I have been walking up and down San Francisco’s Mission Street during my lunch hours, enjoying the beauty of the city and observing its interesting buildings and inhabitants.
Images Copyright 2014 by Katy Dickinson
Drawings vs. Cartoons vs. Caricatures
My mother, Eleanor Dickinson, sketched my husband John Plocher during Sunday brunch last week. I have been thinking how different even a quick fine art sketch is from a cartoon or caricature. John had a caricature drawn at a conference last year by Jon Casey and has been using that image for his web thumbnail image. I experimented with the Avachara self-portrait website. While the Dickinson portrait and Casey caricature both show recognizable aspects of John, the Avachara image somehow manages to include all characteristics without being a likeness.
Photographs Copyright 2014 by Katy Dickinson, Drawing Copyright 2014 by Eleanor Dickinson
Filed under Home & Family, News & Reviews
Long Time Lady Friends
Theresa Halula and I have been friends since our early twenties – some time ago (ahem). We worked together at Sun Microsystems and our kids have grown up together. We are both dedicated gardeners – and Theresa has a second (third?) career as a certified horticulturalist. It was a delight for Theresa, Dan, Thomas, and Clara to be part of my son Paul’s college graduation celebration this weekend.
Images Copyright 2014 by Katy Dickinson and John Plocher
Filed under Home & Family
Paul’s Graduation
My son Paul has graduated from Foothill College! Hooray! We are so proud!
On Friday evening, he walked with his fellow Studio Art graduates, then we celebrated with a wonderful late dinner at Sienna Bistro in Willow Glen. On Saturday, Paul enjoyed a day of video and board games and BarBQ with friends and family at home. Paul starts his studies again in August at San Jose State University where he wants to earn a degree in studio art with a teaching credential.
Images Copyright 2014 by Katy Dickinson
Filed under Home & Family, News & Reviews
TechWomen 2014 Application Submitted!
I just submitted my application to be a 2014 TechWomen mentor. I have been supporting this excellent program of the US State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs since 2010 and I am eager to participate again. I hope to host an Emerging Leader from Africa or the Middle East in my new company Everwise in San Francisco. I want to expand my network of sisters in STEM!
Images Copyright 2011-2013 by Katy Dickinson
Filed under Mentoring & Other Business, News & Reviews
Tartan and Pipes for Baptism
Last year, my friend Laura and I bought tartan sashes at the Scottish Games. I discovered then that my Dickinson family may be historically associated with the Paisley district tartan. Laura’s family has connections to the Boyd tartan.
Today, in honor of the baptism of our Rector’s daughter Olivia, Laura and I wore our tartans to service. Rev. Channing Smith and his wife Mary were delighted to be baptizing their baby, so the Stewart Tartan Pipes and Drums marching bagpipe band were on hand to lead us out of church. Two of the drummers in the band were women!
Images Copyright 2014 by Katy Dickinson and John Plocher
Filed under Church, Home & Family
Re-Learning the San Francisco Mission
I am enjoying working at Everwise in San Francisco as their new Vice President – Mentoring. It is particularly fun to get re-acquainted with my hometown. I worked for years in our family business – in a building that does not exist any more. It was on Steuart Street at the base of Mission, across from what is now the Rincon Center but used to be the Rincon Annex US Post Office. I used to love looking at the WPA murals while waiting in line to refill our postal meter.
In the last two weeks, I have discovered an inexpensive place to park ($10/day instead of the $28/day I paid at first), and delightful places to eat closeby:
- Fang Chinese restaurant – for dinner.
- Fresh Roll Vietnamese restaurant – for a quick lunch
- Westfield – San Francisco Centre – Restaurants – very high end food court
- ‘wichcraft soup and sandwiches – for lunch
I have also admired the newly refurbished LeRoy King carousel and plan to ride it soon!
I am still working out how best to manage the San Jose – SF – San Jose commute. This takes between 1 hour 30 minutes, and 2 hours each way – depending on when I start. My husband John and I have both driven and taken the train. When he works from home, I have driven alone. Caltrain is less expensive ($18/day round trip) but I need to walk a mile from the station – so I arrive later and have to leave earlier. There are very few express (“Baby Bullet”) trains. If I ride a milk train, the trip is 50 minutes longer. Driving costs about $38/day ($.55/mile x 50 miles + $10 parking) but allows a flexible work schedule.
Images Copyright 2014 by Katy Dickinson
Filed under Home & Family, Mentoring & Other Business, News & Reviews
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