Desperately Seeking Sponsor

January 25, 2009

Department of Employment, Tourism, Mental Health and Grants for the Arts
City Hall
San Francisco, California

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please excuse the formality of this letter as I had hoped to speak with someone in your office. However, I could not find your office so this letter must be my voice and representative.

As you may or may not know, I am a resident of San Francisco and have been on a "Staycation" (aka, vacation at home due to insufficient funds for travel abroad). At first, I was ambivalent as to the quality of the vacation I would enjoy here, even though as a resident I feel that San Francisco is one of the best places to live. I had my sights set on more exotic locations.

However, I must admit that this has been one of the best holidays I have ever had, which is why I am contacting you today.

Due to my increased productivity and overall enjoyment of life in general, I would like to request a grant of sufficient monies (including health care) so that I might continue my Staycation and not have to go back to work tomorrow. The benefits to me as a happy citizen (and registered voter, I might add) would not even begin to compare to the benefits that San Francisco as a city would reap due to my redoubled efforts to promote our city by taking thousands of photos and writing about my adventures on my blog. The amount of time such PR takes is tremendous and even now I have only been able to describe a fraction of the fun I've had, not to mention the delicious meals I've enjoyed around town and the new friends I've made.

I think I could greatly improve San Francisco's image and overcome some disturbing stereotypes that may be disrupting tourism.

Also, I am incredibly bummed at the thought of going back to the office tomorrow (it's almost too much to bear) and this grant would allow me to continue in the lifestyle I have become accustomed in the past two weeks.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon (today would be great but I'm guessing your office is closed on Sundays).

Very most sincerely and incredibly appreciatively yours,

Julie

ps.: I have enclosed a photo from the last Staycation I had so you will know that my request is quite serious. Until now, I had not had a Staycation since that photo was taken.

pss.: I am the one in the plaid pants.

psss.: PLEASE help me and give me a grant so I can stay on Staycation.

The Good, The Bad, and The Naughty

Today is the day that I almost ended The Staycation in a very very bad bad way.

Have you ever done something where you really know you shouldn't be doing what you're doing and the Little Mom Voice in your head is telling you to Stop what you're doing this very instant or else you'll be very very sorry, young lady but you don't listen and you do the bad thing anyway?

I know you know what I'm talking about. You do it too.

***

Today is the second and absolute last time I get my camera wet. (You may remember the first time I got it wet, with some pretty lovely results.) This is the Bad Part of the story. (Then I'll work backwards to the Naughty and Good Parts to make it all have a happy ending.)

***

I was supposed to go tango dancing outside with that fellow from the tango video and it was drizzling, so he called to postpone when I was on the train, halfway to our meeting place, which put me in a teensy bit of a mood because I was really looking forward to dancing with him. (T., if you're reading this, I apologize.)


Anyway, I thought, Shoot, I've never let a little rain get in the way of something that I want to do, so I took my tango shoes and boombox back home and grabbed the camera and lots of extra batteries. I decided to head back to Telegraph Hill to see if lighting might strike twice and I could find the wild parrots again.

Let me tell you, Telegraph Hill is a bitch to climb. It's really crazy steep. But thank goodness in that last block when I thought I was going to slide back down the sidewalk, I could hear this really loud, crazy squawking so I knew that the parrots must be close by, and it was worth the trek. And the nice drizzle was keeping me from sweating.

I went back to the secret little pyracantha bush/tree I found in an alleyway at the top of the hill. Yesterday, the tree was teeming with the vibrant bright green and red wild parrots, who were devouring the red berries and making quite a squawking racket. It was a glorious sight, because the birds matched the tree in an incredible way. Their bright lime green feathers matched the leaves and their brilliant red feathers around their eyes and on their shoulders were the same color as the berries. It was a tree filled with chameleon birds.

But today, when I went back to the tree, the birds weren't there. I could hear them, but could not figure out where they were. They were loud enough so that I knew they were close by.

I trudged around the neighborhood where I could but aside from breaking into people's backyards in the rain, it looked like I was out of luck this time. No feral cherry headed conures for me.

***

Then I saw a few parrots flying overhead and followed them down to a part of the Filbert Street Steps that I did not know existed. (San Francisco is full of steep and wonderful stairways that you can climb for pleasure or torture, depending on your degree of fitness and choice of footwear. A delightful book that's great for touring these steps can be found online here.)

As I got closer to the terminus of the stairs, the squawking got insanely loud. The rain came down harder and the trees above me were dropping giant loads of rain onto my umbrella. As I turned to look over the retaining wall down the hillside below, I could see that I had hit the Wild Parrot Jackpot.


And this is where the Bad Part of the story happens. I had to put down all of my things, including my umbrella, in order to take photos of the birds, who were going crazy over in a tree and on a bird feeder. I walked as slowly and quietly as I could, and before I knew it, I was right on top of them, taking photos. They must be used to people because aside from grazing my head a few times, and giving me those curious sideways or dirty looks that birds do, they let me get so close to them that I could almost touch them.


And the rain poured down. I was soaking wet and soon even my sweater was too wet to wipe the camera lens on without it streaking. The Mom Voice in my head was getting louder, but the birds were so amazing that I couldn't tear myself away.

***

When I finally left the birds, I knew I had done a bad thing. I was so sopping wet that even my socks inside my boots were wet and my hair was a dripping mess. I postponed the Bad Part (where I check my camera) by having a piece of Golden Boy Pizza, which can cure most ills and is probably some of the best pizza in town. But then came the reckoning.

The camera appeared to be giving up the ghost. The lens wouldn't retract and the camera kept shutting itself off and saying horrible things like lens error, restart camera. And it was making a little squeaky sound, like a mouse on a wheel in a cage sound. Super Not Good.

***

Needless to say, the ride home on the train was a bummer. I really really adore my camera (like you couldn't tell) and I don't have $800 lying around the house to replace this one because I'm a dummy. The thought of not having a camera was making me sick to my stomach and it made me realize how much I love taking photos and being able to do it whenever I want. Plus, The Boy would have been very upset with me. (Thankfully he was not home when I got back. Whew.)

I tried to google some answers to see if there was something I could do for my poor drowned Canon, but to no avail. Then I thought maybe I could blow-dry the camera with the hairdryer and see what happens. At this point, what did I have to lose?

So I did. I blew dried my camera.

And after a little while, the squeaky mouse wheel sound was gone and the camera appears to be fine and we're on speaking terms again.

So that was the Naughty Part.

***

And now here is the Good Part. Why I was willing to do such a stupid thing in the first place. These wild parrots are exciting to watch and a gorgeous treat for the eye. They are true eye candy. I have so many photos of them that I'll probably upload an entire set to flickr, but in the meantime, here's a taste. (For the record, the color in these images is not tweaked at all... this is exactly how beautiful these birds are. You can look right into their eyes and feel their little parroty personalities just by standing still and watching them.)

***

For those of you who have not seen the wonderful documentary The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, here is an excerpt so you can have a peek into the world of these wild and beautiful birds and the city we share with them. You've really got to see this film-- it's magical.

Backstage Pass

“So-called art restoration is at least as tricky as brain surgery. Most pictures expire under scalpel and sponge.” ~ Alexander Eliot

***

I honestly don't know how I'm going to be able to go back to work on Monday.

This Staycation has been so full of cool little adventures that I literally have not had time to process them all, let alone post them.

(Yes, this is a Sir Joshua Reynolds portrait.)

***

Behind this secret white door is the paintings conservation lab at the de Young Museum.

You might remember my friend T., who is an art conservator at the museum. Actually he works on paintings for most of the fine arts museums in the city. Last year he was kind enough to take me on a tour of the labs. Now it looks like we might collaborate on a project together, making a book about how paintings are conserved. A book for kids. We're both really excited about it.

So today I came back to the labs and spent half the day there, watching, observing and learning more and taking over 300 photos.


***

This is just a fraction of what I took pictures of. I'd add more but I've also been invited to a movie night with the art conservators. We're going to have chicken curry and watch Lust for Life, the Vincent van Gogh biopic starring Kirk Douglas. I think watching this movie with a bunch of art conservators will be pretty interesting and I bet there will be some fun commentary.

I won't be able to add much to the discussion, so I'm bringing the ice cream.

The last post I did about T. and the paintings, with some other great photos, is here.

For all you little interviewees out there...

Come on, guys. I'm here burning the midnight oil for you on this interview thingy...

But please read 'dem rules. If you want me to interview you, you have to email ME your email address if we've never corresponded. Otherwise I won't be able to send you your questions if your email address is not in your profile. (If I already have your email address and you know I do, don't sweat it.)

I know you're excited and all, but don't make me come out there and spank you. Don't make me work too hard-- I am on the Staycation, you know.

Merci millefois.

xoxo

***

ps.: When you post your finished interview, because I am emailing out questions tonight if I can, please do let me know so I can tell people to come and see you.

pss.: If I could be a pinup girl, I would be an Elvgren Girl. They always seemed to be the most fun.

The Adventure Continues

Staycation Day 3. So far I have chatted over dinner with a Texas oilman, scheduled a photo session with the artist/sculptor I told you about, seen a film, gone to three museums, walked around like crazy (can you guess where?), went on a cable car, and had my feet massaged/mangled in Chinatown.

I have not been working on your interview questions, for those of you who volunteered, but maybe tonight I will get started. But I did begin making some of your prints to send out, so don't think I've forgotten about you.

I miss you! But I've got to run. I'll catch you later.

xoxo

Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom: San Francisco Episode

A definition of a professional photographer: A "pro" NEVER shows anybody the mistakes. ~ Anonymous

***

Let's just say that not every day is Photographic Nirvana in Tangobabyland.

Did you know that rodents as well as humans can benefit from a tooth whitening program such as Brite Smile? I think we need to sponsor this poor dear and get him some Crest WhiteStrips. (Click photo to enlarge and you'll definitely see he isn't flossing regularly either.)

And I was mooned by a blue jay.

***

But I did get to molest a magnolia and looky at what's inside:

Purty.

I didn't want you to think I was just screwing around on the first Official Day of the Staycation, and throwing butter on the floor all willy-nilly. I did try to take some photos today, but let's just say that you're not going to see most of them.

I really should go to sleep now. After today's adventure, who knows what tomorrow will bring?! I'm gonna need a lot of batteries.

nitey-nite, friends.

xoxo

Spreading the Magic Around

I just had to share this... I'm just beyond excited.

Some of you may remember my friend Christian Cagigal, who is an amazing magician. I call him the Magic Man. Christian is not only a friend, but holds a special place in my heart because he is the first person I ever took portraits of, and totally got me hooked on taking photos of people. What a world of delight and opportunity can be created when you take photos of people.

You can see more of our original photoshoot here.

Anyway, Christian's been working on a new show, and the photo you see above is an amalgam of two photos from our original shoot. To see the image above explains a lot about Christian and his approach to the mysterious and magical in all of life.


And I'm just beside myself that I'm now a part of his creativity and his show.

Wow. The day's been a little nutty preparing for my Staycation and this just totally made things all right. It's one thing to take photos for the sheer enjoyment of what might happen, but when you can actually make something out of thin air, and help someone else, then that's really what it's all about. Thanks, Christian, for giving me this opportunity to make some magic of my own.

The Staycation

Ahh, the commute. Where do I start? Nah, I'll spare you the deets. Let's just say I'm glad that the fur trim on the hood of rider next to me didn't get stuck to my lipgloss. And the girl that spilled the hot coffee didn't spill it on me. We were in some pretty tight quarters below deck, us swabbies.

At the Montgomery MUNI station, the United Arab Emirates and the Dubai Tourism Board have disguised lowly cement pillars to look like palm trees, and have covered the walls with posters reminding us that we can now fly direct from San Francisco to Dubai.

To be frank, it's not really something that's crossed my mind.

But I do have a vacation coming, starting on Friday (finally taking 2008's vacation)... for two whole weeks! I could use a change of scenery. (My boss is distraught, however.)

This is where I'll be:

It's hard to imagine a San Francisco before the Bay Bridge. But here it is, from 1929. And if you want to see how the bridge was built, check this out... it's really cool.

Yep, I'm having a staycation. One of those new dumbass phony words, right up there with play date and housemade.

Yep, I'm going to wear out my boots traipsing around town, and I'm sure I'll have lots of things to share with you. I just don't know what those things are going to be though. We'll both be surprised.

I have to admit that I was sad that I wasn't going to Paris like I had planned. I had hoped to spend some time with Tara, maybe swing over to catch up with Vanessa, and finagle a way to see Lala and Julochka. But the timing and the cash flow just aren't seeing eye to eye right now.

But given recent days here in my fair city, I think I'll find plenty of things to do.

I'm sure I'll do the cable car thing.

And it's not like we don't make our own fun around here, right?

***

I enjoyed an excerpt from this "Modern Guide to 'The City by the Golden Gate'":

“For women – suits, topcoats and small hats in the darker colors are appropriate. Light-weight apparel is seldom required. White shoes or slacks for street wear are not advised. For men – business suits, tweeds or conservative sports clothes are standard. White shoes, flannels or white formals are not in vogue.”

I will be sure to dress accordingly.

***

First travel poster available here.
Second travel poster available here.
I took that photo with the giant crazy legs on Haight Street (where else?). The cable car is on Powell Street.
Oh, and that vintage travel guide is from here.

And for the coolest time-travely site about San Francisco, check out Sparkletack. It's one of my faves and he has an amazing conglomeration of information for all San Francisco-ophiles.

***

ps.: I have a technical question for anyone who wishes to try to come to my rescue...
At home, I have an iMac running OS X 10.5.5 and for those of you bloggers who have the word verification text turned on for Blogger where the comment is embedded in the page, or Wordpres where there is a popup window (I know I'm confusing the hell out of you right now, sorry!), I can't see the gif to verify that I'm a human (I use Firefox but Safari does the same thing). Which means I can't comment on some of your blogs when I am at home, which is why you may have gotten an email from me with a pasted in comment. Or that you think I'm a diva who doesn't visit you. Because I do! I just can't say hi, especially if I don't have your email addy.

See how upset I am? It makes me feel like a slacker.

I can, however, comment from work, from a cheap crappy PC, but like I mentioned before, I won't be at work for two weeks. I tried going to some user forums and other people have the same problem, but I didn't see a solution posted.

So if someone can please help me out, that'd be super. Otherwise all of you out there can turn off your word verification for little ol' me.

ha ha. kidding.