Week 15: December 1

On Monday I had a delightful experience, from a book lover’s perspective at least. I had gone to the public library to see if I could find a copy of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. I asked around and found out that their copies of the book include the original Arthur Rackham prints, which are apparently so rare and valuable that the copies are stored in the archives, on the sixth floor. The archives are an extremely quiet, ancient-feeling place. There are huge books of yellowed maps, encyclopedias, and other reference materials of all shapes and sizes. I had to sign in and request the book to be pulled from the back. The librarian brought out not one, but two hardcover copies, one bound in red and one in cream, both with thick yellow paper and titles embossed in gold leaf. I was given a seat at one of the many desks (each one has its own lamp attached), and was presented with a sort of foam trapezoid on which to prop up the book, eliminating the need to spread it flat on the desk and potentially crack the spine. I was also given two lengths of heavy white cord, which could be used to keep the pages open without getting oily fingerprints on the page (you drape the cord down the edge of the page and it holds it down). It was a real treat to be in a place where books are treated with such reverence, and where reading is considered the most noble of pastimes.  

I spent Thanksgiving break in Orange County with my Californian relatives. San Franciscans tend to treat SoCal with disdain, but it is a really beautiful place, as you are about to see.

Great-Aunt Lucy's street

Great-Aunt Lucy's house, with Cousin Danny stringing up Christmas lights

Birds of Paradise in her garden

 View from the upstairs window

Same window a few hours later

On Thanksgiving Day we had a big dinner all together, then walked along the coast to the Ritz-Carlton hotel, where the annual gingerbread sculpture was on display.

Yes, that is ALL gingerbread (except the kids)

The walk back was quite lovely.

Lots of surfer dudes out surfer duding

 American Thanksgiving Day was also my 18th birthday, and it was Cousin Laura's birthday two days before that, so we had to sing and celebrate. I was incredibly surprised when Cousin Laura presented me with a birthday cake she had made, and I began receiving birthday presents. I felt very lucky to have such great family down here, and very loved.

18 candles, count them

The day after Thanksgiving we went to the zoo in Palm Springs. This was a great time. We saw pretty much everything in the whole zoo and were all exhausted by the end.

Do people ride zebras? No one could tell me

So I decided to ride one myself on the carousel. Galloping my valiant steed through the savannah

WHOA THEIR KNEES ARE BACKWARDS

Unicorn!!!

Tame rats. Now there's a great pet.

My namesake, the spiky porcupine

I didn't know this.

Another close cousin, the Mexican wolf

The rest of the break was more beaching, kayaking, oceanizing, homeworking and violining. I was sorry to leave, and return to the noisy concrete stench of SF, but I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Today I finally made it to Lombard Street, "the crookedest street in the world". I was really there for a cache, but I had to take pictures as a cover, so here are my cover pictures.

This one's for you, Dad

And so is this

Looks like Ian's non-musical brother opened an ice cream shop

I'll leave you Calgarians with this nasty thought: On December the first, yes the First of DECEMBER, I was outside strolling in a T-shirt, and the weather was so beautiful that I went to the park and lay on the grass, luxuriating in the warm sun. 

- Antisocial Violinist