past two weekends in june

Wanted to share some fun pictures from the Academy of Sciences that Jeremy and I hit up the weekend before last since it was free for people living in the Castro/Haight neighborhoods (that's us!).
First thing we saw was the albino alligator they have there. Really freaky. We did see it move! I know it looks plastic.

Then we went into the rainforest area. You can see the natural light coming in from the rooftop windows. (You'll see them from the roof view too in a few pix)

A poison dart frog (little bit of red and blue on the leaf)

There's another bird in the nest too

There were a bunch of different types of butterflies all over the place

From the rainforest we went to the aquarium where we saw this big catfish

Afterwards we headed to the 'live roof'. The Academy is known for its sustainable architecture and uses the live roof to help cool the building. (They also use recycled denim scraps as insulation!) 

sunshine!


This past weekend Amanda, Jeremy and I started Friday night off by seeing The Shirelles @ The Rrazz Room in SF. They were on their 50th Anniversary tour and they put on such an amazing show! One of the original founders, Beverly Lee is on the left in this picture

The other two have been with her for 20-40 years though. Beverly was clearly the favorite among the crowd, but the other women had amazing voices on them! They bantered with the audience a bunch and invited people on stage a couple of times. The energy was so contageous. Here's them doing 'I met him on a Sunday' with help from some of the gentlemen in the audience. (I think it's worth watching all the way thru, the guy at the end who had 'Saturday' really hammed it up)

Then, of course, my favorite Shirelles song 'Will you still love me tomorrow?'

Here's the three of us at our table

Then afterwards, Amanda and I got to take a picture with Beverly Lee in the lobby

(thanks Erikka for that cardigan!)

Saturday, we headed off to Golden Gate Park in search of the cement slides @ The Koret Childen's Playground, thought to be the oldest children's playground in the nation. But we were sidetracked by the carousel, and had to give it a whirl.

weee!


Then we hit up the slide, both of us completely missing the 'no adults without accompaniment of child allowed sign'. It was fun, you had to slide down on a piece of cardboard, and it helped if you put sand down on the slide first.


We made a pit stop at the Bicycle Music Festival, but didn't take any pictures. It was fun though, it was completely powered by bicycles and while the band played, there were 5 bikes set up that people could ride to generate the electricity needed.

Then, since it was free (actually everything we did was free except we had to pay $2 to ride the carousel), we went up to the observation deck at the De Young museum that Tom and Marna told us about when they were in town visiting.

You can see the academy of sciences in the background!


To end the weekend was Fort Funston. With a name like that, you know you can't go wrong! We read that there would be hand-gliders and dogs, and we saw a bunch of both!

This guy took off right next to us!

It was a beautiful day with tons of flowers in bloom.

Jeremy sitting on one of the bunker/lookouts

Watch out, the cliffs are dangerous for doggies too!

Walking down to the beach

The beach was really nice, the sand was black, almost blue-ish with a golden-tan mixed in

Sea foam

Washed up jelly fish

Fun stick that I think looks like a sea dog


Now back to the work week, (big) sigh...

Russian River Canoe Trip

This weekend Jeremy and I were invited on a canoe trip down the Russian River. Since neither of us have ever been there and haven't really canoed all that much before, we were game. We left Saturday evening to meet up with Layla and her friends for some camping at the Sonoma Coast State Park. We stayed in Bodega Bay, which looks like a cool place to come back to sometime.

That night Sharon and Manuel cooked up some baddass carne asada tacos. Dylan provided the musical entertainment, while Layla helped to sing along.

We had a toasty fire

Check out Jeremy's artsy can in the fire shot

And what good would a fire be without...
smores!

More songs by the campfire, headlamp light

In the morning Jeremy and I sat by the inlet, a few hundred feet from where we camped out. There were horseback riders about, and people digging big holes in the sand, which we found out was clamming.

On the way to the Russian River, we got to drive along the coast line. It was amazing, especially with all the wild flowers in bloom!


Canoeing was a blast. 10 miles is a long ass time tho! We ended up out there for about 5 hours. Of course there were some excursions along the way. Here are some pix.

This was right before we ended up in the branches of a tree up ahead, due to my taking pictures

Here comes Jeremy on a rope swing we spotted.


To top off the day, we had ice cream for dinner at Screamin' Mimi's on the way home. Homemade waffle cones and ice cream?! YUM!

the surprise visit home

Recently went home over Easter weekend to surprise Sandy for her birthday and my parents for Easter. It's pretty hard not spilling the beans, but I managed and it was all the more fun because of it!

I arrived off a red-eye early Friday and headed to Jamaica Plain to see Erikka. She graciously let me pass out for few hours, then we hit up Centre St Cafe and poked around a few local shops where Erikka found this awesome number and made me try on


It was a nice day so we hung around on her porch

and pet the neighbors cat, it took like 6 photos to finally get it to look up (see Erikka clutching at it's tail to make it stay)

Then Jason got out early and we went to Doyle's Cafe where apparently they filmed part of Mystic River. It was pretty chill, good sweet potato fries!


From there I headed to Kingston Station to surprise Sandy for her b-day plans. I was greeted with a flying attack hug and enjoyed sipping on some lovely cocktails involving ginger beer.

a little blurry, but you get the picture


On Saturday we headed up to NH for the big parental surprise and Sandy's b-day celebration. Check out the leaning tower of cupcakes my mom made!

awesome!
Really, my dad was thrilled to see me :)

Ok, this picture is too cute not to include

and these too...

i'm being smothered! eek!


That evening Greg hosted a Zombie Jesus Party in the absence of his parents! Lucky me! Here's some pictures of that fun

Ok, I wasn't drunk, I just make really BAD faces sometimes

i like the background action with James in focus in this picture


Next was Easter Sunday. My mom dyed some eggs, I liked how they turned out all speckled even if they weren't supposed to

We took some silly family photos, because it's fun


Then of course I had to play cribbage with my dad, see


Monday I spent back down in Boston, hung out with Gary who showed me the new graffiti by Central Kitchen

Then, before I departed for the airport I got to see Raea and her new apartment in Arlington! We also made a quick stop for some delicious pastries at the Arlington Bakery (I think that's the name). I was lame and didn't snap a photo of Raea, but I do have one of this handsome devil, Charlie


Sigh, it's nice to go home :)

D Park and Hiking in the Pennin

Ok, so I've been slacking. Here's some fun stuff from this past weekend

Saturday was 70s and sunny, a beautiful day in the city. Went down to Dolores Park to meet up with Rose. After chilling for a while, we saw a group of people, dressed up for either some sort of 80/90s prom or wedding get into what looked like a pie fight. Turns out it was just platefuls of shaving cream. We found out after Rose went down to join in on the fun and returned smelling like 'Cool Wave'

Then, her and her friend Jen found hoola hoops, and got a free lesson

Looking good ladies!

Sunday, Jeremy and I met up with the Miller family for some good ol' fashion hiking. First attempt was the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. (Check out the last time I was here!) It was windy, and pretty chilly considering how warm it felt in the city. We braved it...

Butt...we ended up turning around when we found out the beach was closed due to the sea lions being in town!

Yay!
So, we walked around to the cliff overlooking the beach and had a look at a safe distance

Instead of giving up, we found another hike up in Pacifica, called the Brooks Falls Trail. Supposedly during the 'wet season' the falls are supposed to be one of the best in the Bay area. Unfortunately it wasn't flowing as hoped. Either way it was a fun trip. Jeremy did some death-defying stunts

We saw trees that looked like they were covered in chocolate ganache (see Dayana trying to lick this one)

Surreal looking orange trees

...and a nice view at the top

ya, we know how to strike a pose

Coast Trail Hike in Point Reyes National Seashore

Originally there was a plan to go snowboarding this fine weekend - thinking everyone will be off watching Superbowl and we'd have the mountain to ourselves, but with it being sunny and in the 60s we slept in and decided to go on a hike up in Point Reyes National Seashore. After stopping at the info center we settled on the Coast Trail and headed off. Leaving the visitor we spotted about 3 deer, and continued to see quail, condors and birds hanging out throughout the hike.

At first the terrain was mainly shrubbery and on this fire road path.


Then we headed into a woodsier area


Then we caught a glimpse of the coastline in the distance, right where we were heading.

The sea grass and shrubs were beautiful, as seen here by Jeremy's good eye (you know, versus the fake one :))

This guy seems a little early for the season, but with the weather we've been having...


Then we found this path to the beach...

and decided to take a little detour. The water really was this blue and beautiful. I couldn't believe it.

We found this dead crab shell, he still had his eyes! Creepy, but awesome!

Jeremy got all ghetto with some driftwood and seaweed, but honestly, who wouldn't???

Then I pleaded for Jeremy to take a photo of me on this gorgeous beach (you can see the desperation in my face)

After wandering along the beach for a bit, we found our way back to the trail to loop back to the car. Saw this tree that I nicknamed the 'picnic' tree (because of the log ont he side of the tree that looks perfect for a picnic).

You can see some quail ahead on the trail here

closer up...

even closer....wait, that's not quail! That's the rarely seen bare-assed sell, known to be extremely skinny and sprightly.

At the end of the trail there were these really cool haunting trees


I have to say, not only is it cool that we've managed to go on 3 hikes in the last 4 weeks, but also that each hike has been different - different location, different terrain and fauna, different smells, but all so awesome.
With that said, we went home and made some delicious steak quesadillas

yum!

pleasanton ridge trail hike

so, sometimes I think about NH and Boston and then sometimes I go on a hike in 70 degree sunny weather in January! This weekend Mari invited Jeremy and I to go on a hike with her along the Pleasanton Ridge Trail. It was great! Oh, but first we started off with 3 waffles a piece (ok, so Jeremy really had 3 1/2!) using Amanda's xmas gifted waffle maker! So good, but I think that may be the last time I eat three waffles in a row.
Enough about waffles, now it's time for photos

mmm, cow patties!

the cows

sunshine head

moon walking

some scenery

Pan

my awkwardness never ceases to amaze me still...

mari climbing up the 'shortcut', which wasn't really a shortcut, just a really steep hill.

a kickass tree



if you look real close you can see mari and i framed among the twigs

lichen, or some other neat looking tree growth

back at the car, hike is over, we are tired!

homestyle holidays

this one's been sitting around for about a month, oops!
here's a quick recap:
went to nh for the holidays. it was snowing, almost didn't get out there on the sunday before xmas, but caught a last minute flight back due to lots of sad face and complete luck. the american airlines guy literally made a phone call (after acquiring a special 'code') and got us on this direct flight, then once we boarded they made an announcement that it was overbooked by 2 people and offered $500 vouchers to give up their seats on the flight! anyways, we got to boston early the next morning, sore and tired from the cramped conditions, but we made it in 4.5 hours! crazy fast!
so, we crashed for a few hours at sandy's, then wandered into davis square for a bit. look at all the snow! wee!

icicles!

holy outside sandy's apt.

we made it up to nh on tuesday and headed out to the puritan (backroom) for some hangout time.

our waitress called us cute

skinny faces!

on christmas day jeremy brought out an old sell tradition, chocolate and biscuits! for breakfast!

then we opened gifts..pure excitement!

then we got to visit raea

then jerry, char and glenn stopped by

and i made buttermilk biscuits for our xmas dinner

while they hung out and drank beers

jeremy got creative with the camera

my dad seemingly, endlessly, trying to light this stupid stupid floaty candle

sneaky shot

if i look like this when i'm 80 i'd consider it an accomplishment

for our xmas dinner we all have champagne and get toasted!

i mean, we toast.
there were no photos of us eating the actual meal, but it was very very delicious. almost as delicious as the kahlua cake that followed! yum!

oh man, gonna barf...

so, after xmas fun was had at jerry's parent's house. they are SUCH good sports for letting us come over and completely take over, doing impromptu karaoke all night and being oh. so. loud. we are all so seemingly innocent

until...


and for your and our completely sober enjoyment...


The end of the week culminated in the potluck dinner party and Charleen's parents house. Jeremy and I brought Tagine - this vegetarian Moroccan stew that I got the recipe from at work. Came out decent. Anyways here are some pix..
Amy, Logan and myself

Pondering the appetizers

Jesus and the skinny dude

I think Crystals's reading Jon a children's book

Wearily chilling on the couch (before I spilled Jerry's beer everywhere)

doing a-ok

and then, there was apples to apples

and everyone pretending to be Jerry taking a photo of himself

Then we shot the sears catalog


oh - did I mention I miss you guys?!