A is For Architecture --- Days 15/92-98

Walks: Hood and deYoung Museum

Average: 4.5 miles 

Has Ciwt told you that she got a D- on her one and only Architecture paper in college?  If so, you can imagine how she felt when she accepted a last minute request to give a tour of our deYoung Museum and then learned her client was an architect and wanted a tour that focused on the museum building.  There was more:  this architect once worked for the very firm that designed the building she had agreed to present.  😲

She had presented details about the building many times but just among many things on her tours.  NOT to an architect who had worked for the designing firm, lived near it and was friends with its name principals.  In other words, someone who would know whether or not what she was saying was exactly accurate and what she may be omitting.  What could Ciwt/D- do but camp out at the deYoung and on her computer learning all she could, prepare her tour and hope?

The day and the architect arrived yesterday. He smiled when Ciwt told him she'd googled him and invited him to speak up at any time while she presented what she knew about the building and how it had functioned for her as an art viewer and tour giver.  (She did not mention her D-).   

 He turned out to be easy, kind and personable.   Ciwt would like to think he gave her an A for her tour.

Playing in Traffic --- Day 15/91

Walk: de Young Museum

Distance: 6 miles

Dancing in the Headlights @Will Nicholls, Wildlife Photographer of the Year

See the whole Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit

Wildlife Photographer of the Year --- Day 15/90

Walk: West Portal

Distance: 1.5 miles

Flying Rodent, winner of  London's Natural History Museum's, Nuveen People’s Choice Award 2026. ©Josef Stefan / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

See the whole exhibit

The Country Cottage --- Days 15/87, 88 & 89

Walks: Hood/Presidio

Average: 3.75 miles (always + a little yoga, pt)

So spring weather comes and Ciwt's mind goes to the country cottage (she doesn't have).  But somehow, no matter how environmentally terrific they are, she's not sure she would enjoy these modern versions.  Then there's the matter of the insurance company's reaction.

Still interesting to see architects at work on new building ideas with ancient materials (thatch, reeds, grass, earth).

Soaring --- Days 15/82-86

Walks:  Hood, Dentist for two crown$, SF Opera House

Average: 4 miles

Ballerina and San Francisco City Hall dome during intermission of delightful Don Quixote.

Attention Please --- Days 15/80 & 81

Walks: Hood

Distances: Average 3.5

So, Ciwt missed the Oscars Red Carpet.  But she did notice some pretty distinct outfit choices over the Oscars' years.

Demi Moore

1989: Biker shorts and bustier

2026: Covered in feathers

Gwyneth Paltrow

1999: Little girl pretty in pink

2026: Ciwt is Speechless

Misses:

Oh, They're Tonight? --- Day 15/79

Walk: Hood

Distance: 5 miles

Okay, Ciwt actually does have some favorites she is rooting for when she watches:

Best Picture: Sinners

Best Supporting Actor: Stellan Skarsgård, “Sentimental Value”

Best Original Screenplay: Sinners

Best International Feature:  Sentimental Value (but she didn't see It was Just an Accident)

Oscars, Boo Hoo --- Days 15/776, 77, 78

Walks: Hood

Distances: 4.5 miles

The Oscars are tomorrow, 4:00 San Francisco time. Usually at this time of year movie buff Ciwt is madly catching up on any movies/performances she missed so she can have her choices and watch the Oscars with interest.  By usually, she mean decades, so she's feeling a fairly major sadness this year.  She skipped a lot of the entries, is not particularly rooting for any of the nominees and feels discouraged the likely Best Picture winner is a ripped from the headlines yell fest.  The sadness has been coming all year as one movie after another was of no interest.  She knows many other buffs must be feeling the same; but next year has begun and hope abides.