Obvious as it is, eating better actually works. I've been roasting a lot of vegetables in many colors and gradually learning to fend for myself in the kitchen. We have a fabulously laid-out kitchen here, it is imperative to put it to use.
Friends still talk about how our last kitchen in San Francisco had one drawer. The house had its charms, but nobody made the kitchen functional in 103 years. That one drawer was over-painted wood and it stuck, so I only put candles and matches in it. People would open it, expecting to find knives or forks, and just shake their heads at the absurdity.
Not anymore. Now we have cabinets with nothing in them but air. I even discovered 2 cupboards in the guest bathroom under the sink, "These are doors? And shelves?"
And now, back to my greek yogurt + honey that's so good, sometimes I can't believe it.
Here's last year's jack o' lantern from a Halloween party at the workplace. See the South of Market brick and windows?
To figure out my carving, I was inspired by some insane "lace" jack o' lantern images found via Martha Stewart. How did they do it? Lasers? They're fabulous!
Since we no longer live on a crime-y San Franciscan street with 3 registered sex offenders (yes, Nick once sent me the map of their addresses) we'll consider handing out treats in Austin this year.
We have a pedestrian-friendly well-lit entry from the street, so it's a safe be that people will be dinging our doorbell. And since we keep classic fun-sized candies in the man room anyway, Halloween could be doing us a favor.
Conversely, there's some parade going on downtown and I'm told that in Austin, you can actually wear a costume without covering it up with a big old coat. Who knew? Maybe we'll do both.
My visit to San Francisco was a sweet, jam-packed week that started with a parking ticket (you're welcome City of SF, you've always been good to me!) and ended with me empyting out a storage space that we never needed and didn't know it.
In between was a brief yacht club hang session, the wedding that Nick officiated at the Presidio Chapel with a lovely reception at the The Golden Gate Club that's built just below the chapel. It was all so beautiful and the weather complied.
As always, there is never enough time to do all that you wanted to do and see everyone that you wanted to see -- but I got in some precious hangtime with my nearest and dearest -- and that means so much.
Upon arrival, I headed to Baker Beach, and just like the last time I was there, I spotted a tanned, naked Gerard Depardieu-type standing around on the sand.
And the first place I took Nick to when he landed (at SFO the day after me) was Farolito for quesadillas and that green hot sauce that I often think about, regardless of where I am. Nick thinks that the secret to it is cucumber.
But the biggest suprise was me not having to "hit the reset button" upon arriving at the Austin-Bergstrom Int'l. airport. I was happy to be home and happy to keep exploring my life here, where I left off.
And now, a long hot bath in my even longer jacuzzi tub.
