Like a mural, like life, like a companion, like good friend. 

Taking a second to appreciate someone, appreciate a moment out of the daily grind, is good for the soul.

Wall street art pieces stand in a parallel similarity to life, they are there one minute, and they could be gone the next.

This photo of the wall piece by local artist Eddie Colla was taken about a week or so ago. It is no longer there.

A life can never be duplicated or replaced. 

My prayers and thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones from the Tucson shootings [link via LAtimes].

Weekends are for multiple doses of coffee. Weekdays are for multiple doses of coffee.
Repeat often. I repeat them all day. What are your morning rituals?/xxo♥m

Riding around the Tenderloin, I recently came across a somewhat new coffee place: the Little Bird Coffeehouse on Geary st. Upon arrival I spotted a few bikes outside, signs of local coffee companies Ritual and De La Paz (which is delivered by bicycle) so I had to check it out.

I met Luke and he very nicely introduce me to their espresso of the day which I recall was a tad on the berry side, smooth and on the lighter side for an afternoon dose. It was cool to chat with him briefly, then I took a few snaps and I will more than likely be returning here for future mid-afternoon shots of delicious espresso. From a first impression the staff is quite friendly, the atmosphere is on the artsy side and it has a very young-20’s tenderloin energy kick to it.

There are some photos and events I didn’t get to publish last year, I will post them in the first couple of weeks of the new year so, some kind of my quasi-review of 2010.

I have enjoyed all the boot riders around town, specially cowboy style. We don’t really get the extreme winter snow blizzards here in the Bay Area, so a change of pace such as snow clothing is not really so necessary, I wear most of my clothes year-round (our summer would be September) and for the winter season, adding a few layers often time a heavier coat and some gloves for when it gets to the 30°s. In my case, I’m a huge fan of merino wool for not-so-cold days and chilly nights. Here I am riding with one of my favorite cowboy-style boots, the best for walking long distances and riding all over these hills. I am also a huge fan of wool socks.

The evenings are getting darker, people are layer masters and the evenings are getting crisp, though fairly nice, the Bay Area remains at a pleaseant weather.
I find the period between Thanksgiving and the end of the year, one a little hard to deal with. While riding so often on the streets and around multiple districts in the city, you can certainly sense people are very distracted, stressed, in a rush, and often just super drunk.
The city during the Holidays can be super fun, but it never goes out fashion to stay safe. Make sure those bike lights are at max, be aware of your surroundings and all those basic safety measurements.

I feel relatively safe as a woman riding alone at night. Someone recently asked if I was scared of the city at night. I see women riding late as night as well. A few riders here and there. Sometimes I am riding alone for many miles before I get home and that is OK.

A bad situation could present itself anywhere, in any big city. 
To be safe is to be aware of your surroundings at all times.
OK, that is all for now. Have fun +Ride on!

– – – –
(From November 10, 2010)
♥xxo.meli