Showing posts with label Presidio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Presidio. Show all posts
September 18, 2013
Fog and Presidio
I took Poppy on an early morning walk through the very foggy Presidio. The combination of light and fog created the opportunity for some nice images.
June 14, 2013
May 23, 2013
Thursday
On this morning, we go, once again, to the Presidio for a morning walk. In thinking of my favorite places on Earth, I would add this grove of trees to the list. Come to think of it, nearly all of my favorite places are set in the woods. There is a wooded gully at Fair Hill in Maryland, on the Orange trail, that I would also include and a grove of giant trees growing amongst giant boulders in a small forest along The Golden Bay of the South Island of New Zealand. I get to see these places often, except New Zealand, but I promised myself I would go back there someday. These places are like old friends, I am humbled by them and they remind me of who I am.
On this morning, we go, once again, to the Presidio for a morning walk. In thinking of my favorite places on Earth, I would add this grove of trees to the list. Come to think of it, nearly all of my favorite places are set in the woods. There is a wooded gully at Fair Hill in Maryland, on the Orange trail, that I would also include and a grove of giant trees growing amongst giant boulders in a small forest along The Golden Bay of the South Island of New Zealand. I get to see these places often, except New Zealand, but I promised myself I would go back there someday. These places are like old friends, I am humbled by them and they remind me of who I am.
June 12, 2013
May 13, 2013
Monday
Back at the Presidio for a foggy morning walk. Once again, I forgot my "real" camera and had to rely on my iPhone camera. Admittedly, it is kind of nice to feel free of the bulky camera and I can still get okay shots with the iPhone.
Back at the Presidio for a foggy morning walk. Once again, I forgot my "real" camera and had to rely on my iPhone camera. Admittedly, it is kind of nice to feel free of the bulky camera and I can still get okay shots with the iPhone.
April 22, 2013
April 14, 2013
Sunday
Sunday is a work day, which I suppose to some, may be blasphemous, but to me it is the day to do housework, bookkeeping, grocery shopping, cooking and other daily life tasks. But after all that work, because the job of walking Poppy never involves a day off unless I am out of town and paying someone else to do it, means that we make the most of it and have some fun. On this Sunday, we walked again in the Presidio, enjoying the spring flowers.
Sunday is a work day, which I suppose to some, may be blasphemous, but to me it is the day to do housework, bookkeeping, grocery shopping, cooking and other daily life tasks. But after all that work, because the job of walking Poppy never involves a day off unless I am out of town and paying someone else to do it, means that we make the most of it and have some fun. On this Sunday, we walked again in the Presidio, enjoying the spring flowers.
April 13, 2013
Saturday
I barely noticed the week went by, I was so buried in work. I think, if I am taking pictures each day, then my head is probably in a good place. It is good to set yourself in and focus on something, especially something that needs to focus, but it almost feels like I am living with my head in the sand. Finally, on Saturday, I took a break, back at the Presidio, our getaway within the city, where some new wildflowers had bloomed in earnest in the past week. I made a study of them, taking my time, we did not travel too far. Poppy, who had an infected paw all week and was not supposed to be doing too much walking, seemed happy to scamper in the woods just a short walking distance.
I barely noticed the week went by, I was so buried in work. I think, if I am taking pictures each day, then my head is probably in a good place. It is good to set yourself in and focus on something, especially something that needs to focus, but it almost feels like I am living with my head in the sand. Finally, on Saturday, I took a break, back at the Presidio, our getaway within the city, where some new wildflowers had bloomed in earnest in the past week. I made a study of them, taking my time, we did not travel too far. Poppy, who had an infected paw all week and was not supposed to be doing too much walking, seemed happy to scamper in the woods just a short walking distance.
April 7, 2013
Sunday
Our little trio goes back to, guess where? The Presidio. But, determined to add some variety on this trip, Poppy and I take a different route for our walk while Paul hits golf balls. We walk along the now defunct road on the edge of the Presidio, wandering our way around diverging paths. I stop for many photographs most of which I deleted, except this image of wild strawberry blossoms. It makes me happy to know that strawberries are growing wild in such abundance. Poppy and I walked all the way to Baker Beach, a beach in San Francisco that I have never been to. Of course, the nice weather comes as soon as my Mom leaves. It continues to get nicer as the week goes on. I don't take photographs, I bury myself in my "work" which will end with something that I can show. But I lose myself in it and I wonder about that...
Our little trio goes back to, guess where? The Presidio. But, determined to add some variety on this trip, Poppy and I take a different route for our walk while Paul hits golf balls. We walk along the now defunct road on the edge of the Presidio, wandering our way around diverging paths. I stop for many photographs most of which I deleted, except this image of wild strawberry blossoms. It makes me happy to know that strawberries are growing wild in such abundance. Poppy and I walked all the way to Baker Beach, a beach in San Francisco that I have never been to. Of course, the nice weather comes as soon as my Mom leaves. It continues to get nicer as the week goes on. I don't take photographs, I bury myself in my "work" which will end with something that I can show. But I lose myself in it and I wonder about that...
April 18, 2013
April 6, 2013
Saturday
Today, my Mom and Beth leave for Hawaii. They meet my Dad at the airport, where he is connecting from Philadelphia, and they all get on the same plane headed for Honolulu. I am a bit exhausted but it never seems like enough time with family. I realize a lot of people don't feel that way, but the only times I have ever needed a "break" from family was just to get some normal, routine things done, like I need to now.
At the airport, I park and help them in with their bags, due to my mother's healing wrist from her carpal tunnel surgery. She is nervous, not about the flying, but about getting to the gate on time. I get them their boarding passes and get their luggage checked in and walk them to the security line and my Mom feels better, there is still plenty of time. We all hug and say goodbye. They take their place in the security line and my Mom and I look at each other one last time. I can see on her face, because I know her so well, she wears the look of a difficult emotion, but to a stranger it might look like wonderment.
I turn my head and walk away, not looking back, but almost instantly tears spring from my eyes and I blink furiously. I do not make eye contact with anyone as I walk through the airport and tears stream down my face. I do not wipe them away because I imagine that attracts more attention then a transparent tear. But an airport is an acceptable place to see someone cry, right? It always feels this hard, every time, after all these years it is never even a tiny bit easier to say goodbye.
Later in the day, we go to the driving range where Paul hits golf balls and Poppy and I walk, our new routine. I take my time on the same path I took my Mom and Beth on the day they arrived in San Francisco. We wander off the main trail onto windy paths through the dense eucalyptus forest and it feels good to almost be lost in the woods.
At the airport, I park and help them in with their bags, due to my mother's healing wrist from her carpal tunnel surgery. She is nervous, not about the flying, but about getting to the gate on time. I get them their boarding passes and get their luggage checked in and walk them to the security line and my Mom feels better, there is still plenty of time. We all hug and say goodbye. They take their place in the security line and my Mom and I look at each other one last time. I can see on her face, because I know her so well, she wears the look of a difficult emotion, but to a stranger it might look like wonderment.
I turn my head and walk away, not looking back, but almost instantly tears spring from my eyes and I blink furiously. I do not make eye contact with anyone as I walk through the airport and tears stream down my face. I do not wipe them away because I imagine that attracts more attention then a transparent tear. But an airport is an acceptable place to see someone cry, right? It always feels this hard, every time, after all these years it is never even a tiny bit easier to say goodbye.
Later in the day, we go to the driving range where Paul hits golf balls and Poppy and I walk, our new routine. I take my time on the same path I took my Mom and Beth on the day they arrived in San Francisco. We wander off the main trail onto windy paths through the dense eucalyptus forest and it feels good to almost be lost in the woods.
April 04, 2013
April 2, 2013
Tuesday
I awake early for the hurried cleaning of the house, shower and then rush to the airport for the early flight containing my mom and family friend, Beth. Of course, Beth is more than a family friend, but I don't know how to relate the relationship to others, she is like a godmother, although not mine, but my brother and sister twins. My poor mother is recovering from a very nasty stomach virus from Sunday night and wrist surgery on Monday, just the day before. She is a trooper and puts highly productive, hard-working, un-complaining people to shame. She doesn't really get sick. After retrieving them from the airport, unpacking a bit at the house, we head off to the Presidio, my favorite new spot in the city. My Mom and Beth walk and stop quite a bit to admire the plants along the way - wild nasturtiums, miner's lettuce and many others I don't know. They are both avid gardeners so they are out of their element, in their element, or, loving every moment of nature so different from the East Coast. It is a reminder to appreciate and to see things differently. We walk quite a bit, further than I have ventured, and return to the house. We slup delicious Pho at My Father's Kitchen and exhausted, they turn to sleep before it is even dark outside.
March 31, 2013
March 29, 2013
Friday
As we arrived at the driving range I thought, this is one of those beautiful days where only fools go to work. Immediately after, I realized that I would be one of those fools, because even though I was going to be outside at the Presidio for the next hour enjoying the warm spring day, I would spend the rest of the day indoors taking care of what needs to be taken care of, just like all those "fools". It is nice having a dog that requires exercise because it forces you outside rain or shine and how many days would I miss such weather if I didn't have a dog? I took the day off from jogging because of a pain in the top of my left foot. Unfortunately, the nice weather did not last and by the time I had to take Poppy for her evening walk, it was cold and breezy once again.
March 27, 2013
March 26, 2013
Tuesday
I panic in the morning about the time I don't have but I finally give in. I drive an hour in silence to my guitar lesson where Bob asks me, in the farthest opposite from scolding as one can manage in a tone, why I have not been practicing. One of the great gifts that Bob has, is to never judge, or at least, I have never felt judged by him, not even once. The thing is, Bob wants me to practice and if that means getting to the bottom of my own guilt, then that is part of my lesson. It is always a relief. We spend the rest of the lesson studying the bluegrass scale.
Grocery shopping makes me feel brain dead and after, on my drive back to the city, I listen to Beautiful Ruins and my jaw starts to hurt. Upon arrival at home, I am uncharacteristically spontaneous, jumping in the car with Poppy and Paul to go back to the Presidio, where Paul hits golf balls again and I photograph in the woods. Poppy and I run, like small children, down large sweeping hills in the woods which always makes me smile. Then I try to match Poppy's enthusiasm for bounding back up the hills, like a game, with joy. I am not so successful at that.
We put our names on the list at the Japanese bathouse and wait over an hour. We make our round, steam room, then hot pool, then cold pool, four times. When I ease myself quickly into the cold pool I remain calm and relaxed, up to my neck in 50 degree water. After a minute and a half I get out. The cold pool always feels best after you get out. This place always reminds me of myself, my real self. I hear myself saying, "Psssst!" and a whisper, "Kathleen! You can relax."
"Pssst! Kathleen! You don't have to take yourself so seriously."
"Pssst! Kathleen! You can enjoy life."
"Pssst! Kathleen! You don't have to worry about time."
Afterwards we sip some wine and share an Allagash FV13 Sour Ale at a bar before heading home at midnight to eat dinner.
Grocery shopping makes me feel brain dead and after, on my drive back to the city, I listen to Beautiful Ruins and my jaw starts to hurt. Upon arrival at home, I am uncharacteristically spontaneous, jumping in the car with Poppy and Paul to go back to the Presidio, where Paul hits golf balls again and I photograph in the woods. Poppy and I run, like small children, down large sweeping hills in the woods which always makes me smile. Then I try to match Poppy's enthusiasm for bounding back up the hills, like a game, with joy. I am not so successful at that.
We put our names on the list at the Japanese bathouse and wait over an hour. We make our round, steam room, then hot pool, then cold pool, four times. When I ease myself quickly into the cold pool I remain calm and relaxed, up to my neck in 50 degree water. After a minute and a half I get out. The cold pool always feels best after you get out. This place always reminds me of myself, my real self. I hear myself saying, "Psssst!" and a whisper, "Kathleen! You can relax."
"Pssst! Kathleen! You don't have to take yourself so seriously."
"Pssst! Kathleen! You can enjoy life."
"Pssst! Kathleen! You don't have to worry about time."
Afterwards we sip some wine and share an Allagash FV13 Sour Ale at a bar before heading home at midnight to eat dinner.
March 25, 2013
Monday
I jog with Poppy in the Presidio, for the first time, while Paul hits golf balls at the driving range. I discover the most wonderful grove of trees where it is cold, but beautiful and quiet. I notice an abundance of Miner's Lettuce on the forest floor and I wish I could harvest some for a salad. I pass through the parking lot of the golf course three times, once at the end of my jog, once to walk back to the grove of trees with my camera and once to go back to the car and I pass the same old man sitting in a golf cart with a leather fedora, thick wool coat and large sunglasses. He looks like he could be in the mob. I say hello and smile the first time. The third time I pass him he says, "I'm still here. Waiting. The least you could do is have dinner with me." There is something creepy about how he says it. How do you respond being polite but also acknowledging the creepy factor? I fake laugh and keep walking. Later, I take Poppy to the vet for her shots and as we are walking back a landscaping crew is cutting back the bushes and plants in the center divider along Divisadero St. One of the crew, a black man in an orange vest, calls out to me and I look up at him, he says, "I can walk your dog for you next time." Come on snappy comeback, come on, but nothing comes and all I say is, "I like getting the exercise." Oh well, at least it is honest. I walk Poppy to the dog play area at the park and as we approach the top of the hill I see large birds flying around. There are two ravens chasing two small hawks out of the area. I stand there for several minutes watching this, it is unbelievable, I thought the hawks would win every time. I was wrong.
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