M is for Motherhood.

I wrote this to a friend from SF about going to Career Day at my alma mater:


The deal is I'd like to talk about Motherhood as a career. I have an MFA in studio art and I've done all sorts of other things but my business card says, "Mother." Motherhood, pregnancy, delivery, children etc. got such a bad rap many of our peers avoided it, until it was too late and very difficult. SO MANY of my classmates gasp when they hear I have 5 children and then they say, I wish I had just One. I just got a FB message today from a beautiful woman I knew at Urban saying the same thing.
Maybe careers for women aren't stressed as much as they were when we were in school, at least not at the expense of Motherhood, but I wonder...
My decision to get married and have children was not solely based on my religion. My brilliant grandmothers taught me about the importance of motherhood, as did my mother who, though very independent, chose to stay at home--her mother always had to work, a lot. All three demonstrated the power of the hand that rocks the cradle. And, all three expressed at different times that they wish they had had more children. Hmmm, 5, these days, is kinda dicey...
If you think the school would be interested I'm happy to come to SF anytime! So good to hear from you! H

SF

On Tuesday, while walking by an extremely elegant hotel two extremely dapper gentlemen were walking out. The visual definition of refinement & taste. Debonair, with a capitol D. They were speaking beautiful Spanish. They were obviously brothers, possibly twins. One was all in white and grays, including his hair, eyebrows & mustache. The other was all black, charcoals & dark gray. The lighter brother's shirt had ruffles.

P is for Play.

playdatebayarea.com


J would love this!

S is for a Sofa in the Sunset.

The Saga of the Beloved Sofa from San Francisco

Down, down, down the stairs.

Into the sunset ...

Down, down, down the stairs.

The cushions went down, down, down the stairs.

The Beloved is in the truck.

Arrived in Lindon.

Unwrapped.

Landed in a room that seems designed for the +8 foot long, beloved, Oma Stella blue, modern, low sofa.

M & favorite pal SP playing in the sofa's shell.

Once the shell was completely kaput, the cardboard was used for tie dye. No part of the sofa and the souvenirs of its saga were wasted.

Oma Stella had great taste. She collected beautiful minerals, ancient (art) glass, rugs, stamps. She loved her friends and was amazingly open minded. She once told me about meeting the leader of a Satanic group (!?) who slept in a coffin. As hard as that is to believe I think it is true. She was familiar with the Dadaists. Everything was worth knowing about. I remember reading the encyclopedia with her, she kept them by her bed.

I wondered why she didn't have more antique furniture. She wasn't interested in collecting it. All of her furniture was new in the 40-50-60's. When she and my grandfather moved to SF they took a lot more than most from Germany, but that didn't include any furniture. She had a friend (Freilander?) who was a carpenter and I think she had him make several of her pieces. None of it was reproduction. All was very modern, streamlined. Her eye was toward the future!

I miss her a lot.

Yesterday was Grandma Ream's birthday! I miss her too! I put up pictures of her in our entry way. So vivacious. Gorgeous. Smart. Way ahead of her time. More about her another time. I have a rocker of hers... it needs to be re-reupholstered, so that it looks more the way it did when she reupholstered it with loud flowers and bright colors. Brilliant!

Hello from San Francisco! I'm at the Apple Store ... charging my now faster phone and debating the merits of a new computer... hmmmm. There are many merits of a new computer...

FYI To add to the poem below add:

bird poop in the brunette's hair

Washed out in a bookstore's sink

Dead car battery.

Love the tattooed and pierced AAA men that came to jump our battery

Gama, quoting an irate female shopper swore like a sailor, just to make me gasp, which she did!

K will be playing Daddy Warbucks

C is doing the 72 hour kits!!! Wahoo!

N & I played on the beach this morning.

Love SF radio.

Someday, I'd edit these posts better. Just the facts. Just the facts.

R is for Red.

On a day when we are celebrating whoknowswhat and wearing green I thought I'd post these pictures from San Francisco ... in red.

M is for Monday Fashion :: the M & B edition!

Recently seen on the streets of trend-setting San Francisco: M and Bapa making a bold statement together.

The heppest seasonal accessory is the vest. Sherpa and pink satin for the 4 year old set and the dark chocolate brown for the more seasoned gentleman. Shoes? Black patten leather is a must. Tops? Leave subtlety at the door, adorn yourself with fuchsia cashmere. Small pattern shirts always work, especially when paired with stripped tights and contrasting pattern and colors. The Pièce de résistance is the NoelleO skirt -- so hot its cool. Also, plastic accessories, practical and balanced, are the rage this early Spring.

Equally important is attitude: Always port yourself with a smile and a spring in your step. This is a must for any age of fashionista/o. Of course this is easier with a beautiful brunette at your side or your very favoritest, and funniest, Beau Brummel. Simply: Surround yourself with the very best!

H is for my Heart that I left in San Francisco.

My home page is my hometown newspaper: sfgate.com. Today there is a story about the annual adoptable animal window displays at Union Square. SF is such a great creative place... encourages a lot of creativity, generosity and in general fun, while tackling major issues.

Every year designers (set, window, graphic, younameit) get together and build furniture that is meant for adoptable kritters to enjoy for the day, or two, and for holiday shoppers to gawk at and hopefully find true love through, while admiring the beautiful eyes and irresistible fur and the diminutive chaise. The article said that they have been doing this for 21 years, and that last year 200 animals were adopted. Cool.

W is for Wednesday's Food Section.

The above is a tart of sorts made with fresh peaches, apples and a simple cinnamon/sugar topping, no crust.

Many newspapers use the Wednesday center part of the paper for food. My favorite paper (my home page) The San Francisco Chronicle has a brilliant Wednesday Food Section. The Deseret Morning News also has a Wednesday Food Section. What's the difference? Everything!

I honestly cannot figure out how the food editor of the Deseret News keeps her job. She doesn't do a bad job, she does a HORRIFIC job. I have been wanting to write a letter to the editor for a long while -- about the Captain Crunch Crab Cakes! or the endless article about cook-offs and contests, or the use of out of season produce and canned soups. Can't wait to see what she "cooks up today!" Can't forget to mention her over use of cliches and trite sayings.

While in SF with C, we ate breakfast at a favorite, fantastic, small restaurant on Chestnut Street, The Grove. Out of the blue C mentions Valarie Phillips, the food editor for the DMN, and her recipe for quesadillas, with "your favorite canned spicy cheesy soup," in a comparison to the Grove's lovely, simple, healthy menu. I just about spit I was suddenly so mad. It was funny at the time. A woman next to us noticed and we told her about the Captain Crunch crab cakes, quesadillas and cook-offs -- she was disgusted too. It was a funny San Franciscan exchange.

Perhaps I'll write that letter today...

SF is for EssEff.

Up and dreaming at the same time. These pictures (from Margo's and my last trip to SF) remind me that there are places like this on the planet. I definitely left my heart in San Francisco. My children do as well. J (10) told me yesterday, out of the blue, that he misses SF. He pensively said, "I wonder why, maybe it is the climate." Hmmm? "It is always the right temperature there. I never know if it is going to be really hot or cold here."

Better read Invisible Cities again.