Life

Favorite Fotos from A Fortnight

I finally uploaded a ton of photos onto my computer. Here are a few highlights from the last few weeks:

Weekend #1: Kentucky Derby Party

Ryan’s friend Doug threw a wonderful party for the famous horse race. Who can turn down the chance to gamble, drink mint juleps, eat kentucky fried chicken, and wear a big hat?

This being Noe Valley, Doug had a backyard-and it was so green and beautiful (for about an hour).

Astor was so happy.

Then my hat blew off! But Ryan got it…

And now a game of horseshoes…

I played a round. It was actually really tricky.

A trip to Berkeley to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Berkeley Science Review...

There was free beer, but that isn’t normally enough to get me to go anywhere. It was just nice to get out of the city and support our friends, who are all “famous scientists.”

Look at this here science!

After all that science excitement you might say I got a little “Pepe LePew.”

Weekend #2: Of Montreal at the Fillmore, Man Man at Bimbo’s, Bay to Breakers

Really a blowout weekend… Unfortunately my Of Montreal/Man Man pics were miserable. Trust me that they were wonderful shows. Go and see them sometime!

Here’s a few pics from the ING “Bay to Breakers” race. It’ s a race that starts downtown in SF, cuts across the city, and then finishes at the ocean. There are actual runners in the race, but the event is more famous for being an excuse to wear a costume and drink heavily while walking/watching the race. It’s very “San Francisco.”

The scene from Alamo Square. 8:30 am (There is intense dance music playing in the background)

There were so many naked people running it wasn’t even funny. Also a lot of Marios. And Osamas.

Gnomes.

Ground level debauchery.

While I ate breakfast and watched the crowds go by, I was torn between regret that I wasn’t running the race in costume, and a desire to get the hell out of there. It was a HOT MESS. Who knows, maybe next year? It’s only 7 miles-ish.

Life

5 Memories for 5 Years

Today was the fifth anniversary of my dad’s death. I don’t put much stock in anniversaries, but this year made me especially sad. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 5 years- it’s just really surprising how time doesn’t stop passing.

Anybody that spends five minutes with me knows that I’m fascinated with morbid stuff. Taxidermy, mortality rates, death portraits… I could dwell on the significance of the death, and talk about how beautiful and crazy life/death is, but I thought that I would finish today (it’s had its ups and downs) on an optimistic note- by sharing five wonderful memories that I have of my father. These are not meant to be big, or particularly meaningful, but they made me smile when I thought of them.

  1. Everyday my dad made a GALLON of coffee in a makeshift pitcher crafted out of an old cooking oil container (just cut the top off). He would mix it up with loads of cream and sugar. Basically that’s how I like my coffee today. I know, sickly sweet and disgusting (and I do this to my $$$ coffee too).
  2. He was a total taoist and was always telling me while I was growing up that in life I just needed to follow “the way.” He practiced what he preached. Several weeks before he died, we sat on the couch talking. He said “I hate chemo. I don’t want to do it anymore. You can’t fight things like this, you just have to let it happen. I’m not afraid to die, but I am tired of the pain.” I think about this conversation quite often.
  3. I was a spoiled brat. I always got the latest stupidly expensive technology (scanners, digital cameras, computers, ipods). I was very touched that he was so supportive of my gadget love, and wanted me to have the best tools available to post boring photos of myself online with. I still have the camera I received as a present during Christmas 2005, and have no plans of donating or recycling it.
  4. He made up a song for me that went like this: “Ka-man-da-la-woo, Tracy eats poo poo.” I thought he was nuts, but whatever. About a year ago I heard the song “Comment Allez Vous” by Blossom Dearie, and I realized that he had been singing “Comment allez vous” the entire time. Really wild. The um… poop part… I think that was definitely in English.
  5. Dad drove me to school in downtown Little Rock every day during junior and senior high school (I could walk to elementary). He would watch the morning news and have his morning tea, and by 8:00 or so we were off in his rickety blue Jeep for the 20 minute drive. Oftentimes we didn’t talk at all, we just listened to my mix tapes or NPR while I finished up any leftover homework. He told my mom that he really cherished this time with me. I agree.

Five years! So wild. Don’t forget to tell your friends and family that you love them.

Knitting

Knitting a Dog Sweater for Astor

I have knit many things in the six years since I taught myself to knit. I’ve made stuffed animals, crazy cowl things, a bag with the image of Audrey Hepburn stitched on the side, shawls, hats, gloves, cardigans, socks, mufflers, t-shirts, tube tops, oh, and yes scarves, many many scarves.

I’ve never knit a dog sweater before- but now I will! Things have been super windy in San Francisco lately (10-30 mph winds), so I think Astor would appreciate it.

What’s that blurry yellow thing running around Alamo Square?

Oh! It’s Astor!

 

Mmmmmm it’s windy…

Normally I’m sorta picky when it comes to choosing garment patterns, but the size of a dog sweater is really not much of a time commitment. After a little googling, I’ve decided on the Darling Darby Sweater I found on Ravelry, by Desert Rose Designs.

It’s super customizable size-wise, so the sweater will fit her perfectly (er… if I do a good job). Another plus is that the pattern is written for worsted weight and should only take about 300 yards.  I’m thinking that a superwash merino would be perfect. Maybe a sporty bordeaux and cream striped sweater?

I haven’t felt this excited for a project in a long time. Looking forward to rummaging through my stash and hitting up yarn shops this week!