15. What I'm talking about

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Staycation

Before the contractors return on Wednesday I'm taking a one day staycation. I don't think I can really abuse this term any more than this. One day off isn't even a proper weekend. 

I went to The Pork Store this morning for my favorite breakfast and there was a new waitperson at the counter. He! was OK except that he brought my toast buttered. What originally attracted me to The Pork Store, besides all the great veggie options, were the wonderful waitresses. One of the original two doesn't work much anymore and the other wasn't there today either. But even the substitutes seem to do well except that it seems to be left to me to train them in not buttering the toast that comes with the vegan item on the menu. Do people not know what vegan means? 

After breakfast I boarded an SF bus on my way to the Temporary Transbay Terminal to catch an East Bay bus to take me over the bridge to Emeryville for design magazines and getting just-a-little out of town. As always, I scanned the SF bus to see where the crazy was sitting and discovered that everyone looked sane. We all have to do our bit, so I played the crazy for this trip. The voices in my head were telling me to balance my checkbook. 

I took some quick photos at Transbay Terminal before my bus pulled out. 

There used to be a freeway running between the building in the center and the row of buildings on the right but it was taken down after the 1989 earthquake.

I'm really going to miss this place when they finish the new Transbay Transit Center and operations get moved over there. I'm pretty sure it's not going to be as seamless or as pleasant an experience as this temporary facility. I hope we get to see the next crop of skyscrapers rise before we move. I suspect the odds are about 50/50.

Blacks and Blues

(Inspired by browsing too many design mags.)

When x and y were ready to grow their family they decided they needed to move to a bigger house. They immediately thought of z, an architect x had met in rehab who knew their "quirks" and had plenty of ready ideas to meet their needs.

z remembers, "The program of the house was determined by the need for privacy and sound proofing. I new that y -- an avid dominatrix -- needed a custom designed space, with a separate entrance, for her loyal clientele.

"x -- a, frankly terrifying, sadist -- needed even more privacy as he was planning to progress towards secreting a sex slave in the lower-level dungeon. I had never created a dungeon before but I had lots of ideas. My first thought had been to go with a red color scheme -- to hide the blood -- but x was keen on blues. I really think he loves the contrast of blood on all these vivid blues."

The home is furnished with an impressive collection of Mid-century Modern classics x found in an unattended house the week they moved from their old house in Aspen.

And so on...

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