the bill.

Hey, Rental Guy: One of my tenants, who rents an apartment in my building on a month-to-month basis, recently gave me their 30-day notice. If they vacate the apartment on the 18th of next month, will they still owe me rent until the end of the month? …Lenny in North Beach
Hey, Lenny: Your month-to-month tenants may terminate their rental agreement with you by giving you their 30-day notice in writing any time during the month. The tenant you mention, for example, is responsible for paying you rent until the final day of the period covered by the 30-day notice. So if they gave you notice on the May 18th, they may end their tenancy on June 17th.

My Latest Painting!

2008-08-11T16:28:00.000-07:00

Decided to take an art lesson in San Francisco at the Red Poppy Art House in the Mission with artist Todd Brown. Had a wonderful time and learned a lot about mixing colors and trying to go beyond what I thought was possible.

That Rental Guy: June 7, 2002

2008-08-03T18:47:00.000-07:00

One of my first freelance writing assignments was writing a weekly real estate column for the San Francisco Examiner. "That Rental Guy" dealt with Bay Area renters, landlords, and tenants: their problems, questions, concerns, and much more. I wanted to include them in my blog, as they're most informative, and if I may say so myself, fun to read. Enjoy!

Hey, Rental Guy: Wow! I am horrified to see how expensive San Francisco has become over the last 10 years! I had a house in Noe Valley in 1992 that I sold for $160,000 after it was on the market for nine months. My wife and I finally broke down after someone offered $155,000. I have lived in Paris for 10 years and thought I would like to come back to the Bay Area. What is the cheapest price for a studio condominium? I cannot seem to make any headway with my own searches…Homesick Joe
Hey, Homesick Joe: What is more astonishing is to see what the house you sold in 1992 would be worth today! However, how lucky you are to have lived in Paris for the past ten years. It must be nice to travel throughout Europe. When you return to San Francisco, you should consider renting an apartment on a month-to-month basis to give yourself time to look for the perfect new home for your family. The average rental price for a studio apartment in San Francisco varies from $800 to $1400 per month depending on the neighborhood you choose to live in. The average sales price for a studio condominium in San Francisco, depending on the unit, is $200,000 to $300,000. Let me know how your housing search turns out!

Hey, Rental Guy: As a renter, I understand that in San Francisco there are fourteen “just causes” for landlords to evict their tenants. What are some of the most common reasons that landlords evict their tenants…Curious Bob in Noe Valley
Hey, Curious Bob: Some of the most common just causes for eviction in San Francisco include, according to information provided by the San Francisco Rent Board, “habitual late payment of rent—this means more than once or twice, and the tenant has been warned that this is not acceptable to the landlord; creating a nuisance and disturbing other tenants—the nature of the nuisance must be specifically stated on the notice; owner-occupancy, or the occupancy of a member of the landlord’s immediate family; and to perform capital improvements which will make the unit uninhabitable while the work is being done—in which case the tenant must be allowed to reoccupy the unit once the work is completed. Verifiable moving expenses of up to $l,000 must be paid in the case of an eviction for capital improvements.”

Hey, Rental Guy: Can a landlord charge a late fee if I pay my rent a few days after it’s due? …Late Paycheck in North Beach
Hey, Late Paycheck: Your landlord can charge you a late fee if you do not pay your rent on time. Most leases contain a “late fee provision” discussing how much you will be charged if your rent is late. According to the California Department of Consumer Affairs, “If you have a good reason for being late (a late paycheck, for example) explain this to your landlord. Some landlords will waive the late fee if the tenant has been responsible in other ways. If the landlord isn’t willing to forgive or lower the late fee, ask the landlord to justify it. However, if the late fee is reasonable, it is probably valid; you will have to pay it if your rent payment is late and your landlord insists.”

Renters: How to Deal with Noise Problems!

2008-07-28T14:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had to deal with tenants and noise issues? If so, you’re not alone. TCO Realty Owner Tim Carrico and his staff of twelve, like many Bay Area landlords and property managers, receive at least one noise complaint per month from tenants in one of the 140 buildings they manage in the Bay Area.

“A person’s right to peace and quiet is more than the right to make noise,” says Carrico. TCO’s policy is that “avoidable, excessive noise is not allowed if it disturbs someone else in the building or an adjacent building.” For Carrico, apartment living means that “you’ll occasionally hear your neighbors and they’ll hear you.” In an effort to prevent noise problems, their tenants are given the following noise prevention guidelines:

* State and local law provides that all residents have a right to the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of their homes.
* You may not make or permit any noise that will disturb other residents.
* You are responsible for ensuring that your neighbors are not disturbed by family or guests.
* You may not disturb, annoy, endanger or inconvenience other residents of the building or neighbors.
* You may not use the premises for any unlawful purposes, nor violate any law or ordinance, nor commit waste or nuisance on or around the premises.
* In the event of a dispute, you should try to work it out with the offending party.

According to Carrico, “noise is not a problem if there aren’t any complaints.” He explains that when a tenant does complain, he first asks the tenants to try to work it out among themselves. He urges the tenant to talk to his or her loud neighbor and politely remind him or her that the noise is unacceptable. Carrico has found that in many situations, a noisy tenant may not realize there is a problem. However, he knows that “excessive noise from a vacuum cleaner at 3:00 a.m. would definitely be a problem.” He also notes that music is heard through various floors of a building and that most buildings don’t have adequate noise insulation (although some newer ones do). He believes it is important to remember that common courtesy goes a long way to keep neighbors (and their landlords) happy.

Landlord attorney David Wasserman recommends that if tenants are unable to resolve their differences, you may need to involve a skilled mediator specializing in neighbor disputes (Community Boards, for example). “Their participation is voluntary, so the tenants must agree to attend,” he says. Wasserman has observed that the success rate of mediation is between 80 and 90 percent. A successful resolution will consist of a written mediation contract specifying what conduct (noise, for example) is considered offensive and, therefore, not allowed.

According to San Francisco Rent Board Executive Director Joe Grubb, problems with noisy neighbors or tenants can be difficult ones because the landlord is usually not there to witness the noise, thus making it hard to prove there is a noise problem. Grubb observes that, “were an owner to attempt an eviction of a tenant who is creating a nuisance due to excessive noise, which is a just cause reason for eviction under the Ordinance, the owner would probably need testimony from tenants who have also experienced the noise problems.” The testimony from these tenants is important and should include thorough documentation of any noise complaints. A nuisance report form (see form at right) is an excellent way for your tenants to record the date, time and nature of any noise problem, and whether any neighbors are willing to validate the complaint.

In addition to the nuisance form, Wasserman also suggests the following steps to make noise problems less problematic:

Start Sending Letters
Create a written paper trail that shows you have made every attempt to curb the offensive conduct. Make sure that the letters are clear, firm and to the point. Tell the tenant that if the conduct continues, legal action may become necessary. Wasserman believes “there is no bright line test to determine when enough letters have been written and an eviction notice should be served,” but he generally requires at least three or four attempts at resolution before the eviction proceeding is commenced.

Have a Good Lease
The Professional Property Management Association’s lease, distributed by the SFAA, has concrete guidelines to govern a tenant’s conduct in their own unit and in the common areas. It’s always better to point to a specific lease covenant when dealing with a nuisance eviction (e.g., no loud noise after 10:00 p.m.).

Consult with Other Tenants in the Building“At trial,” according to Wasserman, “the best and most compelling witnesses are other tenants who have complained about the nuisance-like conduct.”

9 Words Women Use

2008-07-16T09:42:00.001-07:00

(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour.
Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in "Fine."

(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement
often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)

(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' ... that will bring on a 'whatever').

(8) Whatever: Is a women's way of saying ______ YOU!

(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself.

This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

Use, Reuse, and Reorganize

2008-07-05T19:55:00.000-07:00

I just love helping friends and family remodel their homes. Not necessarily add on or tear down, but reorganize a room into something that looks brand new, using items they already have. In other words, save money and use what they already have!

For example, my mom and stepfather have been in their home for six years, and they've never moved any of their paintings around, moved books around, etc. Here are some simple tips I gave them to help make their den look like an entire new space:

* Reorganize bookshelves by donating and/or selling books they hadn't read in more than a year
* Remove excess picture frames from bookshelves
* Move paintings to new locations to give them a fresh perspective when you look at them
* Clean, clean, clean!
* A fresh coat of paint does wonders for a room!

For closets, donate/sell clothes you haven't worn in more than a year for added space. Just because you have a lot of nice things, doesn't mean you have to horde them, because as my grandfather used to say, "You can't take it with you!" Extra magazines can be given to relatives and friends. My aunt and uncle don't get out and about like they used to, so I decided to give them my extra magazines each month, which gives them new reading material. They in turn give the magazines to their children, who live nearby.

Whatever you decide to do, it's important to never just let things stagnate in your home. Get up, get moving, and spend some time giving your home a brand new organized look!

Sick of Being Sick

2008-07-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit it, I'm a big baby when it comes to being sick. When I was growing up, my mom would allow us three days to be sick, and then yell at us to get out of bed because "you're not really sick!" Nice.

Usually, sick sneaks up on me, although I probably should notice the warning signs: not enough sleep, being cranky above and beyond the normal bitchiness, and feeling generally blah and rundown. Last Friday, it all began, of course I just thought it was seasonal allergies or something funky going on with my sinuses. So, did I go to the doctor? Oh no. I decided to self-medicate with goodies from Walgreens, the usual over-the-counter menagerie of allergy pills, cold pills, and all-natural cough drops. Did they help? Nope.

All week I pushed myself, going to work instead of staying at home and resting. In this day and age, it's a miracle if you stay home from work and your boss doesn't think you're really sick. Ugh. I wasn't feeling any better yesterday, and my mom had called frequently to tell me that if I didn't go to the doctor, I was going to get bronchitis, or even worse, pneumonia.

So off to the doctor I finally went, and thank goodness I don't have pneumonia or even a cold. Apparently, my sinuses have gone into "crazy drain mode" and my continuous cough is due to their trying to get rid of all the goop in my sinuses. Ewwww. I'm now taking something that was at the pharmacy behind the counter, due to it being an ingredient used to make crystal meth (ugh!) and a grape-flavored cough medicine with Codeine in it. So far, I'm still coughing, and still feel like a big baby! But, according to my doctor, only another week of feeling like crap, and I should be all better. My BF Jamie brought me some groceries yesterday as well as a big bouquet of Peonies and other flowers, which made me feel better than any Walgreen's goodies could.

Now, what should I wear for my friend Cody's July 4th BBQ?

Ground Rules for Gay Marriage

2008-06-24T20:58:00.001-07:00

OK... before every rushes to the alter at once, it is very important to lay down some ground rules for gay marriages here in California:

1. On the day of a gay wedding, it's bad luck for the two grooms to see each other at the gym.

2. Superstition suggests that, for good luck, the couple should have: something bold, something flirty, something trashy, something dirty.

3. It's customary, at gay and lesbian nuptials, for the parents to have an open bar during the entire ceremony.

4. Gay wedding tradition dictates that both grooms refrain from eating any of the wedding cake because it's all carbs and sugar.

5. It's considered bad luck for either of the grooms to have dated the priest.

6. During the first dance, it's considered unlucky to use glow sticks, flags, whistles or hand-held lasers.

7. For good luck at the union of a drag queen, the bouquet is always thrown in the face of a hated rival.

8. The reception hall must have a disco ball and at least one go-go dancer.

9. The wedding singer is not allowed to play or sing "Let's Hear It For the Boy", "It's Raining Men", or "I Will Survive".

10. The father of the Bottom has to pay for everything!

New Treatment for Sunburn

2008-06-19T16:09:00.000-07:00

A guy fell asleep on the beach for several hours and got horrible sunburn, specifically to his upper legs. He went to the hospital, and was promptly admitted after being diagnosed with second-degree burns.

With his skin already starting to blister, and the severe pain he was in, the doctor prescribed continuous intravenous feeding with saline, electrolytes, a sedative, and a Viagra pill every four hours.

The nurse, who was rather astounded, asked, 'What good will Viagra do for him, Doctor'?

The doctor replied, 'It won't do anything for his condition, but it'll keep the sheets off his legs.'

Abs Class

2008-06-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

I decided on Tuesday to go to an abs class at my gym. Of course, being only 30 minutes long, I thought, "How hard could it be?" OH. MY. GOSH. I feel today as if I've given birth via c-section. What price beauty?

They Walk Among Us (And Work Retail)

2008-05-28T08:52:00.001-07:00

Someone forwared these stories to me, so I thought I'd share. Quite amusing, really!

"I was at the checkout of a K-Mart. The clerk rang up $46.64 charge. I gave her a fifty dollar bill. She gave me back $4 6.64. I gave the money back to her and told her that she had made a mistake in MY favor. She became indignant and informed me she was Educated and knew what she was doing, and returned the money again. I gave her the Money back ... same scenario! I departed the store with the $46.64."

"I walked into a Starbucks with a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for a Grande Latte. I handed it to the girl and she looked over at a little chalkboard that said 'buy one-get one free.' 'They're already buy-one-get-one-free,' she said, 'so I guess they're both free'. She handed me my free Lattes and I walked out the door."

"One day I was walking down the beach with some Friends when one of them shouted, 'Look at that dead bird!'. Someone looked up at the sky and said, 'Where'?

"While looking at a house, my brother asked the real Estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, 'Does the sun rise in the north?' When my brother explained that the sun rises in the East, and has for sometime, she shook her head and said, 'Oh I don't keep up with all that stuff.'"

"I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call center. One day I got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call center was open. I told him, 'The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.' He responded, 'Is that Eastern or Pacific time?' Wanting to end the call quickly, I said, 'Uh, Pacific.'"

"My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk."

"My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount."

"I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area, so I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands.'Now,' she asked me, has your plane arrived yet?'"

"While working at a pizza parlor I observed a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some time before responding. 'Just cut it into 4 pieces; I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat 6 pieces.'"

And, what's really scary, is that all of these people vote!

Luxury

2008-05-21T20:34:00.000-07:00

If you could spoil yourself with any luxury, anything at all, what would you desire?

Remember, there would be no limitations, so let your imagination run wild. Would it be a warm cashmere blanket, a sleek private jet, a custom-designed yacht to sail the seas, exquisite jewels, rare wines, or perhaps a fleet of classic cars?

Of course, what one person considers a luxury may be totally different to someone else.

“I’d love to have a giant telescope installed at my home in Hawaii to show my 11-year-old granddaughter the stars,” says Ann Getty. “My idea of luxury really hasn’t changed that much over the years, but luxury doesn’t have to be ostentatious. Ideally, it’s something that makes you happy, like when it’s a rainy day and you can just stay home and read a great book.”

Growing up on a walnut farm in the Sacramento Valley, Getty remembers her earliest luxury was four-wheeled. “It was my first car, a two-door Ford coupe, when I was 18,” she says. “That was pretty special.”

As a renowned philanthropist, anthropologist, fine furniture collector and head of her own interior design firm, Getty knows luxury when she sees it. “I found this marvelous early 18th C. Chinese silk gauze that I used to cover my living room walls,” she says. “Nobody was paying any attention to it when I found it backstage at an auction, so I bought the whole lot.”

Her keen eye for detail has served her well, helping her acquire treasures from around the world. One of her prized pieces is a rare Sévres porcelain table made for Napoleon. “There are just four in the world,” she says. “I own one, another collector has one, and the Queen of England has two.” And, no, Her Majesty hasn’t called about buying the table for her own collection.

“It’s important to remember that you shouldn’t regret not buying a luxury, fine furniture for example, because let’s face it, it’s just furniture. Life is more than just about the luxuries you possess.”

Nobody celebrates life more than San Francisco’s Mr. Nightlife, Harry Denton. Surrounding himself with luxury starts even before he gets out of bed. “To me, luxury is splendid fun and lots of self-indulgence,” he says. “One of my good friends gave me some thick linen sheets from Italy. There’s nothing better than sleeping on those sheets. Just like me, they get better with age!”

Besides his sheets, Denton says he’s crazy about Baccarat crystal. With more than 100 pieces in his collection, he always keeps a Baccarat water glass on his bedside table. “It’s the only kind of glass I’ll use for drinking water or Diet Coke.”

At work, Denton always has six dozen Ecuadorian roses delivered and arranged every week. “I get more comments about those fragrant roses than I do about my magnificent view.”

Of course, his biggest splurge was for his mom’s 75th birthday in Idaho. “It was the most luxurious, wonderful party I’ve ever given,” he says. “There was a full orchestra, a catered silver-and-white-themed dinner for 250 people, 3000 silver balloons, and more than four cases of rhinestones used to create a truly glittering affair.”

When the time is right, Denton says the one luxury he’d buy for himself is a beautiful home in Rio de Janeiro on Ipanema Beach. “It’s not as commercial as other areas, the people are beautiful, and it’s a great place to relax.”

Relaxation is something community activist (and former Miss Gay SF, 1993) Donna Sachet rarely finds time to do, often attending more than eight events a week. “Luxury is anything you want that makes you feel a little bit guilty having,” she says. “It’s really the icing on the cake of life.”

With all her charity work, Sachet says she’s often given a little bit of luxury in surprising ways. “At many of these events, someone will leave a beautiful bouquet of flowers in my dressing room or hand me a gift certificate to a charming store, or try to give me some of their mother’s jewelry that they say they’ll never use. All of that is a bit of unexpected luxury.”

Would there be anything Sachet wants to help her through her hectic schedule? “I’d love to have a red helicopter that would take me from event to event,” she says. “The crew could dangle me from a rope attached to the bottom of the darn thing and swing me into each place. With all the time I’d save, I could attend twice as many events, all for good causes.”

For wealth manager Erik Davis, “Being passionate about my job and working with people to achieve their goals is a great luxury,” he says. “For example, I worked with a couple in their early 40s who retired, bought a sailboat, and are now traveling around the world. The fact that they’re doing what they love, on their own terms, makes me feel great.”

Davis also enjoys the luxury of being able to volunteer for the Read Aloud program. He works with groups of volunteers buying books for in-need Bay Area schools, reading to students while stressing the importance of a good education, and donating the books to the school’s library.

“Personally, I enjoy having nice things, like my red 1975 Mercedes Benz 450 SL, but I remember to take the time to enjoy what I already have rather than accumulate more stuff.”

After mentioning an upcoming month-long safari in Africa, Davis decides the one luxury he’d consider buying is a diamond-tip cane and platinum monocle. His reason? “Because every gentleman needs one, and it reminds me of the Monopoly Man.”

Speaking of gentlemen, Danielle Steel’s assistant Cody Lee is always on the go, but even with his hectic schedule, he’s given our subject some thought. “I don’t like to cook, so I’d enjoy having someone cook all of my meals, prepare snacks (Lee’s favorite snack is Sour Patch Kids candy), organize my dinner parties, and do all the grocery shopping.”

What would be the first meal he’d have prepared? “My favorite meal is grilled lamb rubbed with rosemary, served with fresh steamed Brussels sprouts, and homemade vanilla ice cream for dessert.”

Of course, while great food is important, getting away from it all isn’t a bad idea either. Business consultant Alice Zhang, executive director of Executive Business Mindshare, enjoys taking time traveling around the world to rejuvenate after spending long hours organizing conferences and roundtable discussions for new CEOs and co-chairing events for the San Francisco Opera’s Bravo! Club.

“It’s fun dressing extravagantly for opera galas,” she says. “If money were no object, I’d really love to buy a home in the South of France with its own stable of Hanoverian, Warmblood, and Arabian horses,” she says. “I love the sport, but it’s very time consuming and expensive. It would be nice to have a large staff, so I wouldn’t have to worry about anything.”

And what would she do when not riding horses? “I’d love to do…public relations at a major fashion house.”

A passion for fashion often includes designer shoes. Just ask lawyer Sharan Johal, whose collection includes more than 200 pairs of Gucci, Manolo Blahnik, and Jimmy Choo footwear.

“Besides shoes and Bulgari jewelry, I’d buy homes around the world,” she says. “I’d buy an apartment in Rome by the Spanish steps, an apartment in Paris near Place Vendome, a summer house in Sardinia, a home in Provence, a one-bedroom penthouse in New York’s SoHo District, and an apartment in Bombay. All the homes would have an elegant, modern décor, which would be perfect for entertaining when my friends come to town.”

New director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco John Buchanan, Jr. shares Johal’s vision of owning homes in exotic locales. “It would be wonderful to have a mansion in Marrakech,” he says. “Many of my friends from Paris come to Morocco on vacation, so it would be nice to be able to play host.”

Buchanan adds he’d also want to own the Château Balleroy in France, completed in 1636 by famed French architect Francois Mansart. Currently, the family of the late publisher Malcolm Forbes owns the château. “It’s filled with the most incredible French furniture, and I love visiting whenever my schedule allows.”

That isn’t often, as he’s currently planning several exhibits at the de Young and Legion of Honor museums, including Masterpieces of French Jewelry, and in 2008, Faberge, Tiffany, and Lalique.

“Luxury to me is the total and utter caressing of one’s senses through touch, taste, sound, and smell,” he says. “It’s something I’ve experienced before. Growing up in Tennessee, there was no better luxury than good Southern cooking, particularly fried chicken.

“These days, I love having the opportunity to just be alone and relax,” he says. “Time, you see, is one of the greatest luxuries we have.”

Quote for the Day

2008-05-19T16:36:00.000-07:00

"We write our own destiny; we become what we do."

-- Madame Chiang Kai-Shek

The Richmond

2008-05-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

615 Balboa St
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 379-8988
The Richmond
Categories: Wine Bars, American (New)
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond

The longer I was here, the better I liked it. But it took some time! For a party of five, we arrived right on schedule after trying for a long time to find a parking space!

It's a small venue, so there isn't a host stand waiting for you. We stood for a few minutes before a waiter appeared to take us to our table. Matt was friendly. Water service never ended...I was a bit water logged by evening's end. The Bordeaux blend ($9) glass of wine was tasty, and the bread with three butters (olive, sea salt and chive) was delicious. The butter should have been thawed a bit more, but overall was quite good.

The potato leek soup with crab dumplings was superb, and my main entree of pork tenderloin was excellent, if a bit salty, and had to be sent back to be cooked a bit more, as it was too pink for my taste. The accompanying Gruyere mac-n-cheese and veggies were out of this world. Coffee after dinner was strong, and the service throughout the meal was quite good. They were nice about satisfying dietary needs, too.

Just a thought...

2008-05-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

I've noticed on restaurant menus lately that the phrase "our chef uses the freshest ingredients whenever possible, including organic and locally grown/produced." So what are they trying to tell me? Before they weren't using the freshest ingredients? I've been eating food that isn't organic or locally grown? Should I hide my head in shame? Just a thought...

Orson Restaurant Review

2008-05-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

Orson
Category: American
Neighborhood: SOMA
508 4th St
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 777-1508

Only open for two months, Orson was in a recent 7x7 Magazine article which I noticed, so thought I'd head over to see what all the noise was about. It's a big space, walking distance from Market, with a nice interior, great circular bar and modern interior. The front door staff were professional, which I can appreciate, and our waiter was helpful in explaining the menu (small plates). Here's the scoop:

* Some dried rice in a bowl that reminded me of rice krispies with seasoning is served as their bread. Skip it....not good.
* The duck fat french fries with brown butter bearnaise ($5) were delicious and tasty
* The charred hamachi tartare with avocado, radish, and citrus ($11) was fresh and delicious...a must have
* Tempura egg with nori, scallion bouillon ($8) was light and delicious, too. One breaks open the egg, and the insides run into the bouillon creating a nice soup effect
* Black cod with butter beans pimenton, and saffron rouille ($15) was a bit bland, but fresh and quite enjoyable. If you like more spice, this isn't the dish.
* Short Ribs with spinach, espresso rub, and potato broth(?) ($15) was mediocre. The ribs (meat off the bone) were not tender or tough, but somewhere in between. The accompanying spinach was somewhat bitter/tangy and didn't work. And the white stuff on the plate which was called potato something or other was just a white mess. The chef should substitute this horror with truffled mashed potatoes, steam the spinach, and leave off the citrus oil or whatever they're using. Don't try to impress me with odd combinations if they don't work well together.
*The general manager, a really nice guy named Matt, came to our table and seemed genuinely interested in hearing our feedback about our dining experience. I liked him and was impressed that he took the time to chat with me.

I'll definitely try Orson again as I assume they're just getting the kinks out of the menu. As the place was packed, word must have gotten out what a hot spot this is. But, hot spots cool off rather quickly if the food doesn't match the great interior or social vibe.

Mini-Frisee Restaurant Review

2008-04-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

Neighborhood: Castro (in San Francisco)
2367 Market St
(between 16th St & 17th St)
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 558-1616
www.friseerestaurant.com
Three Stars!

I had the chance to dine here last night, and was pleasantly surprised. The brothers who own the place have done a nice job turning a former Thai restaurant into something rather swanky. We sat upstairs, which was nice, although the ceiling is rather low and as a tall person, I had to duck several times on my way to the bathroom. Service was attentive, and the food, for the most part, quite good. The ahi tuna tartare was fresh and delicious, and the cheese plate was outstanding. The wine list was also good, and the white wine our waiter suggested, whose name I didn't catch, was also a hit. My chicken entree was superb...however, the accompanying spinach had way too much salt on it. Whomever prepped the dish needs to relax their wrist when salting away! One of our fish dishes was slightly undercooked, which for some people may not have been a hit. It sufficed for us. No dessert, as we were too full, but I'll try Frisee again to see if the salt has decreased. If so, it well be a definite "4 stars"!

Blue Bottle Coffee Company

2008-04-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

66 Mint St
San Francisco, CA 94103
Bluebottle Coffee Co.
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: SOMA

Stopped by for a light nibble and something to drink before heading to a pilates session yesterday. It was one of those hot weekends in San Francisco (a rarity) and I'd heard this place had great coffee. Unfortunately, I didn't have any as me on caffeine and pilates isnt' a good combo. I did try the poached eggs on acme bread, which was really tasty. For $1 more, I got some of their sweet jam to go on the bread. Not a lot of jam for $1 mind you, but enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.

The staff was nice...my only complaint is that it was TOO DARN HOT in the place. One wall of windows wouldn't open, and the staff said they'd be fixed next week. Luckily, I snagged a stool near one of the open windows on the other side of the room. I'm going back to try the coffee, which I did this morning...wow! Smooth, strong and delicious, just like a date I had last week.

Recipe from Naomi

2008-03-31T11:13:00.000-07:00

I've decided to start doing more things in my kitchen, and that includes cooking. Recipes are needed, so here's one from my friend Naomi. Enjoy!

Last night for dinner I made pan-seared scallops with hazelnut brown butter on a bed of arugula with a side of goat cheese scalloped potatoes. Very rich and dairy-centric but also super easy and elegant.

For the scallops:

1 lb sea scallops

1 stick unsalted butter

¼ cup shelled hazelnuts

Salt & pepper

1 bag baby Arugula

Coarsely chop the nuts and set aside in a heat proof dish

Pre-heat an 8” frying pan over medium-high heat (don’t use non-stick pan if you can help it). Add the entire stick of butter and allow it butter to brown over medium high-heat – this should take about 5 minutes. Be sure to check the butter frequently to make sure it doesn’t burn. Once the butter is toasted to a light brow, pour it over the chopped nuts and set aside (I kept it in a warm oven). Reserve any butter that’s coating your pan – you’ll be searing the scallops in this.

Remove the abductor muscle and slice the scallops in half across the grain. Season with back pepper.

Heat your butter pan over medium high heat and season it with salt. Add the scallops pepper side down and season the tops with more black pepper. Sear the scallops on one side for about 1 minute or until you have a nice toasted crust on one side. Turn over to sear the other side – be sure not to over cook the scallops or they will get rubbery and horrible in texture.

Place your seared scallops on a bed of baby arugula and top with the brow butter and hazelnuts.

For the scalloped potatoes:

1 lb russets (about 3 potatoes)

1 pint heavy cream

1 small package goat cheese

2 cloves garlic

Salt & pepper

Pre-heat the oven to 350.

Add about 2/3rds of the pint of cream to a heavy bottom sauce pan. Peel and slice the potatoes in evenly sized rounds and add directly to the cream. Peel and crush the garlic and add to the pan. “Crumble” the goat cheese and add it along with and salt and pepper (remember that potatoes take a lot of salt). Heat the cream, potatoes, and cheese over medium heat and simmer until the goat cheese melts. Transfer mixture to a buttered 8x8” buttered baking dish. Bake the potatoes for ~30 minutes at 350 or until a nice brown crust forms over the top.

Quote of the Day

2008-03-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

"I think the one lesson I have learned is that there is no substitution for paying attention." ...Diane Sawyer

St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

John O'Reilly hoisted his beer and said, "Here's to spending the rest of me life!, between the legs of me wife!"
That won him the top prize at the pub for the best toast of the night!
He went home and told his wife, Mary, "I won the prize for the Best toast of the night."
She said, "Aye, did ye now. And what was your toast?"
John said, "Here's to spending the rest of me life, sitting in church beside me wife."
"Oh, that is very nice indeed, John!" Mary said.
The next day, Mary ran into one of John's drinking buddies on the street corner.
The man chuckled leeringly and said, "John won the prize the other night at the pub with a toast about you, Mary"
She said, "Aye, he told me, and I was a bit surprised myself. You know, he's only been there twice in the last four years. Once he fell asleep, and the other time I had to pull him by the ears to make him come.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Six retired Irishmen were playing poker in O'Leary's apartment when Paddy Murphy loses $500 on a single hand, clutches his chest, and drops dead at the table. Showing respect for their fallen brother, the other five continue playing standing up.
Michael O'Conner looks around and asks, "Oh, me boys, someone got's to tell Paddy's wife. Who will it be?"
They draw straws and Paul Gallagher picks the short one. They tell him to be discreet, be gentle, don't make a bad situation any worse.
"Discreet??? I'm the most discreet Irishmen you'll ever meet. Discretion is me middle name. Leave it to me."
Gallagher goes over to Murphy's house and knocks on the door. Mrs. Murphy answers, and asks what he wants.
Gallagher declares, "Your husband just lost $500, and is afraid to come home."
"Tell him to drop dead!", says Murphy's wife.
"I'll go tell him." says Gallagher.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Into a Belfast pub comes Paddy Murphy, looking like he'd just been run over by a train. His arm is in a sling, his nose is broken, his face is cut, and bruised, and he's walking with a limp.
"What happened to you?" asks Sean, the bartender.
"Jamie O'Conner and me had a fight," says Paddy.
"That little O'Conner," says Sean, "He couldn't do that to you, he must have had something in his hand."
"That he did," says Paddy, "a shovel is what he had, and a terrible lickin' he gave me with it."
"Well," says Sean, "you should have defended yourself. Didn't you have something in your hand?"
That I did," said Paddy, "Mrs. O'Conner's breast, and a thing of beauty it was; but useless in a fight."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
An Irishman who had a little too much to drink is driving home from the city one night and, of course, his car is weaving violently all over the road.
A cop pulls him over. "So," says the cop to the driver, "where have ya been?"
"Why, I've been to the pub of course," slurs the drunk.
"Well," says the cop, "it looks like you've had quite a few to drink this evening."
"I did all right," the drunk says with a smile.
"Did you know," says the cop, standing straight, and folding his arms across his chest, "that a few intersections back, your wife fell out of your car?"
"Oh, thank heavens," sighs the drunk. "for a minute there, I thought I'd gone deaf."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Brenda O'Malley is home making dinner, as usual, when Tim Finnegan arrives at her door.
"Brenda, may I come in?" he asks. "I've somethin' to tell ya".
"Of course you can come in, you're always welcome, Tim. But where's my husband?"
"That's what I'm here to be telling ya, Brenda. There was an accident down at the Guinness brewery"
"Oh, God no!" cries Brenda. "Please don't tell me."
"I must, Brenda. Your husband Shamus is dead and gone. I'm sorry.
Finally, she looked up at Tim. "How did it happen,Tim?"
"It was terrible, Brenda. He fell into a vat of Guinness Stout, and drowned."
"Oh my dear Jesus! But you must tell me true, Tim, did he at least go quickly?"
"Well, Brenda, no. In fact, he got out three times to pee.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mary Clancy goes up to Father O'Grady after his Sunday morning service, and she's in tears.
He says, "So what's bothering you, Mary my dear?"
She says, "Oh, Father, I've got terrible news. My husband passed away last night."
The priest says, "Oh, Mary, that's terrible. Tell me, Mary, did he have any last requests?"
She says, "That he did, Father."
The priest says, "What did he ask, Mary?"
" She says, "He said, 'Please Mary, put down that damn gun…"

Met Famous

2008-03-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

Went to the ballet on Friday night and after the show went backstage to meet some of the dancers. As one of the performances was "West Side Story," it turns out that Rita Moreno was a consultant on the piece. My friend Robert brought her backstage to meet about 12 of us, and she was really delightful.

In other famous news, went to see Margaret Cho at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco last night with my friends Cody and Johnny. She's really amazing live...very "on point."

That's all....

Quote of the day

2008-03-14T09:53:00.001-07:00

"Home, in one form or another, is the great object of life." ...Josiah G. Holland

Jokes (Intended for a Mature Audience)

2008-03-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

Q. What do you call a virgin on a waterbed.?????
A. A cherry float.

Q. What did the sign on the door of the whorehouse say?
A. Beat IT - we're closed.

Q. Why do walruses go to Tupperware parties?
A. To find a tight seal.

Q. What do you do with 365 used rubbers?
A. Melt them down, make a tire, and call it a Goodyear.

Q. Why is Popeye's johnson so soft and smooth?
A. He keeps it in Olive Oyl.

Q. What's the difference between Simba and OJ Simpson?
A. One is an African lion and the other is a lion African!

Q. What's the difference between Princess Diana and Tiger Woods?
A. Tiger Woods had a better driver!

Q: Why can't you smoke weed in Iraq?
A: Because there is no piece in the middle east!

Q. What's the difference between sin and shame?
A. It is a sin to put it in, but it's a shame to pull it out.

Q. What's the speed limit of sex?
A. 68; at 69 you have to turn around.

Q. What's the ultimate rejection?
A. When you're masturbating and your hand falls asleep.

Q. Why is air a lot like sex?
A. Because it's no big deal unless you're not getting any.

Q. What's another name for pickled bread?
A. Dill-dough

Q. Why did Frosty the Snowman pull down his pants?
A. He heard the snow blower coming.

Q: Why are Monica Lewinsky's cheeks so puffy?
A: She's withholding evidence

Q. What's the difference between light and hard?
A. You can sleep with a light on.

Q. Why is sex like a bridge game?
A. You don't need a partner if you have a good hand.

Q. What do a Christmas tree and a priest have in common?
A. Their balls are just for decoration.

Q. Why don't blind people like to sky dive?
A. Because it scares the hell out of the seeing dog.

Q. What's the difference between a lawyer and God?
A. God doesn't think he's a lawyer.

Q. Why is divorce so expensive?
A. Because it's worth it

Q. What do you get when you cross a penis and a potato?
A. A dictator

Q. What do you get when you cross a pickle and a deer?
A. A dildo