Photo of the day: Enter the Cavalry

From a mural at my local Safeway. Who says going to the grocery store has to be dull? We've got the cavalry, settlers, even some Spanish folk who look surprised to see the cavalry. I wonder what will happen next?

What's right isn't always fun
I'm spending the weekend with my mom.

I volunteered to do this so that my sister could go away for the weekend with her boyfriend. I'll go over tomorrow afternoon, spend the night, and come back home on Sunday afternoon. I had planned on bringing her back her tomorrow, but I think I'll take her out somewhere. The Flyers are playing tomorrow and I'd rather not distract Husband from the playoffs. Besides, mom is pretty much a prude and she really doesn't need to hear Husband yell "kill the fuckers!'

Now I know this is the right thing to do and I'm happy to help out my sister who, poor thing, definitely needs a break. But, in all honesty, I'm dreading it. Not just that I'll miss Husband and Cipher (TWMACSYIFDA tm) but also because after about an hour in my mom's company, I'm ready to go home. Actually I'm ready to go home, have a drink and lie down with a cool compress on my head while I tell myself I'm adopted.

I've written quite often about my dysfunctional relationship with mom. It's compounded by the fact that she doesn't realize that it is dysfunctional. Mom thinks we're the Waltons. I'm not sure if it's denial or what, but she really does think we're one big happy, loving family. It's both vaguely sweet and kinda sad. And I feel awful about it. I know she gave me life, and I do have some fond memories of when I was a kid. But I just don't have that kind of "blood is thicker than water" attitude and everything I do is out of duty, not love. Some times it makes me feel like a really bad person. Other times I think that realizing and accepting this is rather healthy. The truth probably lies somewhere in between. But, come Sunday night, that drink is mine.

Photo of the day: Reflections of Mass Transit

From the local BART/Caltrain station. I just liked the reflections. What can I say? I'm easily pleased.

My New Favorite SF Giant
Is newly-signed relief pitcher Jeremy Affeldt. In a world where sports heroes frequently make the news for drunk driving, drug use, gun accidents and not keeping their pants zipped, Affeldt shows that there are still professional athletes who know how to do the right thing.

Photo of the day: Stripes

It's been awhile since I've had a good photo day. I tried to take pictures in the Presidio last week but it was too cold and windy. This week it was too hot to move. Ah, spring in Northern California. My photo-lethargy was compounded by a bout of insomnia that rendered me stupid, useless, and incredibly silly. But entirely lacking in any creative ability. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be inspired and go out and take a new crop of pictures. In the meantime, here's a hangover from a visit to a craft store a few weeks back.

Photo of the day: Holding on

Sometimes it feels like you're just holding on by a wire. But if the wire is strong enough. And if you are strong enough. That wire is all you need. This sign has been there for decades, apparently. Blows a bit in the wind. Rusts some in the rain. But it stands there. It withstands there. And the older it gets, the more beautiful an object it becomes.

Catching up
My new favorite blog, thanks to Susan for telling me about it.

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At the shelter:
Woman (to me): I'm really looking for a black and white cat.
Me, pointing out a cute little B&W sweetle: How about this little guy?
Woman: No, he's not black and white enough.

Sorry, I didn't know there was a preferred B&W balance. 60/40? 50/50?

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I went to the dentist yesterday for a filling. My first in over 10 years. Can I just say how glad I am I live in the 21st century? They numbed my gum with something on a cotton swab so I didn't even feel the needle going in. And, thanks to the needle, felt nothing once they started drilling. I was in and out in about 30 minutes. No leeches. No going to the barber to have it yanked. Quick and absolutely painless. Amazing.

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My prescription of Ambien arrived yesterday and I had my first good night's sleep in almost 2 weeks. Oh, how glorious! I almost bounded out of bed this morning because I had such energy. I haven't felt this rested and this, well, sane, in ages. Once again, I love modern chemistry.

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According to Britain's Daily Telegraph, Indian business students are snapping up copies of Mein Kampf as a guide to management. Oh. Um. Ick. I read the book in college and I swear I felt guilty actually buying it from the college bookstore, even though it was on a syllabus. I suppose it can be considered a management book if you intend to murder most of your workforce for not thinking the same things you do.

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In the "thanks I feel much better now" department. Reuters is reporting that according to a spokesperson, Afghan law does not allow marital rape. However, it does say that if a woman denies her husband sex, he has the right to deny her food. Thanks for clearing that up.

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Overheard at Camp Sawyer Road:
Woman to friend: "If I had a boyfriend then at least I wouldn't be so fucking bored on my days off."

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I'm on the air again tonight with a full show, no baseball. Listen in from 6-9 pm.

Photo of the day: Lamplight

During my latest bout of sleeplessness I spent a great deal of time reading. Perhaps it's because I'm getting older, but I find good reading lamps are a necessity. This lamp is not a good reading lamp. The size of the shade means we can't move it close enough to the sofa for it to be of much use. But it's pretty. On the other end of the sofa we have a smaller lamp, not so pretty, but much better for pouring words into the brain at 3 am.

Photo of the day: Anchor and Rose

Photo of the day: One Paw

Ok, Ok, so I'm a crazy cat lady. Even though I only have one cat, I'm crazy about her. I try not to use the Photo of the Day for bombarding you with pictures of Cipher (The World's Most Amazing Cat, Screw You if You Don't Agree tm) but I love how her paw is in focus and her head is all fuzzy. I'm going through a serious insomnia phase and my head is all fuzzy too.