Day 9: I revisit my roots. There’s not much to see.

By fabulista | Published: October 27, 2009

Friday night LB and I went out with some friends to check out a couple of bands – one of which was a Grateful Dead cover band. And you might be surprised, dear readers (as was my husband) to find out just how many songs I knew. Like not as many as the bearded guy in the tie dye but many, many more than you’d expect from a woman wearing a headband with an attached bow.

But had you known me back in the day… Wait a minute! This is exactly what I’m going to sound like talking to my kids! It’s like deja vu, only in reverse. What would that be? Va vu? Vava vu? Vavavoom? I don’t know; I don’t speak French. Anyway, had you known me “in the day” you would not be surprised at all I knew the words to Dead songs because I looked like this:

Okay, upon closer inspection, I realize I don’t actually look like I’m following the Dead at all (which I wasn’t); I look like I’m on my way to class (which I was) with a really bad perm that is growing out much too slowly (Lordy be, it really was) while wearing a really ugly jacket that I will not realize is ugly until I see an ex-boyfriend wearing the same one (it was so, so ugly).

And I will admit that while I listened to the Dead and jam bands and saw more concerts than you can shake at stick at (and now I’ve become a grandma) I pretty much saw the “jam” parts as “the bit you had to make it through in order to get to the words.” So, in all actuality, I’m not even a little bit of a Dead Head. I’m not even sure how you spell Dead Head – Deadhead? DeadHead? Dead Haede? Ack! It’s starting to look like it’s not a word anymore, like when you say the word “toilet” too much and then can’t remember what it means and it totally freaks you out because you know that you know the word toilet but the word doesn’t sound anymore like the word you thought was toilet before and how can a word lose its meaning like that just by repeating it over and over again and, dude, I’m totally flipping out right now and freaking myself out, I just want toilet to go back to meaning toilet!

So. I believe the conclusion we can come to is this: I didn’t follow the Dead, I don’t look like I followed the Dead, I wasn’t especially into the Dead but I can sing along to a few of their songs.

Another hard day’s work, all wrapped up, here at the blog.

Posted in Events & Activities, The Fun Project | Tagged Dead Head, Grateful Dead, Music, San Francisco, The Fun Project | 3 Comments

Friday Housekeeping: Because I’m Totally Organized Like That

By fabulista | Published: October 23, 2009

This week has been fantastic! And I have all of you to thank… Thank you for your comments (they are honestly the highlight of my day, especially as I’m starting this new adventure) and for your orders (my customers rock!). I am truly luckiest gal I know…

Now, on to the orders of the day!

1. Do you have your Incogneato yet? All of these cool kids do… JustKat, Little Bit Funky, Big Glasses. And, if that’s not enough incentive, it’s free! Just send me a quick email with your address and viola! a master disguise (purse-size) will find its way to your mailbox…

2. Would you mind taking a sec to vote for me? So, I entered a couple of my greeting cards into this competition and really, really, really want to make it into the next round. Just click here to vote. And thank you!

3. I keep forgetting to tell you when my Chat, Chew and Chocolate is updated… It’s updated! I take you through some tips on shopping discount stores, tell you how to look old fast, and then (as if that wasn’t traumatizing enough) give you another way to look old.

4. And, I spent some time today organizing all of the Fun Project categories (look in the right hand column and click on “Fun Project”), in case you decide you want to play along. Although after today’s post, I’m thinking that’s probably not very likely…

Have a fabulous weekend!

Posted in How Fabulous Designs | Tagged contest, fun project, how not to look old, Incogneato | 1 Comment

Day 8: Some posts look less crazy in retrospect. This will not be one of them.

By fabulista | Published: October 23, 2009

Yesterday I mentioned to LB that my Fun Event was going to be watching Thursday night TV, which I thought was very well-deserved since between moving, working, attempting to walk and having all of this fun, things have been a bit hectic. And, since two of the four shows feature women in a lead role, I argued, I’m also fulfilling a civic responsibility, while exemplifying, once again, that women can multi-task the crap out of just about anything. LB looked me in the eye, said “Lame”, and went to get our dinner.

Fine, my plan was a little lame. But you know what is not lame? My adoration for Joel McHale. I know, I know. The first thought that pops into all of your minds is “But, what about G.Love?” And readers, I have given this many, many hours of thoughtful contemplation and have come to the conclusion that there is room enough in my heart for both G. and Joel with a little left over for Becks, if he’s so inclined.

And what better way to convey my adoration than by trying to plant one on Joel every time he came on screen? I figured I’d pucker up a couple of times, LB would return with dinner and we’d settle in for a quiet evening with our stories. Except, turns out it’s not quite that easy…

The photo log presented here documents one woman’s descent into Crazy Town and should not be viewed by: ex-boyfriends, future employers, small children, Joel McHale, G. Love (or Special Sauce for that matter), people who suffer from heart conditions, anyone over the age of 25 or anyone under the age of 30.

A couple of noteworthy details:

-These are the photos where I look least crazy. If you can imagine. Please don’t.

-LB walked in in the middle of it all. He looked at me. He looked at Joel. He put his hand out for the camera.

-From here on out, you never again have to worry about taking a bad picture because I can guarantee I will have posted one on the Internet that is worse. It’s my gift to you. Go forth and grimace.

Posted in Divine Ridiculousness, Lovah Boy, The Fun Project | Tagged bad photos, G Love, Joel McHale, kissing, The Fun Project, Thursday night television | Leave a comment

Day 7: I made it to week! Bring on the seals!

By fabulista | Published: October 23, 2009

LB and I live about one block back from the water and for a gal who grew up in landlocked Colorado, it’s been spectacular. Standing on our balcony we’ve watched: seals, pelicans, sea gulls, tourists screaming on the Rocket boat, very large cargo barges, yachts (including one whose classical music was turned up so loud we kept going downstairs because we were convinced there had to be a concert somewhere nearby, not realizing it was coming instead from their rockin’ party yacht), a cruise ship, and once, a car on fire (well, that was on the Bay Bridge but we could see the actual flames so I’m counting it).

And, if you venture off the balcony, it gets even better. At the local dock you can sometimes see the seals up close and personal as they swim by, off to entertain the folks at Fisherman’s Wharf. The only problem for me is that they make their pilgrimage early. Very early. Like in the 6’s early. And I do many things fairly well; getting up early is not one of them. Ask anyone who has ever lived with me. In fact, comments are open – friends and family, feel free to reminisce among yourselves.

But, I did it. I got up as the sun was rising (you’d have thought my head was on backwards, my poor husband was so confused) and went down to the dock to witness Nature in All Its Glory.

Unfortunately, nature never showed up. No, the seals decided to take the day off or go a different route or maybe hold their collective breath as they went under the dock, because I never saw them. I did see something out in the distance that looked “seal-esque” but a friendly fisherman informed me it was only a bird. So helpful those friendly fishermen.

So, I did get up but I didn’t see the seals. Which begs the question: If your Fun Project event is to see the seals and there are no seals to see, is it still a Fun Project event? I’m thinking…yes?

Posted in Events & Activities, Fab Gal in the City, San Francisco Activities, The Fun Project | Tagged fisherman, Fisherman's Wharf, fun project, San Francisco, seals | 2 Comments

Day 6: Let’s go learn a little something, shall we?

By fabulista | Published: October 22, 2009

So yesterday was OOC (out-of-control for all of you that are not stuck in the early 2000s) and I didn’t have time to post. I still, very responsibly, did my Fun Thing though so I am going to do – wait for it – TWO POSTS today. In one day. I know, I had to lie down, as well.

One of the things I’ve been dying to do before we head back to Denver is a walking tour. And yes, I realize “dying to do” and “walking tour” aren’t typically found in the same sentence but then most people aren’t as all out cRaZy as I am, are they?

Now for those of you who have never taken a walking tour, let me sum them up for you. THEY ROCK. They fill you up with the kind of information you will actually remember. The kind of information that will make you a hit at cocktail parties. For example…

Non-walking tour tidbit:
The City of Edinburgh Council is one of Scotland’s 32 local government council areas.
Snore.

Walking Tour tidbit:
When they buried people in Edinburgh after the Black Plague they would tie a string around the “dead” person’s finger that was connected to a bell above ground. That way if the person was only in a coma and suddenly woke up, they could notify the graveyard staff. Can you imagine working the graveyard shift? “Oh, can’t talk, Ma. Just heard a bell; gotta go unbury someone.”
Tah-dah! Buy this gal another round!

So, I headed over to the Palace Hotel Walking Tour, which is given by San Francisco Walking Tours, and often led by Richard here, who is so knowledgeable that he literally wrote the book on the Palace Hotel. Literally. Like, you can buy it in the gift shop.

Which is the other thing I should mention about walking tours – they are always led by interesting, knowledgeable people who often donate their time just so you look smarter and be more popular. That is called giving, people.

So, I don’t want to ruin all of the interesting bits about the tour, just in case you’re planning on going (which you totally should because it rocks) but here are two tantalizing tidbits.

First, this is a very famous painting (can’t remember its name) by a painter (whose name escapes me) that sits in the bar of the Palace Hotel, and, here’s the good part, features all of the members of the painter’s family. And I do mean all.

(Please note: Richard gave us all of the facts; unfortunately, like sands through an hour glass so is my brain.)

Secondly, President Warren Harding died at the Palace Hotel and while wikipedia claims it was most likely a stroke or heart attack, we know better. There were some very suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and Palace (Hotel) insiders believe his wife did him in. See? Walking tours make you smarter than the Internet.

Like I said, they rock.

Posted in Events & Activities, Fab Gal in the City, San Francisco Activities, The Fun Project | Tagged fun project, palace hotel, pied piper, san francisco walking tours, walking tours, warren harding | 3 Comments

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