Corks, Culture, and Coins.

I just returned from a little mini-holiday in San Francisco, California.  It was lovely there!  The people were friendly, the weather was spectacular and the city felt like a long lost friend.  

I was in San Francisco a few years ago and I remember thinking this was a place I could spend a lot of time at and maybe even call home.  The culture and people were so warm and the great restaurants and wine bars reminded me of what I wish my city was like.  We have 2 maybe 3 great districts with great food and culture - it feels like San Francisco is designed with these great venues on every corner!  

One evening I was laughing to myself because my friend and I wanted to find a Starbucks - we were shocked - there are very few around and the one we found on Ghirardelli square was closed at 8pm!!!! 

 However, they have TONS of these great cafe's that spill onto the streets.  The tables are full of locals and visitors sipping on great local wines from Northern California while enjoying the mid day sunshine or the warm evening air. 

 They might be sharing a plate of freshly made tapas or some wonderful late night snacks.  Most of their food is from local markets because they don't have to ship it in...  it is home grown!!  And because it is California they have an environmental concern on keeping things green and organic.  Very different than the frozen, then deep fried snacks we get here in Canada... 

One part of any city that size is the homeless population and those in poverty.  I know - my city has many shelters that are forced to turn people away from their doors because there just aren't enough beds. In Canada, that is a big deal because of our harsh winters but in California their mild temperatures make those searching for a place to sleep less desperate.  The panhandlers come out in full force around the touristy areas, around Union Square because of all the shopping.  Their presence can be a bit overwhelming and awkward for people who don't know how to respond to the steady line up of sketchy characters standing around in certain areas asking for change.  Some of them develop little gimmicks that try to catch people's attention.  One guy was sitting under a box that he had designed to look like a monster.  He would talk from under the box to passers by and move the cut out lips of the cube shaped monster...  it caught my attention because he just starts talking in character.  There are so many of these various street people who have a little schtick they perform to get a few bucks from those who feel they need to respond with a donation.  I guess the one thing that makes the experience less assaulting is that they don't harass you for money - usually they just have an old MacDonald's cup with a few pennies or nickels in it that they shake at you as you walk by. 

I thought I heard somewhere that there is a bylaw in California that says they cannot panhandle or ask for money directly or they can get a ticket or put in jail.  

Not sure on exactly what the law says but I heard some people talking about it the first time I visited the city.

I also thought some of the panhandlers were funny because they had no gimmick...  one guy asked the couple walking near us for money to buy drugs.  I didn't know if I should laugh because I think he was serious.  Later I saw this guy and I had to take a picture.  I tried not to make it obvious so my friend is standing in the sight line but the focus is him and his sign.

 If you can't read it - it says "Why lie, I want beer" - And I saw a few people slip him some cash just for his honesty.  I didn't know what to think...

Honestly, such a great trip.  I loved it - and after this trip I truly feel like I could live there.  

So fun - if you haven't gone - GO!  it is amazing.... or you can come next year - I think it will become an annual trip...  so start saving your American $$$.   The more the merrier!

Boot Camp in my Kenneth Cole shoes sipping my Grande 1-Pump Sugar-Free Vanilla, Nonfat Latte (Extra Foam, Extra Hot)

Training a dog isn't as simple as some people think.  Not all dogs respond the first time just like not all children learn the same way. I have been raising a German Shepherd X based on information provided from various sources including an 8 week doggy training school.  This obviously has not worked out as well as I would hoped since we are still having some simple obedience troubles.  Her behavior problems are nothing out of control but enough to make me frustrated at her stubborn nature.

It finally came to a breaking point and I needed some sort of intervention.

It was more than coincidence

that Brad Pattison, from the Television series End of My Leash on the Slice Network was holding a training seminar in my city.  I signed up immediately on www.bradpattison.com!

It was not what I was expecting but it exceeded what I was looking for.  Real practical tools I could use in my own home with my dog.  There was some sample ill-behaved dogs that he worked with to show us practical tools to take home and apply.  I was so thankful!! 

There was quite a bit of controversy over how he presented and the statements he made but that is Brad - he likes to ruffle feathers, maybe that is why I like him.  He isn't conventional but expects more than just the standard.  Tough guys that likes puppies - He won me over!

At the end of Saturday's seminar we were offered the option to return on Sunday to Starbucks on Whyte ave for some urban agility and other tools for having a dog among city life.  That was great!  Paris, my dog, was able to get involved in some real action and she did very well.  Although it was hard on the owners, running in deep snow, slaloming the light standards and trees, climbing up picnic tables, benches and around posts all with our dogs attached to our waists.  Brad calls it "umbilical training", I call it stressful!  She would go one way and I would go the other.  Tangled mess but by the end of the 20 minutes she followed me a lot closer!!  I was shocked at the difference in this period of time.

We then switched areas at which point Brad barked the order for all the owners to get down (on the pavement) and do 10 push-ups, someone complained and he yelled out "20!" I laughed but he was serious.  So, here I am in my cute cotton spring pants, black Kenneth Cole dress shoes that are full of snow from the drifts we had to run through earlier, on all four with my dog attached to my waist doing push ups in front of Starbucks/Chapters in one of the trendiest spots in town!!!  I must really like my dog and believe in this training because that is ridiuclous. 

Immediately after I was on a mission to make changes. 

I have been pleasantly surprised at how consistency is more important when it comes to certain things as well as teaching respect and re-positioning myself as the "alpha-role" in the house has changed our relationship immensely...

Brad is my hero - I had some good laughs with that guy.  I seriously would love to spend a day with him, he was pretty intense but seemed to have a great sense of humor.  It was good times.

On Brad's web site there were some great questions I was looking at and I thought I would use them as my next set of posts. Just for fun.

Trying to Recover... Just No Way.

I was telling some of my friends about a situation that occurred at work and they feel this is something that I need to share with all the others in my circle of friends...  I am still rather embarrassed by it but it is still pretty funny.  

So from the original email sent out to a few friends on Monday it has exploded into a silly story that I keep hearing - tell the story...  So instead of re-living it, I will just post it and refer future mockers to this site.  So without further explanation, I give you, my humiliation.

It was the start of a new work week, Monday, February 8, 2008.  I stopped in on the 3rd floor at the cafeteria at work to get my large Vanilla Hazelnut coffee.  The line up was short on this morning so I stirred my milk and sweetener and left the coffee area.  As I was rounding the corner with my cup-a-joe... I almost smashed into some guy who also was on his way for a morning kick start.  He was a short balding man in his mid/late 40's - sort of George Costanza resemblance...  So remove the potential of a romantic happy ending...  Although that would be a more interesting and fun story I would rather post.

Of course he becomes very apologetic for the near miss (thank goodness for lids!) and I search my vocabulary for something witty and light to say to minimize the awkwardness...  

The first words out of my mouth are... Hakuna matata....  since it is fresh from a conversation I had the night before with some friends. We were wondering why this phrase never made it into our everyday speech like the phrase "no worries" which according to the Disney movie the Lion King means the same thing.  

At this point he looks at me right in the eye and on the awkward scale this was off the charts...  

He says in reply "what?" with squinted eyes and a scrunched up nose. So I then have to repeat my humility and say Hakuna Matata....  

He says "what is that?"  straight faced - no smile....  In my uncomfortable state and an already red face - I break out in a little song "...it means no worries, for the rest of your days...." and I think my shoulders were even swaying to the beat in my head....  at this point I think he just wanted to beat my head with his fist!!!  

I just kept talking hoping I could salvage something from this moment - I explained "it's from Lion King - you know..." hoping he had kids that maybe would have enlightened him into this cultural influence that we call Disney...  He says "oh, I don't know that one."   

LOSER!  

I am feeling like the biggest idiot and not sure where to go from this point, so I just say - "well you'll have to rent it" and I reach to push the button for the elevator to escape this brutal scene.  

He says "You mean it's a movie?" - Where is this guy from???  How does he not know The Lion King??? I confirmed it is a movie just as the elevator doors open - I jump on and again apologize for almost smashing into him. 

As the elevator doors start to close he says - "Hakmata tuta"  Totally butchers it.... but it kills me and I try to hold my laughter until the doors completely close.  I burst out laughing out loud in the empty elevator once it starts moving thinking I am in the clear.... 

The elevator stops on the 8th floor and walk to my desk laughing to myself about what just happened. I re-play the events and think to myself that it was out of a bloopers comedy or something it was so ridiculous!   

A few minutes later another girl I work with comes to my desk and tells me that she was at the elevator doors back on the 3rd floor when it closed.  She totally could hear me laughing all the way up to the eighth floor....  

Which means - that guy - totally heard me too! 

I think they are going to start random drug tests at my work!!!  I am sure he thought I was crazy, quoting random phrases that apparently make no sense and laughing alone in the elevator not to mention the singing and dancing. Why do I have these things happen to me?? 

Oh well, I guess it makes life entertaining!