Black Friday

"But there is always a November space after the leaves have fallen when she felt it was almost indecent to intrude on the woods... for their glory terrestrial had departed and their glory celestial of spirit and purity and whiteness had not yet come upon them."

L.M. Montgomery

Anne Of The Windy Poplars

It's Black Friday. When we lived in the Bay Area, we visited Union Square in San Francisco on Black Friday religiously. I have missed it since we left. Hopefully, later today, we will venture out to a mall or maybe Janet Leigh plaza, to people watch or just to get some air, but I'm not sure. Sometimes it's nice to just sit at home and watch some movies. I love my weekends with Alan, especially holiday weekends, but thinking about our trips to the city makes me a lonesome for the good old days of my life in the Bay Area. I try to not look back, but the memories are so good, and when I was making those memories, I never thought in a million years life would change as much as it has. Still, I have Alan and the boys, and that never changes, but my love for them grows more and more.

~Mood: Happy

~Me  :)

San Francisco... A City. With Windows.

"A photograph can communicate a couple things... sometimes only one thing... very well. The more you try to say with your photograph, the greater the chance that you will say nothing at all."

~David duChemin

Within The Frame: The Journey Of Photographic Vision

It was Black Friday yesterday, so Alan and I took our annual trip into San Francisco! We didn't quite make it to Union Square, but we did spend some time wandering the city, looking at the holiday windows throughout the city all decked out for the season. A couple of the windows really caught my eye because of their style and panache, so I spent some time photographing them.

Sometimes it's not the add on it's own that appeals to me, it's how it looks in a window, framed by the edges of glass, that touches the me in one way or another. Like the one above!

I spotted it in the window of Salon DNA on Sutter street. It was dark, so I did the best I could to capture it in an unusual light. As it turns out it was a  good light for the conveying how it felt to view it. It was very pleasing to the eye, and I might try it again in the daylight sometime, but for now, I am happy with how it came out. San Francisco has some fabulous windows, and they are amazing to photograph by day or by night! 

 Leaf Of The Day

November 26th 2016

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

On Black Friday... Seeking Successive Autumns

"Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love... that makes life and nature harmonize. The birds are consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the ground, that one's very footsteps may not disturb the repose of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is a perfect anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I was a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."

~George Eliot

George Eliot's Life

As Related In Her Letters And Journals

Volume One

( Letter To Miss Lewis, October 1, 1841)

Another holiday has come and gone! It was a quiet and fun Thanksgiving in our home! Alan and I watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Played with the cats, and bitched about politics, but even the bitching was more laughing then any genuine ire about the state of things in America! After that we made dinner and watched some movies. First Jaws, then The Shadow Of The Thin Man! Hows that for an eclectic mix of move genres? 

Tomorrow is an one of our favorite days... Black Friday! We usually sleep until we feel like getting up, then it's off to San Francisco to Union Square to people watch. There are always demonstrators. Shoppers clambering for that must have deal, and then there are the kids, who love the decorations and ice rink. There is something for everybody! It's just fun!

But if for whatever reason we don't make it there, we will usually come up with a great Plan B, because the point of the day is to not  lose a day together. It's about us. It's about enjoying every last minute we have together. You see, we have been married over 26 years now, and it seems like it has been a blink. You can't waste a moment. There will be plenty to bitch about in the coming weeks and months, for now, for the present, it's time to laugh! And love. And hopefully something beautiful will be seen along the way, like a purple flower in late autumn!                     

 Leaf Of The Day

November 25th 2016

Mood: Happy

 

~Me :)

 

 

FaLaLaLa... Black Friday Is Here!

"I went shopping at the general store...

 they wouldn't let me buy anything specific."

~Steven Wright

It's one of our favorite days of the year... BLACK FRIDAY! And Alan and I are ready for the fun! You see, it's not the shopping that really intrigues us, rather it's the people watching that we adore! People go crazy... they are rude, mean-spirited and selfish, but by the same token we have also seen folks let other folks take the very last "Black Friday Doorbuster" as well. Granted, not as often as we have seen the competitive shoppers, but it does happen. Once Alan and I saw two ladies carrying their super Black Friday bargains all lined up on a shower rod. There must have been thirty bags between them, and they were running onto the next bargain! Alan and I laughed for most of the day, and marveled at the amazing idea! So, off to the fun for 2015! What in the world will we see this time? Check back here this weekend to see what we saw!

Leaf Of The Day

Friday, November 27th 2015

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

1,000 Words

"When you have police officers who abuse citizens, you erode public confidence in law enforcement. That makes the job of good police officers unsafe."

~Mary Frances Berry

I photographed this young police officer, last month, on Black Friday, in San Francisco's Union Square. As you might expect, it was very busy there that day, there were shoppers, tourists, homeless folks, maintenance workers, the usual protesters of different causes, and there was the need for added security because of expected unrest due to the grand jury's decision in the Michael Brown case. Alan and I didn't stay that day, he simply circled the block so I could take a few random photos to post here on Ellipsis. It was just too crowded to stop as we usually do, so I did my photos and we decided to go down to the Embarcadero instead. After all, there is the Embarcadero Center for shopping, as well as a great ice skating rink, similar to the one at Union Square. And an added plus, there is a really nice underground garage which always seems to be warm! What more could a girl as for? And we had a pretty nice time that day, but there was plenty going on back at Union Square.

After we got home, came the live photos and news reports of the violence which had broken out at Union Square shortly after we left. As darkness fell, and the holiday shoppers waited for the Square's annual Christmas tree lighting, along came some protesters making their voices heard about the Michael Brown case, unfortunately their were accompanied by some bitter hearts and opportunists who were out to assault police officers and vandalize buildings that night. As it was, several San Francisco Police officers were injured, as they tried to protect innocent folks just there to shop and have fun with their families.  As I heard these reports, I couldn't help but wonder if the cop, whose photo I snapped that day, was among the injured for doing nothing more that doing his job? He was there to make people like me feel safe. The day after Thanksgiving has become something quite different than when I was a child... or even a young adult. While I understand the need for protest, and even applaud it, I don't understand the use of violence to protest violence.

While this police officer didn't look especially happy that I was photographing him, he never once told me to put the camera away. He never once demanded that I erase the photo of him doing his job, if anything he just went about what he was asked to do... his job! It wasn't an easy thought. It wasn't easy to decided when, if ever, to show this photo. In the weeks to come, after Black Friday, the violence and protests have gotten bigger and more intense. In fact now we have two dead NYPD officers, executed in their patrol car in Brooklyn. Two men with families. Two men who had nothing to do with the killing of Eric Garner, a man killed for doing nothing, but refusing to be arrested for... doing nothing. He wasn't committing a crime when one particular NYPD officer used deadly force on him. The New York city Coroner declared Eric Garner's death a homicide, but the grand jury in that case also chose to not charge a white police officer in the death of an unarmed black man.

Where will 2015 lead us?
  As the year ends I find myself with more questions than answers about the year that is about to end. 

1.Why did Phillip Seymour Hoffman not simply enjoy what he had, why did he have to lean on drugs to fulfill him? 

2. What happened to Malaysian Airlines 370?

3. Why did all those poor folks have to die when their plane was shot down over the Ukraine?

4. Why did Robin Williams kill himself?

5. Why didn't Joan River's doctor just do her job and take good care of her?

6. Why did an entire nation of voters, vote against their own interests and put so many Republicans in office?

7. Why won't Obama stop looking for respect and admiration from Republicans?

8. Why did North Korea take a ridiculous little movie so damn hard?

9. Why aren't big corporations taking cyber security seriously?

10. Hell, why doesn't the United States take it more serious?

11. Why are there so many holes in the Secret Service protection of our president?

12. Why did our friend have to kill himself one dark night?
13. Why can't I seem to lose these 10... no 12... pounds I want to lose?
14. Will my stupid HTC Vivid phone, that takes amazing photos, just hang on for one more month?
15. Where the HELL did my brand new pink Nikon CoolPix S3600 go? I got it in August, and it's been missing since October!
16. Why did an unarmed man in Brooklyn, not committing a crime, have to die in a choke-hold?
17. Why did an unarmed man die at the hands of the police, in a Walmart, for holding an air rifle, an item sold in that store?
18. Why did the police use deadly force on a 12 year old African American boy, for holding a toy gun?
19. Why did so many young black men and boys die this year?
20. Are we done fretting over Ebola yet?
21. Will the Hague ever come get the torturers? DICK CHENEY AND COMPANY?
22. Are we over the Kardashians yet? No? Why?
23. Why is Teresa Giudice going to prison, but not DICK CHENEY AND COMPANY?
24. Was the young policeman in this photo okay when the day ended on Black Friday?
25. As I type this, yet another plane filled with people has disappeared. Why? What happened?
26. Is the California drought finally over?
27. Why can we find enough budget for war, but not body cameras for all police officers. It makes everyone safer!
28. Did that young police officer mind me taking his photo that day?
30. Isn't that photo worth a thousand words?

Has Black Friday taken on a new meaning?

. Why... why... why... why... why... why... why... why... why... ?

2014 was just all about the WHY?

I am ready for 2015 to be here already.

Mood: Quiet

~Me 

PS... This post contains exactly 1051 words, not including this post script.

What's Left?

"The whole world can become the enemy,

 when you lose what you love."

~Kristina McMorris

Bridge Of Scarlet Leaves

 Yesterday was Friday, but not just any Friday... Black Friday. A day Alan and I cherish as much as any other holiday celebrated during the year. We look forward to this day, because we are avid people watchers. People are interesting, and Black Friday can bring out the best, worst, and eccentric in the people who clammer for bargains! So, Alan and I make the trek to our favorite place to watch the Black Friday holiday tradition, Union Square in San Francisco.

 

We had planned to leave the house at 10:00 am, but we ended up sleeping in. As midday rolled around we decided to make our way over to the city. When we got there, we found that the crowds in and around the city were larger than we had seen in recent years, so much so, that finding a place to park proved impossible. That, coupled with more than one grouchy driver, also looking for a place to park, made us come to the conclusion that we had just left the house too late to find a place to park. So, with a bit of sadness, we left Union Square, and headed instead for the Embarcadero Center.

 Embarcadero Center is also a wonderful place to shop, but it's parking is always easy to deal with, and with the added attraction of the Holiday Ice Rink, it made for a much calmer day. The trees that line the plaza are all lit up with Autumn color, and the happiness of the folks enjoying the ice rink was downright contagious! Oh my, I love it there! I even took a short walk through Sue Bierman park in search of the famous San Francisco parrots, but they had decided to fly elsewhere in the city, I will have to try again next week. 

Anyway, we decided to leave the city and head home for dinner around 4 pm. When we got home, about an hour later, we heard on the news that Union Square had been overrun by protesters just after we left. Protestors still fighting the injustice that happened earlier this week in Ferguson Missouri. Ferguson... a heartbreaking situation if ever there was one. I remember being told "policeman are our friends" as a child. I remember being told, "If you are ever scared or lost, find a policeman and he, or she, will help you." Sigh. I don't believe that anymore. 

Children are dying. The enemy... what does the enemy look like? Is he black? Is he white? Does he look like a cop? Does he wear a mask? Does she carry a stick? How about a stone? Does the name he or she call me really not hurt me? How about the preconceived notions about who I am and what I am about based on the most superficial information? Will that hurt me? Will the enemy scream in my ear, nearly breaking my eardrum, because I am wearing a leopard print coat, like I was wearing that one year? No... wait... Peta are the good guys, fighting the good fight, right?

Who is the enemy? 

Who is the friend?

As I sit here writing this, it has already been reported that just after the Union Square tree lighting ceremony had finished, windows had been knocked out at Macy's. Protestors were walking to the square with hammers in their hands. Workers at a nearby jewelry store were cowering in the corner of the store. Protestors were shouting... "Black Friday Doesn't Matter, Black Lives Do!"

I couldn't agree more. I haven't purchased a single thing on Black Friday in over 20 years. Not one thing. My heart aches for Michael Brown. I understand the need for protesting your beliefs and will defend it with my dying breath, but not the violence. Not the breaking of windows and looting. It's sad, and desperate and the message gets lost in the violence. 

That's the saddest part... The Message Gets Lost In The Violence. 

And when that happens, what's left?

Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Quiet

~Me :)

CHARGE IT!

"Shopping is a woman thing. It's a contact sport like football. Woman enjoy the scrimmage, the noisy crowds, the danger of being trampled to death, and the ectasy of the purchase."

~Erma Bombeck

It's Black Friday... GAME ON BITCHES! 

Stores on my list include...

Old Navy

Macy's

Bloomingdales

Union Square... Here I Come!

But not until the afternoon. As I write this it's just about midnight Easter Time, so while it is technically Black Friday, there are 3 more hours in Thanksgiving Pacific Time, and I am doing nothing more ambitious than falling asleep in front of Netflix. I am too old to run out in the middle of the night, just to save 10% on a toaster. But come Friday afternoon... GAME ON BITCHES... if there is anything left. I don't know, do you think there will be a big run on spoon rests, pizzele makers and thermal shirts?

God I AM Boring!

Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Grateful

~Me :)

It's Black Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

"Shopping Tip: You can get shoes for 85 cents at the bowling alley."

~Unknown

CHARGE IT! LOL. Well, okay, sure, why not? I am kidding... kinda. I did a little shopping last night, after our turkey dinner. It actually felt good to walk off dinner, and get some fresh air, and besides, I recently upgraded my Old Navy credit card, so I had some points to use! And, then, quite by accident mind you, I was approved for a brand, spanking new, MACY*S and Bloomingdales card! How was I approved accidentally? 

Funny story! You see, last year I thought it would be fun to apply for a MACY*S card, after years of not having one. I got rid of most of my department store cards a while back, when I realized I didn't really use them after I got my Visa card. Alan and I make most of our purchases together, so carrying around all those cards just seemed risky. But last year, in a fit of nostalgia, MACY*S was my first credit card, I decided to get one.

Unfortunately... I wasn't good enough for them!

I don't understand why... my credit is perfect. I pay my bills and live within my means, yet somehow, I wasn't their kind of shopper! Maybe that was the problem... I live within my means? Oh, who knows, maybe the stars simply weren't aligned just right. Shrug. But yesterday, while the turkey was cooking, I got a little bored and applied just for the rejection. How come you never get rejected when you want to? LOL. As soon as the website said, Congratulations... you are now a MACY*S cardholder, I looked for the, Hey wait I changed my mind," button but there wasn't one! Imagine that! I only got the Bloomingdales card, to see if the MACY*S card had been a lark! But apparently not, they like me now too... they really like me!

So, later today, after Alan gets off work, we are going to Union Square in San Francisco and watch other people spend money... oh and the ice skaters... oh and the lighting of the Christmas tree... oh and the menorah... Happy 3rd Night of Hanukkah! 

Tis the season!

Black Friday isn't a day anymore, it's a season! So, how about you, it's Black Friday, do you know where your bargains are?

Mood: Silly

Note: The silly girl in the graphic is clip art from a nifty photo editing site called Ribbet. But the bags she is carrying, and the VISA card are courtesy of Alan, he is so good at drawing stuff for me! I love that guy!

~Me :)

The Black Friday Season

"If I had a necklace made out of tiny suns, I'd only wear it at night when you could really see it. Sadly, I don't have a necklace like that. The closest thing I have is a necklace made out of those glow in the dark stars you stick to bedroom ceilings. But I only wear that on special occasions, like bedtime."

~Jarod Kintz, This Is The Best Book I've Ever Written, And It Still Sucks

The time has passes so fast between the end of our vacation, on November 7th and now. So, I guess that pretty much means, I am having more fun now, then I did on vacation, or... no wait... YES... I am having more fun now then I did on vacation! LOL. It's not that every minute of our vacation was lousy, but when you go out for a day and come home to a crappy neighbor, well, it can knock the wind out of one's sails. You know? And now, since Donny and Nina have moved, even the stormy, windy days are amazingly beautiful again! But then again, I always did enjoy a nice, dark, gloomy day, with rain pattering on the roof, and some insistent cuddling by my cats!

Thanksgiving is coming up this week, and Alan is doing a major amount of overtime! That means lots of time to myself, time to do things like cooking, and photography, and looking up juicy dirt on wacky celebrities on the Internet! Oh, and politics... one of my very favorite pursuits! And I will more than likely be doing all those things, plus scoping out the best Black Friday sales, being held on Thanksgiving this year! I don't usually partake of the sales on Black Friday, Alan and I like to go to Union Square, in San Francisco, order something delicious like Hot Chocolate and Cappuccino, and watch other people go crazy spending money! But this year, in that we won't get to have Thanksgiving morning, or Black Friday the way we traditionally do, I think I might join the Black Friday crazies, if the price is right!

A change of pace is a good thing once in a while!

And to make it all a little more special.... rain is predicted for later in the week, just in time for the holiday and the aftermath! I love putting on my Jersey Housewife coat (it's faux leopard don't worry) and my wool mittens, my warmer than warm scarf, and my suede boots and hitting a good sale! Gosh, how I miss my Jersey Housewife coat in the summer. :( But the real joy comes when I finally get home, and the house is quiet, except for the rain outside and the heater warming the house, and the cats chattering to the birds in the tree outside the window. And oh how dark the clouds make the day perfect! Sunshine is so common, the dark is where everything looks new, and different. You can think in the quiet. I love a dark rainy day!

:) Black Friday has become a season all it's own!

See those leaves, they are actually more of a pastel pink, and a subtle mauve. But at night, they transform into the earthy brown color you see. Funny how different things look in the dark.

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

A look Back At November 2012

"Eternity is not something that begins after you are dead. It's going on all the time."

~Charlotte Perkins Gilman

It's time to remember November. When I was deciding which images to choose for my November review, I found myself wanting to go back so badly. I loved being on the San Francisco Bay on November 5th, watching that wonderful golden autumn sun fade behind the bridge. I wanted to be back in Union Square on Black Friday, enjoying that amazing hot chocolate we get every year at Il Cafe, and playing with Dylan as he hugged his favorite brush. Ahh... but I know... there's no going back. But just for fun, let's say I could. Just for a day. Which one would I choose? The Eco tour of the bay? That awesome election day? Thanksgiving?

I couldn't choose, and that is the real problem.

LOL.

I will just stay here in the present thank you.

But while we are here, let's enjoy the view, shall we?





"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happiness.

~Me :)

Scenes From Black Friday: The 2012 Edition

"You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need."

~Vernon Howard

Oh well, another Black Friday has come and gone. I love Black Friday, it's been a big deal to Alan and I since before we were a couple... yes... that long ago... when we realized one day that we both like to watch people be people. But what's so special about people being people? Glad you asked. People, being for the most part creatures of habit, are also individual in their their daily goings on and pursuits. Well, DUH you say... and you would be right. It is an obvious thing for me to say, but you see, we enjoy seeing all those different individual styles and actions, and customs and attitudes come together in large groups.

Yesterday, we saw families, friends, friends of families. Loners. Friends and family of loners. Business folk, casual folk, stylish folk, generous folk. Happy people. Sad people. Bored people. Conservatives. Democrats. Those who want peace in the Middle East. Those who would rather have war. Homeless. Those who want to share the "good news." Those who don't watch the news. Those who would rather not see anyone, at anytime, wear fur. There were people protesting the support of some guy named Donald Trump... whoever HE is. Moms. Dads. Sons. Daughters. Grannies and Grandpas. Ladies who lunch... and shop till they drop. Tourists. The list of who one could encounter on Black Friday is endless... but it's never boring! And neither is the general scene that is there every year, and that can be counted on like a dear old friend.

Here... Take A Look..

Union Square, San Francisco November 23rd 2012

"Victory" at the top of the 97ft statue dedicated to Admiral Dewey

 

Saks And Tiffanys

 

Union Square Christmas Tree



Our Favorite Union Square Cafe



MMmmm... Hot Chocolate w/Cinnamon



The Amazing Neiman Marcus Christmas Tree



Shoppers



San Francisco's Finest




 Swarovski Crysral



"Budget: A mathematical confirmation of your suspicions."

~ A.A. Latimer

It would seem that consumer spending is up this year. That means confidence is up as well! That is a very good sign. Dare I say it? THINGS MIGHT JUST BE GETTING BETTER! America is finally healing! That is a really good feeling, being able to say it out loud and fully mean it! Yesterday was a lovely day, and there is still a lot of things to photograph on another occasion. I will be visiting the square again before the holidays are over. I want to do some night photography in and around Union Square, as well as other areas of the city, during the holiday season. It's a gorgeous city any day of the year, but it is especially lovely this time of year!

Am I in love with San Francisco?

You bet!

:)

~Me :)

It's Black Friday! Do You Believe?

"The quickest way to know a woman is to go shopping with her."

~Marcelene Cox

 

Is there anything better than shopping on Black Friday? No, really, what's it like? LOL. Black Friday is a BIG holiday in our house, but not for the reason you think. You see, Alan and I love to go to some shopping mecca, our favorite being Union Square in San Francisco, and watch others enjoying their post Turkey Day shopping. Hey, we ladies deserve a day of shopping porn. We work hard on Thanksgiving making loved ones feel comfortable, preparing the perfect holiday dinner, and generally seeing to every one's needs. Now don't get me wrong, we love all that homespun stuff, but the next day, when we are out hunting bargains, we get to step into another plane of existence! The RETAIL dimension.

Being a girl that likes a good bargain, I wouldn't mind trying that walk in the RETAIL DIMENSION sometime, but on Black Friday, I just want to grab a warm drink, and sit next to Alan, and see who can spot the most unusual shopping oddity! We like to people watch, and oh what people we have seen over the years! One time we saw two lovely ladies, rushing through the square, with bags from Victoria's Secret, the Disney Store, Tiffany's, Barney's and Bloomingdale's, all lined up... wait for it... wait for it... hanging from a shower curtain rod between them! Now THAT is resourcefulness! LOL. As humorous as it was, I had to give the girlfriends all the credit in the world, that rod made carrying all those bags much easier to handle.

"Don't waste your love on somebody, who doesn't value it."

~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

This year I had planned to go into Macy's and purchase a little something. Just one a small item, so I could say I was a part of the fun, but I am having a hard time trying to figure out whether or not I can bring myself to shop at Macy's ever again! I have to admit, I am not happy with how Macy's has handled the whole Donald Trump baloney. As you probably know, I am not a big fan of Mr. Trump, I think he is the worst kind of person, the kind that seeks to divide, for his own selfish gains. And I am not alone in that opinion. I am in the company of about 650,000 other consumers who signed a petition to let Macy's know how we feel about Donald Trump being a part of Macy's "magic." Macy's answered the petition with a resounding... SO WHAT?

Okay, that's fair. And so is my rethinking what I "BELIEVE" in. Macy's loves to tell us to BELIEVE. I believe that Macy's is not where I want to spend money. But is it possible to find any retail experience that would line up perfectly with my personal values? Probably not on the scale of Macy's. Or any other large retailer, but I know independent stores can not only give me more personal service, but make me feel good about supporting my community. I think it's time that our household get back to some basics. It's time to spend money in Berkeley, and the East Bay. In fact, this Saturday is National Small Business Saturday! It's the day to support those small local gems of low stress shopping.

I am uncomfortable with boycotts, I feel like the ones who suffer aren't the CEO's or the Trumps of the world, but the everyday sales people just trying to earn an honest living. A living which might only be seasonable. It's a tough situation to consider. On the one hand, I don't want to put money in the pockets of companies that contribute to such negativity, but I feel for the people who show up to work for an honest days living, only to be put in the middle of such bitter sentiments. Sigh. Black Friday used to be a day for bargains, and fun, and a chance to get out into the world and relax, but now, it's already stressful, and as I write this, it's not even 1:00 am!

Sad.

"Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury... to me these have always been contemptimtible. I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best for both the body and the mind."

~Albert Einstein

Okay, tell me what you think? Black Friday... thumbs up or thumbs down? Donald Trump... winner or loser? Donald Trump... to dump or not to dump? Will you be shopping on Black Friday? How about Small Business Friday? Tell me everything?



~Me :)

Ice Cream Nirvana

"It's simply a very romantic place. Just one look at any of these streets, and you couldn't be anywhere else... it's so beautiful, and there's that location, and the sense of the free spirit. Who couldn't ravenous in such a place?"

~Julia Child

Ravenous INDEED! Alan and I had plans to visit Girardelli Square while we were on vacation this year, but somehow we just didn't make it over there. How is that possible? What were we thinking? LOL. I took this shot as we were sailing back through the Golden Gate on our way back from the Eco Tour we took. Just sailing past that sign made me ravenous for my favorite sundae.. 

The Gold Rush

Vanilla ice cream with freshly homemade hot fudge and melted peanut butter throughout. Perfectly topped with whipped cream, chopped almonds, a cherry and a Ghirardelli SQUARES Milk Chocolate.

Umm... YUM!

Alan and I have a tentative date for the day after Thanksgiving. That's another day that we traditionally spend in the city, and what better way to end a day of walking around Union Square, then sharing a little ice cream NIRVANA! 

Here is a Ghirardelli menu (PDF)


~Me 

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 137~ Hot Chocolate

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."

~Charles M. Schulz

A truly well done Hot Chocolate is a thing of beauty. :) One of our favorite traditions in autumn, is to spend the day after Thanksgiving in San Francisco, watching the mad dash of holiday shoppers going here and there in Union Square. Alan and I consider that day, known in shopping circles as, Black Friday, one of our favorite holidays. We have our turkey feast the night before, pass out cold by 7:30 pm, and get up in the wee early hours of the day after Thanksgiving, to get a head start on watching the shopping crazies try to beat their fellow shoppers to Macy's or Bloomingdales or even Walmart, with the goal of getting one of the specialty priced... oh... say... left-handed monkey pliers for Great-Aunt Mauggie. You remember her... right? She is your aunt 17 times removed. LOL But she always remembers you during the holidays by sending you an over sized, musical Christmas card, with postage due.

Oh... I kid the strange aunt. LOL. Alan and I don't have anyone all that dramatic to deal with, in fact except for his parents, that's the only family we have. Otherwise we are just us in this world. Gosh, I miss his brother this time of year. Daryl passed away in 2008 at age 50. We talked a few times a year, especially during the holidays, so I think of him and miss him, but I also smile because of all the games of Monopoly we played on holidays when we were kids. I met Alan and Daryl on Memorial day in 1977, and after that when our families got together for Christmas breakfast, or New Year's celebration, the three of us, and whoever else was there, always played board games after dinner. But that was back when I was a kid, and could eat a heavy Thanksgiving dinner, without succumbing to a carbohydrate coma.

Daryl was a great guy, it doesn't hurt to think of him anymore. In fact, this might sound strange, but sometimes I swear I can hear him laughing. Especially during those times when I trip or some other self embarrassing moment. LOL. He and Alan were the only ones who could get away with teasing me about my stumbles. LOL. We were the best kind of family, family you wanted to have as opposed to the ones God, in his odd sense of humor, gives you. I have a lot to ask God about. LOL. Daryl was a gift to everyone who knew him. He knew Alan and I were in love long before we did, but he let us come to that realization on our own, and in our own time. The day we got engaged, we called to tell him, and in a voice soft with happiness he asked... "What took you guys so long?"

Daryl would have loved Black Friday as much as we do. I can almost see the three of us, sitting at the shiny silver outdoor table at Emporio Rulli Il Cafe in Union Square, laughing at all the shoppers fighting over the awesome bargains. LOL. Is there anything more relaxing than finding your zen in the middle of complete Chaos? LOL. But it's just Alan and I and our memories of all the holidays, and laughter, and wild debates about whether or not Alan and I make up our own words when playing Password. LOL. If I had a nickle for every time Daryl said... "THAT'S NOT A WORD!"

I hope Daryl knows that when we meet again one day, the Hot Chocolate is on me! LOL. And I can already hear my friend/brother laughing about it!

~Me :)

Now go check out what my pal JR is up to with his camera!

JR
http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/09/apadf6-132.html

Weekend Assignment #346 Holiday Shopper

"I like my money right where I can see it, hanging in my closet."

-Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) Sex And The City

Weekend Assignment #346: Holiday Shopper

Ack! The holiday shopping season is upon us! What is your shopping strategy for this time of year?Do you spread out your shopping over weeks and months, or try to get it all done at once? Do you mostly shop online or in person? How heavily, if at all, do you rely on gift cards, gift certificates or plain old fashioned cash and checks?

Extra Credit: Do you enjoy shopping Friday and after-Christmas sales?

-Karen Funk Blocher (Mavarin)

Holiday shopping... all I can say is... YES, YES, YES! But let me explain. Alan and I have a lot of traditions around the holidays. We begin the "Holiday Season" in September, as the first day of autumn starts our holiday season. We have lots of stuff going on, most of which includes some form of shopping. October has our wedding anniversary, the seasonal opening of Apple Hill, The turning of the leaves in Plumas County, Family Day, which is our own made up holiday, and of course, Halloween. If it is an election year, you can find us, at some point, buying campaign buttons to add to our collections. November is a bit more laid back, but then Thanksgiving quickly comes upon us, and with it comes... BEAUTIFUL... MAGNIFICENT... CHILLY... SPARKLY... EXCITING... BLACK FRIDAY! Not really a holiday, but celebrated in our house as if it were Christmas itself.

Shopping plays a role in all these events, but only to a small degree. We have little traditions when it comes to shopping that keeps it all fun, but doesn't take away from the meaning of the season. Take Apple Hill for instance. You could spend a fortune there, between all the different farms and specialty goods they have. YIKES! Alan and I have discovered the very best of the place, such as Rainbow Orchards and their AMAZING Apple Cider donuts. We go there for the donuts, and maybe some fresh apple cider, but keep our heads when it comes to buying all the crafts and goods. It's an amazing time of year, and if you don't keep your wits about you, it could get crazy.

Black Friday, which I believe is the "official" shopping start of the holiday season is a big deal in our house. We don't do much shopping that day, but we do people watch! We begin the day in Union Square, in San Francisco, and after enjoying a Mocha for Alan and a Hot Chocolate for me, we walk the square, then its down to Maiden Lane. It's gorgeous this time of year, from the decorations, to the wonderful street performers singing opera. It's a unique time to be in San Francisco, and something we don't miss, come rain or come shine. After we enjoy the square, we head home for Thanksgiving dinner... part 2... then it's up the hill into Tilden Park to the carousel, to enjoy the Christmas Fantasy in the Woods.

The Carousel has a dozen or so lighted Christmas trees, with amazingly beautiful Christmas ornaments for sale. All of them more than reasonable, and all of them sweet and sentimental. Alan and I always give each other an ornament from the carousel each year for Christmas. It's one of our main gifts. Our little tree is now covered in Christmas memories. All bought from the Tilden Carousel Christmas In The Woods. Each one of those ornaments remind us of the fun we have there, or the fun of watching a child laughing or a little old couple cuddle, while holiday music plays and lights twinkle. It's special. It's the only time I really enjoy holiday music. I always balk when some dismal person insists that the holidays have become too commercial. They are only as commercial as you allow them to be. You know? It's pretty much up to you how you want to feel about things! You can choose to walk around cynical, or you can start your own holiday traditions and take a walk in the light! It's up to you!

The only other shopping tradition we have, is to purchase an Advent calender on Black Friday. We usually get that in Union Square.With the exception of the Advent calender and the special ornaments, I don't schedule my shopping, but I do look for bargains for what I plan to buy. It just makes life simpler. I do love to go out and walk around the crazy shoppers, while feeling perfectly at ease with my shopping style. It's fun to feel like the sane one once in a while! ;)

Karen, I hope you don't mind if I make this WA a bit of a pictorial. I just think the pictures complete the story...

Union Square Christmas Tree...


Mocha and Hot Chocolate...



Maiden Lane...


Maiden Lane Performer...


Xanadu Gallery (Building Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright)


Tilden Park Christmas Tree...


Tilden Carousel...


A Really Lovely Ornament...


Extra Credit: Yep... but then you already read that didn't you! LOL :)

Happy Holidays Everyone!

-Carly