Jimmy Buffet

Jimmy Buffet is clearly a marketing genius since he has built an entire successful industry preying on middle aged WASPS desire to be cool and by cool I mean some warped interpretation of the word that somehow translates to men in coconut bras and grass skirts.  Bold.  Very bold.

After attending my first Jimmy Buffet concert I can honestly say I hate his music.  I mean really - 2 hours of the same song with different words.  It was painful.  I even had to participate in the Fins song.  To his credit I did have a fabulous booze fuel blast before the concert and even after the concert when some DJ set up in the parking lot.  Basically, I had a fabulous time at the concert until he started playing. 

I guess the next time I got to Cheeseburger in Paradise I will hold my margarita high to Jimmy B. the marketing genius.

You can't teach and old dog new tricks...

I can think of a hundred examples of the truth in this statement but as it pertains to me I will never be able to keep up with my happenings in this blog.  I swear that I really am trying (that's what all old dogs say) but it has been almost 2 months since I have checked in.  

I am tired just thinking about all that has gone on in the tail end of summer.  I made a brief stops in Madison, Lake Tahoe, and Hawaii and I also participated in plenty of debauchery in SF including pool parties, a trip to wine country and even a weekend in the east bay soaking up all the suburbs have to offer, obviously I am speaking of Target :)  I swear I do work, I have to do something to pay for all the fun.  I guess what I have learned this summer is that California has a lot to offer in the form of entertainment and there is no better time to soak it up then the present.

Escaping Adulthood

While speaking with one of my favorite people today I  suggested the bright idea to go back to being 18 again, move into the dorms and make up some story that we were from a 15 person high school in the middle of Nowheresville, WI in order to re-attend college.

Her response... "expensive" truly the thoughts of a "real worlder" and no I do not mean a slutty MTV reality star, rather I am referring to an individual who has left the happy place of the student loan grace period and is fully a fully functioning, bill paying 40+ hour/week working adult.  The kind of person who would love to go back and some days probably needs return to the "glory" days of beer bongs, Monday night bar crawls and Saturday morning boozefests.

So to all my real worlders out there (you know who you are) we may not be able to "travel" back in time but just wait until retirement because "glory" days here we come. 

Do It Yourself

There is only a few moments when I feel I need a male counterpart of sorts and there tends to be central running theme: it is something I don't want to do.

After numerous swear words, moments of near breakdown and extreme levels of frustration and only 6 weeks of assembly (ha) I have a complete bedroom set.  I finally gave in and paid a million dollars to have the mid-beam and slats delivered from Ikea (which I forgot when I was at the store thanks to my Ikea boyfriend who distracted me from the task at hand) allowing me to complete my bed.  I now have a room consisting of a bed, dresser, wardrobe and futon chair that I put together by myself.  Who knew I was so handy?  While I am proud to say that I have some sort of ability with directions and tools I'm not going to lie it would have been a lot more satisfying to watch someone else do it for me.  

So when I'm putting together furniture, killing bugs, moving furniture,  along with several other things I would prefer to not be doing I tend to have moments of weakness and think to myself maybe I should consider a boyfriend but wait I can just hire someone to do all of these things for me.  So maybe I should stop considering a boyfriend and start making more money definitely a much easier task.

10 day forecast: Fog, fog and more fog

Some days the weather here makes me want to move to LA.  Well actually hell no because who would want to leave San Francisco, especially for LA but that is how much I can't stand the weather.  

Today's experience is the perfect example.  I was going out after work today so I thought hey I'll wear one of my cute dresses.  That was my first mistake.  The worst weather related incident involves flashing all of Union Square due to a nice gust of wind.  Not even a knee length (I know real hot) dress can keep from flying up when a gail force gust of wind comes knocking on its door.  I had to immediately end my cell conversation so I could walk down the street for probably a solid mile holding the sides of my dress down.  No only did the weather cause me to show my undies to the world, I was also forced to walk like a giant redheaded pigeon all the way down Sutter Street.  I'm sure the 10,000 tourists in my way were enjoying the view, at least I made someone's day.  And since I'm apparently pro-publishing my embarrassing moments I thought I would come clean and say this is not the first time I have had a dress-wind-flashing undies incident, I am quite prone to them actually.  The Bart is also a favorite flashing location of mine, that wind kicks up real nice when the trains roll in.

And this rant continues with my complaints about temperature...

I just want it to be warm and sunny.  There are three things I miss about Wisconsin:  being in college, the best friends a girl could ask for and the summer weather and that is in no particular order (sorry girls the constant fog is pushing summer weather to the top of my list).  Every afternoon I just watch that fog roll in and know that there will never be a day when I'm not dressed in a coat.  What is even worse is that in a few years I'll have to wear a hat, snow boots and socks to bed (again super sexy) when it's foggy because by then I will have shed my Wisconsin tolerance for cold weather.  So to those of you to the east of me, enjoy your summer weather and come winter look for a post where I'm gloating about not having to scrap off my car.  Well no, you'll still be gloating because I don't have a car and take the bus to work but you get the idea.  

www.shopaholicsanonymous.org

Yes it has been awhile and yes this is another comment on shopping...

So I decided that I need to start attending AA for shoppers.  I was in HM today and found some fabulous items that I just had to have (and no Becky I'm not exaggerating their necessity) but now that I am working on sticking to my budget I am aware of the fact that I cannot have all my hearts desires.  I actually had to call my mom, yes my mom and get some expert advice on how to back away from the clothing.  After talking me down and by down I mean out of the store it was her bright shinning idea to find a shoppers anonymous group.  Guess what??  It actually exists so for all of you addicts out there:  www.shopaholicsanonymous.org  I'll see you there!

A New Sport: Thrifting

The last two weekends I have taken to meandering  various parts of the city on foot with one of my roomies, definitely a worth while experience. 

Last weekend we walked the streets of our own neighborhood, checking out thrift shops.  Since I have a love of exponentially growing my clothing collection (and yes I consider it a collection) but am on a much tighter budget it is necessary for me to put my creativity to good use to solve this clothing dilemma.  My crafty solution is thrift shops.  Sifting through the racks at thrift shops is not only guaranteed to produce laughs, it is also immensely satisfying when you make a find.  Last weekend I found a really nice JCrew suit.  Probably not the most typical purchase from a thrift shop but hell I'll get more use out of the suit then I do any of the Halloween costumes I've purchased from Ragstock.  So until I start making the big bucks or live rent free Thrift Town here I come.   

Topography maps are a runners best friend.

Maybe "runner" isn't the best description of myself but the sun was shinning after work today and I decided that after a 40 minute bus ride some unwinding was in order.  

I found this website called www.run.com where you can put in your city and then people have posted runs they enjoy including a map of it.  I found one that went right by my house and thought it looked like a good option, it clocked in at 4.7 miles so being the non-runner I am, I cut out one mile and then set out down my block.  The first two miles were a breeze I flew down the street which was a good thing since I was going against traffic on a busy street and no one wants to look like the slow runner, I already look dumb when I'm running I don't need to look slow too.   As I shifted into my second mile I felt the terrain start an uphill grade, next thing I know I am at the base of what is the equivalent of a ski hill in Wisconsin.  Needless to say I ended up walking up and then back down this crazy hill only to be greeted by two more hills twice the size of the first.  After swearing a few times for attempting to run in San Francisco I headed up the hills probably at a turtles pace... half way through I was beginning to regret my over ambitious decision but once I got to the top I couldn't have been more excited.  I literally stopped dead in my tracks (and no not from pure exhaustion) to take in the scenery.  It was an amazing view of the city, it was a mostly fog free evening so I could see all the way to the water (I would specify bay or ocean but I'm not exactly sure).  Those of you planning on visiting me expect to take this path, not only did I get to see tidbits of a few different neighborhoods I got a gorgeous view of the landscape.  The path I took is a wonderful reminder to me that hard work pays off, there may be swearing, sweating and knee pain involved but in the end it is worth it. 

I'm not going to lie though right now I am getting a taste of what aging feels like because my joints are so stiff from the hills!

Air Mattress

I may currently be sleeping on an air mattress until I can afford a bed and my commute maybe 40 minutes on a bus like vehicle with a walk up Nob Hill which is about three and one-half Bascom Hills in one but none of that matters because the city is fucking awesome and so are the people in it.

Everyone here has been great.  One of my new bosses (it feels awkward calling her my boss since we are much more of a team and will definitely become friends) has been great to me.  She loaned me the air mattress I am currently sleeping on which as far as air mattresses go it is a great one (reminds me of the one Lexia slept on all of senior year... as Julie and Lindsey know it is definitely not wise to bring home a guy, there is a bouncing off hazard that could get interesting).  She also gave me a lamp and sheets to use, so I am getting by without a bed.  Although I am super pumped to be going to IKEA this weekend to get a proper bedroom set, which is another act of kindness of a new co-worker (she is taking me there with her truck and helping me unload and she lives like an hour from me) funny side note her name happens to be named Kate Brown... I know totally confusing that is going to cause e-mail issues.   I still wonder to this day why my parents chose the most common name in the world for me?  Anyway I need to sleep but there is more to come on the awesomeness of the city.  Cheers

And You Thought Foley was Great

My first job was a great experience.  I learned a lot about the working world and how I want to fit into it, met great friends, had a lot of great free booze on the company tab, hell there was even a drink cart.  It would be difficult to make an upgrade for someone one as entry level as myself but let me tell you an upgrade is exactly what I have made.

I have now stayed at two world class resorts on the company tab, dined at great restaurants, used the spa and taken free yoga classes, in my book that trumps the drink cart.  So yes Fairmont trumps the forever famous Foley Madison drink cart but having co-workers that I loved trumps a spa any day.  I cannot be positive that I will find the same close friends that I did at Foley (I miss you guys) but I really hope I do and there seem to be some likely candidates so keep your fingers crossed because I could really use a 5th or 6th friend out here in San Francisco!

From Hawks Landing to the Hood

I am relieved to announce that I am no longer homeless!  Although I will no longer reside in a home as beautiful as my aunts with home cooked meals, a car and two of the best cousins a girl could ask for I have my own place.  Well, not quite my own place but an apartment with three other girls who I met on craigslist (hopefully I won't be finding dates on craigslist anytime soon but it is an amazing resource for finding just about anything).  My new address is: 775 San Jose Ave. San Francisco CA 94110.  

For those of you who know nothing about San Francisco it is in the Mission neighborhood on the border of the Noe Valley neighborhood.  The Mission is loud, bustling, a little dirty but has the best burritos and weather in town.  It is traditionally a Mexican/Hispanic neighborhood and is known for bars and clubs and hipster scene (Becky you'll love it).  It can be a bit dangerous and I'm not going to lie I was overwhelmed at first but I'm not concerned about my surrounding blocks.  Noe Valley is a very nice neighborhood with a clean cut image filled with nice homes, cute shopping and coffee shops. Both neighborhoods have a lot of personality and are a good reflection on the contradictory nature of people.   Some days you just want to dress like you walked out of a Ralph Lauren catalogue and have a nice cup of coffee and stroll through boutiques but we all have a side to us that wants to get drunk and eat a burrito at 3 am.... or maybe that's just me but either way that describes my new home.  

Feeling like a Mondays vodka soda...

"No city invites the heart to come to life as San Francisco does.  Arrival in San Francisco is an experience in living." William Saroyan

I am sitting in the lobby of the Fairmont San Francisco which shortly will be the location of my new office and thinking to myself fuck I live here, well after Sunday I won't actually live in the Fairmont, but I live in San Francisco.  I have about 4 friends in the city (and I use the term loosely), minimal funds, a fear of getting on the bus because I hate doing things I don't know how to do in public and no apartment and all I can really feel is excitement with a splash (and by splash I mean about the amount of soda Mondays puts in a vodka soda) of fear.  The second I landed in this city I knew I made the right decision and if weather in any indication of right decisions it was raining when I left Madison and sunny and warm when I got to San Francisco.  

I know quotes are cheesy but the quote above is exactly what this move and San Francisco mean to me.  I'm writing this blog not because I love to blog, if you know me you know I'm much more of a conversationalist, but because this journey is one I'm going to want to remember (plus once I'm a mom I am going to need proof that I did something daring so my kids think I was cool).  Also now that my friends are all scattered around the country and we are busy with our own lives I don't want the distance to grow too big and lets be honest I need something to do with my time since I only have 4 friends tops.