there is still a lot to tell about my trip, and i will have tons of pics to share, but i am definitely back in the "real world" now. i think that horrible trip back (7 gate changes, MUY multiple flight delays, an hour and a half on the runway, taking off in a lightning storm and pitching and yawing in the plane to the point of fear of death, need for sedatives and 'hunchie'* skwunch...) was symbolic of my being sucked back into the dark gravity of this place.** yeah. don't get me started.
so, good news is, i will be getting a part time employee here! i am sure that a lot of people will apply, but keep your fingers crossed because there is one candidate in particular that i am hoping for... we shall see.
in other good news, i got my grass cut and my weeds whacked! i was beginning to think it'd be cheaper (especially since i owe wendi a lawnmower now... moo.) to just buy some monkeys and parrots and get luna a tiger suit and charge tickets for the "Jungle Tour!" but some local kids gave me a fair price and cut it back enough that i am not too intimidated to work on the rest. yardwork sunday. whee. hopefully it will pay off in figs, though...
and to round off today's news, one of my volunteers brought me a lovely and very apt quote that i want to share with all of you. i need to remember this when i feel the gravity pull and begin to plot and plan my inevitable escape.
this was written by Rumi:
Conventional knowledge is death
to our souls, and it is not really ours.
We must become ignorant
of what we've been taught,
and be, instead, bewildered.
Run from what's profitable and comfortable.
If you drink those liqueurs, you'll
spill the springwater of your real life.
Forget safety.
Live where you fear to live.
Destroy your reputation.
Be notorious.
I have tried prudent planning
long enough. From now on,
I'll be mad.
*********
much love and notorious madness,
-sam
*'hunchie' is my beloved quasimodo rag doll who is the best substitute i've found for poor old foofoo, who is too elderly and fragile for travel or serious skwunches anymore. she is the queen of my 'swamp toys' collection. i need to take photos of all of them for y'all... the REAL island of misfit toys in in my bedroom. WHICH REMINDS ME! if you see a "scrump" doll cheap (under 15$, PLEASE buy it, i will pay you back! :)
**i definitely suit my birth elements of fire and water
Saturday, July 12, 2003
Thursday, July 10, 2003
‘binka binka bink-bink bink bink bee…’
After we left Emperor Norton’s grave in the beautiful Sunshine Garden (this was on Wednesday, a week and a day and a lifetime ago), we drove into San Francisco. Joe passed through the Mission district, so I could see some of the murals, and I did, but even better, I got to see some concentrated LIFE. We’d been in the hills and the suburbs, so the difference between those places and the Mission district (indeed, all of inner San Francisco) was like the difference between deep open sea and the riot of sheer existence that you get around reefs and thermal spouts. I was so amazed by seeing kosher delis, Asian restaurants, taqueria stands – and so on - altogether on one street. Oh, and every kind of person wearing every sort of style…we are so ‘narrow’ here!
There were antique cars of all sorts, polished to jewel gleam, bikes, motorcycles, skaters, and myriad pedestrians. There was art on every corner, and a jumble of sound and smells. Sam heaven!
We found a good parking spot and only had to walk a few blocks into the heart of Chinatown. My first treat was a small park, built under pagoda arches, and full of older Chinese men playing Xiangqi*. We stood and looked at our guidebooks (yes, we are all huge nerds) and then headed off. We stopped first in this beautiful lantern-hung street to shop for calligraphy. While I waited for my ink to dry I found a small Xiangqi set to make charms for the kids and some beautiful paper-cuts**. When I emerged onto the street, Joe and Ellie said that I could pick the lunch-spot. I’d read in my guidebook about a sort of hidden restaurant that was not frequented by tourists, was one of the best-kept secrets in Chinatown and was located under a Buddhist temple in an alley with some of the most beautifully painted balconies in the district. All true. The ‘Pot Sticker’ was small and very un-“Chinese restaurant”-y. It also looked like it was favored mainly by locals and Chinese folks. They had dim sum on the menu to please Ellie, and the back page was full of enough “gross stuff” to make Joe and I happy.*** We ordered those buns I see in all my favorite movies – and now I see why those guys are always fighting over them. Oh my god! Steamed barbecue pork buns, y’all! mmmMMmMmmM! We had some other dishes, soup, fish, chicken, rice. Everything was very fresh, no msg, not much salt… it was fantastic. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, the “Starlite Musical Review” kicked into full swing. A group of older Chinese folks downstairs, in this great little mirrored lounge with a dance floor, were singing karaoke and playing some traditional Chinese instruments along with the cd’s. ‘Chinese opera mainly, but we were also treated to lovely renditions of (turn your volume up!)“Guantanamera" and “Que Sera Sera”. You just had to be there. After we ate, we went downstairs to join them. Joe and Ellie danced, and I tried… they were very nice to us – we “Glamour Gals” and “Handsome Men”. I think Mr. David Lee (on the Gouzhen, ladies and gentlemen!) was preparing an offer of marriage.
After that we had the energy and the spirit to shop to my heart’s content. I bought lots of little prezzies, lanterns, chopsticks – things I would want. I treated myself to a GORGEOUS black silk-velvet mandarin jacket with embroidered red medallions and frogs (reversible with an embroidered plum satin lining) as well as some navy silk mandarin dress-jammies. I went to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory and into some of the VERY odd apothecaries and teashops. Joe and Ellen were unbelievably patient with me and my shopping. I know that I am loved.
I found one especially wonderful surprise in one of the big touristy shops. All the shops have Bruce mementos of every description, but we turned the corner and Ellie said “Sam! Jet!” and there he was, emblazoned on a silk banner. I went into the shop, and hanging there among the paper dragons, lanterns, lion-heads, coolie hats and Bruce posters, were several Wong Fei Hong and Wushu Kid banners. So what? So has there ever – in the history of American Cinema and its love of Chinese action - been another man worthy to hang beside Bruce? No other martial artist, in all this time has been popular enough to make his way into American hearts and Chinese shops – until Jet Li. I was as proud as a mama bear! Bo may know football, but SAM KNOWS ACTION HOTTIES! J
We slipped into Little Italy for a cappuccino and tiramsu break, and then dipped back into Chinatown for some more shopping and photo ops. I was feeling a little heartbroken about missing the annual lion dance competition that was happening on Saturday, and then just as we were headed down to the wharf, a troupe of young dancers and their lions appeared in the street. The Leung White Cranes, to be precise, and they treated me to pictures and peace signs.
We went to see the Golden Gate Bridge – well, the end of it that wasn’t shrouded in fog. I saw Alcatraz, and a pirate ship. Joe treated us to Irish coffees and then we walked down the street to an excellent seafood place on the docks. A perfect day. Memories of colors and smells and smiles that I hope I will never forget. I wore the necklace that Mrs. Carr gave me, which her husband Joe made. It is made of red and white beads, and a yellow mah jong tile that says “fah”. That means ‘prosperity’. Several of the folks in Chinatown commented on it. I thanked them, and hoped that my smile told them that I was very prosperous indeed.
Much love and fah,
-Sam
p.s. I’m warning y’all, there are buckets of pics on the way to illustrate all of these magic moments! Photo gallery to be updated soon!
*the Mandarins pronounce this ‘Shang Chi’ and the Cantonese say ‘Junk Kay’. It is Chinese chess, played with pretty wooden discs.
**no, I did not pay someone to whack me with a playing card ala jackass… they are pieces of paper intricately cut into pictures.
***guys, I figured it out. “bran card” MUST have meant “bean curd”. I hope it did. I still have no clue about the fish jelly though. Eee.
After we left Emperor Norton’s grave in the beautiful Sunshine Garden (this was on Wednesday, a week and a day and a lifetime ago), we drove into San Francisco. Joe passed through the Mission district, so I could see some of the murals, and I did, but even better, I got to see some concentrated LIFE. We’d been in the hills and the suburbs, so the difference between those places and the Mission district (indeed, all of inner San Francisco) was like the difference between deep open sea and the riot of sheer existence that you get around reefs and thermal spouts. I was so amazed by seeing kosher delis, Asian restaurants, taqueria stands – and so on - altogether on one street. Oh, and every kind of person wearing every sort of style…we are so ‘narrow’ here!
There were antique cars of all sorts, polished to jewel gleam, bikes, motorcycles, skaters, and myriad pedestrians. There was art on every corner, and a jumble of sound and smells. Sam heaven!
We found a good parking spot and only had to walk a few blocks into the heart of Chinatown. My first treat was a small park, built under pagoda arches, and full of older Chinese men playing Xiangqi*. We stood and looked at our guidebooks (yes, we are all huge nerds) and then headed off. We stopped first in this beautiful lantern-hung street to shop for calligraphy. While I waited for my ink to dry I found a small Xiangqi set to make charms for the kids and some beautiful paper-cuts**. When I emerged onto the street, Joe and Ellie said that I could pick the lunch-spot. I’d read in my guidebook about a sort of hidden restaurant that was not frequented by tourists, was one of the best-kept secrets in Chinatown and was located under a Buddhist temple in an alley with some of the most beautifully painted balconies in the district. All true. The ‘Pot Sticker’ was small and very un-“Chinese restaurant”-y. It also looked like it was favored mainly by locals and Chinese folks. They had dim sum on the menu to please Ellie, and the back page was full of enough “gross stuff” to make Joe and I happy.*** We ordered those buns I see in all my favorite movies – and now I see why those guys are always fighting over them. Oh my god! Steamed barbecue pork buns, y’all! mmmMMmMmmM! We had some other dishes, soup, fish, chicken, rice. Everything was very fresh, no msg, not much salt… it was fantastic. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, the “Starlite Musical Review” kicked into full swing. A group of older Chinese folks downstairs, in this great little mirrored lounge with a dance floor, were singing karaoke and playing some traditional Chinese instruments along with the cd’s. ‘Chinese opera mainly, but we were also treated to lovely renditions of (turn your volume up!)“Guantanamera" and “Que Sera Sera”. You just had to be there. After we ate, we went downstairs to join them. Joe and Ellie danced, and I tried… they were very nice to us – we “Glamour Gals” and “Handsome Men”. I think Mr. David Lee (on the Gouzhen, ladies and gentlemen!) was preparing an offer of marriage.
After that we had the energy and the spirit to shop to my heart’s content. I bought lots of little prezzies, lanterns, chopsticks – things I would want. I treated myself to a GORGEOUS black silk-velvet mandarin jacket with embroidered red medallions and frogs (reversible with an embroidered plum satin lining) as well as some navy silk mandarin dress-jammies. I went to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory and into some of the VERY odd apothecaries and teashops. Joe and Ellen were unbelievably patient with me and my shopping. I know that I am loved.
I found one especially wonderful surprise in one of the big touristy shops. All the shops have Bruce mementos of every description, but we turned the corner and Ellie said “Sam! Jet!” and there he was, emblazoned on a silk banner. I went into the shop, and hanging there among the paper dragons, lanterns, lion-heads, coolie hats and Bruce posters, were several Wong Fei Hong and Wushu Kid banners. So what? So has there ever – in the history of American Cinema and its love of Chinese action - been another man worthy to hang beside Bruce? No other martial artist, in all this time has been popular enough to make his way into American hearts and Chinese shops – until Jet Li. I was as proud as a mama bear! Bo may know football, but SAM KNOWS ACTION HOTTIES! J
We slipped into Little Italy for a cappuccino and tiramsu break, and then dipped back into Chinatown for some more shopping and photo ops. I was feeling a little heartbroken about missing the annual lion dance competition that was happening on Saturday, and then just as we were headed down to the wharf, a troupe of young dancers and their lions appeared in the street. The Leung White Cranes, to be precise, and they treated me to pictures and peace signs.
We went to see the Golden Gate Bridge – well, the end of it that wasn’t shrouded in fog. I saw Alcatraz, and a pirate ship. Joe treated us to Irish coffees and then we walked down the street to an excellent seafood place on the docks. A perfect day. Memories of colors and smells and smiles that I hope I will never forget. I wore the necklace that Mrs. Carr gave me, which her husband Joe made. It is made of red and white beads, and a yellow mah jong tile that says “fah”. That means ‘prosperity’. Several of the folks in Chinatown commented on it. I thanked them, and hoped that my smile told them that I was very prosperous indeed.
Much love and fah,
-Sam
p.s. I’m warning y’all, there are buckets of pics on the way to illustrate all of these magic moments! Photo gallery to be updated soon!
*the Mandarins pronounce this ‘Shang Chi’ and the Cantonese say ‘Junk Kay’. It is Chinese chess, played with pretty wooden discs.
**no, I did not pay someone to whack me with a playing card ala jackass… they are pieces of paper intricately cut into pictures.
***guys, I figured it out. “bran card” MUST have meant “bean curd”. I hope it did. I still have no clue about the fish jelly though. Eee.
