Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Wood bath tub
I know this has nothing at all to do with anything, but isn't this bathtub beautiful? It's $33,000.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Vector drawing of cruise ship
I stumbled across this link to a tutorial for a vector cruise ship drawing done in Adobe Illustrator. It says it took 720 hours to complete, and that it needed to be done in under 2 months. Assuming 8-hour days (5 days/week), this would have taken 90 days (3 months). Increasing to 10-hour days, it still would have taken 72 days. In order to get it done in 60 days, the artist was likely pulling 12-hour days to finish in time.
It's not that I'm not a hard worker, but I can't imagine staring at my screen at the same illustration for that long. A spectacular illustration nonetheless.
It's not that I'm not a hard worker, but I can't imagine staring at my screen at the same illustration for that long. A spectacular illustration nonetheless.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Remi, rest in peace little one
I have to put my cat to sleep today.
Remi got sick while I was out in CA and is not getting better. I saw her last night at 1AM at the Emergency Clinic and while she's disoriented and confused she sat, as usual, resting against my arm purring.
With Remi, there is always unconditional love. She loves everyone. If you are near her, if you even look at her, she immediately starts purring. You can hear it from across the room.
And I confess, I was mean to her. Not physically, but emotionally. I called her stupid. (She was not the brightest cat. You know how you crack a door open and the cat pulls it open to get out? She never quite got that, she'd just paw at it and eventually close it completely, locking herself in.) She was really oddly shaped. (She was once described as looking like a batch of spare parts put together: an extra-large body, a small head, and four extra-small paws because they ran out of large ones. It was true, she was funny looking.) I favored other cats over her.
But no matter how many times I kicked her off the couch, or the bed, or the couch again, she would jump back up and start purring. It was hard to resist petting her when she would just stand there. And purr. A little purring machine.
Remi was a stray cat, found around 1994 when she was maybe 4. We don't really know how old she is. I fostered her and when she fell madly in love with Jak, another one of my batch of cats, there was obviously no separating them. With him, it was also unconditional love. She groomed him, he chewed on her. She curled up next to him, he slept on top of her. They could often be seen in the front hallway fighting (her, by this time with no claws and no teeth) and she'd always be the one on the floor--in the submissive position always--letting him takes swipes at her. And purring regardless.
Rest in pease, little Remi. It's been a great time. I will miss your unconditional love. None of the others have it like you did.
Remi got sick while I was out in CA and is not getting better. I saw her last night at 1AM at the Emergency Clinic and while she's disoriented and confused she sat, as usual, resting against my arm purring.
With Remi, there is always unconditional love. She loves everyone. If you are near her, if you even look at her, she immediately starts purring. You can hear it from across the room.
And I confess, I was mean to her. Not physically, but emotionally. I called her stupid. (She was not the brightest cat. You know how you crack a door open and the cat pulls it open to get out? She never quite got that, she'd just paw at it and eventually close it completely, locking herself in.) She was really oddly shaped. (She was once described as looking like a batch of spare parts put together: an extra-large body, a small head, and four extra-small paws because they ran out of large ones. It was true, she was funny looking.) I favored other cats over her.
But no matter how many times I kicked her off the couch, or the bed, or the couch again, she would jump back up and start purring. It was hard to resist petting her when she would just stand there. And purr. A little purring machine.
Remi was a stray cat, found around 1994 when she was maybe 4. We don't really know how old she is. I fostered her and when she fell madly in love with Jak, another one of my batch of cats, there was obviously no separating them. With him, it was also unconditional love. She groomed him, he chewed on her. She curled up next to him, he slept on top of her. They could often be seen in the front hallway fighting (her, by this time with no claws and no teeth) and she'd always be the one on the floor--in the submissive position always--letting him takes swipes at her. And purring regardless.
Rest in pease, little Remi. It's been a great time. I will miss your unconditional love. None of the others have it like you did.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Sunday, April 8
I found it (the apartment I've been waiting for) in the Castro last Thursday.
It's perfect: 1-bedroom, fireplace, french doors, built-ins, period detail, really cute. The view, out the two bay windows is Twin Peaks and the evening I was there I watched the fog as it came rolling in. Spectacular!
The only thing is: it's minuscule. Maybe 400 square feet with a single medium-sized closet. The kitchen has a stove that looks like a toy, and you can hardly turn around in it. Not unexpected, but still hard to imagine actually living there, especially with the $1600/month price tag. As my friend Jeff pointed out, that could afford me a 4-bedroom house in Saint Louis. Ha! It also has an ugly gas heater bolted to the floor directly in front of (and obscuring the view of) the beautiful fireplace. It's huge, a veritable piece of furniture you'd end up trying to decorate around. Or try to hide somehow, like an elephant in the middle of the room.
But, as Riaz told me, it's not about size it's about how it feels. And this place feels so right. I put in my application and am waiting to hear. Along with probably 40 other people wanting the same apartment.
In the meantime, I found another, much larger place in a crappy neighborhood 1 block off of Golden Gate park, which sounds like a lovely location but is not. Double or triple the size of the other place, I could bring more to fill it up but would hate coming home to it every night. So there's that.
Also applied for one on Valencia at 20th that's a 5 on the 1-10 scale. Not as big as the above-mentioned one, but GREAT location right in the heart of the Mission, hardwood floors, new kitchen (that I can actually eat in). It lacks a certain amount of character, however, and has only one very small closet. One. Where would I put all my...you know...stuff?
Last but not least, I have a lead on a place ON Dolores that's not even on the market yet (it's in rehab). It's been described as a 1-bedroom that's "beyond huge". No idea how much or if I could even get it before everyone else but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get in there to see it.
Some sad news from home: my aged Remi is very sick and in the hospital. Her kidneys appear to be failing and she's not doing well at all. Poor Sarah, my awesome cat sitter, who's had to deal with this. I'm cutting my trip short to be with her, leaving tomorrow evening.
After I see the place on Dolores, I hope.
It's perfect: 1-bedroom, fireplace, french doors, built-ins, period detail, really cute. The view, out the two bay windows is Twin Peaks and the evening I was there I watched the fog as it came rolling in. Spectacular!
The only thing is: it's minuscule. Maybe 400 square feet with a single medium-sized closet. The kitchen has a stove that looks like a toy, and you can hardly turn around in it. Not unexpected, but still hard to imagine actually living there, especially with the $1600/month price tag. As my friend Jeff pointed out, that could afford me a 4-bedroom house in Saint Louis. Ha! It also has an ugly gas heater bolted to the floor directly in front of (and obscuring the view of) the beautiful fireplace. It's huge, a veritable piece of furniture you'd end up trying to decorate around. Or try to hide somehow, like an elephant in the middle of the room.
But, as Riaz told me, it's not about size it's about how it feels. And this place feels so right. I put in my application and am waiting to hear. Along with probably 40 other people wanting the same apartment.
In the meantime, I found another, much larger place in a crappy neighborhood 1 block off of Golden Gate park, which sounds like a lovely location but is not. Double or triple the size of the other place, I could bring more to fill it up but would hate coming home to it every night. So there's that.
Also applied for one on Valencia at 20th that's a 5 on the 1-10 scale. Not as big as the above-mentioned one, but GREAT location right in the heart of the Mission, hardwood floors, new kitchen (that I can actually eat in). It lacks a certain amount of character, however, and has only one very small closet. One. Where would I put all my...you know...stuff?
Last but not least, I have a lead on a place ON Dolores that's not even on the market yet (it's in rehab). It's been described as a 1-bedroom that's "beyond huge". No idea how much or if I could even get it before everyone else but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get in there to see it.
Some sad news from home: my aged Remi is very sick and in the hospital. Her kidneys appear to be failing and she's not doing well at all. Poor Sarah, my awesome cat sitter, who's had to deal with this. I'm cutting my trip short to be with her, leaving tomorrow evening.
After I see the place on Dolores, I hope.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Tuesday, April 3
The apartment hunt is extremely frustrating. No, this is not a surprise but it's still discouraging. Finding a place in a good neighborhood, in my price range (which I thought was going to be plenty), that is large enough for a batch of cats is proving to be harder than I though, despite trolling craigslist every morning.
My options look like this:
- One room, in a decent neighborhood, not big enough for both a couch and a bed. One that I saw wasn't even big enough for a bed so I'm not sure where they thought you'd be sleeping. On the couch, I guess.
- A larger place, in a crappy neighborhood, that actually has a bedroom and large enough for the cats to have a corner to themselves. Probably overlooking a Safeway or car dealer's lot or something.
- The same place in a better neighborhood for several more hundred dollars a month that I'm not sure I can afford. Still too small for 3 cats.
- Roommates. Ugh. Leave the cats at home for 6-12 months, find a place looking for a roommate, and just move enough stuff to live on while I search for a place. This means leaving my cats in the care of someone for up to a year, something that brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it.
This last option, of course, is looking more and more likely.
On the up side, the weather is gorgeous. Of course.
My options look like this:
- One room, in a decent neighborhood, not big enough for both a couch and a bed. One that I saw wasn't even big enough for a bed so I'm not sure where they thought you'd be sleeping. On the couch, I guess.
- A larger place, in a crappy neighborhood, that actually has a bedroom and large enough for the cats to have a corner to themselves. Probably overlooking a Safeway or car dealer's lot or something.
- The same place in a better neighborhood for several more hundred dollars a month that I'm not sure I can afford. Still too small for 3 cats.
- Roommates. Ugh. Leave the cats at home for 6-12 months, find a place looking for a roommate, and just move enough stuff to live on while I search for a place. This means leaving my cats in the care of someone for up to a year, something that brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it.
This last option, of course, is looking more and more likely.
On the up side, the weather is gorgeous. Of course.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Saturday, March 31 - Back in the Bay Area!
Ugh, a 7:55 flight this morning, but alas I am finally back here in San Francisco. It's an exploratory mission this time, in hopes of finding an apartment so I can move out here in May. That's the plan, at least--let's hope I can find a place.
Upon arrival I hooked up with my friend Danielle from Chicago and her friend Katie who just moved out here in June and shopped around the Mission and Hayes Valley for most of the afternoon (what a way to start the trip!). I am in love with both areas, and Katie's apartment near 17th and Church is exactly what I'd be looking for. Small, of course, but with two massive bay windows and a tiny little porch for the kitten. Plus a rooftop with a great view of the entire city.
Several highlights today:
Stopped into Get Lost on Market for a pocket map of SF since I forgot mine at home (again--I think I have at least three of them back home). Also picked up the new Mundane Journeys book, but have not had a chance to read it yet.
Sunhee Moon for boutique clothes (a little too spendy for me so I encouraged Danielle to buy instead).
On the way there, we stopped into Rayon Vert--momentarily--a store I definitely want to get back to when I finally have an apartment to furnish. Great collection of beat-up old stuff in a very interesting arrangement of space. I loved the aesthetic there. The store I wish I had. No website, but they are at 3187 16th St. at Guerrero.
Alabaster in Hayes Valley with it's rambling collection of carefully selected home goodies. My favorites were the resin coral repros (for under $20!), the antique bottles with (real) coral and sea urchins soldered to the stoppers, and a trilogy of three-foot statues of the head of David high up on some bookcases (which I found out later were resin and actually quite light as I had wondered what would happen if someone accidentally bumped into those shelving units). 597 Hayes St.
Friend, another home store chock full of all the current trendy items including a wood bird mobile that I coveted but refused to ante up $60 for. The old "I could make it myself" excuse. 401 Hayes St.
Momi Toby's Revolution Cafe, a neighborhood coffee house named for the great-great-great-great grandmother of Poncho Villa's cook (or something like that, they weren't really sure) that sells coffees, teas and treats and even beer and wine (a half carafe at happy hour is a mere ten smacks). The place feels like it's been there forever and I felt like I would want to spend a lot of time hanging out there if I lived in that area. 528 Laguna St.
Inside, a modern furniture store hosting an impressive batch of mixed media pieces by Chris Stokes, an architect who uses found scraps of paper items, old press-type, xerox transfers and drawing and painting to make really delicate, detailed compositions. His work made me think that I could definitely reduce the scale of my pieces and use less stuff, and perhaps end up with an aesthetic that is more refined (and easier to do in a small apartment, to boot). Danielle bought one, and if I was not moving here soon I would have too. The price was right: $375 and they were all originals in museum-quality mats and frames--a great bargain. 149 Gough.
Dinner at Blue Plate down in the Mission, then bed. I'm beat.
Upon arrival I hooked up with my friend Danielle from Chicago and her friend Katie who just moved out here in June and shopped around the Mission and Hayes Valley for most of the afternoon (what a way to start the trip!). I am in love with both areas, and Katie's apartment near 17th and Church is exactly what I'd be looking for. Small, of course, but with two massive bay windows and a tiny little porch for the kitten. Plus a rooftop with a great view of the entire city.
Several highlights today:
Stopped into Get Lost on Market for a pocket map of SF since I forgot mine at home (again--I think I have at least three of them back home). Also picked up the new Mundane Journeys book, but have not had a chance to read it yet.
Sunhee Moon for boutique clothes (a little too spendy for me so I encouraged Danielle to buy instead).
On the way there, we stopped into Rayon Vert--momentarily--a store I definitely want to get back to when I finally have an apartment to furnish. Great collection of beat-up old stuff in a very interesting arrangement of space. I loved the aesthetic there. The store I wish I had. No website, but they are at 3187 16th St. at Guerrero.
Alabaster in Hayes Valley with it's rambling collection of carefully selected home goodies. My favorites were the resin coral repros (for under $20!), the antique bottles with (real) coral and sea urchins soldered to the stoppers, and a trilogy of three-foot statues of the head of David high up on some bookcases (which I found out later were resin and actually quite light as I had wondered what would happen if someone accidentally bumped into those shelving units). 597 Hayes St.
Friend, another home store chock full of all the current trendy items including a wood bird mobile that I coveted but refused to ante up $60 for. The old "I could make it myself" excuse. 401 Hayes St.
Momi Toby's Revolution Cafe, a neighborhood coffee house named for the great-great-great-great grandmother of Poncho Villa's cook (or something like that, they weren't really sure) that sells coffees, teas and treats and even beer and wine (a half carafe at happy hour is a mere ten smacks). The place feels like it's been there forever and I felt like I would want to spend a lot of time hanging out there if I lived in that area. 528 Laguna St.
Inside, a modern furniture store hosting an impressive batch of mixed media pieces by Chris Stokes, an architect who uses found scraps of paper items, old press-type, xerox transfers and drawing and painting to make really delicate, detailed compositions. His work made me think that I could definitely reduce the scale of my pieces and use less stuff, and perhaps end up with an aesthetic that is more refined (and easier to do in a small apartment, to boot). Danielle bought one, and if I was not moving here soon I would have too. The price was right: $375 and they were all originals in museum-quality mats and frames--a great bargain. 149 Gough.
Dinner at Blue Plate down in the Mission, then bed. I'm beat.
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