liberty hill

nina took me on
a walk this morning in the
mission. beautiful.

it's summertime in
the city, even by 8.
the sun and a dog.

we walked and i saw
small trees and beautiful homes
and noticed new streets.

Chattanooga has
lovely homes on it that seem
placid and well-kept.

The city view of
San Francisco amazes:
tree swaths to downtown.

A posted sign said
"Liberty Hill". I had not
heard of it. Hidden.

Above the Mission
on a Sunday morning I walked
as Nina guided.

computer genius at 4

reversi on the
"t" line with a four year old
is awesome. she rocked!

she tapped the track pad
and moved the mouse easily.
young mac user. awwwww!

the t line went past
wendy's cheesecake bakery.
yes! i want to go there!

this morning steve shared his
new invention: air. it is
GORGEOUS! sleek and light.

i missed today's news
but in retrospect it is
mlk's birthday.

a symbol of honor,
radical change and of love.
because i now dream.

Mother Ocean

Yesterday to celebrate Independence Day after puttering around the house, doing some Windsor Pilates, cooking for the week, and enjoying nestling in my bed reading Esmerelda Santiago's Almost a Woman, I took a ride into San Francisco with Joe who is recently back from Canada.

My goal was to run to the ocean. The weather was wonderful...breezy, warm. It made me confortable in my shorts (something I haven't been comfortable wearing before this running thing). The route was Golden Gate to Anza to Geary to the Ocean.

Late afternoon made the weather perfect and as I climbed up to Washington High School and then saw the Ocean before me as I came up and over the hill I was amazed.

Pound, pound. In the Fillmore district there were firecracker noises...gunshots? Upper Hayes Valley I ran through a block party that was thinning out, but kids were still bouncing in the jumpy-gym.

At 27th Avenue I encountered an incline that ratched my pace down to a walk. At 28th Avenue I began the run again.

5.3 miles.

The Cliff House glowed white and my eyes hurt to see the reflection of sun dazzle on the water. The sky was perfect blue. The breeze pressed against my face, but not against my progress.

I passed the Palace of Fine Arts and paralleled places I have driven to and bussed to, but have never ventured to walk to. It doesn't feel far anymore.

My feet pounded their percussion on the sidewalk. The iPod played music to lift my feet forward and kept a smile on my face. Toward the end of the run the familiar sweat and salt crust formed on my forehead and cheeks.

When I got to the sand I walked toward the water. The waves teased against the shore. I walked toward the ocean and let the water's tongue lick my shoes and wash up on my ankles.

I waded in the water, squatted down to touch the coolness, said a sacred "Thank you" and thought about this running journey I have taken up since January.

Running alone. My Independence.

Pillow Fight! - The Video

Wednesday night was FUN!!

I recommend pillow fighting as a method to resolve all disputes. No one gets hurt...save maybe the geese who went down for the cause.

Get it?

*cheesy grin*

I got home by 8 and was in bed by 8:30 for training the next morning.