Home Updates...

Ever since my interior renovations were completed, I started to work on the backyard with help of my greenthumb buddy, Howard, who is an expert in landscaping. It used to be a dog poo dump yard and weed forest for years and years....it was so bad that I got a $250 citation from the City of San Francisco.


Cookie's Backyard Heaven: "I eat these plants if my Daddy don't feed me enough!!"

I have been visiting local plant shops (Sloat Garden Center, Home Depot, and plant sales at Golden Gate Park's Botanical Garden) and have just bought whatever plants that look nice. During the first shopping spree, I bought a lot of Dahlias (which started to bloom now). But at subsequent trips, I started buying other perennials. However, the backyard looks like a science experiment with no landscape planning at all. It is a bit chaotic, but Howard said that by Fall, I can reaarrange everything...now is just an experimental stage to see what plants can live in my backyard.


Schu's Garden - Dog Dump Park No More



Different Dahlias (along with Daisies) blooming in early summer...

While I am at it...here are some updated photos of my downstairs entertainment area.... it is now complete, thanks to that magnificent new Sony 52"LCD TV and the cool Salamander AV Furniture! I love the 1080p picture from my Blu-ray collection, as well as the high-def programming on Direct TV, especially the Tennis Channel!!!


Look at that lovely 52" Sony Bravia LCD and that lively fern!

A nice floor lamp addition for some relaxing nightime reading...

Plans are in place: Asia Tour 2008!!!!

My itinerary is now set:
Oct 26: San Francisco to Hong Kong
Oct 29: Hong Kong to Beijing, China
Nov 2: Beijing to Bangkok, Thailand
Nov 7: Bangkok to Phuket
Nov 11: Phuket to Hong Kong
Nov 15: Hong Kong to San Francisco

I just hope the weather isn't too hot during this period...and I certainly hope there is not going to be any sand storm in Beijing. These past few days when shopping at my nearby "New Chinatown" neighborhood on Clement Street in the morning, I got a little home sick...it has been 3 years since I returned to my City of Birth...the feel of the sun and the smell of fresh produce!

My Latest San Francisco Contribution - San Francisco Contemporary Jewish Museum

Back in my May 5, 2005 entry (my visit to Berlin), I mentioned about a museum project in SF I was involved with: The San Francisco Contemporary Jewish Museum. It has officially opened its doors on June 7, 2008.


CJM Side Entrance (courtesy of Silverman & Light, Inc.)

This project started as far back as 1999. It took almost 10 years for it to materialize. The project has went through numerous financial obstacles. But in 2004, everything fell in place. My boss at S&L gave me the opportunity to work on this landmark project.


CJM Front Entrance (courtesy of Silverman & Light, Inc.)

Tonight, the museum gave the consultants and contractors a special appreciation event. This is my first time to see the museum since I went through a punchlist walkthru. At the walkthru, there were no exhibition and artwork. However, with everything in place, it is nothing less than spectacular. You can see more photos here. CJM has a totally different feel than the one I visited in Berlin. There is a much more positive look here, but the sense of disorientation is still there: there are hardly any vertical walls. To read more about this architecture by Daniel Libeskind, read here.


CJM Lobby - The Pardez (courtesy of Silverman & Light, Inc.)

I am very proud to be part of this project!!!