Monday, January 23, 2006
Jump-Start
Yesterday, Sunday, I was coming back from a vigorous and satisfying run when some people approached me for a jumpstart for their car. I couldn’t help them myself but I was able to put them in touch with some folk from the church and it was all working out by the time I left them all so I could take a critical shower. But it got me thinking when I woke up on monday, which is today. About mondays, and jumpstarts.
Mondays call for recognition, even when I’m not currently working, even when it’s a day my wife stays home too. Losing track of the cycle is a luxury I can’t afford. I really do go back to the office too soon, and regardless, there’s been a lot to take care of during this little phase of my life. I’m really glad I haven’t had the office to contend with too. Things have been heavy and intense, and continue to be so. It’s all working out, as far as I can tell - things are hard but they’ve been a lot worse and we’ll forge through them as a family. To my loved ones I send warm wishes for a joyous new homecoming, and heartfelt prayers for a swift recovery; and regarding myself, I convey any number of confused and divergent self-referential comments. This is one of those times that maintaining a sharp focus has been particularly important, and particularly challenging. And now it’s Monday. I’ve got my nasal steroids working, there’s a houseful of things that need my attention, my week seems inappropriately stacked up already for a man of leisure such as myself, and I already seem to need a bit of a boost.
And that’s what the internet is for, isn’t it, my friends? A chance to reflect back on and share some poignant moments, and to foster disproductivity through the indulgence of whims and distractions? Here, then, are some photos I took on few recent visits to the park, and at the Bay Area Discovery Museum:
Discovery Museum:
Zach watching bubbles burble from the plastic lips of model frogs submerged in latex cylinders of water:
An angle on the large cross-section of redwood trunk, sundered up the middle wide enough for kids to run through it:
Golden Gate Park:
Japanese Tea Gardens, entered for free since it was after 5 pm, and therefore all the more beautiful:
One of two carved sentinels at the eighth avenue gate to the park:
A few of the feral lilies that spring up everywhere:
Details of the pedestal of the Pioneer statue near Stow Lake:
My favorite little quirky thing in the park - the uphill stream. Of course, I’ve messed with the color, because the architects already messed with YOUR HEAD - the water flows away from you, up the hill, as the path cruises down. There’s a little waterfall at the end into Lloyd Lake across from the Portals of the Past. You approach past the prayerbook cross waterfall, and the stream eddies along beside you, then cruises up the hill to fling itself joyfully down the cascade into the lake. Dude, it’s so cool.
And since I really do need the extra energy this morning, here’s a freshly-minted meme that has entertained me for a few minutes as I completed it. May it have the same effect on you, because it’s a virus and now you’re infected. Post your answers or I’ll cancel Family Guy again.
FIVE FIVES
Five Bottle Openers: Two identical cheap wood and metal ones, one which I’ve decorated with orange puffypaint; one flat flimsy one with a tiki god on it and the opener between his legs, that’s mostly a magnetic fridge decoration; one on the end of a winged corkscrew; one on my leatherman micra.
Five Childhood games and toys: Mastermind; caroms; vibro-football; Which Witch; SST cars (with the big heavy weighted wheel in the middle and the ripcord to get them going)
Five theme songs/jingles that are permanently stuck in my head: Theme to National Geographic specials; George of the Jungle; The Prisoner; Carter Country (a terrible mid-70’s sitcom); Sanford and Son.
Places I’ve Embarassed the Hell Out of Myself: assembly hall of my freshman dorm; KTVU morning wake-up show; women’s intimates section of a snooty department store in Sherman Oaks; trial advocacy training at Hastings Law School; Olivetto’s Restaurant, Oakland.
Celebrities to whom I’ve had some sort of momentary passing connection: Robert Guillame; Marilu Henner; Henry Kissinger; Phil Lesh; Mickey Dolenz.
That’s it for me. From here, the week should just gain momentum till we’re all having a good old time. Now it’s in your hands. Don’t let me down.
