Just happy to see you

Let it not be said that homeowners in the Valley They Call Silicon lack a sense of humor. Because I have the photographic evidence to the contrary right here:

(They also have very tiny hats.)

You’re welcome.

Wine accessories

As long as I’m having a fashion-focused look around the Valley They Call Silicon, let’s talk a bit about foodies and fashionistas.

I occasionally go to a small market in Palo Alto called Piazza’s. They tend to have better produce than Whole Foods, at a slightly lower price (mostly), and it reminds me of the little grocery I used to go to when I lived in Van Nuys; the one in which you could occasionally run into James Doohan.

Piazza’s is larger and more comprehensive, and I like it that they have an actual meat counter, and fish counter and cheese counter—all staffed with people who know their meat, fish and cheese. You can also get Panettone pretty much year round, although of course a better selection in December.

It’s kind of a homely place, where I’m sure they recognize the regulars, without a lot of the trendoid crapola you can find at other upscale grocery stores, especially in this area.

However, they do have their moments, because Piazza’s is the only place I have ever seen…the Wine Purse.

Yes, froofy $20 plastic fake leopard and lame bags with zippers and trim to schlep your bottle of wine to that dinner party in Los Altos or Cupertino.

I suppose you could use it to disguise your Two-buck Chuck. Or, in a pinch, transport your teacup poodle to a play date.

If I ever see someone in the act of carrying one of these, I assure you I’ll do my best to get a shot. Although I may be laughing too hard to steady the camera.

Not in Kansas any more

Okay, here in the Valley They Call Silicon, it’s not all bleeding-edge thought leader ninja rockstar paradigm-shifting next-big-thinging. We also care about exercise.

Plus, there’s our fashion sense.

And here’s what can come of the vortex of paragraph one and paragraph two:

Yeah, you’re not going to see this sort of thing on your way to work, are you?

Life in the not-fast lane

Here in the Valley They Call Silicon, apparently it’s not enough to post speed limits in residential neighborhoods. Or even to warn folks to slow down, with or without a monetary penalty involved.

No, no—even in the area of traffic signs, we be like, all cool, yo:

(And let me just say that I note they avoid the phrase "speed kills". Because just say no.)

I begin to understand the deep cultural disconnect between this place and myself. I was never this cool, and it’s obviously too late to change that.

Gratitude Monday: Responsible pyrotechnics

As you know, California is in the midst of a multi-year drought that is having a (you’ll pardon me) trickle-down effect into our live in many ways. People and companies letting lawns go brown from not watering (or tearing them out and replacing them with drought-resistant landscaping), restaurants not automatically giving you glasses of water as you sit down, excess-use charges for homes and businesses.

There were even reports of replacing fireworks displays with laser light shows.

So I was surprised on Saturday—on the stroke of 2100 (the universal Start the Display time across the country)—to hear the distinct sound of explosions not too far away, and looked out my balcony to see beautiful fireworks going off from the direction of Cupertino.

Surprised and grateful.

If I were in Virginia, my neighbors would have invited me to join them in the cluster parking lot to set off sparklers, worms and other small fireworks. And of course there would be displays in every town in the Commonwealth.

But none of that individual stuff here, not with conditions as dry as they are.

So I’m here to tell you that watching those mostly red, white and blue starbursts through the trees, and hearing those pops, was just lovely. Thank you, Cupertino. Really appreciate that.

P.S. Also grateful that I didn't hear the Sunnyvale Fire Department heading out on any calls, so if anyone was setting off individual fireworks, they didn't have any 911-worthy mishaps.