Babysitting

I babysat Holden on Saturday. It was NOT one of his best days.

Bodega Bistro

I wanted to show Dad the new 'hood at night and I also wanted to try a Vietnamese restaurant that's gotten rave reviews.


We had spring rolls and papaya salad.

Then, Dad had what must've been the best beef dish of his life ... shaking beef ... recommended by a friend. He took the time to pose, raising chopsticks to his lips and my camera battery died. Sigh.

The View

Dad's in town to check out the condo. He says he was pleasantly surprised. Here's the view from the rooftop terrace.

Baby Party

Sunday's party wasn't an ordinary baby shower.



Kate is due next month and she and Sean wanted to be at least a little surprised by their baby's gender. So, they sealed the sonogram in an envelope and kept it on their mantle for months. On Sunday, after much wagering and many old wives' tale "tests," the envelope was opened and Girl Baby Randolph-Smith was revealed!



Oh, and Holden was looking particularly handsome.

Fresh Veggies

Beth's parents brought me fruits and vegetables from their garden in Oroville. I don't have any outdoor space, so I really appreciate such things.


I made a yummy pasta salad while everything was perfectly ripe.

Placeholder

Lots of fun things happened this weekend. However, I forgot my photo card reader, so you won't get to see details until tomorrow. Happy Monday!

New Condo

After much reflection, Holden decided he approves of the new condo.

I Love My Car!

I really do. It's a 2008 Honda Civic, 2-door, black with sunroof, CD player and CUP HOLDER! To become a homeowner, I will need to sell it. So sad. Let me know if you know anyone who's interested.

Universal Cafe

Linda and I had brunch on Sunday at Universal Cafe.



I had poached eggs over shrimp and grits. Very tasty.

Offer Accepted!

Now the long work of getting financing begins. Wish me luck!

Make Me an Offer!

Okay, actually I made THEM an offer on the condo in the Tenderloin. Ten percent lower than asking, but the seller is nine months pregnant and the place has been on the market since May. We'll see if that works for or against us.

Tanja Beck was referred to me by a friend and, so far, I've been very impressed by her skills as a real estate agent.


If you're in the market for a Realtor, click here to learn more about her.

New Home?

Looked at a condo this morning that I really liked! And, surprise of all surprises, it's in the Tenderloin ... although it feels more like the theater district to me ... at least during the day. Yes, I'll go back at night to check it out.

It's a gorgeous art deco building built in 1930. The unit is relatively big, bright and airy with big closets and old-fashioned character and charm.

Hell's Kitchen

Last night, I watched Hell's Kitchen. I usually enjoy this show, despite the meanness because I truly believe that, underneath it all, Gordon Ramsay is a good guy.

But what is up with these cast members? First, is everyone who works in a kitchen homely? Second, do they all smoke like chimneys? Third, don't these people have an education, one that teaches them to speak properly? Are these really the kind of people who are preparing my fancy food?

Fresh Juice

I'm on day three of a seven-day juice "cleanse." Remember how I said I wasn't going to call it a fast?



I'm a bit worried because it's easier than I imagined. I'm not tired or dizzy or lightheaded. In fact, I feel perfectly fine. It's interesting to realize how often (and how much!) I eat when I'm not really hungry. Stay tuned.

The Search

I saw two condos yesterday that I could live in.



One is at Diamond Heights. Spacious apartment, fireplace, great view, pool, gym and other cool stuff.



The second is at 7th and King. Modern, great kitchen, very hip and urban.

And, yes, I'm looking at $300K for a studio -- 400-500 square feet.

Sunday, Nov. 29

Pandora's Box

For the past several months, I've been listening to Pandora, an online, do-it-yourself radio station. Whenever I song that I really liked popped up, I bookmarked it. For CD group last night, I gathered up those songs, put them all on a CD and called it Pandora's Box.

I think it turned out great. If you want me to send you a copy electronically, let me know.

Listening to new music is always a good thing.

Juice Bible

On a friend's recommendation, I'm going to give this a try. I'm opting to call it a "cleanse," not a "fast."

Buying Music?

When is the last time you bought a CD? Wait. When is the last time I walked down the street to Amoeba Music, the BEST record store EVER and bought a CD?


The truth is ... I can't remember.

I get new music online, I listen to Pandora, I use iTunes, I get free music from friends. Somehow, this seems bad and I feel guilty, but perhaps the times are simply changing.

Too Many Men

Every now and then I feel it's necessary to recommend a good book. This is a good book with a bad title. It's about a 40-something woman's trip to Poland with her Holocaust survivor father. But it's not as bleak as it sounds.