1 Feb 2010
My husband pointed out this template about a year ago, thinking the picture looked like the Azores. For a while I used it then switched to something more “Zen.” Now I’m back at it, and after doing some researching on the photographer, it turns out that this IS the Azores. Not only that, it’s Sao Jorge, the island from which my family emigrated to the U.S. Very cool.
31 Jan 2010
Years ago we went to a wedding in a barn in Mendocino County. When I originally heard of it, I was wondering what that would be like. It was definitely NOT a cowboy wedding (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
The wedding was beautiful–definitely a barn (hay and all)–rustic and gorgeous as it perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean.
It got me to thinking about barns and how cool it would be to have one where one could entertain, host events (ever the entrepreneur), having cooking demos, etc.
31 Jan 2010
The primary driver for my desire to have a getaway in a warmer climate is, frankly, my desire to spend more time outdoors without a parka. I long for dinner parties outside, which I have NEVER been able to do in SF in the 12 years I’ve lived here. We have managed to host one spectacular dinner at my mom’s house in Napa, and I so wish I could do more!
Part of entertaining outdoors is the ability to prepare most, if not all, the meal outside. One key requirement is an outdoor oven for pizzas and breads. Heretofore are some dream outdoor kitchens.
love this modern outdoor kitchen!
a distinctly Asian motif
beautiful but totally impractical; these people clearly don't cook
unclear on the concept
31 Jan 2010
Being able to claim Napa Valley as your home town has a sort of false cache. When I grew up there it was basically a country back water, and I couldn’t wait to get out and move to a big city. Now I’m here in SF and lo! I crave the peace and quiet of the country. My craving is particularly acute during the cold, foggy summer months here in SF.
After 12 years of living here I am still not used to the frigid summers and I long for lazy warm afternoons outside. I miss all the summer dresses and sandals I donated to charity a couple years after moving here.
I do still like living in the City. But I dream about having a getaway, somewhere I can re-charge on a long weekend (or a week, or a month). Get my solar panels energized, enjoy some relative solitude. I don’t necessarily want the big faux-Tuscan villa. In fact, my preference is for a smaller house but with acreage (say, two to five).
Hey, man, I can dream.
Wine country is not just Napa. In fact, Napa has become so crowded and full of itself that it may indeed not be the best option–aside from the high costs of property there.
There’s Sonoma (also pricey) and after a visit to Paso Robles, that area has piqued my interest. Here are some general “vision” images that I linger on when I’m wrapped in a blanket in August
dream view
no faux Italian villa
nestled in the trees
love the open architecture and clean lines
a deck off the bedroom
David Duncan Livingston photography
David Duncan Livingston photography
as long as we're fantasizing
I took this in Piemonte region of Italy
30 Jan 2010
A year ago, we noticed some water damage in our master bathroom. Our trusted contractors investigated. They determined that the only way to truly understand the extent and cause of the problem was to tear out the huge iron tub. That, of course, would set off the chain reaction–tearing out tile, the floor, etc. And so we were faced with the opportunity of remodeling the master bathroom. The original bathroom was fine, if a little to “cottage” for my tastes.
The repairs were extensive (lots and lots of water damage on the floor), and included some exterior work on the house. Gotta love the rain.
Anyway, here is the end result:
we removed the tub and now have a huge shower; limestone floor in seagrass
Toto toilet; milk glass door allows light to filter into the hallway
espresso stained cabinets; Caesarstone counter in buttermilk
super tall rain shower head to accommodate super tall husband; little "stand" for propping leg during shaving
25 Jan 2010
For the last several years I have been a member of 24 Hour Fitness, a national chain of fitness centers with varying degrees of quality and cleanliness. It’s one of the cheapest options in SF (cheaper even than the YMCA!). I have used two different personal trainers at the location where I go, neither of which were particularly knowledgeable or inspiring. The gym is a utilitarian affair–I arrive, dump stuff in the locker, do my cardio (right now I’m doing 45 mins on the elliptical), lift some weights, stretch and go home.
The problem is that I’ve stagnated. Last year was a rough year in terms of my exercise/eating habits. A wildly busy year with my business often put me on the road (and had me working 80 hour weeks) and thus prevented my ability to go to the gym and I ate out more often. That was a recipe for disaster in terms of fitness and weight management.
My gym is one of the lowest rated on Yelp in SF. I don’t think it’s as awful as they say, but I can understand some of the complaints. The classes at the gym are hours when I don’t really go and besides, they’re lame.
So I’m looking for another option. I know this will likely cost me more money but I consider it a supplemental health insurance. Ideally, I would like to hook up with a serious personal trainer who can set me on the right path so I can see results. So all these options would also include supplemental help/direction/guidance/inspiration from a qualified personal trainer.
Option #1: Stick with 24 Hour Fitness but try a different location
There are several SF locations, including one a friend attends on Ocean and a couple downtown ones.
Option #2: Home gym
I have bought some free weights and a balance ball. So I could conceivably do my weight training at home. I have purchased a number of workouts for my MP3 player. In fact, I did a lower body workout on Saturday and I’m still sore! I don’t have a cardio machine but could take up more walking/running (although I historically have hated running). SF’s hills make an ideal option for outdoor cardio work even without much running.
Option #3: Another gym
There are numerous options here. I am taking swimming lessons at the Y and would like to continue with that until I feel I can do a full session of lap swimming. So a gym with a pool would be great. Better classes at convenient times would be good, too. In SF some of the better options seem to be:
Option #4: “Boot Camp” type classes
The two highest rated ones I’ve seen are:
The boot camp option sounds very appealing because it’s outdoors and doesn’t rely on machines and contraptions, which means I could do some or all of the exercises on my own. The drawback is that it’s outdoors and in winter, that won’t work for me. The idea of exercising in the rain simply doesn’t appeal.
I’ll be reporting back.
7 Dec 2009
I can’t believe I haven’t posted since June 2009! It’s shameful! But, man, I’ve been busy. I’ve been blessed with another banner year for my business with a steady flow of work. I haven’t traveled as much this year–a few token NYC trips and several Southern California trips. And I think I went to Toronto this year if I’m not mistaken. 
It’s been a big home improvement year, too. We installed all new windows upstairs and I’ve noticed a difference in the temperature. The windows don’t rattle on windy days, too! We painted the dining room and installed new lighting. We also had a bathroom repair that turned into a complete remo–new floor, new cabinets, tile, etc. We’re almost done and pictures will come soon.
We discovered a new part of California that we haven’t explored much: Paso Robles. Usually our trips to the Central Coast end in Monterey & Carmel. This time we went further south and inland. I loved it there! Dreams of a country estate abound.
Also, Facebook has been taking up most of my posting attention–so much easier to post a line every couple days vs. trying to come up with a cohesive dispatch in a blog. I guess microblogging is more in tune with my attention span.
So I’ll try to be a regular poster here.
7 Dec 2009
It’s true that a lot of people remodel their kitchens and dining rooms for one meal a year: Thanksgiving. The big dining room table that sits empty most of the year. The double ovens. The massive fridge. In our household, we entertain frequently. I have a general rule of thumb:
We have four basic wooden folding chairs in the garage that I pull out for the “up to 12″ dinners. They work fine, but aren’t all that comfortable or stylish. So I dream of a settee. A bench that can sit near the window and be pulled into service to seat up to 3 people…
Here are some that I love:
Cream Oval Back Settee, Overstock.com
Drake Creme Leather Bench, Overstock.com
Settee, Pottery Barn
Monte Allen
Lee Jofa
24 Jun 2009
Adding to the increasingly loud discussion about industrialized food is now David Kessler, former chancellor of UCSF, former head of the FDA and former dieter, in his book “The End of Overeating.” While his scientific credentials are excellent, this is not necessarily a scientific book. I look forward to reading but wonder if there is anything in it that I may not know or suspect. It seems from The New York Times review that his primary targets are, like “Food, Inc.” the processed and “fast” food industry.
It’s easy to become smug when you eat minimal processed foods–no frozen dinners, no pre-packaged meals, etc. With the exception of store-bought bread, an occasional Eggo waffle, a guilty-pleasure trip to the cookie aisle…we pretty much stick to the basics and pretty much all homemade. And when you eat no fast-food at all, ever, or chain restaurant food for that matter…it’s tempting to become judgmental.
But the weight struggle is there even for those of us who eat wholesome, organic, natural foods. Even if you exercise four to five times a week. So while the chocolate chip cookie is Dr. Kessler’s arch-nemesis, we all have our own demons even at the farmer’s market.
Mine? Cheese. Nuts. Breads & pasta. Artisan charcuterie. Love the full fat Greek yogurt, too. And while these are all arguably healthy (except the charcuterie) for you, it’s learning to know how much is too much. The biggest shock for me when I was on WW was how LITTLE “too much” is! So it’s back to measuring portions. Counting–points, calories, whatever. Gina Kolata’s book “Rethinking Thin” addressed this very issue of careful tracking as virtually the only path to success.
But there is a high cost to this…the inability to just relax an enjoy your food without silently counting or measuring. The obsessive thinking about the next meal. Being hungry.
Talk about zapping the enjoyment out of life, particularly for one whose HOBBY is food and wine! More on the challenges of making peace with the thing(s) that both gives me the most enjoyment and also the most anxiety.
23 Jun 2009
On one of the work-related blogs that I sometimes follow there was an interesting discussion thread about envy. Seven deadly sins aside, one commentator mentioned that it can be a useful emotion.
“Envy is a very useful emotion because it points us toward something we want. Someone lost in the mist of time told me to take envy as a very serious indicator of something I can set as a goal. Making the thing ‘something I wish I had’ into ‘something I want to have’ and even better ‘something I am working toward’ turns a passive emotion into something useful.”
It’s an interesting premise as I can immediately think of two people of whom I am deeply envious–of their professional lives at least. And if I could orchestrate my life to be more like theirs I’d definitely give it a try. But you can’t help but freeze in fear at those kinds of changes. My entire career has been carefully crafted and shaped. I am exactly where I wanted to be 20 years ago. This is not an accident and I am not prone to wanton abandon.
So the question is…why I am now envious of others?