Saturday, November 28, 2009

NotWinterNotSummer

Here in the East Bay we don't really seem to have seasons, we just have weather. During the "winter" we some more cool rainy days, and in the "summer" we have a few warm days (and the occasional day that one might be tempted to call "hot" if one didn't know better). But that's about all the difference there is, as far as I can see.

Take Thanksgiving weekend, for example. Thursday was beautiful - sunny and not quite warm. Friday was cool and rainy. Saturday was sunny and very windy and again not quite warm. And Sunday - oh, wait, that's tomorrow. We'll just have to wait and see.

Brian's family is here for the holiday, and it's great to spend some time with them. Point Isabel and Golden Gate Park yesterday, Point Reyes today, and they'll all be taking off tomorrow so I hope they enjoyed themselves. Looking forward to seeing my family at Christmas.

Realized when I looked at the blog today that I still have not posted any pictures of the new house since the repairs and redecorated have been (mostly) completed. Promise to do so soon. In the meantime, here are some recent pictures from my wanderings in Berkeley and a trip to Chicago in early November:

My two new favorite products. Quake Hold because it holds stuff in place during an earthquake (or at least it makes you feel as if you've done something meaningful to prepare for one), and Potty Mouth, because, well, look at that package!









Yes, it's true, the check-cashing place on San Pablo and University actually has the nerve to call itself a "community service."













Morty looks out the window during a recent outing to Cesar Chavez Park (we've seen Burrowing Owls the last three times we've been out there - very cool!











Someone has painted these shadows around the fire hydrants on Alcatraz Avenue. I only walk there after dark with Morty on our last walk of the day, and they fool me into a double-take almost every time.










Evening foliage and streetlight on Belmont Avenue, on my way back to my friends Jason and Michael's apartment after working a long day for Columbia College Chicago.











Early Christmas lights on State Street in Chicago.














The floor of the elevator in Jason and Michael's building. I guess I have a tendency to get distracted by shiny things.












Seriously, who would feed the pigeons on the corner of Wabash and Van Buren?