Guruji

The set; SSRS and Krasny

We ended our trip on Saturday with a talk from international guruji Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (not to be confused with the sitarist) at the Nob Hill Masonic Center - the ultimate California experience. You can imagine our reaction when we entered the theater and saw this set: A massive orange flower set in front of a starry light backdrop (whoa!). Michael Krasny led an interview with the guru. It was great to see Krasny, host of the beloved Forum on NPR, in real life. He asked SSRS questions mostly about his global humanitarian work and then took questions from the audience. SSRS satisfies the guru aesthetic in his long beard and white robe. He answered Krasney's questions thoughtfully; he seemed to ooze an enlightened energy. SSRS then led the room in some of his meditation exercises. At one point the entire audience was chanting; it reverberated beautifully in the acoustics of the auditorium. I was really impressed with SSRS and his philosophies. He didn't seem to be pedaling any gimmicks. I have to say I agreed with more or less everything he said. I am thinking of taking a course with his organization. What is this state doing to me??

Here are two videos of SSRS so you can see for yourself:

A Trip in Golden Gate Park

Phillip and I went on an adventure on Saturday afternoon since I am going to be out of town for the next couple of weekends (CO this weekend then NY/TX/FL for the following two). We started off at the entrance to Golden Gate Park in Haight-Ashbury and trekked the three and a half miles through the park to where it ends at the Pacific Ocean.

We first saw the flowers at the Conservatory. We went see the outdoor sculptures at the de Young. We walked though the Botanical Garden. Here we saw the strangest sight of the day: Real grown-ups pretending to be horses in a sort of fetish play (apparently called Pony Play). I had heard of this practice but to see it in real life was something else. There were about ten adults picnicking, half dressed in elaborate horse costumes, lead or ridden by plain-clothed friends. We spied on them a bit then continued past Stow Lake to the Buffalo Paddok. I was hopping to get really close to the buffalo but they were far back from the fences. It was really stange to see such beasts in the middle of a city park. I cant imagine something like this in New York. We paused at the Dutch Windmill and emerged at the coastline. I felt like the champion of Oregon Train! We continued along the beach, blowing in the wind, up to the ruins of Sutro Baths. It is beautiful and creepy.



Conservatory of Flowers; a carnivorous plant


de Young


Botanical Gardens; Ponyplay in action (!!)





Buffalo Paddok --> are buffalo bison?


Dutch windmill. This was psychedelic


The wind blew our faces off


These signs are poetic


The Cliff House; Sutro Baths


Sutro ruins

Leap Year

Thanks to Pete's last minute Craigslist score, Daniela, Pete, Phillip and I saw Magnetic Fields at the Herbst Theater on Friday night. Herbst Theater is a pretty formal venue, usually reserved for refined events such as operas and ballet performances. Though once the show started, it was clear that the music, with its cello, piano, mandolin, and accordion ensemble, lent itself nicely to this type of performance space.

I generally prefer a more participatory concert experience: I like to stand in the front, song along, laugh, cry and hold hands with other serious fans. I like to scream out song requests, hoot and holler. This behavior was limited at the show on account of both assigned seating and Stephin Merritt's vinegary personality.

The band played two 45 minute sets, drawing from their dozen disc repertoire in addition to a few songs from the Gothic Archies project.

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I made these evil monster cupcakes (with love!) for a special friend. There are a rip-off of a superior set I saw on Boing Boing.

Stuck in the Middle

A sample of the Northern California SEIU drama gracias a Greenhouse.

Lakeport, CA

The great haul from SF to Lakeport

Today I schlepped up to Lakeport in Lake County to attend a packed County Board of Supervisors about downsizing at Sutter Lakeside, a community hospital. I attended the meeting with some members of an organization called Heathcare Justice Sonoma County. I have become involved with the group through my work as the union rep for the residents at Sutter Santa Rosa. A coalition of unions, community activists, and faith based groups formed last year when Sutter Santa Rosa announced that it would be closing down, thereby breaking its agreement the county. The goal of the coalition is to protect access to healthcare in the county and to also preserve and protect labor rights of local workers in health services.

Just as Sutter is shutting down its facilities in Santa Rosa- as well as St Luke's Hospital across the street from my house and several other locations throughout the sate - the corporation is reducing inpatient capacity in Lakeport. These efforts are a part of the current trend across the Sutter system to pull out of underserved - and therefore less profitable - communities while expanding services in weatlhier areas. With a reduction in beds in Lake County, neighboring counties, including Sonoma, are going to pick up the slack. The goal of HCJSC at this meeting was to encourage an independent study of the impact of this downsizing on Lake County and the surrounding area.

The meeting started with an hour and a half presentation from the CEO of Sutter Lakeside. She described all the reasons why this change is necessary while highlighting how accountable the corporation is to the county. Later in the afternoon the floor opened for comments and questions from the public. Many expressed their faith in Sutter, several were quite dubious, and everyone had plenty of questions for the CEO. At the last minute towards the end of the hearing, one of the leaders of HCJSC pulled me aside and asked me to speak on behalf of the residents. I wasn't prepared in the least but he and I wrote something quickly. I stood nervously at the rostrum and, in my squeakiest of voices, urged the Board and the Sutter representatives to investigate the consequences of Sutter's decision. It was all over in a minute and I hope I won't have to relive the moment anytime soon. Unfortunately, the Board of Supervisors meetings are very popular with the large retiree community in Lake so if anyone out there has a grandparent living in an RV in Northern California they might catch me! By the end of the meeting the Board and Sutter were able to commit to an independent study once the changes take effect. A post facto review is not exactly what we wanted but given the reality that the B o S has no direct power over Sutter (the relationship is different in Sonoma), this is likely the best they could do.

There is so much more to elaborate on but with eyes half open I must hit the hay!

Rainy Weekend

It was raining when I flew into Oakland on Friday and it held through Sunday morning. Phillip and I ate a late dinner then went to his friend Megan's house in SOMA before going to an 'underground' party full of Burners until late. I have a lot of observations about this not-so-discrete SF subculture, but its perhaps best saved for a later post. On Saturday morning I picked up Heather and her friend and we went for brunch on Haight. We also found a body stocking for Heather to give to her friend as a birthday gift; we bought more tights. We had drinks at the MOMA with her father and friend and went to zee screening! nearby. There were several shorts that were quite good but my Oscar still goes to Chords.


I made Heather model her really great tights

Phillip and I went to Bart's birthday dinner and then I went to the l'Afrikan party at Katie and Gaby's house. Katie brought me a big piece of fabric from Gabon in the best pattern ever. I am so happy to have it.





This afternoon Phillip and I went to see a movie at the Sundance Kabuki in Japantown and then ate lunch there. The movie was really depressing and I was put off for the rest of the afternoon. By nightfall Heather came over for a sleepover and we stuffed ourselves with a Mint Mountain sundae from Mitchell's.

Plummy

Great news! Tomorrow night my bosom buddy, Ratty (nee H**th*r Tr*b*), will be flying into San Francisco. I will be on the road until Friday evening but the notion that my fine friend will be in this very state gives me great joy. Heather is in town to attend the screening of her film Chords at the San Francisco International Children's Film Festival. I will be her proud escort.


Photo credit: Allison Brockhouse and Nikki Dunham-Hoshida, respectively