3-on-3 #19: ...rain?

This was taken at Stanford. (Don't tell my Cal alums!)

It's funny how just a week ago I was commenting on hot it was. Wha...? I woke up this morning and heard the sound of raindrops. Yep, raindrops. June showers.

Speaking of rain, it feels like once you hit a certain age, it seems like the metaphorical wedding invitations start to pour in. I believe I am of that age (29, going on 30, going on 15). I'm not sure how to feel about it all, but I do know something I'm super excited about: gay marriage in New York. Yay! Unfortunately, it makes me feel a little disappointed that California (CALIFORNIA!) voted "Yes on 8" a few years ago and banned gay marriage. I hope that will change in the future. I truly hope so.

And then on a semi-related note, check out what I saw today on Elizabeth Messina's blog. First of all, I love both Jose and Joel's works of art. They are AMAZING! Second, I had no idea they were a couple. Their combined creativity is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Luckily, no reckoning is necessary. Congratulations, guys! :)

3-on-3 #18: It's Getting Hot In Here

When the weather gets this hot in the area, I'm so glad I live in San Francisco. It's easily 10 to 20 degrees cooler in the city than most of the Bay Area. Win!

Something I'm super excited about this week: Haagen-Dazs Blueberry Crumble ice cream. It's limited edition, but I hope they keep it around. It's all sorts of yummy!

And now, for your viewing pleasure, a photo of Miss Fiona on the field in the Presidio:

Stay cool out there and Happy Summer Solstice!

Kids' Portraits in the City

Golden Gate Bridge plus red brick buildings equals classic Presidio. Loveliness.

Click here to view the full gallery.

3-on-3 #17: My Private Tour

I managed to get myself to Trumer Pils Brewery in Berkeley last Tuesday to take a brewery tour. I love factory tours and love beer as well - so this made a lot of sense! I was worried that they would be totally booked (just like Anchor Steam) but when I got there, I was all by myself.

Yep, my own private tour.

It was super informative and a feast for the senses - all of them! I'm a big believer of beering people up after any tour.... :)

Thank you, Dave, for the great tour and this photo. Check out those kegs!!!

3-on-3 #16: Oh but to love and be loved in return....

I absolutely am enamored with the following poem. I think it captures commitment and fidelity in a very honest way and would make for a beautiful reading at a wedding, or in bed before you fall asleep in each other's arms:

These I Can Promise

by Mark Twain

I cannot promise you a life of sunshine;

I cannot promise you riches, wealth or gold;

I cannot promise you an easy pathway

That leads away from change or growing old.

But I can promise all my heart's devotion;

A smile to chase away your tears of sorrow.

A love that's true and ever growing;

A hand to hold in your's through each tomorrow.

Source

My Core Values

I finally got around to penning and blogging My Core Values as a business operator, and as a person. Here they are:

• Be fair. This applies to providing the best service and product that I can at a reasonable price without ripping people off and without underpaying me for my time. It's quite a balance to strike, but an important one for longevity's sake.
• Live high. This is also the title of one of my favorite Jason Mraz tunes. But this core value refers to doing the right thing. Of course, the "right" thing can be subjective at times and with those dilemmas, I'll weigh the pros and cons. But a lot of times, the right thing is very apparent.
• Stay small, stay humble. Because being a huge braggart is so 1980's, 1990's, and 2000's.
• Pay it forward. I've been so lucky in my life with friends, family, and love that it would be so wrong to not pass on some of this good fortune to others.
• Have fun and stay quirky. Why yes, I can adopt a more professional tone (it's true; for years people actually paid me decent money to write like an adult) on this blog and on my website and with every single interaction, but let's face it, I'm a human being first and foremost and not an automaton (not yet, anyway; the procedure is still in alpha testing!). I like to have fun and so should you. I'll stay this way and keep this fun because without it, our personal unicorns die a little everyday. Seriously. Keep having fun, if only for your personal unicorn's livelihood. Please.

There you have it. When you're dealing with this girl, you can expect any and all of the above.

Mission Peaked

I subscribe to a newsletter called "The Weekend Sherpa" (highly recommended) and before Memorial Day weekend, one of their recommendations was the Mission Peak hike. It's 3-miles one way and as the name implies, you hit a mountain/hill peak. And yes, the views are spectacular!

We took Fiona and for a dog that (1) is going on 13 years old in August and (2) has legs that are about 8" long, she out-hiked us both! I also loved that on the way down, a couple was discussing among themselves how the little dog was able to make it up the hike. The guy said, "I bet she [me] carried the dog up there." I took a little offense to that and had to stand up for my doggy, "No I didn't! She made it up there all by herself. Gotta give credit where it's due." So proud of my doggy. Up until she tore through the boyfriend's backpack while she was at home alone because she smelled sandwich. Dogs....

The city view.

The mountain view.

The goofy view. Proof we made it avec le petit chienne. (P.S. My French is le suck. Sorries!)

P.P.S.

These photos were taken with my new Canon PowerShot Elph 300 HS that the boyfriend generously gifted me with. And as you can tell, I'm quite enamored with the miniature effect built in to the camera. I'll review the camera functionality one of these days.