Cool! Where would you like to meet? I'm not super familiar with Chicago, other than downtown and the Loop area, somewhat. Still, mapquest, occasionally, is my friend.

Had a crimson rosella in the garden yesterday.

See now, that just sounds like another menstrual euphamism.

Dude, bow head whales are theorized to live 200 years??!?!?!?!

Woohoo! Chicago is excellent for toddling around.

I love the idea of a french day!

It was lovely, Robin. The little French zone of SF is downtown near the shopping so we cashed in various gift cards while we were there and nibbled tasty treats (white beans pureed with garlic and sundried tomatoes, parmesan cubes in balsamic syrup, crab cakes in beurre blanc, endive salad with candied walnuts and blue cheese - various tasty bubbling drinks).

I wanted to show JZ the pretty little old French Catholic Church near there (Notre Dame de Victoires) and they were just starting an evening Mass so we attended. (JZ likes it when I go to Mass with her and it's a fairly rare occurrence.)

On the way out we lit candles for our family members but also for Cindy's Dad, Scrappy's dad and Heather's brother.

No we're back at home drinking Prosecco.

Hec, that does sound like a wonderful day. I think you're going to have to lead a tour for us next May. Of course, I will have to starve myself for a week before I get out there so I won't feel too guilty eating all that nummy food!

Oh yay! Anywhere on public trans I can get to, so downtown is fine. Or we could meet in my hood and see where we want to go from there.

I think you're going to have to lead a tour for us next May.

Of course. It's just there are so many parts of San Francisco worth exploring. North Beach is a whole day, as is the Mission (each with significant subneighborhoods - like the Basque places in North Beach). But this is a funny little pocket of town that JZ had never been too. It's near the French consulate, and the little French church, and Cafe Claude, and Le Central and Cafe De La Presse are all within a two block radius. Also the Goethe Institute and various Italian joints, so it's pretty Euro down there and typically crawling with EuroTourists as well. Which can be fun in a hanging with the Chic People way.

May all the Bitches have all the love their hearts can hold in this coming year. And blessings of every kind!

Sail, I just e'd you my cell phone, etc. And I haven't been to Lush in ages, so this'll be an excellent excuse.

brenda, why don't you e me directions to your place? Then we can go public transpo or you can be my navigator while I drive. That can be decided once I get there, depending on where we plan on going. I'm up for an adventure!

Hec, I'm afraid however long I spend in SF is not going to be long enough to do everything I'd like to do. That said, I've done quite a few of the more common things, Pier 39, Chinatown, Napa/Sonoma, Sausilito, bay tours, etc. I'm up for something a little off the beaten track, whether it be Eurochic, pirate stores, stuffed mice museums, etc. You might consider hiring yourself out to the highest bidder for personalized tours, with your knowledge of all the little nooks and crannies of SF. Or, if you're up to the effort, providing maps of different areas by interest with nifty sights marked out. I know I'd appreciate something like that!

eta: Bwah! In the time I composed my post, brenda read my mind. Scary!

Juliana and I are spending the evening drinking sparkling wine (second bottle has been opened) and watching pretty people on TV. First the Thomas Crown affair, and now X-men, which is a very different kind of pretty, and allows for Halle Berry mockage.