serene’s posterous

Tatu slept all stretched out on Eu-Jin's lap this morning.

Photo taken by Eu-Jin.

After not visiting for almost 2 weeks, Tatu showed up this wet, rainy evening.  He sat on Eu-Jin's lap for a bit, and then later deigned to sit on my lap too.  He licked my fingers a fair bit too, because he probably tasted the roasted butternut squash I was eating before heading to the balcony to hang out with him.

Photo taken by Eric Chan.

Tatu (his/her name according to our neighbors from the next apartment block) apparently lives a few blocks away, but comes by sometimes to sleep in the sun at our open balcony.  Tatu's really friendly, and likes to butt his head on our hands and walk around our legs.  He hasn't visited since Tuesday, so I wonder where he is...

As I was getting back home in the evening on Friday, I spotted a hawk flying pretty close, over my head into the tree nearby.  Over the past year, Eu-Jin and I have been seeing hawks near our apartment.  We think that a pair must have moved into the neighborhood recently. 

It is too bad we have to move from our apartment in a few weeks...I would miss the little birds hanging out by the rafters too.

Last Friday, I went to my first baseball game...San Francisco Giants vs Houston Astros.  The AT&T Park is a nice space, but it was very windy and cold sitting on the bleachers.   I was definitely glad that I had my fleece and windshirt.

I don't think I understand the appeal of baseball.  Despite the valiant attempts of the group I went with, I don't think I had a handle on what was happening on the field.  Apparently it was unusual that the Giants were up by 13 runs (including 2? home runs) to nil in the first three innings.  We didn't stay to the end of the game - nothing much happened after those first few innings.  I guess baseball games are an excuse for people to hang out and eat expensive food from the concession stands?

Photo taken by Eu-Jin

Saw this article in WSJ today.  When Eu-Jin and I were in Turkey in January this year, we spent many hours in the archaeological museum in Istanbul.  A lot of the time was spent peering at the Alexander Sarcophagus, walking around it and observing details that weren't apparent on the first look.  It was probably one of the most beautiful classical antiquity I have ever seen.

While the burial chamber depicts Alexander the Great, the sarcophagus was probably carved for Abdalonymos, one of Sidon's kings.
 

We just wanted to be outdoors last weekend and do a hike, any hike.  And because we didn't manage to finish all our errands on Saturday, we didn't have enough time to travel further to do a longer hike on Sunday.  We ended going up Mission Peak.  In 2004, we went up Mission Peak several times in our misguided attempts to "train" for our first backpacking trip in Peru.  But we haven't been back since.

It isn't a particularly hard or spectacular hike.  It climbs about 2000 feet in less than 3 miles.  Although we started hiking close to 5pm, it was still quite hot on the way up due to the lack of shade.  It was very windy at the summit, so we didn't linger too long to enjoy the panoramic views.  On the way, we saw handgliders, possibly a turkey vulture and hawks, and plenty of squirrels and cows.  This hike is probably better early spring because I imagine that the hills would be filled with wild flowers.

       

After an afternoon in the lab on Memorial Day, I decided I needed to be outdoors for a bit, and persuaded Eu-Jin to visit the cactus garden close to sunset.  The light was beautiful, and there are lots of pretty flowers.  We also saw a humming bird partaking in the nectar and bees too.

         

More yellow flowers! A birthday gift of potted mums from a friend.  I have had the flowers for more than a week, and they are still looking good.  Perhaps potted flowers are the way to go.

I love yellow flowers, so I decided to pick up a bundle of daffodils from Trader Joe's.  They don't last very long, but are perfectly cheery while they lasted.  And they matched the pretty pot my friend made!