My Life A-BART

Earlier in the day, while seated on BART, in the sun (my favorite spot), I took a couple photos of me and my newly-returned bangs:

Enough about me...
I love the opulent shops with all the gorgeous lighting and chandeliers, while walking into Chinatown. I also love seeing these cute little guys. For some reason, I love the "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" monkeys. I even had one on top of my computer for a while. I wanted to get a self-portrait of me with the monkeys, but I thought it would be a little weird...not that that has stopped me before, though...

This sassy little lady wanted to be photographed...so I obliged her. I really like this sculpture of the mermaid. Very graceful.

On the way out of Chinatown, I came across the Hermes shop and spied these 'freaks of nature' in the windows in an alley. Actually, they really are kinda cool, but I was faintly disturbed by the expressions on their faces.

I had to put a Nativity Scene in here. It is, after all, the Christmas season. This was a really nice, antique-looking set. It reminded me of my Grandma Sonnenstuhl's Nativity pieces. I loved unpacking them and arranging them on her coffee table every year around this time. I remember each piece and wish I could see them again. They were just beautiful and full of good memories.

As I left Chinatown, Santa came around the corner (Hi, Santa!) with a bag slung across his shoulder. I'm guessing it was filled with "Cuties" (tangerines) because Santa handed me an "organic" Cutie. He was really nice and I thanked him. As he was walking away, I heard him chuckling and saying something about losing a bet with his coworkers (The elves gamble?).

The next photo made me do a double take. It was a "What the...?" moment and I had to record it:

Not too long after, I was on the corner, ready to cross the street and I saw this:

I was giggling so bad while taking this photo...and you read right - the sign in the background says "No photography". The expression on the lion's face is priceless. He's pretty special.

The Virgin Records store was on my way to the main shopping area on Market and I saw these through the window...A thought came to my head: Why would someone want to carry around a bag that said "Virgin" on it? I'm just sayin'...

After my Chinatown excursion, I ducked into Urban Outfitters and looked at their ornaments and crap. On the lowest level, there's supposed to be sales...but they aren't real bargains. I did, however, find these little treasures...

I can only imagine what kind of family photos this might hold...

This would be sooooo fun in the shower! I think I'll wait until I am living in my own place before I start the shower concerts.

I didn't know you could buy the McDonaldland character dolls...at Urban Outfitters, no less.
$10 each!

Ronald looks especially creepy. So does the tree behind him. (That's my thumb in the picture).

No comment.

I was so tempted to buy these gift tag stickers...I love these two the most:

"Get ready to fake excitement"

"Something pretty for your next garage sale"

The End (of this entry).

I woke up this morning having the worst coordination and the foggiest brain...EVER. (I am NOT dramatic). Walking to BART, I realized I was late because...well...I started out late (amazing what the difference of a couple minutes makes), and my large toe was hurting and slowing me down. I called my boss, Tracy, and left her a message. Right after I got off the phone, I got a stitch in my side. I felt rather like a more polished version of Quasimodo.

I finally limped into the BART station and my people-watching ensued. I looked around for interesting goings-on and also for eye candy...Hey! I'm only human! While sitting and watching people, I noticed a very good looking Italian guy in the seat across the aisle. Some lady in a huge quilted coat kept blocking my view. I was irrationally, but only slightly, annoyed. Whatever - the guy's eyes, and thumbs, were glued to his blackberry. This is a person who will no doubt have problems with his thumbs later in life.

Then I spied an older woman, perhaps mid-50's, standing against the go-between BART car doors. She was nose-deep in a Harlequin-esque paperback...I snickered silently to myself (meaning, no one saw - it was a "snicker on the inside"). I texted my friend Amber in Utah - I had to tell someone who would find it as amusing as I did.

As I was thinking and writing down comedy ideas, I had an epiphany - or rather, a brilliant thought come to me: cupidity - noun: Meaning "awkward in the art of love/dating"
I was giggling to myself - this time out loud. I don't want to look it up in the UrbanDictionary because I'm afraid someone else has claimed it. Dang it - I looked it up...but I like my definition better. Oh, well.

I saw a surprising talent on the BART yesterday - some woman was BART surfing (balancing on the train) while applying make-up! I didn't look long enough to see how good a job she did...but I was impressed at the attempt, nonetheless.

After work, I didn't know what I was going to do, so I did my default Friday Night activity: BART to Embarcadero and look out on the water. Sometimes I take pictures - but my camera doesn't pick up night shots well - or I just haven't figured how to work it on my camera, yet. On my way to Embarcadero, I got stuck next to some really loud Gen-Y's. I'm sure they meant no harm...but loud guffawing, and the typical "laughing and scratching" (my Mom's term I now use) that occurs between buddies after a long day at college/work started to grate on my nerves. So I decided to move to another available seat.

On my way, I saw a familiar little furry face - Samantha the Homeless Himalayan Kitty. Her owner was carrying her and I felt a rush of affection for this man and his little beloved pet. I didn't stop them, however, because he seemed to be in a hurry. No matter -I'll see him again.

Upon reaching my destination, I made a beeline for the Ferry Building. Feeling a gnawing sensation that I recognized as loneliness, I texted my friend Hector and I called my friend Amber. Amber and I talked for a long time. She cracks me up! And what's really nice is she actually finds me funny, too. I walked along the waterfront, my Farrah Fawcett hair blowing in the bay breeze. I spied a neat little scene (I thought it was neat...): a crane-looking type bird perched on a rusty ladder leading into the water. I tried to take a picture of it...I'll post the result as soon as I can figure why my camera is being stubborn.

I decided to find a place to eat - and I wandered along Market Street towards Westfield Mall. As I meandered up the street, I noticed so many interesting people...some a little too interesting, which I deliberately did not make eye contact with. One older, greasy-looking businessman started towards me with a slurred "Hi..." and the rest was garbled. I looked him in the eye (because I meant business) and said, "Don't talk to me, please" in a very neutral but firm voice. As I walked on, I heard him slurring something to effect of - "I wasn't going to say anything bad..." Then I walked into the coolest Toy/Comic Book store. In the front, they have the limoge (spelling?...pronunciation?...) boxes I adore - especially if they have surprises in them. I also some pretty rockin' replicas of battleships and war machines (dang! Can't think of the name of it...) - oh, wait - tanks. I love the look of camouflage. As I walked through the store, I looked in a mirror and was a bit embarrassed...my hair really did have that distinct early-80's flavor to it...so I dragged out a barrette in my completely uncoordinated hands (the perils of caffeine), and clipped up my bangs. Decidedly better. I left the store and continued on.

I then saw a couple that made me think this thought: "If she can find someone, why can't I?" I won't go into what she looked like, or what her deal was, but it made me wonder about it in a moment of self-pity. When that moment was over, I focused my attention on finding food.

Panda Express popped into my head. Who knows why. I usually end up feeling like an itchy Jabba the Hut after eating there. Still...I made my way to the food court, although I was getting annoyed with the people that blocked the way for people to get through...a-nnoy-ing. On my way to Panda Express, I witnessed a delightful show of PDA from some teens. It wasn't particularly disgusting...more like kinda cute. I was surprised at how unannoyed I was.

After I got my food, I sat at a table near some dark-haired cuties (whom I kind of ignored because I was in strict people-watching mode). They kept discussing music and one guy kept humming lines of a song, while the other guy imitated another instrument (I couldn't tell what it was)...I pretended I was cracking up at the Reader's Digest I was reading - but really, I was amused at the tenor (*snort*- get it?) of their conversation. Some guy came panhandling into Panda Express. He started over at the next table so I had an answer ready. I firm, but nice, "Sorry, no." One of the workers finally ousted him. After he left, she was chuckling to herself, I suspect at his cheekiness.

After the dark-haired cuties left, an adorable Filipino family -I'm guessing at their ethnicity, but it seems accurate- sat at the table next to me. I had watched them walk in because the little boys (about 8 yrs old) were twins...and the accompanying girls (about 13 yrs old) appeared to be twins, as well...They were really cute kids - sweet, too. They smiled at me.

On my BART ride home, I sat in a four-seater (where the two seats face two seats). The guy sitting there looked familiar...and decidedly attractive, although, again, I was simply in observation mode. I dragged out my notebook and started recording the events on and surrounding my ride on BART. I soon finished and decided to draw a couple of pictures. They turned out pretty well. I need to get back into it, though - a little rusty, I'm afraid. At the Walnut Creek stop, the lady next to me noticed my drawing and asked if I designed clothes. I said "No - but I've thought about it. I don't sew, though." She was really sweet and said, "Well, you should, those are really good." (Basking in the warmth of a stranger's praise...)

As I was looking around the train, hoping I didn't catch the eye of some creepoid, I did catch the eye of a friendly Middle Eastern/Indian gentleman who gave me a genuine smile and a little wave from across the train. I grinned back. He wasn't creepy. The guy in the seat across from me looked up and smiled at me. I smiled back. It was a nice, pleasurable exchange. Then, close to my stop, I went into what I'm starting to recognize as "Ice Queen" mode. Dang. I'm not a snob - I just get shy, sometimes. So, unfortunately, I completely ignored the guy from the seat across from me, who also got off at Pleasant Hill. I am such a dork.

My story of Full Moon Friday ends with me walking home in the bitingly, slappingly cold night air. My teeth were chattering but I got home, went in the house to talk to my awesomely adorable family - and headed to my room to bed down for the night...and write in my blog for the first time in, well, a long time. It's rather cathartic, really.

More to come...