By "found" he means "bought"

New wheels
Originally uploaded by average lavender

Friday Liz called me at work and clearly stated it was the day I was going to get a new bike. I stayed pretty skeptical until we started calling around SF bike shops searching for the right one: the Surly Long Haul Trucker. After being referred to three other shops the fourth, San Francisco Cyclery, came through: yes, they had a LHT, size 52 - in fact they had a whole bike and just a frame set. We hurriedly consulted George, jumped up and down, deposited a paycheck and set out. The girl who helped me was confident that the 52 was going to be too big and I believed her but felt growing panic and disappointment because there's no way they'd have any others in stock. Ooooh ye of little faith: they just *happened* to have a 50 hiding in the top row! Now there are plans for new handle bars - either the ones from my old bike (same drop style, just wider) or something a little more classic like the Albatross bars from Rivendell (of course.) I look forward to taking all the stickers off and some day getting a new stem that isn't as clunky and fat as the one it came with. This morning I took a little ride down to Mill Valley and back and it impressed upon me how out of shape I am.

We've also planted the beginning of our tiny potted garden: basil, parsley from Liz, one sun gold tomato plant from one of the women I work with, another sun gold because one just wasn't going to cut it, snap peas because George loves them, and lettuce to somehow inspire us to eat more salads. The tomatoes each have their own big pot and living across the driveway in front of the neighbors house because they get way more sun. Here's hoping it doesn't all die.

benz fleet

granted it's a very small fleet... but we like it. yannick's is an '81 wagon with 225,ooo miles. apparently over 75% of these cars are still on the road. mercedes has a high mileage club.


left to right: curtis, liz, pia, jenne, turbo, consuelo, zoe, yannick


jenne has named her evinrude. we gave her a wash and wax today.

more rain.

the rain's even bigger today. and windier. jenne called me at 7am to have me rescue the outdoor plants. lucky me, she also stole the car. i put some leather goop on my shoes, so i should be all set unless i step in a knee deep puddle. (quite likely). the cats are totally bored. 55mph winds on the bridges. a panel truck just got blown over on the richmond - san rafael bridge.
time to go to work. wish me luck.

It's rainin' rain.

While the northeastern part of the country is getting all sorts of snow we've started getting all sorts of rain. Today was dark and rainy and even windy. In fact, it was noticeably windy. Luckily I spent the whole day inside the bakery twiddling my thumbs and watching the clock hands move painstakingly slowly. Outside the trees were shaking, umbrellas were bustling and customers who stopped in told me harrowing tales of branches being in the road between here and Point Reyes. When I finally came home I discovered our basil plant launched from it's place holding our screen door open on the stoop and laying dis-potted on the other side of the stoop and the big beautiful pot smashed. San Anselmo is no good for our plants. We had a perfect little about-to-bloom yellow rose bush stolen (despite the fact it probably weighed over 50lbs), at least five plants - indoors and out - have come down with some blight or other, the over dramatic basil smashing...

My biggest beef with inclement weather is our mail. We've got a cute little urbany mailbox on the side of the house and it's got a little lid and little arms to hold the newspaper we don't get and it's all well and cute aside from the fact it's outdated and mostly useless. Mail these days tends to get big and fat and awkward and doesn't fit well in this well intentioned box so the lid can't close and everything gets completely soaked. I want to put a plastic bag out for the mailman to put the mail in but doubt that he'd get it. George mentioned building a roof for it, which is a fairly good idea. I'd consider looking for a new mailbox but after mailbox hunting with Hope it's a task I'd rather no tackle - especially for house I don't own or plan on sticking around in.

Tonight we try and make our own pad thai.