many grateful thanks to Eli for sending me this link and thereby making me giggle until I nearly cried.

The Horror of Blimps

the seagulls were singing along to my Shostakovitch this morning on the way to work.

we're having summery summer weather. I went to the beach and there were people playing and sunning and swimming. the water was ice-cold, but the sand felt wonderful between my toes.
the fog will be back next week.
mustn't take the sunshine for granted around here.

my favorite month is coming right up

yes, and my birthday is in May, too!
what more could I ask for?

Paris - Beyond the Image:
A Historical Photographic Essay

and a 1937 Metro map.

Woman loses her job over coffins photo

yes, Eric, death doesn't happen.

Nous sommes désolés que notre président soit un idiot. Nous n'avons pas voté pour lui.

How To Gag on "The Passion"
Mark Morford saw it, so we could be spared.

Liebchen, it's time again to commemorate the anniversary of the 1906 earthquake at Lotta's Fountain. Every year, people gather at Lotta's Fountain at O Dark Thirty (somewhere between 4:30 and 5:00 am) on April 18th to be merry, and to celebrate the survival of our fair city.
Eli and I went last year and had a blast.
This year I'm not sure I'm up for getting up at 4:00 on Sunday morning- I have a very sore throat, and- let's face it, I'm lazy. Besides, I now live in a house that was built in 1896, and very sturdily withstood the '06 quake- so maybe I'll do a little private celebrating, inside, in bed, in my dreams...

Don Asmussen:
God, Pornographer?

penguin love

This brought tears to my eyes:
Happy birthday to zoo's penguins / Beloved colony turns 20 with party

Quotes from Jane Tollini, penguin keeper:
"Happy penguins have more sex, and fat penguins have more sex."
"They're not pussies. They're real penguins."

The Thousand Yard Stare

what I was missin'
in the used to be
I'm gettin' frequently
and so goodbye to cares that hound me

I'm sitting in the yard, it's spring, the sun is shining, the dog next door is crying, and certain songs are playing in my head over and over. It's nice to be home again, after all. Today is the 11th anniversary of my move to San Francisco (and also Tara's birthday!); I left work a teeny bit early to celebrate.
I have two and a half weeks of vacation in Berlin and Paris and Bonn to write about, and more pictures to post, but today I think I'll go for a bike ride.

But this is why
it's all too strange and strong
I'm full of foolish song
and out my song must pour