I thought I was pretty tolerant about breast feeding until I saw it at a company picnic. That is brave.

Update - I can't believe how uncomfortable I felt about that. I don't have a problem looking at anyone. Yet, all of a sudden I couldn't figure out what to do with my eyes.

Then I thought.. I hope she doesn't think I'm texting about her. And I totally was!

I go to Martinez and have a meltdown.

A few months ago, I was going to a car show and wound up in Benecia trying to find a breakfast place. Benecia was so charming and calm - I got stuck there the whole day. Never went to the car show. I even starting looking at real estate prices.

Martinez is just on the other side of the bridge. There is going to be a car show in the town in a few weeks. So, I thought I would go to pre-scout the town.

I couldn't have had a more opposite reaction than the one I had of Benecia. Martinez is probably half made up of government buildings. That mostly look like windowless prisons. Except the District Attorneys office which was kinda swank.

They were also suppose to be having a beaver festival.

These beavers have been on my radar for months because they were talking about them every day for a while. And, they spent a shitload of money because of them. 9.5 million to be precise.

Honestly - it's probably a million dollars a beaver. Someone should audit Martinez, because that project shouldn't have cost that much. But, I'm betting some of it got funneled off into all those government buildings.







To be coninued... maybe.

They are still coming for you.

I have the most amazing timing when it comes to these guys. Couldn't find them if I wanted to - but if I am going somewhere else.... there they are. The last accidental sighting.

I was whipping through Danville on my way to Martinez. Noticed a bunch of people by the freeway. I knew the East Bay Tea Party had a sign in this area. So, I immediately suspected they were doing something with it. Which they were.

They always put them in an area that is hard to see until you are right on it. Private land and all.



I had to come around three times. Finally - we just stopped on the side of the road which always freaks me out a little. The crowd was drawing a good amount of attention. Lots of people slowing down. All I need is someone rubber necking to come off on the shoulder and hit me. I walked down about 100 feet and took these shots with my really long lens.

This guy was nice enough to pose for me.



It was kind of nice to see them. The Bay Area has been quiet as far as the TP goes. I thought they'd all gotten tired of being called racisty racists and gone underground. Especially after that Breitbart thing.

Really? Musicals about lady holes?

I don't really get women and their incessant need to glorify menopause. Oh yes. Glorify! They made a musical for effs sake. I don't even get it.

Although, Mr S. came up with two songs for it. Maybe it is a better musical than I think. Wait. I hate musicals.

First - having no babies. Play on Paul Anka's Having my Baby.

Second - all my eggs are dead - from Jackass's All my Friends are Dead.

I have become - comfortably numb.

I don't know if the voters will legalize pot. I think the government - thinks there is a good chance people will legalize pot.

I've been watching this whole thing with great interest. Huge change from when I was growing up with Nancy Reagan and her "just say no" campaign. Then, there was the "this is your brain on drugs" period.

Instead of the government freaking out, and saying they have to beef up the police presence "just in case" - they are all standing around with their hands out. Holding buckets. To hold all the money that is going to fall from the sky.

I think it is three cities now who have passed tax provisions. They've even started letting folks patent strains of pot. No. Seriously.

So, I found myself at hempcon today. Oh yes. I'm pro entrepreneur. And besides - if you knew how many fortune 500 company execs smoked - you would just die.

Anyway. I expected a bunch of Cheech and Chong wannabees hanging out. To be sure - it was sad to see how many young people were afflicted with terrible illnesses. You know I'm being sarcastic. Right?

What was more fascinating - there was some actual technology there. The vendors didn't seem all freaked out. It was pretty business like. I thought I was going to get all kinds of sideways looks. I saw one rent a cop, but the event didn't even warrant the police circling the block to make sure people weren't doing whatever they didn't want them to do.

It was the most fascinating thing ever. And the stuff they were selling? It was like they were expecting to have massive amounts of "inventory". Industrial amounts of inventory. Imagine you had a field of corn sort of machinery. Allright.. maybe a field is too strong. Certainly a giant warehouse.

No one seemed concerned that Mr S. looks like he came straight out of narktown. It didn't seem like anyone was even concerned about the event at all. It was a nonevent. Really.

U know gas is getting spendy when there are crazy lines for gas under 3 bucks. Couldnt get throught the street. I wasnt even getting gas.

I normally don't plug stuff but this should be an interesting month for you guys. Just sayin'.

GE wants to buy me dinner. No seriously!

When I was growing up - my Aunt and Uncle got sucked into buying 3 timeshares. I never understood why they bought them. I never saw them go on vacation once. Poor people didn't go on vacation. My Aunt doesn't even like to fly.

They lost all three. I also never figured out how they could get financing. Yet they did.

My uncle was quite the "get rich" sort of guy. He'd buy anything that claimed to do so. My aunt and uncle? The nicest people you'd ever meet. Deeply nice. Also, the most gullible people you'd ever meet.

I learned a lot about money from them. Just not in the way they expected.

So... today when I got a postcard in the mail inviting me to two free dinners. Hosted by Light Power Solutions - I knew this stuff was bullshit. The timeshare of green solutions I'd say. If they have to trick you with food - you know its bullshit. From their presser:

"Light Power Solutions markets its products through exclusive, invitation only complimentary dinner seminars held throughout the Continental United States."

I browsed their website. All stuff you can buy cheaply at the local box store. Yet the "Financed by GE Money" logo popped out at me.

Which basically told me - we are suckering poor old people with bad impulse control to spend a shitload of money on credit. It won't matter though. We know they will default. But, this shit costs so little - after two payments we will turn a 100 percent profit. We are going to wreck your credit anyway because you are a sucker.

Ah well. There is no amount of logic that will stop them. I just thought it was amusing because now they have to rope you in with timeshare style tactics to buy their bullshit.

Always watching.

Handlebars.

For two days I've had this tune stuck in my head.

Last night I was dreaming. I couldn't figure out why I couldnt see to take pictures. Because..... my eyes were closed.

When I catch you dreamin'.

I forgot to turn my volume back up - so, it's pretty low.

Can't you get your arm caught in a wood chipper or something?

When this search came through my blog a couple of days ago - it filled me with about a hundred questions. Like - who evaluates this? Can I have the job? Purely medical of course. I wouldn't want to touch - but, I'd look.

Oh come on! You'd look too.

Who would want this to be their disability? What is their profession? P3rn is too obvious. And anyway - if that is your profession, shouldn't you have done a little job research before entering that position. Oh yes. I said it.

How does your disability affect your being unable to work? What... you can't lift things now?

I'm telling you. I had a lot of questions.

1st try.

Mr S. has been trying to perfect bread for the last 6 months. He's met with all sorts of results. Most of them good, but not exactly what he wants. Getting a light fluffy sour dough bread is like a mystery wrapped in an enigma.

The tomato's have just started coming in en mass. The weather has been mild. But they are finally coming. So, this means home made pizza. Which actually turned out really amazing for the first try.

With help from that show "In Search of Perfection" we cut out a lot of the experimental heat process. Just turn your oven to 550 degrees. Perhaps having an enamel coated pan made it so the heat was more even.

I used all the stuff from the garden. Onions. Tomato's. Those things that look like jalapenos - are green zebra tomato's. They aren't meant to get red. They are a little tart. Garlic. Spicy peppers from the garden called Bolivian Rainbow. Which are about the same color as the garlic. A little walnut oil instead of olive. Prosciutto. And wet mozzarella.

Makes me wish it was the weekend for the second try.

The joy of lasers.

Today was all about the chainsaw on a stick. I have to order a shitload of wood soon. Once it arrives - I can't trim these privets that I'm constantly complaining about.

No more calling to see if we can get people out to trim them. We've gone rogue.

Six months ago - we rented CSOAS for 24 hours. Ah.... the benefit of experience. Today we got pretty much the whole thing done in 4 hours. Of course, there were much less things in the yard for me to get distracted on.

Me - OH! Chainsaw...cut...this.

So, for 32 bucks I got these privets whipped down. Instead of the 300 bucks I've usually been quoted. Of course, it beats the crap out of you for the day. I'm not 20 ya know.

I get the lower stuff. Mr S. climbs on a 10 foot ladder wielding a chainsaw on a 10 foot stick. The privets are taller than my 2 story house. I make sure there isn't a horrible accident by spotting him and making sure the ladder doesn't fall.

The job would be much easier if there was a hedge trimmer on a stick. These privets are not quite trees. Not quite hedges. They have hundreds of finger to wrist sized branches. All the while I'm pointing and trying to describe which branches I want him to cut. When the spot is 20 feet up...it's sort of a challenge.

A little while in I say - hey, I wonder if you can see that laser pointer in the day time.

Mr S. had bought me a super powerful one a few years ago. I don't use it too much because we live near an airport and some assholes started pointing these things at planes. While I would never do that - this thing can be seen for a mile. I'm not sure I can see a plane in the air a mile away. Now I have to be cautious when I use it.

Much to my delight - the beam can vividly be seen in bright daylight from distance of at least 20 feet.

This made everything go much faster. Cut here - I'd say. Then run the laser beam in the area.

We debated the joy of just having a laser that would just cut right through these privets, but decided the probable ensuing fire wouldn't be worth it.

You taped what?

The day started out good. Then sketchy. Then good.

Traffic everywhere was savage. We went to breaklunch, and then headed out to the Berkeley Kite fest.

It took so long to get to the marina. Then, we found out they had the Marina blocked off it was so full. So we wound up on the frontage road and debated on walking the 2-3 miles around the bay. Which wasn't such a big deal. I didn't feel great about the walking back. When I'm done. I'm done. And - I had to pee.

You guys know my thing about porto potties. That is not happening my friend.

Mr S. convinced me there might be bathrooms at the Golden Gate Fields. Which is on the frontage road.

The parking attendant and the track people were so frickin nice to let me not have to pay to park. Then let me use the facilities. The restrooms were dreamy. I was the only other female patron. So they were super clean.

While I was walking through the lobby I noticed a bunch of cabby's just hanging out. When I came back through I asked how much it would cost for them to drive us to the Marina and back. It turned out to be the same as parking at the hotel next to the Marina. So, we paid the parking lot attendant to park, and took a cab.

For some reason I have a fondness for cabby's. My uncle drove cab for a while. For the most part they are really good honest guys. On a rare occasion they will try to take you the long way. Yet, if you ask them to come back and get you - they always seem to. Plus, they really saved me from a meltdown. It took an hour to get through the traffic the first time to find out there was no place to park. Golden Gate Fields cabby's? Awwwesome.

Hey. Maybe I shouldn't admit this. I plan on doing this next year. Eh, whatever. It's a slow time of year for them with the horses being gone. They could use the extra dough.

Video. Keep your finger on the volume. I have a little bit of wind feedback.



It's a super good thing Mr S. isn't self conscience like I am. What's with that white rapping?

In Oakland. Its surprising the lack of Obama bumper stickers. For a while they were on every other vehicle.

It's a chicken and egg thing - isn't it?

I have to admit - I can not express how frustrated I am at the population right now. Take today for example.

Three years ago I spent a shitload of money on a custom fireplace door. Like 1500 bucks. Now, that is a lot of money for a door. Yet, it has saved my house burning down a couple of times. Log rolls forward. The door stops it. Where those screens with the wire mesh - would have let the log roll right through.

At any rate.... the base of the door gets a ton of heat. This has caused some tempering. Along with this, the black coating is starting to flake off. It is a small imperfection. Something I don't actually think can be helped. I'm happy to pay to have it fixed. It's functional. Still - I spent a shitload of money for a nice door, and it makes it unsightly.

I walk into the place I bought it from today. I bring a picture of the door. But not a picture of the full door. Just the affected spot. I figured I would just show him on a floor model where the problem was happening.

The salesman hits me before I could look around. Because, it is summer. What else does he have to do? I show him the picture. Again, I am just trying to get a rough quote on how much it will cost to fix.

This is where he makes this big deal about how the door shouldn't be doing that. Because, it is made in America. Which made me think - well, it was made in America three years ago. It wasn't exactly our finest hour. Don't get me wrong. I love it here. Which is why it pisses me off we've turned into such pussies.

After we get done talking - I go to try and see if I can find their floor model. This is where he tells me they don't even sell doors anymore. They haven't for two years. They don't sell anything that "produces heat".

Meaning - if you have a real fireplace. They don't think you will ever be able to use it. So we've stopped selling anything that pertains to being able to use it as a heat source. No - I'm not shitting.

Why is this all so bothersome? Well, because the guy made a huge stink about these doors being made in America. Of course.

The problem is, the environmental regulations are so restrictive - I can't use my fireplace in the future. And you can't even make this shit in AMERICA!

It sucks the US is on the loosing side of every game right now, and we have a coach who thinks that is just A-okay. We used to be winners. And it just drives me nuts that everyone blames our problems on outsourcing jobs to other countries. Which universally had made life better in the US.

One of my first jobs was working at NEC in "quality control". And, I had to lie to get it. I was 16. The law said you had to be 18. I was from a welfare poor family. I would have lied any day of the week to get a job. You know what I had to do?

Make sure silicon chips passed the manufacturing phase. It was repetitive. Menial. At the time I hated it. I was under age. But, it served a purpose. I made it to the middle class.

It makes me crazy that people don't understand you can't hardly even make chips in the US anymore. It isn't George Bush Hitler's fault! It is the fault that the regulations are so harsh - you just can't even do it. No wonder jobs are going over seas. Duh!

Do you know what solar panels are made from? Silicon! Yet President Vagina can't understand why China is getting all of our green jobs making solar panels.

Oh - for - shits- sakes!

If these people knew just how deeply all of us can't stand these people. I've never seen such universal anger. Everyone - everywhere - understands they are ripping us off every single day. Makes the days of hitler bush seem like a cake walk.

So, when I read this little gem - I just had to grit my teeth.

California's city officials scramble to limit damage from Bell scandal

"On Thursday, city managers from across the state will gather in Sacramento to discuss damage control. Among the ideas on the table: launching an independent examination of city officials' salaries and compiling a database of salaries for municipal executives.

The Legislature also is mulling several Bell-inspired proposals, including a requirement that cities make salaries easily accessible on websites. "

"Many of the ideas are designed to put political distance between Bell and the rest of California's 480 cities and towns. "It would be really unfortunate if anyone took the outrageous action of one city and generalized it to all cities," said Chris McKenzie, executive director of the League of California Cities, which is hosting the meeting."

Have these people lost their minds? This is happening in every single city in California. Hell, even my city the school administrator makes a half a million bucks.

Yet again.. the are going to act like they are doing something. All the while wasting our money. Google can effing help them out with this. They have heard of Google. Right? There are at least two databases that have this information compiled.

Secondly, it isn't that hard. A judge ordered this information be readily available. Again.. all it takes is a little search engine time. Not even all that much. There have been people reporting these excesses for a couple of years now. Just type in the words pension jackpot!

From Inside Bay Area last year.

"More than two years after state Supreme Court Justice Ronald George authored a 7-0 ruling stating that the salaries of all government employees are public record, some local governments still refuse to quickly release data. The city of Alameda took more than two months to release information on all of its 2008 employees and would not perform calculations to make the data easier for the public to understand. Albany refused to make similar calculations on overtime pay and bonuses."

Or just type the word pension into my site. It will at least get them started.

Whatever makes you happy.

I don't think I've set foot in a tile store in a year. It's no secret I have a pretty intense love affair with tile. The feeling of rubbing my hand over the surface to feel the texture. And, that feeling you get on your hands of the moisture completely being sucked out of your skin from tile dust.

When the market crashed - so did new tile coming in from other countries. So, I don't feel like I'm missing too much.

I did find myself at a tile shop this weekend though and ran across this material. Which I love.

To you - it looks like bland tile. To me - it looks and feels like concrete. A very minimalistic industrial look I really enjoy.

I'd give you some links to usage. But... the Italians drive me batshit crazy with their sites. It has to be all flash, and ridiculously annoying. Think I'm joking?

Take a look at this youtube video. Leaves me feeling like - can I see some of the effing tile please?!

Life gives you warning signals all along the way.

There is this place I go to for cheese steak sandwiches. It really is the best place on earth. Yet - I never leave there feeling more afraid.

You see... the patron's are big people. Nice people, I am sure. Not your average run of the mill big people. I'm not judging. I'm only saying my brain only screams at me - don't come here too often.

The same thing happens at this supermarket I go to. I call it the old people super market. I really hate the place. Even old people Wednesday. Which I try to avoid.

They bus in the old people from the assisted living places. Have you ever tried shopping when the only patrons, are old? It makes me go nuclear in my head. It's like they have never seen these products before. And, they all have these assisted walking aids that block half the isle. SupermarketSUV's. Not only that- they stalk you. I'm happy to let them take as much time as they want to buy stuff. I will just go to another isle. But, oh no.

No matter what isle you escape to they manage to follow you there. You can't get them to move out of the way so you can grab some sour cream. But, oh they can sure speed walk to whatever isle you want to be on.

This place also scares the shit out of me. I always leave saying to myself - You better stand up straight. I just don't like the idea of living the rest of my life with my chin stuck to my boobs because I can't hold my head up.

I'm telling you. Life lets you know what your suppose to do. You just have to listen.

So - that is where all the hot cars are hiding.

I'm not gonna lie. Sleep has been really hard this week. All day I just want to take a nap, but don't for fear I won't sleep that night. Only to not sleep anyway. This is why my blog is sucking more than normal.

This weekend we went to a car show in Saratoga. Which I was absolutely convinced I was going to hate. I actually told Mr S. - I know this show is going to piss me off. They billed it as "classics". But, listed VW Beetles and other odd assortment of crap.

I was still driving a VW in my 20's! How is that a classic? And anyway - Saratoga is sort of an old money town, and I figured by "classic" they meant "eccentric". Like Trabant. The kind of car you say - you shoved this thing in your garage for what reason?



The cars were okay. Until we hit this Aston Martin. Then I got the bright idea. Hey - this is Saratoga. They probably have bad ass cars just parked on the street. Which is how I got the Ferrari and the Aston parked right opposite each other. They had nothing to do with the show.

The show actually had a Bugatti, but they wanted to keep people from putting their grubby hands on it, and had it tightly roped off. I figured - screw that. In a couple of weeks I'll be at a place that people are so rich, they would think these people in Saratoga are peasants. They still have to work for their money.

Your move.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Say it!

Updated - with fire.

The lack of crime in a savage recession has been interesting. Also interesting? The lack of fires. By this time of year there are always a couple of really big fires. The sky is always this smokey red. Great for taking pictures of at sunset.

Not so great if you love breathing. It's a trade off.

My deck has a pretty good view, and the smoke always blows over the mountains. You can sometimes see the smoke trail as far as Monterey. The ones from the Valley are almost always visible.

A few years ago I remember being pissed at the govenator for not hedging fuel for the firefighting planes. The year when gas hit 4.50 a gallon. California was paying market prices, and that year our state was burning to the ground. The planes were in the air all the time.

So, it has stood out how little fire activity we have had. I mean, it's good. Just different from most other years I can remember.

While driving through San Jose today - we could see the tell tale plume of smoke. And were surprised to find out it was right along the freeway.

If you have absolutely nothing going on - you can burn a couple of minutes watching the vid. It's pretty boring. But, hey - it's another opportunity to hear what I sound like.

Girlfriend in a coma. I know, I know it's serious.

Most people don't read my blog on Fridays. Just the die hards. Still, I try to post every couple of days so people don't loose interest.

I'm a little frayed at the edges. I've had a stomach flu the past week. That combined with above average sleep loss has made life "challenging".

Mr S. I and I went to see that movie Inception last weekend - which has really made me reflect on my non dreaming state. Some people love dreaming. I really don't enjoy it. Which, I wonder if it contributes to my sleeplessness. Even as a child I remember fighting stay awake. Still - I'd love just one week of good solid sleep.

I will try to find something interesting for you soon.

I'm starting to think it will pass.

Something I have been noticing over the past few months is the lack of outrage. Outrage I tell you! And, the talk of reefer madness.

Oh, how I used to love to watch old reruns of Dragnet. "You are pretty high and far out - aren't you"?

Oakland says - We are going to have warehouses full of pot. Full I tell you! And the only complaint is - Hey man... don't Walmart our pot. All of a sudden mom and pop pot shops are legit, and these big warehouses are going to put them out of business. The lack of complaining is almost like the whole thing is a forgone conclusion.

I mean, think about it - these pot warehouses are going to eat a ton of power. And the city is just okay with that. Every other week I see a class on how to run a pot business. The banks are starting to be okay with pot money. For business use only. Of course.

I say it goes legal. Mark this day on the calendar.

Welcome to Wednesday.

What a little rebel you are.

Someone climbed out over moving traffic to paint this.

Man, the kids are starting to bore me. Yipes all of a sudden I had the echo of "why in my day" fill my head. Oh well, I might as well go with it.

When I was growing up - I don't even remember what decade it was, but clearly before I had an affinity to buy paint - congress made some rule that stores had to lock up all their spray paint cans.

This must have been in the 80's. And back then, it was a huge deal. Every single company that sold spray paint had to pay for these metal Faraday cages to lock up all their paint. You'd have to track down a store clerk to open the cage. So you could buy paint.

Fast forward to today.

Some stores still have these cages. Which makes me chuckle to myself. Silently. Because..... they are all open. Graffiti is out of control. Which I mostly don't care about.

I mean, I cared that one time someone tagged the light pole in front of my house. I stand in solidarity with other property owners who it pisses off. Excepting for that, the graffiti bandits are pretty skilled these days. Except in my town where I think they are all girls.

My point is - congress makes a big deal out of some issue, and 20 years later - people basically ignore them. It costs the companies a lot of money at the time though.

Antenna ooooooof DEATH.

It's one thing to get hit by a car. Bugs can say - hey! There is no way I could have missed that.

But... getting bisected by the antenna - well, I think your species is done.

Yes. The whole species.