Test rode a replacement bike this morning (Giant).  It was OK but I didn't like the handling.  I've got to love my bikes (I ride so much) so I'm going to try a few others.  I didn't want to spend the day bike shopping, though, so I went down to my favorite place - the Market Place at the ferry dock.  I tried some hot cocoa from Blue Bottle (Good!  they use dark chocolate) and watched the world go by for a while.

 

I sniffled a little every time I saw a bike - such a nice day for a ride!  I wandered across the way to the ice skating rink that's set up.  If my foot weren't bothering me then I would have strapped on some skates.  It was highly entertaining watching folks - so many people were just gripping the edge of the rink and pulling themselves around.  And anther set had their legs stiff as boards but were trying to walk.  There were a few who were really good skaters - mostly kids.  Then it was back to the Market Place for some dim sum and tea.  I tried a new tea that was good - some sort of toasted something - but I think a green or white would have been more suited for the day.

Tomorrow it's another trip to the Glendale office - more seatbacks in front of me!

Scenes of the city

My only Black Friday shopping was a trip to Utrecht to get some canvas (their brand was on sale 40% off).  I need more canvas like a hole in the head right now - but I'm planning another series and their super-nice stuff is pricey so I got a few.  Then it was over to the Market Place at the ferry building - wonderful place to just sit and people watch.



Today I was going to go for a nice long bike ride, but when I got down to the parking garage both of my bikes were gone - but I did find the remainders of one of the locks - cleanly cut.  So instead I let the apartment management know (I suspect someone went on a spree), and called the police and my insurance company.  The apartment building is going to set up a bike parking area that has a camera pointing at it (they're planning on adding more bike parking anyway.)  Then I went for a walk along the water.  Beautiful day.

I was thinking that I need to get a U-Lock to go with the cable lock, but haven't found a bike shop yet.  I'll get a bad-ass u-lock when I get a new bike, and that bike is staying inside the apartment!  That's where I normally keep them, but when I had movers and a zillion boxes that wasn't really doable - now it is (or will be by golly)

Planes and Trains and moving boxes

I can't believe I've only been here a month - it feels much longer!  The place is basically unpacked, but not exactly organized.  When I wasn't unpacking, I've been on planes and trains - flying back to Seattle to meet the movers, flying down to the Glendale office and taking the train to work every day.  I do love the train.

Here's a few sketches from those exciting days in Redwood City:

Final sketches of Seattle:

And a few from San Francisco, Cal Train, and airplanes:

 

Thanksgiving with Caesar

Me, Caesar, and a pizza this year - perfect!  The pizza was fantastic and there's the other half for leftovers.

Scanning like crazy

So I've finally got the computer all hooked up and I'm scanning my sketchbook.  Here's a look at the wayback machine - the trip down here with a duffel bag and nowhere to live.  It seems so long ago!

Happy Thanksgiving - I'm thankful that I found a cool place with an awesome view and my stuff almost fits.  Oh, and I'm not cooking - pizza for me this year.

Fridge magnets

Well, the Fridge is set. (And yes, there's stuff on the inside, too.)

Rainbow over the bridge

Rain this morning - but now there's a nice rainbow over the bridge:

Meanwhile, the studio is starting to look like a studio:

New City, new sunset

I've been unpacking for two days and there are still boxes everywhere and stuff spread out.  But the weather is beautiful and there's a beautiful sunset.

Moonrise over the Bay Bridge

It's actually way cooler than this - but this is the best I could do with the point-and-shoot (haven't found the card reader for the DSLR)

New City, new plant

OK, so I've been too exhausted to keep up the blog, but my stuff arrived yesterday.  The place is floor-to-ceiling boxes.  The bedroom is usable, but the studio is a wall-to-wall disaster.  One of the bathrooms has a bicycle in it, and boxes in the bathtub.  But I live here now!  I went to the Farmer's Market today for some produce and a new plant (I had the leave the old ones with Ruth).  So now I have some Fred 2 and a fridge with food in it!

I live here now. Kind of.

So I've decided that I'm done with the cheap motel in Redwood City and to move into my fabulous apartment.  Of course, all of my furniture is still in Seattle so I'm sleeping on the floor, but that's just details.  Oh, and of course I don't have Internet set up yet so I'm grabbing wi-fi from the business center downstairs.   But that's just details.

This weekend it's back to Seattle to finish packing and meet the movers.  Then it's back to sleeping on the floor until they arrive.  But it beats a motel in Redwood City!