Bikes

They're a mainstay of Berkeley life. Here's two at Fellini, a local coffee shop.

Look for better photos to come, now that I have my computer back!

Apologies ...

Please forgive the lack of posting lately. My computer should be coming out of the shop and I can't wait to see her! Regular posting will resume after our happy reunion.

Note to those with butterfingers like myself: Dropping a laptop will often result in a hefty repair bill. Be warned.

Three for the price of one, once again

Look carefully at that first picture: It says "Remember Punky Brewster." Can I confess that that's San Francisco, not Berkeley? Will you forgive me? The spooky-eyed cat is mine, Oliver, the 18-year-old tabby, doing just fine, thanks. And why the tree in the wheelbarrow in North Berkeley? Why not?

Hope you're all well and looking forward to spring -- I sure am, and I'm so excited that Daylight Savings is coming three weeks early this year!

Tow Zone

My weekend trip to San Diego made me realize how Berkeley is always, always in a state of change. Here's one example - - don't park at McGuire and Hester, or if you do, mind the sign.

Three for the price of one!

A bonus of three because I'm going to be out of town. Will try to post a few more tomorrow. For now, enjoy your long weekend!

BART

Bay Area Rapid Transit, or BART, is our subway. It's got its charms, and its annoyances, just like everything everywhere. Here's the Downtown Berkeley station.

I had a more Valentine's-appropriate pic -- a glass gate cutout in the shape of a heart -- but I had a hard drive failure and am having trouble accessing my files, so that'll be for another day.

Fine Arts Building

On this site used to stand the tatty but heartfelt Fine Arts Cinema. It was pulled down a few years ago and local developer Patrick Kennedy took over from there. It feels a little slick and soul-less to me. How does it feel to you?

Two for the price of one

There are lots of bikes in Berkeley -- after all, the city's worked hard to make it a bike-friendly place. So where there's lots of anything, there needs to be a few rules. These signs on Shattuck Avenue in downtown try to make it clear: walk 'em on the sidewalk, ride 'em on the street. Some people don't always obey. Sometimes I'm one of those people, so if you see me on my gray set of wheels, please forgive me!

The second shot is Monkey Girl, who I bought for $10 from a sweet old dude in a Costa Rican coffee shop. She now resides in my kitchen. Sunglasses have been added.

'West of the Caldecott Tunnel'

The Caldecott Tunnel connects Berkeley to Orinda. I'd rather buy my boxes -- and everything else -- west of that tunnel.

Waiting for the bus

Just something I like about this picture. Maybe it's the AC Transit bus in the background. Taken in downtown Berkeley. And no, I'm not sure why what I'm writing is being underlined. Blogger's weird.

This TV's on the house

Classic Berkeley house-as-art.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Cherry blossoms in bloom

These early bloomers burst into color around the first week of February and last for about a month. If only they would stay longer.

How do your marigolds grow?

Berkeley's an ideal gardening climate. Walk around any residential neighborhood and you'll see flowers of all size and stripe -- just ripe for the camera!

McGee's Farm!

The first photo on this blog had to be my own home: McGee's Farm. A co-op preschool for 20 years, it's now where my boyfriend and I (and the cat, can't forget the cat) live. It's just west of downtown Berkeley, within walking distance of the campus and cafes and some of the Bay Area's best restaurants, and it's the kind of place that makes you laugh every time you come home.

I mean, really, wouldn't YOU laugh if you came home to a front door that looked like this?