The Elusive Couch

It has now been a full two months since I moved into my new abode yet, I still don't have a couch.

This sad butterfly chair is just not cutting it any more!

I have daydreamed of inviting friends over for book clubs or after work appetizers but, the perfect couch continues to remain elusive. Almost a month ago, I found this cute number at the Urban Home in Berkeley. But, since then, I have done a lot more talking and thinking than searching. And, as of today, after a pep talk with a co-worker and sitting on my friends' new couch (both of whom had also been on the hunt since my excursion to Urban Home), my official hunt began in earnest as I wandered over to Past Perfect, on Union and Fillmore.

It is my goal to visit consignment stores for the next few weeks before I break down and buy Abbie, from Pier 1. And, not that Abbie isn't super cute and fitting for my new space, I just have spent so much time imagining the perfect mid-century bedecked living room filled with all my nearest and dearest, oohing and aahing over my exquisite taste. I mean, look at that fireplace! It would feel wrong not to fill the space in front of it with a similarly timeless piece from a fine local used furniture establishment.

So, back to Past Perfect, another co-worker suggested I hit up the store on Lombard which apparently has more floor space for showcasing their larger furniture. The store on Union was full of amazing finds that were not outrageously priced and super stylish to boot. Color me inspired! I plan to make my way back next week, in fact.

Sanctuary in Downtown Oakland

I have walked, ridden or driven past Lake Merritt in Oakland more times than I can count on two hands and never - until today - knew there was a bird sanctuary (home to amazing herons, egrets and cormorants), gondola rides, or a large non-profit education and play space called Fairyland! Nor did I know that the lake was a full three miles around, the making of a beautiful walk. So, before helping some friends do a good Spring purge, we took a meander around the lake and enjoyed the warm east bay Memorial Day weekend.

Those are baby goslings in the foreground. :) Tottering on their spindly legs, I was afraid they might fall in the lake!

After an afternoon of recycling paper, sorting through dusty or broken stuff and bagging up techno trash, we rewarded ourselves by hitting up one of the fine restaurants in their Glenview neighborhood. Banana Blossom is one of my favorite places to go and my friend, who does not crave Thai food in the least, always enjoys her meals there. I enjoyed Praram Chicken, a nice alternative to Satay Chicken served over a bed of spinach. They enjoyed a colorful appetizer of tuna poke and another colorful meal of shrimp and garlic veggies.

Finds on the Way to Work

It's been an adventure to walk to work, lately. With the Spring weather being fairly nice, I've taken the opportunity to do it as much as possible. My strategy is to walk out my door and enjoy the scenery, sometimes with company and interesting conversation with a friend who lives close by and sometimes alone. This morning, I wandered through the park as usual and ended up on 6th Avenue just before California, across from Peabody Elementary School where this cute little tea table was set for two. Each tea cup was stacked with rocks that almost looked like raw sugar cubes.

Delicious Thai

As I'm checking out all the fine dining establishments in my neighborhood, I had the opportunity this evening to try Soi Gow Thai and had it delivered right to my doorstep. I recently had Thai downtown and the Chicken Satay was tasteless and the peanut sauce bland. The same dish from Soi Gow tasted as though they just pulled the chicken off the grill and the peanuts were hand mashed earlier today. So good!

And, I've had a lot of Panang Curry over the years; many times once it goes in the fridge the oil separates and it looks pretty disgusting. That did not happen with this restaurant. I will be ordering a lot from Soi Gow despite the rave reviews of nearby Marnee Thai.

Making our Environment Vital

This week, a work team that we're calling the BEaT Team (I can never remember what it stands for aside from that we're focusing on beautification and creating efficiencies in the Thoreau Center), met with our consultants, three super-fun guys who have a very interesting business called VITAL environments. I'm very excited about what we're called to do with the consultants and can't wait to learn more about how to make a work environment more inviting and lively and the staff working there more productive and focused. The Vital team is made up of an architect, a mechanical engineer and a human interaction specialist, all whom bring very different views to the same goal of making people work better, with more integrated fun while conserving energy and other resources. More to come!

Nuggets

On a walk into work, this morning, my friend and I stopped into the Village Store in the Inner Richmond. One of those places I've walked past more times than I can remember, I would have never guessed from my brisk strides through the neighborhood that this is what would be found inside... Creaky wooden floors look like they have been there for decades and contrast with the vibrant fruit and vegetables pouring over the fresh food counters. And, the hospitality of the employees makes me want to spend hours at one of the rough-hewn community tables in the front windows.

My transport home was less enjoyable, a bus (or two) having fallen off the "rotation" and left the 5:30 driver picking up way too many passengers than could fit. It made me think about what I've heard about Japan, where there are people whose job it is to shove passengers onto the high-speed rail trains during rush hour. San Franciscans could have crowd surfed down the length of the evening 43 without any fear of being dropped. The ride took an hour and then some, all told. But, on the bright side, I was able to get the very last seat and read this great poem in this great book which caused me to laugh into the oversize backpack of the person standing in front of me.

Children in Zimbabwe and Imports from Scotland

This evening, my friend from work joined me for an interesting documentary screening at the World Affairs Council. The Council's walls are currently featuring artwork from women in Zimbabwe, which was appropriate to the topic at hand and beautifully displayed present day issues and daily life for Zimbabweans. We heard from a South African filmmaker Xoliswa Sithole about her film Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children and the effects of Mugabe's regime on children, including the demise of a once robust education system and the increase in HIV/AIDS-related illness and deaths in the country. Xoliswa was inspiring and candid about the very complex feelings she holds about Zimbabwe's and Africa's biggest problems. It was not the first time I heard that Africans need to help Africans, foreign aid is not helping but, it was the first time I heard it said using the very frank words she used.

After watching the film, to lighten our mood just a bit, my friend and I wandered into a nearby shop that sells imports from Scotland, Ireland and England. My friend being from England she was highly amused and proclaimed that you would never see something like this in Britain. I did not find a sprig of lucky heather as I'd hoped but, we laughed at the novelty of such a place. Of note, apparently this is a chain that can be found in the US, Canada and Scotland

The Commons

A trio of people from an interesting organization in Minnesota showed up to our sunny conference room at work, today. Jay Walljasper talked about the new book, All That We Share, that he compiled from tales told by activists changing their communities with innovative we-based solutions. Julie and Anna, the Co-Directors of On the Commons shared some of the projects they are working on, including a current project to protect the Great Lakes.

The ideals of these "commoners" include environmentalism, community development, and food sovereignty, just to name a few. But, they focus on these areas by bringing people closer in to solving the big problems. Makes me think.

I Hate Wind

The 15 mile per hour winds have come to San Francisco. I abhor them. They blow my not-too-short-not-long-enough hair all around my face as soon as I peek my head out the door. They destabilize me as I walk to and from the bus stop. And, they whistle through windows open just a crack to let the air flow.

But, this Spring Wind is my favorite place to pick up Chinese medicine herbs that are so good for me and my body. And, help to reduce the wind in my chi. Oh, the irony!

Sundays at the Market

Since I moved into my new neighborhood, I've been enjoying the Sunday farmer's market just a few blocks away between 8th and 9th Avenues and Irving Street. It has not only fresh fruits and veggies from farms nearby but, also a few other items that I appreciate being able to purchase locally. For example, hand made soap and skin care products from Pamela Soap, almonds and dried fruit produced by Rodin Farms, and hard and soft goat cheeses from Achadinha Cheese Company (recently featured in Sunset magazine). Pamela's rose clay soap with lavender, rosemary and shea butter leaves my skin feeling soft and supple. The applewood smoked almonds and dried peaches from Rodin are full of flavor! And, the Capricious hard goat cheese is amazing grated over the fresh asparagus I pick up at the market.

Finding Furniture for An Urban Home

My co-worker told me about Urban Home, a super great Berkeley consignment furniture store that is having a sale, this weekend. I found some very good items that I just might buy for my new place.

A cute green couch...

and a beautiful Mission style computer desk/storage unit.

Near the 4th Street shopping corridor it was way more fun than Ikea. The staff were very friendly so, I'll be back before my apartment is fully stocked for sure.

Of note, you have to get your own transport and muscle to get the furniture home. But, they do provide a list of recommended movers!

Monday Marina and Creativity at the Commonwealth Club

I love those days when I go to work and then have a whole other life afterward. Especially when that whole other life is filled with beauty and interesting conversation and dreaming. Today was one of those great days and tonight, I'll rest a head filled with funny quips and remembered scenes of a day way more than ordinary.

A colleague and I opted to walk downtown after work by way of the Marina, North Beach, and China Town. It took a good hour and a half but, it was a beautiful walk (check out the pics).

 

We parted ways at the BART station where I headed up to the Commonwealth Club to hear Ze Frank speak. Oh, how I love Ze Frank! The first time I heard of him was when he did his July 2010 TED Talk. Then, he focused on how hard it is to connect with people and how he has used the internet to connect with people via such projects as Young Me Now Me and Ray. In the Commonwealth Club talk, he brought his telltale humor and went into great depth about his relationship with the Jungian archetype Peur Aeternus (the eternal boy). He also shared one of his infamous songs (I love them). I left wanting more creativity in my life and with recommendations from Ze on how to get more. Check out the podcast.... That's him in the fuzzy picture below.