Fortune Tells

My fortune cookie today read: YOU ARE ALMOST THERE. Wow, that could mean so many things on so MANY different levels right now. I am almost there. I sure hope so!

Open Your Heart - by Madonna

~ I'm going to see Madonna in concert TONIGHT!!!!!

(Spoken:)
Watch out!

I see you on the street and you walk on by
You make me wanna hang my head down and cry
If you gave me half a chance you'd see
My desire burning inside of me
But you choose to look the other way
I've had to work much harder than this
For something I want don't try to resist me

Chorus:

Open your heart to me, baby
I hold the lock and you hold the key
Open your heart to me, darlin'
I'll give you love if you, you turn the key

I think that you're afraid to look in my eyes
You look a little sad boy, I wonder why
I follow you around but you can't see
You're too wrapped up in yourself to notice
So you choose to look the other way
Well, I've got something to say
Don't try to run I can keep up with you
Nothing can stop me from trying, you've got to

(chorus)

Open your heart with the key
One is such a lonely number

Ah, ah, ah, ah
Open your heart, I'll make you love me
It's not that hard, if you just turn the key

Don't try to run I can keep up with you
Nothing can stop me from trying, you've got to

(chorus)

Open your heart with the key

Open your heart, I'll make you love me
It's not that hard, if you just turn the key
(repeat and fade)

Old School Lakers

At the gym today, they showed the basketball finals champions from back in the day in the 80s - I used to be a diehard Lakers basketball fan then cheering for that gold & purple team of pure magic and energy. I loved watching Kareem Abdul-Jabaar skyhook his shots into the basket towering over his competitors but yet exuding that gentle giant vibe, Jamaal Wilkes' funny way of winding up before shooting a freethrow consistently scoring points for the team, the fast-plays and quick assists by Magic Johnson that booted up the energy on any court, miracle shots at all the right times by James Worthy, Michael Cooper, AC Greene and Byron Scott. To see all those familiar faces, that non-jaded firey hunger in their eyes to score, and the pure jubilation of the crowd to watch their team excel against stand-out competitors like Dr. J and Larry Bird warmed my heart. Man, those were the days!!~*

Flight Patterns - Pittsburgh

5/16 United 2190 leaves SFO 11:50 AM arrives PIT 7:38 PM
5/17 United 2175 leaves PIT 6:10 PM arrives SFO 8:30 PM

Italian Streetcars Collide

Giuliano on 06-Jan-06

The train I rode on 13-May-06

During Giuliano's visit to San Francisco earlier this year in January, he recognized an orange historical streetcar from his hometown Milan, Italy. He lit up like a Christmas tree all happy to see something familiar in San Francisco thousands of miles away from his home. I took plenty of pictures of him with it, next to it to capture the moment, but we didn't get to ride it as it was parked for the evening. This past weekend, I walked along the Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf on a beautiful May afternoon and then waited for a similar orange streetcar to take home back to downtown. I took pictures of my ride coming down the street, while I was in it and as it squeaked away. Later, as I looked through my pictures, I realized a huge coincidence that I rode the same streetcar # 1815 that Giuliano saw earlier this year!! - how strange and happy - can't wait to tell Giuliano!!

Pedicure End to a Day

It is the best! There is a new little pedicure shop right down the street on my way home. I have been wanting a pedicure for awhile now, and finally got around to it today. It was the perfect way to the end of a Monday work day, to the end of any work day. She soaks your feet, turns on the spa massage chair as you begin to relax, she cleans your toes as you look at pictures in People and Us magazines. Then she gives you a mini massage for your feet, toes and calves - ahhh...ooo that feels good, ooo that too. Then, she preps your toes and before you know it, your toes are a beautiful bright color for summer, for open-toed shoes, for making you happy everytime you look at them. Next, she turns on a tiny fan pointed at your toes to dry, and you continue to flip through People and Us. It's finished, slide on your slippers and make it up the hill home. Perfect end to the day....ahhh... :)

Wheeeee!

Hee hee, there's this little Asian lady who drives my work shuttle from my work to the Bart station to home. She drives like a madwoman in these little 25-seater shuttles during certain shifts of the day, and it is so fun!! I know I shouldn't like it and safety comes first, but I don't have my own car anymore to careen about the San Francisco hills myself, so I have to get my joys somewhere - ha! She drives that little put-put shuttle like it's supposed to cut corners with wheels on rails, comes to a screeching halt when yellow lights turn suddenly red and seemingly races with other cars on the road. Hee hee, fun!! We brace ourselves, leaning on the sides and on each other, and then giggle as we make our way to the Bart thankful we got there in one piece but also because she so sweetily says "good-bye" to each of us with such an angelic smile as we exit her 15-minute ride home.

Hooked on Apple

I went to my first Apple store workshop here in our downtown branch this morning on how to get started with my Apple Mac (even though I've had it for well over a year now). I was using my Mac for all of the basics, but I knew I was not using it to its fullest potential. And now I am hooked! I learned all kinds of shortcuts, tips and ways to make my life easier and more enjoyable with my Mac book. Next, I'm planning to take the iPod and iTunes Workshop, among others like the iPhoto and iWeb Workshops. Woo, pretty soon I'll be the Mac guru -- who still has her good friend Tammy design and tweak her MySpace page! Hee hee.

On Meeting Giada de Laurentiis

I had it marked on my calendar for a month that Giada de Laurentiis from "Everyday Italian" on the Food Channel was coming to do a booksigning at our downtown Borders tonight, May 2nd at 7:30 PM. I bought her 2nd book and planned to get there early to get one signed for my mom and one signed for me.

Good thing I asked the front door guys what floor it was going to be on because they were the ones passing out wristbands for those who wanted books signed by Ms. Giada. Wow! It was like a concert! I wasn't expecting a huge crowd because for some reason I got it in my head that since I was the only one among my friends who really watched her that there would be a somewhat sizeable but quaint crowd -- nope! Droves of people were milling around waiting for her, staking their territory, talking about what number they had and what the processes were to get our books signed, to talk to the illustrious Giada.

I had my mom's and my name written on post-its by store employees and tucked in the front cover to make Giada's signing a little easier. Then, we waited for her arrival. She was very pleased with our San Francisco turn-out and was very gracious to us for coming to see her! Me and this other lady love her show and were giggling like two school-girls waiting to meet Giada. I was no. 162 out of 274 people I heard. 100-125! 125-150! 150-175! Ok, that's me!! Frankly, I was a little nervous, but just from watching Giada with the other people, she seemed very friendly, down-to-earth and easy to talk to. Next! Ma'am (ma'am!!), you can only take pictures from where you're standing. Ok..snap snap snap. Ok, come on over!! Eeee!

"Hi!" she said cheerfully - "HI!!" :) How are you, fine, how are you, fine. "My boyfriend is Italian and he's a cook! We love your show!" I blurted out with a giggle. She saw my name spelled out, looked me in eye and smiled that famous smile, "Maile?" "Yes, Maile" - she pronounced it right and the way she said it sounded so nice. She's so warm and friendly that she felt like a friend already. She said that hopefully her cookbook would help me cook some good Italian meals with Giuliano. I went on to explain that she helps me pronounce Italian food words correctly and Giuliano is very impressed with that. She smiled big, proud, satisfied as if to say, "That is why I love my job!" Grazie, Giada! Such a pleasure to meet her! I'm so glad I went!! :)))))