One bucket only

As part of cleaning the bathroom, I patched up a small area of grout with sealant just below the waterspout. On the following day after a run, I wanted to shower, but I didn’t want to disturb the sealant, as it hadn’t quite cured. So I proceeded to fill a two-gallon bucket with warm water, placed it in the bathtub and washed my body using an empty yogurt tub. It felt so primitive and basic to affuse two pintfuls of water to wet my body, lather my head and body and rinse off with the remaining water. I didn’t actually need the entire two-gallons and was surprised to see how little water I really needed. A bucket may become a permanent fixture in my bathroom. 

Sunset Beach, Watsonville

I was hoping that a weekend camping trip in Santa Cruz would be warmer than the cool foggy weather we've been having in San Francisco.  While Friday evening was gorgeous, Saturday was overcast and Sunday we woke up to damp fog. But the warmth was created by friends who had chosen to gather, to share food, to play and to pray, to bless Rosie and regale in each others' company. We created our own sun.

Strangers in the Pix

While waiting to go in the Orpheum to see "Wicked", Paloma asked me to take a photo of her family with the advertising poster. I was waiting for people to pass by when a set of women asked to be in the photo. While I was taken aback, I responded, "OK," and they got in the picture. I thought it was charming and forward of them and open of us to cooperate. So now we have a picture with strangers posing with us. 

Paloma says we should be so forward and ask strangers to be in their photographs.

I suggested we give the strangers names so when friends and family ask, "Who are these people?" we have names.

Sleeping Beauty

The other day I was walking on Market St. and found a man sleeping so peacefully and beautifully that on a second pass I decided to capture this sleeping beauty.

Samovar

A lovely tradition is to set aside space

with a special person in a specific place

to share drinks & treats, words & feats;

But the encounter, in essence, is to enjoy each other's presence.

I can't remember. I'm sorry.

--Kara

Wicked Tix, Parking Tix

Last week I drove downtown to see about the availability to get tickets to “Wicked” at the Orpheum. I parked on Mission St. off of 8^th St. where there were construction sign boards stating “No Parking. Mon-Sat 7:00 am to 4:00”. Since it was 3:55 pm, I thought it would be safe and put quarters for about 40 minutes of parking time into meter and went about my errands.

 When I came back, I saw my car was gone. What happened? This is not what I needed. Did the tow truck come by and tow my car within the 5 minutes remaining to 4 o’clock? Then I noticed the No Parking sign from 4-7:00 pm as the parking spaces became a traffic lane. How could I have missed it?  This is not what I needed. Stupid. 

I called the number on the sign and fortunately my car had been towed to a place only four blocks away on 7^th and Harrison.  I walked there and paid the towing charge: $273. And there was a parking ticket on my windshield of my car: $73. For a grand total of $346—this is not what I needed. 

But what was disturbing were the number of people who were also picking up their towed cars. Rather than feeling good not to be the only forgetful, stupid person, I was troubled by the continuous steady stream of people who were there to pick up their autos. At any one time from the time I arrived to the time I paid to the time I left, there were at  least four people at the pick up gate. Is there that many people who left their cars in No Parking Zones? The City and AutoReturn, the towing service, must be making good money on all this forgetfulness.