The Chocolate Marauder

Jack enjoys dispensing tips on
how to bake a better batter!

Sutro Sunset

I'm almost never on the city side of the bridge anymore, but I just happened to be driving past the site of the old Sutro Baths the other night as the sun was setting over the Golden Gate. I've always adored this place, its history and mystery, and would have loved to have seen Sutro Baths in its heyday, before it burned down. But then again, the building would have blocked this view...

(Re:) Introducing Coco's Kitchen

Coco's Kitchen was introduced without fanfare a couple of months ago in the sidebar, but more and more people are wondering where the recipes went; well, here they are. This is our archive of tried-and-true favorites from the family pantry, please visit and let us know what you think. Hope you're hungry!

Cross Training

My brother Jonathan took this picture of Wynham up in the Santa Cruz mountains a few weeks ago, and it's a pretty good snapshot of Wynham's life philosophy: Hey guys! Let's lie down in front of a train and see what happens! It also reminds me of a poem my Grandfather continues to entertain us with every chance he gets (by coincidence, I asked him to tell it to me when I saw him in April, so that I could write it down and remember it...):

There was a man named Andy Bline

There was a man named Andy Bline
who hung three red shirts out on a line.
He bought a goat at his expense
and tied him to the backyard fence.
That goat got loose in plenty of time
and ate those three red shirts right off the line.
Andy Bline got mad and said,
“I wish to goodness that goat was dead!”
He took him down to the railroad track
and tied him fast upon his back.
In the distance came a fast express
and you can probably guess the rest…
but that goat had a scheme back in his brain –
he coughed up those three red shirts and flagged the train!

I'm sure Wynham has a plan in the back of his mind, too; I just don't know what it is yet...

Indy is Back!

Yup, call me a pushover. Today is the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and yes, somehow my teenagers convinced me that it was essential to be there at 12:01am this morning to be among the first to see the long-awaited return of Indy to the big screen.

My acquiescence might be due in part to the fact that I was already running on a sleep deficit yesterday (four hours of sleep the night before) when they began hounding me to take them to the middle-of-the-night opening. Then they pulled a trump card: "Hey, your mom used to take you to Krispy Kreme in your pajamas at midnight for hot donuts and a cold carton of milk..." Well, that didn't take two and a half hours and usually happened on weekends, but I was already caving in anyway.

Probably the real reason I agreed to take them is that I've always adored Indiana Jones and all the kitschy slapstick. The clincher is surely Harrison Ford himself -- even Chloe says he's "hot" -- in a role that no one else could ever do. Whatever shortcomings the critics may hang on this sequel, there's still enough to thrill die hard Indy aficionados.

But the best part of all is that I've been dubbed the "Coolest Mom in The Universe" for taking them to the movies when all their friends were wisely sound asleep. I'm probably entitled to that moniker until at least the end of the school day this afternoon. And then I'm going to take a nap.

I'm Gonna Wash That Fish Right Outta My Hair

Fingerling Salmon and little fingers make for a bit of a stink...
(Soap and water are a mother's best friend!)

Somethin' Fishy's Goin' On

Yesterday was the Tiburon Salmon Institute's third annual "Kiss and Release" event, which was held right down at the bottom of our hill in Blackie's Pasture. Claire's been excited about it for days, and on the way down the hill she said "I can't wait to go eat salmon... I mean... I mean..." as a look of horror crosses her face. " We know what you meant, honey, it's OK.

There's a Native American blessing performed on the one thousand Chinook Salmon Fingerlings before their release into Richardson Bay. The children each get a small bucket into which is carefully placed a tiny fish, and then the kids all get to release their fish into the water. Jack was happy about all the proceedings until it was time to actually let the fish go. "NO!" he said, "I can't! I just can't -- I wuv 'im!"

While that drama was unfolding, Wynham was being quizzed by a local reporter from KRON for the evening news, where he will be immortalized for the following interview response: "It's just a great experience for, like, helping fish out in the wild, basically." Proof that you should never fish and tell...

Funday

Who says church can't be a hoot? Wynham recently volunteered to take part in the weekly puppet show that's held in our parish hall before Sunday services, and by the looks of it, it's all fun and games for him and his friend, David.

I Spy

I spy a daddy who loves his children who love him just as much right back. I spy a boy and girl so full of wonder, who understand that "believing is seeing" and not the other way around. I spy a rarity: a few quiet minutes together. I spy a fleeting moment, gone too soon.

Visual Poetry

Sometimes, in the course of an ordinary day, I'll open my eyes and by surprised by the beauty of my surroundings -- some stunning aspect of architecture or a tiny flower growing out of a crack in the sidewalk. Because I drive by the Marin Civic Center so often, I tend to take for granted the amazing style of this building, designed in the 1950s by Frank Lloyd Wright. I was headed for the parking lot, reviewing the grocery list in my head, when I suddenly looked up and felt I just had to take a picture. I know there are much better, more interesting photos of this building; this was simply my own personal Kodak moment. As Flaubert would remind us, "There is not a particle of life that does not carry poetry within it..."

Toothy Or Not Toothy

Toothy on not toothy, that is is question Claire decided to answer by biting down on a cardboard box on Wynham's birthday. I never found out why she was trying to eat that package, but I can tell you she was very brave as I yanked out her dangling incisor. She was quite proud to have finally achieved this particular rite of passage; I'm sure her cheeks got sore from grinning so much...

Teen Talent

Wynham did an amazing job in the supporting role of Chad in High School Musical -- he crooned, he clowned around, he ad-libbed brilliantly when somebody missed her cue -- he's obviously got theater in his veins (hmm, wonder where he got that...). A large group of us went to see the show on the night of Wynham's 13th birthday, and you could tell that he was really having a good time. The evening was topped off by a stunning and creative cake made by our friend, Michele Mason, who manages Sweet Things Bakery. What a way to celebrate!