July 06, 2010
livegreene webstore now open!
Thanks to lengthy delays with US immigration, I found time to work on the webstore. The store opened June 9 and the webstore was launched today! Not bad for a newbie entrepreneur in California.
Click the logo to check out the store!
Posted by dave at 04:24 PM | Comments (0)
June 08, 2010
live|greene opens tomorrow!
Some post-renovation, pre-opening photos! Tomorrow is the big day!
Posted by dave at 09:38 PM | Comments (0)
May 29, 2010
live|greene day 5
On Monday, I received word from my immigration attorney that my application was approved. Alas, it had been approved 6 days earlier, but either my attorney or a wayward bureaucrat at Immigration forgot to send it. Time is money, right?
It was late afternoon, too late to start working on the renovation. It was a bead shop previously, and the transformation will be huge. I immediately notified my landlord and raced over the get the keys.
Chis and some of our local friends met me at the store after I practiced yoga. They brought wine and cheese and we toasted the new enterprise amongst the dust, filth and grime. Work would begin in earnest on Tuesday.
The most difficult part of the renovation has been the removal of the laminate flooring. I hired one of Chis' colleague's college kids to lend me a hand with the heavy lifting and soon we were driving the flooring in a U-Haul van to the dump. Not very green of me, I realize. I felt better when I reminded myself of the low VOC paint, recycled cardboard shelving and other elements that would more than offset dumping the nasty flooring.
Until I discovered several layers of adhesive, probably carpet and/or tile, under the floor. Several cans of nasty adhesive remover later and my goodness greenness had all but evaporated, along with what is left of my brain cells.
I finished removing the adhesive this morning, and Chis came to help me sort out wiring, and keep me company. What a trooper on a long holiday weekend and he hoofs it to the store to work. I got some painting done, which made the space start to look like my design. Friends drop by randomly with food and moral support, which is so fabulous and welcome.
Target opening next weekend. So much work to be done. Need rest. zzzzzzzz
I will do my best to post regular daily photos and progress reports here, but forgive me in advance if I miss a day or post two at once. The days are long and physically draining.
Posted by dave at 10:04 PM | Comments (0)
May 15, 2010
Peak XV
In 1852, in the Dehra Dun offices of the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India, it was announced that a Bengali computer named Radhanath Sikhdar had discovered the highest mountain in the world. Designated Peak XV by surveyors in the field, the mountain in question jutted from the spine of the Himalaya in the forbidden kingdom of Nepal. According to Sikhdar's meticulous trigonometric reckoning, which took into account such factors as curvature of the earth, atmospheric refraction, and plumb-line deflection, Peak XV stood 29,002 feet above sea level, the planet's highest point.
Modern surveys using lasers and state-of-the-art Doppler satellite transmissions have revised this measurement upward by a mere 26 feet - to the currently accepted altitude of 29,028 feet.
Mount Everest.
Posted by dave at 10:32 PM | Comments (0)
May 14, 2010
Los Lobos Natural Reserve
I keep expecting an approval for my immigration application, which would result in tearing apart the store, painting, adjusting the lighting, and stocking the shelves. I fully expected that would be how I would have spent the weekend. But with no word, we decided to get away for the weekend to Carmel.
Carmel is at the north end of the Big Sur coastline. We took a drive down the coast to Big Sur, which is definitely stuck in a time warp. In a good way. We hiked Los Lobos and took some photos. Stunning topography and wildlife.
Posted by dave at 06:04 PM | Comments (0)
May 05, 2010
Oil Spill in the Gulf
Sorry y'all, I've been leaping through more hoops for immigration. My petition went sideways in a not-so-fruitful way, but more on that later when I write the epic about what I have lately been referring to as my steeplechase of immigration. At least in a steeplechase, you can see the hazards in front of you.
The environmental implications of BP’s spill from the oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico is very concerning on so many levels. But as I listen to the media create theatre out of bashing the big oil companies, it occurs to me that the real culprits here are you and me. The problem is that you and I don’t really want to know how oil gets from the ground and into the tanks of our cars, or into the energy plants that produce electricity for our homes and offices and stores and streets.
So long as we are going to consume oil, we are going to have environmental disasters that result from accidental oil spills. It is a random, yet probabilistic fact. I don’t believe that anyone intends that these things happen, and maybe more regulation and inspection would help.
My point is that with everything we do with this planet, there is a balance between the consumption of non-renewable resources, economic prosperity, and lifestyle choice. Be happy with the choices you make, be aware of the consequences those choices make to the planet, and respect with dignity the impact those choices have on the living things around you.
As my First Nations’ brothers and sisters in Canada say “Judge no man before you have walked two moons in his moccasins”.
Posted by dave at 04:16 PM | Comments (0)
April 17, 2010
Plastiki
There is a lot I love about California, and this is the latest. A 60-foot catamaran made entirely out of recycled and recyclable materials, including 12,500 soda bottles. She set sail out the Gate (under Golden Gate Bridge) on March 20. Her name is Plastiki. on a voyage around the world to further the message about plastic in the world's oceans. I first read about it in a local sailing magazine called Latitude 38.
You simply have to visit their site and explore. Wonderful photos, videos and a virtual tour of the boat.
Fantastic!
Posted by dave at 10:28 PM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2010
Platypus?
"A semi-aquatic, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-fiited mammal." Wikipedia
Close, but not quite. Christopher McDougall wrote a book in 2009 called "Born to Run". He was in pursuit (pun intended) of the answer to one question: Why does my foot hurt? His study of a tribe of the world's greatest distance runners reveals that perhaps we were meant to run barefoot. Or, nearly barefoot.
And so, welcome FiveFingers by Vibram.
These things are surprisingly difficult to find in stock, but Chis lucked out finding a lonely pair at Zombie Runner in Palo Alto.
With all things new, you would think tossing them on your feet and heading out for a 6 mile run would be ideal. Alas, no. These things force you to take smaller steps and move your body weight forward. All the muscles in your feet, legs and hips need reconditioning. And they recommend first wearing them around the house, then run around the block, slowly and gradually increasing your distance.
He has been walking in them around town, and while at first I suggested I would walk on the other side of the street to avoid embarrassment, this is, indeed, California. Here, anything goes!
After Chis tries these out for a while, and my shoes are on their last legs (pun intended), I may just get a pair. At least then I will understand why people look at me funny!
Posted by dave at 05:45 PM | Comments (0)
March 28, 2010
Mr. Ed
Remember me?
I know, I know, I've been really remiss in posting the daily goings-on of our lives. But there has been a lot of hiking and sailing and exploring to be done. And, as some of you know, I am starting a business! I should say, I have started a business. www.livegreene.com. It is a retail store in Palo Alto that will sell cool fun stuff that just happens to be green. The only hang-up now to opening is US immigration. This is the subject of an op-ed piece that I am working on for the New York Times because you simply would not believe the hoops I have leapt through so far. Being a circus clown or trapeze artist would have been an easier.
But that's another story.
We are just in from a wonderful sail in the Bay, where the winds picked up to 15 knots and we hardly noticed the current. Spectacular. This followed an early morning run through the hood, and a breakfast fit for the fit. Tee hee.
I was having coffee with a friend on Friday and we sat on the wall next to where I had parked my bike. My bike and I have been together for 20 years, and I rescued it from a shop in Toronto that recycles (pun intended) bikes. It was an old courier bike with completely replaced Shimano brakes and gears. I love my bike, and California's temperate climate and gearhead-loving culture has allowed me to get virtually anywhere on my bike.
I was describing some of the products I would carry in the store to my friend. Some of them are made from recycled bicycle parts. I patted my bike and said "Just like my faithful steed here."
I thought nothing of it at the time, until I replayed the conversation to Chis over our hearty breakfast this morning. Somehow, telling the story inspired me to name my bike. Mr. Ed seemed fitting.
And so it is that my old Rocky Mountain Fusion mountain bike, which gets me everywhere I need to go, and soon with be the wheels that get me to work, has been officially and utterly knighted.
Mr. Ed.
Posted by dave at 09:58 PM | Comments (0)
February 13, 2010
Doh!
From today's New York Times op-ed:
"It was primarily a symbolic gesture. Way back in 1979, in the midst of an energy crisis, Jimmy Carter had solar panels installed on the roof of the White House. They were used to heat water for some White House staffers.
“A generation from now,” said Mr. Carter, “this solar heater can either be a curiosity, a museum piece, an example of a road not taken, or it can be a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people, harnessing the power of the sun to enrich our lives as we move away from our crippling dependence on foreign oil.”
Ronald Reagan had the panels taken down."
Posted by dave at 10:08 PM | Comments (0)
January 31, 2010
Maiden Pacific Ocean Voyage
On February 6, we will have been living in California for 2 months. It seems like longer to me, and not as long for Chis. Go figure.
Admittedly, it seems to have rained, or threatened to rain, every weekend since we arrived. We just haven't found a weather window for Prana's virigin voyage on the Pacific Ocean.
Until today.
Here are a couple of pictures from our sail today. We are both looking a little sunburned. It can't be wind burn because it barely got above 5 knots of breeze. But, it was so nice to be sailing without the constant pounding from the wakes of power boats (aka stink pots) that seemed to be never-ending in Long Island Sound.
Posted by dave at 08:51 PM | Comments (0)
January 30, 2010
Russian Hill Open Preserve
Some photos from this afternoon's hike. We've had a lot of rain lately, so we got pretty mucky. Not as mucky as the mountain bikers!
Posted by dave at 08:33 PM | Comments (0)
January 20, 2010
Hot Water
Here is my most recent entry on the Green Cricket "Expert" blog, which should post later today. Click here to read other Expert entries on the website, and shop!
When I was growing up on the Canadian prairies (where, at this time of the year, your eye lashes freeze together), hot water was divine. To soak in a hot bath after being outside all day, shoveling snow, cross-country skiing, and building snow forts, warmed the soul. It turned my pink cheeks rosy red and made me feel so comfortable. When my partner and I moved onto our sailboat and began our circumnavigation of this beautiful world, hot water became a luxury. The hot water tank on our boat held only 5 gallons. It was very hot water, so 5 gallons mixed with cold water went a very long way. Our water was heated in two ways – by running the engine, or by running the generator. Either way, hot water required the consumption of fuel. And because we were often visiting in places where we couldn’t get water, we made our own by desalinating seawater. The generator was needed and fuel was consumed so that we could have water, hot or cold.
By the same token, fuel is consumed to heat the hot water you use in your home, and with some hope, some of that fuel is solar or wind. Becoming personally aware of the impact of the choices we make is the first step in finding a healthy balance between sustainability and creature comforts.
One bad example is our condominium in New York City. Hot water was constantly heated by mixing steam with cold water. To add insult to injury, hot water was constantly pumped through the entire building, so that when we opened the hot water tap, the water was instantly hot. Even at 3am! It struck me as a complete waste of energy to keep the water hot and to keep it circulating! But, we likely used way less water in total because the water was instantly hot, and therefore we weren’t running the water until the hot stuff came up through the building. On balance, I’m guessing that our carbon footprint for hot- and cold-water consumption was bigger than it needed to be.
A significantly better solution is a tankless, on-demand hot water heater. We have one in our new house in California, and I really like it. It heats the water when needed, and we never run out of hot water. No more keeping a tank at 49-degrees celsius (or hotter), all day and all night. And no more running out of water when guests take 20-minute showers! The old tank water heaters consume significantly more energy than the tankless ones. And having used both, I like the tankless ones better.
The downside is that the tankless water heaters are more expensive to buy. But the US Department of Energy estimates energy savings of up to 30%. Actual savings depend on several factors, primarily the efficiency of the new water heater and the amount of hot water a family uses each day. Also, the choice of a tankless water heater that uses electricity instead of natural gas is a much more costly way to heat water. With a larger family, there is less idle time and less standby loss with a conventional water heater if a lot of hot water is used throughout the day. You can estimate how many gallons of hot water you consume by using the Consumer Reports calculators .
If you have a storage tank hot water heater in your home, and it’s getting on in years, consider replacing it with a tankless hot water heater. One pleasant benefit of getting rid of the old tank is that you will have more closet space! The tankless water heaters are very small. Better to research it now than doing it in a panic when your tank stops working or starts to leak.
And if you are considering replacing your washing machine or dishwasher, consider replacing it with a new energy-efficient model that heats its own water – this way you won’t need either the storage tank or tankless water heater.
Whatever your choice is, and it is a choice, bring awareness to the impact your choice has on the environment. Remember, your consumer choices have a big influence on those around you and the way companies behave.
Posted by dave at 04:52 PM | Comments (0)
January 04, 2010
Skyline Ridge Hike
Chis and I just returned from a 4 mile hike on the Skyline Trail. Absolutely gorgeous. No wildlife spotting to report, except for a few ducks and hawks. Luckily, I didn't have to rescue Chis from a mountain lion attack. The signs said "Fight back". Hmmm.
Posted by dave at 07:10 PM | Comments (0)
January 01, 2010
Flora and Fauna, Half Moon Bay
On New Year's Day, the four of us hopped in the car and drove to the Pacific side of the Peninsula for a walk on the beach at Half Moon Bay. Here are a couple of photos.
Posted by dave at 07:05 PM | Comments (0)
December 31, 2009
New Year's Eve
Jim and Luc arrived yesterday from Toronto. I'm not 100% sure if my stats are correct, but I think we've spent 15 of the last 17 New Years with them. The usual modus is that Luc and I prepare a vastly complicated multiple course menu for dinner, and usually by 10pm we've had far too much champagne. And we are exhausted.
This year, we kept things simple. Shiitake mushroom capuccino with a garlic froth to start. Pear and avocado salad with gorgonzola cheese. Roasted sea bass with a pesto crust and couscous ratatouille. And for dessert, we made a magic mud pudding. But the magic had evaporated and the only way we can describe the outcome is that it looked like a turd. Thankfully, it didn't taste like one.
Chis and I found some Christmas crackers on sale at the Ferry Building in San Francisco last week, so we cracked them open. Oddly, three had the same prize - a bookmark/paper clip that had the following outcome:
Posted by dave at 11:48 PM | Comments (0)
Errands
I left the house on foot, with my nap sack and canvas bags. I had a few errands to run, notably to fetch the dry cleaning. And because the grocery store is next to the dry cleaners, I could do a swing-by and pick up a few things for the New Years' feast.
I walked down Partridge Avenue, along El Camino, and stood at the corner waiting for the light to change. Dozens of cars zoomed by. This isn't New York, where jaywalking is a sport. This is California, where nobody is in such a rush. The light changed and I walked across the busy intersection, then proceeded to meander through the parking lot to the grocery store. I stopped to help an elderly lady unload her groceries into the trunk of her car, then took her basket to do my shopping.
I was on the hunt for bread crumbs, a seemingly simple thing. But I wandered aimlessly, then asked for help. Three store clerks helped and we found some. I realized that I had forgotten avocados, so I went back to the other end of the store to fetch them. A few more things, and I checked out.
I walked next door to the dry cleaners, picked up our things, and began to walk back across the parking lot to the light. Back along El Camino, I crossed through the lot in front of the muffler shop, where a friendly guy said "Your zipper is down."
Uggg! So it was!
After the flash of embarrassment, I thanked him. Instead of focusing on the humiliation, I pondered why it had taken so long for anyone to say anything. Why had the elderly lady not said anything? Is it impolite? Why is it awkward to tell someone they are flying low? What is it about our culture that these helpful little tips are so inconceivably difficult to discuss?
Indeed, I have seen people (men and women) with their flies down, and haven't said anything. Why not? Is it because we don't want to embarrass them?
I admit that I wasn't all that embarrassed, because thankfully I am one who wears underwear. Black ones at that. So really, what's the big deal if someone happens to peer through my open fly to see .... oh my, black underpants?!
Maybe I should become one of these young kids who grabs his crotch every five minutes. I'm not too sure why they do this? Are they checking to make sure it's still there? But this way I would know whether my fly was down before someone else could tell me.
The human race really is a curious animal.
Posted by dave at 11:51 AM | Comments (0)
December 29, 2009
The House
We had word late last week from the movers that they had found one of our boxes and were going to ship it to us this week. We became very hopeful that it was the missing Christmas box. It arrived today, a bankers' box full of old file archives. :(
Here are a few pictures of the house.
Living Room. Note the leaves on the trees outside?
Dining Room. The puzzle I had just finished was the Tibetan Wheel of Life - 1,000 pieces.
Kitchen. The Toblerone is Chis'. The wine is mine. We all have our vices.
Posted by dave at 06:17 PM | Comments (0)
December 27, 2009
Bay Bridge
Chis took this super cool photo of the Bay Bridge with what looked like a Catalina 46 heading out for a sail. He took the photo with my iPhone. We were on our way back to the train station in San Francisco after a day in the city, and stopped to have a glass of wine. He took the picture through the window.
Posted by dave at 06:14 PM | Comments (0)
December 25, 2009
Christmas Day Visit to Prana
Christmas Day was glorious, sunny and warm in the Bay. We decided to visit Prana and make sure she was doing okay. We had coffee and puttered around doing little unfinished jobs. The perfect way to spend Christmas Day. Our Christmas turkey breast was brining at home, waiting for the finishing touches.
Posted by dave at 06:11 PM | Comments (0)
December 24, 2009
The Night Before Christmas (Sailors' Version)
T'was the night before Christmas, I swung on the hook
with moonbeams a' landing, asleep with my book
When up on the deck I heard footsteps and stuff
"I've been boarded!" I thought, and I tried to be tough
Then down the companionway hatch came a dude
He was dressed like a nut and I thought, "I'm so screwed"
But he laughed and he hummed as he surveyed my junk
So I figured he must be the resident drunk
His eyes were lit up like a junkie on speed
But he gave me a whole bunch of stuff that I need
Like rum and cigars and new charts and a dinghy
And some kind of fancy electrical thingy
I knew it was stolen but I wasn't telling
I just hoped he was giving and wasn't just selling
And I poured him a rum which he downed with a wink
Then I poured one for me (Lord I needed a drink!)
Then he staggered above to the moon lit night
As I peeked I beheld an incredible sight
Eight tiny dolphins and a beautiful sleigh
The dude hopped aboard and prepared to make way
The dolphins were ready to power the sled
But the guy raised a genny and mains'l instead
With a burp and a chuckle he gathered the breeze
And called to the dolphins, now swimming with ease
"Hey Stalker and FEMA and Cancer and Nixon!
Or Stinky and Pepper Spray, Mason, and Dixon!
Or whatever your names are, you cute little fishes,
Here's to every last sailor, my best Christmas wishes!"
As he sailed away leaving a wobbly wake
I hoped he had not many stops left to make
He got close to shore and he soon was aground
But the dolphins proceeded to pull him around
And I heard him exclaim as he sailed out of sight
"Merry Christmas to all... and to all a goodnight!"
Posted by dave at 10:47 AM | Comments (0)
December 18, 2009
Settled in Record Time
Well, hello. The truck pulled up in front of the house a week after we arrived in California. The week was good to get the house ready. The walls needed some repair, patching and painting. The floors were filthy dirty. But by the time Friday rolled around I was finding the empty house a little tedious.
Then the movers turned all of that upside down. Within 5 hours, everything was in the house. Except for our container of Christmas decorations. And the parts for the vacuum. The vacuum canister arrived, but none of the attachments. And the hinges for our book cabinets (which we found two days later taped to the door of the bedroom wardrobe (?).
Chis took Monday off, and we finished unpacking and hung the art. By 7pm, we were 97% done.
We've done this so many times, it gets easier and easier.
It is super fun to be here, and despite arriving to some cool and rainy weather, today was +20c and sunny. I planted some pansies in the garden and put some Christmas lights on the front of the house. The gardeners came to mow the lawns and rake the leaves. I hopped on my bike and rode to Palo Alto to do some Christmas shopping for Chis.
This is SO not New York! A foot of snow is expected there tomorrow. We got outta Gotham just in time.
Posted by dave at 09:10 PM | Comments (0)
December 05, 2009
Welcome to California, Indeed!
Our last day in New York was not without a busy schedule. Our flight wasn't until 5pm, so we decided to see friends, go for a walk, have one last latte at Cafe Grumpy on 20th Street, deflate the air mattress, clean the bathrooms, discard the patio furniture (so uncomfortable), deliver the contents of the fridge to our next door neighbours, etc, etc, etc.
We arrived at the airport with time to have a glass of wine. As we sat there, I tried to describe to Chis how I was feeling. I really couldn't. It's a feeling that is very hard to describe. On one hand, anticipation and excitement about California, the daunting task of unpacking and getting settled. On the other hand, missing New York friends, the comfort of knowing where to get things, the crazy energy of the city we both love and adore. We decided that the only word to describe how we felt was "between".
The flight to San Francisco was on Virgin America, which was an awesome experience. It is a long flight, made tolerable with my very own TV screen in the back of the seat in front of me. And a remote control to choose what I wanted to watch. I decided I needed light and silly, so I watched 3 Christmas movies - Home Alone, Christmas with the Kranks, and Deck the Halls. All of these would ordinarily rate half a star, but it seemed fitting for the moment, and before I knew it we arrived in San Francisco. And I had a little bit of the Christmas spirit as a result.
We arrived at the house to discover that someone put a giant sign on the front door. Turns out it was one of Chis' colleagues who had been swinging by periodically to pick up our mail. It made us both laugh and feel very much welcomed. After a long day, it truly was a little bit of magic in our otherwise hectic day.
And for the first time in a week, we slept on a mattress that wasn't inflated, and slept like babies.
Posted by dave at 05:03 PM | Comments (0)
November 06, 2009
Step 7: To Brisbane Marina
A big storm in the Gulf of Alaska was expected to kick up very high winds and big swells for the California coast on Saturday. And I was scheduled to fly back to New York early on Sunday morning. This gave me a single day to move the boat. And I was alone.
The weather forecast was reasonable - light winds and overcast skies.
They helped me away from the dock in Richmond, I stopped at the fuel dock to fill the tank, and then I was off, motoring down the narrow channel.
The fog rolled in, and the rain started.
The trip took about 3 hours, but the visibility was less than a mile. I could see the shapes of buildings in downtown San Francisco, but couldn't make them out in any detail. I was basically under the Bay Bridge before I could see it. I sailed the entire way with radar on, to be sure I could spot the container ships and other vessels.
I tied her up at the marina in her new slip and the rain seemed relentless. I was wet and cold. I decided to return tomorrow to give her a thorough scrubbing. There was a warm bath awaiting me at the house in Menlo Park. Soon I would be as comfortable as Prana.
Prana in her new slip at Brisbane Marina
Posted by dave at 02:10 PM | Comments (0)
November 05, 2009
Step 6: Step the Mast
The last step was to step the mast (put the mast in its shoe on the deck). This requires some patience in lining it up properly, then lots more patience making sure it is straight. Then we attached all the shrouds to the deck, ran all the halyards and lines, then put up the sails. It took the entire day to get this done.
Prana's mast being swung over to the boat by crane
Posted by dave at 02:06 PM | Comments (0)
November 04, 2009
Step 5: Launch
It had been a pretty steady pace for several days working on the boat. The guys were crawling all over her in dirty, greasy shoes. I tried not to get too excited about it, laying down broken down cardboard boxes to protect her decks. They never seemed to stay put, so I gave up and concluded that in the end this dirt shall pass. Chis came down for the weekend and to help with a few things. It was great. We got the keys for the new house in Menlo Park, and stayed a couple of nights there, on an inflatable mattress that our friends lent us.
Pre-launch beauty - two coats of wax, two coats of bottom paint
Prana's keel touches the Pacific Ocean for the first time
Posted by dave at 02:01 PM | Comments (0)
October 30, 2009
Step 4: Work, Work, Work
There was a long list of things to do. The yard got part of the list, and I got the rest. There are just some things I cannot do, like lift a 55-foot mast onto the boat, much as I try. Before they did anything, I gave her a bath. She was very dirty, covered in road grime.
Then the work began in earnest. I decided to stay on the boat in the yard because the commute back to San Mateo was grueling. Good thing because it meant for more hours to work. The yard had a bright yellow light over the boat making early morning and evening work possible.
PropSpeed treatment on the propeller - nothing sticks to this stuff!
Rigging the mast shrouds, halyards, wind instruments, radar and VHF radio antenna
Posted by dave at 01:55 PM | Comments (0)
October 29, 2009
Step 3: Prana Arrives in Richmond, California
Not knowing exactly when Prana would arrive in Richmond, I hopped on a flight two days ago to be sure I was there. Bruce called last night to say expected to arrive this morning, so I got up early. A new challenge faced my journey from San Mateo to Richmond because they closed the Bay Bridge yet again. The San Mateo bridge took up the traffic and it was very heavy.
I was standing on the road outside the boat year and saw a tractor-trailer come around the corner in the distance. At first I thought it was yet another semi, until I realized that the load was wider that normal. Prana does have a hefty derriere. A tear rolled down my cheek. It was a long journey in an environment that is simply not conducive for a sailboat.
Shortly after he arrived, we inspected her to find some gelcoat damage on the aft port side. Nothing serious but cosmetically nasty. The TraveLift offloaded her to the yard and the work began to get her ready to go in the water.
Posted by dave at 01:45 PM | Comments (0)
October 05, 2009
The New Crib
After a busy couple of days scouring the San Francisco Bay area for a house to rent, I shortlisted three. I picked Chis up at work around 4:30 and we went to check out the marina where Prana will be resting around November 7.
Chis didn't get too excited about the first two houses. We were coming down the stairs from the second floor of the third house, and the broker was still upstairs turning out lights. I asked him what he thought. He turned to me and mouthed the words "This is it".
And so yesterday before we hopped on the plane to return to New York, we signed the lease on
our new home!
Posted by dave at 02:00 PM | Comments (0)
July 20, 2009
Napa Valley
Chis had to be in San Mateo for business last Thursday and Friday, so we flew out together on Wednesday with a hectic schedule of seeing friends, yoga (me), attorney-visiting (me), more yoga (me), some sightseeing (me), and wine tasting (yay!).
One of the great things about organizing a wine tasting in Napa Valley is to do it with someone who knows the area well. Enter Kevin. And partner Dawn. And Andrea and Mark. The six of us climbed into a black stretch limousine at 9am Saturday and headed up to Napa. The remarkable thing was that we left Pacifica at 8:30am, where it was barely 12c (56f for those of you on the ancient scale) and completely fogged in, to San Mateo, where it was 17c and sunny, to Napa where it was 32c and glorious. This is the Bay Area after all.
We hit four wineries, all but one of which I would recommend. In order of favourites - Rudd, Sullivan, Robert Sinsky, and in distant last - Alpha and Omega, whose wines seemed to cater to the "lobster bisque layered with capers, licorice, lavender with a beurre blanc sauce" scene. The wines were over the top with flavour. Not even complex, just too many flavours competing with each other. I half expected the wine glass to be garnished with a sprig of rosemary, a wedge of pineapple, and a pickled green bean. The atmosphere was more conducive to New York City than Napa Valley. Nevertheless, we had a marvelous time with lots of great laughs and wonderful company. I would do it again in a heartbeat!
Posted by dave at 07:48 AM | Comments (0)