On the way out from the Ferry Bldg. Waterless, alas. Large homeless population here.
The Petrona Award 2026 - update
4 weeks ago
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Mobile - Vaillancourt Fountain
Ferry Building Highlights - The Savory Stuff
Got tired of taking pics. There's salted pork products, organic beef and other meat, wines, mushrooms, Cowgirl Creamery, and this cute Imperial Tea Court. Serves a limited menu also.
Ferry Building Highlights - The Sweet Stuff
Scharffen Berger. Lots o' chocolate!
Miette Patisserie, gorgeous, tasty cakes and stuff. I LOVE these macaroons.
Mobile - Blue Bottle Coffee
A little after-lunch pick-me-up. Hubby very impressed with the virtuoso milk patterning of the barista.
Mobile - Ferry Building
Scored a beautiful free spot, decided to hit the oysters for lunch here.
View looking the other way from the bldg.
Right Now - Latte At Crissy
Just relaxing, enjoying a hot drink, and reading my Mankell book. Savoring the quiet for now, people start coming in about an hour or so.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
San Jose Japantown Orchid Show
This year it was held at the Miraido Club House instead of the Holiday Inn Express. About the same size, 6 vendors and the society supply table outside. Easy off the freeway, free parking lot across the street, although it was small and fills quickly. We got there early and it wasn't busy yet, so we scored a spot. Ended up spending about an hour there.
Cal-Orchid's booth. Mostly epidendrums and catts, although I got a beautifully grown and mounted Neofinetia falcata for $25.
Andy's Orchids. Got a beautiful encyclia fragrans for $35, and encyclia radiata for $28. Harry Phillips was manning the booth, and he was such a nice guy - really personable, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We got a kick out of his story of the disappeared neofinetia, and were blown away by how much fishing line (75 miles/yr) he uses! Remmy, look for 12lb line.
Golden Gate Orchids, nice selection of various orchids. Got another neofinetia falcata here, a gorgeous flowering one. Heavenly scent!
Gold Country Orchids. Always look forward to this booth, but this year there wasn't anything for me. So disappointing. Had to buy something, though, so got a second laelia purpurata v. werkhauseri.
6/10/09 Update: Finally uploaded the pics!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Book - Faceless Killers
After writing a couple book reviews on Amazon, figured I should update my own blog! Since finishing the Montalbano series, I've been searching for another character. I think I've found it! Read this in one sitting, and I LOVED this book. Mankell's writing style shines thru despite the blah translation. The Wallander character's so fascinating, and I just love him. Bought the rest in the series, and really looking forward to continuing to see how this guy goes. I won't be disappointed, going by the reviews.
No slam-bam-nonstop-action-spectacular-heroes going on here. Go elsewhere for that. It's a very atmospheric, deliberate portrait of a detective and his city. This guy feels human, feels real - he screws up, he cries, he eats crap, he's got lots of problems. Detective work is stops and starts, catching breaks, promising leads going nowhere, months without any movement at all. Mankell manages to make it all interesting and fascinating. It doesn't feel too dated at all (written in 1991), except for occasional things like taking fingerprints or DNA off apple cores.
Glad I finally read it after a couple *years* of waiting on it! Thinking of it on and off, saw the Swedish series starring Krister Henriksson, liked it, but not enough to dust off the book. Now we've been watching Kenneth Branagh's interpretation of him on Masterpiece Mystery (excellent), and *that* propelled me to read it.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Restful Weekend
Didn't do much, hung out with Hubby, bumming around. Saturday night dinner at a great place in the City, and chatted with our sous-chef buddy AND the chef made the rounds. Really pretty, just like on her TV show. Said she was getting another show due out soon on Bravo. Cool! Afterwards drinks with friends.
Tonight caught 'Star Trek' on digital, which made going to the theater much less odious. Much clearer pic and no scratches, etc. Movie actually pretty good, really liked most of the actors. Hubby is the huge fan, and he was very surprised by how much he liked it, although he was miffed that the movie erased all the past legacy by posing that they were in a parallel universe. Smart move, though, I think.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
I Like Newsvine
This blog is only for the fun and light stuff I do (despite frustrating house projects!). I try hard to keep anything serious off this site. But once in a while there are snippets of news or articles of interest I wanted to 'clip' or store somewhere at a glance, and for other people to check out if they cared.
I was mulling creating another blog for that, but it seemed more work than I cared for. So I looked for a newsfeed site that I could clip interesting or noteworthy things, and I've been experimenting with different sites for a couple weeks, including Delicious, YahooBuzz, Digg, Stumble, etc.
Today I found Newsvine, and I like it a lot because it created my own page that anyone can access without logging in first, just like my blog. When I catch a story, I click to 'seed' it to my page, or I search to see if someone's already got it so I can clip it. Searching is kinda frustrating, but maybe it's cause I'm new to the whole thing, and still trying to figure out the concept. Besides that, I'm liking Buzz and Digg - easiest for me to use.
This is fun!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
More Cym Repotting
Got 4 done today:
* Olymilum 'White Elf'
* Solana Beach x President van Buren 'Pink Dancer'
* Twilight Pink 'Contessa'
* NoID
Caught up on a bunch more podcasts. Very cool.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Today's Catnip - Unknown Cat Food Burglar Still At Large
During the early hours this morning, an unknown cat burglar raided the cat food pantry, opening all the sideboard doors and scattering all inside contents in total disarray. Evidence of chicken jerky crumbs were all over several areas of the house. Tooth mold impressions may be possible from indentations to the cat food bags and dried chicken jerky treats.
The usual suspects were rounded up, but no-one talked. The primary suspect, though, this morning was observed NOT doing his regular obnoxious dance around his mommy's head for his breakfast, leading us to suspect that he may have been full.
I Misplaced My Brain Today
Wow. Not in 20 years of banking have I ever left an ATM card in a machine. Until today. Got a call from the branch informing me where I could pick it up. Shocked, I tells ya! Guess I was distracted by the patio goings-on, despite my efforts not to be. 50 minutes later, changed the card, numbers, accounts, PINs, etc. Just to be on the safe side.
Why the distraction? We have permanent footprints sealed into the concrete. All only from this morning. WTF?? *Sigh* whole thing wasting too much time.
Chewed Out Contractor
This morning. Oscar giving Hubby the usual bullshit until I came out, so he couldn't play the 'other person knew' game. Once I started MY questioning (grilling) he finally admitted the crazed cracks on the top level was a fuck-up (Hubby unhappy that he didn't just admit it up front and had to take me grilling him to get it out of him). Insisted the cracks on the stairs were normal. The rest of the stuff: more bullshit, bullshit, blah blah. Most unbelievable? He actually blamed ME for the project going south, because apparently my checking things out made them nervous which caused them to make mistakes. WTF??, I said, and yelled a bit, which had him backtracking fast, but damage done. Now I'm mad.
Bottom line: Freak occurrence. Also design flaws. Nothing to be done that wouldn't make things worse at this point. We'll just live with it. But I got my point across that if he'd been more honest about what to expect, we wouldn't be as unhappy. I'm used to freak and unusual happenings. No biggie. Just don't fucking lie to us about it being 'normal'.
Hubby and I work really well together: he's more tempered and can overlook his BS meter. When my bullshit meter goes off, I go off with it.
Now we're both really freaking tired of talking about this thing. Moving on. They're sealing it today, we'll go get soil to fill around the edges. The rose bushes'll be the first thing in. Yippee. Then some furniture. Shoot, must scrub and seal the teak furniture. Way too expensive not to maintain.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Finished Phal Spreadsheet
Got the phals all squared away on excel, including pics for all but 5 of them.
Slc Vallezac 'Evelyn' has one bud, developing nicely. Dtps Yu Pin opened first bud. Paph Pinocchio still blooming away, just amazing. Lots of pretty flowers decorating my office. Really cool.
Dropped into PV to pick up several bags of bark, prompting a woman on the other side of the aisle to remark that I must have a lot of orchids. Now to repot all those cyms. Yikes.
Neighbors and Mosquitoes
Neighbor dropped by this evening to ask for a favor for our green bin slot, no prob. Nice guy.
As we were chatting, we were assaulted by mosquitoes the size of bumblebees. I hopped and flapped all around and ran back into the house quickly, but poor Hubby sustained multiple gigantic bites. Horrible.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Orchid Spreadsheets
Got everything nice and updated from 2001, matched and indexed! Yesterday made hyperlinks and embedded thumbnail pics in the excel sheet to most of my catts. It's really cool to see at a glance what colors I may be missing (none, boo!), or could have more of (yay!).
It's Boiling Today
Mini-heat wave. Yesterday, today. Got up to 97° yesterday, feels like the same for today. Did I mention how much I love my a/c? Decided no repotting - no need to stress them out more with low humidity on top of ripping their roots apart. Been constantly misting all the outside orchids, and that humidifier/cooler I finally remembered has been making all the indoor orchids' environment soooo much better - measurements read around 50%-60%. Yes!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Dtps Chiada Carmela's Jewel x Taisuco Verve
One of the ones from this shopping spree. 2 spikes, buds still opening, only 2 blasted.
6/10/09: Interesting to see this post linked in a Russian orchid forum! I don't mind the use of my pic, but I'm dying of curiosity as to what it is all you orchidists are looking at? The translator wasn't too clear, does someone also have this phal? Would love a comment! Happy growing!
Blooming Orchid Barn NoID
Friday, May 15, 2009
NY Times Andrews' Article on Personal Finances
I found his NYT article extremely refreshing and honest. It took a lot of guts to be able to publicly bare some embarrassing and damaging decision-making. Took responsibility for his mess, and it's very easy to understand how the family got in that deep. I'm really rooting for the family's ability to stay intact and dig themselves out of this unholy shitstorm. Hopefully posts another article with a more positive outcome.
Book - Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin
Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin, Nancy Atherton. This one was slightly better. Once I set expectations much lower, it was a nice fluffy quick read, which was great to help me thru some insomnia last night.
Don't think I care enough to read any others in the series, though.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Spring Cleaning
I am exhausted, and having a very well-earned bourbon. Yum. Ginza marching, purring and drooling away on my lap. Life is good.
7 straight hours of cleaning, inspired by my new vacuum, which is still fantastic, btw. Scrubbed, washed, dusted, vacuumed, laundered, wood-polished the major rooms. Changed out all the litterboxes.
Good enough for now.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Miele Bolero
I LOVE THIS VACUUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never thought I'd get so enthusiastic over a mundane household item, but there ya go. Just bought it today, tried it out at home, and it is wonderful. We'll see how it holds up to time.
Saw it in January when getting a replacement belt for my POS Hoover. The owner had me try out a bunch of different ones, and this *felt* like a high end machine. But it was pretty pricey, so I had to think about it. Dragged Hubby to check it out, he wasn't as excited. Really, no kidding, you think. *Pffft*
Will add a product overview later when Kayla's not sitting on the keyboard.
5/19/09 So. I wanted the Tango, a really cool red-orange color. He only had the floor model - noooo! Anxiously told me it could be in right away the next day. But I was already there, didn't know when I'd feel like going back, since I'm not in that neck of the woods at all. So, voila! black it was. $50 less anyway, will go towards the bags.
Pros:
* Very bearable noise level. Testimonial: kitties stuck around, weren't bothered by it much. THAT'S impressive.
* Powerful. Sucked everything up, esp. on the wood, where it sucked all cat hair not even directly in its path.
* Clean air. Truly a sealed system. The dirt bag is incredibly thick and self-sealing. Didn't sneeze or anything after vacuuming, which I always did after the Hoovers. Air flows back out thru the front top, so no floor dirt disturbance. The air actually smelt cleaner. Wow.
* Excellent controls. All easy to reach and use, smartly located at the top. Bag full indicator. Automatic setting: Suction adjusts lower when sensing drapes, back up to full strength on the couches or carpets.
* Odds & Ends. Nice bright path light bar. Excellent all around rubber bumper. Easy reach handle. Power cord very long. Easy pull extension wand, upholstery and dust nozzles easy to stick on. Notched beater bar to easily cut wound-up hair away!!
Cons:
* Cost!!! Not just the upfront price, but the replacement bags.
* Cheap plastic, especially the front plastic hinges to open for bag replacement. I can totally see us breaking this soon.
* No stairs attachment included or to buy. How the heck am I supposed to vacuum the stairs?
* Cord gets kinda hot, dunno what that's about, but it worries me a bit.
Pending review: longevity.
Monday, May 11, 2009
The Repotting Continues...
* Blc Chia Lin 'New City'
* Blc Haadyai Delight 'Bangprom Gold'
* Cym Leodogron Cradlemont
* Cym Stanley Fouraker 'Fanfare'
* Cym (broken tag)
Neemed most of the indoor orchids.
Book - Catching Up on Listings
Been a while since I posted any notes, and some were so fluffy there wasn't any point. But this is what I remember:
Maximum City: Bombay Lost And Found, Suketu Mehta. Fantastic book. Several narrative flaws, but overall an engaging and thrilling book through areas that most people, not even the general locals, are aware of or are exposed to. I felt like I knew a little more about Indian culture, even if most of it wouldn't be really useful in general conversation, except for the bureaucracy and movie references. Hubby's now reading it, and thinks it fantastic too. Plan to re-read it. Moreover, it whetted my appetite to read more about India.
The Orchid Thief, Susan Orlean. Blah, blah, blah. Mehhhh. Read this back in '99, didn't care for it (much preferred Orchid Fever), gave it away to another orchid club member. Stumbled across it at a sale for $1, why not? She's been so lauded. Gahhhh! It was even more excruciating this time. Tedious list after tedious list. Boring as hell, except that Laroche was mildly entertaining, but not enough for the time I spent on this book.
Self-Defense, Jonathan Kellerman. Good enough, about what I expected. Kept me entertained, even if it was predictable.
Past Reason Hated, Peter Robinson. Tedious. I usually like the Banks series, but this just went on and on like filler until the ending, which seemed lame.
Goodnight, Irene, Jan Burke. Good writing, good story, good main character. Entertaining and not very taxing on the brain.
A Place of Safety, Caroline Graham. Holy bat shit! What the hell was this? Having watched the TV adaptation of Barnaby, I figured, this should be good. It was a mess. MESS. I'm not ready to give up on a possible English cozy series. Must try another one first.
Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday, Nancy Atherton. Very cute fluffy English cozy. Pretty authentic overtones considering the author's American. Was not aware of the whole 'haunted book' thing, but it was easy to suspend disbelief and enjoy the whole story. The main character irritated me with the constant instantaneous moronic conclusion-drawing. Tolerable, though, esp. compared to 'A Place..." I bought two in this series for a quarter each, so it still has one more chance to interest me.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
More Repotting Today
* Dend Aridang Blue No 205
* Dend Bertha Chong x Blue Foxtail
* Dend Madame Vipa 'Mutation'
* Blc Arabesque 'Golden Zebra'
* Blc Burdekin 'Lakeland'
* Blc Hawaiian Wizard 'Carmela'
* Lc Mem Robert Strait 'Blue Hawaii'
Did the physical count of the cyms - oh crap!, the crew snapped off a bunch of labels during the patio move. Luckily, most checked out fine against the spreadsheet, so I just sorted out the 13 missing ones. Will go find pics so I can hopefully re-match names when the plants bloom.
Next Adventurer: Kayla
OMFG, I got such a scare tonight. As I opened the patio door, Kayla was apparently waiting behind me, and dashed right outside. This was the first time ever that anyone's tried that! Calmly walked outside and asked her to come back in, to which she back-mouthed me, a sharp meow. She peered over the edge of the patio, decided it was too steep or boring, but didn't run further away from me. I slowly edged closer, closer, then snatched her up. Whew.
Once I got inside my hands couldn't stop shaking and my heartbeat didn't go back to normal for a half hour. The whole time I was figuring out how to get her, I was panicked that she had no collar, it was so dark, she could run down the ravine and I couldn't follow. I was thinking that I'd have to sit out all night until she came back.... on and on.
Hubby was shocked too when I told him. They're now aware of the 'outside', at least Kayla is. Too smartie-pants. This makes 2 wanderers (Pixie was my fault). We need a plan.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Repotted Six Catts
Repotted and neemed:
* Both Blc Momilani Rainbows
* Blc Zul 'Waiomao Fantasy'
* Lawless Walkiine 'The Ultimate'
* Lc Melecio Huerta 'Senor Perfecto'
* Pot Cloud's Creek 'Heavenly Scent'
Updated the orchid spreadsheets, did a physical check and count for everything except the cyms, which I'll do tomorrow.
Fling-ama-string
| From Kitties |
Pam turned me to this one, and I finally remembered to ask for it at the PetFoodExpress. It was pricier there, $30, than elsewhere, but I was already there, and I like patronizing my local small store (chain).It's an interesting concept, but could be improved. All the kitties seem more mesmerized with the regular rotations of the string belt than wanting to play with it. They give a few half-hearted swipes at the string as it hits the floor. The problem is that it's not random movement, and within a minute all the kitties had caught on. There's also no timer to stop it.
After turning it on this morning, Ginza's playing around with it occasionally. Kayla just stares at it, and Pixie ignores it.
Overall, very good buy. Anything that entertains them and isn't destroyed in less than a minute wins points in my book.
Reconfigured Orchid Shelves
Last night cleared off the grow shelves, then today removed two of the shelves, and replaced the burnt out Wonderlite. This time added a fan, then remembered to add the evaporative cooler, which is much better, as it's a combo fan and humidifier. Taped down clear plastic on each shelf to prevent drips and water hazards to the electrical stuff. Netting over the whole thing to prevent chew-happy kitties. Better configuration.
Funny timing, since now that it's warmed up, everything's migrating outside. But at least I'll have everything set up for the winter. How's that for planning ahead? Very pleased.
Sooooo excited about getting going on the outside greenhouse, ok exposure, will have to shade from direct afternoon sun. And setting something up on the new patio too, for the cyms, maybe the phals. Ideal - all eastern and northern exposure, only a little direct sun against the house in the mornings.
Cleared Ticket
Woohoo! Got that piece of shit out of the way today. Certificate came in the mail today, and I went in the afternoon, got my stamp, and was on my way. Now to avoid more crap for 18 months.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
More Fiori Buys
Paolo and Nina were so generous, they gave me one of their display zygopetalums. My first one, I told them I'd never had any before but was intrigued. Now I have more time to examine it, it is a beauty, and already permeating thru the kitchen!
Dend Rainbowdance 'Kuji'
Cym Vala Craig
Sederia japonicum (japonica?)
Cutest tiny little flowers, each slightly bigger than a nickel but soooo fragrant! Love this
Maxillaria tenuifolia
Sarcochilus Melba (Falcatus x hartmannii 'Donovan')
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