Random Pieces of Useful Information

Don't

Date: Jan. 16, 2007
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Don't start a diet the same week your dog dies.

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So it’s January and many people ask me, Allison, you seem to have a weath of self esteem ringing around your torso, what is your secret? There is always a secret. In my office, Rosemary and Katherine are all about self-improvement and finding that secret. I think they pursue self improvment so vigorously because it keeps them at arm’s length from themselves. Me, I like an intimate evening with my favorite boys, Ben and Jerry and call it good. Do I feel fulfilled? Oh yes, I’m very full. Do I feel happy? Have you ever heard of ice cream making anyone sad? Do I feel all-full of self esteem? You bet. Want some quick esteem? Get a tiara. It’s difficult to feel badly about yourself when you’re wearing a tiara. You can find big tiaras at local Red Hat stores or hike down to the City to the War Memorial opera house, during the nutcracker; there is a great selection of tiaras in the gift cases. At the time I did not want to even ask the cost; but it exclaim, “Wow look at those Big Ass tiaras,” within ear shot of my nieces and now my sister in laws won’t speak to me. So you can see there are many hidden bonuses to the Tiara. I gave a Big Ass Tiara to one of my most excellent friends for her 50th birthday. Great gift. I recommend it. The shinier the better. So let’s say you aren’t that into tiaras and want to explore something more concrete. I can’t help you. At the heart of it, I’m a very shallow woman. I like Tony Robbins because he’s great at diluting all the others who went before. I like Brian Buffini because of his Irish accent. And of course Steven Covey because I’m not THAT shallow. And I love all the Motivational Mary Kay CD’s that my Mary Kay Consultant Peggy presses on me every time HER director is in town and she has to meet the quota or something. She usually gives me a free mascara or lip-gloss for my trouble so it’s a painless way to amass a large and varied make up collection. And I like her and I admire sales techniques in any form. Bring it on. Sell me baby.

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Wet Golf

Date: Jan. 4, 2007
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So for business I decided to take up golf. Once I started practicing on the driving range (corner of E Cotati and Petaluma Hill Rd.) I discovered that golf is a great excuse to be outside. I took up the game in November – because I’m nothing if not impractical. Since I only practiced on the diving range, I wanted very much to test out my new clubs (Christmas gift) on a real course. So I coerced a friend into golfing on a January afternoon. It was raining. We drove out to the brand, brand new Sonoma County Golf Park 1475 West Sierra Ave. Cotati 795 1760 www.scgolfpark.com It was raining just enough to soak us but not enough for us to quit - we are not wimps. And besides, now I know that cover for the golf bag is used for. The owners of the park could not have been nicer or more welcoming. We were the only players that day. A good thing, no one to see our form and execution. There are two 9-hole courses at Sonoma County Golf Park; one is the executive course, par 3, the other is a short course that will be finished this spring, when sensible people play golf. The course is small but challenging, and gave me, the newbie, an idea of what it’s like to control the ball rather than whacking it as hard as I can. For re-enforcement of that point, I teed off and hit the ball into the center of the construction zone for the new clubhouse. We are not good, my friend and I. This was her first time with a golf club; it was my first time on a course. Since I had already logged in fifteen minutes of instruction, I was the person giving advice. So you can imagine. I made one satisfying hit that did not land the ball into the water hazard. It sounded so nice the grounds worker gave me thumbs up. Even in the pouring rain, and we only were able to stand four holes, but even in the rain, the Sonoma County Golf Park was very appealing. I liked the nine holes, I like that this attractive little course is eight minutes away from my house. And I like that as an independent contractor, I can meet clients for about an hour and half of golf on the nine holes, perfect. In spring, I plan to improve. I’ll tell you about amateur experiences at golf courses through out Sonoma County on this Blog. Watch for it here.

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San Francisco in Winter

Date: Jan. 1, 2007
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Why is Sonoma County great?

Some think it’s because Sonoma County is about 40 minutes from San Francisco, more if any more than three cars are on 101 traveling south, but that’s a general idea. The City is about 55 minutes from Santa Rosa.

San Francisco weather is almost is perfect in the winter. There is wind on the coast, so anything that skirts the Bay, and that includes sights like the Embarcadero, the ferry building walk, Fisherman’s Wharf, Crissy field, the beach, will all be windy and chilly. Oh, the bridge, the bridge is very windy in the winter, but it’s windy and cold in the summer as well. Bundle up, make the kids walk it anyway.

But in December and January the sky clears, the sun is low in the sky and the views from every angle in the city are bright and white. This is the time for pictures in San Francisco. You don’t have to explain to your family back home that you took the beautiful photos wearing a ski parka and almost dropped the camera because you were shivering so hard from the chill. Take a photograph of the palms swaying up and down the Embarcadero walk way.

Walk in a few blocks and you’re out of the wind and can sit outside at a café on Chestnut Street and enjoy the people watching.

We just explored The Farmer’s Market in the Ferry building. The renovation is charming and organized, it’s not like the wild markets in Adelaide or in Kyoto or even Pike’s Market. But the building is easy to navigate and charming with many products for sale from Sonoma and Marin. See them here then think about visiting them in situ. The farmer’s market brings up the activity level by quite a bit, the crowds are thicker and more persistent, but we viewed the site off season, so to speak and so our exploring was pleasant and easy. to wander.

But exploring the Ferry Building does not use up a whole morning. So you have to have plan B at the ready. So walk around the little shops of cheese, wine and fungus then look around for a nice lunch spot. Now you have the afternoon - then move on, either for a hike on Crissy field next to the water, or shop on Union Square or just sit in cafés along the Marina.

My mother remembers when the Embarcadero didn’t have the freeway, when it was covered by the freeway, and when God became angry with the freeway and knocked it back down again, full circle in the space of only fifty years.

Visit San Francisco now. Take a trip for a day and appreciate that you can walk in the full sun in the middle of winter.

Because that’s what California is all about.

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