Friday, August 31, 2018

He Who Never Whiffed --- Day 7/174

Walk: Opera Plaza Cinema, M.A.C. (John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection)
Distance: 5.2 miles


Just home from and still processing a movie that is essentially 90+ minutes original John McEnroe footage of the four years he was #1 in the world.  No special music, no uplifting plot, just a straight ahead look at what it looks like/takes to be a sports champion. Even with talent coming out your ears, not for the feint of heart and spirit.  (ie, make no mistake, soul grueling)   



To Whiff or Not to Whiff? --- Day 7/173

Walk: Marin Driving Day, Hood
Distance: Just a mile


You probably know the newish racquet sport that is catching on lightening fast all over the U.S. and beyond is pickleball.  Places with tennis courts are under pressure to convert full courts into the smaller pickleball court or to let pickleballers tape temporary lines on the courts.  At the moment it is a seniors game, appealing because of the smaller court, lighter paddle and slower ball.  But, it will surely catch on with all age groups and lose its welcoming innocence .

Ciwt had played a few years ago at her brother's place in Indian Wells, and, when she heard there were courts in Golden Gate Park she went over to check out the local game.  And what a crowd!  People come, line up and wait for an opportunity to get on the court.  The games are short, so you don't have to wait long.  It all seems very democratic, great exercise and a lot of fun!

So, what's the catch?  Answer: Falls 😟 The one time she played,  Ciwt did fall and felt embarrassed thinking that was a rare, klutzy event.  But wnen she talked to the the welcoming pickleballers at the park, four out of five of them said "It's great, but you don't want to fall," or "Be sure to get the right shoes; they are important for not falling," etc. 

So Ciwt went home and researched pickleball and falls and found that, indeed, they are common and often serious. In terms of vulnerability, Ciwt is thinking pickleball might be in the pick-up basketball (ie, not good) category.  Many of her yoga students got to their mats because of basketball injuries, and given the age of the players, cramped court quarters, slipperiness of the hard courts, Ciwt is pretty sure some of the newcomers to yoga might be pickleball injurees.  

Why emphasize the negative?  Well, when she played in Palm Springs it was before her non-pickleball fall that required knee surgery.  Another fall could be catastrophic.  Also she gained a Huge appreciation for the limitations the natural aging process (which begins @25) increasingly puts on all of us, including athletes.  So, much as she would love to once again be involved in a fun racquet sport, Ciwt is thinking the smart move is to whiff.... 




Wednesday, August 29, 2018

What A Puffy, Colorful Head You Have, MyDear --- Day 7/172

Walk: Audi Mechanic, GG Park
Distance: 6 miles, small yoga

Dalias in full bloom are so dazzling Ciwt couldn't resist spending time admiring them in Golden Gate Park today.  They also have the cutest names. Here is Eden Testarossa, and Ciwt believes the little pinwheels in the front of the group picture are Glenbank Twinkles. She isn't entirely certain, but they aren't Eden Louises or Eden Spiderlings, or any of the other charming names she remembers from their little name tags.




Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Half Mast --- Day 7/171

Walk: Hood and Presidio
Distance: 5.5 miles, small yoga

The Presidio gets it right for a fallen soldier and statesman

Monday, August 27, 2018

Up --- Day 7/170

Walk: Hood, Then Carpet Cleaning (and perfuming) day
Distance: 2.3 miles, Pedal, small yoga

Ciwt enjoys Viparita Karani (Legs up the wall pose)
 on her Deck while perfumey carpets dry

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Bye, Bye 107 Things --- Day 7/169

Walk: In and out of closets x many, Up/Down stairs x 4
Distance: ?, Yoga




Saturday, August 25, 2018

It Ain't Heavy --- Day 7/168

Walk: AMC Kabuki
Distance: 2 miles, Yoga

Ethan Hawke, Rose Byrne, Chris O'Dowd in Juliet, Naked












Ciwt is really enjoying the mini-comeback of rom-coms this summer.  Juliet, Naked doesn't even have a naked moment and totally holds the audience's attention with an unpredictable enough story, enough depth, enough charm and humor.  And terrific acting by three talented actors who are always wonderful to watch: Rose Byrne is just perfectly beautiful, Chris O'Dowd always an engaging presence, and age becomes Ethan Hawke in his recent movies.

Friday, August 24, 2018

The Year Begins --- Day 7/167

Walk: Hood
Distance: 5 miles, Small Yoga


For reasons she couldn't explain Ciwt has been feeling (and dressing) sort of  grey recently.  Then today she remembered! - this is the beginning of a new year.  The school year is starting, the time when she goes back to the drawing boards and applies herself to the lessons this year will bring and teach.  An exciting time of year when she's empty and more aware of the 'things that have never been'* entering. 

Tomorrow she will donate that small pile of grey clothes.

* And now let us welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.     
              Rainer Marie Rilke

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Where's That Snooze Button? --- Day 7/166

Walk: Hood
Distance: 2.5 miles, Yoga


So, the weatherpeople are predicting at least another week or two of fog in San Francisco.  That after the last couple of months. With this news, Ciwt is working on modifying her wake up in the San Francisco fog day after day - ie, hibernation - habits..  Stay tuned...

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

You Never Know --- Day 7/165

Walk: Cliff House Bistro
Distance: 4.5 miles, small yoga



In her 50 plus year association with San Francisco Ciwt has never seen a whale.  Partly because she never wanted to get up at 5 a.m. and had heard all the stories of non-stop seasickness on the whale watching boats.  How could she imagine that her first sighting would be through the fog today while
enjoying a crab omelet at the Cliff House Bistro?. And that it would be a pair of whales.



Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Hmmm --- Day7/164

Walk: Union Square
Distance: 4 miles, Yoga


Ciwt doesn't seem to have much to say today.  But it was a nice one; hope yours was too.

Monday, August 20, 2018

Nails!!*# --- Day 7/163

Walk: Hood
Distance: 3.5 miles, Pedal, small Yoga


Another nail clipping day survived by Ciwt and groomer.

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Brilliant Solution to a Blustery Day --- Day 7/172

Walk: To reading chair
Distance: 0, No Yoga, Just sitting around reading

Ciwt found this a perfect day for finally reading Elena Ferrante's My Brilliant Friend.

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Note from Home --- Day 7/171

Walk: Hood
Distance: 4 miles, Yoga




So Ciwt does not want to be one of those predictable geezers who goes on about how much better things used to be in her day.  But as the city she moved to (on and off at the beginning) five (5!) decades ago morphs into its present self there are many disappointments with how it has evolved.  And this has evoked the 'flight or fight" response in Ciwt.

It isn't her nature to occcupy her life fighting city hall even if she knew how to put her thumb in our growth dike.  So flight has won and for several years she has been (vaguely) thinking of moving on.  Reading 'for sale' ads and checking out places on line, that kind of thing.

Today, to get more specific about that place far away with greener grass, she got methodical and made a serious list of what her future place must have. When she was pretty deep into it, it came to her.  OMG the one place that has all the things on her list was.... and she promises you, it really did come as a shock ....the place she lived!  She is already in the best place for her.

But to make it truly perfect for the present Ciwt she must modify her thinking.  1. She needs to stop comparing the city she moved to with the city it is now.  2. She needs to stop lamenting the fact that she can't just dart all over the Bay Area like she and everyone else did 'back in the day.'  Because 3. she needs to realize that over the decades, she has come to make a certain part of the city and the Bay Area her own: her particular, totally walkable hood; close by downtown - sometimes on foot, sometimes on wheels; that 1,200 acre backyard called the Presidio; her proximity to the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin.  Those are the only places she actually goes to and enjoys on a daily basis.  So, no Boo-Hoo about the East Bay, Peninsula and other parts of the Bay Area that are difficult to get to now.  She hardly ever went to them ever.  4. Same goes for the highrise 'new' South of Market city, the techies, the desperate homeless problem, gridlock.  These are not her parts of the city.

She also got that it's perfectly appropriate to settle on this narrower stance because she is older now.  She can do little helpful things here and there if they arise, but, really, the future (of her city) is in the hands of younger generations. Over the years she has created exactly the right place for her at her  age now. This is Home.  Who knew?


Friday, August 17, 2018

Charade, the Darkest Version --- Day 7/170

Walk: Hood
Distance: 5.2 miles, small yoga


Some movies, you wonder why they were made.  And some movies, you wonder why Ciwt goes. In this case it was the 100% audience rating for the German film, The Captain (Der Hauptmann).  It is an unrelenting, suspenseful, black & white movie portraying in no uncertain terms the dark side of humanity.  And Ciwt went why, again?  Well, it is a high quality production with excellent acting and, unfortunately, accuracy in its story line and presentation of the outer reaches of where human subservience to authority can lead.


Thursday, August 16, 2018

I Don't --- Day 7/169

Walk: Marin Drving
Distance: A few blocks, small yoga


This is on a telephone pole in front of Ciwt's house.  Think what you will....she does; different scenarios each time she passes by.

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Oh, That Crazy Rich --- Day 7/168

Walk: AMCKabuki (Crazy Rich Asians)
Distance: 2 miles, a little yoga


Whenever she saw the Crazy Rich Asians dust jacket, Ciwt would think the book's title was missing a comma.  When she saw the movie today she finally got it.  Crazy Rich, as in obscenely, almost sickenly rich.  And Asian as in porcelain perfect inscrutability mixed with calculated cruelty when deemed necessary.  In other words, over the top in every way.  And Crazy Rich Asians, the movie, is just that: a non-stop, rom-com romp with beautiful people through all that ambitious money can consume.  Turn off your brain and just enjoy the Cinderella fun and dazzle.

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Wine the Poo --- Day 7/167

Walk: Presidio
Distance: 3 miles, Yoga

Ciwt spotted this new addition to Andy Goldsworthy's Wood Line sculpture today
























                         
                                Insert: "Wine the Poo'z House"

Monday, August 13, 2018

Looking for Monday --- Day 7/166

Walk: APP Meeting
Distance: A few blocks, Yoga


Every once in a while Ciwt's ability to seize the day drops to zero.  

Sunday, August 12, 2018

A for Adam, C for Black.. --- Day 7/165

Walk: AMC Kabuki (BlackkKlansman), Scopo Divino for oysters
Distance: 2 miles, small yoga


Ciwt could watch Adam Driver forever.  To her he was the best thing about BlackkKlansman, a good not great movie with great moments.  

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Discounted Doggies in the Window --- Day 7/164

Walk: Union Square
Distance: 3 miles

Sale: Gumps China Dog ($500) on Dog Pillow ($450)
Well, Ciwt can officially retire her white gloves and gift closet.  150 years of  San Francisco shopping history and specially selected, classy (and pricey!) gifts are going their way.  Eg, away at a bankruptcy-going out of business sale.  Once upon a time when she worked in San Francisco one college summer, Ciwt would drool over the exotic, 'tasteful' gifts at Gumps during her lunch hour (or was it half-hour) and imagine all the City swells who were presenting them to each other.

Tole platter and vases and China chihuahua (Mickey Rourke where are you?)




















Looking today Ciwt had no drools, and it was clear to see Gumps was from a by-gone and kind of peculiar shopping era.  But sad too...

Parrot (painted clay?) originally $7500, today $6000.  



Friday, August 10, 2018

Tacoma Debrief --- Day 7/163

Walk: Presidio
Distance: 3.8 miles, Yoga  

Tacoma from Ciwt's hotel window, Mount Ranier rising from the clouds in the distance
Not much of a photo but Ciwt found Tacome to be a stately small city with superb architecture, active seaport,in love with show cars and art, particularly glass art.  A lovely mix of history, enterprise, industry, art and architecture.  Ciwt (and many others she's sure) thinksTacoma is likely one of the next happening places for couples trying to make a family life and priced out of present tech cities as well as retirees (who don't mind a lot of rain in the winter).  If you aren't looking to move and just want a weekend getaway, there is more than enough for art and car lovers to do.  

Stay tuned for more Ciwt in Tacoma (maybe)...




Thursday, August 9, 2018

After 4 Days, Home at Last --- Day 7/162

Walk: Marin Driving Day, Still Walking Fingers at Computer
Distance: A Few Blocks, Wake Up Yoga













Got that license at DMV, Booked those flights, Even found hotel rooms and airport rides, reacclimated cats to Ciwt.  Yay, Ciwt.  Now she looks forward to a good.night's sleep, a nice long walk, maybe even a flick.  You know, home routines.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Oh, You Want A Room Too? --- Day 7/161

9Walk:  No, Travel Agent Day
Distance: 0, Yoga



So, when Ciwt opens her travel agency, you can take her advice right now: Don't Use It.

She spent most of the day booking her flights for a NYC trip while comforted by memories of her last hotel rate in the Big Apple..  Well, probably she should have checked hotels first.

That last trip was in winter and was actually cancelled because of a HUGE blizzard on the East Coast.  IF she had actually taken that trip, her hotel would have been @$200 per night, a soothing price for a very nice hotel in a terrific location.

As it turns out, Ciwt learned, something happens to New York hotel prices when 1. the snow goes away and 2. the summer heat and humidity do as well: the hotel prices Triple.

Nota Bene if you have any future NYC trips in mind.  And don't even think of using CIWT Travel if you see it open.  Unless you are in search of a walking trip; she's great at those!!

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Ah, Me --- Day 7/160

Walk: No, Busy putting home back together after trip
Distance: just a little, Yoga

Happy Birthday, Ciwt, with Tulips 

Monday, August 6, 2018

DMV (?!) To The Rescue **--- Day 7/159

Walk: DMV
Distance: 4 miles, small yoga as she waited, and waited...

Even more of a hair-raising experience for everyone at DMV today - BUT read on....
-


Ciwt is happy to be home.  From her Seattle (Tacoma actually) trip* and especially from her last minute DMV license renewal/new Real ID appointment today.  Not her choice on the renewal timing; she had to do it in person this year and their first appointment time was the day before her expiration/birthday.  

Very clutchy but that was just the beginning.  When she got there the computers were down and it took them Forever to find her on the appointment list.  Turns out their computer omitted telling her to bring her passport so it would have to be just a license renewal today and then DMV return trip (gawd) for Real ID.  Oh well and up against the wall, onward (eventually!) to various registrations. The last of these was by a DMV SAINT who took pity on CIWT (and all of us because of broken computer) and gave her one hour to leave, get her passport and return.  

Uber round trip, back with the passport and on to picture taking before the test taking deadline in 1/2 hour.  Not so fast, Ciwt: Picture machine wouldn't take her thumbprint -gulp!  Saved by Another  DMV SAINT who did a workaround, and on to final requirement.  5 minutes to go and the test taking machine wouldn't take her thumbprint either**##!!  A Third  DMV Saint!!! to Ciwt's rescue.  And, with one minute to spare, Ciwt qualified for the CA Real ID one day before her birthday.

Whew!! And thanks for, who knew, kind and heroic efforts by Three CA DMV ** workers.

*Stay tuned for news on that.


Sunday, August 5, 2018

Homeward Bount --- Day 7/158

Walk: SeaTac to SFO
Distance:  ?

Ciwt Returns to San Francisco

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Fragile Viewing --- Day 7/157

Walk: Museum of Glass, Tacoma
Distance: ?

Today Ciwt is visiting Tacoma's Museum of Glass


Friday, August 3, 2018

Seattle Bound --- Day 7/156

Walk: SFO then around Seattle/Tacoma
Distance: ?

Ciwt  lsnds in Seattle for a few days 





Thursday, August 2, 2018

What's a Space Needle? --- Day 7/155

Walk: Trader Joe's
Distance: 2 miles, Yoga

All packed and ready to go meet brother in Seattle

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Trip Within the Trip --- Day 7/154

Walk: No, Busy discovering needed updates and hanging out on deck
Distance: A few blocks, Yoga


Because Ciwt doesn't travel (for real) very often (to say the least), every trip acquaints her with little things around her home that need, shall we say, updating.  Good news: many projects ahead when she returns...