Sunday, July 31, 2016

Golf (Plus) Anyone? --- Day 5/163

Walk: Piedmont Center for the Arts
Distance: A few blocks and home yoga



Returning from Lorna Strotz, her college friend's, art show Ciwt was thinking her art-related life is going so well and feeling completely natural.  Then there is that other current matter on her mind: nearby golf/bridge/eating/etc. club.  Very nice place and people but maybe as old for Ciwt as her Beatlesmania days.  To be continued...

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Gulp --- Day 5/162

Walk: No
Distance: 0, Home Yoga



Ciwt was captured today by the boogey man in her getting-ready-for-Fall closet.

Friday, July 29, 2016

Color It Fall --- Day 5/161

Walk: Fillmore, Trader Joe's, Other Places in the Hood
Distance: 3+ miles, try on clothes, small yoga



Oh dear*, it's getting to be the time of the year when Ciwt's favorite colors** and fabrics start arriving in the stores.  

*ie, Yippee!!
** Better in person

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Pizza Party --- Day 5/160

Walk: Mill Valley (Tony Tutto's Pizza - see below)
Distance: A few blocks, a little yoga



Tonight Ciwt will celebrate the end of another year of convention watching* with Hillary and Tony Tutto's Fabulous pizza!

*Since forever Ciwt has considered it her right, duty and privilege to watch and listen (partly sometimes) to each party's convention every four years.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

PDA(rt) --- Day 5/159

Walk: Piedmont Art Center
Distance: Couple of blocks



Ciwt took a buswoman's holiday today to work with an old college friend to hang her art show.  Here are some of the reasons it is difficult for artists to show up and do that: 1. Oh - even though they said the calendar was free - they forgot to tell the artist there will be a luncheon in the room today so she can't set up during those hours.  2. Oh - there was a problem with the vents so they are all covered with royal blue tape. 3. Oh, they have several dirty chandeliers on the ceiling right by some dirty spotlights that cause glare on the art.   4. And about that blue wall we said we'd have painted white for you, well....Etc. Etc.

But my friend got it down anyway, and her show looks great.  Good luck and thanks for the fun!!

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Fine Day for Hooch --- Day 5/158

Walk: SPCA, Hi-Tech Nails
Distance: 2 miles, small yoga


Edgar Bryan, Moonshine, 2008
Color spit bite and sugar lift aquatints with aquatint
Image size: 14 x 14.5"; Paper size: 22 x 21.5"
Edition size: 25
Publisher: Crown Point Press, Printer: Ianne Kjorlie

Ciwt was looking at the remarkable and distinguished Crown Point Press's website and found this appealing (to her) print.  Bryan, as it turns out, was born (1970) and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and lives and works in L.A.

Ciwt is becoming more and more drawn to the little she has seen of the art scene in L.A. these days.  And she's glad Bryan is a Southerner so there is authenticity to his Moonshine.  She wouldn't mind having a jug of that herself after a rough day with Callie at the vet.  Turned out good enough for older cats (arthritis) but still rough and moonshine-worthy.


Monday, July 25, 2016

Conventional --- Day 5/157

Walk: Marina
Distance: 1 mile and small yoga



Conventions are so conventional.  Ciwt feels it is important to tune in (from time to time) and does so for both parties every four years.  My, oh my, how great it will be to get back to Alex and Jeopardy. 

Sunday, July 24, 2016

On We Grow --- Day 5/156

Walk: Embarcadero Cinema (Hunt For The Wilderpeople)
Distance: 4 miles and smallish yoga!!!



Today turned out to be about kids growing up and moving on.  First the charming New Zealand indie The Wilderpeople and then this touching and totally spotless little kitchen out on the sidewalk. Hope it finds just the right pint size chef.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Beyond Thought --- Day 5/155

Walk: Sundance Kabuki (Star Trek Beyond)
Distance: 2 miles, very small yoga



Ciwt found it was a good day today to space out.  And Star Trek Beyond was the perfect place to do it.  Non-stop action, dazzling visuals, virtually incomprehensible, no thinking necessary.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Art Tour Kaching --- Day 5/154

Walk: SFMOMA, de Young Museum
Distance: 1.5 miles or so



Ciwt hit the art jackpot with her first art tour clients!!!  Warm, intelligent, interested, delightful people who are energized by modern art and even liked the same artists and works Ciwt does.  Couldn't have gone better.


Art Tour Kaching --- Day 5/154

Walk: SFMOMA, de Young Museum
Distance: 1.5 miles or so



Ciwt hit the art jackpot with her first art tour clients!!!  Warm, intelligent, interested, delightful people who are energized by modern art and even liked the same artists and works Ciwt does.  Couldn't have gone better.


Thursday, July 21, 2016

Artistic Kick Off --- Day 5/153

Walk: SFMOMA, de Young
Distance: 3 miles



It's official!  Ciwt will inaugurate her little art tour business at SFMOMA tomorrow morning.




Wednesday, July 20, 2016

We Take A Closer, Daytime Look --- Day 5/152

Walk: PGCC (Play Bridge)
Distance: 1/2 mile and Home Yoga

Ruth Asawa's San Francisco fountain 1.JPG
Ruth Asawa Fountain, 1970, Bronze
(The viewer can spend hours picking out the multitude whimsically rendered bas relief San Francisco scenes.  St. Francis and the Ferry Building are right in the center above.  When Apple built its new flagship store, the beloved statue was restored and preserved and incorporated into a delightful urban open space.  Please see yesterday's CIWT)

From Ruth Asawa Website: For many Japanese Americans, the upheaval of losing everything, most importantly their right to freedom and a private, family life, caused irreparable harm. For Ruth, the internment was the first step on a journey to a world of art that profoundly changed who she was and what she thought was possible in life. In 1994, when she was 68 years old, she reflected on the experience:
“I hold no hostilities for what happened; I blame no one. Sometimes good comes through adversity. I would not be who I am today had it not been for the Internment, and I like who I am.”

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

New Wall, Old Fountain --- Day 5/151

Walk: Union Square, San Francisco Playhouse (City of Angels)
Distance: 1.5 miles 



Living wall, Ruth Asawa Fountain, New Apple Store, Clear Night walking to Ciwt's car from the theater tonight.

Monday, July 18, 2016

'Criminally Cute' --- Day 5/150

Walk:  No, waiting for tech.  Ciwt must have written date wrong.  Oh well; tech practice on own
Distance: 0, Home Yoga

Now we begin avoiding TV for convention week, and what a darling way to start:

A family of gray fox emerged from the woods last Saturday at the parking lot at the visitor center at Point Reyes National Seashore. Photo: Tom Stienstra, David Assman / Special To The Chronicle

This little family was seen recently near the visitor's center of our incredible Point Reyes National Seashore.  The awestruck photographer described his reaction: “I pulled in a little after 7 a.m. and saw a fox sitting by the side of the road,” wrote field scout David Assman, a frequent contributor and photographer. “I pulled over and rolled down my window to take pictures. After about three minutes, two kits came out of the bushes and started playing with each other on the road. This is the kind of thing that even after you see it and review your photos, you still can’t believe it."

Ciwt can't improve on one Chron commentator: Those foxes are criminally cute. 

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Eye to the Sun --- Day 5/149

Walk: No
Distance: 0, Long Home Yoga

Image result for living well

Just now around here we learn a lovely, handsome, brilliant, strapping and beloved Berkeley student has been confirmed a victim of the Nice rampage.

CIWT tries not to be political or ripped from the headlines, but these days it is exceedingly difficult. So much sadness.  Guess, realistically all we can the living can do, is be even more appreciative of our gifts of life.

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Fantastic --- Day 5/148

Walk: Sundance Kabuki (Captain Fantastic)
Distance: 2 miles and Home Yoga

Image result for captain fantastic

Tonight Ciwt is too blissed out to write by seeing (all of) Viggo Mortensen (in Captain Fantastic) today.

Friday, July 15, 2016

Come In My Little Pretties... --- Day 5/147

Walk: Presidio
Distance: 5 miles and Home Yoga

evil droid

Ciwt went on a walk today that really should have been taken by a machine-crazy 5 year old boy.
First there was a huge skyhook dangling a full grown tree in wooden pot over a billionaire's mansion and then slowly moving it to a predug hole in the yard behind the house.  Must be at least a $10,000 tree, and there were many more lined up to follow. 

Then there were enormous houses completely wrapped in opaque plastic.  Ciwt assumes for constuction purposes, but still eerie.  The odder and odder the houses got, the more Ciwt wondered about how truly peculiar houses could be, so she went surfing and a found a few to make her neighborhood look normal as pie.

  
Built for a Nigerian wife who loves to travel.       Somewhere in Serbia.

california-san-francisco-fairy-door-duo  Image result for weird houses
Outlawed then secretly replaced Faery Door in tree somewhere in Golden Gate Park


Thursday, July 14, 2016

Now, Time Alone --- Day 5/146

Walk: Union Square, Marin Driving Day, PGCC
Distance: A few blocks, wee yoga


Alfred Emile Stevens (Belgian, 1823-1906), Girl in a White Dress Resting on a Sofa, oil on canvas 

After many days at the maybe club with many new people and activities, Ciwt looks forward to resting and regrouping.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Titleist Titleless --- Day 5/145

Walk: PGCC
Distance: 2 miles, hit balls, wee yoga



All day playing the grand ole game and bridge at the club.  (Did Ciwt really just write that)?

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Manhattanhenge, July 2016 --- Day 5/144

Walk: Sausalito
Distance: A few blocks, home yoga

Manhattanhenge  July 11, 2016


      5:48 PM EST July 11, 2016





Monday, July 11, 2016

Groomer Day --- Day 5/143

Walk: Trader Joe's
Distance: 2 miles and Home Yoga



1. Buy necessary equipment  Image result for cat getting groomed

2. Listen when your cat tells you I Do Not Like to be Bathed!!  (Have Band aids handy)
     Image result for cat getting groomed

3. Find the name of a  professional groomer who makes house calls

4. Call that groomer  

5. Make regular appointments

   

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Just Like Summer --- Day 5/142

Walk: No
Distance: 0, All Day on the Deck



Sun, No Wind, Dawn to Dusk Reading on the Deck.  What a treat!!

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Spool Pigeon --- Day 5/141

Walk: Hardware Store, Trader Joe's, Pet Store
Distance: 3 miles

How to Stay Away from the News:

1. 
    Unravel tangled yarn

2.  3.
    Unjam Old Window                   Prepare Anti-Pigeon Tape*

*Pigeons will watch as you spend several hours unjamming the window, hanging tape against the wind which keeps blowing it back in and then immediately perch on the tape when you've finished. But,voila, you have not been thinking about the news. AND you can do it again and again, and the pigeons will figure it out again and again.  Or you can keep trying to unravel that yarn. Either way, you'll never have to think about the news.

 You're welcome.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Please Laugh --- Day 5/140

Walk: PGCC, Mountain Lake, Presidio PO
Distance: 4.5 miles, hit balls, yoga

 

Just to prove Ciwt is going to any lengths to be serious about her club decision (to join or not to join for new readers), she has gone to a knitting group.  A knitting group!  With her poor fine motor skills, Ciwt knitting is comparable to the one and only time she made it into her school choir - and was elected President because everyone thought it was so funny.

The poor woman who started the group probably doesn't find Ciwt's clunky efforts (See looming disaster above) on behalf of various worthwhile causes and people the least bit funny.  Maybe Ciwt shouldn't return so the lovely leader can relax.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

"Wind Song" --- Day 5/139


Walk: PGCC
Distance: Personal Yoga (inside), 2 miles, hit balls (in the wind)

 Image result for sleeping in an apple orchard

LONG ago I learned how to sleep,
In an old apple orchard where the wind swept by counting its money and throwing it away,
In a wind-gaunt orchard where the limbs forked out and listened or never listened at all,
In a passel of trees where the branches trapped the wind into whistling, 'Who, who are you?'
I slept with my head in an elbow on a summer afternoon and there I took a sleep lesson.
There I went away saying: I know why they sleep, I know how they trap the tricky winds.
Long ago I learned how to listen to the singing wind and how to forget and how to hear the deep whine,
Slapping and lapsing under the day blue and the night stars:
Who, who are you?

Who can ever forget
listening to the wind go by
counting its money
and throwing it away? 

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Swinging in the (Almost) Rain --- Day 5/138

Walk: PGCC, T. Joe's
Distance: 3.5 miles, personal yoga practice at club, hit balls

Image result for playing golf in the wind

Ciwt has been waiting for the weather to accommodate her as she makes her golf club decision.  But she's finally realized it is she who must do the accommodating.  It gets worse: heavy mist/essentially rain, bone chilling cold and super early hours.  All this is quite a shock to Ciwt's indoor, warm, peaceful yoga system.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Bareish Brain --- Day 5/137

Walk: Mountain Lake, PGCC
Distance: 4 miles, small yoga, hit balls


Ciwt continues to work with her wonderful tech guy to get her computer letters in the right places and other tech tricks.  Someimes not easy for an old(ish) bear....

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Fourth of July, 2016

Walk: PGCCSF, San Francisco National Cemetary (Presidio)
Distance: 3 miles, Hit Balls, Home Yoga



In Which Ciwt Continues to Decide --- Day 135

Walk: PGCCSF, Presidio Trails and Main Post
Distance: 5 miles, hit balls, home yoga

Image result for grey area
Under Construction


Ah, yes, good old cognitive dissonance.  Basically it is a psychological term for the discomfort we all feel when we need to make a difficult (for us) decision and we hold contradictory beliefs about it.  If we go with one set of beliefs, in short order the conflictual belief set starts pressing its case and we change our mind.  Then, the first belief set comes back, etc., etc. until we (hopefully) reconcile the conflict into a workable/steady decision.

Here is an example from Ciwt's very life.  She needs to decide whether to join a local golf club.  One long time belief she has is that having a central sport in her life is important, so she says, yes, she will join the club.  But, nearly immediately, the opposite argument comes up and says 'that is an outdated identity and a central sport will take up too much time, be too expensive, etc.' So she resolves not to join the club.  But Then....you get the picture.

Yesterday, if you read Ciwt, she was considering the don't do it route, and now today she is more seriously considering finding a way to do it.  And she's hopeful she can take her own advice: develop an interesting, challenging fitness program that includes a measured amount of time at the golf club. Maybe just work hitting on the practice tee into her usual yoga/walk life so she isn't committed to (anxious) hours and hours with strangers on the course.  Or do that for a while until she truly wants to play/compete and simultaneously slowly get to know members better at the various social activities.

In other words, look for that gray area which is quite foreign to Ciwt's thinking style.



Saturday, July 2, 2016

How Far Freedom? --- Day 5/134

Walk: Trader Joe's, rental garage to return opener
Distance: 4 miles and Home Yoga



Really?...

Ciwt's impending decision about whether to join a golf club has unexpectedly wandered her into 'Sports in General" territory and presented questions she never dreamed would ever occur to her much less be asked.  They boil down to: Is Ciwt through with sports and its compadre, competition.

The essence here is: Is Ciwt ready/able to give up a deep identity as an athlete?  Not just an athlete, a good/excellent athlete from a whole family and community of excellent or at least totally sports-obsessed athletes.  Make that a State, actually.  The state where she spent much of her youth was known to be one of the most sports-centered; now it seems they all are.

Ciwt thinks of a man in ski country where she once lived and pretty much did nothing but sports.  He was old even then but continued to play tennis.  That is, he continued to come to his daily game wrapped in a knee brace and and two each elbow and wrist bands and scream, swear at himself and throw his racket whenever he missed a shot.  Like an ill-mannered teenager who actually might have a more proficient tennis future in front of him.  This man was in his 70's, wasn't going to get any better and his intense competitiveness was totally inappropriate - not to mention the pressure he was putting on his joints and maybe heart with all the ranting. (Plus it was just plain unattractive).

She also thinks of all the hip, knee, shoulder, back operations that are common among her peers - and, on the positive side, of all the body wisdom she has gained through yoga.

But still Ciwt can easily identify with this tennis man who apparently did not know how to come to a realistic place about his age.  It is complex: the mind, muscles and being remember the thrill of those winning tennis games, that water and snow skiing, roller skating, long runs and high energy hikes, dancing even.  And the admiration of others, the ego boost, all the friends you did those activities with and the ease of making new friends because of these common sports bonds.  The hours, days, years of being an active athlete whatever your sport.

Then slowly realizing when you can't push off that curb as quickly or a sudden turn tweaks your knee or you do 'nothing' and spend a day or two immobilized by back spasms.  Older bodies need careful attention And they still need to stay fit.  For sure. And with luck, they can still compete but at a sensible level and possibly just by setting personal goals and working toward them.  Competing with yourself, gaining appropriate mastery.

So now Ciwt is thinking she might - might - get more deeply identified with that move from competition and athleticism to appropriate mastery.  Interestingly, she has probably been on that path for a long time - with her concentration on walking/some hikes and regular yoga.  But some part of her apparently has been waiting to be that Competive, Winning Athlete again.  This is the part that might need some freedom now so Ciwt can be free to spend her remaining life on other activities and interests - while still staying fit.

Not easy. Obviously professional athletes experience much more of a crisis, but even for us everyday athletes, accepting a much more moderate, much more careful, much less exhilarating life of motion is not easy.  Ciwt isn't there, but further than she realized until this 4th of July weekend.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Hot Dog! --- Day 5/133

Walk: Sundance Kabuki (Our Kind of Traitor)
Distance: 2 miles and home yoga

A Whole weekend of Freedom coming up! Image result for fourth of july
Ciwt loves 4th of July and all it stands for.