Our first real use of the hiking backpack! With Seth and Suze in the Presidio. I think he liked it (at the very least it was comfortable). Great day.
Boy in a Backpack March 29, 2009
It was only a matter of time people… March 27, 2009
Notice our perfected keep-the-Boy-stable technique. Much easier than an extra piece of equipment.
Good times, good times…
The Sutro Baths (I forgot about this field trip) March 27, 2009
Sometime in the last two months, I can’t remember exactly when, we went on one of our Discover San Francisco adventures. To the Sutro Baths, a kinda-weird/kinda-cool urban planning artifact from the turn of the 20th century.
Frankly, considering it used to be a swimming pool complex (I took Roy as a surprise actually, and joked it was the original SF bathhouse– ha!), I was surprised to see such a vivid sign. Alas we were not deterred, despite the fact that we brought along with us our child (never too early for danger!)
We should have taken a pic from the top of the bowl, as it would provide some good perspective. But imagine a really old, dangerous, saltwater infinity pool and you kinda get the picture. I’m walking the plank out to to the outer edge, and then am on the outer edge waving. Notice the rough surf!
Good thing I was not swept from the rocks and drowned, eh?
The Problem with San Francisco March 27, 2009
Too many burnouts.
Yesterday, I was out on a walk with Ari and I got to thinking: San Francisco would be a really fantastic place to live if it weren’t for all the burnouts, who in my estimation fall into two categories. 1, aged hippies with mental health problems and 2, runaways. Now, its important to understand that SF has a long history of attracting burnouts and/or homeless– the weathers great and the benefits come easy (and one point the city handed out cash) and that there are a lot of San Franciscans who embrace and defend these folks, citing them as fundamental to the character of the city.
This is a load of bullshit.
Out on our walk yesterday, I saw more burnouts than I can count (30+ definitely). So many that I played a game– how much better would this be if you weren’t everywhere. The answer- A LOT.
Do I have ideological issues with my assessment? Of course. I lived through the mini-mall-ization of Manhattan. I wonder though, in a city where independence runs so thick, whether a little tough love might result in a more modern socioeconomic mix/aesthetic.
This was really cemented for me when, towards the end of my walk, I was walking along the edge of a really nice (except for the burnouts) park near our house. Nice homes, great views, the whole bit. I passed by a door, and a man propositioned me, his friend the Creepy Pervert made a comment about Ari that didn’t sit well. I realized the door was a part of a rehab complex. How this place affords this real estate has to be a legacy of our neighborhood being close to the Haight and a natural location for such a facility, circa 1970 (Ha! I just looked it up and its 39 years old, this place. When you’re good, you’re good).
What is my point? I think this city would be more interesting/diverse/creative/beautiful/livable without these folks, in a way that would release none of the character people are so scared of losing. I would go so far as to say they are what is holding it back from being a world class city.
Time to usher in the post-Burnout era, people!
There, I said it. I feel so much better having isolated my issue with this place.
Sometimes I forget where I’m chronicling what March 24, 2009
Yesterday I guess, I posted to Facebook that Ari was up on all fours. He doesn’t really know what to do with that yet, so he’s swaying and for the moment at least, on to other things. Today he is pushing himself around backwards. Its kind of hysterical (we both think so at least).
This isn’t actually a great video of that move in particular (note to self: get better about grabbing Flip sooner), but it does give you an idea where we are on the mobility front.
Things you care about but don’t control March 22, 2009
Is there anything worse than having a sick baby? All you can do is comfort. He can’t tell you what’s wrong. You can’t fix it. He is suffering.
OK, it is worse if your wife is sick, too.
We are sick March 22, 2009
Roy had it last weekend, then Ari got it a couple of days ago (his first legit “sick” experience, he’s still smiling– I love this kid), and I got it yesterday. Sucks.
Luckily, it appears to be short. He’s still sniffly and hoarse, but Ari was STARVING this morning after barely eating for two days.
I have to say, I hadn’t realized how hard it would be to see our child sick. Roy will be posting on this shortly, as he’s the only one with the energy to be articulate today.
Sometimes when Roy is traveling I kind of lose my mind March 22, 2009
Roy travels a lot less than he used to. This is a great thing. But he still travels once or twice a month for a couple of days at a time.
Last week, he was in LA, when in the middle of the night I heard what I thought sounded like a mechanical saw (naturally, opening the front door dead bolt). At 4am.
I listened a little harder and DEFINITELY convinced myself there was an intruder. Now, this has happened before (as in, I’ve both had an intruder and mistakenly thought I’ve had an intruder), but not since Ari was born, so also not since our car was broken into right in front of our house.
I’m pretty sure it took me at least 20 minutes to process my options (all very different given Ari, as I couldn’t exactly go and die, leaving him alone for the 16 hours between then and Roy’s anticipated arrival home), during which I snuck into his room and grabbed him. Roy wasn’t answering his phone and I decided to do nothing. Wait.
As 6am rolled around, he called me back, and forced me to investigate. At the time, I was actually in the shower, “signaling” to our robbers (who are now plural) that I would be coming downstairs soon. Our home phone can dial like a normal phone or a cell phone, so he had me put in 911, so that just in case I could hit “call” and the police would hear the whole thing.
Needless to say, there were no robbers. But as I was trying to call Roy back to let him know, I did accidentally call 911. Whoops.
You know you live in San Francisco when… March 17, 2009
…For your birthday you ask your husband for a rock climbing course!?
Seriously, whats next? Who are we?
