May I admire you?

Fondling cucumbers in Chinatown.

***

When did I discover Beth Spotswood and develop my true-blue girl crush? Perhaps it was when I read this quote in the sidebar of her blog:

"I did not get my Spaghetti-O's, I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this." ~ Thomas J. Grasso's last words, d. March 20, 1995 ... Executed by injection, Oklahoma.

I still laugh when I read that.

I think what I admire about Beth is that she'll write stuff that I would only admit in my dreams. I love that she's fearless that way. I also know that I can only read her blog if I'm not drinking hot liquids or in a place where I'm not supposed to burst out laughing.

***

When Beth contacted me to be a part of i live here: SF, of course I was flattered but was also a little intimidated. Not because I didn't think she'd be great to hang out with (she was) but on the whole, I'm pretty shy... it's quite a different situation to you meet someone you've only admired from afar.

We had a ball in Chinatown taking photos. This was one instance when all of my hours and photography love of Chinatown really paid off. All of my explorations, favorite little alleys and murals: we used them all for her photo shoot. I made Beth sit on park benches in Portsmouth Square, nested amidst elderly Chinese men and women who alternately smiled, ignored and scowled at us. We got yelled at in a market for taking photos. Beth bought us both barbequed pork buns.

When I asked Beth "Why Chinatown?," she confessed her long-time Pretty in Pink infatuation. That just happens to be the only John Hughes' movie I've never seen so I still don't get the connection with Chinatown, but I'm happy to say that this shoot was just as stupendously fun and cool as Beth is. I hope it lived up to her Pretty in Pink daydreams. I think it did.

I hope you enjoy it too. And I haven't even told you about the story she wrote. But I'll let you read that for yourself.

***

Beth's story and photo shoot can be seen here.

And here's what she wrote about ME, which I'm loving this morning...

Meet the People in My Corner: Part 1

Meet Brittney.

***

A loooooong time ago, when I started my blog--this is going to sound silly, but bear with me-- it really never occurred to me that anyone but my family would actually read it.

So it came as a complete and total surprise to me when I felt I had been "discovered" by the CBS blogger who is behind the Eye on Blogs here in SF, the lovely lady you see above. She invited me to a blogger party at the television station, where lots of other local bloggers were, and it was a revelation to me when she came over, hugged me, and told me with sweet sincerity how much she loved my blog.

Ever since then, Brittney has been unflinchingly generous in helping bring new readers to my blog on a variety of subjects, and of course has been entirely supportive of both my new i live here: SF project and the story about K and the kids.

So please take a moment to meet Brittney. You'll be glad you did. I know I am.

Give this girl five stars

It's early... I'm up working on some great photos from yesterday for i live here: SF, so while I'm doing that I wanted to ask a favor of you.

A few months ago, I wrote about my blogging friend Sallycat in Buenos Aires. She is the star of this lovely video, which to me, encapsulates a lot of what tango really is. Also, Sally's got to be one of the loveliest and most thoughtful people and writers on the planet. Her blog is truly a gift, whether you are a tango dancer or not.



Her blog, Sallycatway, is a contender for The World's Best Bloggers (South America section). Won't you please go there now and give her a vote? She's dropped to second place but I'm sure you could help her get back to #1.

You can click here to vote. Voting ends on March 16 so don't wait...

Both Sallycat and I thank you! Happy weekend.

***

UPDATE 11:12am: Thank you to those of you who have already voted... and let's keep those votes coming for Sallycat!

Here's a little happy note for you from Buenos Aires...

My dearest TB

As your friend Relyn has said, WHAT A FRIEND YOU ARE! How many folks would go out of their way to support and champion fellow lovers of life, whom they have only ever met in cyberspace, so generously? I am very touched. And I thank you.

As you know, I type every one of my blog posts in Buenos Aires looking straight at your beautiful photograph of San Francisco on the wall in front of me. 'Follow your heart freely,' it speaks to me.

I want to thank your lovely readers too, for taking a moment to vote for Sallycat's Adventures. This competition is a step on the way to me fulfilling one of my dreams: to help more people get the very best out of their visit to Buenos Aires or out of the experience of relocating to Argentina, or indeed to any other land... and to inspire a few more folk to live their own dreams with gusto!

Thank you, you super guys and girls who hang out with Tangobaby. You are the best, and if you ever get to visit BsAs, make sure you let me know you are coming!

SC

Read This Blog

You can read mine, too, but I want you to read his.

Gabby's beautifully written essays will take your breath away, bring tears to your eyes, and make your heart glad that there's a guy out there who brings his memories forward with such power and clarity. This man can write. Boy, can he write.

This post in particular would be a good one to start with.

xoxo