Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Half price tickets on offer at Tix Bay Area, so why not?  Total came to $45.50.  The Actors Theatre of San Francisco is a tiny, cute theater on Bush, just a couple blocks up from our usual Sutter Garage, so...perfect!  Really enjoyed ourselves, the whole production was well done.  The two leads, Rachel Klyce and Christian Phillips, were excellent, believable, but the other two were kinda off - awkward, stiff, definitely "playing" characters.  Odd, since they'd been doing it for a while, and this was their last night.  Anyway.  The pace was great, we didn't notice the time, and really got into it.

Nice, cushiony seats, raised stadium seating so a shorty like me didn't really have to bob my head (except the guy in front of me had an exceptionally large head and I had to switch with Hubby).

Of course, the subject matter was so emotionally charged, dense and intense, so we left somewhat disturbed with a lot to mull over - excellent.  No gouging on the drinks - $5 for a cup of red, and $1 for bottled water.

Will definitely return.  A real gem.

Mobile - First Pic From New Phone!

New enV3 couple days ago. Pretty good phone, loving the keyboard. Sucks that I can't just transfer pics from the usb cable so I'll need to do something else to transfer pics from the old phone (without incurring data charges).

Several hours later: Aha!! Loaded the pics to Verizon's photo album, then texted them to my new phone. Easy and fast since I only had a dozen pics.

From Kitties

Beautiful Day Today

Ahhh, nice and sunny.  Putting the catts out for some sun (yesterday too).  Doesn't seem to have any damage, except for the dends, several canes lost to frost damage.

TWO spikes on the sarco!!!  Yippee.  Pinocchio opened 1st flower from the 3rd spike.

Rainy and Dreary

Raining on and off since Thursday evening.  Dreary as heck.  Poor catts are all in the garage since Wednesday, temps dropped to 32.  Hope none of the new growths got damaged.  Obviously the buds are all stalled.  Disappointing, but not catastrophic.  Must put up grow lights soon.

Union Square Christmas Tree!

Cat declawing now a crime in The City | San Francisco Examiner

Cat declawing now a crime in The City | San Francisco Examiner

Right Now - Columbus - Bomb Scare

Some idiot left a box at the bank - bomb squad on scene.

Enjoying The Fireplace

Last night's pics!  Didn't want to use any flash, so they're a bit dark, but cozy.  Typical kids:  there's two identical Ikea chairs along with one of their cozy fleece beds near the fire, but nooooo, we all want the same chair......LOL.

First Pixie and Kayla have a turn....

From Kitties

...then Ginza wants to bask a little in the warmth.

From Kitties

Today's Cute Kitty Poses

Pixie keeps a sharp eye out:

From Kitties

While Ginza provides backup:

From Kitties

And Kayla takes a break, resting her little face on both little paws:

From Kitties

This Week's Orchid Buys!

Yesterday dropped by the Flower Mart to see what's new.  Apparently a shitload of cyms!  I restrained myself, and only got a couple dends and a phal.  Sweet.

From Everything Orchids!

From Everything Orchids!

Went to the Oakland orchid show on Sunday, nothing really tempted *gasp*!!!  Had a fun chat with couple other women, and the Botanico guy, who was just as nice as ever.  Must schedule a visit!

My gripe with the show, as it is every time I visit, is that it has the most unfriendly bunch of Orchid Society members I've bumped into.  Night and day from the San Jose group.  No one smiles, everyone ignores you, and the checkers at the door don't even greet you.  How freaking hard is it to say "Hi" or "Bye"??  That's the least that I do when I'm volunteering.  They're obviously capable of friendliness, since they're real nice to each other.  Doesn't make me want to beat a path to join up.

Anyway, enough of that nonsense.

Mobile - First Fire of The Season

Orchids - What's Blooming Soon

* Paph Pinocchio 2 new spikes.  The other two still blooming away.

From Everything Orchids!

* Neostylis Lou Sneary 'Bluebird' put up 1 new spike.

From Everything Orchids!

* Bollopetalum Midnight Blue 'Cardinal's Roost' 2 new spikes!

From Everything Orchids!

Woohoo!

Video - Kayla and The Kong Kickeroo

Trying to replace the boring noise with a soundtrack, but can't find a good one.  Suggestions!

Mobile - Today's Kitty Shots!

From Kitties

From Kitties

From Kitties

More Confessions of A Curly-Haired Chinese Woman

So.  I followed the basic tips for curly hair.  I washed, conditioned, and air-dried WITHOUT BRUSHING.

I made an amazing discovery:  I have a head of full curls.  Not wavy.  Curly.  Shirley-Temple-sausage-curls-from-my-crown-curly.  I discovered this because for the first time in my life I let it dry naturally without brushing the living hell out of it every step of the way like my mother insisted was the right way to treat my "horrible" hair.

Why is this amazing?  I'm Chinese, and all my life I've been told by everyone from my Mom to the hairstylists that Chinese people don't have curly hair.  My sisters' beautiful straight hair was always held up as examples.  Let's ignore the fact that my Dad has curly hair.  (Yes, my Mom has reality issues, that's not for this blog.)  After telling my sister about my discovery, she called me later to tell me that she had quizzed Dad and found out that when he was younger he had a full head of Shirley Temple curls.  Voila.  Mystery solved.  You can insist all you want, Mom, but my hair is not "bad" nor "horrible" nor damaged.  It's freaking CURLY!

I've been doing a lot of searching online.  I had tears in my eyes after finally understanding that brushing out the curls results in my gigantically poufy hair.  I choked up when I discovered that other Chinese have curly hair just like mine (I LOVE THE INTERNET), and I'm now searching for these people to get hair tips!  How many times was I told pretty much by everyone, including MOM and all hair stylists, that I'm Chinese, I couldn't POSSIBLY have curly hair.  It's just damaged.  I never understood how blowdrying or ironing could do THAT much damage, but I accepted it as truth.  It's kinda sad that it took till middle age to discover this, but hey, better late than never.

I now understand why my salon experiences were so traumatic.  I need someone who's experienced with curly hair, like HairPlay, which sounds so encouraging.  I'm a little shocked at all my curls, but I'm slowly getting used to it.  I'm starting to get excited about my hair.  I think I'm really going to like it.

Hair Rant - Confessions Of A Curly-Haired Chinese Woman

All my kid sisters' hair are all sleek, straight, and silky. They shampoo, air dry and it looks salon gorgeous. I was reminded of this on my sis' visit a few weeks back, especially after she made a comment (again) about how weird my hair was.

So how'd I miss out on those genes? What the HELL'S up with MY hair?!? It's got a serious identity crisis. It's curly in places, corkscrew in places, and wavy in places and straight in places. It's all the same in one way - unbelievably frizzy. After *I* wash and air dry *MY* hair, it fluffs up like a poodle. I wish I exaggerated. Hubby says I've got a whole 'fro going on.

Most unfair is that I'm a complete appearance minimalist, if well-groomed. I don't care to spend much time fussing over how I look.  I don't like products in my hair.  Most days I just put my hair in a ponytail, and be done with it. But even this has to be ironed and gelled to death before it's presentable, or I look like a crazy bag lady.

Fed up yesterday, I unearthed some good basic info online about frizzy curly hair. I'm tired of beating my hair into straightness.  I should just accept that my hair's never going to be like my sisters. I'm not listening to my mother anymore about my "bad hair" being all my fault and to brush my hair even harder and "better".  My hair is not damaged nor dry nor "bad".  I have a sneaking suspicion that I have really curly hair.

Lots of tips to try.  First I'll concentrate on all the dryness and ironing damage, to reduce the frizz.  I'm still looking for good sites, techniques, and products to try.  The videos on monkeysee.com are very instructive.  I liked this article on controlling frizzy hair.

I'm so excited.  I'm looking forward to the day I can just put some product in my hair, twist, air dry, and look great.  Not as simple as my sisters' hair, but close enough.  I'd be happy.

Cuteness Overload - Kayla Napping

Caught this right now as Kayla's sleeping next to me on the couch, all comfy on the heating pad blanket.  Without waking her.  OMG.  I LOVE MY KITTIES.

From Kitties

From Kitties

Video - Ginza and The Kong Kickeroo

Video - Pixie Laser Tag

Hmmm, this one seems too big for Google. How about YouTube? Yippee! Done, seems to be working. Nope, not working. Hmmm, will get it right at some point. Yippee again! It plays now, unchecked the HD box.

First Videos - Ginza Laser Tag!

Yippee!! Figured out how to post a video. Me every day get more smart. LOL. Here's Ginza in action. He's frighteningly lightning fast.

Replaced the Blogger videos with YouTube ones. They look nicer on the blog.

Ahhhh, Husbands......

Standing here in the pouring rain
Teetering on the slippery ladder
Trying to peer into the gutter
Cascading waterfall on me
Blocked gutter
Groping for debris
Clearing the mini forest residing there
Skinning all my knuckles
Inventing new cusses
Unclogging the exit, yippee!
Standing right underneath the shooting spout as it's unblocked
Spewing mud, leaves and debris on my head
Wiping crud off my face
Trying to think positively - could this count as a mud facial?
No.  No happy thoughts available.

Plotting evil revenge against Him
Yes, honey, I'll take care of the gutters
Quit nagging me
3 months.  2 months. 1 month. Last weekend.
Nagging?  You'll be fondly wishing for just the nagging soon.

Now Blooming - Brassia Edvah Loo

Woohoo!!!

From Everything Orchids!

Mobile - Breaking Out The Heating Pads!

It's that time of the year.  Turned on all the heating blankets and brought out the heating pads for the kitty shelves, beds and sleeping areas.  I LOVE seeing all the furrballs cozy as could be and all curled up - well, except for Pixie, who's sprawled out tummy-up on her pad, making little squeaky grunts.  Adorable!

From Kitties

Rained this morning.  Freaking weather.  Hot humid summer day Saturday, now freezing our patooties off today.  Grrrrrr.

First Big Storm Today

Started last night, then poured and poured today.  Flooding on a couple streets over, shut down.  Yup, still have the catts outside.  Covered them so they wouldn't get wet, at least.  Temps ok for them, 50s, so I haven't been on fire to bring them in.  Flirting with disaster, I know.

Need to move the cyms from the side of the house to the back, where there's more shelter from the rain.

Took the kitties outside to smell the rain, they weren't too excited.  Especially Pixie, who utterly hates even the sight of water.  Mozart LOVED the rain and dripping water.  We miss him so.  Can't believe it's almost a year.

Book - Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio

I read this in one evening.  I loved this book, which touched on many universally weighty and troubling issues and racial prejudices, treated in more of a satirical, rather than ham-fisted, manner.  Both entertaining and enlightening.

The elevator is the central character of the story, much like Little Miss Sunshine's bus.  Who knew so much drama could revolve around this contraption?  The title is clever and absolutely spot on.

Some seriously disliked guy in an apartment complex is killed - in the elevator - while another resident disappears, leading to the obvious conclusion that he's the murderer.  Various apartment residents are questioned, with each interview presented as a monologue chapter, followed by the suspect's own thoughts on the same corresponding events presented as diary entries.  Each resident illustrates baffling, wild, and hilarious prejudices and misunderstandings not only of other cultures, but sometimes also Italian regionalism.

The mystery isn't even the point of the book, instead just a tool enabling an intimate insider's stroll through a mixed neighborhood to meet some decidedly colorful people.

Kayla and the Kong Kickeroo

The kitties love to hug and rabbit-kick these, especially Kayla. Only bad thing is there's no opening to put in new catnip.

From Kitties

Now Flowering - Onc Twinkle & Dend

My noid dend, pretty as can be.  First spiking here in the beginning of September.

From Everything Orchids!

From Everything Orchids!

My onc Twinkle (Fiori), looking quite peachy.  Very fragrant.  Took a looooong time to open up!  Here's the post from JUNE, lol.

From Everything Orchids!

Continuing preparations for winter - covering up all the patio furniture, caulking stuff.

Book - And Then You Die

Ok, I resigned myself to ending the series with Blood Rain. I was very surprised when more Zens came out, and decided not to read them. Until now. I'm at loose ends for detective serials, so here we are.

Getting back into Zen is like wrapping myself up in my favorite down comforter - so comfortable and familiar. I really missed him all these years. I'll re-read the series again after I finish End Games.

He's still the same irascible yet lovable detective, recuperating on some beach out in some unbearably lovely and homey town where people are actually nice and courteous to each other. Strange things are happening all around him, and he refuses to admit that they may be related to him. This book feels like more of a pause in between books than an actual stand alone mystery, so it's not a good one to jump into the series with. Some details really strain the imagination, but they're little ones, which I'm willing to overlook.

Napa Wineries With Little Sis

Baby Sis very interested in learning about wine, and really enjoyed her visit there last time, so I had a nice selection of wineries for this time.  Unfortunately she wasn't feeling too well, and we only made it to three before we had to head off.

First, lunch here, I like this place, and the server wasn't snotty, and even nicely packaged and bagged leftovers for us.  Yummy!!

From Wine Country

First stop, Baldacci Winery.  Small, cute like Shug, but mehhhh.  Could've done without it.

From Wine Country

Second stop, Silverado Winery.  Touristy, but still very nice.  Beautiful grounds, lots of places to sit and sip, or read if it's not busy.  S start feeling ill, so no tasting.  Definitely will return to do some tasting.

From Wine Country

From Wine Country

Ahhhh, the smell of the wood!

From Wine Country

From Wine Country

From Wine Country

From Wine Country

From Wine Country

At the end of the room is an off-limits area, but I was able to sneak this pic of their private tasting room.  Really nice, must inquire about it when we're hosting!

From Wine Country

Last stop, Stags' Leap Winery.  Most of it was closed off this time, all the drywall up for renovations.  Trying to turn lemons to lemonade, they turned the construction into a signing wall, where my sis left her mark too, LOL.  She'd written something really clever, wish I'd thought to take a pic!  I got her the reserve tasting so she could taste the $200 bottle.

From Wine Country

Mobile - Golden Gate Bridge

S visiting - taking them to all the usual suspects!

New Low Temps

44.8° low last night.  Yikes!!!  Hope it didn't damage any of the new growths.  Very bad timing of leaving the indoor zygos outside yesterday for some air.  Hope it didn't shock them too much.

Time to bring them all inside.  Ahhh, winter's coming.

Completed Volunteer Training

Woohoo!  Did a couple days over the weekend, and now I can be a regular volunteer at the museum without supervision.  I'd still want a semi-mentor, though, I'd feel a bit nervous by myself right off the bat.  I'm so happy I finally did it, and it seems like such a good fit.  I'm really looking forward to it.

Neofinetia falcata

I'm so proud of myself!! It's open! Pretty, fragrant. Everything looks healthy, 3 new growths.

Here's the "first spiking" post.

From Everything Orchids!

Book - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Very cliché, both in "shocking" plot twists and characters. It really reads like two books, and when you're thinking it's finished, there's a whole other mini-story at the end. What saves it is that despite its faults, it manages to be very entertaining, and I still really enjoyed it. The "girl" of the title is a very interesting character, and I wanted to know more of her. I think many of the wild rave reviews is because she really hits a cord with anyone who's fantasized about revenge or vigilantism - such a societal misfit, but still brilliant, very strong and ingeniously capable of dealing with injustice, especially against women. The journalist, on the other hand, gahhh.

The whole book is a recognizable mash-up of other mystery writers' plots, and to the author's credit, he does acknowledge the wholesale lifting of said plots by mentioning the mystery writers, including Val McDermid. You can figure out the story immediately if you've read A Place of Execution, and Robinson's Aftermath (not mentioned).

Cute Catster Article "When The Ears Speak, Listen!"

This Cat's Meow Blog Ears Article is really cute! By Karen Nichols, had to put up her cartoon, it was hilarious. Although the comments are right, missing the airplane ears pose. In our household, that pose usually means "WTF?!"

Book - Firewall

Again, we have a couple of seemingly unrelated deaths which Wallander's instinct is telling him are somehow linked. He's still battling ill health, plus now he has to deal with job concerns too. But it's still stimulating, doesn't feel tired or repetitive. As usual, it's also an engaging portrait of all the team, their strengths and flaws, both professional and personal, as they battle the latest case.

The only complaint I have is that once again, like the White Lioness, Mankell tries to shoehorn an unbelievable global conspiracy into a provincial town where it couldn't possibly happen. Ever. Seriously. But this is fiction, and I'm more than willing to accept it as is.

Book - One Step Behind

Oh wow. This is the glummest tone I've gotten from this series so far. The juxtaposition of the certain, bright, happily anticipated Midsummer with the dark, uncertain clouds of societal and authority breakdown is very unsettling and provocative. There was more character development of the team in this one, which I really enjoyed.

A bunch of unrelated people start turning up killed. But Wallander's instinct tells him they're linked, and in between fighting his ill health and professional tragedy, uncovers a very meticulous killer.

More Pics of De Young Museum, SF

From our visit last Saturday.  Extra $20 each for the special Tutankhamun exhibit, but it was really worth it.  Amazing.  Showed up early enough in the day that there was a tolerable crowd.  As we were leaving, longer lines were forming.  What's nice is that they have some crowd control, they let a predetermined amount of people in and out at a time.  The objects in the gold room were stunning.  This exhibit surpasses the Nefertiti exhibit several years back.  We bought the catalogue, which contained a CD of the guided audio tour.

From Daily Meanderings

From Daily Meanderings

From Daily Meanderings

Darwinara Charm 'Blue Star'

OMG OMG OMG these are absolutely stunning.  They're so fragrant.  I'm so in love.  I've been staring at them all day.  There was only one left after I'd bought my 2 at $25 each, now I wish I'd bought that too.

From Everything Orchids!

From Everything Orchids!

Bought from the Orchids & Gardens booth.

From Everything Orchids!