Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
July 3rd, 2014
Here is an entry from my travel journal when Xavier and I were in California:
Up at 6am and leave for San Jose by 7:20 - arrive 8/8:15ish - parky lot is empty and The Winchester Mystery House opens at 9 - head down the street to The Breakfast Place til 8:55. The place seemed Latin-run and was empty til one regular showed up (as we were leaving though). Back to the Winchester House (there from 9am-12:30pmish).
Mansion tour at 9:20 with a large group of like a dozen people led by Wayne! who is either from NY or Boston (he says gah-din instead of garden) & is an utter delight. He tells us that he is naturally very cheery and therefore wldn't make a very good undertaker. A nice woman with short grey hair and a floral top in her late 40s said my Jump From Paper knock-off purse was "Just as cute as it can be" & asked Xavier about his Pursuit of Hoppiness shirt - she gave him a thumbs up. So nice!
-Saw 110 of the 160 rooms in the house
-Mrs. Winchester played the piano, organ, and violin
-the rooms were mostly empty b/c the furniture had been sold anonymously at auction after Mrs. Winchester passed away. The Tiffany windows were fabulous but I was hoping to see more weird rooms or steps to nowhere. Oh well.
-the sinks were slanted so the water stayed leaning to the drain and didn't waste water.
-Mrs. Winchester was very clever and Wayne told us that there were no blueprints because Mrs. Winchester designed the house as she went along.
Wayne told us that the plaster walls were originally there for insulation and people don't realise that it came about for a purpose, not just to look good - like hair. It's there to keep you warm but we style it. Me: "So what you're saying is you like my hair." Wayne: "Yes, I do." (smile!)
After the tour and everyone left, I shook Wayne's hand and thanked him. I asked what four languages Mrs. Winchester spoke - English, French, Turkish, Spanish - she was very well educated. Education was to make the women more desirable for a better husband. Wayne told me and Xavier that he wouldn't get married (if he were a lady back in Mrs. Winchester's time) and be someone's property - have children and lose his gorgeous figure. I said, "You'd be the spinster aunt?" Wayne: "No - I'd have fun, travel, and see the world. I'd be a bitch." Me: "You'd be a sassy, hot bitch."
Next up!
The Behind the Scenes Tour at 10:40 with Jim. Ugh - we're supposed to wear hard hats. I just hold it above my spikes so as not to flatten m'hair. This tour was kinda dull, Jim is nice but lacks Wayne's pizzazz! (sp?) Until...we reach the furnace room and unlock a childhood secret about...The Clinker!! A clinker is a loose, black deposit consisting of coal. The coal burns and the waste that doesn't is metallic and molts together in a clump then bangs around the furnace making a loud clinking sound inside the furnace and can be heard thru the pipes all over the house. A Christmas Story secret revealed!! - "It's a clinker!!!"
Tour the garden, which is lovely, and take pix - hit the gift shop then to Carl's Jr. in Santa Clara.
Back to Prentiss by 2:15 to relax. Facetime with Mum at 2:40ish - watch the beginning of Ghostbusters - get stuff out of the car and meet 98 year old Joan from the pink house next door to Josh & Virgine. Yeah, she thinks I'm Virgine. She's nice but with a dodgy memory and totally overshares. A lot. She moved here in 1954 and raised three kids - her husband left her after six years but said he'd leave the kids his money but she'd have to raise them. This went on for at least 20 minutes til Xave rescued me. I leave him w/Joan and run inside and grab my stuff for our evening. Finally manage to get in the car and wave goodbye. Later Xavier told me that she said, "The gay men are nice but the girls are, you know...I tell them not to touch me." Very matter-of-factly Xavier says to me, "Really? You're a disgusting old hag. Nobody wants you." Ha! Drop postcards off at the Bernal Heights USPS on Tiffany Street then drive to Anchor Brewery. The last tour was at 1pm and they don't even have a place for Xavier to have a glass and try their beer. Lame. Go to Speakeasy at 4:30ish (so Xave can try their brew - he gets to chat with some locals and his disappointedness (hey - I made up a word!) about Anchor Brewery starts to fade.)
Head down to the Castro Theatre at 5:30 - park on Market St. again - head down to Castro St. and Xave and I wait outside the weird outdoor public loo that's very English looking (this time it's Xave that needs to peepod and not me!) - chat with two ladies waiting and decide to abort and try the loo at Marcello's Pizza - arrive and see the line at the theatre across the way and head straight over. Chat in line with the two people in front of us (Filipino perhaps?) - his wife's name is Rita and the woman he was with was older than Rita's hubby (I can't stand that I was too embarrassed to ask their names - but it's like is an introduction necessary since we will only be chatting for ten minutes and then never again?) and maybe the lady was his cousin or cousin-in-law? She's from San Diego.
Get tickets at 6:15ish and sit in the back row - Rita's Hubby and Diego Cousin wind up coming in later and sitting in the row in front of us! - The lights dim and the Wurlitzer and its player emerge from beneath the stage and play from 6:55-7:15 - lots of classic George M. Cohan songs and ends with I Left My Heart in San Francisco. Jaws from 7:20-9:25 in 35mm and was awesome! After, we head across to Marcello's so Xavier can grab a slice - hit the car - back to Prentiss - finish Ghostbusters and to bed by 10:30pm.
Up at 6am and leave for San Jose by 7:20 - arrive 8/8:15ish - parky lot is empty and The Winchester Mystery House opens at 9 - head down the street to The Breakfast Place til 8:55. The place seemed Latin-run and was empty til one regular showed up (as we were leaving though). Back to the Winchester House (there from 9am-12:30pmish).
-Mrs. Winchester played the piano, organ, and violin
-the rooms were mostly empty b/c the furniture had been sold anonymously at auction after Mrs. Winchester passed away. The Tiffany windows were fabulous but I was hoping to see more weird rooms or steps to nowhere. Oh well.
-the sinks were slanted so the water stayed leaning to the drain and didn't waste water.
-Mrs. Winchester was very clever and Wayne told us that there were no blueprints because Mrs. Winchester designed the house as she went along.
Wayne told us that the plaster walls were originally there for insulation and people don't realise that it came about for a purpose, not just to look good - like hair. It's there to keep you warm but we style it. Me: "So what you're saying is you like my hair." Wayne: "Yes, I do." (smile!)
After the tour and everyone left, I shook Wayne's hand and thanked him. I asked what four languages Mrs. Winchester spoke - English, French, Turkish, Spanish - she was very well educated. Education was to make the women more desirable for a better husband. Wayne told me and Xavier that he wouldn't get married (if he were a lady back in Mrs. Winchester's time) and be someone's property - have children and lose his gorgeous figure. I said, "You'd be the spinster aunt?" Wayne: "No - I'd have fun, travel, and see the world. I'd be a bitch." Me: "You'd be a sassy, hot bitch."
Next up!
The Behind the Scenes Tour at 10:40 with Jim. Ugh - we're supposed to wear hard hats. I just hold it above my spikes so as not to flatten m'hair. This tour was kinda dull, Jim is nice but lacks Wayne's pizzazz! (sp?) Until...we reach the furnace room and unlock a childhood secret about...The Clinker!! A clinker is a loose, black deposit consisting of coal. The coal burns and the waste that doesn't is metallic and molts together in a clump then bangs around the furnace making a loud clinking sound inside the furnace and can be heard thru the pipes all over the house. A Christmas Story secret revealed!! - "It's a clinker!!!"
Tour the garden, which is lovely, and take pix - hit the gift shop then to Carl's Jr. in Santa Clara.
Back to Prentiss by 2:15 to relax. Facetime with Mum at 2:40ish - watch the beginning of Ghostbusters - get stuff out of the car and meet 98 year old Joan from the pink house next door to Josh & Virgine. Yeah, she thinks I'm Virgine. She's nice but with a dodgy memory and totally overshares. A lot. She moved here in 1954 and raised three kids - her husband left her after six years but said he'd leave the kids his money but she'd have to raise them. This went on for at least 20 minutes til Xave rescued me. I leave him w/Joan and run inside and grab my stuff for our evening. Finally manage to get in the car and wave goodbye. Later Xavier told me that she said, "The gay men are nice but the girls are, you know...I tell them not to touch me." Very matter-of-factly Xavier says to me, "Really? You're a disgusting old hag. Nobody wants you." Ha! Drop postcards off at the Bernal Heights USPS on Tiffany Street then drive to Anchor Brewery. The last tour was at 1pm and they don't even have a place for Xavier to have a glass and try their beer. Lame. Go to Speakeasy at 4:30ish (so Xave can try their brew - he gets to chat with some locals and his disappointedness (hey - I made up a word!) about Anchor Brewery starts to fade.)
Head down to the Castro Theatre at 5:30 - park on Market St. again - head down to Castro St. and Xave and I wait outside the weird outdoor public loo that's very English looking (this time it's Xave that needs to peepod and not me!) - chat with two ladies waiting and decide to abort and try the loo at Marcello's Pizza - arrive and see the line at the theatre across the way and head straight over. Chat in line with the two people in front of us (Filipino perhaps?) - his wife's name is Rita and the woman he was with was older than Rita's hubby (I can't stand that I was too embarrassed to ask their names - but it's like is an introduction necessary since we will only be chatting for ten minutes and then never again?) and maybe the lady was his cousin or cousin-in-law? She's from San Diego.
Get tickets at 6:15ish and sit in the back row - Rita's Hubby and Diego Cousin wind up coming in later and sitting in the row in front of us! - The lights dim and the Wurlitzer and its player emerge from beneath the stage and play from 6:55-7:15 - lots of classic George M. Cohan songs and ends with I Left My Heart in San Francisco. Jaws from 7:20-9:25 in 35mm and was awesome! After, we head across to Marcello's so Xavier can grab a slice - hit the car - back to Prentiss - finish Ghostbusters and to bed by 10:30pm.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Out with Bella
This Saturday was my last chance to show Bella the house on Silverside in Delaware that is super crazy fun at Christmas with tons and tons of lights. When I arrived to pick her up we goofed around with her Fuf chair and generally acted like the nutcases that we are. Before leaving I got a chance to chat with Mama Jenny and give Logan a barrel of hugs. First stop was to Panera for salad and sandwiches - always delicious! Following Panera we stopped for vegan goodies at Whole Foods then made a pit stop at Old Navy to peepod and take silly pictures. After that we were off to Silverside! It was a lil' rainy and there were only a few people milling about the property, so Bella and I could take more pictures and selfies. It was such a great day because Bell is such a marvelous and enthusiastic conversationalist and being with her is just wonderful. In December we wanna try to get a gang of us to visit the house (and make a donation to their light bill) and hopefully have the kids sit with Santa. Yes, this house has a Santa and his hours are even posted. It's a god damn winter wonderland and I absolutely love it!
Sunday, January 4, 2015
The Kaddish
I'm not religious and I wasn't raised Jewish, but at my funeral, I want the Kaddish to be read. At this point, I'd nominate Kathryn to read this. I heard it years ago in Angels in America and thought it was the most gorgeous prayer I'd ever heard.
Yitgadal v'yitkadash sh'mei raba.
B'alma di v'ra chirutei,
v'yamlich malchutei,
b'chayeichon uv'yomeichon
uv'chayei d'chol beit Yisrael,
baagala uviz'man kariv. V'im'ru: Amen.
Y'hei sh'mei raba m'varach
l'alam ul'almei almaya.
Yitbarach v'yishtabach v'yitpaar
v'yitromam v'yitnasei,
v'yit'hadar v'yitaleh v'yit'halal
sh'mei d'kud'sha b'rich hu,
l'eila min kol birchata v'shirata,
tushb'chata v'nechemata,
daamiran b'alma. V'imru: Amen.
Y'hei sh'lama raba min sh'maya,
v'chayim aleinu v'al kol Yisrael.
V'imru: Amen.
Oseh shalom bimromav,
Hu yaaseh shalom aleinu,
v'al kol Yisrael. V'imru: Amen.
Exalted and hallowed be God's great name in the world which God created, according to plan.
May God's majesty be revealed in the days of our lifetime and the life of all Israel -- speedily, imminently, to which we say Amen.
Blessed be God's great name to all eternity.
Blessed, praised, honored, exalted, extolled, glorified, adored, and lauded be the name of the Holy Blessed One, beyond all earthly words and songs of blessing, praise, and comfort. To which we say Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and all Israel, to which we say Amen.
May the One who creates harmony on high, bring peace to us and to all Israel.
To which we say Amen.
Yitgadal v'yitkadash sh'mei raba.
B'alma di v'ra chirutei,
v'yamlich malchutei,
b'chayeichon uv'yomeichon
uv'chayei d'chol beit Yisrael,
baagala uviz'man kariv. V'im'ru: Amen.
Y'hei sh'mei raba m'varach
l'alam ul'almei almaya.
Yitbarach v'yishtabach v'yitpaar
v'yitromam v'yitnasei,
v'yit'hadar v'yitaleh v'yit'halal
sh'mei d'kud'sha b'rich hu,
l'eila min kol birchata v'shirata,
tushb'chata v'nechemata,
daamiran b'alma. V'imru: Amen.
Y'hei sh'lama raba min sh'maya,
v'chayim aleinu v'al kol Yisrael.
V'imru: Amen.
Oseh shalom bimromav,
Hu yaaseh shalom aleinu,
v'al kol Yisrael. V'imru: Amen.
Exalted and hallowed be God's great name in the world which God created, according to plan.
May God's majesty be revealed in the days of our lifetime and the life of all Israel -- speedily, imminently, to which we say Amen.
Blessed be God's great name to all eternity.
Blessed, praised, honored, exalted, extolled, glorified, adored, and lauded be the name of the Holy Blessed One, beyond all earthly words and songs of blessing, praise, and comfort. To which we say Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and all Israel, to which we say Amen.
May the One who creates harmony on high, bring peace to us and to all Israel.
To which we say Amen.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Friday, January 2, 2015
A Dear, Dear Friend
After my father passed away I received lots of cards and tons of gift baskets to cheer up the family and let us know that people were thinking of us. The nicest card came from Anne who over the past decade has become one of my dearest friends.
Dearest Lisa*,
I just want to let you know how sad I feel about the loss of your father, and how much I appreciate you taking the trouble to call and let me know what happened. I'm sorry I didn't stay on the phone long, but I felt so bad for you that I was having difficulty keeping my voice steady.
Please give my condolences to everyone in your family, especially your mother, and know that I will be thinking of you until we can get together.
With love,
Anne
I just want to let you know how sad I feel about the loss of your father, and how much I appreciate you taking the trouble to call and let me know what happened. I'm sorry I didn't stay on the phone long, but I felt so bad for you that I was having difficulty keeping my voice steady.
Please give my condolences to everyone in your family, especially your mother, and know that I will be thinking of you until we can get together.
With love,
Anne
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Hello 2015!!
I never used to set goals for each new year, but I'm going to for 2015. Here they be:
-stay faithful and remain 100% vegan
-no purchasing items made in China
-let go of my anger (or at least try like hell to let go!)
-meditate and chant more often
-read at least six grown up books
-focus more on Buddhist practices and becoming a better person
-stop going for the cheap and easy joke ("Have you seen so and so?? Ew. I seen better teeth on a troll guarding a bridge." I wanna be happy and spread happiness, not nasty quips. As Morrissey sang, It takes strength to be gentle and kind...)
-keep exercising every day
-fit into that super sassy hot pink and black polka dotted rockabilly dress!!
-be nicer to Jackson, who is often very, very mean to me, and accept him as a treasure that was sent to test me (i think honestly, it's easier to completely avoid seeing him than be nice to him when he's nasty. this one is gonna be really, really tough.)
-see more of my nieces and nephews
-try to not spend so much money (I need to stop wanting to possess things that hold no value. Moments, memories, and people are more valuable than owning yet another book that will sit like a trophy on a shelf that no one sees.)
-see everything possible in Antwerp in March and don't hide in Michel's flat in fear - corragio!!!
-learn how to cook something (Even if it's only quinoa. Enlist Bishop, Mum, Anne, and Marina to help.)
-think long and hard about the Camino and work towards it
-practice Spanish!!! (I want to not be embarrassed to speak to the guys at the market, the sweet janitor at the office, and to primo Mario. Even if I mispronounce a word, I want to keep going and not feel like a failure because I don't instantly know an entire language. I need to cut myself some damn slack and go with the proverbial flow!)
-work toward getting out of debt
-let go of needing to drive that super cute Mini Cooper (Even though I would look even more adorable behind the wheel of one of those beauties. Maybe get a fun little hoopdee with decent A/C that is good on gas and looks like a high school student's first car. Accept what happens with blissful peace and be happy with whatever the outcome will be.)
-smoke less (I already only smoke about a half a pack a week, but I aspire to smoke only a few cigarettes a year.)
-donate lots more - books, clothes, anything (Release the desire to possess and let go of the things that I do not need, but someone else might.)
-oh my gosh ---> eat better, with lots more veggies and then more veggies after that
-behave in a peaceful manner
-write more, lots, lots more
-work towards seriously getting at least one of my children's books published (Unleash lil' Héctor on the world!!)
-stay faithful and remain 100% vegan
-no purchasing items made in China
-let go of my anger (or at least try like hell to let go!)
-meditate and chant more often
-read at least six grown up books
-focus more on Buddhist practices and becoming a better person
-stop going for the cheap and easy joke ("Have you seen so and so?? Ew. I seen better teeth on a troll guarding a bridge." I wanna be happy and spread happiness, not nasty quips. As Morrissey sang, It takes strength to be gentle and kind...)
-keep exercising every day
-fit into that super sassy hot pink and black polka dotted rockabilly dress!!
-be nicer to Jackson, who is often very, very mean to me, and accept him as a treasure that was sent to test me (i think honestly, it's easier to completely avoid seeing him than be nice to him when he's nasty. this one is gonna be really, really tough.)
-see more of my nieces and nephews
-try to not spend so much money (I need to stop wanting to possess things that hold no value. Moments, memories, and people are more valuable than owning yet another book that will sit like a trophy on a shelf that no one sees.)
-see everything possible in Antwerp in March and don't hide in Michel's flat in fear - corragio!!!
-learn how to cook something (Even if it's only quinoa. Enlist Bishop, Mum, Anne, and Marina to help.)
-think long and hard about the Camino and work towards it
-practice Spanish!!! (I want to not be embarrassed to speak to the guys at the market, the sweet janitor at the office, and to primo Mario. Even if I mispronounce a word, I want to keep going and not feel like a failure because I don't instantly know an entire language. I need to cut myself some damn slack and go with the proverbial flow!)
-work toward getting out of debt
-let go of needing to drive that super cute Mini Cooper (Even though I would look even more adorable behind the wheel of one of those beauties. Maybe get a fun little hoopdee with decent A/C that is good on gas and looks like a high school student's first car. Accept what happens with blissful peace and be happy with whatever the outcome will be.)
-smoke less (I already only smoke about a half a pack a week, but I aspire to smoke only a few cigarettes a year.)
-donate lots more - books, clothes, anything (Release the desire to possess and let go of the things that I do not need, but someone else might.)
-oh my gosh ---> eat better, with lots more veggies and then more veggies after that
-behave in a peaceful manner
-write more, lots, lots more
-work towards seriously getting at least one of my children's books published (Unleash lil' Héctor on the world!!)
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