Farthest Oakland --- Day 2/62

Walk: Oakland Art Galleries, Mindful Body
Distance: 2.5 miles and take yoga class

Went on an art gallery outing to Oakland today.  For those of you who don't know, Oakland is directly across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco.  Maybe 8 miles away in distance.  And on another planet.

For instance, below is a typical electrical box you might encounter on a San Francisco sidewalk.  The minute these boxes get defaced, some public utility worker is immediately dispatched to erase the graffiti, no matter how small or cute.



On the other hand, here is an Oakland electrical box.  I can't say 'typical' as I'm sure each one is unique.

Concert Idiots --- Day 2/61

Walk: de Young (El Anatsui film and lecture), Mindful Body
Distance: 2 miles and teach yoga class

Where is the time these days?  More later on this, but a friend sent an article from a local Marin paper about one of 'my' Grateful Dead 'friends' - Bob Weir - storming off in the middle of a concert because of the incessant loud talking in the audience.  He gave some warning and then when they didn't quiet down, he took action.

And as far as I'm concerned, it could not be soon enough.  More and more there is an unruly crowd of (younger) concert goers who show up and talk non-stop at the top of their voices over even the loudest music - Completely ruining the concert for those who are there to actually listen to the music.  Here's the link...

http://www.marinij.com/millvalley/ci_22733297/grateful-deads-bob-weir-storms-off-stage-when

A Most Perfect Union --- Day 2/60

Walk: Union Square
Distance: 2 miles

Did you know that Rebecca Miller, Daniel Day-Lewis's wife, is the daughter of Arthur Miller as well as a novelist?  She stands shoulder to shoulder in every way to her amazing husband.  I like knowing this.

Pause after Intake.. --- Day 2/59

Walk: de Young Museum (Girl with a Pearl Earring Lecture), Mindful Body, Food, Inc. with Docent friend
Distance: 2 miles and teach yoga class

Am a collection of input right now.  Must let things settle in.  Catch you after that happens....

Scales of Justice --- Day 2/58

Walk: Mindful Body, Yoga Tree Hayes
Distance: 1.5 miles, acupuncture, take 2 yoga classes

I've been avoiding balance poses like the plague recently so what should happen today?  I took a class that was entirely focused on balancing.  We balanced on our feet, in twists, on our shoulders (in twists), on our  hands.  If there was any way one part of us could be on the earth and the other part of us balanced on in, we were there.  Rather, attempted to be there.  A huge part of the challenge of balance is self-acceptance.  It really is at the heart of the poses.  The poses show us We where we are in our balance that day, and the work is to accept what is going on.  Holding our breath or self-criticism will not help and in fact will create even more problems.  And, probably hardest of all, we need to accept that we will probably topple out of the pose or almost topple or at best not look all that great.  So, goodbye ego/false pride.

Anyway, did and hour and half of balancing.  Or rather observed myself grappling with 1.5 hours of balance poses.  And, now how do I feel.  Well,....more balanced.  And that is good.

Django Redux --- Day 2/57

Walk: Kabuki Sundance Theater (Django Unchained)
Distance: 2 miles

I keep forgetting how Tarantino's movies come alive even more on second (and more) viewing.  His plots are usually complex, fast moving.  The first time through I appreciate everything - love it usually - but realize when I see the movie again I got quite wrapped up in the non-linear plot, the clever satirical lines, and of course, dealing with the intense but artistic violence. After the first time I can just settle back and applaud in my mind virtually every moment: the brilliant, totally original screenplay, the word/costume/carriage/perfect acting, the completely right on music/songs, the settings. 

All of it! Maybe more another day. But no matter how much I write, it all comes down to: Tarantino is an unfettered genius. 



www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFP1dx6Xn_Q
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Tarantino

Tulips and the Penny Arcade --- Day 2/56

Walk: Mindful Body, Fillmore Street, T. Joe's
Distance: 3 miles and teach yoga class

So, as I was saying, my friend Andrea and I took a walk along the Embarcadero yesterday to see this year's Tulipmania at  Pier 39. 

As we got closer we could begin to see some tulips. 
But they weren't all that dazzling so we walked on to where the beauty was.

And we saw another box that still couldn't have been what they had in mind to really bring lumps to our throats.


But actually we came to realize that what we were looking at Was the tulip display!



Huh?  Like much of the world,  I LOVE tulips and didn't think it possible for any tulip display to be a total flop - until yesterday.  Primroses and daffodils with tulips?  Weird, unpleasing elevations, just yellow and red?  Disappointment reigned.

But only for a moment because this is San Francisco - and within yards of the failed tulipmania was ...The Musee Mecanique. The Musée Mécanique, an interactive, publicly available museum that houses one of the largest privately owned collections of penny arcade games in the world. To enter is to go back at least 100 years and to have a blast!

At the Opium Den   ... 

And the Saw Mill 

And any number of ranches, barn dances, buffalo pastures, car rides, photo booths.  So we played around like we were kids at that Amusement Park we used to hang out in.  Strolling around, laughing at ourselves, having old timey fun until it was time to start walking home.


And on the way home I thought the tulips in one of my neighbor's street garden was much prettier than Pier 39.   


And my own little bunch of tulips from Trader Joe's was prettiest of all.







www.museemechanique.org/

Tot Ziens -- Day 2/55

Walk: Pier 39, Museum Mechanique, Fisherman's Wharf, Fillmore Street
Distance: 5 miles

Quick trip to Holland-San Francisco with my friend Andrea - being in fog, viewing tulips, eating (Dutch treat) at de Stiijl cafe, after viewing Dutch/Girl with a Pearl earring show near the Queen Wilhelmina windmill a few days ago.   See you soon - or, in Dutch, Tot Ziens...