Ruby Tuesday - My Ruby Tuesday Friend - February 1, 2011

My good friend, Joanne Olivieri, aka Poetic Shutterbug, who is obsessed with Hong
Kong and waffles, introduced me to San Francisco's incredible Botanical Gardens
and numerous other things.  I always have so much fun on our picture taking excursions.
When I can, I snap a shot of her, totally intent on the task at hand.  She often is dressed
in red so I'm using a couple of those shots for my Ruby Tuesday post this week.  We
haven't been able to rendevous lately and I find I'm really missing her. 

I am jealous because she can squat down like this and I cannot!  Note the

Ruby Tuesday sweater!



Look at the intense concentration - and there were bees in the vicinity!

We were there at the end of the red snapdragon growing season.

I have captured other shots of Jo with her trusty camera but, since she wasn't attired in

Ruby Tueday garb, I'm not enclosing them here.  Let me say, she will go the mile to get

that perfect shot for her blog. 

I am taking part in Ruby Tuesday - take a picture of something red,

check out the site and join in the fun!

Mellow Yellow Monday, #106, San Francisco Painted Lady, January 31, 2011

During a recent drive around Pacific Heights, I chanced across this lovely yellow
Victorian.  I am so glad I had my camera with me.  It was a perfect shot for Mellow
Yellow Monday.



Check out more participants at Mellow Yellow Monday 

and add a yellow picture of your own!

Shadow Shot Sunday, #141 & Sundays in My City - Japantown, San Francisco, CA - January 30, 2011

This past week, after leaving the office of my urologist, I drove down Post Street,
the main street of Japantown in San Francisco.  The area, six square city blocks, is
the oldest and largest such Japanese community in the U. S.  It was developed after
the 1906 earthquake.  It is an area of Japanese shops, restaurants, a grocery, and even
communal Japanese baths with alternate days for women and men.  In the spring, the
annual cherry blossom festival is held and there is also an annual taiko drum festival.

Japanese architect, Yoshiro Taniguchi, designed the Peace Pagoda, a concrete stupa
which was presented to San Francisco by its oldest sister city, Osaka, Japan.  It stands
in the center of Japantown.

Banner hanging in Japantown

Peace Pagoda, Japantown, San Francisco, CA



I am participating in Shadow Shot Sunday #141

and

Sundays in My City!

Check out the sites and join in the fun!

Camera Critters, #147 - Hawaii Critters - January 29, 2011

I am participating in Camera Critters - check it out and join in the fun!

Friday Flash 55 - The Biggest Loser - January 28, 2011

Every day was agony,

She treated him the same,

Calling him a loser,

She was a hateful dame.

Twenty years of marriage,

He'd been a faithful spouse,

He gave her every paycheck,

And bought her this nice house!

He left behind some money, heading for the door,

With his lottery winnings, he'd return no more!

I am participating in Mr KnowItAll's Friday Flash 55!

Check it out and join in the fun.

Alphabe Thursday - "P" is for Prunes - January 27, 2011

Prunes are quite a yummy fruit,

They're plums that have been dried,

Though oddly wrinkly looking,

They're very good inside!

California grows the most, by far,

And shares throughout our earth,

It seem a lot of people know,

What gives this fruit great worth!

Prunes bear the title superfruit,

They're rich in many things,

From fiber to antioxidants,

They'll see your body sings!

They're not just for us grannies,

Who need some help to move,

To get us feeling regular,

And back into the groove!

Prunes are sweet and very tasty,

They're good for young and old,

These tiny shriveled purple fruits,

Are worth their weight in gold!

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) Carmen Henesy

January 27, 2011

I am participating in Jenny Matlock's Alphabe Thurday!

Check it out and join in the fun!



Watery Wednesday #124 & Wordless Wednesday, Ocean Beach, San Francisco, January 26, 2011


I am participating in Watery Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday!
Check out the sites and join in the fun!

Ruby Tuesday - Bahamian House - January 25, 2011

I am participating in Ruby Tuesday - check it out and join in the fun.

Mellow Yellow Monday #105, Puppets of Pokhara, January 24, 2011

I am blessed to have a wonderful Indian friend, Rohan Saraf, who is a senior beverage
manager at Royal Caribbean International.  Of course, we met on one of my cruises, a
number of years ago and he became part of my crew "family."  Rohan's home is
Kathmandu, Nepal, an ancient and historic city that is surrounded by four mountains of
the Himalayas.  When I visited India fourteen years ago, I only got to Mumbai, Delhi and
Agra but, if I ever travel that way again, I pray I might see Kathmandu!  Even if Rohan
isn't home on vacation, I will see his his mother, Surjit, and his father.  I feel like I already
know them.

Besides being an excellent beverage manager, Rohan has become an incredible
photographer.  Some of his efforts are truly breathtaking and could easily win awards. 
I've asked his permission to use some of his shots in my blog and he has been kind
enough to allow me to share his pictures with you from time to time.  Perhaps when he
retires from Royal Caribbean, he'll join the ranks of outstanding Indian bloggers and
 photographers himself!

My Mellow Yellow picture this week is of puppets he took during his vacation from ship
life.  I found it most delightful as I am sure you will.

Thank you, Rohan, for allowing me to use this photograph!

I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday - check out the site and join in the fun!

Sundays in My City - Tidbits - January 23, 2011

Yesterday was quite busy for me, starting with a visit to Dr. Quoch, the most wonderful
dentist in the world.  I am forever grateful to my friend, Elaine, for referring me to Dental
Health of San Francisco because, until I went there, I dreaded dental visits.  I actually
was very remiss in appointments and, sometimes, I'd wait two years between visits. 
Dr. Quoch, however, and his wife, Dr. Chen, and their superb office staff made me a
believer in routin dental visits, at the age of 62!  Well, better late than never, right?

I love their office location, on Noriega, in the Sunset.  There must be a hundred Chinese
restaurants on that one street and, every time I'm there, I try a different one.  I don't
know how they manage to stay in business but each one seems to be packed.  I had
a bowl of won ton soup yesterday though folks were lined up two deep at the
restaurant's counter buying food to take out.

Just one of many Chinese restaurants on Noriega Street

A tray of duck's heads - folks were buying these by the dozen!

While I was eating my won ton soup, a worker struggled past, carrying this roast

pig!  The skin was one of the hot sellers while I was there!

Last night, I went to Manivanh Thai Restaurant in San Francisco.  This fabulous place I've

blogged about before.  It's owned by a Lao family who have become like my own  family.

I went to have dinner with Gigie Marie, a beautiful girl who was part owner of the former

Monkey Club, the great place where my retirement party was held.  Sadly, she and her

partner, Daven, decided to retire from the business, after thirteen years of memorable

evenings for the San Francisco General crowd and other lucky patrons.  It was so great

to see her again.  I just wish Daven could have joined us. 

One of the Douangpanya grandsons, Michak, sat with us at dinner, feeding me peas and

fueling my desire to have a grandchild some day.  I've got three sons who should be able

to make this a reality!!

Michak with Bau, his aunt's partner

Sweet Michak who shared his green peas with me

A little shy, at first - but not for long!

Gigie Marie and Carmen

Bau, Michak, Gigie Marie and Carmen

Usually, the restaurat is pretty quiet on Saturday night - their main business comes from

the San Francisco General lunch crowd.  It was packed last night, however.  The family

said that I drew folks in to eat.  Whatever the reason, I'm always glad when they have

a lot of customers.  The food is incredible and my Lao family are the kindest,  most

generous folks in the world!

I am participating in Unknown Mami's Sundays in My City - check it out and join in the fun!



Camera Critters #146 & Weekend Reflections #70 - Dog Days - January 22, 2011

This picture was taken years ago, when I lived near Concord, Massachusetts.  It was a

very hot summer day and I had taken my son, Shawn, who was almost a year old, for a

picnic near the Concord Bridge.  I sat on the blanket, there on the banks of the river,

thinking that, perhaps, we were sitting on the very spot where British and American

soldiers had skirmished during the Revolutionary War.  It was very exciting to live for a

few years in ths cradle of U. S. history.

It was extremely hot that day and, when I walked out on the bridge, I noticed a Golden

Retriever standing in the water.  He remained there for some time, obviously trying to

cool off a bit.

Add caption

I am participating in Camera Critters #146 and Weekend Reflections #70!

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Camera Critters, #146 - Raven at theTower of London - January 22, 2011

At least six ravens are kept at the Tower of London because, according to legend,

their presence keeps the great White Tower from crumbling and it prevents a terrible

disaster from happening to England. 

At the expense of the government, a ravenmaster cares for these birds which

can live up to 25 years, sometimes longer.  He keeps the newborns in his home for

six weeks, caring for them.  The birds have one wing clipped so they cannot

abandon the kingdom, tempting disaster!

King Charles II ( 1630 - 1685 ) decreed the ravens should be kept at the Tower of

London.

I am participating in

Friday Flash 55 - Slimy Aphrodisiac - January 21, 2011

A would-be Cassanova,

finally got a date,

With the beauty of his dreams,

Who he hoped would be his mate.

He chose a fancy restaurant,

Bought the finest of champagnes,

To ensure the best of evenings,

He took the greatest pains.

The first course oysters did not thrill,

They made his date deathly ill.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) Carmen Henesy

January 21, 2011

I am participating in Mr KnowItAll's Friday Flash 55!

Check it out and join in the fun!

Watery Wednesday, #123, and Wordless Wednesday, Sunset, January 19, 2011



I am participating in Watery Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday -

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