Happiness for Friday

I woke up a bit of a grumpdawg this morning, and based on conversations with friends and social media status updates, it seems that I'm not the only one.  My 'tude is getting better as the day goes by, and this picture from my sister certainly turned my frown upside down.

Happy Friday!

Music, So Good for the Soul

I got to see Arcade Fire with The National last night at a beautiful outdoor venue on a chilly Spring night.  I was excited about the show beforehand, but I had no idea what an amazing time it would be.  The National played my two very favorite songs of theirs, one being the one below.  I get chills.

The National - "England"

I suppose most of the hype was for Arcade Fire, and while I was a semi-fan before the show, I was blown away with their performance.  I didn't intend to stay the entire time, but sure enough, at the end of the encore I was still there, wanting more.  If I could have just a fraction of the energy that encompassed me at the show last night, all would be right in the world.

Arcade Fire - "Wake Up"

Obviously these videos are not from last night's show, but you get the idea.  If you have the opportunity to see them in your city, do it.  It's good for the soul.

Just Daydreaming

and wishing I was back in SF, 

roaming the streets and snapping pretty photos.

Hope you are all having lovely weeks, 

lovely like that tree up there.

Tahoe (Twit)pics

Last weekend B and I spent an amazing four days in Squaw Valley and San Francisco, where we visited my sweet sister.  You know those vacations where everything just fits perfectly together?  Well that was last weekend.  Aside from a pricey speeding ticket, a couple of flight delays, and a faulty sailboat motor, the trip was simply fabulous.  

We flew into SFO and drove straight to Tahoe, arriving at 4am early Friday morning.  Our late/early arrival in our beds didn't stop us from hitting the slopes a few hours later.  I thought some sort of exhaustion would hit, but it never really did.  I guess we were running on so much positive energy, and that lasted the entire weekend.

Of course I took loads of pictures (like, 400) but all I have for now are the ones I uploaded on Twitter.  As much as I loved Tahoe, I was just as excited about spending time with my sister.  We could have been in Idaho and still laughed our big heads off.  (No offense, Idaho.)

California has so many beautiful, breath-taking spots.  

Lake Tahoe is most definitely one of them.

I busted out some yoga snoga moves on the mountain.  

This is Warrior II.

We had two sunny/snowy/cloudy/rainy/sunny days on the mountain, and I was pleased that we didn't have to share it with too many other people.

Both ski days ended with beverages at the bottom of the mountain.

This wine was a really great treat, one of Napa's very own.

Just looking through these pictures has me excited to share the rest of them.  After Tahoe we spent a night in Berkeley, had the most delicious coffee Sunday morning, sailed the bay Sunday afternoon, and sipped red wine while people-watching from a lovely little table under a heat lamp in SF Sunday evening.  B and I explored the city on foot Monday, and ended with a lunch at Twitter before heading to the airport.  Did I mention it was an amazing time? 

And then it was Monday

I'm not usually one to whine and complain about Mondays, but I am feeling particularly lethargic this morning.  I blame it on the fact that we had such a lovely weekend, which made waking up and heading out the door that much more difficult this morning.


Friday night was a perfect start to the weekend with a trip to the local animal shelter, where we fell in love with at least two dogs.  We also saw this little thing, who requires sunscreen to go outside because she has no fur.  How 'bout that mustache?  Funny, eh?  Or is it just sad?

Saturday was sunny and we were up and at 'em early.  I always love when B agrees to go shopping with me and Saturday was one such day.  We had to cut the trip short though so I could join my mom and grandma for lunch, which ended up lasting three hours!  We just kept talking and talking and talking.  We talked so much that we ended up having to re-open our tab so that we could order some cheesecake and more coffee.  Now that is a good lunch date.


We went to a work event of mine and good friend's birthday party Saturday night, and both were big hits.  Who doesn't love a good mix of entertainment, conversation, new foods, fun friends, and dancing?  That was exactly how Saturday night was. 

Bryant's eyes don't always get along well with camera flashes.

Sunday was what Sundays should be.  We relaxed, we cooked out, we planted tomatoes, Bryant got a new bike, we went for a bike ride, and watched a movie with the windows open while it stormed like madness outside.  It went from being 90° during the day to a hail storm at night.  It was perfect movie-watching / popcorn-eating weather.


These are the weekends that I wish could last forever, but then I guess I wouldn't appreciate them so.  And guess what.  We leave for San Francisco Thursday, so I think I can survive today.  Skiing in Tahoe, sailing in the bay, and drinking wine with my sissy.  Just four more days...