Freaky Friday

This is the bottom of the hill, where I wait for the bus heading into work. It is looking north towards downtown Mill Valley..

I guess not really towards downtown.. but it is the direction/way you'd be driving should you be heading towards downtown Mill Valley..

Or possibly downtown Larkspur.. or Fairfax.. or..

The sky was beautiful this morning due to rain clouds forming.

Other then that, it was a normal commute ride into the city..

Albiet an hour and a half later then I normally do it. For some reason, I didn't wake up this morning.. I knew that it was getting latter as I remained in that "half state" for longer then I knew I should.. But I figured as I arose from bed that is was probably around 6:30AM.

It was 7:15.. meaning I had fifteen minutes to shower, dress and arrive at work.

I wasn't going to make it.

One of the other landmarks I pass quite often is Ghiradelli Square. I have heard a lot of people talk trash about their chocolate.. However, the broken chunks that can be purchased at the square or at Trader Joe's I think are excellent.. and the hot fudge sundaes are tops.

And yet another daily sighting of a San Francisco landmark is Coit Tower.

Here it is seen through the key scratched window of Golden gate Transit bus #4.

It is a memorial to the SF firefighters, and thus looks like a fire hose.. it has been noted that it also looks rather phalic. And this is strange for a San Francisco landmark?

Levi's Plaza is a very nice place with several waterfalls and groomed landscape. I went here quite often for lunch when I was working at Aspen Media.

Our cats Scruffy and the late Jack were adopted here..

And one of my regular chess partners' partner works for Levi's and has an office in the building that is just to the left of that tree.

The commute home is what inspired the title...

I got a ride from a total gorilla.

The guy was driving crazy, blasting rock n roll on the radio, swearing and cursing at just about everyone who was attempting to avoid collisions with other moving vehicles..

A total animal.

It was a nice change to be taking a different route home.

This is a shot looking up towards Broadway, known for it's gentlemen clubs as they are so eloquently referred to.

If you look at the larger version of the shot, you might be able to make out Coit Tower rising up in the background..

Looks a little too washed out in this smaller photo.

We also passed by a grip truck in North Beach. I couldn't tell what the shoot was, but the officer that was helping with traffic sure gave a double take at the gorilla behind the wheel of the car I was in.

That grip truck does bring up my dream career - working with film, video or the theater. I must reiterate that I want to be quite a bit more involved creatively then grabbing coffee for the people who are more creatively involved.

Just want that out there in case the universe is listening.

And I'll end today's post with a couple more shots of the madman who so graciously gave me a ride home..

Mr. Carrol, Thank you!

Thursday (nice Title)

It was very dark this morning when I left to go to work. I couldn't take any shots really.. although I almost got a very good one of the Pyramid Buidling.

Almost just doesn't get posted to this blog, baby!

I think this shot is the only one of from the morning commute.

Now this one is what sort of puts one into that "I'm going home" feeling. Yes, the elevator..

You get in to it, push the lobby button and imeadiatly get a sense of "heading home".

That little white rectangle to the left of the elevator buttons is our security lock.. to activate the floors we're on you need the card for that security device.

Speaking of security, any Earthquakes fans in the house?

This is a really long limo that I saw on the way home.

There's two exotic places to make love.. an elevator and a limo.

I relaxed on the way home for a change (usually I am reading tech books or magazines to continue the learning process).

I bought a SF Chronicle and read that.. yes, a little strange to read the morning paper in the evening.

Upon ariving home, I finally got a picture of the bus stop at the bottom of Rosemont, two blocks from where I live.

And to end this now.. because I am tired and still have some chores to do.. (It's garbage night).

It looks like it is going to rain again, yes?

Rain

Yes, today it really rained. It spoke of fall and coming winter.. warnings of whether or not we had sufficiently fixed aspects of our home to weather a wet winter.

Because the rain was light, but steady, I did not feel reassured that none came inside.. instead, the warning aspects told me that time was running out for me to fix the front windows in the dining room.

The photo to the right is looking down Market Street towards the Ferry Building.

I did not take many shots because it was so dark out.. and I am finding more and more that the Zire does require a bit of light to get the shot.

Another strange thing happened on this morning's commute...

I think it had something to do with the bag that I have been using for my reading materials..

It was purchased on a trip I went on with Mike Healy to Amsterdam. We stayed 2 weeks in the wonderful city and it was a perfect experience. I really recommend for anyone traveling to stay in a place a while instead of attempting to see as much as possible.. I felt quite at home there after two weeks.

Anyway, the bag was purchased at the Grasshopper Cafe, one of the upper crust cafes catering to tourists. I at first used it for my golf discs, but I haven't played in many years and don't know where the discs are now..

And how does this all tie into the strange site from this morning's commute? As I looked out my window, I saw one of the familiar sites of Amsterdam. I was not aware that this existed in the financial district of San Francisco.

Perhaps it was the weather.. or a bit of rotten potato I had digested the evening before. Bah Humbug!

As I traveled back home at night, I did not have many photos from the journey home.

I did manage to snap this one that is a brilliant sign of our times.. and felt a little paranoid as I did so.. wondering if someone might think that my taking a picture of the sign on a bus was strange and worth reporting.

No one did.

I also took this photo of a business in San Francisco..

I am happy to report that the arts are still practiced and can be found if one applies oneself.

I did not go directly home, but instead went to a parent teacher evening at Greenwood School where Robyn (and next Jonah) attend.

Excellent school, I must say..

If Only Life Were Like This

Yes, today was a good work day. I went in at 2 and left at 4:30. Now that's a sane work day!

"Why?", you might ask.. well, today I had a doctors appointment and met with our midwife, Amrit. Yes, if I haven't mentioned it and you didn't know, we are expecting our 3rd child December 4th.

By the way, I like this picture of the bridge because it captures the way the bridge tends to loom on the horizon as one approaches it.

Since I was heading into work late, I drove in and therefore have some shots that I normally wouldn't get..

Like the Palace of Fine Arts building there to the left.

Well, okay.. so I can capture this shot from the bus.. but I have attempted it a few times and this is the first time I got a shot worth posting.. and since I wasn't on the bus when I took this, that fact might have something to do with the shot.

Now this shot I wouldn't get from the bus. This is the famous San Francisco Chronicle Building. I do not know much about the history of the building.. In fact, I really know nothing at all, other then the fact that the Chronicle was in a publishing war with the Hearst owned paper - which gives you an idea of how far back the paper dates.

Oh yes, I almost forgot...

I captured this very rare moment via my Palm.

Notice, this car is actually stopping at a yellow light.

There might truly be hope for humanity after all.

Of course, speaking of hope for humanity.. I also ventured through an area of the city that I have known to be a place of poverty and deprivation.

A place where drugs take the place of hope and love, attempting to fill the void that only hope and love can.. A place I call, City Hall. No, sorry, bad joke. Oh I do have my quirks regarding politics.

Besides, City Hall did not appear until my ride home..

Which brings me to..

My ride home. Which started off very strangely...

As evidence shows, the entire city had become of a somewhat rubbery composition. It was easy on the feet but made walking somewhat perilous. Luckily, upon entering the truck, what ever continuum at play with the forces of nature eased off and I was able to enter my commute home without any further incidence.

Except for... 106.9 went live with their new format and all I can say to it is - train wreck. Perhaps I judge to hastily, but in my humble opinion - I could do far better then what I heard on the air.

If they are going for something that is either banal or "in your face" raw, they've achieved it. Now, that said, I am still fond of one of their shows that I had the pleasure of working with at one time.. so perhaps we should wait and see.. But gentlemen, a little less time ripping on your former employers and more time just ripping in general is my recommendation.

It still seems like an accident in the making.

On the way home, I stopped by the fabulous Marin City Library.

Marin County has one of the best library systems going - and Marin City is one of it's crown jewels.

I picked up my favorite story of all time, A Christmas Carol. Well done, C.D.!

...And now as promised, San Francisco City Hall.

Red

Believe it or not.. it was so foggy this morning that I couldn't really take any photos. It was foggy and cold! And I didn't wear a jacket..

And it was foggy and cold on the way home, too. Which limited my picture taking again. I missed my warm things. (Don't read too much into that!

d'oh

I was also late for work this morning - not a good thing. There is plenty to be done and I needed to be there on time in my mind. I did get a lot done today, but still..

The evidence is there to the right. I am supposed to be at work by 7:30..

Although, I probably would have called in sick if I had any sick time left. (It was all used up by a shoulder surgery I had earlier this year.)

On the way home, I saw a cross on the side of one of the buildings. Interesdting because nothing on the building hinted to any religious protocal within the confines. Perhaps what ever labors of commerce that are taking place within would just like the Lord's blessing.

Also of interest, a BARC speeder buzzed by the bus right when I snapped the shot.. you can see the trails in the upper part of the photograph. (I'm getting as geeky as Skott - sheesh)

And now we get to the theme of today's posting/commute. Starting off with the red hand, I noticed a theme running through these photos.

The red hand was floating in an intersection in the financial district and suddenly started moving as I snapped the photo. Yes, I notice it's resemblance to a crosswalk signal.. still, it was mighty strange.

I then snapped this shot of what I thought was dramatic lighting within the bus.

For a bus, it seemed like a lot of dramatic lighting.

After taking the photo, I noticed that the lights from the bus we were on that show the bus number and route were reflecting in the window of the muni bus in front of us.

I thought this was an interesting photo, also. Since it was partially hidden and reflected an aspect of myself - a self portrait if you will - since it shows my destination and therefore were I live.

It Was A Dark Morning...

It was a dark morning as I headed out to work.. too dark to really get any pictures so I didn't take much on the way. Or the ones I took look a lot like the one to the left there.

That is taken from the bus stop at Rosemont. It is a very nice structure that members of the community have built and maintained. I attempted to get a picture of it this morning (Friday), but alas - too dark.

I did manage to take this shot of the building entrance I go into..

Yes, my current place of employment is 55 Hawthorne Street in San Francisco.

Apparently there is some history to this building - but I don't know what it is...

A lucky strike for my commute home was ride from co-worker, Skott. He is the art director for Susquehanna Radio Corp., S.F.. And he is a very talented designer.

He also is the drummer for Zoo Station, a U2 tribute band that is doing very well in the Bay Area. If you're a U2 fan, check them out.. I don't expect you'll be disappointed.

He looks happy to be giving me a ride.. I hope I didn't make him late for getting to the art supply store he was heading to in San Anselmo before doing a gig at the Sweetwater in Mill Valley.

We left Victor, a co-worker in the Interactive Media Department (which Skott & I also work in), bummed that he was staying all by himself to hold things down 'till closing. I'm up against Victor this weekend in fantasy football - I hope he is still bummed come Monday. Cruel, yes?

Here is what I think is a great shot of Skott retrieving his keys from the commuter lot he parked in that day. It just seems so surreal in some manner.. almost like it is posed.

It wasn't.

The last shot is a close-up of Boba Fett's insignia - a Bantha skull. Many of you may not know that the first banthas were played by elephants at a now defunct Marine World Africa USA.

Pretty cool, huh?

The Bane

Today's thoughts have to do with cell phones, society and um.. fog. But first - Christmas is coming and signs of it can already be seen as I get a sighting of the famous San Francisco Xmas Muni buses. I wish I could have gotten a closer shot, but alas..

On my walk to the bus stop heading home, I saw two things of interest. The first was a public service where the City of San Francisco is willing to post your face on one of the concrete pillars that support the highway offramps. You can see one of the place holders to the right there.. don't know why one needs to be wearing a bow tie..

The other interesting sight was a home for rent. Obviously it has seen some use, and the location wasn't great. But you can see many of these homes as you pass south of Market Street.

I'm sure with a little newspaper and perhaps a sleeping bag or two, this can provide shelter for one in need.

On a serious note, if you ever have a chance to pick up "Street Sheet", it is well with the dollar donation. Here you will see/read a perspective of the news that one does not get from the main stream garbage put out. I honestly relate better to the perspectives and beliefs in "The Street" better then most main stream media..

Have I mentioned that it was really foggy on the way home yesterday?

This is a shot from GG Bridge looking back at the city.

No, you can not see the city. Not even a little bit.
It was very foggy. Here is another shot taken as we entered the headlands. usually if it is very foggy in the city, it makes for a beautiful and often dramatic setting as one hits Marin.

I wish I had a better shot of the wave of fog that washes over the headlands into the bay.. it is truly spectacular. It will have to wait for another time.

Here is a look at Tiburon as we approach the Mill valley exit off 101. The sunlight reflecting off people's windows sometimes looks like fire.

And it was a beautiful day.

Some of you may be wondering how I got to space on Wednesday's commute. Well, a little known fact is that there is a space shuttle in Mill Valley, right off the 101 exit to Muir Woods/Stinson Beach that also is one of the three Mill Valley exits that I can think of heading north on 101.

With the space shuttle so close at hand - it is a wonder that more people are not finding themselves in space..

And now the reasoning behind the title to this blog: cell phone use on the bus. I have noticed that traffic and cell phone use get busy incrementally. First traffic increases and then cell phone use increases. One woman must have called 10 different times on the trip home.. and being privileged enough to listen in on her conversations, I was able to pick up on this priceless advise she gave to one of her children:

"Help yourself to something that looks like dinner."

And now, the whole reason I make the commute. Because of the family it helps support.

This is a shot of our home on Beryl Street.

There was a crooked house.
Upon a crooked mile.
And never again will we wonder why.
Mona Lisa has a crooked smile.


And here are my beautiful children and our dog, Sam. Sam is the brown blur in the lower right corner - he was quite excited to see me. Jonah, my son, is pointing to what I refer to as Halloween Spiders. They are big spiders that make a stereotypical halloween web.

Robyn is checking the mail.

I'll end with three photos. The first Jonah took upon my arrival home - so technically, it is still part of my commute (I wasn't quite home). It is such a beautiful shot of the sky, and as one can guess from this blog, I'm a sucker for a beautiful sky.

The second Robyn took of our neighbor Paul's house. He passed away at the beginning of this year.

He was a very friendly man who on more then one occasion mentioned he was ready to go.

And lastly, a bumper sticker on our car.

Have a nice day!