just say it: hideous

there have been a couple times when i thought someone was playing a joke on me. times when i felt that art was construed just to see if the audience, or onlookers were naive enough to go for it, to pay for it, and to enjoy it. both times i felt that group behavior was at work, and that individuals lost their ability to think critically, to craft an opinion. i felt this way once at particular avant-garde jazz show, where i was certain the players were laughing uncontrollably after the curtain swung shut. (i admit i've been to many out jazz shows, and only one left me feeling this way.) i've also felt that way about fashion, about a certain type of shoes that are worn by kids, teens, adults, and grandparents. they're horridly ugly, and i'm certain that the person or persons behind the design are giggling their way to the bank.

back up: when my great auntie lee was quite ill and suffering from swollen feet, she had difficulty finding shoes that fit and were light enough for her to get around okay. someone--with love in her heart--gave her a pair of the aforementioned shoes, and auntie lee, appalled, refused to wear them. it's true, they met the qualifications she desired, except for one, very important characteristic: they were super ugly. i love it that even in auntie lee's last months she maintained her classy fashion sense, eschewing a pair of shoes that may have been practical, yet were clearly undignified. i admire her a whole lot.

a year in flickr

i'm amazed and perplexed by my friends and family who craft holiday cards that recreate an entire year of events. are their lives that eventful? do they live out the year, taking notes of things worthy of christmas card remembrances? or do they perhaps keep a calendar of these things, and consult it whilst putting pen to paper?

i don't do any of the above mentioned, but since i've lately been of the challenging ilk, here's my go of it:

2007: a walk down memory lane

JANUARY: my good friend hollis and i traipsed barefoot on near-empty kauai beaches. and... in T minus 9 days, we'll do it again!

FEBRUARY: our buddy lee lefever showed up on the scene for a fun, mildly raucous, and thought-provoking visit. mid-month, i left behind my flaneur lifestyle, and entered the world of the workaday set, happily joining the smart folks at techsoup. still happy after almost a year... :)

MARCH: ahhh, ¡España magnífica! david and i traveled to spain, and spent a magical week with friends, learning about food, drink, and history. it was an incredible trip!

APRIL: our good friends jay and anastasia came through san francisco to see old buddies, to catch up on the city's creperie scene, and to support jay's cousin's first novel (read it before the sequel hits!). wine stashes were depleted, new-to-us restaurants were enjoyed, and we now await their next visit.

MAY: this month comprised fun and bittersweet moments. first the fun: a communications conference was held in the city, which meant many colleagues, and most importantly, close friends, showed up in town. on one night, we hosted a dinner party, where we commingled past, present, and future friends. soon after, david and i flew to nebraska to see my sweet auntie lee, who at 94, was just beginning to experience health issues connected to terminal cancer. it was a bittersweet visit, one filled with laughter and tears. i miss her.

JUNE: a much awaited and celebrated visit from mom and dad! we had a terrific time, visiting what seemed like every corner of this urban playland, focusing on what mom and dad termed, "our san francisco."

JULY: a crazy-making and eventful month, we flew to vashon island to see lynne and chris make it official, turned eastward to attend a mini-family reunion, and then moved our belongings and kitty cat to our new pad.

AUGUST: we didn't fly anywhere and no one visited. :)

SEPTEMBER: i took a 2-week trip on a bookmobile!

OCTOBER: lynne and chris visit! as our second visitors to the new pad (mom beat them by 48 hours), they both enjoyed, and played a part in, the demise of our air mattress (public apology to them, and to jay b, who slept on our floor, twice).

NOVEMBER: i traveled to seattle and saw lynne and hollis, my stitch crew, and i met my dear friends' new family. AND, we got married. :)

DECEMBER: after the whirlwind of november, david and i chilled, mostly, in the city. we bought our first tree together, and are enjoying a relaxing holiday at home.

taking care

there's something about blue skies and the wide open ocean that offers solace and a hopeful perspective. i'm certain it has some relation to being raised in a land-locked state, and i'm certain that it really does mend my soul.

when i drove around the bend that offered the vast pacific in view, the familiar chills nabbed hold. when i wended up the rock face that defines the glorious highway one, i thought how auntie lee would've loved this view--or she would've loved hearing about it. she's only seen my hometown in pictures, and delighted in stories of the promised land that most midwesterners only visit.

nothing like a bright sunny day on a near-empty beach.

today i stared into shallow pools and watched an underwater world come to life. i also happened upon some very large harbor seals, and gained insight into their sunning and lumbering behaviors as they lurched toward the surf.

shooz.

buying shoes for a gift isn't easy.
nor is it a great idea.

unless the giftee is 94, classy, and yearns to look good in some nifty shoes while she lives out her last months.

i've admired my auntie lee's style since i was a little kid. i remember the first time i noticed her trendy liz claiborne outfits, impeccably complemented by her smart shoes, and impressively current for a woman living in the middle of the country.

i remember her encouraging me to try on her shoes, and giggling as i clomped around in her high heels. when i was a teenage, her shoes almost fit. once she gave me a pair, convinced i could wear them if i stuffed some kleenex in the toes.

it was just 2 years ago she downsized dramatically her impressive collection of 60. and now, suffering from swollen feet, she's having a hard time finding fashionable shoes that provide stability and can slip on and off with ease.

when she admired my shoes the other day, i had an idea. what if i bought her a stylish pair that met her specific criteria? with laptops and cell phones, my sister and i took to the task of finding our sweet auntie some shoes she can use.

our criteria took on labels: mary janes, velcro, lightweight, closed back, wide sole.

we mulled over conservative shoes, we considered deliciously irresponsible shoes, and we pro'd and conned. after much conversation, we found a pair. part conservative, part fun, and presumably usable, she gets them tomorrow.