a visit to a ridiculously sumptuous estate

Irwin and I drove down to Hearst Castle recently. Talk about insanely lavish. I'll put pictures up when I have the time (energy). It was really fun. I love driving with him. And highway 1 is always incredible.
Actually, I've been more and more seriously entertaining my dream of becoming a hermit. Maybe not completely secluded. But I've been seriously wanting to just go live on a farm somewhere...
When I was little I always thought in the back of my mind that if I didn't become a teacher or a writer or an archaeologist, maybe I'd find myself a nice mountain to go live on. Kinda like my mom's uncle. Who's a hermit. On a mountain... And his son used to be a hermit on the other side of that mountain... Maybe I could go live there now that he's no longer being a hermit.
Or I can just keep trudging towards my doctorate... So I can study other people...
Anyways. More and pictures later.

A Day at The Zoo and a Birthday Wish For Sophie

So First of all, today is my oldest sister's birthday. Miss Sophia turns 20 today. (Wow, I feel old)
Happy Birthday Sophie. I hope this year is amazing for you.

Yesterday Irwin and I got up and took the 18 bus to the Zoo. Yes, the same zoo where the Tiger was shot. It's got a lot of new barriers up. And less tigers...
It was a lot of fun though.
My Biological Anthropology teacher was giving an extra credit lecture there. The college can't have any official fieldtrips because people are idiots and try to use them as excuses to sue the college for any possible misfortune they may happen to suffer on them or even on their way there and back. Anyways, whatever, it was great. He had a lot of interesting things to say about the primates, pro-simeons, and marsupials. The Gorilla exhibit is still closed because after the tiger attacked those guys that were being jerks to it, the zoo put up cameras and found that people make a habit of throwing things and yelling at the animals. The Gorillas apparently get a lot of torture from the idiots that visit. But for the most part the animals are now enjoying a little peace, thanks to the slight reinstatement of respect that that tiger bought them with its life... And the signs that are now posted in front of every exhibit warning people not to torment the animals under threat of legal penalties...

























































































































Oh yeah! I did have my shoes pecked by a rather confused Guinea Foul though. It as rather like being charged by a very small raptor. Or a rather dinosaur-like chicken.















Phascolarctos cinereus



















Ursus Maritimus


























Ursus Arctos















After the zoo we went to Ocean Beach and had a picnic on the wall while we watched an ultimate frizbee tournament. That was pretty fun. It was a beautiful day and there wasn't even a cold wind at the beach. Just warm sunshine. So no sand got in my peanut butter and banana sandwich. The last two teams to play each other in the tournament kind of reminded me of the game between the Warriors and the Suns. Both were high scoring teams with great offenses and weak defenses.

We came home and watched The Princess Bride, and then I made some pasta and a salad, with Irwin's help. It was really delicious, but I forgot to warn Irwin that I made the salad dressing kinda spicy. Sorry Irwin!

I just found out today that one of my friends from middle school/ the high school years (if not the actual high school) is engaged. So I'd just like to say congratulations to Deirdre here too. Luck with the dresses D! And the ring re-sizing! =P

Spin

Mama's Royal Napkin Art Competition

The Mama's Royal Cafe in Oakland's napkin art competition... Looks pretty awesome huh? Look through the galleries from the last few years. Some of the artwork is really amazing.

Carnival at The De Young

So I went to the De Young Museum with Irwin and Marlon yesterday, which was AWESOME.
I happen to enjoy the De Young, despite some funky arranging on the part of the curator. (As Irwin and Carlo and I, and later Irwin and Marlon and I discussed) The transitions between the periods and places is a little awkward in some parts... ok, most parts... It's a little ADD. Kind of like the average American attention span in museums... So I guess in some respects it might hold the interest of Americans a little better, but at the same time the ones that DO have the attention span to enjoy museums might find it slightly choppy.
The artworks they have there are really great though. I have some favorites in their permanent collection.
Also there were not only some great temporary exhibits up, but it was Carnival, and they were having a costume party where they were teaching everyone the basic salsa steps.
Afterward the three of us went to this Indian restaurant over on 9th between Irving and Judah. It was delicious and cheap. A great combination. Then we walked down the block past a more expensive Indian place and over to the bar there for a drink before Mar dropped us off at my place.
That was a fun time. And we made plans to hang out over at Mar's place sometime to play pool.