Sundays in My City - A City Celebrates - May 27, 2012

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I remember so well that day when, at eighteen, I first saw those golden spires ( well,
I think the color is actually international orange ) rise through the fog and, just a
short distance later, San Francisco gleamed in sunlight, in whites and pastels, in front
of me.  It was such a thrill and the bridge always gives me a thrill as it has every single
time in the last 35 years.  Sh is beautiful.  One must always have a camera on hand
because, if not, you're sure to miss an extraordinary picture.  Some days, this regal
bridge will be in complete sunlight, others, she is shrouded in fog.  Sometimes, she is
eerily wrapped halfway in fog, half in sunlight.  It's always a surprise as to what you
are going to see.

I have loved doing three cruises either to and from San Francisco and sailing beneath
the bridge.  I feel such a sense of nostalgia and pride as this beautiful sight either bids
me farewell or welcomes me home.

HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY, GOLDEN GATE!!!!

For this grand occasion, I'm including two famous songs about the city that is

home to the Golden Gate Bridge - "On a San Francisco High" which is sung by 

the lovely Sony Holland and written by her husband, Jerry Holland ( who 

accompanies her on the guitar ).

Of course, everyone knows, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" sung by the 

master, Tony Bennett.

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I have always loved this picture of my youngest son, Alex and Jeremy,

who are now 29 and 27, with a foggy bridge in the background

San Francisco side, heading toward Baker Beach

Marin County side, viewing area

I am participating in Unknown Mami's Sundays in My City -

check out the site and join in the fun.

Ruby Tuesday - Bali Comes to San Francisco - April 5, 2011

This past Sunday, my friend, Joanne Olivieri ( aka Poetic Shutterbug - check out her
fabulous photographic blog ) invited me to go to free day at San Francisco's excellent
Asian Museum.  Currently, they have a visiting Bali exhibit and, Surryea, a renowned
Balinese mask dancer, was going to perform, an added enticement.  It was a glorious
day, perhaps that was why the museum was not especially crowded as it normally
is on its one day a month when there is complimentary admission.

No flash photography is allowed inside the museum but their exhibits are reasonably
well illuminated so I have many posts for upcoming Ruby Tuesdays.  My shots of
Surryea are not quite as good but I wanted to post them for today.  He performed
three different dances with the masks which he makes himself. 

I am participating in Ruby Tuesday, a most wonderful meme.  Check out the

site to see other red photographs and add one of your own!







Sundays in My City - A Bit of Color in the Sunset - March 27, 2011

San Francisco is always a delight to me.  My friend, Joanne Olivieri ( aka Poetic
Shutterbug ) has posted pictures of this house before but, a couple of weeks ago,
on my way back from my wonderful dentist, Dr. Quoch, I was driving around and
decided to get some photographs of this place myself.  I guess the owners must be
used to folks poking about with their cameras. 

I am taking part in Unknown Mami's Sundays In My City.

Check it out and add your contribution to enrich our day!



Sundays in My City - Bernal Heights Houses - March 6, 2011

Bernal Heights is a San Francisco neighborhood which lies south of the Mission District.
Cesar Chavez Street forms its north boundary and San Jose Avenue is to on the west
side. I-280 and US 101 are to the south and east.

The area developed after the 1906 earthquake, which it survived, because of its bedrock
foundation.  Houses were built here to accomodate workers after the earthquake and it
still has many of the small houses and Victorians built at that time.  It is not quite as
upscale an area as neighboring Noe Valley but it has become a residential area for young
families with children and its central shopping street, Cortland Avenue, has some nice
restaurants and stores.

I often visit the area and I have a dear friend who lives in the neighborhood.  Recently,
I had my camera with me and took pictures of some of the little houses in the area.

The Victorians in this area aren't the big impressive houses one finds in Pacific Heights

but I think they are cute.  I've never been inside one, though.

I've had a lazy weekend.  Got a call from UCSF on Friday and the MOHS surgery for

the basal cell carcinoma on the side of my nose is scheduled for this Thursday, the 10th.

I am so glad my insurance approved the procedure to be done there as that is the best

place and my dermatologist was pushing for this. 

Today, I watched three movies on Netflix, all of them I enjoyed.  The first, "Brothers," my

youngest son had recommended and it was quite good.  The last one was an Indian

film ( I love Indian movies ), a very sad true story about an Indian model who was shot

and the complications around getting justice in her case.  I highly recommend, "No One

Killed Jessica" - there are English subtitles although, often, the actors are speaking English.

I am participating in Sundays in My City - check out the site 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!

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!



Mellow Yellow Monday - San Francisco Victorian - December 20, 2010

Mellow Yellow Monday - San Francisco Victorian - December 20, 2010

I came across this beautiful Victorian when driving near Dolores Park in San Francisco. 
I just love the color schemes and gingerbread that graces these "painted ladies."

Mellow Yellow Monday - San Francisco Tree - December 13, 2010

Mellow Yellow Monday - San Francisco Tree - December 13, 2010

During a drive up near Dolores Park, I spotted this pretty tree's yellow foliage, in spite
of the fact that it was a chilly December day.  The beautiful yellow leaves stood out in the
midst of all the bare trees around it.  From my perch high on a hill, I had a great view of
San Franicso!

I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday - check the other contributers!

Sundays in My City - Hills of San Francisco - December 5, 2010

Sundays in My City - Hills of San Francisco - December 5, 2010

You can just never be without your camera when riding about this wonderful city!

Of course, when you see something you want to photograph, there is usually

no place to park and there's a line of traffic behind you!!

I was meandering up around Dolores Park the other day and got

these photos.  There are so many wonderful streets in that area with

great Victorians, you can always find great shots, the same with

Potrero Hill.

I loved this one with Mission High School and, for once, it's so clear.

Of course, one minute, there's fog, the next, there isn't.  That's San Francisco!

This, of course, taken a fw minutes earlier, is much hazier.

I'm taking part in a great meme, Sundays in My City - join us!

My World Tuesday, More Victorians, San Francisco, CA, USA, November 23, 2010

My World Tuesday, More Victorians, San Francisco, CA, USA, November 23, 2010

I just discoverd this meme and I hope I am not too late to post.  It looks wonderful,
with participants from all over the world so, take a look, friends and fellow bloggers,
I know you will like it and have much to share.

After leaving CA Pacific Medical Center yesterday morning, I drove around San
Francisco,up and down the hills and photographed more Victorians.  It was a gorgeous
day - no rain - though it has been pouring buckets today.  To make matters worse,
perhaps in sympathy with my ills, my desktop has been on the blink, making a clicking
sound, taking an eternity to load ( when it even will ) and causing me no end of grief
( haven't I had enough stress already ).  I do have a laptop but that has been persnickety,
too, of late.  Are the gods trying to tell me something?

At any rate, here are a few of the dazzling houses I saw yesterday with more to come in

the future....provided I ( and my computer ) don't get summoned to never never land.





This is my first time to post on My World Tuesday but I know I'll be back...check it out!!!