Several weeks ago Elaine came to visit us. I set out to take her to Mitchell's Ice Cream. Incidentally, this is among the best ice cream in the Bay Area. On with the story though: I do not have a very good sense of direction. We walked the wrong way for a long time. We eventually came upon this absolutely gorgeous building on Guerrero. The building is finished with gold details -- this only adds to how stunning it is. Elaine asked "Do you think that is gold leaf or just gold paint?" I said, "I really don't know" and joked that she should ask Tim-Tim/Mapquest -- the love of my life, my personal tour-guide, and bearer of an impressive wealth of "dad-knowledge". We eventually got going the right way, we ate our ice cream and life was good.
Fast forward to this weekend.
My mother spilled a can of coke on her keyboard. She charged me with the task of replacing it. I found a brand new mac keyboard and mouse on Craigslist. Considering that I only wanted the keyboard, the price was a little high -- but I figured there is nothing wrong with keeping an extra mouse around. Also, I am of the opinion that I would rather buy something that already exists in the real world...than go to a store and buy something that would encourage more production of that thing.
I was nearly talked out of buying the Craigslist keyboard -- but general disdain for visiting shopping malls combined with feelings of guilt about calling to cancel 10 minutes before I was scheduled to pick up the keyboard urged me onwards.
Tim and I set out last night to buy that keyboard. As we approached the address Tim suggested that perhaps we would end up at The Gold House. We did. I was delighted. Tim marveled once again at my strange Hunter S. Thompson luck.
I told the keyboard seller of our obsession with the building she lived in. Tim called Elaine to say, "the answer to your question is: It is gold leaf." Elaine paused to consider what that might mean, and burst out laughing and asking "How did you find out?" My new acquaintance told me that this house was spared by the 1906 earthquake and resulting fires. She also said that the current owner takes great pride in the building and replaces the gold leaf annually.
Today I was trying to find a picture of the house on the internet... for the purpose of this journal entry. I discovered something interesting. The house has a little more historical significance than being merely the object of my fancy.
