Damn weeds...

I don't think I can properly describe to you how overrun by weeds my backyard had become.  It was embarrassing and downright out-of-control.  I finally decided that this would be the weekend to tackle the project...by hiring some guys to come and pick them for me!  ha!  

My good friend Brian, always willing to make an extra dollar (or dime, more like it), came over and with the help of Anna and myself, we went to TOWN on those things. 5+ hours later (plus 3+ hours on my own on Sunday to  pick through the front yard), my outdoor space is FINALLY livable again! We celebrated over an amazing Korean meal!

This morning, I feel like this (worse clip art ever, yes I know...):

This was already 3 hours in...check out those piles of weeds (it was literally 10 times worse when we started:

And here's the "after" shot...the sun is already starting to set...long day:

When all was said and done, 16 garbage bags filled with weeds from the backyard and 2 from the front yard:

I am so sore...but my house is ready for some warm-weather bbq'ing!  Come on over...

Baby-daddy...

Calm down...no, I am not "with child".  But if I were, I'd want HIM to be the father:

Peter Krause as Adam Braverman in "Parenthood".  Gosh, I love this show.  Its really good...AND, set in Berkeley...woot!

And if Adam Braverman isn't available, I wouldn't turn down Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell) in "Modern Family"...HA!  Love him, kooky adorable lunatic!

And if all else fails, I GUESS I'd consider letting Michael Vartan do the honors.  If I HAVE to... (hubba, hubba! *sigh* *drool*)

I seriously need a life. Def.

Bike-owner once more...

Yes, I was a little scarred by my "bike thievery" experience this past October.  Its been 5 mos and I've yet to muster the will to buy a replacement...until now.  Snowboard season is coming to an end and I'm getting that itch to hit the mountain bike trails and put my body through the ringer that its been begging me to avoid.  

Forget the cruiser.  Forget the hybrid. Forget the vintage, cool looking bike.  Forget the front basket.  I'm going hardcore (well, entry-level hardcore) trail bike.  And though I'm certain it will get more mileage as a grocery-carrier on the mean streets of Berkeley than it will on the trails of China Camp, I'm happy to kid myself in the meantime and believe, for now, that I'll actually ride this thing on some single tracks come Summer.

So, the 2 contenders are:

'09 Raleigh EVA 8.0 (better of the two bikes but, even on sale, about $100 more)

'10 Cannondale F7

Going for a test ride the weekend...a mild one, of course. SO EXCITED!

Oh, and PS, forget the 1 little lock business...I'm getting 3-4 hardcore locks and using them ALL EVERY TIME!  Good luck taking this bike from me you hooligan thieves!  NEVER!

Hubba, hubba...

Good call Band of Outsiders. Yes, you can make pretty much any man wearing your clothing look beautiful.  But, picking the most-excellently gorgeous Matthew Goode to feature on your website, well, you just made this girl very, very happy...

Remedy...

Viciously sick the last few days and SUPER annoyed at work this morning...

The cure: a Gilt shopping spree...Sam Edelman-style...

Peep toe delights

Perfect for Spring

Yup, definitely made me feel better!  In fact, I think I sneezed less today after purchasing these boots!  And work was almost tolerable.  Easy fix.  All better now.  

Harvest time...

It never ceases to amaze what the earth produces with such little effort.  I planted a bunch of veggies a few months back and thanks to a rainy season and zero doing on my part, I found a bounty more abundant than I ever imagined (I sound like a pilgrim or a Quaker...I know...)

Hello greeny-goodness! (kale, parsley, lettuce, rosemary)

I love kale!

Salad for days with this lettuce!

ALL those lemons came from my tree! (I'm making limoncello!)

Now, if I can only bear down and clear the rest of the yard of all my weeds, I might be able to plant some new stuff and not be see averse to spending time in the backyard!  Berkeley soil is dang fertile...I have the weeds, and now the foodstuff, to prove it!

***awww...just found this "before" shot when I first planted back in September...how quickly they grow up! (I'd show an after shot but I'm too ashamed of all the weeds...but that kale there is about 14 inches high now!)

Bravo...

Congrats to the "Hurt Locker" for their best picture Oscar.  Great movie. 

And to Kathryn Bigelow for Best Director (previous claim to fame: director of the cinematic classic "Point Break").

And my two favorite looks of the evening:  Tom Ford (hubba, hubba) and Demi Moore (holy hotness!)

Are you suuure?...

Just watched the Oprah episode from last week with Jessica Simpson.  She said that in the infamous "mom jeans" photos, she was a size 6.  Really?  She's been looking big lately...but she's only a size 6...allegedly...