A Stairway to Father Guido Sarducci's Heaven plus 325 steps

Dan is here today, so great to see him. i took him on my favorite road, the Lucas Valley Rd., as in George Lucas, through the little town of Nicosia, through the wonderful Redwood forest, to the very hippy town of Bolinas. Many, many dogs, many bearded, long haired men, many somewhat unwashed men and women. Well, i shouldn't say "many", it's a very little town. It has a beach, and a stairway to nowhere, but since Father Guido Sarducci allegedly resides there, i made that the title. (I do mean the actor who played him on Saturday Night Live, for those who may not get the reference)
We then drove to Mill Valley, where we were starving, but found a pathway on Cascade Drive, a road so narrow that only one car can pass at a time. We walked up this beautiful path, up into a Redwood forest, with a stream running through it. it was so beautiful, peaceful, and quiet.
Then went into town for a fabulous, greasy hamburger and sweet potato fries. Walked it off at the beginning of the "Dipsea" steps, which are 3 staircases. i counted the number, on the way down, and there were 324 steps.

After a rest, Dan especially napped, we went into San Francisco to meet Jay and Lindsey at Albono's, an "Istrian" restaurant. The host, Bruno, is from the Istrian penisula, and the food reflects this area. The area is near Trieste, and has Italian influences as well as Croatian and Yugoslavian. We had been there for a previous trip, and really enjoyed it. It is so good to see them often, i know i will really miss the contact when i go home.

Another City to Explore, More People to Meet feb.28th

In the morning, did my usual, jazzercize and walking to get the paper. Got the house ready for Dan's visit, tonight.

In the afternoon, i drove into Berekeley, to shop, to walk, and to meet Kathleen's son-in-law and his family, before picking up Dan at the airport later at night.

i drove around Berekeley, and had googled stairways in that city, and of course, found many. I found another map too, with all of them listed, as well as a reference to the book i'm using in San Francisco. i drove and drove, and found "The Arden Steps." It was gorgeous! Up in the hills above the whole city, narrow streets and lanes, dark wooded homes, foliage so thick i couldn't get a picture of the view from above. I loved this, it was so charming, it actually reminded me of our little village that we stayed at in Italy, with the narrow, one lane roads and winding S curves.

This stairway was incredibly steep, i couldn't really capture that with a camera. i got a little dizzy on my way down, clutching onto the handrail. Very steep, narrow, and quiet.

i then drove to 4th Street to the great shopping they have there, then looked, but couldn't find, these outlets nearby. i ended up at Kyle's house, Frank's son. He had invited me to dinner to meet him, his wife Emily, her son Alvin, and their new baby son, Riley. We had a lovely dinner and a lovely time. Emily is Chinese, from Canton, though she's been here for 14 years. They were delightful--Kyle is a wonderful conversationist, very bright, likes to write stories. It was great to see Kathleen again too. Kathleen has a picture with her and i and the family, i will put that in when she sends it. By the way, it may seem this way, but really, i do not always wear black!

i then went to get Dan at the airport, and was very early because there was no traffic. (this is a remarkable statement!)

i really enjoyed this today; i've been to Berkeley before, on separate occasions, and was never able to put it all together before. Doing these walks forces me to see the big picture as well as the details within.

adult livng and hummingbirds

i am having routine days, a good thing, actually, but not much significant to write. i went to jazzercize, then got ready to go to Santa Rosa, to an "Adult" community, to look at short term rentals. O.k, all you dirty minds, what the "adult" means, is 50 or older! this community is in Santa Rosa, named Oakmont, and has tons of activities-golf courses, swimming pools, recreation centers, movies, etc. (i think i want to barf as i describe it)

Anyway, the good thing is, they have a number of short term rentals, so i went to look at quite a few today. well, as Jack Benny says, what can i say. There was one that really was nice, it was on a hill in the hillier part of the development, and there were actually deer sitting on the hillside. It was a really nice house, they had redone it and it was very open. But..........not necessarily available next winter, as they prefer to not have a dog. The other places were more than adequate. i think i am so surprised that Dan would consider a community like this. Clearly, the advantages would be the nearness of so many activities---golf, movies, dinner, potential friends, etc. but geez, it was really ticky tacky. Plus, it's way up in Santa Rosa, and i have experienced road delays and traffic everytime i go to Sonoma county. i really like Novato, and my condo complex, but am not sure we have any opportunities here. We'll see, i think i am processing this as i write and apparently, my feelings are emerging. i must say when i got back, and took a walk around the condo complex, i was stilled by a hummingbird in a nearby tree.

Later, came home and ate and talked to Matt, made plans to come out to Salt Lake City to babysit Isaac! Yeah, and yeah!

so, wishing Dan were with me as i say this---again, i experience this sense of euphoria.



don't know if it's the place, (northern Ca.) or the doing it, but i feel so good.

Like Maybury, on Acid

so this morning i took a ride. i wanted to see the town of Fairfax, and also return to Ross, where i had been directed to a dressmaking shop the year that Matt got married. Her designs were the impetus for my infamous wedding dress experience.
i missed Ross on the way there, it is so small. I did find it on the way back, and it is cute, but small. And the dressmaker is no longer there!
But Fairfax was a great find! It is a total hippy town, complete with the nauseating smell of pachouille, my less favorite scent in the world! But what a cool town. They refer to themselves as "Maybury on acid", and i can believe it. i couldnt' get a picture that would do it justice, besides, i didn't want to bother anyone. (I didn't even want to be seen talking on my cell phone!) It had stores with names like "Rainbow Fabrics", "Spirit of the Goddess" and "Culture Shock." All kinds of tie-dyed apparel, peace insignia, etc. The store clerks were all friendly and really laid back.

Rest of day was routine, i exercised, tried to find a path to walk. went to jazzercize, and then did a take out menu from a really good local restaurant, Boca. i ordered empanadas and a wedge of lettuce with roq. dressing. It's an Argentinian restaurant. i came home to eat it, although i had a glass of wine while waiting. i wanted to see what it was like to be in a restaurant alone at night. it was fine, i actually enjoyed it.
came back here to eat though. i realized i am having my "Leap" experience during the "Leap Year"! ("Leap" is the name of a book by Sara Davidson about women in their 60's changing the course of their lives.)

Turkey Trot in Brugges

Slow day. Nothing exciting. But............i feel so happy! i really do miss people, but there's an internal joy that has only to do within me.
Today. Went to jazzercize, had a phone conference for the bone marrow transplant symposium. Drove to Mill Valley to get their phamplet on their stairways. It's a very yuppy little town, very ritzy, the Marin county i had thought it all would be. anyway, got the map about the stairways and came home.
i took a walk around my condo, around the Pacheco Valle area. It is really nice, you can see from the pictures. the gaggle of turkeys are around all the time. If you "talk" to them , if you actually say, "goggle, goggle, goggle", they actually say it back. There must be 20 of them in their pack, and i finally sort of got a picture.
Later on, saw "In Brugges", a movie Dan recommended. It was really quite good, i enjoyed it. Colin Farrell can act as well as be hot!

o.k, i have to say something here. About my happiness. i hope this isn;t too personal, but this is really a journal for me . and about a conversation with Dan, in which he mentioned that he wasn't sure other people really understood why i wanted to do this, and i think he felt they were being judgemental . This joy i feel has nothing to do with being away from Dan. i feel our relationship is stronger than ever. i miss him passionately, and think of him all the time. i feel so secure and certain in our relationship that i have the freedom to find this happiness within myself. My friend Lorraine wrote me, after reading my journal, that i was truly meditating, even though it is not a conscience thing. i think i have needed to do this for myself for a very long time. Who knows why, but i feel that others have had the chance, and i haven't. i haven't resented it, but i envied it and wanted to do it too. it is a personal fulfillment. It's my "Leap", which is the title of a book written by Sara Davidson about finding ourselves after age 60.

i was a product of the 60's and 70's, who never explored, who just observed on the outside, never really experiencing it. i supported it for the most part, envied it, and judged it. But never really took part, though some part of me wanted to. i don't regret that, i made good choices in my life. But now, i have a sense of freedom, a sense of being able to expand myself with confidence , knowing also what i have with those i love and not wanting to jeopardize that in the least.

Waited for the torrents of rain and wind to stop, or at least, abate, and then went to the Marin County Farmers Market. i didn't need anything, but i wanted to check it out. It's by the Convention Center, which is a really nice facility. there weren't alot of farmers there, but i liked the market, as of course, everything was fresh, organic and our familiar "sustainable."
i bought a rotisserie chicken from a catering place that was crowded, so i bought one for when Dan is here. i also bought some interesting breads for tonight, a walnut blue cheese, and some others.
i then cooked rumaki, and parmesean mustard chicken wings for Lindsey and Jay to watch the Academy Awards tonight. i bought some foil stars from a Dollar Store to decorate.
It's rainy and lonely, i do feel alone today.
i took a walk, and i felt so much better. Met some people on the way. They used to live in South Haven, knew all about Michigan, even Maple City! he is the homeowners Ass'n president, so he gave me some good info about who to get in touch with for a short term rental next year. They were very friendly and nice, although he described Governor Granholm as a "rotten, Commie, pinko"! I just laughed and joked with him, his wife did too.
I saw the wild turkeys on the walk, they are always around and so funny. One or two Toms, and the rest seem to be like the harem. i also saw deer on the walk; it's really quite nice around here, we are surrounded by paths and hills and protected land.
Came back home, and Jay and Lindsey came over. They loved my little decorations. i think we are the only 3 who appreciate these things, so i knew they'd like them. Watched the Oscars, all of us bored but still.........you have to watch! but one more comment.....it's really so nice to be on the west coast to watch the awards. It's the first time i can remember in years, when i could actually stay awake! And, i am sitting here now watching the post show! This is amazing to me.
and p.s., with apologies to Dan, but it was nice watching the show with people who were awake!

They Call the Wind Matilda

The forecast for today has been alot of rain, and gusty winds. All the t.v. and radio people talk about is the wind, and how fierce this storm is.
I was invited to Lindsey's parents for dinner in Alameda, which meant i had to drive over the Richmond Bridge, where i think a truck overturned due to a high wind gust during a storm in january. When i went to buy Paula, LInsdey's mom, some flowers, the woman told me to stay home, or to have a really heavy car. (I'm driving a little Mazda 3) so i was very nervous, i admit.

Well, i went, and i made it and the wind wasn't that bad. it wasn't that bad at all. i had a really nice time with the Frimans and "Aunt Rae", whom i really liked. I liked them all, it was really fun. They are so hospitable and i felt like part of the family. Rae is a hoot. She regaled us with funny stories, is very vibrant, told us she had an interview at Paramount Studios after she graduated college 50 years ago, having gone to Pasadena Playhouse College or something like that. She got married instead, didn't regret it. She loves to use Yiddish words because her husband, who has passed away, worked for a Jewish tailor and learned many expressions. She is in her 70's, and looks and acts like she's in her 50's.

Lindsey's friend Jessica was there too, it was nice to meet her. Their house is really cool, very homey. The kitchen and downstairs have been redone, it is BEAUTIFUL, with so many cool ideas. Lindsey actually helped design it. Paula and Ken have lived all over the world, as he's been an engineer for oil rigs, and have many stories. Their home, which is her family's home, is filled with family memorbilia.

We had a very nice meal. i wish Dan were there too. They have a dog, Matilda, an Australian Cattle Dog, who hid under Ken and Paula most of the evening, and under my feet at dinner, probably thinking i was Lindsey. She didn't like Jay taking her picture. When we left, she finally got friendly enough to say hello.