Hair of the Dog

Photo from the Daily Telegraph I’ve often said, badly paraphrasing Mark Twain: “Everyone complains about dog hair, but no one does anything about it.” Well, now someone has — and at the exact moment when it can help alleviate the ecological disaster of the BP Gulf oil spill. Turns out there is an innovative charity called A Matter of Trust that has figured out...

San Francisco Values

I’m only a part time San Francisco resident these days. But I’ve still — as Tony Bennett would say — left my heart there. Lately the far Right  likes to demonize all things San Francisco, as if this isn’t one of the most beautiful, special places in America. You want to find the best in “American Values” — those values of tolerance and...

Otto the Wonder Dog

San Francisco is not only full of wild and wonderful human characters, it’s also home to some of the most unique dogs in the world who often outstrip the humans in individuality. One of them is Otto the Wonder Dog who I met through his human companion, Ed, at one of my photography classes. Otto is a strange and serendipitous mixture — some Terrier, maybe some Beagle,...

Keep on Duckin’

For the second time in this first week of 2010, I hauled myself out on the road for a power walk. Monday was a Crissey Field 4 miler, today the venue was Golden Gate Park and the goal was 5 miles. I’d like to say it gets easier, and maybe two walks in a week isn’t anything to go by, but this walk seemed colder, harder and longer. Well, it was longer. I managed to clock 5.8...

The Long and Winding Road to Fitness

How boring is it to make a New Year’s resolution to get back in shape and lose weight? The only thing interesting about my attempt at this old chestnut is how long it’s taking me to get started. Well, of course I couldn’t start on New Year’s Day. Added to a regular hangover, I had the double-whammy of a cheese hangover from a most excellent fondue party. Then...

Funky Tut! He Gave His Life for Tourism

Finally got around to seeing the Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibit that’s been showing at San Francisco’s De Young Museum since June. But as Steve Martin said: “If I’d known/They’d line up just to see him/I’d have taken all my money/And bought me a museum.” And yes, the lines have been long. Judging by the roped off...