Okay, this is kind of a killjoy (who doesn't love finding this stuff whilst drinking with friends?), but all of my favorite memes are there...

Greg Rutter's Definitive List of the 99 Things You Should Have Already Experienced on the Internet Unless You're a Loser or Old or Something

...plus my new favorite, which had me ROTFLMAO, fo teh realz:



It's making me laugh just looking at the still!

Just found out that my honey-pie Trevor Calvert's book of poetry, Rarer and More Wonderful, was not only nominated, but was a finalist for the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association 2009 Book Award in the poetry category, alongside such poetic luminaries as John Isles, Andrew Joron, the late Barbara Guest, and the late Jack Spicer.

From the NCIBA:

Northern California Independent Booksellers 2009 Book of Year Awards: Honoring books published in 2008 and written or illustrated by Northern California authors and artists

The second annual Book of the Year awards, presented by members of the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA), have been announced. The 2009 awards honor local authors and a children’s book illustrator whose books were published for the first time in 2008.

Independent booksellers representing 200 stores in the region voted for their favorite titles from a Finalists ballot created by bookseller committees.

Woo-hoo!

You can still get this hot number from Scrambler Books. Try before you buy here.

Be nice, until it's time to not be nice.



RIP.

Ah, Muir.

There's the Japanese kicking our asses at environmentalism...



(But wait! There's more. Great, right?)

...and then there's the Japanese NOT kicking our asses at environmentalism.



But wait! There's more. Great, right?

While I was optimistic about an international outcry to the Taiji dolphin slaughter when I first blogged about The Cove last year, I didn't expect a halt -- especially when Japan still thumbs its nose at international horror and participates in whaling.

Cautiously rejoicing, but keep those media eyes trained on Taiji.

The single best thing I've read about the healthcare reform shitstorm happening right now in the U.S. of A.

A friend took us to the Rickhouse in San Francisco the other night, which is, unbelievably, smack dab in the middle of the Financial District.















The Rickhouse is named after the storage areas for whiskey casks and beer barrels. It is a beautifully designed bar in the tradition of a speakeasy or an old-timey saloon. Loved the funky pastiche of tattooed bartenders in newboy caps and braces, beer barrels stacked along the walls, and an ultra-modern ceiling fixed with wavy woven wooden slats capping off the Gold Rush era exposed brick and modern rough-hewn wooden walls and unfinished wooden floor.

And of course, I loved the wall of liquor.















Lots and lots of liquor...















Had a La Bonne Vie -- The Good Life -- which was a gin and grapefruit concoction finished with basil. Lately I've been disappointed with high-end cocktail bars because of the high cost/mediocre output of many, and because I'm spoiled with a friend who is one of the best bartenders around. But this drink, as well as Trevor's and our friend's whiskey cocktails, were worthy: refreshing and subtle, and so well crafted. Cute old-school menu to choose them from too. My only complaint was their small size, which was a good 1/4 size smaller than your standard cocktail.

We remedied our drink envy, soon, however, with a punch bowl:



















This was a nice treat, beautifully presented, and hallelujah, it was NOT SWEET. And at $10 or more a pop for single cocktails, for $30, this was a bargain for three people. I'm not a gal for rum, but hoo-boy, I know this had rum in it and I didn't care after a few dainty cupfuls!

For some other great photos of this terrific space, click here.

Pomo Canyon, end of August 2009

Campsite:















Hiking through lush ferns and new growth redwoods...



















...and over the mountain along a ridge with gorgeous views...




























...and down to Shell Beach:















We also stopped for beer on the way home (of course) at the new Lagunitas Brewery beer garden in beautiful Petaluma -- home of the most gorgeous, ramshackle, late 19th to early 20th century farmhouses around.















Lovely, lovely weekend. If this ends up being my last camping trip of the year, I think I'll be satisfied. But we'll see -- Big Sur is calling!