2009 Lovers Holiday

I had the distinct pleasure of sharing another Valentines with Fil on a Valentines that comes once every 7 years - Saturday.  The day was altogether a light day of smiles.  I was awoken by the Snapple...

The morning was full of preparation as we ascended to Berkeley's Tokyo Fish Market for our sashimi main course namely: Tobo Tuna, Kampachi, Han Hamachi and Uni.  We also bought soba sauce and noodles as a side.

Earlier that morning Fil and demanded that we go to a florist so that I could construct my own bouquet - so following lunch at Gregoire (mmm... Creamy organic egg salad with truffles on toasted white bread and Hothouse smoked cod with potato chips & garlic sautéed spinach on pantofolina) - we dropped by a florist down the street where I created a white ranunculus, hyacinth, and a little purple vignette.  We dropped by the Crixa Cakes bakery across from the Berkeley Bowl and picked up a 'Tunnel of Love".  While at Crixa, we ran into a friend from San Francisco who was in the vicinity on a East Bay Eating Tour.

Dinner ensued like so...

We watched the beloved "Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind" which I believe should be recognized as a Valentine's classic.   "Meet me in Montak..."  Love that movie.

Admittedly, I wouldn't mind re-living yesterday a couple of times.

Huffy Sportsman

I have owned my beloved Huffy for a little over a month now. Although many of the parts have been changed (i.e. wheels, brake system, handle bars, saddle, tires), the sleuth within me is dying to know more about the very core of my bike - the frame.

Upon researching the web, I am confident that my bike is a Huffy Sportsman made within the 1954-1973 period. While I am grateful that I can associate my bike with a name, I am still itching to figure out when it was made. If the frame was indeed made in the the 1954-1958 period, it may have been manufactured in England. Within the 54-58 period, the English bicycle company Raleigh had introduced the Sportsman to the US market via collaboration with the American bicycle company - the Huffy.

Ironically, when I was looking for a bicycle I was intently focused on either buying a European vintage Raleigh (English) or Peugeot (French). I quickly dropped my elite criterion when discovering that smaller bikes were hard to come by as I am a mere 5'3". Essentially, my decision to acquire the Huffy represented my surrender to the American bicycle. Now that I realize that my Huffy may indeed be a Raleigh in disguise - I am nothing but full of smiles! I think I'm going to have to live with the mystery. In any event, I have to say that my Huffy (Pic 1) and the Raleigh Robin Hood (Pic 2) look darn similar. To add to my misery, I wish I had a decal as cool as the Robin Hood (Pic 3). AHHH.

Peri"wrinkle" Top

Had a great weekend. Went to Old Navy Saturday morning after depositing my weekly pay - hoping to find either a good deal or basic cardigan.  I found this modern number at Old Navy - one of a kind!  I only found this one apparently just in my size, priced at $9.99.  Sure the blouse isn't made of silk but surely 78% rayon, 22% nylon with a shell of 100% polyester should suffice, eh?  It has a scrunched elastic bottom (great for hiding the stomach) and a subtle detail in the middle, notice the middle crease?  I waited for Fil to come to the store - so I could get a hearty 20% discount.  He also ended buy 2 long sleeves himself (one plaid with pink lines, one I would like to call the 'modern cowboy' shirt) - the total for all 3 items?  $13.80.  Hours later, I took a butchers at the receipt and found out my shirt had only been $2.00 - thus securing a $.40 discount, thanks to Fil.  Wow, I've never bought anything this wonderfully cheap.  OK, I have to admit - Fil paid for this one.  Thanks Fil!