The Grand Tour

Hawaii

2009-02-09T22:11:00.000-08:00

As you may have guessed, this blog is inching towards retirement. The allure of facebook is too strong, social networking seems to be winning the battle. But here's a picture for old time's sake - one of my favorite Galen pics from our trip to Hawaii. Lots more here.

In Memory of Jack Bergin

2008-11-28T19:03:00.000-08:00

From the Napa Valley Register:

What do you say about a man who came from humble beginnings, bravely served his country in World War II, was a loving and devoted husband and father, and a successful businessman who conducted his business in the Napa Valley for more than 50 years with honesty, integrity and a respect for hard work?

You say that man was Jack Aitken Bergin. He died peacefully on Nov. 1, 2008, at the age of 94. Jack was born Jan. 15, 1914, in Riverside, where his family was in the grocery business. He attended Riverside Polytechnic High School and Riverside Junior College. He gave up his college career to help support his family during the Great Depression. Jack developed a love of music and starting playing the piano at age six. He began to play piano in an assortment of jazz bands at age 17, occasionally playing backup for such bands as the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra. After settling in Northern California, Jack played piano in the Napa Valley Dixieland Jazz Band for many years. True to his musical roots, he gave his last performance for fellow residents at the Berkshire Assisted Living Center two days before he passed away.

Jack was playing piano at a junior college dance in 1936, when he met Rosemarie Merrill. Marie approached Jack to ask, “Will you teach me to play jazz?” He called her the next day and they began dating. They were married in 1939, a marriage that lasted for 69 years.

Too old to enter the regular pilot training program, Jack nonetheless enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and trained as a combat glider pilot, eventually serving in France. In 1946 he joined his flying buddies, Richard Bridgeford, Caesar Bertagna and Clyde Barnett, to start Bridgeford Flying Service at the Napa County Airport. Jack continued in his position as an owner/manager of the business until he was 75. In 1989 Bridgeford Flying Service was sold to local businessmen who asked Jack to stay on as controller, the position from which he retired at age 84.

At various times, Jack belonged to the Masons, the Elks Club, the Rotary Club, the Quiet Birdmen, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Jack loved the outdoors. He enjoyed the distinction, at the time, of becoming the youngest person in California to achieve the Boy Scouts’ prestigious rank of Eagle Scout. He was especially fond of the fishing trips he took with his partners and sons to Loreto, Mexico, landing on dirt runways and sport fishing in the Sea of Cortez. Jack is also fondly remembered for his love of lively intellectual discussions, political or otherwise, often punctuated with his wry sense of humor.

The exemplary way Jack lived his life has been an inspiration to those who worked with him in the business world, as well as to his children and grandchildren. He will be missed, but not forgotten.

Jack is survived by his wife, Rosemarie; his sister, Ruth Ullrich; and his children, Dr. Jack M. Bergin (Paula), Judith Walsh (John), Michael Bergin (Karen) and Patricia Fifield (William); and his grandchildren, Alicia, Greg and Jeanne Bergin, Savannah and Melaina Bergin, Nathan, Joel, Jonathan, Benjamin, Adam, Michael, Cyrena, Daniel and Jaime Fifield, Linda Fifield-Larsen, and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Joseph Fifield.

At Jack’s request, no service will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Queen of the Valley Foundation or Hospice of Napa Valley.

Visit to Meet Graham

2008-09-04T20:15:00.000-07:00

I was in North Carolina two weekends ago, meeting Graham for the first time. He belongs to my friends Elese and Christoph, and is one of the best behaved infants I've ever met. Quiet, smiley, easily entertained, and a great sleeper. And, as you can see, a really handsome little guy.

Kathryn and Will's Wedding

2008-08-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics from a wedding the weekend prior. Similar guest lists, similar remote location. The organization of the event was awesome - it was held at the bride's parent's house, and they appeared to have assigned tasks to everyone, and cooked / organized / built everything themselves. It was a very well-oiled machine.

Kiki and Boudreaux's Wedding

2008-08-17T17:46:00.000-07:00

We took a few days off last week and drove up to Washington for Kiki and Boudreaux's wedding. It was a great drive - straight up the middle of California, Oregon, and Washington - and the wedding itself was really fun. We managed to take nearly 500 pictures along the way; these are some of my favorites. We saw Crater Lake, explored Sunriver and Bend, stopped at Mt. Hood and 'The Shining' Hotel, drove along the Columbia River Gorge, passed by Mount St. Helens, and hiked in the foothills of Mt. Ranier.

Sunrise in Fire Season

2008-06-27T07:22:00.001-07:00

It's just like Los Angeles! A little smoke adds a lot of color to the sunrise.

Welcome Graham William Stutts!

2008-06-27T06:58:00.000-07:00

Born on June 21, 2008, 11:58 AM. Proud parents Christoph and Elese are back home from the hospital, and all are doing well.

Paddling

2008-05-27T21:18:00.001-07:00

We joked the other day at work that there's now a fitness requirement for the Client Services team. Our new GM is a nationally ranked Dragon Boat racer and now, along with her partner, racing outrigger canoes. My boyfriend has been pulled into the sport, and - while not necessarily more enthusiastic about it than our other coworkers - is very, very excited about it. They train three days a week in the SF Bay (and outside the gate) with the SFOCC.

Some basics:
- It's paddling, not rowing. Rowers go backwards, paddlers go forward.
- The outrigger is the thing on the side
- Unlike most kayaks and other small watercraft, outriggers are ocean-going (waves aren't a bad thing)
- It's a fairly popular sport these days - as evidenced in these photos.

These photos are from a Santa Barbara race two weekends ago. It's one of the largest California events. My boyfriend's team won by 1 minute 13 seconds (a huge lead in a 36 minute race), and was then disqualified for ridiculous reasons. Southern California teams train for a year and then race the second year; Northern California teams race their first year. The team was disqualified for having one person that had competed the year prior. Read it another way: 5 members of the team had LESS experience than the other competitors. I think they're less frustrated now, but needless to say, it's going to be a good season.

Puerto Vallarta

2008-05-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

Galen and I just got back from Puerto Vallarta. It was my first trip there; his first trip to Mexico. I'm not sure I'll ever go anywhere else - I'm not sure we can top it. We stayed at the Hacienda San Angel, a self-described boutique hotel, with a friend from work and his lovely family. The Hacienda is the first place I've stayed that is actually more beautiful in person than in pictures. The hotel consists of 4 houses that have been completely remodeled and joined into a single area, with multiple pools, marble floors in and out, antiques everywhere, exquisite service, amazing views, and lots of privacy. We barely left the place - it was hard to leave.

On the last day we saw the reception area across the street, which if anything is even more impressive. If you're planning a destination wedding, this is the place.

Olympus

2008-05-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

I bought the Olympus underwater camera for Galen's birthday and the trip. It's awesome - you can use it underwater up to ten feet. The picture quality is great, it's reasonably priced, and smaller than the CanonPower shot. Even if you have a camera (or a few), this is a very worthwhile addition.

Casa Kimberley

2008-05-10T08:45:00.000-07:00

We attended an SPCA fundraiser at the (in)famous Casa Kimberley. The house on the left was Elizabeth Taylor's home; Richard Burton bought the place across the street. To avoid the picketing nuns, the unmarried couple built a bridge over the street to connect the houses.

The owner of the hotel we stayed in recently bought the properties. They've been only minimally maintained, and she plans a complete renovation by 2010. It's going to be an amazing spot.

New House

2008-04-03T20:40:00.000-07:00

I'm finally moved in - my apologies for the delayed blogging; the move has eaten all my time. There are a few pictures left to hang, but that's really it. I reduced my overall space by at least 50%, but it's all fitting - barely. I did get rid of a lot of stuff, and it's much more densely arranged.

I had my first gathering for Easter - 8 people total. I think that's the upper limit of what I can fit indoors, but it definitely worked. I'm looking forward to summer days on the deck, enjoying the view.

It does feel like a major change, for the most part a good one. Grocery shopping is a bit more complicated, and I have to get in my car to get most things. But the ferry is a five minute walk away (and seriously, it's hard to beat taking a boat to work), there are oodles of restaurants, it's a great town to walk in, and the library is spectacular. And then there's the view. And the fact that instead of cars backfiring, I only hear birds in the morning.

Change

2008-03-11T20:15:00.001-07:00

I had a big weekend. I found a new house in Sausalito - I'm signing the lease tomorrow - and had a major hair change. The house is really the bigger deal, of course (I haven't moved in 11 years), but these pictures are more fun to look at. As you can see in the first picture, it's just a bit darker. In full sun, however, it's actually blue. I feel like an animated character.

2007 Stats

2008-02-19T20:51:00.001-08:00

I'm on a decline. My New Year's resolution this year is to stop the downward trend on books. I am pleased that, despite declining volume, I've increased my pre-1980 reading, and increased my non-fiction numbers over 2006. Random fact: in the past four years, the date published of my reading shelf averages out to 1996. I'd like to eventually get that number down to 1990.

November, December, January Book Reviews

2008-02-19T19:57:00.001-08:00

Somewhere between work, ski season, and the holiday crafting frenzy, I've slipped 3 months behind. Arg! I haven't done tons of reading, but the ones I did make it through were substantial. Here goes...

1. Y The Last Man, V. 9, Brian K. Vaughan et al., Rating: 4.5
Finally, a major plot reveal! After nearly a year of globe trotting, we learn the source of the epidemic. It's a good installment.
2 & 3. Fables, V.8 & 9, Bill Willingham et al., Rating: 4.5
As always, excellent. Beautiful artwork, compelling story.
4. How Doctors Think, Jerome Groopman, Rating: 3.9
This was a nice counterpoint to October's medical read, Better. Both take on the subject of how doctors interact with patients, and how they can learn to give better care. While I think Gawande is a stronger writer, this book is well-written and insightful. If you care about the subject, read both.
5. Ride with Me, Mariah Montana, Ivan Doig, Rating: 2.9
The final installment of Doig's Montana trilogy, Ride with Me is a pale shadow of the previous two books. Stick with English Creek.
6. Intuition, Allegra Goodman, Rating: 1.9
This book was doomed from the beginning. It's a legal thriller, of sorts, packed with sexual harassment, workplace drama, mistaken love affairs, and emotional drama. Goodman clearly understands the office politics of the environment she's describing. It's just that the environment is so boring. Seriously - who wants to read about the day-to-day squabbles of 15 medical researchers? Working with mice? Nice try, but it doesn't work.
7. California History, Harr Wagner and Mark Keppel, Rating: 4.0
I found this book - published in 1927 - at the Napa Library book sale about a year ago. The package itself beautiful - embossed red cloth with blue line drawings, thin glossy paper, dozens of photographs. It looks great on a shelf, with my collection of other orange books (the only color I have a section for - they just look so nice together). The book itself is mixed. It's often charming and sweet, often wrong, and, at times, horribly racist. Native Americans don't fair well at all - there are 2 chapters devoted to their "laziness". I wouldn't give this book to anyone to read, but as a snapshot of the time period, it's great.
8. Severance, Robert Olen Butler, Rating: 2.0
Butler gets a big gold star for a clever idea. This book is a series of essays cataloging the final thoughts of people between beheading and death - roughly two pages per person. The people are interesting (Marie Antoinette, for example), the thoughts intriguing. However. He makes no distinction between people who know that they're going to die and those who don't. I think it's a huge line that must be drawn, and it's a critical error.
9. The Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck, Rating: 4.8
I really liked this book. It's moving, interesting, full of complex characters, and brings to life a world that's extremely foreign.
10. The Executioner's Song, Norman Mailer, Rating: 3.7
I understand the hype around this book - the research is voluminous, the writing considered and detailed, the character exploration nearly bottomless. Unfortunately for the average reader, it's over 1000 pages long. And you know the conclusion from page 1. It...just...drags....on.
11. The Abstinence Teacher, Tom Perrota, Rating: 3.0
Perrota's Election was genius - the biting humor of the movie owes everything to Perrota's writing. Little Children was inspired, too. This book, unfortunately, is average. It's fine - but nothing more. The anger and wittiness of his previous books is missing. From another writer, this is a decent effort, but from Perrota it's a major disappointment.

Skiing

2008-01-13T18:29:00.001-08:00

I went skiing this weekend - for the first time in fourteen years. It was both better and worse than I expected. I wasn't horrible - by the end of the second day the easy runs were getting a bit boring - nor was I particularly good. On the first run of the second day, I remembered why I hadn't been in so long. I was never great at it, and for that reason never really enjoyed skiing. I think the potential is there to have fun (I was having fun towards the end), but I'm going to have to work hard to get to that point.

On the positive side, Tahoe is gorgeous. And not nearly as cold as I remembered. And watching your friends make crazy jumps is really entertaining.

Here's the result of my worst tumble of the weekend.

Roller Derby

2008-01-13T17:55:00.001-08:00

Roller Derby is possibly the best sport, ever. It's fast, easy to follow, and has the potential for serious bodily injury. And it involves costumes.

Here are a few pics from the last event of the season (it will start again in February in March - watch the web site for updates). The final picture is from the half time show. Chronicle folks, that's Beth Steiner in front.

Book Signing

2007-12-09T17:47:00.001-08:00

So...the book signing. I signed with Meg, shown, the author of Craft, Inc. She's lovely, and her book is really useful for anyone trying to make money off a hobby. The signing itself wasn't particular successful for either of us, but I'm glad to have had the opportunity. It's fun just to be there and talk to people about crafting.

I definitely recommend checking out the new Chronicle Books Store (1846 Union in San Francisco) - it's well designed, well stocked, and a great place to look for holiday gifts. There are several boxes of labels I'd like to have, and their craft section is growing rapidly.

Why I Like Winter

2007-11-26T19:08:00.000-08:00

Well, at least that season we call "Winter" in the Bay Area. 60 degrees, clear, bright, and very green. These were taken on two different, equally lovely hikes in Marin. Look closely and you'll see the Farallons in the last picture.

I'd definitely recommend visiting Bon Tempe reservoir in Fairfax (shown in the top photo). You can hike around it and a smaller adjacent reservoir in under two hours. It's lovely and uncrowded - a great morning walk.

New Chronicle Books Store+ Signing

2007-11-26T18:36:00.001-08:00

Chronicle just opened their second store, at 1846 Union Street in San Francisco. The Grand Opening party is this Saturday, December 1st. I'm going to be signing, along with a bunch of other cool folks. Stop by if you're in the area!

• 10:30-11:30: Children’s author Bob Barner will read from Dem Bones and will be signing copies of his books

• 1:00-2:00: Peggy Knickerbocker co-author of The San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market Cookbook and Georgeanne Brennan author of A Pig in Provence will be signing copies of their books

• 3:00-4:00: Get crafty with Alicia Bergin, author of the Crochet to Go Deck, and Meg Mateo Ilasco, author of Craft, Inc.

• 5:00-6:00: Artist Rex Ray will be in the store signing copies of Rex Ray Art + Design

Best Book Ever

2007-11-17T17:22:00.000-08:00

This book puts together all my passions (well, at least crafting and celebrity gossip) in one horribly wrong package. Awesome.

October 2007 Book Reviews

2007-11-11T14:05:00.001-08:00

1. Better, Atul Gawande, Rating: 4.3
Like Gawande's previous book Complications, Better is a thoughtful, entertaining, and informative work. Without being pedantic or overly technical, he touches on major issues influencing modern modern medicine and the world at large. I like his mix of personal anecdotes and actual research. This is definitely a book that is worth reading, whether or not you're in medicine.
2. English Creek, Ivan Doig, Rating: 3.7
3. Dancing at the Rascal Fair, Ivan Doig, Rating: 4.2
English Creek is quite good - good enough that I went right out and got the second book in the trilogy. The action in Dancing actually takes place before that of its predecessor, and I enjoyed it much more. It was oddly satisfying to read about people when you already know much of their outcome. The second book also explains the history and populating of the "two medicine country", which adds a lot of depth to the series (in many ways, the land is the subject of the book, more so than the people). I just picked up the third book - full report to come on that next month.
4. Son of a Witch, Gregory Maguire, Rating: 2.2
The long-awaited sequel to Wicked is, like the rest of Maguire's books, a major disappointment. Wicked was clever and mischievous and very funny; this book is scattered, random, and hard to follow. It's also oddly homo-erotic in ways that are just plain odd.
5. The Empanada Brotherhood, John Nichols, Rating: 3.9
While I wasn't carried away by this book, I admire the craft of it. It feels very much like a Hemingway novel, with similar stripped-down language and dialogue-heavy chapters. The Kirkus review states, "The human energy swirling around the empanada stand is full of sound and fury but signifies very little." I think that might actually be the point.
6. The Gravedigger's Daughter, Joyce Carol Oates, Rating: 4.2
I've always considered Oates an "Oprah" writer, melodramatic and girly, slightly lowbrow, without ever reading any of her works. I totally take it back - The Gravedigger's Daughter is strange, dense, filled with fascinating characters, and beautifully written. Considering how prolific she is (a book a year on average), I have nothing but awe for the talent of this writer. I'll definitely read more of her books.

Halloween

2007-11-11T13:04:00.000-08:00

I've spent the last several years celebrating Halloween with some of my favorite people, Zac and Eliza, and their amazing children. Sophie (pink caterpillar), who's edging up on 4, really "got" Halloween this year. She was definitely a little afraid, but after a few houses seemed to grasp the wonder of the occasion. Candy? For me?

I also loved the little brown dog. Not sure of her name, but there was a whole lot of personality in that little girl. I hope she makes it next year.

Go Carts!

2007-11-05T19:26:00.001-08:00

My company takes play seriously. Dodgeball wasn't enough - we had to top it with go carts. I wasn't great - not even very good - but it was fun. And hard work! I was sore for almost a week. You know you want to try it...

Idaho

2007-11-05T19:11:00.000-08:00

I made my first trip to Northern Idaho recently. It's every bit as gorgeous as you'd imagine - green, lush, big mountains and clear blue lakes, and cold, clean air. Angeline and Justin were amazing hosts, especially considering the fact that we barely know each other (or did when I arrived - I feel like I know them quite well now).

It was a perfect weekend for me. We gardened, cooked, drank a lot of wine, and slept in every morning. There were friendly cats and dogs to pet, chickens to feed, and deer everywhere. We even went sailing (my first time). The rural life is definitely appealing.

The Big 3-0

2007-10-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

I'm 30. Officially. I've actually been 30 for a few weeks now, and haven't dropped dead. Or found more gray hair or wrinkles. Or, for that matter, had any sort of midlife crisis. Yay! Thanks everyone for making it a great day!

September 2007 Book Reviews

2007-10-08T20:43:00.000-07:00

Better late than never? I had a birthday party this past weekend, and have been busy getting ready for the last week. I did, however, manage to read two pre-1960 books in September. And more non-fiction than fiction. I'm breaking my normal habits!

1. A Member of the Wedding, Carson McCullers, Rating: 4.0
This was an NPR recommendation that I picked up on a whim. McCullers has a really unique voice. This particular story is that of a pre-teen girl, wanting to be more (more interesting, have more friends, have a better life, anything), and creating her own reality in which the impossible could happen. I has really impressed with both the realism of the character, and McCullers' gift for making you understand exactly what the character is going through. It's like being eleven again.
2. Where I Was From, Joan Didion, Rating: 4.0
My new friend Chris sent me this book after I took him to Point Reyes for the day. I think I did a pretty good job of convincing him that California is a really nice place to live. He recommended (and sent me) this book - an homage and narrative of the state by one of its most revered writers. It's really fascinating. It's a fairly slim book, but it took me two weeks to get through. That's a big compliment - I kept slowing down and rereading passages, unwilling to miss anything.
3. Exodus, Leon Uris, Rating: 3.2
This book is fascinating. It has all the elements of a 1970 bestseller: implied sex, wartime heroes, abused and needy children, despots and criminals in powerful positions, and a dramatic, arid landscape that must be conquered. It's really a page-turner. It also ends on an up note - the chosen people triumph! The irony is that the book will be 50 years old next year, and the same struggle violently continues.
4. Four Seasons in Rome, Anthony Doerr, Rating: 2.3
This is another NPR book, but unfortunately one that makes for a better interview than read. It's about an American couple living for a year in Rome with 6-month old twins. That's about all there is to it. It's fairly sweet and charming, but never really rises about the level of an edited journal.
5. Every Visible Thing, Lisa Carey, Rating: 3.7
Like my first book this month, Every Visible Thing is told from the point of a pre-teen (in this case, two of them). The subject matter is much deeper - a missing sibling - but it has a similar realism and point of view that makes the writing succeed. This isn't a great book, but it's a good one.

Dodgeball!

2007-09-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

Today was the third annual design dodgeball tournament. It's one of my favorite sporting events, second only to women's roller derby (which is truly amazing).

Why is it great? Well, people take it really seriously. The competition is up to 12 teams now, all of which make uniforms (these are design firms, after all), plan strategy, and show up in force.

We didn't win, but we had fun.

Elk

2007-09-28T20:13:00.000-07:00

Next up: Elk. Elk is about 15 miles south of Mendocino. I realized on my drive up there that I've never seen that area at all, including the Anderson Valley - I've flown to Mendocino a few times, but never been outside of that main town.

Needless to say, it's stunning. We went wine tasting, hiking, and even worked in a fairly substantial nap. There were three dogs up for the weekend, which was great. I highly recommend a visit.

(And in case you're not already jealous, this first picture was taken from the deck of the house. Pretty amazing spot.)

Brooks & Autumn's Wedding

2007-09-28T20:00:00.000-07:00

I'm way behind on blogging, and am going to try my best to get caught up this weekend. First up: meet the newlyweds! I met Brooks close to ten years ago (he was the high school roommate of my boyfriend at the time), and have become friends with him in the past year or so. Autumn is quite the lucky lady (and Brooks is lucky to have found her). I had such a good time at the wedding that I only took a few pictures, none of which are very good. Trust me on this - they looked great. And the setting was beautiful.

I do like this pre-wedding pic of Hayden. That was a pretty good bloody mary.

August 2007 Book Reviews

2007-09-03T09:25:00.001-07:00

I got off to a slow start in August, and then cruised through four books in the last week. A lot of beach time helps.

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling, Rating: 4.3
She didn't let us down - while it's not better than the rest of the series, it's absolutely a worthy successor. I only slowly got into the plot, but by the end I found the book impossible to put down. I cried at the conclusion. (Happy tears or sad tears? You'll have to read it to find out.)
2. The Road to Samarcand, Patrick O'Brian, Rating: 4.4
This is a perfect summer read - fairly short, action-packed scenes, lots of emotional depth, and fascinating characters. This is my first Patrick O'Brian novel, and I plan to pick up a few more. The book was published in England in 1954, but is only now being released in the U.S.
3. The Yiddish Policemen's Union, Michael Chabon, Rating: 2.9
It wouldn't be fair, I suppose, if every book was great. I loved Chabon's earlier novel, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, but haven't liked any of his other works, this most recent book included. Which isn't to say it isn't well written. I think it probably is quite good, but it's not for me. Chabon has a gift for genre fiction. It's up to you, the reader, to like the genre he has chosen to write in. Noir mysteries are not my cup of tea.
4. The Post-Birthday World, Lionel Shriver, Rating: 4.0
The plot of this story hinges on a single decision - whether or not the narrator chooses to kiss a man. Chapter by alternating chapter, the book explores what would have happened if she did (or didn't). It's an interesting concept, a choose-your-own-adventure novel for adults, and it's beautifully executed. I love that the "right" decision is ambiguous throughout much of the novel. It's not really an easy book, but it's honest and intriguing.
5. Jack of Fables, Bill Willingham et al, Rating: 4.0
The Fables universe recently spun off this new series, featuring Jack (and the beanstock, the candlestick, Jack Frost, etc. - all the same guy). It's great. There's energy in the storytelling that has been lacking in the main series for awhile. Perhaps the creators just needed the freedom to create a new world.
6. Sin in the Second City, Karen Abbott, Rating: 0.5
I've seen perhaps a dozen reviews for this book in the past few weeks, and am convinced that not a single reviewer actually read the book. The subject matter has potential (very high end prostitution in Chicago around the turn of the twentieth century), but the execution is awful. Terrible. Seriously-wasting-your-time bad. Skip it.
7. On Chesil Beach, Ian McEwan, Rating: 3.8
This book is very different. The entire plot revolves around a single, emotionally-fraught night (a wedding night), as two newlyweds struggle to express their fears and feelings, without having the experience or emotional vocabulary to do so. The reading experience feels slightly inappropriate - the moment seems so private - and yet it's hard to pull away from. I do recommend it, but don't expect it to be a light read.

Point Reyes

2007-08-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

Finally, I'm out hiking again! I made the journey out to Point Reyes, which is actually much closer than I expected - only an hour and a half from the East Bay. Here's a sampling of pics from along the trail (near Limantour Beach). On a sunny day, it's hard to beat.

July 2007 Book Reviews

2007-08-08T20:02:00.001-07:00

Let's start with first things first: yes, I've finished Harry Potter. But I'm holding that review back a month for all of you that are still reading.

1. All Creatures Great and Small, James Herriot, Rating: 4.4
I read this as a teenager - it (and the rest of the series) is one of my mother's favorite books. Herriot was a vet in rural England beginning in the 1930s and continuing well into the 1970s. His stories focus on the early years, getting to know the countryside, his clients (4-legged and otherwise), setting up a practice, and starting a family. He's the archetypal "glass half full" man - every moment, if sometimes a bit trying, is still a joy. I really enjoyed this reread (probably my third or fourth time) simply for his wonderful attitude.
2. The United States of Arugula, David Kamp, Rating: 4.0
Great books on food are few and far between, but this is absolutely at the top of the class. The text follows the last 60 years of food in America, but it's not your average non-fiction work. Kamp has a gift for writing about facts in an incredibly dishy, gossipy way. It feels like you're really getting the inside scoop. He's quite persuasive - I actually went out and bought grass-fed steaks while I was reading it.
3. Catherine the Great, Virginia Rounding, Rating: 3.5
This author is less adept. The book is interesting - Catherine the Great was a very intriguing woman - but occasionally lapses into slow cataloging of facts. I'd only recommend it if you really want to know a lot about her, or the start of the Hermitage Museum.
4. One of Ours, Willa Cather, Rating: 3.0
I'm making an effort to read fewer new releases. One of Ours is a Pulitzer Prize winner; unfortunately it's not Cather's best work. There's nothing really wrong with it - I enjoyed seeing WWII through the eyes of someone writing immediately following it - but it's slightly flat and slow moving.

Stinson Beach

2007-07-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

I'm slacking on posts these days - mostly out of lack of things to report. Work is really busy, and I haven't been traveling much. So, to make up for it, here's a bunch of shots from a skim boarding lesson last weekend (the first for most of us shown here). As you can tell, some of us picked it up faster than others. And in case you're wondering why these look better than normal, I didn't take these photos. Karl and Hideki are certainly much more adept.

June 2007 Book Reviews

2007-07-07T15:10:00.001-07:00

We're having a beautiful summer, the kind San Francisco is absolutely not known for. Warm evenings, long hot days, bright mornings. I've spent a lot of time reading in the yard and at my local swimming hole, Lake Temescal.

1. The Hypocrisy of Disco, Clane Howard, Rating: 4.0
This is an upcoming Fall release from Chronicle Books. I was pleasantly surprised by it - the author recounts a few years of her decidedly non-traditional upbringing in Northern California (think camping in abandoned fields, macrobiotic food, and a complete lack of knowledge of - or access to - basic hygiene). She very accurately captures the language and attitudes of her 13-year-old self. I hope this sells well enough to allow her publish the rest of her story.
2. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, John Perkins, Rating: 1.0
I hated this book. Finishing it was painful. Perkins clearly has a point to make: if you miss it the first time, don't worry, he'll say it again. And again. And then 10 times more in the next chapter. Basically it goes like this: "What I and other economic hit men do is terrible. We're awful people. We fly to exotic lands first class and hang out with world leaders. Because of our jobs we exploit the people of third world countries. Did I mention that I spent time with world leaders? Let me tell you how cool it was the time I hung out with Fidel Castro." And repeat.
3. The Emperor of Ocean Park, Stephen L. Carter, Rating: 3.2
To enjoy this book it's necessary to forget that the story is a mystery. The writing and characters are quite good, the plot long-winded and at times hard to follow. Once I resigned myself to just being along for the ride, I liked it quite a bit.
4. We Are all Fine Here, Mary Guterson, Rating: 3.9
This is a bitterly funny, slim little book. It's short but packs a surprising amount of emotional impact. The story follows a woman who has a one-time fling with her high school flame, and finds herself pregnant, unsure if the father is her husband or old boyfriend. This isn't chic-lit; the narrator's emotional journey as she approaches the birth is smart, honest, and very real.
5. Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall, Bill Willingham, Rating: 3.0
This is a one-off in the Fables series, a self-contained side-plot. The art is stunning, the story itself uneven. If you're a huge Fables fan, check it out, otherwise stick to the main series.
6. Y The Last Man: V. 8, Vaughan & Guerra, Rating: 3.2
I can't tell if I'm just losing my interest in this series, or if the writing is declining. This is fine, slightly formulaic. The plot line is progressing too slowly for my taste - it's time for a major revelation or a new central character.
7. The Bible Unearthed, Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman, Rating: 3.0
The subject matter of this book is fascinating: modern archaeological finds, and how they support / don't support stories in the Bible. The treatment is too scholarly - in the hands of a different set of writers, I really think this could be a real eye-opener. Instead, it's dense and extremely hard to digest. It also really should have included pictures to bring the finds to life.
8. In My Father's Court, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Rating: 4.2
Singer has collected his childhood memories in this charming collection. He grew up in an ultra-orthodox home in pre-WWII Warsaw, one of the youngest children of two highly intelligent, devout people. It's a very intimate account, and also quite moving. The upcoming Holocaust is a constant shadow over the characters, but it doesn't interfere with the joy that comes across in many episodes. (As a random aside, Singer also wrote the story that became the movie "Yentl", and won the Nobel Prize in 1978.)
9. Prisoner of Tehran, Marina Nemat, Rating: 3.8
Nemat was imprisoned as a teenager for her political views, one of tens of thousand such prisoners. After two years (and forced marriage to one of her captors), she was freed and eventually able to move to Canada. She buried her memories for nearly twenty years. Although not a natural writer, Nemat has a fascinating story to tell, and very successfully captures the conflicting emotions she's had about her past.

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Cardin

2007-07-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

Peter and Lauren got married in Hawaii a few weeks ago, and had their wedding reception in Walnut Creek last Sunday. They're some of the best neighbors I've ever had - friendly, quiet (they claim they're not, but I never hear them), and easygoing, with nearly the same set of interests (cats, movies, comics books, food) I have. We recently realized that we've been neighbors for five years now. They're a very well matched pair - here's to a happy life together!

I took a couple of distinctly below-average photos at the wedding (time for a new camera...). They're kind of fun to look at as a flickr group, though. A little research turned up Mosaic Maker - you should try it! It's a fast, easy tool for creating grouped photos. And if you're interested in cataloging and grouping in general, this article from Evil Mad Scientist Labs is worth a read.

Elese's wedding

2007-06-22T21:24:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

I'm significantly late posting these pictures - my sister is staying with me, and those aforementioned computer problems really slowed me down. But it's worth it! I found the pictures of another wedding guest online recently, and they're way better than mine (she's a professional photographer). So thanks Becky! Most of the images I've posted are hers.

Elese has been planning this wedding for a year and half. I was incredibly impressed with her level of organization - she seemed relaxed and calm throughout the several days leading to the actual event. It was a four day affair, which worked out well - by the time the wedding rolled around, I felt like I knew all the guests.

The trip actually felt like a vacation, too - we had highly social nights and relaxing days. Here are Elese's mom and Becky (another Becky, my roommate) hanging out and getting pedicures.

The Little Guys

2007-06-22T21:17:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by beckythale.

These are the groom's brothers and nephew. I loved that little one in the middle - he consistently looked exactly how I felt. Let's face it, North Carolina is hot.

The guys

2007-06-22T21:15:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by beckythale.

That's the groom in blue.

Placecards

2007-06-22T21:12:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

These were my creative contribution to the wedding (the cutting of the cards). I'm thrilled with how they came out!

Elese, on her way down the aisle

2007-06-22T21:09:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by beckythale.

The Wedding Party

2007-06-22T21:07:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by beckythale.

Darrell

2007-06-22T21:07:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by beckythale.

Happy Birthday Gabe!

2007-06-18T19:49:00.001-07:00

Gabe's party marks the second out of town birthday I've made it to this year - as I (and most of my friends) are turning 30, I suspect there will be a few more. If you live in New York, he's a great guy to know.

(The symbolism of the chocolate lamb is lost on me, but I love the photo.)

Please back up your files

2007-06-18T19:46:00.000-07:00

My computer died last week, necessitating a fairly long break from blogging. Everything is almost back to normal, but it's been a harrowing ordeal. If you're not already backing up your files, please do so! External harddrives and online storage are quite cheap these days.

May 2007 Book Reviews

2007-06-02T17:22:00.000-07:00

Several of the books on my library queue showed up this month, all at the same time. I've been reading quite a bit, trying to get through them.

1. Talking with My Mouth Full, Bonny Wolf, Rating: 3.7
Entertainment Weekly ran an article last fall about the best in food writing and food memoirs. Some were certainly not the best (I found Madhur Jaffrey's Climbing the Mango Trees unreadable), but several have been worthwhile. This particular book is perfectly fine - it's fun to read, has funny anecdotes and personal details, and passes the time well. It's a good summer beach book for people that like food.
2. Low Life, Luc Sante, Rating: 2.3
Low Life is a history of New York City's underbelly - the gambling, corrupt cops, tenements, prostitutes, etc. While a wonderful premise for a book, the execution rarely rises above the level of a catalog. Each chapter is basically a list (Smelly Joe did X on Houston, rival gang leader did Y on Broadway), making for horribly tedious reading. The one chapter I did like was about the draft riots. If you're interested in New York history, I'd recommend the PBS documentary ("New York") instead.
3. The Castle in the Forest, Norman Mailer, Rating: 4.2
Norman Mailer is a remarkable writer - advanced age certainly isn't slowing him down. This novel (about Adolf Hitler) is bizarre, at times quite dirty, and impossible to put down. It bears more than a passing resemblance to some of Neil Gaiman's books (the narrator is a devil who interacts with the Hitler family).
4. Ask Again Later, Jill Davis, Rating: 3.0
I wrote "fairly standard chic lit" in my book journal when I finished this 10 days ago. Given that I've already forgotten most of the plot, I think that it's an especially appropriate summary.
5. Medicus, Ruth Downie, Rating: 3.7
Ruth Downie was interviewed on NPR recently. She has a lovely British accent and sounds like a kind, sensitive person. She has raised several children and only began writing seriously in late middle age (this is her first novel). The interviewer made a big deal of how readable the novel is, and also how it accurately represents what it was like to be a doctor in the roman era. The first claim is certainly accurate; the second is probably a stretch (very little doctoring actually happens). It's a pleasant book.
6. Chinese Lessons, John Pomfret, Rating: 4.0
John Pomfret has spent most of his adult life in or around China, starting with a year during college in the early 1980s. This book chronicles the rise of modern China through the stories of his classmates. It's fascinating - and deeply disturbing. I'd definitely recommend reading this.

Alibris

2007-05-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

I just started writing email newsletters for Alibris (thanks Jason for the recommendation!) - the first should be sent out next week. If you like books, I'd recommend signing up. Being a site specializing in used and new books, they're not locked in to recommending new releases. I've had a lot of fun digging through my book archives to find some great classics.

Flying Overhead

2007-05-19T18:20:00.001-07:00

My dad took Adam and I up for a flight over Napa and Sonoma last weekend. This is the Sonoma coastline, near Bodega Bay. I really loved it, especially given how much time we've been spending camping in that area lately. It's very cool to see how it all comes together - and also to see how much open space is still out there. If you look closely at this photo, you can tell that the road ends at that house in the center, but there's a fire road that extends past it, hidden from view. I'd definitely like to go check that out.

April 2007 Book Reviews

2007-05-12T19:09:00.001-07:00

Sorry for such a long delay on this post! I actually wrote it last week, and then blogger crashed and the post was lost. Ugh. It's taken a while to find the motivation to write it again. It was an great month for books, though.

1. One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Rating: 4.7
As best as I can remember, I read this for the first time in 2001 or 2002. I liked it well enough, but just couldn't quite see why people were so enthusiastic about it. Adam read it on our Colombia trip, and I decided to give it another try when he finished. Wow - it's incredible! I was completely absorbed and couldn't put it down. I think it must have been too young, or found it too different, or... something. Who knows. If you haven't read it recently, I definitely recommend giving it another try.
2. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse, Louise Erdrich, Rating 4.3
This is the third book I've read by Erdrich in the past year (read about the other two here and here), largely because I continue to be incredibly impressed by her writing. While her novels are mostly set in the same geographic area, her plots and characters are wildly different. This story, the first of her books to reach a wide audience, includes a cross-dressing priest, fake saint, a shoot-out, and 100 years of history. What's not to love?
3. Alternatives to Sex, Stephen McCauley, Rating: 1.3
I think I can credit Entertainment Weekly for this recommendation - clearly the reviewer read the jacket but never cracked the book open. What is the Alternative to Sex? Real estate. There are a number of genuinely witty lines throughout, loosely held together by some truly god-awful prose. Seriously, reading this book is like spending an entire day at the dentist. Just say no.
4. The Thin Place, Kathryn Davis, Rating: 3.2
Davis is a gifted writer, able to very quickly create highly atmospheric, slightly surreal worlds. This collection of somewhat disjointed vignettes is lovely and involving, but doesn't quite come together. This book wasn't for me, but I'll certainly try to read one of her novels again.
5. Angle of Repose, Wallace Stegner, Rating: 4.9
Yes, 4.9! This book is making the top 10. I LOVED it. Couldn't put it down. Cried a few times. Got out a map so I could visualize the places that were described. The introduction claims that it was voted "the best book about the west" in the San Francisco Chronicle, and I have to say I agree. It's largely set in the 1870s-1890s in various places west of the Mississippi, is largely based on the life of a real person, and it won the Pulitzer. You'll have to read it to find out more.

Austin Creek

2007-05-09T18:20:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

We made another camping trip this past weekend. While not one of our most successful, the campsite was spectacular. That's a pond right below our spot (complete with bullfrogs and fish, and turkey vultures above). It's a neat park, or rather two - you enter through Armstrong Redwoods state park, which has expansive old-growth redwoods, and after several miles enter Austin Creek, which is higher and has a vastly different landscape. It's about 3 miles north of Guernville in Sonoma County; 30 minutes drive from Goat Rock Beach and Jenner to the west.

We took a fairly strenous 4 mile hike (lots of up and down climbs) in the Austin Creek portion. You could probably do it as a day trip, but the camp is so lovely it's nice to stay for the night.

Strolling

2007-05-09T18:14:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Along the trail

2007-05-09T18:13:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Orange County

2007-05-01T20:48:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

We returned from a quick trip to Orange County last night. It was Elese's wedding shower, and a good excuse to get away for a long weekend. Elese lives in North Carolina now, so our relationship consists of these little trips, most of the time in places neither of us live. It's actually sort of nice - we're always on vacation when we see each other.

Adam and I planned on having Sunday and Monday to laze at the beach, but our plans quickly changed...

Day Two

2007-05-01T20:44:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

The coast was fogged in, so we headed inland. Our choice was almost completely random - we were looking for a National Park away from any of the main routes near Palm Springs (to avoid all the traffic leaving Coachella). We ended up at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, apparently the largest State Park in California, and definitely a new favorite for me. The hike we took, while punishingly hot, was varied and packed with wildlife and unusual succulents. Adam thinks it was the best hike we've been on all year.

I also LOVED eating dinner outside in 80 degree weather. That's the life.

Another fine specimen

2007-05-01T20:39:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

This one is about 15 feet tall.

The First Oasis

2007-05-01T20:38:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Day three

2007-05-01T20:37:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

As I mentioned above, it's really hot out there in the desert. We googled "Swimming hole" and found the trail to Cedar Creek Falls. It's roughly 12 miles south of Julian (a darling mining town worth visiting in its own right). The way down, and the pool at the end, are well-worth the effort; the way up was brutal. 2 miles uphill in 90-degree heat was tough. I'd do it again, though.

A Wee Dragon on the Trail

2007-05-01T20:33:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

The Reward: Cedar Creek Falls

2007-05-01T20:32:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Craft Magazine Interview + Free Pattern!

2007-04-22T18:50:00.000-07:00

Craft magazine posted a feature on my Crochet to Go Deck on Friday! You can check it out here. The editor, Natalie Zee Drieu, did a beautiful job. There's a link to a free pattern (the cover wrap top), too. You'll also find an interview with yours truly, with everything you ever wanted to know about the first project I crocheted, favorite patterns, and what I'm making next.

Sugarloaf Ridge

2007-04-16T18:03:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

This was our campsite. Directly to the right and behind: a creek. Down the path behind the picnic table: a wide flat area for a tent. To the left: a huge open field, complete with deer.

Our Guide to Northern California Camping gave this campground 5 stars (out of 10), but I think I'm going to have to reevaluate their rating system. Yes, it lacked showers, and a convenience store. But the trail head was 50 feet away, our neighbors out of sight, and the scenery beautiful. It was one of my favorite camping spots so far.

To get there, drive to Sonoma, then head north on the 12 for about 15 minutes. You'll pass a number of wineries - we stopped at Imagery, which had lovely crisp whites and a perfect pineappley dessert wine. Try to get a campsite on a Saturday, which is the "public" day for the adjacent observatory. We saw Saturn and several star clusters.

March 2007 Book Reviews

2007-04-07T17:29:00.001-07:00

How do you choose what to read while you're on vacation? It's frequently a complicated decision for me. 1) It must be lightweight and smallish - we don't check luggage unless we absolutely have to. 2) It needs a strong narrative and should be fairly "easy" - I don't want to work while I'm on vacation, and it should be capable of keeping me entertained on a long flight. 3) It needs to be mine, and I have to feel comfortable with it getting ruined by getting splashed at the ocean, covered in sand, etc. 4) It needs to be long. Or I need to bring several books.

On to the books:
1. Lost Nation, Jeffrey Lent, Rating: 4.5
A western in the Cormac McCarthy vein - complex, bloody, cruel and unforgiving. Lent's characters are beautifully realized and you get to know them intimately, despite the fact that their lives are far removed from anything we'd ever experience today.
2. There is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey to Rescue Africa's Children, Melissa Fay Greene, Rating: 3.5
Greene has written the story of AIDS in Ethiopia, intertwined with the story of a single woman who (somewhat accidentally) became a major player in international adoption and continues to care for and house dozens of AIDS orphans. The book is well worth reading simply for its smart and thorough overview of the AIDS crisis in general and the plight of Ethopians specifically. The story of this single woman at times feels forced and artificial - an attempt to give a "human center" to the narrative - but it's still an admirable and educational book.
3. The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco, Rating: 3.2
This is the book I chose for my recent vacation. It met criteria 1, 2, and 4, and seemed promising for #3 - the jacket made it seem like a high-brow version of The Da Vinci Code. Which actually is fairly accurate - really high-brow. Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing work. Clearly Eco is a smart guy: to quote the anonymous writers on wikipedia, "Eco is particularly good at translating medieval religious controversies and heresies into modern political and economic terms so that the reader can appreciate their substance without being a theologian." It's a very dense, slow-going, deeply educational work - not very entertaining at all. Sure, read it, but don't pack it.
4. Sophie's Choice, William Styron, Rating: 4.3
Our hotel in Colombia had a wall of English-language titles, with an odd mix of political theory, romance, mystery, and 70s-80s bestsellers. I traded in my copy of The Name of the Rose for this, which again seemed to meet the criteria above. And - it did! Wonderfully! I actually finished it the next day, 12 hours into a 14 hour travel day. I'm sure someone at some point told you what the book is about; if not, well, as the title implies there's a main character named Sophie and at some point in the story she has to make a choice. I was shocked to find the bulk of the novel is a tawdry, sexy, violent love triangle in late-1940s Brooklyn. It's fascinating and humorous and very fun. And yes, it does have a powerful climax.

Colombia

2007-03-31T14:58:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

We returned late Tuesday night from a nearly two week trip to Colombia. It was interesting, and nothing like I had anticipated. We had by far the worst travel experience I've ever been party to on the way there - it's a long story I'm sure you'd rather not hear about, involving nearly 36 hours of travel, 3 countries, 4 flights, the cancelation of all our tickets (including the ones home), and the purchase of new tickets at 1 a.m. In comparison, everything else was extremely easy.

Cartegena

2007-03-31T14:05:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

The best analogy for Cartegena I've been able to come up with is this: Venice + Cabo San Lucas. The architecture is lovely and ancient, and flowers spill from windows. The weather is balmy - even at 10 pm - and just a touch humid. The old city (smallish, a minute 15 walk from one side to the other) is surrounded by a (surprisingly low) wall to keep pirates and enemies out, with a bay and ocean on either side. Most of the time they allow cars on the narrow streets, which is a pity. On holidays they block traffic, making Cartegena an ideal city to stroll through.

Prostitutes are rampant, the city outside the walls unsafe and rundown, and harrassment from beggars a constant. The water is too polluted to swim in. It's really crowded, and expensive (prices comparable with those at home).

So...it's not perfect. But it's well worth a two day trip.

Here Comes the Bride

2007-03-31T14:04:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Doesn't she look lovely? Vero and Ryan's wedding was the reason for this trip. It was a wonderful wedding, lots of dancing, a beautiful setting. It also wins the prize for best food I've ever had at a wedding. I'm working on tracking down a recipe for the coconut rice they served.

Islas del Rosario

2007-03-31T14:03:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Traveling with a group (15 of us, at the peak) is interesting. I haven't done it since high school. We all went to the Islas del Rosario together - a national park and cluster of islands two hours of the coast of Cartegena. We stayed at the Cocoliso Resort, which I think is the second-most-classy place on Isla Grande (the bride and groom stayed at the nicer one). It's interesting - the ferry arrives around 11 am, tourists from Cartegena sunbathe and eat until 3:00, then return home. After that 3:00 ferry, the place is deserted. The first night, we + 5 or 6 staff members were the only people there. Adam and I took a bike tour of the island, which I'd definitely recommend. 850 people live there, in really poor circumstances. The hotels are walled off from the interior, so you'd never really guess what else is there.

A note on this picture: I've always been horrible at sports. Terrible. Volleyball - which I played for a year in high school - is no exception. I had laser eye surgery about 2 years ago, and I give it complete credit for my new found sports ability. I'm not good - but I can hit the ball most of the time! It's shocking.

Islas del Rosario

2007-03-31T14:02:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

This gives you a good idea of what the beaches on the islands are like. In most areas the mangroves go right to the water's edge. We took a canoe ride and found this tiny little beach - there weren't many like it. The Cocoliso had a strip of beach that was man-made (and kept in place by a wall at the water's edge).

Islas del Rosario

2007-03-31T14:02:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Islas del Rosario

2007-03-31T14:01:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Botero

2007-03-31T14:00:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia. This sculpture is in Cartegena, but it's hard to avoid seeing work by Botero in Colombia. He's everywhere. I loved the Botero Museum in Bogota. There are over 100 works - it's hard not to be charmed by them. I liked the National Museum in Bogota as well. We were really disappointed by the Gold Museum. Admittedly it's under construction, but I wasn't blown away by the collection. There's a lot of build up for the golden raft, which is at the very end of the museum. We were expecting, well, a golden raft. Which it is - a six inch long one. Not life size. In a huge, subtly lit space.

It's not a bad museum, it just didn't come to life - it was hard to visualize how people wore the stuff, made it, traded it, etc.

Bogota

2007-03-31T13:59:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Bogota

2007-03-31T13:58:00.003-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

This was taken from an overlook above Bogota. I've included it because it shows fairly accurately the air quality there - it's bad. Tons of cars, way too many people, inadequate environmental laws. Colombia is still in the "cars first" mode - pedestrians definitely don't have the right of way.

Andres Carne de Res

2007-03-31T13:58:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Hands down the best restaurant/night club I've ever been to. Seemingly without end, it was packed with hundreds (thousands?) of people, all dancing, singing, and having a wonderful time.

Zipaquira

2007-03-31T13:57:00.001-07:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Really? Are you sure?

2007-03-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is a photograph of San Francisco. In March. Actually, that's not very surprising - the weather is only nice here when it's not supposed to be. I'd like the Bay a whole lot more if it looked like this more often.

February 2007 Book Reviews

2007-03-04T20:21:00.001-08:00

I've officially overdone it - no more historical fiction or royal biographies for me. At least this month.

1. Forgetfulness, Ward Just, Rating: 4.4
I reserved this at the library after reading this in the Washington Post:
"Ward Just's thrillers are so subtle that they risk sounding dull, as though he's engaged in a battle against excess and bombast. The movement in his stories is slight, but the forces at work are tremendous. That muted power has never been more unsettling than in his new novel, a response to Sept. 11 that stretches the boundaries of an already voluminous genre."
Intriguing, right? It is an upsetting novel - it's about a man coming to terms with the murder of his wife - but it's beautifully crafted. Despite the inherant sadness of the work, it's a pleasure to read a book so skillfully written.
2. The Boleyn Inheritance, Philippa Gregory, Rating: 3.0
This book pales in comparison to the previous title. It's fine, nothing more. I found the author's postscript the most interesting thing about it. Gregory describes a character, and the qualities she worked hard to build in to her portrayal. I didn't get it at all. Did I just miss the obvious, or did the author mention the subject because she realized she hadn't succeeded?
3. Marie Antoinette: A Journey, Antonia Fraser, Rating: 4.0
It's a shame I didn't read this at the start of my French royalty phase. It's certainly the best I've found on the subject - well researched and scholarly, highly readable, deeply informative.
4. It's All Over But the Shoutin', Rick Bragg, Rating: 2.7
Billed as a memoir about (and for) his mother, Bragg writes about his upbringing in deep poverty and eventual success (he's a Pulitzer-winning journalist). I have two complaints about it. 1) Bragg continually says "You just can't understand why she [his mother] didn't stand up against her abusive husband, get a better job, try to get out of poverty, etc.]." And he's right - I don't understand. I don't have any insight into the woman at all after reading this book. 2) It's really a book about him, not her. You can almost see some editor leaning over his shoulder and saying "You haven't mentioned your mother for 10 pages. How can we work her in to this paragraph?" The end result is tiresome and forced.
5. King Dork, Frank Portman, Rating: 3.7
I liked this quite a bit. It's longer than it needs to be, and at times seems to lose sight of the plot, but it's really clever and occasionally hilarious. I can not for the life of me figure out why it's a YA novel. Is it because it's about a teenager? It's quite sophisticated and clearly well-suited to an adult audience. Maybe they thought it would get more press in the YA category? As an aside, can you see that this cover is supposed to reference Catcher in the Rye? It's pretty obvious to me when I see it on screen, but I didn't notice it on the physical version at all. It's odd - one of those times when a design just doesn't work in print form.

Camping in Big Basin

2007-02-18T19:05:00.000-08:00

We seem to talk about camping all the time, but haven't actually managed to get away since Thanksgiving. Faced with a three-day weekend (for Adam at least) and beautiful weather, we decided to try a new, semi-local destination: Big Basin. It was very enthusiastically recommended at a party recently.

Drive time from Oakland is roughly 2.5 - 3 hours (the southern route, up from Santa Cruz, is longer but much more interesting). We had some car trouble in Los Gatos, lunch at Rocky's Cafe on Highway 9, and made it to the camp headquarters by 2:30 - just in time to get one of the last campsites. As we've discovered so many times, if we decide it's a good camping weekend, it's likely that the rest of the Bay Area feels the same way.

Saturday's hike - a heavily trafficked 2.5 hour loop near park headquarters - was perfectly adequate and not at all inspiring. Big Basin has a LOT of campsites in a very centralized area. This is great if you want to walk through the redwoods with a stroller or a cigar (or both).

But, we had a great night's sleep (yes, the "beast" guzzles gas, but it does fit a queen sized air mattress!), and were up at 8 am for a more ambitious hike on the northern boundary of the park (our route shown in white on the map; this is panel 2 of this map. Total hiking time at a fast pace = 3.5 hours. Total people seen: 7 (1 trail runner, 1 photographer, 3 camping hippies, and 2 mushroom pickers). It was great - absolutely worth the trip.

The Biggest Tree in Big Basin

2007-02-18T19:04:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Not really - but it's pretty impressive still!

The Ascent

2007-02-18T19:02:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Really, I was enjoying myself. You just wouldn't know it here...

Not a Bad View

2007-02-18T19:01:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Northern Boundary of the Park

2007-02-18T18:26:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Big Basin Campsite

2007-02-18T18:24:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Fairly nice and private, if a little small.

Yum!

2007-02-18T18:21:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Oysters

2007-02-12T19:04:00.001-08:00

Oysters
Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

As you can see, we take our cooking really seriously.

Adam and I hosted our first large-scale event with merged friend groups yesterday. It went off without a hitch - the rain even stopped for us. This platter Adam is holding definitely won the prize for best cooked oyster - you soak the oysters in an olive oil/salt/cilantro/vinegar base, then grill them in the shell, topped with a butter/ancho chile glaze. Yeah, they were pretty good.

We got the oysters - 150 of them - out at Tomales Bay Oyster Company. I can't wait to go back there on a sunny day - they have picnic tables and grills, so you can picnic right there at the source. It's out in Point Reyes, a little over an hour from Oakland.

January 2007 Reviews

2007-02-03T19:56:00.001-08:00

My library queue - which has been stalled for what seems like months - seems to be moving again. I was able to get through a few titles that have been on my "to-do" list for quite some time. There's not a loser in this bunch, either - all were great reads.

1. The Painted Drum, Louise Erdrich, Rating: 4.3
Erdrich, an author I read for the first time back in October, really has an exceptional talent. The plot is layered and complex, full of well-realized characters and interesting twists. My only quibble is the cover, which depicts a woman obviously far too young and inappropriately dressed to be the narrator, or any other character. But just ignore that, and read the book.
2. Love and Louis XIV, Antonia Fraser, Rating: 4.0
Give me another six months, and I'll be an expert on European royalty. This is one of the best accounts out there. It chronicles the life of Louise XIV, and the women that shaped his life. I found it fascinating, never tedious, and extremely well-researched.
3. Kafka on the Shore, Haruki Murakami, Rating: 4.2
I can describe all of Murakami's books in the same way - odd and fascinating - but that doesn't mean each book is at all alike. Each is odd in its own, very special way. This is no exception.
4. The Perfectionist, Rudolph Chelminski, Rating: 4.1
I realized recently that I'm swiftly heading towards the day when I'll read more non-fiction than fiction (this assumes that we consider memoirs non-fiction). It's a few years off, but coming. The Perfectionist is a prime example of what's pulling me over - carefully researched, packed with interesting information, beautifully written, and "worthwhile" - you feel like you learned something by reading it. It's the story of Bernard Loiseau, 3 star chef, and the Michelin rating system. If you like food and France, you'll enjoy this book.
5. Between Meals, A.J. Liebling, Rating: 3.8
This was a lovely follow-up to The Perfectionist. Liebling, a deceased New Yorker writer, published this collection of articles near the end of his life. The subject: eating in France. Most of the narrative concerns the late 1920s, when he was a student in Paris. Liebling considered himself a "feeder" - not a gourmet - and describes the truly massive meals he ate on a regular basis. Here's a funny little tidbit about the author: He worked briefly in the sports department of the New York Times, and was fired for listing the name "Ignoto" (Italian for "unknown") as the referee in results of games.

More East Bay Parks

2007-01-29T18:53:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Continuing our series of weekend walks, this picture is from Joaquin Miller Park, conveniently located roughly 8 minutes by car from the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland. Not bad, right? 500+ acres of redwoods, hardy any people, and (I imagine on a clear day) really good views of the bay. Apparently there are regular concerts in the park, too. Last Season they offered The King and I, of all things.

We did this hike.

Joaquin Miller Park

2007-01-29T18:47:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Pink Party

2007-01-28T18:04:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

There aren't enough theme parties these days. Sonya's birthday party was "pink", including the cocktails. She also made everyone wear nametags, which was really great. None of that "I know I should know who you are..." guessing game. May there be more parties like this in the future.

Karl's 30th Birthday

2007-01-22T19:30:00.001-08:00

Karl's 30th Birthday
Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Adam and I logged in 900 miles of driving time this past weekend - Oakland to Los Angeles to Santa Barbara to San Francisco. Other than a flat tire in Malibu, it was smooth sailing. Thanks Karl for providing an excuse to head south - and kicking off the year of 30th birthday parties that seems to be upon us.

A Dog's Life

2007-01-22T19:27:00.001-08:00

A Dog's Life
Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Not that the Bay Area's awful or anything, but this is the dog beach in Santa Barbara. Can you imagine what the people beach looks like? Sometimes life just doesn't seem fair.

Lafayette Reservoir

2007-01-17T19:16:00.001-08:00

Lafayette Reservoir
Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Here's another east bay find (thanks to Lisa for taking me here originally). The Lafayette Reservoir is a 10 minute drive from Oakland, has a well-groomed hiking trail, allows dogs, and has a fairly interesting nature walk with lots of native plants (ask at the gate for a plant guide).

Life is a little too busy lately - we're planning a lot of trips, and working too hard - so I'm trying to get the most out of my immediate surroundings. Next time we'll check out the reservoir's border trail, which looks a bit less tame (and hopefully less crowded).

December 2006 Book Reviews

2007-01-14T17:56:00.000-08:00

Better late than never?

1. Queen of Fashion, Caroline Weber, Rating: 2.5
I made the mistake of thinking this would be a "fun" read - Marie Antoinette, seen through a fashion lens. It's a serious, scholarly, extremely well researched and documented look at her life (it includes 120 pages of footnotes and citations). The author's credentials are serious and I admire her effort; the actual work is really dry. And the biggest problem? She describes clothing very poorly. I finished the book and still don't have a clear idea of what the clothes actually looked like.
2. The Scroll of Seduction, Gioconda Belli, Rating: 3.0
Another look at European royalty, this time Juana the Mad of Spain. There's little published (in English, at least) about this interesting woman, supposedly driven mad by her husband's wandering eye. My biggest quibble with this account are the utterly unbelievable liberties the author takes to flush out the story. Rather than creating a 3 dimensional character, Belli creates a caricature.
3. Middlemarch, George Eliot, Rating: 3.9
Middlemarch is funny and sharp, even biting at times. There's clearly an agenda from the get-go, and I found it interesting how she focused people to display that how they really are, and how they are perceived by others, are so often different. The book is long - it was a struggle at times to finish - but worth the effort.
4. The Texicans, Nina Vida, Rating: 4.1
After a slightly bumpy start, this short, compelling novel swings into high gear, detailing the lives of numerous characters with intersecting lives. It's fun.

Sabine in Repose (Overhead View)

2007-01-14T13:47:00.001-08:00

Sabine in Repose (Overhead View)
Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Berkeley Pier

2007-01-04T18:36:00.001-08:00

Berkeley Pier
Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Have you ever been out there? It's one of my favorite spots in the east bay. This is the view from the end of the walkable portion. The original pier was 3.5 MILES long (3000 feet are currently safe to walk on). Pretty impressive, especially if you consider that the Bay Bridge is only 5 miles long.

The Chase

2007-01-04T18:32:00.003-08:00

The Chase
Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

The Battle

2007-01-04T18:32:00.001-08:00

The Battle
Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Triumph

2007-01-04T18:31:00.001-08:00

Triumph
Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

Book Stats 2006

2007-01-01T13:36:00.001-08:00

Philadelphia

2006-12-30T11:18:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

We got back late Tuesday night, after numerous delays, layovers, and weather problems. Philadelphia was very relaxing. We slept more than I've done in months, and enjoyed the balmy weather (warmer than it is here in the Bay - something's very wrong with that). Adam's mother's house is a bit of a zoo (in the good sense). In addition to two cats and a dog, there's a turtle that roams the house. Outside are numerous deer, squirrels, and 14 turkeys.

Baby the turtle and Jackson the dog

2006-12-30T11:15:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.