• 6 Songs a Day: The Project
  • About Ms. Mo

my words on a string

~ life in 6 songs a day

my words on a string

Tag Archives: San Francisco

Image

I Finally See the Dawn Arrivin’, I See Beyond the Road I’m Drivin’

08 Sunday Jul 2012

Tags

Calvino, Fog, literature, love, San Francisco, sourdough, summer

San Francisco in the summer is underrated. Yes, for five summers I lived in the humid, bug-laden eden of Nerd Camp and perhaps I always wished to be home with friends instead of stuck in the library and in class on the 4th of July. However, there’s something charming about summertime fog rolling in over the Bridge in the early afternoon. It smells like heaven. I can’t explain it, I don’t think.

When I first moved to San Francisco in 1999, I lived out in the Avenues where fog resided every day. When I jumped off the bus from downtown, I passed by the Boudin Sourdough factory. The smell of fog and warm sourdough, yes, two San Francisco staples, really bring me comfort.

Today, while pumping gas in the Marina, I was so chilled that I groped for a sweater in Continue reading →

Posted by my words on a string | Filed under Life, Music, San Francisco, Vermont

≈ 1 Comment

Image

Laughing Out Loud with Fear and Hope

28 Monday May 2012

Tags

cheers, content with life, family, Friends, Golden Gate Bridge, Rush, San Francisco, uncle, weight loss

What a glorious weekend. The weather was bright and clear, but cold and windy. So much to celebrate. Even though I didn’t grow up in the City, I’ve been here for more parts of on since 1999. That’s substantial. Plus, we came up all the time as kids because Dad worked here. The City is home. I’ve left and come back twice. It’s hard for me to think that someday, I really might leave. I might. But I can’t seem to think about that right at this moment.

What I liked about my weekend: Seeing old friends, reuniting with people I don’t know very well, discovering new places in San Francisco, and being called out on my weight loss. This is much more fun than I thought it would be.

This weekend, I hit a new milestone. I lie. I actually hit three new milestones. #1–I’m down 35 lbs. #2–I weigh less than I have in at least 8 years. #3. The smallest jeans I have ever owned as an adult fit like a glove. I decided to try that last one on before going to a friend’s barbecue last night–just to see. I actually cried in my entryway as I gazed in amazement in my full length mirror. I don’t care if people can tell or not tell. I can. I haven’t really tooted my own horn enough on this one, or even given myself a proverbial gold star. But I have worked harder on this than anything for a long time.

One of my favorite things for the past three years has been my weekend bridge walks, which I couldn’t do this weekend due to the birthday festivities. But when I am away from San Francisco, I miss it. I leave my apartment in Cow Hollow, walk down to Fort Mason, all along the waterfront through Chrissy Field, past the Warming Hut, and to the Hopper’s Hands at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge.

It usually takes me two hours, or a little shy depending on crowdedness or my state of being. But I pass kids and dogs and hot surfers and gorgeous kite surfers and sailboat races and tourists and others, smiling and happy to see the most gorgeous stretch of Continue reading →

Posted by my words on a string | Filed under Family, Friends, Life, Music, Work, Writing

≈ 1 Comment

Those Who Find Themselves Ridiculous, Sit Down Next to Me

05 Saturday May 2012

Posted by my words on a string in Family, Friends, Grad School, Life, Music, Uncategorized, Vermont, Work

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Beastie Boys, Bread Loaf, freedom, James, Oakland, San Francisco, summer, Vermont

Image

Mountain afternoon, post-thunderstorm in Vermont.

I first have to address how disappointed that none of my Beastie Boys are pulling up tonight. All I know is that I knew and loved the Beastie Boys when I still lived in San Jose–so before moving the summer before 5th grade, also known as 1987. For the eldest child in my family, that’s pretty impressive. But I did have a clock radio and listened to KWSS, which had Oingo Boingo and Midnight Oil and clearly was ahead of the curve even at 9. But seriously. Really, what I need to say about Adam Y is that anyone dying at 49 of any kind of cancer is just simply heartbreaking. He was sheer talent. He was magic. I’ll move on now, but I do have to say the following:

Don’t step out of this house if that’s the clothes you’re gonna wear.

I’ll kick you out of my home if you don’t cut your hair

Your mom just busted in and yelled “What’s that noise?”

Aw Mom you’re just jealous, it’s the Beastie Boys.

Okay, I am done.

So right now, Quinn the Eskimo is on, and it makes me smile because that’s what Dad calls the new pup when she acts silly. I don’t really have much to say on that but just had to address it.

Today I played hookey from my paper grading. I am okay with it though. It was gorgeous today, and I slipped off to Oakland to see my friend’s new house, play with her kids, and go to the farmer’s market. I am so happy I did. God what a glorious day. It started off with ten hours of much needed sleep followed by physically running into a beautiful man. I must have accidentally stepped into his jogging path (oops) when I was walking to meet my friend to head over to the East Bay. He grabbed my shoulder because we bread and buttered too many times, and he apologized for getting in my way. Not bad for 9:15 am.

When I met up with L, we decided to get coffee and take a cab instead of caffeine free via the bus, and I was thankful. I do miss the peninsula and my parents house though this time of year, and pretending we would be in Capri or Santorino or Avignon–depending on the cuisine and wine. But Oakland did it for me today. I bought an amazing steak, fresh tomatoes, basil, and red onion at the Lake Merritt Farmer’s Market, and bought burrata once I got home. I mean, how does one go wrong? And let me tell you, dinner in front of my window previewing the Supermoon tonight topped all. Patio time in the sun was welcomed by even the palest skin in the bunch (mine) and I now have a nice rosy and slightly freckled pallor. Thank goodness. I was worried the pale would stick around for another six months!

Today I realized how pleased I am that I do not have to race off to Vermont in t-minus 38 days. Perhaps if it hasn’t been your life for 5 years, you don’t get it. I don’t need to Continue reading →

Newer posts →

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 61 other followers

Song Count:

428

Recent Posts

  • I’ve Carried the World on my Back with no More to Obtain
  • Haven’t Had a Dream in a Long Time
  • And a Struggle Never Wins

Top Clicks

  • None

9/11 Alzheimer's Bread Loaf busy Canada Cars change childhood children christmas college friends Colorado concerts Counting Crows Dad death Dolly Parton DPchallenge dreams driving family first day of school Friends George Michael Gram growth happiness happy healing Heart Songs Hero Ireland John Lennon Laughing life London loss love mean girls memories middle school mom Music musicals parents Paris Paul Simon postaday puppy REM running late Sam Cooke San Francisco school Sleep songs special education students summer support teaching Technology The Samples The Shins Tom Waits travel U2 vacation Vermont waylon jennings Weezer weight loss Willie Nelson work writing

Archives

Categories

  • Canada
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Dating
  • Family
  • Friends
  • Grad School
  • High School
  • Ireland
  • Life
  • Music
  • Paris
  • Relationships
  • San Francisco
  • Shopping
  • Tahoe
  • Teaching
  • Uncategorized
  • Vermont
  • Weight Loss
  • Work
  • Writing

Follow My Words on a String

  • RSS - Posts
  • RSS - Comments

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy