Stuff I'm Reading

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Although the tone kept me very skeptical at first, it's a powerful and thought-provoking book. And now I'm enjoying reading it again, starting on any page in the evening and shortly falling asleep. Not to say it's boring, but that thinking makes me tired.

I have to say that I'm also impressed that Goodreads, where I put this review, prompted me to put the review on my blog. And they make it look so pretty. This kind of experience makes me think of the business word "synergy" though for some of the first times, not in a bad way.



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That Dress! That Tux!

That Dress! That Tux! That Man! Give me libertines or give me death by champagne... What a dashing New Years Eve, if I do say so myself...

New Year's Resolution

At Montclair Presby Church on Sunday, Karen asked "What practice would you engage in [during the next year] to bring light into the world?" I think that sounds like a great version of a mix between a parlor game question and a new way to think about New Year's Resolutions.

It's really practice and light that strike me about this question. What am I going to do over and over and over and over (practice) that will make things brighter or not as heavy or more detailed or better visible? The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is to change my go-to phrase to "Thank you." I've been trying it out a bit recently and I like it. Any time my sneaky self-doubt or anger (we'll deal with where in the world does THAT come from sometime later) jumps into action in my head, I try to think of all the things I'm thankful for. A lot of the same ones keep coming up, but I have yet to run out.

Email to a Friend about what to do in San Francisco

I'm cheating. I already wrote this for a friend and I'm merely posting it here for you. If you're in the city, you already know these routes, and if you're not, you'll just have to get out here, or mop up your drool and get back to enjoying wherever you are.

Two ideas for San Francisco:

Golden Gate Park (1/2 day to get there and back at least):
from downtown (Market) take the N Judah muni train to 9th Ave.
1. to the right in the park is the DeYoung art museum & the brand new Academy of Sciences
2. 1/2 block to the left on 9th on the far side of the road is Arzemendi Bakery - great pizza, but get there early. perhaps cash only?

Castro/Mission ramble:
take the F train into the castro (look for the enormous rainbow flag)
1. 18th, Market and Castro is gay central. cute shops on market btwn 15th and 18th st. Castro Theatre on 18th is a landmark. Castro wakes up late, so maybe hit the next stuff first by getting off F @ church and walking left on church to 18th
2. walk down 18th (left on Castro, left on 18th) to Dolores Park (on right) (5-7 minutes)
3. Food! 18th btwn Dolores and Guerrero. Best ice cream EVER (caramel sea salt & roasted banana are my faves) Bi Rite Creamery (on left). Best pizza + wine lunch @ a fancy counter - Delfina's Pizzeria right next to Delfina's restaurant. Best breakfast or pastry goodies (and amazing pressed sandwiches on homemade bread) and coffee (and famous) at 18th & Guerrero -Tartine.
4. View! the high side of Dolores Park has a great view of the city. Tartine breakfast goes great with that view and the benches at the top.
5. Valencia corridor 16th to 22nd on Valencia (next st after Guerrero). Cute/local shops. 826 Valencia Pirate Shop. Very hip, but still neat stuff. It's a front for the 826 Valencia, a writing workship for kids started up by the author Dave Eggers. Paxton Gate right next door is very strange + cool housewares (sort of) shop.
6. End at Monk's Kettle - lots and lots of beers on tap and great pretzels 16th st btwn Guerrero and Valencia. For dinner you can also have amazing Normandy-style crepes across the street at Ti Couz, yummy and cheap Indian at Pakwan (cash only), or the Mission's specialty, the Burrito, at La Cumbre around the corner on Valencia between 16th and 17th.
7. Take Bart (16th and Mission - one street from Valencia) back downtown & then the train home...

Proof!

This is proof that I ran up Bernal Heights today. Fast!

In San Francisco, and perhaps anywhere, there are lots of folks into S & M. I think runners have them all beat. Or at least I do. I know when I'm running it's to get something dark and insubstantial out into my skeleton so that I can pound it, shred it and make it shriek.

Lost and Found

We lost my boss's dog for a moment this morning... just after we'd dropped my dad off at the airport. His back went out earlier this week (just before New Years Eve, actually), so he had arranged for a wheelchair in the airport. But it certainly felt strange depositing him inside the check-in area where he was to wait for the wheelchair. It felt just a little bit like when you realize you've left the door open and your boss's decrepit and daffy dog just waltzes out. It also felt a bit like leaving the door open intentionally.

Racing around in the rain and fog up on the hills in Glen Park looking for a lost dog should be terrifying, but somehow it was really peaceful. Very nice to know exactly what you need to be doing exactly at what moment and exactly for what purpose. Very nice to have a reason to be up on a wind-swept crag squashed in between layered residential roads yodeling out "Sasha" every few moments. Also very nice for Sasha to come right on back home, without the help of scouting the neighborhood and the broader area in our civic.

This honing in on a sense of purpose is how I know that in any true crisis I could be perfectly clear-headed, if not perhaps also cold and unfeeling.

My two favorite new years eves

Last night Arne and I went out to a great party at Dan and Dayna's. We were decked out! Arne wore his tux! Such a nice time drinking champagne, hearing about new years resolutions and eating caviar.

Favorite NYE 1:
2007 - Massive karaoke party at Arne's house. Dad and Nick were on-hand. Nick and I cleared a room with a screeching rendition of Toto's Africa. The Cassoulet was wonderful. People caught all falling champagne flutes just before they hit the ground. Four of us lurched and sang alone in the room on the street until 3AM. Favorite songs: Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini & Love Potion #9.

Favorite NYE 2:
1988(?) - My intact family stayed at the Chattanooga Choo Choo in a train car room that connected to our friend's, the Ramseys. Erin (their daughter) and I played mermaids in the indoor pool (which had a waterfall! and was heated!) for *hours*. We dried our hair on hand dryers in the bathroom of the hotel. We barely could keep our eyes open for midnight. Perfection!