Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Smile UR B - E - A - U- Tiful!

Ever since Seattle, a city which, as far as I could tell, seems to work in every way the Bay Area doesn't, I've been paradoxically looking around me and wondering is it really so bad where I live? Sometimes I'll catch a glimpse of something, a view, charming storefronts...or interesting locals going about their lives and I'll feel something close to affection for the place I live in. For example, Saturday morning, while sketching in Starbuck's, I saw this adorable scene...This Starbuck's, by the way, my neighborhood Starbuck's, always has clean bathrooms. They also serve super strong small batch coffees, as good as anything I tried in Seattle. And they've begun carrying Top Pot donuts!

Next to the mother and child above sat these gentlemen... And when I saw the one in the red shirt, I thought, it's Butler and the Bagman! Butler and the Bagman! But I doubt he speaks in a thick Russian accent. Though he might, during a chess game, try to psyche his opponent out by saying stuff (without the accent) like, uh-oh! Do you really vant to do dat? I don't tink so. I tink you are making a mistake. Uh-oh!

Goldfinger in Dolores Park Saturday night, with downtown SF and the bay bridge in the distance.
Afterwards, raucous, wild North Beach again. There is always a platoon of policemen here standing by just in case...And this weekend, a ship load of US Navy men, too...
L. and I were daring each other to approach one of these guys for a dance. We had been talking earlier about seizing opportunities despite the possibility of making mistakes and getting hurt because someone L. works with wants to set her up on a blind date. But in high school, I remember - High school!!!? High school!!!? L. just because something happened in the past doesn't mean it'll happen again! I reminded her how, for the past few years, she has gone from safe and shy to the sort of woman who gets firemen's phone numbers in night clubs. And even though the next step in her evolution (and mine) is a much scarier and riskier one she couldn't stop now or who knew how long it would take for her to get back to this point. So naturally in the night club we were daring each other to seize the opportunity. We didn't. More to the point, I didn't. It's so much easier being the approached rather than the approacher. And L. being wonderful L. didn't rub it in after all my don't give in to fear now talk.

Free Father's day concert in Golden Gate Park featuring Sugar Ray, Matt Nathanson, Parachute and Gavin Rossdale... I took this photo after sneaking into the VIP section to take advantage of the covered tables and chairs. (Why not?) You think the guy with the guitar is a rock star?Interesting locals...After the concert I wandered around Haight Street. It's been a while since I played tourist here. One thing that always strikes me about it are it's interesting and bedraggled collection of surly youths such as the dreadlocked one below who demanded money after I snapped her photo. I told her on my return, meaning of course, I'd be sure to walk on the other side of the street on the way back. Another surly youth made fun of the size of my bee-hind and his pot smoking companion told him he was a jerk in the sort of tone that implied he was not at all a jerk but the coolest guy he knows. But it's not what the surly youth said that hit me like a wad of spit between the eyes. It was his sense of being offended by my appearance. Yes, I thought, I do have a well rounded back side. And I've always rather liked it. My voluptuousness, I like to think, makes up for my teeny weeny-ness. And here was this jerk telling me my J. Lo-esque ass offended him. I'm laughing now but, oh boy, for a moment there I felt, like I said before, like I'd been spit on. But before I had a full on tantrum I remembered what I'd been telling L. the night before. (This time I'd walk the talk, I said to myself.) There will always be people who judge without kindness. Some will intentionally try to wound. But you can't let that keep you from fully experiencing your life. A wonderful life is worth risking a bruised ego once in a while.

And, as if to make sure I didn't back-slide into negativity, I caught sight of this on my way back to my car.... How can I not love the place I call home?

36 comments:

  1. What a fantastic post. The photos are wonderful - you live in such a strange and wonderous place. I get comments from young men sometimes and it's still horrible to me, despite knowing they are doing it out of their own sense of insecurity. You ARE Beautiful! Shake that thing, girl.

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  2. Great post and Canadians love Seattle too!! As for the bee-hind thing, don't give it another thought. My daughter is slim, with a rounded one and men always think they have a right to comment on it!! She usually has a witty come back!! But really it's none of our business what others say about us....now just keep reading that side walk sign....because many men LOVE LOVE LOVE....rounded rears!!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  3. Hee, hee, thanks ladies. can't believe I'm discussing my bee-hind on such a public forum, but yes, no tiny flat butt for me! But oh! I do wish I'd come up with a witty come back. But those are the kind of comments one just doesn't expect. I've been insulted before, for sure, but not in a long, long while. And, really, what kind of lowly, cretinous belly crawling creep tries to feel better about themselves at the expense of another person. Low, very low. Oh, getting on a negative roll here....I love my lovely round ass. The end.

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  4. Heyy!:)
    I like your photos very much!such a great feeling is in them!I like photography too!I like to show the "life" in my photos.will come again :)
    all the best
    shiva

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  5. Great post, Cheryl! So full of wisdom and insights. Every place has its light and dark. There is so much inspiration in these images. As for the carpe diem moment ... sometimes, it's better just to stand back, observe, and go with the flow. Instinctively, you know which opportunities are worth pursuing. :-) Have a lovely lovely day. xx

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  6. What a lovely tribute to your city! Love the photos, and I can see exactly why you love the place you call home! :-)

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  7. You have a real knack for bringing a place to life. I like that you take and post pics of offbeat and off the beaten path places, then add personal commentary that give your readers an inside look. I feel like a voyeur, but in a good way (teehee). Like the proverbial fly on the wall. I always look forward to reading and seeing your posts!

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  8. what a scene!!! and i bet the navy dudes would have been giddy beyond belief if you had asked them to dance! but i couldn't do that either! :)

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  9. Hi! First of all thanks for your comments on my blog, what a lovely surprise on the return from my holiday. :)

    Your photography work with people is superb. Especially the photo in Starbucks, you captured every thing: the cutie aspect and the onlookers and dad reading paper, I know how difficult it is to have a shot all come together like that.

    I have been on holiday trying to capture 'people' photos and as soon as they see the camera they turn shy and walk away. On the other hand, when I was framing up architecture and scenic shots people walked in front of my camera. I have got to say it was making me mad. I haven't evaluated how my photos have turned out yet but hope to get up a few posts soon.

    As for your 'ass', I once received a comment, that I had a black white ass and I take that to be the best commpliment I have ever received in my life. Men love curves. But at the end of the day who cares anyway.

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  10. You are so lucky to live in SF. I always loved it there, it's all so wild and wonderful.
    I'm sure your behind is quite lovely, too.

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  11. Beautiful times at coffee shops... nice
    Free Golden Gate Park concert... nice
    Interestingly colorful locals... nice
    Jackass and loser friend....... not so nice

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  12. I loved the pictures! You live in a beautiful place. But the surly jerk needs take a long walk of a short pier. Curves rule.

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  13. So, what you call home is a mixture of Alameda and SF? If you have the opportunity to stroll along North Beach and Haight Street and... I believe you should not have much to complain about!

    I really enjoyed reading this post, nicely written and expressing so much of your mood!

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  14. This is such a fantastic post. I love how you brought your tourist eye back home with you to SF. It seems as if you fell in love with SF all over again. Ignore the surly youths and read the writing on the sidewalk. You are beautiful!!

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  15. It looks like a fab place and your photos are great, I love them x

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  16. Nice post... I love what you find when you open your eyes and take a look around.

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  17. Hey ! Thanks for the great book blog link. If you hear of any others I'd love to know about them. cheers from the Gang at Black Street

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  18. HI Shiva, thanks, I look forward to seeing your photography. Your illustrations are wonderful! All the best to you, too.

    HI Carol Anne, That's a good point. If I'd felt an inner knowing that this would have been worth pursuing, I would have gone for it no matter what, even if I do feel a bit out of practice in that regard. They were there to dance after all, and so were we. And also a good point about every place having its light and dark. I think that's what makes the Bay Area such a rich and interesting place to live in. There's so much of everything here, a lot of bad to be sure, but so many wonderful things too. I should focus on them rather than what I wish were different.

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  19. Hi Afternoon Tea Break, thanks! I really appreciate that.

    Hi Embee, and I really appreciate your appreciation, too! It's such a relief to know others can see what I'm trying to convey. I was hoping these photos weren't just interesting to me! And thank you for keeping up with my posts! I can't tell you how much that means to me. You can be a fly on my wall anytime!

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  20. HI drollgirl, oh...it would have been interesting if I had, just to see what would happen. They were awfully cute!

    Hi Sharon, gosh thank you so much! I really appreciate that. I love photography. It keeps me in the habit of seeing. But, I miss a great deal more than I capture. It can be really frustrating at times, but then I'll catch a really good one, like the baby one in Starbuck's and it makes up for what I miss. I think a quicker camera might help. Mine is getting a bit worn.

    And you're so right about not caring about other people's opinions. I don't as much as I used to. There was a time such a comment like that would have kept me down for days. But, a black white ass?...Never heard of that term. Hmmm...

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  21. Hi Dedene, (blushing) hee, hee, hee....and thank you, I am beginning to truly appreciate how wonderful it is here.

    Hi David, jackass and loser friend, oh! wish I'd thought to use those terms! Perfect.

    Dutch Donut Girl, thanks! It is a beautiful place. I hope I remember that next time I start to complain about it. And YES!!!! Curves rule.

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  22. Hi Peter, I guess I consider home wherever I spend most of my time, which would be Alameda, where I actually live, and SF, where I spend most of my leisure time. And thanks! That's a truly great compliment. All I hope for is for others to enjoy what I post here. Thanks!

    Hi La Belette Rouge, You know, I think I did bring my tourists eye back with me. It's never happened before though, wonder why now? Maybe because Seattle and SF have a lot of similarities. Still, oh, Seattle...Seattle...

    Writing on the sidewalk, wasn't that so..meant to be? Like the city of SF was saying, oh, don't even go there, girl.

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  23. Hi Sally & Shanster, thanks! I'm really glad you liked them. Makes it all worth it.

    Hi Susan, no problem! I love that sight. Haven't followed any of her recommendations yet, but I have revised my book wishlist thanks to her help.

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  24. Hey it looks like a super great trip around your town. It's fun to place tourist in a place where you live- looks like so much fun!

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  25. omg i need to move here. fl is so boring!

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  26. Another interesting and entertaining post. Love the pics and dialogue that accompanies them. Kudos and thanks.

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  27. All of us flat butts would love to have some of your tush!! Wear it proudly-curves do finally rule! I love this post about your home-wonderful. Wish I could visit. I was born in Albany...many moons ago...think it's somewhere around there. Great post, pictures and insights!

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  28. Love the word voluptuous; like to describe myself as that sometimes! Great photos and a very interesting post. I like to play tourist in my local villages occasionally, but in the summer time they get so busy I tend to avoid them!

    CJ xx

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  29. Hi Maggie, it is fun, and yay! tomorrow I get to play tourist again in yet another part of this regions, Sonoma County.

    Hi Awesome Sarah, boring? With WDW and Miami so close? Unless your not into Mickey Mouse theme parks...

    Thanks Theresa, thanks that really means a lot to me. It's great motivation to keep my creative gears constantly going.

    Hi LDWatkins, hee, hee, good advice! Hope you do visit one day. Albany, yes, it's pretty close by, just past Oakland and Emeryville. Great downtown with great little bookstores there.

    Hi Crystal Jigsaw, thanks, me too. Though I wouldn't mind losing five/ten pounds, I don't hate my extra pounds either. And I would love to play tourist in your part of the world!

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  30. Wonderful walk through your town!
    I loved everything, the coffeehouse and the street scenes (those legs! *giggle*), the curious looking people, your sense of humor (yes, go kick that bee-behind guy!)! :-)

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  31. I love the pictures of the locals and Haight Street, makes me want to go out with my camera and take some snaps.
    It's as if the message on the sidewalk was written there just for you too! Lovely town you live in!

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  32. Hi Cheryl! Thanks for your comment on my blog re. your positive take on blurred heads. This made me smile, this positivity is a sign of a true artist. :)

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  33. I had a stopover in Seattle when I went to Vegas once. I wish I saw more of the city than its airport's smoking area now.

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  34. Thanks for becoming a follower of the cafe, http://mypersonalcafe.blogspot.com/, returning the favor!
    T.

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  35. The photos are all interesting!Specially the third one from down!It is like Gulliver in Lilliput! ;)

    Have a nice week
    Parisa

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  36. Funny, I just took a similar photo of the street signs in North Beach a little earlier in the evening. I do like going to San Francisco to visit.

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