Stamp Out the Anger

So I was having a booger of a day.  Sak will tell you that there are one through n reasons why I could go into the snappy, sullen funk - but this particular day was mostly due to realizing that it was already past 9 pm before all the chores and other necessary evils were done.  No time for videogames. No time for anime. No time for projects. No time for gathering inspiration (aka aimless internet surfing).  No time for my summertime fit-Penga outdoor evening romantic walk. No time for anything! So frustrating.

But luckily, Sak also knows that there are two ways to cheer me up.  Food and interesting odds and ends. I'm a simple person.  So while at the stays-open-late airport post office (mailing my hair, a card for my cousin at camp, and a few leftover thank you cards from our 4th of July party), Sak bought me some stamps:

I don't know if it's the old-school "public service announcement" drawings, or just the sheer randomness of it, but these "green" stamps crack me up. My favorite as an EE should be the "efficient light bulb" stamp, but I can't help but love the "insulate the house" one:

Insulate with what? A green wormy?

 I also got a sheet of the new love stamps, which are totally a two thumbs up in my opinion. Amazing how quickly my mood changed. I have a great husband who understands his odd wifu's needs.

Strawberry heart is my favorite, of course.

Anyway, it's kind of silly how being a grown-up (aka putting business before leisure and hobbies) can drive me mad.  It's a good thing that there are grown-up things (like stamps) that still have enough quirk and life in them to keep me sane.  Now if someone wants to draw hearts and smiley faces on my 401k portfolio and my house tax calculator sheet things, maybe then I'd want to look at those.

What's something little that's cheered you up recently?

Fort Point

With Sak's family here, we took a trip over to the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was foggy as usual, but still breath-taking in it's size and beauty.  Not to mention a tad bit eerie, after having seen The Bridge.

After walking about a third of the bridge (lame, I know), we went down under the bridge to Fort Point.

Pointing, at Fort Point. Hu hu huuuu.

They actually had to build the bridge in an arch, around the Civil War-era Fort in order not to disturb it.

I actually had never been to the Fort before, and it was pretty cool. Kind of like a free version of Alcatraz. Museum displays and tours and everything!

Alcatraz, just a hop and a skip away.

The inside of the Fort was almost Gladiator-esque, with open walkways and a courtyard in the middle.

Cannon turret side.

Housing side.

There were long, empty and eerie hallways.

And four floors ready for cannons to protect the Bay.

And ammo too, of course!

Steep spiral staircases lead up to the lighthouse.

With the underbelly of the Golden Gate over it all!

The cannons pointed out toward the entrance to the San Francisco Bay.

Out to the Pacific!

Fort Point is an awesome little gem, nestled beneath a larger one - and it's definitely worth checking out! They even do re-enactments there from time to time! (I'll be returning for one of those in the future, for sure. And here I thought only the East Coast had period re-enactments.)

But! Seriously what is this on the rations list?!

Adamantine?! Like the legendary mineral for making swords and armor in Final Fantasy/other RPGs? Hehe.

Do you have lesser known historical gems in your neighborhood? Share!

The Paper Anniversary

As much as we wanted a return trip to Hawaii for our first anniversary, it was definitely not in the post-home-buying cards.  And though there was not a whole lot of romance in the air this past weekend due to house guests, we still found a little time to exchange gifts.  Consider it an effort to prove to ourselves that yes, being married a whole year meant something special to us both.  Plus, who doesn't love a present?

Going with the traditional paper theme, I got Sak a paper making kit.  He's always talking about how hard it is to come by good quality origami paper, so I figured he could try and make his own (or at least understand why quality paper is priced the way it is).  And anything to increase one's "skills" is always a winner in my opinion.

Sak, after a few months of telling me that I was getting a paper clock (to be 100% on board with Wikipedia's anniversary chart), pleasantly surprised me with a print from one of my favorite web-comics, xkcd.

So sweet. So true.

Now I just have to find a frame for this guy.