my life on the e-list

plateau

2012-01-01T17:12:00.000-08:00

deery lou.
previously on the e-list…

Last night had to be one the best unexpected New Year's I've had in a long while. There's nothing like ringing in the new year with friends. Originally, I hadn't planned on doing anything that night but things just sort of fell into place.

I spent the earlier part of the day with d&j. We went to Target in search of a Christmas tree but with no luck. So instead, I bought some non-Christmas essentials. Afterward the three of us went to grab a bite to eat in Noe Valley. Then we finally had our Christmas together. Having a late Christmas is always nice. I scored some sweet gifts from the boys.

That night I had dinner with kiki & her #1 gal. I always enjoy going there for dinner. They have a way of making you feel very welcomed. After dinner we were joined by d&j as well as r&d for a round of cocktails. Around 11:40 we headed to Dolores Park to watch the fireworks. This was actually the first time I've ever watched the fireworks in SF for NYE. We had an amazing view of the them. Watching the fireworks with the city in the foreground was simply breathtaking.

There were quite a bit of people out in the park celebrating. Two guys decided to get naked and run across the park once midnight struck. How typical for SF. There was also a guy behind us you kept saying, "Holy shit, it's 2012", which has now become the official motto of 2012.

I hope everyone else had a great new year's as well. Just where will I be next is any one's guess. Happy New Year's!

stay gold & be well

mothra

2011-12-26T08:47:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

And just like that Christmas is over. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I know I did. As I've mentioned before, this was my first Christmas in SF. I was a little nervous about staying here. I thought that being alone this holiday would make me miss my family all the more. Luckily, some friends were still going to be in town and I was able to celebrate with them.

My holiday started off with a lovely Christmas Eve dinner with Butterbean & Jill. We feasted on cheese, meats, nuts, crab, ham, and cookies. We drank bubble stuff. We played scrabble. Christmas presents were exchanged. And we finished our evening watching Bitch Pudding on youtube. The evening couldn't have been more perfect.

Christmas morning like all other mornings, I awoke early. I immediately headed into the kitchen to start throwing the ingredients in the crock pot to make split pea soup. I wanted it to cook most of the day. Once that was going, I called my pops to wish him a merry Christmas. We chatted for a bit. He seemed in good spirits which was nice to hear since I'm never sure how he's going to be during the holidays. He loved the stuff that Zoe & I had sent which was an added bonus.

This was definitely a year of firsts. Instead of just talking to my sister on the phone, we had our first Skype Christmas together. My nieces and nephew opened their presents from me while I watched through the computer. Then my sister and I opened our gifts. It's not the same as being physically together but it's a great alternative. I snapped a picture of my sister's family to capture the moment. :)

The rest of my Christmas day was spent relaxing, eating, & watching TV. My split pea soup turned out to be simply delicious. I ate two bowels, stored some in the fridge, and froze the rest. My evening came to an end with me watching The Sound of Music. I still love that movie. So now I've officially created my own Christmas traditions. I can't wait until next year. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

my Christmas loot
1. money
2. gift card
3. steamer
4. frother
5. Jonathan Adler design book
6. sleep pants
7. Jersey Boy tee
8. Robin figure
9. Samuri action figure (gift to myself)
10. Gypsy Witch fortune telling cards
11. and lots of stocking goodies

What did you get?

stay gold & be well

what a wonderful world

2011-12-24T09:50:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Ah, Christmas Eve is upon us. This will be my first Christmas that I spend in San Francisco. Usually, I go home this time of year but since I went home for Thanksgiving I decided to stay put. I think that's part of the reason why I've been filled with "Christmas Spirit" this year. I'm looking forward to starting new traditions. I'm having some friends over tonight for Christmas Eve dinner then will most likely spend my Christmas morning on Skype with my sister opening presents. You've got to love technology.

This time of year is always hard. I've been thinking about my mom a lot lately and all the Christmases we spent together as a family. She always had the house decorated for the holiday making it feel like a magically place. Christmas definitely hasn't been the same without her. However, I'm truly thankful for the memories of Christmases past and for the all people I have in my life. I hope that everyone has a wonderful & magical holiday. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

stay gold & be well

Dad & Mom, Christmas 2000

christmas wrapping

2011-12-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.

previously on the e-list…

Happy Holidays!

stay gold & be well

still ill

2011-12-22T09:45:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.

previously on the e-list…

Wow! There's only three days left until Christmas and I haven't even blogged about my Thanksgiving trip yet. I'm going to do my best to catch up so that I can begin 2012 on track with my blogging. Hopefully, it'll be more eventful than 2011. Perhaps it's time for me to create my own fun. Anyway...on with the blog.

I spent my Thanksgiving break in South Florida, Orlando, & Atlanta. All around it was a great trip. I got to spend time with both family and friends. What more could one ask for. My trip started off in South Florida where I spent a few days with my sister and her family before I drove up to Orlando. HP that me crash at her pad while I was in town. She's always a great host. The day I arrived HP & I went to Hurricane's to have lunch with some old high peeps. It was great to be able to catch up with them while drinking some ice cold beer.

That night, HP, Kat, & I drove to New Smyrna Beach for an evening of F.U.N with Jill T. It was a night of drinking & dancing our way through the town. In the morning we went to Toni & Joe's for breakfast where Farrah became an instant hit. She's always the talk of town. Later that day, HP & I met Jill G. for lunch and hung out a bit.

On Monday, I met up with my sister's family for a day at Disney. It's been a long time since I was at the Magic Kingdom. It was day filled with long lines and fun rides. I almost forgot how exhausting a day at Disney is.

On Tuesday, we packed up the car and headed to Atlanta for Thanksgiving. The drive was pretty uneventful until we hit traffic and rain outside of Atlanta. We spent the rest of week at my aunt's house for the holiday. The days were filled with family, friends, food, and lots of drink. I can't think of a better way to spend the holiday.

We headed back to South Florida early Saturday morning. The following Sunday my sister and I took the little ones to Hollywood Beach. It was gorgeous day. There's nothing like having lunch and beers while looking at the ocean. My sister and I spent Monday and part of Tuesday doing marathon Christmas shopping. We basically knocked out all the gifts for the little ones. We are so good! My flight back to SF left Tuesday night which ended up getting delayed due to the heavy fog in SF. Go figure!

That pretty much wraps up my Thanksgiving Holiday. I hope every one had as good of a holiday as I did.

stay gold & be well

gone!

2011-11-07T19:28:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.

previously on the e-list…

It's beginning to get cold out and I like it. I feel so invigorated when it's cold. Not really sure why but I do. It might have something to do with the air being so crisp. Or perhaps I'm just glad to bust out my winter coat again. I feel like I blinked and fall was gone. It didn't seem like we had much of a fall this year. One day I was wearing shorts and the next thermal underwear. The longer I'm in SF, the more I miss fall in New England. There's something about seeing the leaves change color that brightens up my day. While walking around Stowe Lake the other day I noticed that most of the leaves had already changed. They were a golden yellow. The reflection of the yellow leaves off of the lake was breathe taking. I'm so glad that the park is so close to my house. Being in nature is quite nice at times.

It's the 7th of November already. I leave for vacation in nine days. I'm so excited. It'll definitely be nice to get away from work for a while. I'm very thankful to be working but that place is bringing me down. Hopefully a bit of a break is what I need. I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with some old friends as well as spending Thanksgiving with family.

For the most part, my Halloween was quite uneventful. It basically consisted of a school party. The students seemed to enjoy themselves and I did manage to throw together a costume at the near last minute. Last Diaso! You're a life savor.

Some things I learned this past month:

1. red velvet cake ice cream is awesome!

2. I didn't lose my creativity, it was just dormant

3. Han Il Kwan is still one of my favorite spots

4. photographing dolls is hard

5. last minute dinner with a friend rocks

6. eating chocolate covered pretzel pieces at 2 am can't be good

7. sleeping is my enemy

8. Whatever comics in the Castro is the place to buy comics

9. I think I have a juice addiction

10. foot massages should be done regularly

Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

pumped up kicks

2011-10-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

It was hot in the city today. Set out for my morning walk around 9 am. Stopped in Halloween City to get some inspiration for Halloween and then walked around the Mission working on my photo project. Afterwards I jetted over to Japantown for a bit. Here's are some things I saw during my outing.

Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

he's got the honey

2011-10-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list...

I'm currently revisiting my past by reading my blog posts from Korea. Some of the things that happened I can barely remember even after reading about it. I've been quite amused by some of the comments left.

Anonymous said…
you drink too much

Anonymous said…
that's why you get stomachache in the middle of the night. I'm not sure how old you are I'm guessing early 30? It'll make your skin look tired and eventually aging your skin faster. I know you do care about your skin. and staying young

Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

appalachian lullaby

2011-10-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Huegel came into the city on Friday night and we spent the evening drinking with Kiki. We started out at the Pilsner and finished the evening at Lucky 13. I've never laughed so much in my life. Those two definitely bring on the giggles. After we parted ways with Kiki, Huegel and I headed back to my hood where we made our ritual stop at the donut shop. For reason donuts always taste so good at 1 AM. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

louise

2011-10-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

The final lost drafts from my time in Korea. Here are three poems from July 5, 2007.

banana
bananas are yellow
it is delicious.
i like bananas and monky likes too.
i peeled bananas and i freezed it
and then i ate it
—charlotte

i like cookies. cookies are sweet, savory, and soft.
their shapes are circles, squares, triangles, and rings
they have chocolate, peanutbutter, cinnamon, and raisins
cookies taste very good
—caroline

play
funny computer game
funny soccer
funny basketball
with my friends
—spencer

Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

take

2011-10-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

This was taken from Paul's journal entry. I saved this blog post draft back on August 5, 2007. He was writing about playing soccer. "Today is very cock fighting."

stay gold & be well…

5 8 6

2011-10-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

I was going through my blog the other night and noticed that I had a lot of drafts from 2005-2007 that I never posted. Some of them are simply ideas for stories or poems which I'll post on my other site shot&scrawled while the others are from when I was in Korea and obviously forgot about them. So I figured it might be nice to rewind the clock and go back in time. This first post was a journal entry from Chelsea who was one of my very bright students. Enjoy!

Saturday, August 6, 2006

Today I went to an Animal Camp. But, it was Not! Very happy. Because I have to do something smelly and dirty. That dirty thing was pick up Elephant's dung and take it to the lion's garden. And next morning I saw lion was bathing the Elephant's pop. When it was over I saw a summer Slplash Parade. And i buy white tiger doll. And came back home.

Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

i enjoy being a boy

2011-10-10T20:48:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Well, my three day weekend is coming to an end. It rained all day today but at least Saturday and Sunday were quite nice. I spent most of Saturday strolling through Golden Gate Park with the boys. It was a lovely day to be out and about. We had lunch at Marnee in the Sunset which was quite good. I even managed to work on my photo project. Hopefully, I'll be posting some of the images soon.

Today, I spent my rainy day working on my portfolio. It's definitely a chore going through one's work over the past ten years. It brought back a lot of memories of my time at the magazine. I selected quite a bit and now I need to edit it down some. Earlier in the day I went to Relax Feet to get a foot massage. My feet have never felt so good. It looks as if this might become a monthly treat for me. I'm going to leave you with a picture I took of D on Saturday. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

white trash moon

2011-10-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

deery lou.
previously on the e-list…

Hello all! It's been quite some time since my last post. Seeing that I'm finally getting around to making a post, I decided to make some changes to the template: out with the pink, in with the blue. A lot has happened since my last post so this one's going to be a cliff note version of what I've been up to. Without further ado...Here's how I spent my summer [in no particular order]:

1. Busy at work with all of our summer holiday groups. Lots of high school students this year from France, Vietnam, Spain, & China. It was the longest two months ever!
2. Raised money & participated in the SF AIDS Walk

3. Went to Lawrence Hall of Science with Huegel & the boys [see photos here] as well as the Japanese Festival in Concord with the entire Huegel-Brockway clan
4. Hiked Ano Nuevo State Park with John & Derek [see photos here]
5. Attended some birthday parties, pride parties, & going away parties
6. Had dinner on various occasions with Kiki, who is a fabulous cook
7. Took a rode trip with Misty to Portland [see photos here]
8. Sang a bit of karaoke with co-workers celebrating the end of the holiday groups
9. Almost appeared in a music video but backed out
10. Purchased a new Mac which I absolutely love
11. Started exercising again
12. Discovered a new coffee spot, Trouble, on Judah near Ocean Beach
13. Began working on a new photo project [more details later]
14. In the process of finishing scanning all of my old photo albums [only 8 pages left]
15. Hanging out with friends

That's all I can remember for now. I'm sure a few things have been left out. If anything comes to mind I'll be sure to post about it.

As for this weekend, it was quite busy. I met up with John & Derek on Friday. We hit a few bars in the Castro: Twins Peaks, 440, & the old standby The Pilsner. I ventured back to the Castro on Saturday to meet the boys for brunch where I got flirted with. Although at the time I didn't realize it. I can be somewhat oblivious at times. After brunch we headed to the de Young to check out the exhibit Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso.

My favorite piece was actually not part of the exhibit but a print that was on a mini-journal they were selling in the gift shop. It's called Enfant Jouant.

Today, I went to the Legion of Honor to check out the Dutch & Flemish Masterworks exhibit. It was the final day and the museum was pack. One of my favorite works was The Temptation of Saint Anthony by David Teniers the Younger. I was hoping they would have a postcard of it in the gift shop but no such luck. Another impressive work was Aelbert Cuyp's Orpheus Charming the Animals.

Also at the Legion of Honer was The Mourners: Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy. The sculptures were pretty amazing to look at.

Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

battery

2011-07-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.

previously on the e-list…

Here's a new segment for my blog in which I'm calling "Super Cute But Somewhat Strange Animals". I hope you enjoy.

Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

all the love in the world

2011-07-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.

previously on the e-list...

7 DAYS LEFT BUT THERE'S STILL TIME TO DONATION. Please help me raise money for thousands living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS Walk San Francisco 2011 will be held on Sunday, July 17 in Golden Gate Park.

Funds raised by AIDS Walk San Francisco enable the San Francisco AIDS Foundation to provide services that improve the quality of life for thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS and focus prevention efforts on those at greatest risk of contracting the disease. With a goal of radically reducing the number of new HIV infections in San Francisco over the next five years, the foundation is leading the way in advocating for critical policy changes in Sacramento and Washington that will ensure broader access to HIV prevention, treatment and care so people can live healthier, longer lives.

To make a donation, please visit my personal page here

stay gold & be well

wrap-around skirt

2011-07-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.

previously on the e-list…

Happy 4th to all out in the blog world. My weekend so far has been a busy one. Started it off by going to work on Saturday morning where a co-worker was shooting a music video. On Sunday I took my morning walk to the beach and then went to Ano Nuevo State Park with d&j. It was a gorgeous day in SF. Ano Nuevo is a beautiful park. If you haven't been you should definitely check it out. We hiked 2 miles to see the elephant seals sleeping. They are huge! The best part of the trip was spotting a sea otter playing out in the ocean with a seagull. I heart otters! On our way home we stopped off for some local sweets. I ended up getting olallieberry cobbler. So delicious. As for today, I have no set plans. Just going to see where the day takes me. I did manage to take my morning walk. I hope everyone has a great day. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

To view my Ano Nuevo State Park pics, click here

words

2011-06-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

July is fast upon us which also means the AIDS Walk SF will be here soon. Every year I participate in the AIDS Walk SF to help raise money for HIV/AIDS research. This year I've set my goal at $1500 and so far I've raised $950. I've very close to reaching this goal but I still need help. With only 27 days left, there is still time to donate. Please help support this wonderful cause by making a donation today. Remember, every little bit helps. To make a donation please go to Ethan Duran's donation page

stay gold & be well

this family

2011-05-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list...

Hey guys. There is still time! Please help me raise money for thousands living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS Walk San Francisco 2011 will be held on Sunday, July 17 in Golden Gate Park.

To make a donation, please visit my personal page here

stay gold & be well

the drowning man

2011-05-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

In honor of Mother's Day, I walked to Ocean Beach this morning to spend some time with my mom. It's was a beautiful morning. A perfect day for mothers everywhere. I miss and love you mom. Happy Mother's Day.

for mom

Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well…

the words that maketh murder

2011-04-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

I'm having a lazy Sunday and I like it. I only ventured out of my apartment twice today. Once for coffee and then to grab something for lunch. After yesterday's warmth I thought that perhaps summer was on it's way but the cold returned today. SF weather is so fucked up.

Last night I went to Kiki's 40th birthday bash. What a blast! Lots of good eats, drinks, & peeps. We were even lucky enough to have the guest of honor sing Save A Prayer. Birthday parties are F.U.N.! Happy Birthday, Kiki!

Earlier on Saturday I was in Concord spending time with the Huegels. I went to the boys' tee-ball game. Who knew tee-ball innings were so long. Watching the kids play was quite enjoyable. The catcher for the other time kept laying down in the dirt. The heat must have been too much for him. He eventually got pulled out of the game. While I sat there, I couldn't help but think back on my little league days. I never played tee-ball. I jumped right into little league. My first year of playing I was positioned in the outfield. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time picking wild flowers and not really paying attention to the actual game. Not much has really changed with kids today. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

maps

2011-04-12T16:33:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.

previously on the e-list…

Another birthday, another year older, and lots of awesomeness. The festivities began on Saturday with dinner at Bisou in the Castro. I had an excellent entree [scallops], a heavenly dessert [white wave], tasty apps [endive salad & escargot] and a not so awesome drink [Hard On]. Although the second drink [Fleur De Sex] I had more than made up for the sad Hard On. After dinner I was whisked away to the Castro Theater to see a cabaret show by Justin Vivian Bond. The show was pretty fantastic. I've never seen any singing performances at the Castro Theater and was not sure what to expect. JVB definitely didn't disappoint. I even got a free CD! You can't ask for more than that. The evening was finished off with some drinks at the Edge, which was supposed to have closed but I guess they decided to reopen.

On Sunday, my actual birthday, I took an early morning walk down to China Beach. Later that afternoon, I made my way to Concord to spend the rest of my day with the Huegels. I was greeted with presents from the boys. They selected toys from their personal collection to give me. How sweet is that. I was also treated to a Spiderman cake. Awesome! Eventually, we headed out for a hike. I needed to work off the pizza and cake I had earlier. All in all it was a great birthday weekend! Thanks to all of you who helped make the day a special one. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

burning (live)

2011-04-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

China Beach & Golden Gate Bridge
Taken on my birthday morning walk. More birthday adventure posts to come later. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

so you'll aim toward the sky

2011-04-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

deery lou.
previously on the e-list…

Tomorrow is the anniversary of my mom's death. I still find it hard to believe that it's been two years already. This morning I headed to the beach for my walk. As I mentioned before, my mom loved the beach so I make it a point to go there this time of year and on her birthday. I brought two gerber daisies with me to send out to sea in memory of her. From on top of the cliff, I threw the two daisies into the ocean. As I headed back, I noticed that the larger of the two had washed up on the shore. I picked it up and once again threw it into the water hoping the current would take it out to sea. Apparently this flower didn't want to go and made it's way back to the shore. I stood there waiting to see if the tide would take it out. Before I had a chance to pick it up again, a group of kids stumbled upon it and were quite excited to find it. One of them picked it up and stuck it into the sand. I watched as he wrote in the sand next to the flower. Once they left I walked over toward the flower, took a photo, and then headed home. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

question - featuring ann

2011-03-20T13:41:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

For my morning walk, I decided to head towards China Beach. With the upcoming anniversary of my mom's death, she's been on my mind quite frequently. More so than normal. It's really hard to believe that it will be three years on April 4. This is the time of year I dread the most. My birthday is so close to my mom's death it's a constant reminder. It's often hard to seperate the two. Hopefully with more time that passes it will get easier.

The beach is where I always feel closest to my mom. She loved it there. Since I've been thinking about her, I wanted to spend some time with her. There were some things that I had to say and felt that this was the perfect place for it. The ocean air is so exhilarating. It's no wonder she liked to spend so much time ocean side. I could have stared out into the endless sea for hours.

The tide was especially high due to the recent storm so I wasn't able to go to my favorite spot on the beach. I actually couldn't even get on the beach so I stood on the final step watching the waves crash against the rocks. It felt really good to be able to feel my mom's presence. And even better to be able to share my thoughts with her.

Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

the letter

2011-03-06T14:32:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Outside it's rainy & gross. It's the kind of day to order a pizza with a bottle of coke and plant oneself in front of the TV. Perhaps that's just what I'll do. At least once I finish all the other things I planned on doing today.

Butterbean & I went to Rayko on Friday night to check out their 4th International Juried Plastic Camera Show. Toy cameras are FUN! I was quite inspired by the work I saw there, so much so, that I'm thinking of joining the toy camera group with Butterbean. It's been a while since I've taken any photos with my Holga and this seems like the perfect opportunity to get reacquainted with my old friend. Speaking of my Holga, I came across two rolls of undeveloped film. I have no idea what is on these rolls but I need to take them in so I can find out. After the show, we grabbed a bite to eat at my new favorite ramen place Genki. This time I ordered a soju cocktail which was delicious. I haven't had a bad meal there yet.

On the evite for my friend's birthday it read, "Please come over for some celebratory birthday pork!" Enough said, right. Who in their right mind could ever pass up pork! Needless to say, I was quite excited about this pork possibility on Saturday night. In the back of my mind I was imagining pulled pork. What I wasn't excepting was a full pig spread out on the table Filipino style. It almost looked as if it was sculpted out of bread. I must say that it was quite tasty. Actually, all of the food that night was pretty amazing. Big Mama had brought a banana cream pie from Tartine which was out of this world. I could literally feel myself getting fat with every bite I took. It was a great evening especially because I got to spend some time with some peeps I haven't seen in awhile. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

i do

2011-02-27T11:35:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Yesterday was an absolute technology nightmare kind of day. The simply act of going out to buy a new ipod turned into an a day event. I won't bore you with all the specifics. I'm just thankfully the day is behind me and I can enjoy this gorgeous Sunday. I'm hoping to get out in a bit and take a long stroll around my neighbor. A little fresh air and sunshine is just what I need. I hope everyone else is having a grand Sunday. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

Stay gold & be well

head full of doubt/road full promise

2011-02-17T10:02:00.001-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Inspired by Glee's anthem episode, I've found my song. Here it is:

There's a darkness upon me that's flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what's wrong and what's right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I'm frightened by those who don't see it

When nothing is old, deserved or expected
And your life doesn't change by the man that's elected
If you're loved by someone you're never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it.

There was a dream
One day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid, with a head full of doubt
So I scream till I die and don't ask for those bad thoughts to find me out

There's a darkness upon you that's flooded in light
In the fine print they tell you what's wrong and what's right
And it flies by day and it flies by night
And I'm frightened by those who don't see it

The Avett Brothers

Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

you make me feel (mighty real)

2011-02-13T08:58:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Yesterday was a hard day. With everything that's going on around me, I couldn't help but think of my mom. It's quite typical for me to think of my mom on a regular basis but those thoughts are usually of happier times. There's been so much bad news lately that my mind kept wandering back to the day my mom died. I about lost it on my bus ride home from downtown. Blasting my ipod didn't seem to help at all. In order to keep myself distracted, I spent my afternoon catching up on TV shows. At least for those few hours I was able to escape my own thoughts.

The day wasn't a complete downer. That really didn't happen until I returned from Concord which was early afternoon. Friday night I went out to see the Huegel-Brockway clan. I always love going to see them. After all they are part of my extended family. The boys' birthday is coming up so it was a perfect chance for me to shower them with superhero presents. I love knowing that these two little boys love super heroes as much as I did, and still do. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

drastic actions

2011-02-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

My friends & I finally celebrated the holidays a couple of weekends ago. Here's a little something-something my secret elf stuffed into my stocking.

Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

easy way out

2011-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

I've been thinking a lot about the past; especially, in regards to my youth. It's mostly likely due to all the high school/teen dramas I watch on TV but needless to say different thoughts/memories keep popping up. One that struck me the other day was about school lunches. I can remember that Sunday's paper use to print the lunch menu for the upcoming week. I was always so excited to view the menu to determine which day I wanted to buy lunch at school. Pizza day was always a personal favorite. It's funny to think how something as simple as that would excite me and still stays with me now. This has lead me to wonder, "Do they still print the lunch menu in newspapers?" Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

to the woods

2011-01-31T09:00:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

December's photo theme is now ready for viewing.
Check it out: 20 Holiday Windows, 30 Days

If you haven't checked out these other themes from 2010 be sure to do so.
November 2010: 20 Things Thankful For, 30 Days
October 2010: 20 Scary Things, 30 Days
August 2010 [somehow I skipped this one]: 20 Orange, 30 Days

The photo theme is going on hiatus for a bit so there won't be one for January 2011. I'm pretty sure it will return at some point in 2011. Until then…

Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

leave me alone

2011-01-30T06:49:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

It's 6 a.m. and I'm up. I actually made coffee at home and am having a cup with Donny & Marie. However, they are a bit too smiley for me at this hour. I'm beginning to think my days of sleeping in on the weekends are over. Come tomorrow, when my alarm goes off for work, I'll so not be ready to get up and face work. It never fails that I always want to sleep in on the days I can't. I guess all I can do is try to enjoy the early morning or simply just watch TV from bed.

So yesterday I was up early as well. Although I did manage to sleep until 7 a.m. Yippee! As I was laying in bed, my mind started to drift back to the days when I was so excited to get up early to watch Saturday morning cartoons. I couldn't wait to watch such shows as Superfriends, Dungeons & Dragons, Scooby Doo, Laff-A-Lympics, Smurfs, Captain Caveman, etc. There were so many good cartoons on in the early 80s it was often hard to decide which one to watch especially if they aired at the same time.

In an attempt to relive my childhood, I got out of bed and turned on the TV to some Saturday morning magic. Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed. Now granted, I only get channels ABC, CBS, Fox, CW, & PBS since I don't have cable and view TV via a dinosaur that is connected to a digital converter box which makes for a much smaller selection. But there was still nothing on! At least nothing of any interest. The only stations showing cartoons was CBS, CW, & PBS. The only two had news on. Snore!! Isn't there enough news on that we don't need to be watching it at 8 a.m. on a Saturday. What happened to the days of fun-filled cartoons on every station. So much for enjoying Saturday morning cartoons. Instead, I watched Summer Palace, a depressing Chinese film. I guess that's why cable exists. To give us channels dedicated to cartoons 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Perhaps it is time for me to put the dinosaur to rest and venture into new territories. I'll have to give it some serious thought. As for now, Donny & Marie need a refill.

Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

gronlandic edit

2011-01-23T18:40:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Welcome to 2011. We are officially on day 23 of the new year and this is my first post for 2011. I have two major resolutions for myself: keep up with my blog & be more creative. Then there's always the standard resolution of "this will be the year I get in shape" but I already know how that one will go.

A lot has happened since my last post on December 12. I went to Miami to spend Christmas with my sister's family. It was a great trip. I was able to relax plus spend quality time with my nieces and nephew and my sis. I believe I've filled my quota for playing Barbies. My sister and I even managed to have a night out at the movies to see The Black Swan. Can I just say that Mila Kunis is hot!

Back in SF there was P&B's annual "Cookie Party & White Elephant" which is always fun. This year I walked away with Christmas leg warmers and the album Star Walk by Larry Graham. I don't have a clue as to who he is so I'm using the album as wall art. That same weekend as P&B's party was Adawg & the Investigator's Open House. There was quite a spread to feast on. I think I got a cavity from all the sweets. Those girls should be very happy. They have an awesome pad. Rounding out December was a New Year's Eve party at M's new apartment. It was small, intimate gathering just how I like them.

So far January has included two birthday's [Pevil's & ButterBean's], dinner out, wine bars, Badlands, yogurt soju cocktails, Christmas songs in January, two movies [The King's Speech & Blue Valentine], and our annual Elfster Gift Exchange to name a few. Yes, today we finally all gathered together to celebrate Christmas. Christmas in January is fun. My secret elf surprised me lots of goodies one of which included a Catwoman plushie toy. How excited am I!

I hope the beginning of 2011 has be good for all you too. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

hotel

2010-12-12T21:59:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Christmas came early this year as I spent the weekend celebrating the holiday with the Huegels. It was a weekend filled with close friends, two adorable twin boys, presents, games, food, super heroes, & magic elves. I was even lucky enough to be able to attend the boys' Christmas Pageant at their pre-school. It was so precious watching all these little children sing their hearts out. Before the pageant ended one little girl walked off the stage and another little boy was carried off with a bloody nose. My weekend couldn't have been any better. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well…

wait

2010-11-28T17:23:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone. I hope every one's holiday was as great as mine. I traveled to Atlanta to spend the holiday with family. This was the first time in about 10 years that I spent Thanksgiving with family. It was awesome; however, a little too short. If I do it again next year, I'd definitely like to stay a little longer. I forgot how beautiful northern GA is in the fall. It actually felt like fall walking around the neighborhood. All of the yards were covered in leaves and it was nice and brisk out. The majority of the holiday was spent on my Uncle's back deck drinking bloody marys and eating delicious food. Life doesn't get much better than that. Check out the photos from my trip here. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well…

american dreaming

2010-11-08T18:05:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

I stayed home today. I'm trying to rid myself of this nasty little cold that is trying desperately to take over my body. I've been able to keep it a bay for the most part but I feel it might be getting the upper hand. This is first time in over two years that I've called into work sick. What I realized is that it's probably a good thing I don't call in more. I have the tendency to become quite antsy and bored when I'm stuck at home all day. Even though most of my day was spent in bed, I did manage to find the energy to shop online. I have a feeling I'm not going to like my credit card bill next month. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

That Can Be Arranged

2010-11-07T14:45:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

The Bay Area definitely represented last Wednesday at the parade for the Giants winning the World Series. The usual empty streets of downtown at 7:30 am were already packed with fans as I made my way to work. I checked out the parade from work and all I got were these lousy photos. Check the set out here. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

fish

2010-11-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Well, another Halloween has come and gone. This year I did something entirely different. I went out to Concord to spend the evening with the Hugel-Brockwell clan and to watch the boys go trick or treating. Being in the suburbs on Halloween brought back a lot of childhood memories. I can remember the days of running the streets of the Knolls collecting candy from neighbors I didn't even know. I always loved Halloween as a child. Being back in a neighborhood setting has definitely put a spark back in the old fire. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

check out the photos here.

stay gold & be well…

I Can't Be With You

2010-10-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Here's a Halloween Haiku I wrote and would like to share.

Witches, ghosts, and bats
Lurking throughout the dark streets
Halloween is here

Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well…

Magic (Asadoya Yunta)

2010-10-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Happy Halloween, Everyone!

Here's to a frightfully-fun night. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well…

Detlef Schrempf

2010-10-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Sometimes I pose dolls for fun. I like to call this, Goth Rides a Black Duck. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

Mystery

2010-10-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

My new favorite snack. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well…

Last Dance

2010-10-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

A hidden gem in SF not to be missed especially if you're a Star Wars fan is the the Yoda fountain located on the Lucas compound in the Presido. The Presido is a freakin' maze onto itself. It took D & I a little bit to navigate our way. Luckily, we made it before the rain started. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

Teeth LIke God's Shoeshine

2010-10-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Gloomy rainy days are best spent indoors. That's just what I did this weekend; however, not in my apartment. At least not on Saturday. Instead, I headed to the Legion of Honor to check out the Japanesque: The Japanese Print in the Era of Impressionism. What an amazing exhibit. The folks at the Legion of Honor did a great job in showcasing the art. I fell in love with the blue room. So much so that I would love to paint a wall in my apartment that color of blue. The artwork popped against the blue wall bringing out the richness of the prints. It's amazing to think of the details that went into making these woodblock prints. I was completely surprised at how well the color has lasted over all this time. I found myself mostly drawn to the work of Hiroshige. The blues in his woodblock prints were so deep and rich. I could have stared at them for hours. Another artist I was drawn to was Utagawa Kuniyoshi, especially his piece from One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets (see below). I was quite moved by the poem on this piece which was written by Minamoto no Shigeyuki.

Here's a translation of the poem:

Like a driven wave
Dashed by fierce winds on rock
So am I: alone
And crushed upon the shore
Remembering what has been

This current exhibit lasts until January 9, 2011. If you're in San Francisco around then be sure to check it out. It's definitely an exhibit you don't want to miss. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

poison arrow

2010-10-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Here's something I overheard while sitting and drinking my coffee a few Sundays ago.
"That's why I like faggots. The more faggots there are, the more pussy for us." Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

man-sized wreath

2010-10-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Surprises. Who out there doesn't love surprises? I know that I love surprises. On Friday night, P&B took me out for my final birthday surprise. I love the fact that my birthday has stretched over five months. Extended birthday celebrations rock. My final surprise included a night out at Bourban & Branch, a throw back to the speakeasies of the 1920s. There's no name out front just a wooden door and a doorbell. After you ring the doorbell, someone comes out and asks you for the password. Yes, there was a secret password. Secret passwords are fun! The place is quite cool inside. I spent most of my evening drinking cucumber gimlets. All I can say is simply delicious. Before calling an end to the evening, P&B treated me to dinner at Dong Baek. Craving something deep fried, I went with the Kaon Poong Gi, wet fried chicken battered with spicy garlic sauce. My eyes watered just smelling it when it was brought out. None of us had been to Dong Baek before and I was pleasantly surprised with the food. It was quite good. Plus you've got to love a place that not other has good panch'an but brings out a lot of it. It was a great evening with the girls and a wonderful way to wrap up my five month birthday. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

Stay gold & be well

sciuri sciura

2010-10-15T16:41:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.

previously on the e-list...

Hey lady on the bus the other morning. Please don't clip your fingernails in public. How would you like it if I clipped my toenails on my way to work. And while I'm on a rant, I'd like to address the man from the other day as well. No one wants to hear your freakin phone conversation. You're not at home so lower your voice. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

stones

2010-10-11T11:18:00.000-07:00

deery lou.
previously on the e-list…

August's photo theme is now ready for your viewing. I hope you enjoy it. Check it out here. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well…

sweet potato

2010-09-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

If it's a sunny day in San Francisco, you can expect Dolores Park to look something like this:

Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

little motel

2010-09-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

I've been on the go this past weekend starting with dinner on Thursday night at my favorite neighborhood haunt To Hyang with kiki & amie. That place never fails to deliver. We consumed a lot of great K-food and I got to introduced the girls to my all-time favorite dish—sujebi. It was really nice to get to catch up with the both of them. I love those girls.

I met up with misty & willo on Saturday to attend the J Pop Summit in Japantown. There was definitely a lot happening and many people we dressed in their finest Harajuku fashion. I actually felt a bit under dressed. It's a good thing I was sporting my platforms.

We ventured into New People The Store to check out Ken Hamazaki's GRATEFULRED exhibit. There was a section of the exhibit where you could take a piece of art if you left something red. How awesome is that! Needless to say, I rummaged through my bag and produced a receipt from Walgreen's that was printed in red. Not only did I leave New People with some new art but I also purchased a T-shirt. Below are photos that I took.

my new piece of red art

leave something red

j pop band

I woke up far too early on Sunday, an obvious result of getting older, and made my way downtown. After stopping off at work for a bit, I decided to do a little shopping. Shopping on Sunday morning is most excellent. You definitely avoid all the crowds. The rest of my day was spent doing pretty much nothing. Gotta love Sundays. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

glass

2010-09-19T16:40:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

For all you who are keeping up with my photo group, I have two more themes for your viewing pleasure.

August's theme: Orange can be viewed here

July's theme: Summer Things can be viewed here

Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

harbour

2010-09-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.

previously on the e-list...

Once again it's time for me to play catch up. Here's a quick glimpse as to what I've been up to the past two weekends.
Friday, September 3: after work cocktails with kiki at the cinch; then grabbed some grub at Hahn's Hibachi. Rounded out the evening with some coffee. A great evening out with one of my favorite peeps.

Saturday, September 4: went to the Legion of Honor with j&d to see Impressionist Paris: City of Light. There were a few pieces that stood out. Overall, not a bad exhibit.

Sunday, September 5: off to Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley with j&d to spend time in the Botantic Gardens. I've never been up in the Berkeley Hills before so it was a brand new adventure for me. I like new adventures. Check out my photos from the day here.

Monday, September 6: spent a lazy day walking around Golden Gate Park with the boys again.

Tuesday, September 7: took the day off from work & spent my day being artsy.

And now for this past weekend.

Friday, September 10: had dinner at my favorite K-spot, To Hyang. Once again I went with the sujebi. At first the waitress told me they were out of it, so I decided on something else. Then five minutes later, she came back and said they would make it for me if I didn't mind waiting. Hell no, I don't mind waiting. This is why I love this place. You can tell it's a mom&pop kind of joint.

Saturday, September 11: ran some errands in the early morning. Later that evening went to Lafayette for a mini-cookout with misty, j&d, & butterbean. We also celebrated Misty's birthday with singing, presents, & cupcake eating. I had a strawberry cupcake that was to die for.

Sunday, September 12: spent the afternoon in the Mission with misty & j&d. We cruised up and down Valencia Street for a bit before heading off to Dolores Park. After the park, we went to Toad Hall for some cocktails. I forgot how evil Long Island Ice Teas could be.

Well, peeps. That pretty much catches you up with the e-list. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well...

smile

2010-09-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list...

Ummm...I'm not really sure what to say except that I might have nightmares after seeing this. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

can i run

2010-08-30T20:34:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Bunnies in a pink convertible. How cute is this!
Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

poker face

2010-08-25T20:20:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.

previously on the e-list...

This past weekend I ventured out to Concord to visit the Hugel-Brockway clan. The visit was part pleasure and part work seeing that I had agreed to babysit the twins Saturday night. Upon arriving at Concord BART station, I was greeted by Scott and the twins who were sitting in the car. When I got into the car, the twins told me they had a present for me. Scott immediately informed me that they were not prompted to give me the present, in fact, they had decided to give it to me on their on accord. Needless to say, I was quite intrigued as to what this present could be. The twins were quite excited about giving me this present which they had gotten from McDonald's. I knew right away that it must be a Happy Meal treasure! And I was correct! To make matters even better it was a Joker action figure that squirts water. FUN! The twins certainly know how much their Uncle E loves his superheroes.

On Friday night, Scott and I had a very chill night drinking beer and eating Korean BBQ pork. It doesn't get much better than that. We went to lunch at a Mediterranean restaurant on Saturday that had one of the tastiest falafel I've ever had. Afterwards we headed to Rock City to explore caves and Indian Holes. Check out the photos here. I spent most of Sunday floating around the pool entertaining the twins while Scott, Misty, & Joe set up their giant dome tent for Burning Man. All in all it was a very relaxing weekend. Oh, in case you were wondering, the babysitting stint was uneventful. The twins were as good as gold. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well...

forest

2010-08-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

My Saturday was literally spent laying in bed watching the Korean drama, Bad Man. I'm truly addicted. I only have 4 more episodes until I see how it all unfolds. K-dramas are great way to spend a lazy day. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

dangerous type

2010-08-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Hey blog-peeps! For those of you in the Port Orange, FL area mark your calendars for Sunday, August 22. My friend Lisa is holding the Fourth Annual Simon's Angels Family Fun Day at the Port Orange YMCA to help raise money for Pediatric Organ Transplant Families. She started this foundation in memory of her son, Simon. So if you're in the area be sure to stop by and help out a great cause. If you don't live in the area but would like to make a donation check out the site: Simon's Angels. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

we will become silhouettes

2010-08-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Thinking of you always...Happy Birthday, Mom.
I love & miss you dearly.

Barbara Lee [1963], 17 years old

Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

Stay Gold & Be Well

freaky deaky superstar

2010-08-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

june 2010's photo theme for all the world to see.
check it out: 20 reflections, 30 days

july's photo theme coming soon! just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

torque

2010-07-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.

previously on the e-list...

While searching for information about the KTown reality show, I came across a different web series based on Korea Town in LA. This one is called Ktown Cowboys. There's only 8 episodes but definitely worth a watch. Check it out here. Just where will I end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

the fire in me

2010-07-26T20:36:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

So my friend Kiki alerted me to a new reality show in the works called KTown which is suppose to be the LA equivalent of Jersey Shore. Needless to say, the minute I got home I started searching online to see what I could find out and I discovered a cast photo.

It looks as if they filmed a pilot. Here's hoping some network picks this gem up. I know I'd watch it. In the meantime check out this site for more info. Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

i hold no grudge

2010-07-11T12:31:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

Happy Sunday! By now, most of you know that I'm trying to raise money for the AIDS Walk San Francisco which is happening on Sunday, July 18. I have 8 more days to reach my goal of $2,500 and I'm gradually getting there. I still need quite a bit to reach this ambitious goal. Every year I do the walk to support friends living with HIV as well as to remember those who have passed. This is the first year I've decided to raise money and I need your help. So please help me support this great cause by making a donation. Any amount is greatly appreciated. Here's a link to my home page: ethan duran's donation page
Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

Stay gold & be well…

destroy everything you touch

2010-06-29T13:03:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.

previously on my life on the e-list...

MEOW! This just in...Catwoman is on the prowl in New York City. Check out the link below.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/weird/Cat-Woman-Thief-Strikes-Shoe-Beauty-Stores-97397949.html

Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

7 deadly sins

2010-06-06T21:41:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

may 2010's photo theme is now ready for viewing.
check it out: 20 graffiti, 30 days

if you haven't checked out the other themes from 2010 be sure to do so.
april 2010: 20 pink, 30 days
march 2010: 20 religious buildings, 30 days
february 2010: 20 things that go together, 30 days
january 2010: 20 numbers, 30 days

if you're interested in joining the photo group, let me know. just where will i end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well…
the photo theme for may 2010 is now online for your viewing pleasure

reach for the stars

2010-06-01T22:15:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

i so want a strawberry golden oreo blizzard. all i have to do now is figure out where the closest dq is. road trip anyone! just where will i end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

come a little bit closer

2010-05-30T16:39:00.001-07:00

at presido golf course

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

so far it's been an absolutely gorgeous weekend here in the bay area. the sun is out in full force and i even busted out the shorts. i had a late lunch with d&j on saturday at ppq in the sunset. this time around i went with the papaya salad and a lemon soda. so delicious. after lunch, we took a walk along the beach. i've never seen ocean beach so crowded. lots of eye candy to enjoy. today, i met up with butterbean to have brunch at ella's. i had never been there before and was quite impressed. i debated between buttermilk pancakes and chicken hash & eggs with toast. i opted for the chicken hash which was a good choice. it was rather tasty. they had homemade pineapple upside down cake on their menu but i was too full from breakfast that i didn't get any. i should have ordered a piece to go because that's all i can think of now. :) ella's isn't too far from my hood so we decided to enjoy the weather and walk back. we took a slight detour through presido park. nature, sunshine, & good friends. what more could a person ask for. it's been a great weekend so far and i still have one more day. YAY! just where will i end up next is anyone's guess?

stay gold & be well…

shark

2010-05-16T17:37:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

miss b & pevil took me out for my birthday adventure part 1. it was a great day spent with two great gals. the day started off with breakfast at brenda's where we had the sampler beignets: chocolate, plain, apples & cinnamon, and crawfish. i'm a big fan of the savory so the crawfish was by far my favorite. as for my actual breakfast, i went with the fried catfish eggs benedict. it was absolutely delicious.

after breakfast, we headed over to amc van ness to check out what movies were playing. we decided on kick-ass. the movie was awesome. definitely not what i expected and thoroughly entertaining. since we had some time to spare before the movie started, we walked down to civic center to check out the asian heritage festival. miss b & pevil sampled some wines and gave me the fancy asian heritage wine glass they had gotten. i took a little taste of the sparkling sake they tried which was pretty good.

we finished off the day with cocktails at toad hall in the castro. mr. d joined us and it was the perfect way to end the day. miss b & pevil informed me that there's one more stop to come in this birthday adventure. they haven't told me where we are going but i'm definitely looking forward to it. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold and be well…

satellite minds

2010-05-10T20:25:00.000-07:00

deary-lou.
previously on the e-list…

only in japan…
just where will i end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

automatic

2010-05-03T20:18:00.001-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

so much done in the last couple of weeks, so little time to write about them. here's a quick rundown of what my last couple of weekends consisted of: mass consumption of cheese at a birthday gathering, drinks at the eagle, brunch at the ramp, quality creative time, etc.

on a different note, d&j returned from their asian vacation bearing belated birthday gifts for yours truly. there's nothing better than asian treasures. among them was this super cool bunny bag.

the boys know how much i love bunnies and i love my new bag. they also surprised me with a very special birthday present: my very own marble tile with birthday message that's going to be placed on the base of the big buddha statue in thailand. how awesome is that! just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

too nice to talk to

2010-04-20T07:05:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

shrinky dinks! need i say more.

just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

omegaman

2010-04-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.

previously on the e-list...

on april 10, 2010, i turned 40. yes, 40. i have a hard time believing it, especially since i feel like i'm still in my 30s. a lot of people have asked me how it feels to be 40. honestly, i don't feel any different & turning 40 didn't bother me at all. age is just a number, it's all about how you feel on the inside. i embraced 40 with open arms, just like i did 20 & 30 before it. i personally feel that i look better now than i did a few years ago.

i had an awesome birthday weekend with good friends. on friday night, i had a small gathering of work friends/friend-friends at my new favorite bar/restaurant farmerbrown. i managed to kickback a few bring the beet back cocktails or as we were preferring to it later as turn the beet around. saturday it was off to golden gate park for a picnic with close friends. it was a tad chilly but that didn't damper our festive moods. i also got to catch up with an old friend from high school. i couldn't have planned a better weekend. thanks again for all the birthday wishes & for helping me celebrate my birthday. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well...

hold you down

2010-04-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

i've been thinking about my mom a lot lately. i can't believe it's been a year since her untimely death. there's not a day that goes by when i don't think of her. thoughts of her always come to mind while i'm riding muni to and from work. there are a lot of things i wish i had shared with her. i'm just thankful for all the wonderful memories i do have which seem to make my days brighter. sometimes at night, while i'm laying in bed i fear that i will forget what her voice sounds like. but then i close my eyes and i can hear it in the distance. the sound of her voice is something that i hope i never forget. memories are a wonderful thing and i'm so glad i have so many photos of her to help me remember them all.

not too long ago, i had googled my mom's name and came upon a tribute page for her on tributes.com. apparently, someone [i'm not sure who] had submitted her obit and they created this page. i was amazed to see that some people had left comments under the memory book section. it was really great to read what they had to say about my mom. since it's the anniversary of her passing, i thought i'd share this page and encourage those who would like to leave a comment to do so. click here for the page. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well...

when i die

2010-04-04T19:23:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

it's a rainy easter weekend here—sigh. i spent my weekend in concord visiting the brockway-huegel clan. luckily, i got to escape most of the rain although it wasn't as warm there as i had hoped. as always, my visit with the brockway-huegels is always good. i had cocktails with scott on friday night & then with heather on saturday night. the rest of the weekend was spent going to an easter egg hunt, shopping with heather, walking the hills, playing with the boys, relaxing [at least trying to], & reading bedtime stories. can't wait until my next visit. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

let me in

2010-03-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

"who's baby are you?" because i can. enjoy.

just where will i end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well

42

2010-03-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

yesterday, i spent a very relaxing day in dolores park with pevil & d. it was a gorgeous day. it felt really great to feel the sun beating down on me. however, the morning got off to a rocky start with 2 new students not being able to find their host moms at the airport, but once that crisis was solved i was able to kick back and relax. even though i piled on the spf 30, i still somehow managed to get red. go figure. before heading home, we stopped off for some cocktails at toad hall in the castro. they have an outside patio which is a perfect spot for afternoon drinks. i finished off my evening at misty's. she had an impromptu wine/cheese gathering. it was a pretty awesome saturday if i do say so myself. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well

mohammed

2010-03-21T13:54:00.001-07:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

I read this great tribute article this morning about margaret moth, a cnn camerawoman, who died today. She sounded like a true pioneer & an amazing woman. Along with the article, which can be found here, there were two videos from a documentary made about her "fearless: the margaret moth story". She said something in the video that really stuck with me, "I think life's sort of like a game of tennis. You have no choice over how that ball comes to you, but it's how you hit it back that counts." Just where will I end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well…

problems

2010-03-09T19:30:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

i love pam! i'm almost embarrassed to admit it but i'm very tempted to watch dancing with the stars for the first time because of her. it is pam, afterall…
just where will i end up next is anyone's guess.

stay gold & be well…

song of the disposessed

2010-03-07T10:00:00.001-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

cookies!!
are awesome
– as seen written on someone's backpack while riding the 38L muni to work

just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

alarmed

2010-03-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

this week flew by. did it even happen? i was quite busy with teaching, doing my ac duties, & taking students out on excursions.

on monday, i took a group of student to the sfmoma who just so happens to be celebrating their 75th anniversary. most of the exhibits were geared to their anniversary, 75 years of looking forward. there were three exhibits: the anniversary show, focus on artists, & the view from here. i think i enjoyed myself more than the students seeing that they were waiting for me to finish. i discovered a lot of new artists as well as rediscovered some familiar ones. with a mixture of paintings, sculptures, photography, etc., there's a bit of everything to get the artistic vibes flowing. some highlights for me included: jackson pollock's male + female; mark rothko's tentacles of memory; david parks' bathers; clyford still's untitled; bruce conner's looking glass; robert rayschen's scanning and untitled [that had an image of jesus]; arshile gorky's tracking down guiltless doves; paul klee's fast getroften; & barry mcgee's picture wall. the list could go on but i don't want to bore you too much. i also apologize in advance if i misspelled any one's name.

i was particular intrigued with nicholas nixon's brown sisters. this is a series of photos capturing the brown sisters, one of whom is his wife, since 1975 . it's quite fascinating to see how people change over time.

there was always a piece in the pop art section that i liked simply because it was of jaclyn smith. yes, i'll always be an angels fan. i forgot to write down the artist's name. it was an image of jaclyn taken from a tabloid that was blew up and the eyes had been cut out. the headline read, "jaclyn smith says..."

yesterday, i took a small group to see alice in wonderland in 3-d. as much as i wanted to love this movie, i felt that it was just ok. my expectations of the 3-d effects were quite high especially after seeing avatar but instead of amazing me they simply left me empty. the story itself wasn't that bad but again being a tim burton film i wanted so much more. it's definitely entertaining but not worth viewing in 3-d. some of the students had a hard time understanding it because of the accents. the best part of the movie was whenever helena bonham carter appeared. she's an amazing actress. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

be well & stay gold

shimmer

2010-02-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

check out this video of kirsten dunst singing the vapors turning japanese. she's so cute!

just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

crabtown

2010-02-23T19:49:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

i went to the shanghai exhibit at the asian art museum on saturday with d&j. the exhibit was pretty good although i wish it was a bit larger. the special exhibits at the aam always seem to leave me wanting more. perhaps that's a good thing. there are a few pieces that stood out to me:

mawangjui, by liu dahong
a corner of the city, by li hua
wandering eyes giving way to wandering thoughts, by wu youru
morning sun rising over the sea, by wu qingyun
plum blossoms under the moon, by tao lengyue [by far my favorite]

and then there was an area rug: rug with crested crane design

i tried to find some photos of the above paintings/rug online but didn't have much luck. two of them [wandering eyes giving way to wandering thoughts & mawangjui] are visible here. if you're in the bay area or are planning a trip be sure to check the exhibit out. it runs until september 5.

when we had finished exploring the museum, we headed over to little saigon for lunch. none of us have eaten in the area before so we just randomly picked a spot. we choose bodega bistro where we had a delicious green papaya salad with beef jerky called nom as an appetizer. let's just say, yum! i couldn't stop eating it. as my entree i had the beef stew pho which was pretty good. there were some mystery beef pieces floating around that kind of scared me but i ate it any way. the flavor of the soup was outstanding. i'd definitely go back.

later that evening i met up with some friends in the castro. we ended up having a sort of pub crawl in the 'stro hitting such spots as moby dicks, bar on church, trigger, & the cafe. things have definitely changed since the last time i've been to some of these spots. the cafe was packed with the ladies. one of them ended up grabbing me for a little bump & grind session. it felt like early college all over again when my friends & i would spend our saturday nights at barbarella's getting down to the 80s. some of the girls and i would do a little dirty dancing back then. fun times! just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

fish

2010-02-20T04:32:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

here's a mini-conversation i had with two students after noticing them standing in the hallway & sensing that they wanted to ask me something but were too shy:

me: can i help you?
[places hand over mouth and starts giggling]
student: is castro dangerous?
me: dangerous? not at all. it is the gay neighborhood, though.
[the girls are still giggling & one of them is hiding behind the door]
me: i used to live in that area and i think it's pretty safe. what are you looking to do there: dinner, a club, meet people?
[the girls are still giggling, mostly due to be embarrassed.]
student: see gays!
me: like at the zoo...

i talked to them a bit longer trying to convince them that it was safe to go there. you knows why they thought it was dangerous. oh, sweet, sweet petals. not sure if they actually went. the one girl is in my class so i'll ask her on monday. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

i'm just a lucky so and so

2010-02-15T09:49:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

the day started off with coffee from emma's then breakfast at joe's with misty. i went with the old standby four pieces of bacon, two eggs & two pancakes. i love when pancakes absorb all that goodness we call syrup. yum.

my valentine's was spent at marlena's where there was a benefit for the Aids housing alliance. it was hosted by emma peel who is running for empress of the imperial court. don't really know a lot about that since i'm not part of the drag community but i'm all for supporting good causes. it was a small but very lively crowd. i hadn't been to a drag show in quite some time and i forgot how fun they can be. besides the drag queens performing, they also pulled people from the audience to do a routine based on what number they picked. at one point, emma peel approached me to to go on stage but i hadn't yet had enough vodka tonics to do it. perhaps another time. they ended up raising over $600 for the Aids housing alliance. not bad considering it was valentine's day.

for those of you living in sf, the voting for empress happens on february 20. if you want to support the drag community get out and vote. i believe there are two locations: project open hand & castro muni station. also be sure to check out emma peel's fb page: emma peel for empress. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

weather radio

2010-02-08T22:14:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

went to the legion of honor this past weekend to see the cartier exhibit. lots of amazing jewelry, clocks, tiaras, etc. to view. i never realized how grand his stuff really was. no one seems to wear jewelry like that anymore. it definitely screamed dynasty. there were a few pieces i was particularly drawn to: the panther bracelet, the mini mystery clocks, the animal figurines, & the crocodile necklaces [see above photo]. i was also quite fascinated with his use of coral. that might be due to the fact that i have a thing for orange right now. be sure to check out the exhibit if you have some time. i believe it goes until april. it's definitely worth it. where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well...

pearl

2010-01-31T16:15:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

a friend of mine painted this for me about ten years ago. it's based on a photo i have of my sister, my cousin, & myself with cookie monster. i recently got the painting back from sister. it makes be happy. i love that i was given farrah hair. now i need to find a place to hang it. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

run letter

2010-01-24T17:00:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

i went to the movies with pevil & miss b yesterday to see avatar in 3-d. i must admit that i enjoyed. i had heard mixed things about it, so i decided to go into it with an open mind. visually, i thought it was amazing. not sure i would have liked it as much had i not seen it in 3-d. granted the storyline wasn't anything original and some of the dialogue was quite cheesy but i managed to block all of that while watching. 3-d movies have definitely come a long way since jaws 3-d. after the movie, we headed to edinburgh castle for a few cocktails. when we got there there was tribute to betty white on the tv. we immediately thought that she had died. she didn't. she was just being honored at some awards ceremony. whew!

this afternoon i met up with some friends to have lunch at coriya hot pot city. i've been wanting to go there for some time and was glad i finally got the chance. it's all you can eat meat & seafood that you cook at your table. it was fantastic and priced reasonably. will definitely be going back. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

all the holes in the walls

2010-01-23T12:30:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

i've been published! quiet some time ago someone from flickr sent me an email and asked if he could use one of my photos i took while in seoul. he told me he was working on a photo book based on the anarchy symbol called a-cerchiata [circle-a]. always one to encourage any art project, i gave him permission to use it. last week he sent an email letting me know that the book was completed. he attached a low version pdf for me to see. it turned out great. i was quite excited to see my photo especially since it was used at a decent size. i'm going to have to check the bookstores to see if i can get a copy. in the meantime, here's screen capture of the bookcover, my photo, and my name in the credits. enjoy!

a-cerchiata [circle-a]

photo spread [the singer photo is mine]

photo credit

just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

all over again

2010-01-21T15:00:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

december 2009's photo theme is ready for viewing.
check it out: 20 signs, 30 days

be sure to check out the previous two months as well.
november 2009: 20 food, 30 days
october 2009: 20 orange&black, 30 days

if you're interested in joining the group send me an email. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be gold

splintered in her head

2010-01-20T19:04:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

how would i describe last weekend—packed! i was literally on the go most of the weekend. as most of you probably know that's pretty out of the ordinary for this homebody. it all started out thursday night when i got inspired and decided to make borscht. it turned out to be more like a borscht stew but it was still delicious. soups are going to be my new thing. i think i could actually start to enjoy cooking. who knew!

butter bean came over friday night for some borscht stew. she was my first dinner guest. it was quite lovely dining with someone in my cozy kitchen. afterwards, we headed over to pevil & miss b's house for our long overdue stocking exchange. christmas festivities in january, how fun! we had lots of good snacks & wine. it was extra special cuz little r was in town. i haven't seen her in ages. it was very nice to be able to catch up with her. pevil was my secret elf and i scored lots of goodies. my favorite has to the the pooping smurfette. pevil knows me so well. she also gave me tons of chocolate to satisfy my late night cravings. hi, fatty!

s-friend & i went to mountain view cemetery in oakland on saturday to take photos. i had never been there before though i remember jen telling me about it. that place is absolutely beautiful. we spent a couple of hours roaming the grounds taking photos. photos from my outing can be viewed here. we stopped for lunch at barney's on piedmont avenue where we had burgers and onion rings. the onion rings were to die for! so damn good. yum. getting out of oakland proved a bit difficult. we had a hard time finding the freeway ramp. this is the second time i've been to oakland with someone and it took forever to find our way out. scary!

later that night i made my way to lucky 13 to help celebrate bagel-ted's birthday. it's been forever and day since i last stepped into lucky 13. it's pretty much the same. just different people. i hung out for a little while then made my way home via the 33. luckily i made it home right before the rain.

i woke up on sunday feeling overly exhausted but it didn't stop me from going to sonoma with misty, butter bean, & natalie. i've lived in sf for over 8 years nows and this was my first trip to the wineries. i don't even remember the name of the first place we went to but i didn't a bottle of wine. yeah! our second stop was at homewood, a mom & pop winery. i don't remember much about the wines because i was to busy playing with lily the chihuahua. however, i vaguely remember a tasty merlot & eating some truffles. we left homewood to meet up with pevil, miss b, little r, & d to taste some champagne. i sat this one out since i'm not a fan of champagne. before heading to buena vista [our last stop], we made a detour for much needed sandwiches. i must admit it was a damn good sandwich. we spent what felt like a few hours at buena vista. i had pretty much lost my steam at this point most of the wines tasted the same. i did meet a cute, fluffy cat outside. meow!

thankfully monday was a holiday and i got to spend the day lounging about. well, that is, after i did my laundry. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

down like disco

2010-01-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

OK cw, you've done it again. somehow you've managed to get me addicted to yet another teen drama. this times it's the vampire diaries. i was able to escape its evil clutches when it first premiered and assumed it would never cross my path. however, thanks to winter reruns and only 4 working channels on my tv, tvd has found its way into my home. and now, i simply can't get enough. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well...

california uber alles

2010-01-10T22:55:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

it's january. the start of a new year. the start of a new decade. and the start of birthdays. i've celebrated two of my sf peeps birthdays so far, butter bean & pevil. last sunday, we celebrated butter bean's big day with a birthday brunch bash at her pad. it was great day. i couldn't help notice the glow surrounding butter bean. she a lot great people in her life and i'm glad we were all able to come together and help her celebrate the way we know best with food & drink. besides the numerous bloody marys i consume, i think i ate at least a pound of bacon.

the birthday girl

i made my first pound cake for the event. it's the same recipe that my mom used. i loved my mom's pound. although mine was not the prettiest pound cake ever made, it definitely tasted pretty damn good if i say so myself. i did have a slight problem in the baking process which was my loaf tin was too small for the amount of batter. it overflowed during the baking process and i had to scrap burnt pound cake from the bottom of the oven. so not fun.

this past saturday i went to pevil's birthday celebration at the wild side west. it was a fun gathering. i'm always glad when i get to see the gurls since it's not that often. mrs. b made a very delicious cake. i was definitely taken aback when a complete stranger helped himself to a piece of the cake. seriously! have you heard of asking. i also heard that earlier some lady walked by and stuck her finger in the icing to taste it. come on people, get some manners.

friday night i went out with some students & a co-worker to cha cha cha's. since when has cha cha cha's become the new h.a.b. hangout. i must have missed that news bulletin. we had to wait a bit for a seat because it was pack but it was well worth it. i forgot how good the food is there. the students seemed to enjoy themselves. i thinking about maybe doing this once a month with some students. it's fun showing them a part of the city they don't normally go to. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

i kicked a boy

2010-01-04T08:24:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previoiusly on the e-list…

goodbye 2009, hello 2010! it's day four of the new year. a decade is behind us and a new one is beginning. i can't believe that christmas has come and gone already. it seems like only yesterday that i was packing and planning for my trip to r-kansas and now i'm completely unpacked and settling into my so-called life.

i want to start off by saying that i had a wonderful holiday. in some ways it was even magical especially with it snowing on christmas eve. the holiday itself was at times emotional but i'm so grateful that i got to spend it with my family. entering the house for my first time was a bit surreal, with all these childhood objects in a strange environment. even though i don't have a connection with this house, i could still feel my mom's presence all around and that was comforting.

farm life is quiet! i actually found myself settling in quite easily. in the morning, i'd go out and sit on the front porch and drink my coffee. at this time, all the birds are chirping. while i smoked my first cigarette of the day, i lazily watched the sheep, guinea hens, & peacocks stroll about the property. what more could one ask for. sadly, i never got close enough to pet any of them. that was mostly due to milo constantly chasing them.

in the evenings, my pops would build a fire in the sun room where we just sat & relaxed. on occasions the puppies would fight, but most of the time is was very peaceful. my pops definitely has his hands full with all the animals. the fact that they keep him so busy is probably a good thing. life on the farm does seem to agree with him. i got to meet some of his neighbors on christmas eve which was nice. i'm glad that he has people there to look after him. i'm looking forward to going back in the summer. i want to explore all the state parks & swimming holes i saw.

here are some highlights from my trip:

1. spending time with my family

2. fresh country air

3. snowing on christmas eve

4. country fried steak

5. a deep dish pizza pie [it looked like an apple pie]

6. fried jalapenos & pickles
7. day trip to mt. magazine
8. passing through small town squares
9. watching the peacocks
10. pulled pork
11. finding old photos
12. tabitha's salon takeover marathon
13. hearing pops laugh while watching family guy
14. meeting the new puppies [grace & milo]
15. simply relaxing

can't wait to see what 2010 has to bring. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

m-train

2009-12-22T13:15:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.

previously on the e-list...

R-kansas, here i come. i hope the people of charleston [if there even are people there] are ready for me. i'll be flying out there in about 10 hours. i've got my cowboy hat & boots all packed. can't wait to to spend some time with the sheep & peacocks.

i have a lot of mixed feelings about this trip. on the one hand, i'm looking forward to spending the holiday with my family. on the other, this will be the first christmas without my mom. i still haven't been able to look at pictures from last christmas. there's a part of me that feels if i do it makes it even more real that she's gone. it has been over 5 years since i've been to my parents house. and the first time for me to be at the house in arkansas. i'm a bit nervous about walking into this house and seeing all the things that remind me of my mom. i know that i haven't fully processed my mom's death. i'm just hoping that being there doesn't set off any triggers. i really want this holiday to be about us creating some happy memories. afterall, we could definitely use some. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well...

p.s. not sure i'll be able to post much while in the country, so stayed tuned for my adventures in R-kansas. happy holidays to one and all...

winter now

2009-12-13T13:05:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

sugar is evil! i went to a cookie exchange last night and managed to od on sugar. i truly believe it was the two pieces of eggnog fudge that sent me over the edge. i brought pbj cookies to the exchange which, if i do say so myself, turned out quite tasty. there were lots of goodies to be had and i left with an tin full of cookies & fudge. now if i can only refrain from eating them all today.

as part of the cookie exchange, there was also a white elephant. i dipped into my supply of back issues of girlfriends & on our backs as my white elephant gift. i even threw in a rainbow bright hat i made several years ago but never wore. i ended up with a book, the cheetah girls: living large books 1-4, which will now allow me to tap into my inner tween girl. i love how the book includes the cheetah girls credo: "to earn my spots and rightful place in the world, i solemnly swear to honor and uphold the cheetah girls oath"…

the book also contains a cheetah girls glossary making it all the easier for one to fit in with the cheetah girls. it's very important for us to know the meaning of such terms as: wefties [weaves that are so tick tacky the tracks are showing] or diva size [a size fourteen or up]. the best of all however, is the introduction: "once upon a rhyme, there were two beautiful, bubble-icious girls named galleria and chanel who were the best of friends and the brightest wanna-be stars in all the land." hmm, that sounds roughly familiar. i can't wait to start reading this classic.

while making my pbj cookies yesterday, i felt inspired and decided to dig out my little christmas tree and decorate it with the random ornaments i had in my apartment. the christmas spirit is definitely beginning to rise within. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

my little silver tree

stay gold and be well…

if she wants me

2009-12-06T22:44:00.000-08:00

deer-lou.
previously on the e-list…

saturday night, i found myself celebrating my friend tamara's birthday russian style. we met at sadko, where we started the meal off with fried calamari, beet salad, crab salad, pickled vegetables, some kind of duck loaf, potatoes & mushrooms, rye bread, and shots of vodka. according to sasha & tamara it's customary to eat something [preferable a pickle] after taking a shot so that's what we did throughout our appetizers. prior to my entree, which was schnitzel, i had a bowl of borsch. and for dessert we had cherry blintzes. i'm not really sure where i managed to put all the food i consumed that evening. perhaps i was making up for fasting on friday. all i do know is that everything i tried was absolutely delicious. birthdays russian style are F.U.N! just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

be well & stay gold.

four sticks

2009-11-28T09:49:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

well, another thanksgiving has come and gone. i have many things to be thankful for as i reflect on the past year's events. i spent the day at misty's with great friends, delicious food, and lots of drinks. this is the first year i managed not to stuff myself and it felt good.

i did a bit of shopping yesterday in my hood. i love the fact that i don't need to travel far to get things. i managed to score myself two pairs of jeans [the second pair was a guilt buy] as well as getting some stuff for others along the way.

in a few minutes, i'm heading downtown to check out the richard avedon exhibit at the sf moma. i'm looking forward to having an art day. it's been awhile. i hope every one out there in the cyber-world had themselves a happy thanksgiving. enjoy the rest of your weekend. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

make me smile [come up and see me]

2009-11-22T18:09:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

we had our holiday potluck at school on friday. staff, host families, & students all brought food to share. the school supplied the thanksgiving basics: turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, and cranberries. everything seemed to be going smoothly until it came time to carve the turkey. no one had thought about needing a carving knife in advance. so there i was left to carve a turkey with a butter knife & plastic fork. not quite sure how i got stuck with the task. oh wait, could it be because no one else takes any initiative. anyway…to makes matters worse i had students lining up asking for turkey before i had even cut any. there's nothing like starving students breathing down your neck. half way through i abandoned the plastic fork & just started pulling turkey off the bone with my fingers. nothing like getting your hands dirty. it was the first time for most of the students to have turkey and they all seemed to enjoy it which makes it worth it in the long run. here's hoping we have an actual carving knife next year.

i went and saw new moon on saturday with some friends. i didn't really like twilight and mainly went to be social. i'm trying something new these days. i'm sure i'm going to get some hate mail for this next comment, but i've got to admit i thought the movie was pretty boring. it felt as if i was watching a very long, drawn out afternoon soap opera. i didn't care much for the bella character at all. she seemed quite needy and selfish. the only redeeming factor of the whole film was the shirtless werewolf clan. whenever they appeared on screen, my interest peaked. go figure. the other highlight was seeing a preview for the new john woo film red cliff that looks awesome. i'll definitely be checking that out.

after the film, misty & i did some shopping around japantown. i love that mall, especially the cheap japanese stores there that sell everything for $1.50. note to self: go to japantown more. just where will i need up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

talk talk

2009-11-15T23:11:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

part of my weekend was spent with the brockway-huegel clan in concord. i headed out there on friday after work and came back saturday evening. i always have a great time when i visit them. scott & heather open up their home to me as if i was family. in a sense, they are a part of my extended family and i've very grateful to have them in my life. the two of them are doing a wonderful job raising their boys and i'm very lucky to be a part of it. it's really great to see scott in action with the boys. the fact that we went to high school and are still a part of each others lives is truly amazing. we spent friday night simply sitting around talking and drinking. who could of asked for anything more.

on saturday morning, i awoke to lachlin poking me to tell me that the pancake breakfast was ready. it wasn't. scott & heather were still sleeping and i was on to his game. he ended up climbing in bed with me and we had a little chat. he sang a song about some kind of bunny pie, we talked about superheroes, and he asked why i had hippos on my pajamas. the last time i visited i gave the boys two "challenge of the superfriends" dvd. apparently, it has become a favorite of the boys. lachlin seems to be a fan of the green lantern & riddler while finn favors batman & robin. a boy after my own heart for as we all know robin is one of my favorites. i think i managed to watch all eight episodes with them and some of them even twice.

the afternoon was spent taking a mini-stroll at castle rock which i like to call castle greyskull. we never did quite make to the castle rocks but that wasn't the point. it was all about just hanging out together. during our outing we happened upon a tarantula. i had never seen on in the wild before so it was pretty exciting. the boys seemed pretty impressed by it too. after lunch we drove to the top of mount diablo. it was another first for me. it was pretty cold at the top of the mountain. the view from the top was simply amazing. i could see twins peaks & the golden gate bridge. we even managed to see some hand gliders. i can always count on the brockway-huegels for getting me out into nature. it's sort of becoming our thing & i like that. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well…

no i in threesome

2009-11-11T22:25:00.000-08:00

deery-lou.
previously on the e-list…

there's a man that i see from time to time on the 38 muni on my way home from work. when i do he's always making paper swans from what appears to be square pages of a magazine. before his begins folding them he always checks both sides of the paper. i happened to see him again today and as usual he sat there making his swans until he reached his stop. every time i see him i can't help but watch as he folds the paper into these creatures. i can't help but wonder what he does with all of these swans. just where will i end up next is any one's guess.

stay gold & be well