Head In Knots

Week in Pictures: Beauty

2012-01-22T13:13:00.000-08:00

This is much harder than I thought! I got three in, though...I swear I will complete the week one of these days!

Next week: A Day in the Life

A tulip in its final day...

He is a true beauty

If you look closely, you ca see the moon in those clouds.
The purple skyline was unbelievable.

Week in Pictures: Inspire

2012-01-15T13:42:00.000-08:00

So this week I failed miserably. A pic a day is hard work!

Theme for next week: Beauty

Week of 8 January 2012

A man with a vision that has been seen through many generations.

January...time to get healthy.

A pop of bright in a dreary winter

Listen Here: Can I Stay

2012-01-13T21:21:00.000-08:00

I was minding my own business, going through my day at work...and this song started playing (via Pandora). And...well...the words took hold.

This is some kinda romantic tune right here.

It's Up to You.

2012-01-09T08:37:00.000-08:00

My Week: Thanks.

2012-01-07T18:05:00.000-08:00

I thought I would try something new for 2012, and document life, one day at a time. Or, I should say, one picture at a time.

My goal is to take a photo a day, all pertaining to a theme. Themes may repeat, and I am open for suggestions. But, a unique photo a day, starting each Sunday. We'll see what happens!

This week...I am starting with: Thanks.

Next Week...Inspire.

Please leave your idea for a theme in the comments section (or let me know if you like/hate this idea).

Week of Sunday, 1 January.

Friends.

Luca

My quirky little neighborhood

My running shoes!

A good glass of vino

My job

Family

Reading is FUNdamental: Book Roll 2011

2012-01-05T05:10:00.000-08:00

Another year gone by, another batch of books read. Similar to my 2010 list, I figured I would break a few things down for 2011.

I didn't read as much as I would have liked...I have no good excuse, really. With addition of Kindle books to Overdrive (the best app ever), hopefully I'll be better in 2012!

January

Inside a Dog, Alexandra Horowitz
A really interesting examination into life as a dog -- what they like, don't like, smells, etc. Who knows how much is accurate -- until they can talk, we'll never know -- but did make remember sometimes to just let Luca be a dog.
Like Water for Elephants, Sarah Gruen
This has been on my Amazon recommendation list for a long time, and finally it was available at the library. I really enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at a circus (and, this just confirms my lack of desire to ever go to a circus, ever). The storyline/ending was a little predictable, and a little bit of a cop-out at the end, but overall a good, captivating read.

April
(not sure what happened to February & March...did I just boycott?)

April: Mary Ann in Autumn, Armistead Maupin
In what I am assuming is the last of the Tales of the City series, Mary Ann comes home. Maupin wrapped up a lot of loose ends in this book -- some unnecessarily-- but if you are a fan of TotC, this is a must read. How I wish they would continue the movies...I miss Laura Linney's Mary Ann & Olympia Dukakis's Mrs. Madrigal!
Less than Zero, Bret Ellis Easton
Like so many of Easton's books, Less than Zero is an examination of privilege in the 80s (or lack thereof). I have seen this heartbreaking movie several times, and so perhaps my mind was tainted with those faces & characters that I know so well. I had a rough time getting into the book. A good read, but I kept waiting for things (from the movie) to happen that never did.

May

Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
A definite classic, and deservingly so. Somehow, despite my English degree, there are many classics which I never read (probably on purpose)...this was one of them. This is not a quick read, and is one that, at times, is hard to follow, but is worth it! If anything, I now understand some random literary references that I never before understood.

June

My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands, Chelsea Handler
Ok, I totally did not get through this one. Read about 1/2, and after that, it just seemed like the same thing over and over again. I get it, she was a crazy youth (and probably continues to be a little bit so), but a lot of this book seemed like it was written for shock value.

July

Look at Me, Jennifer Egan
I read this one a long time ago, and it's been one of my favorite since. But I couldn't remember why, so thought it was a good time to check it out. A story of lives getting turned upside down, first love, and the complexity of people. Egan puts it all together so beautifully, you feel empathy for even the most horrid of characters.

August

Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
Still have not made it through this one. Fingers crossed that it will happen in 2012.
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, & Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins
Or, as I like to call it...3 days of my life, gone.

September

Super Sad True Love Story: A Novel, Gary Shteyngart
I really tried with this one...but couldn't do it.
The Imperfectionists, Tom Rachman
Intertwining tales of the staff at a failing Roman newsletter. I really didn't want this one to end, as there were a few stories where I just needed more closure. I loved reading about Rome so soon after being there, and loved the passage of time I experienced during the book.

October

One Day, David Nicholls
This movie looked horrible, but I had read the book was good. And it was...it was a fun read about a complicated relationship, even though I wanted to smack the shit out of the two main characters several times.
A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan
By far one of my favorite books of the year. (I should have known, I consistently enjoy reading Egan novels) Here, Goon Squad refers to time, and the book explores the passage of it. It is a series of vignettes that, at first, I wasn't too sure about, but as it went on, and the stories twined together more and more, I didn't want to put it down. Time, it is indeed a Goon.

November

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, Helen Simonson
Another one that was on my Amazon recommended for a long time...and I am glad I finally read it! It's a story of love in your later years -- can you find it? Is it still appropriate? Does what used to matter to you still matter? And, does new love take away from what you felt from those that are no longer with us? And...do you care? Perhaps because I could identify with a lot of it (from a 3rd party point of view), but I really liked reading this one.
Born to Run, Christopher McDougall
Since reading this book, I have totally changed my thinking about running. I now run with a joy (even when it is painful, or boring) knowing that it is what my body was born to do. This is something I have never been very convinced about...after all, I am short and rather squatty, and I used to only seem to bulk up when I run, rather than slim down like everyone else. However, this book argues that the human body of all shapes and sizes were meant to run, that we were able to survive as a species due to our ability to run longer than our prey. I am not sold on the barefoot running aspect, but do believe we tend to overcorrect problems that perhaps aren't really there. (this is how, I am convinced, I was in serious pain throughout the summer and until very recently...the foot doc put me in orthotics and shoes for overpronators, and that totally messed everything up. Since taking out the orthotics and going back to my old shoes, the pain has disappeared)

December

Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson
A must-read for any fan of Apple or innovation in general. I remember when so much of this happened, and it was fun to see everything that went behind bringing us personal computers...and also Jobs's belief that people don't know what they want until you show them something they must have. Also, Jobs was kind of a jerk.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T19:20:00.000-08:00

So it's been a while, I know! I got back from Colombia, hosted a party, started a new job, went to several holiday parties, hosted another party, went to Christmas Eve festivities, then Christmas day festivities, worked, and suddenly, it was the new year and I hadn't posted a thing since I returned for Colombia! I know, life is hard.

So, here's a look back at 2011. After a super crappy 2010, I have to say...things improved in 2011 and I'm looking forward to an awesome 2012.

Featuring:

Alisa's Bday lunch (and Nancy Pelosi)
The Princess Project: PROM 2011
Santa Cruz 10K & 1/2 Marathon
SuDrew's shower
Freccero's take Italy by storm
Susan's bachelorette
SuDrew Wedding
4th of July & tribute to dad
Wharf 2 Wharf, take 3
Wine Tasting Weekend
Mom's bday at the River
Mel's bday hop on, hop off bus pub crawl
Hike to Twin Peaks
Mendocino...Alexia's wedding & bday weekend
Healdsburg 1/2 Marathon weekend
Celebrating dad on his birthday
SLO-town!
Carneros wine tasting
Congratulations Tony & Sasha
Colombia...Cartagena & Bogota
Deck the halls, y'all

Not too bad, huh? Yes, there are some things missing...NCAA Friday, trolley parties, another trip to SLO (they were taken on my iPhone and I haven't been able to save those to my computer yet)...but what a fun year!

Final Day

2011-12-09T12:36:00.001-08:00

We started our last day in Bogota with a trip up to montserrate, a church on one of the highest peaks in Colombia. Much to the chagrin of our cab driver, I pronounced it without the "e" on the end (like in Barcelona), and because of that he almost wouldn't drive us.

They may explain how crazy he was driving, though. There were several times I thought we would plunge right off the side of the mountain we were zooming up. As our cab had no seatbelts, I was grabbing onto the handle in the back like it was my job. The church is rather high up there, so even after the huge climb in the car, you still have to go up further, either by cable car, funicular, or walk. We certainly weren't going to walk, and since the cable car wasn't open, our choice of the funicular was made for us.

The view from the top is pretty spectacular...I imagine even more so if the skies are clear. Being so far up, it is probably kind of foggy up there most days, but yesterday we had the added bonus of rain. It was still very pretty! Since it was a holiday, there were lots of local families hanging around up there, and there was a mass going on (feast of the immaculate conception, I think). While the names are similar, this Montserrate didn't remind me much of the one in Spain; where that one felt like an overhyped tourist trap, in Bogota it felt more true... It didn't feel so commercial, prices weren't completely jacked up. There were lots of vendors selling traditional food...I had a hard time walking through that part as I watched them unfolding intestines. No, really, intestines.

After a while of walking around, the cable car opened (and funicular closed), and we headed back down the hill to catch a cab and head back to our hood.

Again, our life was in this driver's hands, but luckily this time there were seatbelts. This dude was screaming down the hills, weaving in and out of traffic...my heart was in my throat throughout the ride. When we got back to the Parque 93, we had some trouble understanding the cost of the cab, and he then chastised me for my Spanish. In fairness to him, it wasn't totally correct and I'm totally rusty, In fairness to me, I was trying really hard, and after week of constant translating, I was a bit tired.

At any rate, I wanted to spend my last day walking around, checking out our neighborhood and another nearby. Bill went to get some tea and hang out near the park. I tried to go to the Usequen (sp) neighborhood, thinking it was just 10 blocks or so away...I was wrong, it was more like 20+! Once I realized this, I turned back around to head back to my hotel and reset my day. On my way, I passed a bunch of very young members of the Colombian military, cruising the streets with huge automatic weapons. Needless to say, this was a bit intimidating!

Back to the Zona Rosa (Zona T on the maps) I went, and decided to grab a beer a the local brewery. Bogota Beer Company is the kind of place my dad would have loved...lots of good home brews on tap, dark wood bar, locals hanging out watching futbol. This area is definitely the place to be, and where I would recommend anyone visiting bogota stay (or Parque 93, just a few blocks away). Tons of bars, restaurants, shopping, and local life. The Candelaria seemed like it would get quite seedy at night, whereas the area we were in felt super safe. On this particular night, it was hopping by about 4, since it was a holiday, the sun had made an appearance, and the Colombian national championship soccer game was on.

Soon we were done with dinner and on our way to the airport...another hair-raising cab ride, in which I grabbed the oh shit handle so much, my hand was sore! All the flights have been without incident..I lost Bill somewhere between customs and the transfer area in Houston; he sped outta there and our flights were in different terminals.

Overall, I enjoyed Colombia. It's fun going somewhere rather unexplored, and the heat in Cartagena forced me to really relax a bit and lounge; a nice transition between jobs! I loved getting lost in the old part of the town,watching the inner workings when not many tourists were around. The availability of fresh fruit, sliced,whole, or as juice, at every corner, was awesome. And so inexpensive! Then experiencing a version of the paseo, where the people of neighborhoods all seem to gather in the local plaza in the evening to eat and socialize, seemingly the only time of day they can do this and not be absolutely done in by the heat...it was a great way to get to know the city. And, of course, our roof pool was the bomb.

It was also cool to see a city like Bogota, which has so much history and so wants to start attracting the tourist dollar, but has some ways to go before it does (and, speaking as someone from a heavily touristed city, there are ways to do this-- carefully-- without pushing out those who have lived there a long time...and the infrastructure improvements and money coming in could be beneficial, once they ready). A guy that was staying at the same hotel in cartagena remarked to me that many people compared Buenos Aires and Bogota, and he felt Bogota had more charm. I could see that. Nestled there in the mountains, the landscape is just lovely. I think, someday, they could both be vying for the same tourist monies.

Día de las Velitas, Bogota

2011-12-07T18:48:00.000-08:00

Tonight was a big celebration throughout Bogota (and Colombia), and I wanted to make sure to get in on the action!

We headed down to the Zona Rosa, where the guy from our hotel recommended we go. Sure enough, it was crackin'. The restaurants were spilling over, and there were tons of people enjoying the "snow" on the street.

We ate and walked around a bit...by the time we left the area, people had finally started lighting the candles (las velitas). We came back to our hood and Parque 93 was all aflame with candles,and teeming with people. It was very cool to see...while the candles gave it a solemn feel, the holiday music and cheer made it very celebratory!

La Candeleria de Bogota.

2011-12-07T14:41:00.000-08:00

Well, today got off to a roaring start, literally, as my travel partner got sick somehow (flu? Altitude? Food? Who knows.). He was definitely not up for touring, so I headed out to La Candeleria district. This is the old center of the city, and has lots of churches and sites.

Getting there was an adventure all its own. The cabs here are...well...loco. There are a million of them, they are cheap, but they drive like maniacs and have no seatbelts in the back. We to ok. A shortcut over some hills, which was nice, but wow, was I a little nervous!

The sun was trying to peek its way out when I arrived to La Candeleria. I walked around quite a bit, past the Plaza Bolivar, into the First Church, and then through a few streets. I ended up getting myself a bit turned around and wandered into a rather sketchy hood! Once I figured this out,though, I turned myself right back around and continued to explore.

I spent quite a bit of time in the Museo de Oro, or Gold Museum.ot has a super extensive collection of Colombian gold artifacts,and is laid out in a way that tells a very good story. I spent a couple of hours in there,and by the time I can out, it was POURING. It soon passed, and I once again climbed into a cab to get back to our neighborhood.

This cab ride was scary as all get out. The traffic here is also a it nutty -- they have marked lanes,stop lights,right-of-ways,but no one seems to follow them. Add the rain to these facts, and,well, that oh shit handle got plenty of use by me!

Tonight is the Día de las Velitas, the kick off to the Colombian holiday season,and then tomorrow is a holiday (the guy I spoke to at the hotel yesterday told me Colombians will use any excuse for a holiday), so if bio is up to it, we'll head down to the zona rosa and watch the festivities.

¡Hola Bogota!

2011-12-06T18:58:00.001-08:00

We arrived to Bogota today, and by the time we left the hotel, it was rainy and rather dreary. So it was kind of a lazy day.

But this lovely image of Bocelli and the muppets met us when we walked through the park near our hotel. And,to me,nothing says Christmas like the muppets.

El Final Día en Cartagena

2011-12-06T18:46:00.000-08:00

I think yesterday may have been my favorite so far. It was cool(er), the city was rather peaceful, and I fell a bit in love with it.

I woke up, mowed down un desayuno tipico, and headed out on my merry way. The level of tourists had reduced considerably, and I felt like I was experiencing a more "true" Cartagena.

I decided to put myself on a little "Love in the Time of Cholera" tour, so my first stop was Fermina Daza's house and the bench from which Florentino Ariza watched her...also known as the Parque de Ferdinand Madrid. We had been there a few nights before when we went to the Wiskeria Zorba, but I loved seeing it during the day. I could imagine Florentino writing love poems from this little bench underneath the lush trees, pining in the heat for his crowned goddess. At the same time I was t asking this flight of fancy, there was a huge argument ensuing between an older woman, a male driver, and the police. When I arrived, there were only about 5 people involved...after I had walked around a bit, there were probably 20 or so, and the argument had moved around the block.

After that, I think I walked up and down every street in the walled city. I loved it. I got to see people lounging, people at work, tourists getting screwed, mass in session, tourists enjoying themselves...I feel like I finally got a good sense of the city, and it was lovely.

I felt I had to try as mush of the street food as possible...but it was so hot I wasn't ever hungry in the least. But I was thirsty, and I had the most delicious orange juice (.50$). Then, I finally had a small appetite, and chowed down on some underripe (delicious) mangos with salt,pepper, and lime (1$). It SO hit the spot. I continued my wandering, and eventually decided I should head back to my hotel for one last pool afternoon-- as someone who lives in SF and is from the inner Bay Area, a pool is a real treat! -- I found this cool bar in an old fortress part of the Wall. It wasn't open, but the security guard let me take a look and take some pics (I put the self-timer on for the one above). That as about two blocks from our hotel.

Instead of heading back though, I decided to gab some money. From the ATM, then get some coconut water. Coconut water is a rather new thing in the states (at least...it's suddenly more popular), and while it is not my favorite, it looked so delicious in its bolsita (little bag). And, .50$ later, it was soooo yummy!

I headed back to the pool for a few hours, reading the Steve Jobs biography...I was pretty into it and had a hard time tearing away! For dinner we went to a little German bar then back to the Wiskeria Zorba for a nightcap. Eventually, it was time for bed, since our flight to Bogota was early this morning.

I must say...while I am not sure I would ever go back, my last day definitely gave me a case of the smittens with Cartagena!

Bocagrande-bound

2011-12-05T06:36:00.000-08:00

Look, there I am!

What you can't see in the pic is that I am nice and crispy from the sun... Three days walking around in 90 degree heat will do that to even the most well-sunscreened person. (Don't worry, mom, it'll turn to brown and fade soon enough.)

Yesterday we took a loooonnggg walk all the way to the other end of Cartagena -- Bocagrande ("big mouth"). It's where all the high-rise hotels and resorts are, and the beach. The ocean breeze felt nice, but other than that... I think we made the right choice to stay in old town. Bocagrande lacks the charm of this side of town, and mainly feels like an old Hawaii or something. I think there will be a lot of updating happening in the next few years as Colombia becomes more of a destination; it will be interesting to see how that area changes.

We came back and once again it was siesta time for me by the pool. I was up there for a few hours reading, and was joined for a bit by two other guests at the hotel... They were originally from the Caribbean, but were currently living in NYC...for about a month, then going to Brasil. They were super nice and gave me some background on the hotel (owned by a coworker of the man's) .

For dinner we went back to the old town for some street food...unfortunately there weren't many options on a Sunday night! After that, there was just a lot of hanging out and drinking beers.

A struck by how many stray dogs there are here. It is rather sad...some look healthy but most are pretty raggedy and emaciated. They are all pretty friendly, and a few follow the police officers around as they patrol the streets. Last night one sat at my feet for a while as I ate a snack...I gave her a few pieces and she was my new best friend!

Storming the Castle

2011-12-03T20:57:00.000-08:00

I did not pack well for this trip, at all. I think I'll be ok when I get to Bogota, but I am not quite sure what I was thinking when I packed for Cartagena. Apparently, I forgot what heat + humidity is like. And neglected to take heed when a friend, who has been down here the last week, said it was so hot he hadn't worn a shirt in several days. No...I simply packed like I do for any other trip: a few tops, skirts, capris...

I realize now I have no real clue how to deal with hot weather, and certainly do not have the clothes for it. In SF, it gets not for a day or two, we whine, out on a cute dress, and get sunburned. It usually works of to; it's not humid and only lasts until nightfall. That is not the case here. Lesson learned.

We kicked off today with a desayuno tipico de Colombia -- a bunch of delicious tropical fruit, arepas, patacones and a bunch of other delicious fried things, and café Colombiano. It was so good and filling, we haven't had but some fruit since. (it's 5.30pm)

Off to Castillo San Felipe we went. This is a 17th century fortress not too far from the old town (and visible from the roof of my hotel). It's a pretty extensive castle, lots of nooks and crannies to explore. W found a few pockets of cool... There was one tower where the windows formed a sort of wind tunnel; somehow the air was cool and it felt like our heads were next to an air conditioning unit. We hung out there for a while - largely because we found some shade and couldn't move much more!

After a bit,we headed back down to el centro to cruise around the wall. The old city of Cartagena is surrounded by a huge wall, and you can walk pretty much the whole thing. We found that it was about beer o'clock,and luckily came upon a supermarket that had cans of Aguila. Once procured, we headed back on the wall and continued our walk.

It was a pretty cool way to see the city. The views were awesome and we got to see a few hidden alleys I'm not sure we would have otherwise seen. I found myself wondering if there was ever a time where the city cools down and gets quiet, and one can just wander without being covered in sweat?

We eventually ran into the end of the accessible wall, and landed in the old city. I grabbed some mango with salt and lime (fruit with salt,lime & sometimes pepper, is sold all sliced up on the streets for just about 1-2$ US), Bill got some local candy, and we headed back to the sweet airco of our hotel. I decided to take my siesta again by the pool (and actually took myself into the pool!), and have been up here reading and enjoying the music since!

Drinking like a Local

2011-12-03T06:59:00.001-08:00

A margarita?

Nope...this drink combines two of my favorite things -beer & salt - along with lime juice to form a michelada.

I had heard of these drinks before...an old co-worker swore by them, but they always included tomato juice (or clamato)...sort of like a bloody Mary sans vodka plus beer. I think that's the typical way in most of Latin America.

But here in Colombia, it's much simpler (and more to my taste). Threw back a few of these last night, using Aguila Light (Colombian beer...tastes kind of like Amstel light).

It's nice that much of the food here is corn-based (more on that deliciousness later) so I can enjoy the beer (balance the gluten intake). In fact, it's only 10am, already hot as hell, and I'm ready for a nice michelada already!

And We're Off!

2011-12-02T14:07:00.000-08:00

First, I must comment on this... Our cab ride from the Cartagena airport to our hotel cost about 5$US. This is astonishing to me. First, because Bill was ready to book us a car for 40$. And second...5$!?

Whew, with that out of the way...we made it safe and sound to Colombia. Not without some issues, of course. My flight out of San Francisco was late by about 25-30 minutes...not a great thing when I only had a 50 minute layover. The flight attendants on this United/Continental flight were very nice, however, answered my questions about the tight connection and even comped me a drink. I was sure I couldn't be the only one trying to make that connection, but it turns out, I was. Or, at least, no one else was running through the Houston airport on the same path as me.

Luckily, the flight from Houston to Bogota was also late, so I made it there as they were boarding. Whew, crisis averted! The second flight was very bumpy, with very ornery flight attendants who lost patience with some customers because they couldn't decide what they wanted to eat ( 1. It was past midnight and we had no clue they'd be throwing food at us, 2. They never told us what it was that they were throwing, 3. We were on our way to Colombia, and many of the passengers didn't speak English and thus had no idea what the flight attendant was yammering on about.) Shame, United/Continental.

Once we arrived to Bogota, we had lots of time to kill between flights. And our flight was delayed. The lack of concern by the airplane staff led Bill & I to believe that this delay is a normal thing. Eventually, after what seemed like forever (at least an hour delay), we were on our way...and hour after take off, we were touching down in Cartagena.

After our amazingly cheap cab ride, we arrived to the lovely air conditioning of our hotel. Man, this place is HOT. And humid. Those two things, plus approximately 1.25 hours of sleep in over 24 hours do not a happy Annie make. I needed a nap!

After lunch, that is exactly what we did. I went up to the roof deck and laid by the pool; Bill enjoyed the air conditioned room. That was about 5 hours ago... I am still by the pool. HOT, I tell you!

Fall Slips Away

2011-11-30T21:29:00.000-08:00

I know, I haven't written in a while! Lots of good reasons, lots of lame reasons, but I will be better going forward. But, for the time being, I thought I would share a few things I've been up to!

First, we celebrated my dad's birthday with a trip to the zoo!

A hummingbird followed us around the children's zoo

Later that night, we had a family photo shoot. Here are a few fun ones!

The following weekend, I headed down to SLO and was hosted by my wonderful friends Vanessa& Ben. Highlights included Bailey's-spiked capuccino in bed, a flight over SLO, and a dinner of delicious finger foods while watching a Sons of Anarchy marathon and playing Kinect. Love.

The fun didn't stop there. The following weekend, my mom, Aunt Pebbles, Luca & I took a little trip up to Carneros (near Sonoma) and did a little wine tasting, enjoying the gorgeous views!

Beautiful view from Gloria Ferrar

Hanging out at Larson Family

The bat ears were at full mast

Then, finally, Thanksgiving. This was a big, happy day in our family, as my brother got engaged to his girlfriend! Congrats to Tony & Sasha.

The Big Annoncement

So, as you can see...things have been a little busy!

Run, Annie, Run!

2011-11-02T21:01:00.000-07:00

The Finisher Medals are Wine Stoppers!

Some pumpkins @ Dry Creek General Store

I did it! The Healdsburg Half was a great time...I actually ran the full 13.1 miles (a first for me; I usually have to walk some), and it was a really beautiful course and morning.

When we started, it was probably about 40 degrees. BRRR. I don't think it has ever been so cold when I've started a race. It was still dark, but the sun was trying to peek out over the Coppola winery as we started. We ran right along side the freeway for a mile, then turned onto a lovely road that took us through vineyards and past wineries.

My friend Mark, pictured above, ran the whole time with me, which was really nice of him (he is a lot faster than me). While I didn't finish in the time I had originally hoped, thanks to some poorly timed bathroom stops and me just being slow, I am so excited that I ran the entire thing. W00T!

Sweet Daji

I assume I had a treat

After the race, we headed back to the cabin and rested for a bit. Then off to some wine tasting!

Our first stop was at the Dry Creek General Store, a gem of a deli right on Dry Creek. We had run right past it that morning, the sun barely shining, so it was great to visit with the heat turned up and the sun shining down. I truly love the autumn here in Northern California.

After that, we headed to Amista Vineyards, a dog-friendly spot right on Dry Creek Road. We grabbed a bottle of Chardonnay and lounged on their lovely patio. The dogs absolutely loved it, and their owners did, too!

Running 13.1 miles will tire a person out, so we soon went to rest our weary muscles. I can't imagine what running further would be like...and I don't think I will ever find out. I'm perfectly happy and proud of myself for finishing this bad boy!

A few late-harvest grapes

A cool trike at Amista

My boy.

Boo!

2011-10-31T03:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween everyone!

2011-10-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

In just a week, I'll be racing in my 5th (or 6th...can't remember) half marathon, the Healdsburg Wine Country 1/2 Marathon (or "Wine Run," as I call it). Last weekend I did my last "big" training run...9 miles. Felt pretty good, I really had the legs at the end so am feeling pretty good going into next week.

This is the first time I have really trained (and I use that loosely) for a half since my first one. It dawned on me that I am not as young as I once was, and maybe trying to get some mileage in before the race would be a good idea and prevent some injuries. Imagine that!

This race will be a special one for me. I've always dedicated my races to someone -- usually someone who has passed on (except the one for my gpa, as he is still alive & kickin'.) -- this time it is for my dad.

The race starts at the Coppola winery, which is the last place I really spent time with him. It was also a place we loved to go together; we discovered it one very hot day when we decided to go wine tasting. My mom thought it was too hot to leave the river, and dad & I were too hot to stay there (and tasting rooms have airco!). We went up to hit another one of our favorites, Meeker, then Geyser Peak, then, as we were driving back to go to a few others, we spotted what at the time was called "Unnamed," now called Coppola. It is a beautiful property, and I remember standing outside, overlooking the vineyards, and telling my dad it was so beautiful, it would be one of the few wineries where I wouldn't mind having my wedding. (his response? "Let's work on the boyfriend first.") We stayed and tasted, and discovered the Sofia Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine, something he always made sure to buy me when he was there (and I will always have on hand here at my house).

When I signed up for this race, I didn't realize it started at this special place. Now, looking back, it seems pretty serendipitous. While I know he wouldn't be happy that I signed up for another half marathon ("Annie, why would you do that? You know it hurts your knees. Can't you just do a shorter race? Or just not race at all."), I know he'd be proud. The first half I ever did, with Team in Training in honor of my grandmothers, ended with him in tears as I stepped across that finish line. This one, a week before what would have been his 59th birthday, I know he'll be watching me start from the balcony where we once stood, arms crossed with a little cup of Sofia, smiling his "I'm really happy but can't show it too much because I am supposed to be disapproving of this" smile.

Travel these Days...

2011-10-18T16:21:00.000-07:00

Since my rather impromptu trip is coming up soon, I am in full planning mode. But, as always when planning, I start thinking back to when I first started traveling.

I am trying to brush up a bit on my Spanish, and so am listening to a podcast (hosted by some Scots; sometimes the English is harder to understand than the Spanish!). The topic was introducing and talking about your family. Yes, pretty basic, but it's been a while and everything is a good reminder.

At any rate, I started to think about my first trip off to Spain. I was going for a while, and I wanted to have some pictures with me of my friends and family back home. I thought this would be a good way to keep them with me, but also to show the people I would meet who I was back home, and allow them to put faces with the names that I may mention in conversation. Because space was limited in my bag, I cut out pictures and made a collage. Then, I photocopied that collage in color so it was small and I could carry it easily, or hang it on my wall.

(Where I did this color copying I am not sure -- Mom's work? Kinko's? -- as color copiers were not as common back in 1998 as they are now. )

Likewise, when I wanted my parents to know who I was meeting, what I was seeing, etc., I had to go to El Corte Ingles, get my film developed (gasp, FILM. DEVELOP.), put the photos in an envelope with a stamp, and send them on their way in hopes they would arrive in a week or two. This was the only way they could share my experience with me.

It just dawned on me today how I've taken advantage of how much this has changed. Now, I generally have my phone with me, where I can show new friends pictures and even videos from home. I can post things to Facebook (or, for my mom, email) to allow people to share in my trip...whether they like it or not. And, this is all done instantly, no need for them to hang tight for a few weeks until the letter gets there.

And I love it. I love the way I can share, if I want, or find out what my friends are up to and be jealous. While I do miss the ritual of the past, I really do love the way things have changed.

(see...I'm not that old. Kids, feel free to play on my lawn.)

Excited.

2011-10-16T18:31:00.000-07:00

So far, I am about 50 pages into a guidebook (not much on a page, lots of pics)...I've just passed the "Things You Need to Know" pages, and I am already so excited I can hardly contain myself.

Why?

1. Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I get to go where he is from. I get to see where Love in the Time of Cholera is set. Yes, yes please.
2. I get to drink the best coffee in the world. (V- yes, I am excited to drink coffee)
3. I get to go to the beach in December.
4. I get to eat arepas on the regular.
5. I just read about patacones...PLANTAINS!

So we're going to Cartagena and Bogota...any and all suggestions would be really appreciated.
(and, yes, I know Medellin ROCKS, but we have 7 days, and choices must be made. Also, spare me about the 7 days. It's what we have. Those 7 days are going to ROCK SO HARD.)

New Year's Morning

2011-10-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

Well...my personal new year, anyway!

Travel Time!

2011-10-06T22:59:00.000-07:00

I am not the most spontaneous person in the world...anyone who knows me knows this as stone-cold fact.

Several years ago, I booked a trip to Seattle on somewhat of a whim. Prior to that, I had watched Under the Tuscan Sun and rather promptly booked a trip to Argentina.

And tonight? Well...

I got a text from my friend BillE, saying,"Taipei first week of December, you in?" Promptly followed with, "You should probably come. Why not?"

I responded that I was game, but that I'd rather go to South America. Within minutes, we had decided on Colombia.

And, an hour or so later, my trip was booked. Hopefully BillE has also booked his ticket, but if not, I'm going. And I can.not.wait.

Living.

2011-10-05T21:45:00.000-07:00

"[A]lmost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

- Steve Jobs

Shocked & Angry

2011-09-12T19:37:00.000-07:00

The peace and hope I felt yesterday was short lived.

I was perusing Facebook today and came across a post by a college friend of mine, describing an experience of another college friend of ours.

Please read it.

First off...I am so glad she is ok. That she is safe is the only good thing I can find in this story.

It saddens me, this type of thing. That we have so lost control of our perspective that we find mundane things "suspicious" just because someone looks like they may be of a different ethnicity (even if they are American citizens, born & raised here); that these same citizens can be held without being told why, then humiliated with strip searches and further held JUST BECAUSE THEY LOOK DIFFERENT...well, it sickens me.

I get that there are bad people out there. I also know they come in all shapes and sizes. While the terrorists that hit on 11 September were middle eastern, Timothy McVeigh, also a terrorist, was white. This type of profiling proves that the terrorists are still winning, that we are still in a state of constant and often ridiculous fear.

Reading this story felt much like the book Zeitoun, and I was compelled to share. It is easy to distance ourselves from this problem, from the racial profiling that goes on every day, all around us (generalizing groups as terrorists, or illegal immigrants, or thieves just because of how they look)...stories like this remind us that there is a real human element behind these generalizations, and how easy it is to lose grasp on reality.

Peace be with you, Shosh. And thank you for sharing your story.

10 Years...

2011-09-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

Last 24 August was not the first time I realized that life can forever change in just an instant.

I first truly realized this on 11 September 2001, as I sat in a conference center hearing news of some planes slamming into the World Trade Center of NYC, the impenetrable (or so I thought) Pentagon, and a field in rural Pennsylvania. This was a world before Twitter, before Facebook, before true smartphones. Information was spotty, at best, and rumors ran rampant.

It's hard to believe this was 10 years ago. Over the years, I've often thought about my experience on 9/11, as I am sure all other Americans have. Would my experience have been different had I been here in San Francisco? I would have just been getting up when the first plane hit, and the TV would not have been on yet. But, I likely would have seen it all happen far earlier than I did that day -- because I was already working and didn't have access to a TV, I didn't see the footage until much later that day.

Would I have gone into work? I am not sure what happened here, if people were sent home, or they toiled away for the day, but what would have happened?

Would I have felt safer or more connected? This is probably the one I wonder about the most. I was across the country, with some coworkers. I was far away from my friends & family, and wondering how I would get back home, and when. We had no clue what the next hours would bring us, much less the next few days (rumor had it that Atlanta, where I was, was also a target due to the CDC being there... looking back, I think it may have been one of the safer places, since CNN was just blocks away and these terrorists knew they needed the media to truly accomplish their mission).

All I knew at that point was that I was scared, & felt small and far away from everything.

Everyone's experience on that day was intensely personal, yet we are all connected by it. We went through a collective grieving process; the roller coaster of fear, denial, anger, and acceptance was one ridden by all. And here we are, 10 years later, and the ride has not ended. We continue to battle with our fear and demons, every time we get on a plane we wonder...

I wish we could recapture the spirit of unity that really glowed in those desperate days. Strangers were kind to one another. When I finally did get to go home several days later, despite the security line being almost literally a mile long, it was quiet and no one complained or was rude. I met a local firefighter who had travelled to Ground Zero and helped in the recovery efforts; he carried the spirit of giving back with him and bought the homeless dude in the Mission a pizza at 2am. We had perspective, 10 years ago.

Amazing how things change. Someday, I hope, we will get back there. I'd like to have faith that we will.

Never forget. #911

Yum: Chickpea and Roasted Red Pepper Salad

2011-09-08T22:11:00.000-07:00

Though summer has yet to arrive here in San Francisco, it seems to have done so in other parts of the state, enough so that our Farmers Markets are teeming with the good stuff. I visited one this weekend, and left with bags of fresh, lovely fruits & veggies.

After my recent success in roasting red peppers, I felt inspired to do so again, and, with a different recipe. I visited my favorite cooking blog, Smitten Kitchen, and found this yummy-looking recipe for a light summer salad with chickpeas. I just happen to have a bag of Rancho Gordo garbanzo beans in my cupboard, waiting for the perfect recipe, and off I went. While this is in no way a cooking blog, I know I always like finding recipes my friends have used, so I thought I would share!

I have to agree, fresh beans are the way to go in a recipe that features them. But, this recipe can also be made with the canned type.

Chickpea and Roasted Red Pepper Salad
adapted from Smitten Kitchen

2 large red peppers
~3 cups of garbanzo beans, rinse if they're from the can
1/4 cup fresh parsley (I used Italian)
~2 tbsp fresh mint
~2 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 dashes of sea salt
3 tbsp capers, rinsed
2 cloves garlic, minced
~2 tbsp olive oil

Roast the red peppers. Let cool, then peel. Cut into thin strips.
Mix peppers, beans, mint, parsley & capers in bowl.
In separate bowl, mix remainder of ingredients. Pour over bean/pepper mixture. Let sit in refrigerator at least one hour (longer is better to let the juices really set).

This is a great main salad or a side.

Putting the labor back in Labor Day

2011-09-05T13:08:00.001-07:00

It was Labor Day weekend...which for me has always signaled the end of summer, as it's the last weekend we get up at the River.

Last year was extremely difficult, and I couldn't wait to get through it. This year, however, it couldn't last long enough!

We started off Saturday with another run around the loop. I thought we had gone quite a bit faster...but I was wrong. I think. The final time was the same, but we had one slower mile than last go 'round... there was one point where B & I were going at around a 9.30 and that felt awesome.

The pain in my leg? Not so awesome. In fact...pretty much the opposite of awesome.

Once I got back to camp, it was time to take down the site. This may sound easy -- after all, camping is just a couple of tents, right? But no, at our campgrounds, the sites are like outdoor cabins, and include all the accoutrements of one. Tarps, tents, refrigerator...all needed to be cleaned, moved, stored. It was a good little workout.

Such a good workout that floating down the river sounded like a good way to cool off. Boy was I wrong. This float lasted FOREVER, since the river was almost running backwards. Instead of floating, we had to paddle most of the way. At least I earned my many, many drinks that night (and burnt off even more at the dance).

Sunday meant a 2 hour walk, including a trip over to our rival park on the forbidden trail. We felt like teenagers sneaking back there, as none of us have been there since we were told not to go. Of course, the minute we exited the trail, someone caught us, and we all reverted back to our 15 year old selves. It was pretty humorous to me! After we arrived back to our park, I was extremely exhausted!

It was a great last weekend to an interesting summer. And we made it...through a whole year of a roller coaster ride.

Every day I'm shufflin'...

A Year.

2011-08-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

It well may be

That we will never meet again

In this lifetime

So let me say before we part

So much of me

Is made of what I learned from you

You'll be with me

Like a handprint on my heart.
- For Good, Wicked

As I sit here and write, a year has passed since I last saw my father. (and, on the date this is published, it is a year since he passed onto his next adventure) I actually consider this a lucky thing...many of us don't see our parents on a super frequent basis, and it could have been much longer between visits if not for the summertime & River. And I'm lucky that it was a really fun day -- some wine tasting, him being concerned about me & my friend D eating, game playing at the River, and him being concerned about me & D getting home. So typical of my dad...even though I am (allegedly) a grown up, he still worried constantly.

It's very hard to believe, still, that he's gone. My brain is still having a hard time wrapping around this fact. More than once I have gone to call him, and very recently said something aloud about having to ask my dad something. There's a fuzziness I can't explain, and a sadness I just can't shake. I don't know if I ever will; I think a little brightness will always be gone from my life.

That said, the days have indeed gotten easier. I never would have believed it -- not a day goes by without me thinking of him -- but it's true. Things start to feel a little more normal. I can actually smile with true happiness, and laugh with glee. I don't know that I will ever be the person I was, but I am getting closer to her.

The grieving process is a funny one. It is not linear, as the common lore will have you believe. You can be going on in your day, happy as a clam, then all of a sudden you are knocked on your ass by a smell, a song, or a random comment. You can be really angry at the world, and then in the next moment be laughing your butt off. You can feel empathy even through your own hurt, and joy through the pain. It is weird. I wish it was something I didn't know, but...there's nothing I can do about it now.

My father was scheduled to have a procedure the day after he passed away, first exploratory to see if there were any blockages in his heart, and, if found, to put in stents. Many have asked me if I feel this would have changed things, if I am mad that this procedure didn't happen earlier (it was scheduled for a few weeks). I find it a waste of time to think abut these things, and there is no sense in being angry. I truly believe things happen that are out of our control (which is REALLY had for a control freak like me).

What I'd rather think about is his last day. I know I spoke to him less than 12 hours before he passed -- I can't quite remember about what, I know part of it was about my mom's birthday present, part of it was about me coming to the hospital for his procedure, but not sure what else. My uncle said he was walking around all happy that day, "annoyingly" so...which makes me happy. I once wrote a paper in college about death (in Spanish), and wondered if, in some subconscious way, people realize it is their last day, and make peace with it. Not thoughtfully, but deep down, their psyche realizes it. I don't know, but I'd like to think this was the case, I'd like to think of his last moments as peaceful.

And that's the thought that has helped carry me through each day over this past year, and will continue to give me strength in the years to come as I continue on this new journey.

Skip it: Something Borrowed

2011-08-14T18:51:00.000-07:00

It's been a day or two since I watched this movie...and I am still struggling to figure out who thought it was a good idea. Maybe they thought if they put together a good cast, the movie would sell on that alone.

**may contain spoilers...which shouldn't matter, because you should not watch this movie...ever.**

Because there is nothing more there, really. I watched it and was let there wondering why Ginnifer Goodwin's character would ever be friends with a girl like Kate Hudson's character, and how someone like Colin Egglesfield character would love her that much to want to marry her.

Then, we are asked to be sympathetic to the fact that Ginnifer & Colin are really in love, go behind her best friend's back, and he never considers leaving.

I guess underlying it all -- we all have a friend at some point who always wins, who never hears no. But that usually ends by the time we're in our mid-20's (if not sooner). These people are 30+. The only person based in reality, to me, was John Krasinski's character, who was telling his best friend that he was tired of her shit and to grow up...well, until he then did the totally chick-flick (and NOT based in reality) thing of confessing love.

Movies like this bother me, because they ask us to like profoundly unlikeable characters, without any development. And this isn't a knock against the actors; all in this movie did the best with what they were given (except Kate Hudson, who was just kinda Shouty McYellerson all over the place). They treat us like we are stupid and lack any sense whatsoever...which, perhaps in choosing to watch this movie, we are.

Read This: Hunger Games Trilogy

2011-08-10T21:49:00.000-07:00

I have always been fascinated by writers (well, artists in general, but especially books). How they can have an idea that can carry through two hundred pages, and hold the attention of readers. This is especially true of more intricate stories, where consistency and attention to the smallest of details really count.

I had been hearing about The Hunger Games Trilogy for quite some time...I don't always take to the most popular books (i.e. Twilight, Harry Potter), but something drew me to this trilogy. Perhaps because there's a movie coming out next year that I know will be popular...who knows. A week or two ago, I noticed that the book was around 5$ on the Kindle, and so I thought, why not?

I started reading it last week, and finished the 3rd book of the series by Sunday. Read all three in about 5 days. They were that gripping and exciting that I couldn't put them down. And completely, totally f-ed up.

The Hunger Games refers to a horrible death match forced upon the constituents of a post-apocalyptical world as a form of control. The books follow Katniss Everdeen, a rebellious teenager drafted into the Hunger Games, who ends up starting a fire that cannot be contained.

On the surface, it's a messed up, gory story full of craziness. But, if you go a step further, there is a scary message in there about mind control, and a more philosophical question of how do we know what is real and what is propaganda. And also how terrible people can be to one another when they are fearful of losing control and there are no checks and balances.

There is some very messed up stuff in there, and I would love a peek into Collins's brain that she could come up with it. And that she could continue to come up with new twists along the way. There must be some crazy stuff going on in there!

I seriously could not put these books down, and now I am so excited for the movies. I can not imagine how they are going to translate some of this to the big screen...I just can't imagine it at all.

Earning the Wine!

2011-08-07T21:42:00.001-07:00

This past weekend was the "big" wine tasting event up at the River.

I put big in quotes because, while this is probably the biggest weekend up there, the event itself is two hours, where we get dressed up cute and drink wine, possibly win a prize or two, and talk about how we can't wait for the dance. It is one of the most fun weekends of my year, and this year didn't disappoint!

For the first time, I did the loop with a few of my friends. I usually only run about 3-3.5 miles while I am up there -- breathing is tough with the allergies -- and I'll admit I was a little scared to do the full 7.5ish miles with them. I hadn't run that far in over 1.5 years!

Pretty excited that I completed it with no walking. And without too much pain in the hips (until the end). We chatted the entire time and the miles went by rather quickly...and, since we were on a highway, we had to be alert for the cars, too!

This gives me great hope for the training I'll need to do for the half marathon at the end of October. I kept this pace pretty easily, and hopefully in the next few months can pick up the pace a tiny bit and up my distance. 10min/mile is my goal for the half!

Score Tonight!

2011-08-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, my friends and I joined a bowling league. On my way there on Tuesdays, and now Thursdays, without fail, this song gets stuck in my head. I wish I could convince my team to dress up and sing like this...it would be quite awesome.

I first watched Grease 2 with my friend K in high school. She hearts and rainbows loved this movie. I prefer the original grease, but the campiness of this one has grown on me over the years. I mean, Michelle Pfeiffer acting the tough but sensitive girl (the new Rizzo?)? The double entendres? The decade confusion? This is all priceless.

And...nuns bowling. Can you beat that?

Hope

2011-08-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

It's funny how things can change so quickly in life. The winds shift and suddenly things are moving in a completely different direction, and there's little we can do about it other than accept and go with the flow.

Sometimes things seem so hopeful and bright, and before you know it, a false move makes that hope disappear and the brightness dull a little.

I think people have an amazing capacity to deal with these setbacks, but I wonder how much pushing must be done to keep moving forward, and not give in to the headwinds.

Who's Having Fun?

2011-07-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

These guys definitely are.

Their joy is infectious.

Hmmm...

2011-07-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

Teehee.

Extended Family

2011-07-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

On 4th of July weekend, we were lucky enough to have many members of our River family join us in a special tribute to my dad. The River is the last place I saw my dad, and if it wasn't special to me already, it is even moreso now.

We dedicated a bench in the bocce ball area, a place he was so excited to see when they first put it in, to him.

It has now been almost 11 months, and I can hardly believe it. Thankfully, we have a great support system everywhere we go, and his memory is alive all over the place.

Maybe

2011-07-17T10:35:00.000-07:00

Another one of my favorites!

Best Things: Food & Wine Academy of Florence

2011-07-14T17:23:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when my mom and brother agreed to do a cooking class with me in Florence. I've been to Florence a few times, and always found myself drawn to the Tuscan cuisine (perhaps because there doesn't seem to be a lot of fish?), so thought it would be the perfect place to learn a thing or two. Plus, my friends A & M had taken a class there and raved about it, so, off we went!

We decided on a class at the Food & Wine Academy of Florence, and booked through the Viator website. You can also book through other sites, but I always like Viator to keep all my tours together in one easy place (and, you can often find coupons, which is always a bonus!).

Biscottis at the Central Market

The class started bright and early with a group meet up in front of the Florencetown offices. We met our chef for the day -- Giovanni -- and his sous chef, who promptly took us over to the Mercado San Lorenzo to buy the supplies for the day. We first stopped off at the Conti shop to taste some olive oil and balsamic vinegar...and grab some goods! (I personally got La Salamoia, a Tuscan grey salt mixture; I now sprinkle it on everything!) We continued our tour to pick up tomatoes, eggs, fresh cheese, eggplant, bread, and freshly ground meat straight -- all necessities for our upcoming meal. I was already getting excited!

After the market, we were taken to a back alley and a closed stall of some sort...which we soon discovered was actually an old restaurant and our home base for the day. Once inside, Giovanni laid out the menu for the day -- Bruschetta, Eggplant Caprese, fresh pasta with meat sauce, veggie pasta, and tiramisu to top it off. And, as we all spied, sitting upon the counter, WINE!

Our class had about 12 people from all over the world -- the USA, Canada, Britain, Georgia (the country) were all represented -- and everyone got to take a part in the prepping of food. I personally sliced some tomatoes and possibly whipped some eggs, though I am not 100% positive on that one!

We started by making our tiramisu, as it took the longest and also needed to sit for a while to really build the flavor. Once that was done, it was time to start on the pasta itself. My brother did a fine job mixing up the flour and eggs to create a great doughy base. As that was setting for about 10 minutes, we started working on other parts of our meal. This was one thing I really liked -- often when you are in the kitchen, you are called on to multi-task so the food is all ready around the same time; in this class, we learned how to effectively manage all the dishes at once.

Soon it was time to finish off the pasta and sauce, all which took about 10-15 minutes total. This was a totally simple meal, and we were all jonesing to eat it right away! Luckily, they held us over a bit with some vino. Eventually the meal was all done and we were ready to chow down!

Of course, our group ended up being the last ones standing. We helped Giovanni polish off the wine (can't leave a wounded soldier on our watch) and got some details on where to eat that night! While I have seen some reviews complain about the lack of hands on activity, but I thought our class size was perfect, and we all got to contribute (if we wanted). And, most importantly, everything we cooked could be made easily at home. Cooking in Tuscany is one thing I would highly, highly recommend.

Way Back Machine: The Promise

2011-07-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

I was going through my music the other day, and happened upon this song. I had forgotten all about it... but it was on an album pivotal to my college years, and reminds me so much of running with my lax buddy S (always at the back of the pack, the two of us chatting, much to the chagrin of our coach).

Lovely.

Best Things: Blue Trail, Cinque Terre

2011-07-07T20:33:00.000-07:00

The Cinque Terre of Italy's Ligurian coast must be one of the most beautiful places on earth. These small, peaceful towns offer great views, kind people, delicious food, and lots of tourists! And, as an aside, I am in no way anti-tourist, hell, I usually am one, but these are small towns and the many tourists are the main drawback. I heard a lot of Italian being spoken as well, so it is perhaps a favorite regional destination, as well. If you go at an off time -- September was my favorite -- and perhaps during the week, the crowds will be smaller.

I have now been there twice, staying in Monterosso al Mare, and had the pleasure of wandering the towns both times. There are many trails around the CT, and many smaller towns that may not be as crowded as the main five, but I think you would be remiss to go to the area and not spend one day on the Blue Trail.

Most books I've seen have you starting at the most southern town of Riomaggiore and hiking north. I am not quite sure why, but I haven't seen many (if any at all) that have you start in Monterosso. I guess this would ease you into the hike, as that direction starts out rather flat, and that may be a plus for some people. I have started both times in Monterosso, which I think is the better way (there may be bias).

One thing to know is that you must have a pass to hike the trail. It is a protected park, and the locals are doing their best to sustain it. There are several passes and several ways to get them -- at the train stations, at the entry gates in each town, and I believe at the tourist offices of the neighboring towns like La Spezia. Both times I have gone, I have purchased the one-day, trail + train pass at the Monterosso train station (need to go upstairs to the special office). In April 2011, this card cost 10E, and could only be paid for in cash. This pass allowed us to get on trains or hike for the entire day, which was ideal. They told me I needed to validate it at the train station, so I obliged!

A few pointers...wear comfortable clothes, and LAYERS! Have a bottle of water in your day pack, and a few snacks. Eat a good breakfast before you head on the trail, and leave early. Oh, yes, and make sure to bring sunscreen and reapply during the day.

We started early, hitting the starting gate at the top of Monterosso by 9am. It was already heating up! The gate guards checked our passes to make sure they were valid, so be sure to not lose them and keep them handy. It should be noted...in my opinion, this stretch between Monterosso & Vernazza is the most challenging part of the trail. I am in good shape, and it was still a good workout for me. You go through quite a steep altitude change, so make sure to take your time as you hike up. I've seen very old people on this trail, so I know it can be done, but slowly. This trail can get very narrow, and there are often hikers on there with huge hiking poles that will not cede the right of way. Be prepared.

Arriving to Vernazza from this direction affords a stunning view of the little cove town. Once you enter the town, you continue to follow the trail right down to the water. This is a great time for a gelato and to dip your feet in the Med. The path is pretty clearly marked, and takes you back up through the town, past the train station, to the trail towards Corniglia. (this second time, we took the train from here on out... it started training and we'd heard this trail was closed; turns out it was the Corniglia to Manarola part.)

Corniglia is the only town not accessible by water. It sits perched on the hill, and even if you take the train, you may have a bit of a hike ahead of you...there are 382 steps from the train station to the town. There is a bus that will take you up there, included in your pass. We didn't realize that until it was too late! Since this town is all on a hill, you'll get a bit of a workout just walking around. It is worth it to walk all the way to the top and look out at the vista; it's pretty amazing.

Soon, you'll want to head to Manarola, another very picturesque town (and I think my mom's fave). If you head to the bottom, harbor area, you may find sunbathers lounging along the rock walls. It's another opportunity to dip your toes in the Med, or simply look straight down into the clear water and check out the fishies.

After Manarola comes the easiest part of the trail -- Via dell' Amore. This is a flat, 20-minute walk is a celebration of love, and decorated with lovers locks. Local lore tells us lovers go and hitch their lock to parts of the trail, then throw the key into ocean, sealing their fate as a couple forever. I find this so endearing...but it doesn't explain some of the combination locks we found. I wonder if there is a huge pile of keys right along the coast?

Both times I've visited Riomaggiore, it has been at the end of a long day, so I am not sure it gets the fairest shake from me. I am sure it is a lovely little town. For me, it has always been a welcome site that my day's journey is almost done.

Doing the walk + train took us about 4 hours. Doing hiking only, one way, is about 5-6 hours depending on your pace.

Happy Birthday, America!

2011-07-04T19:31:00.000-07:00

The Self-Tanning Incident

2011-06-28T22:54:00.001-07:00

While I know this sounds like the title of a How I Met your Mother episode, wherein Ted wakes up and doesn't remember how he ended up in a spray tanning booth with a hickey, it is not. It is, in fact, a very real event that happened to yours truly, and I am just finally getting over it.

It was the weekend of my friend S's wedding, and I realized that my legs were almost transparent, so long had it been since they last saw the sun. I had just a few hours before I needed to be at the rehearsal, and ran to the store to find some lotion that may give my legs a hint of color and perhaps a little shimmer.

When that search came up empty, I grabbed what I thought would be the next best thing -- spray tanner. Now...I don't know that I have ever used this stuff, so I am not quite sure what possessed me to purchase this product, L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Properfect Airbrush. But it looked fancy so I thought I would give it a go.

Problem #1...there is no tint to show where you have sprayed. So, you just have to hope you are getting all the good spots and not accidentally skipping over parts. Problem #2...the button is a bit tough to hold down, so, if you are trying to hold your leg up and spray (oh, yeah, and trying to keep balance), things could get a little tough. Problem #3...it smells.

So I went ahead and sprayed, let it dry, and headed out to the rehearsal. I was in a dress, but it was in the evening, so I didn't give what my legs may be looking like a second thought. Luckily, we were either at a table or in a dark establishment most of the evening.

Because the next morning, when I woke up, I took one look at my legs and wondered who the heck beat me up the night before. I had huge, terrible streaks all over my legs. Spotty coverage, some running...it was horrible. I started panicking...there was nothing I could do to hide this; even trying to spray to even it out did nothing. I had to do something I hadn't done in years -- wear nylons. Yes, it was that bad.

My point? Well, there are a few....1. Don't self-tan on your own...it is worth the 25$ to have someone else spray you. 2. If you do self-tan on your own, don't be stupid like me; test it out a week or two ahead and then give yourself a day or two to even things out. 3. Rubbing alcohol doesn't work on stains that have set on your legs. 3. Don't buy this particular product. There are way better ones out there (according to friends and family that use them).

And, also, to have a pair of nylons on hand in case of mishaps (tanning, shaving, falling, etc.). They come in handy.

I will say, however, that the actual color that showed was a nice, medium color, pretty akin to my natural tan, and not at all orange. Oh, and it lasted a while. It was about 2 weeks before all the color had gone away.

Summertime!

2011-06-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

Summertime rolled around, and finally so did the sunshine!

We had a couple days of 80+ degree weather here in the City proper. That so rarely happens...we could walk around at night with no jacket on!

I sometimes wonder if this is something I would want on a daily basis, or, if the fact that it happens so rarely makes it really special. I haven't arrived at a decision yet.

Best Things: Monterosso al Mare

2011-06-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

The Old Town of Monterosso

The Cinque Terre (Five Lands) of Northern Italy are truly spectacular. Each of the towns -- Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarolo, and Riomaggiore -- are places I feel so lucky to have ever seen. I've now been there twice, and could probably go again if I went with someone who likes hiking (more on that in another post).

Vernazza gets mentioned quite often as the most picturesque, and recommended to all as THE place to stay. And, I will admit, the first time I went to this area, I tried to book a place there. Those that I wanted had no vacancy, so I ended up in Monterosso al Mare. Now, looking back, I am so glad I did!

This guy was just hanging out

Monterosso is the northernmost of the towns; it is also the only town of the five with a "sandy" beach, and also quite a few hotel options. We stayed at the Albergo Pasquale, an ideal hotel right on the crux of the old and new towns. I cannot imagine a better location. And, if I may for a moment...we were so lucky with this hotel. Our room for the three of us was huge -- it had a king bed (which we probably could have split if we thought about it -- and a little side room with a twin bed and its own TV. And, while all the rooms have ocean views (the hotel is kind of built into the side of a hill), we scored one of the rooms with a balcony. It was awesome. They also provided one of the best breakfasts we had on all of our trip. It included a full spread of bread, cheeses, salami, cereals, whole fruit, fruit salad...AND, eggs to order. Plus, they had possibly the best cappuccino I ever had. The cappuccinos in Italy are something else, really. Perhaps because they use real, whole milk instead of the non-fat I would usually get here, or perhaps because they are made with a little something extra. I dunno...the one here was awesome.

Mom puts her feet in the Med

Monterosso is a great start to the Blue Trail...I will say it is quite a challenging hike from here to Vernazza, it is absolutely lovely. Most maps seem to have you starting at Riomaggiore...which I guess makes sense if you want to end in a larger town with more dining and drinking options. But, if you are staying in Monterosso, you can just hop on the train back and eat and drink to your heart's content.

Of all the towns, Monterosso has the most options to keep busy, especially in the evening. There are many restaurants and little bars in the older part of town, and due to the resorts, there is a lot going on in the evening on the newer side, as well. It has a very relaxed vibe, and I think even if it were very crowded, there is enough space in the city where visitors won't be on top of each other...the other towns are much smaller and I can see the crowds being off-putting. Also, if you want to try some delicious focaccia and pesto al gnocchi...this is your place (the best pesto I've ever had, I think, was at Ciak...my steak was also delicious. The others with whom I was dining were more indifferent about their meals there).

Sunset view of the newer side of town.

Monterosso is very accessible. Most of the trains going north and south seem to stop here (both the locals and the regionals). It's especially helpful when you are exhausted after a day of hiking and just want to get home! From Milan, we took a train directly here; this option is also available from Pisa. I wouldn't recommend driving to the Cinque Terre in general -- the roads seem rather treacherous -- but taking the train is simple and extremely scenic (especially if you get to go through Genoa).

I Promise...

2011-06-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

...to stop talking about my trip at some point. I just did so many cool things, and wish I was still on vacation, that I want to share!

Here's a little something to get you through the day.

(yes, I know it is not Friday...but I dare you not to dance during this song. DARE!)

Best Things: Vatican Necropolis

2011-06-16T10:49:00.000-07:00

Tony & Mom entering The Vatican

The Vatican is one of my favorite places. It is the main reason I am willing to return to Rome again and again...the artistry and history in this particular little city/country blows my mind, in large part because much of it is Renaissance, which is my favorite.

I had only vaguely heard of the Necropolis and Grottos of St. Peter's Basilica. I had never given it much thought until my mom put it on her "must do" list. Located beneath the Basilica, it follows history through the very early days of Catholicism in Rome, through to the modern day practices. It is quite a history lesson and quite an experience.

Tony & Mom pretending to ask directions

First off...you MUST reserve in advance. The Uffizi Scavi's (Excavation Office) website has all the detailed information. Follow it. It is very important! You will set your time, date, number of people, language, and all that good stuff. The office is quite responsive (which surprised me). They will get back to you with your appointment date and time, and how to pay. It is all very organized and easy. At the time we went, it was 12E/person.

When your big day finally arrives, you'll go all the way to the left side of Piazza San Pietro (towards the Petriano Entrance). About 15 minutes before your appointment time, the nice Swiss Guard in the fancy uniforms will allow you to head on back. They'll check your confirmation, so make sure to have it handy. I actually really like this part; it is a part of the city that not everyone gets to see, and allows you to experience the working part of the Vatican, versus just the tourist part. The guards inside are helpful and will guide you the correct way should you appear to be veering off the path.

Once at the Uffizi Scavi, one person in your party should go and check in. This is where I realized they are serious about dress code...I had a tank top on because it was warm outside, but had my sweater with me to cover my shoulders. The moment I walked in, the guy behind the counter scolded me. I quickly told him I had my sweater, and he pretty much made me put it on before I walked back out. So...they are SERIOUS about the shoulders covered/knees covered rule!

How Much is that Basilica in the Window?

Other rules they're serious about? No babies (one couple left their little one with the father's brother, who appeared to be a priest), no big bags (you need to check those by the Petriano entrance area), and no cameras. At first I was bummed about this, but it's rather dark down there, so photos wouldn't be so great, anyway.

They keep groups to about 12, and do their best to accommodate your language. Our guide was a local university student (seemingly matriculated, because I am pretty sure she was my age or older) who was a native English speaker (from New Jersey or something) and also spoke Arabic (I think...one of the Middle Eastern languages and that sounds the most correct). At any rate, they'll do their best to speak in your language.

We were lucky to have a terrific guide, though I would be surprised if there were any bad ones in the bunch. She was very educated about church history, which was awesome for a nerd like me... some people in our group liked it for the religious reasons; I enjoyed it, more objectively, for the historic perspective. The Catholic Church has a very rich history; while many movie makers and authors have used it as a basis for fascinating works, the truth needs very little embellishment!

You get to walk through various chapels and crypts, some rather recent. The grand finale in the necropolis is a look at the bones of St. Peter himself. They are encased in a special, NASA-created box, and hardly visible, but they are the basis for much of the religion and importance of the Vatican, something I didn't really know.

Once the tour is done, the guide leaves you in the Grotto, where there are many tombs of old popes. We got to see where PJII was originally buried; he has since moved up to the Basilica (in a chapel right near Michaelangelo's Pieta).

Very glad we were able to do this! Feels like a secret club I'm now in.

Sidelined

2011-06-13T06:16:00.000-07:00

I am not sure if this officially means I am old...but this week I was told I have bursitis in my hip.

I am pretty sure this is what my aunt had as she slid towards hip replacement. It is what all the people at the rest home complain about flaring up or something. It is not what should happen to a thirty-something hip.

Maybe I am being a little drama. The doctor said it happens to people of all ages, and perhaps I slipped off a curb or something running and irritated things (likely), and then continued to irritate it what with the ignoring of pain and the continuing of running and boot camp. Oops. The pain got so bad, and me so cranky, that I had to go to the doctor.

So now I am sidelined for at least a week, hopped up on lots of ibuprofen that, while it is FINALLY starting to help, is really upsetting my tummy. And I feel like a little old lady as I gimp along the street.

But, I am trying to listen to the doc and take it easy. And I hate it.

Best Things: Rome's Villa Borghese

2011-06-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

Lady in the Fountain

Rome is a huge city...as I mentioned in my post about the Vespa tour, there is so much to see when visiting, that time you go, you can find something new and unexpected.

For me, it is also a very overwhelming place. I've now spent quite a bit of time there, and it's no secret that it's not my favorite place in the world. But, the city and I did get along well this time.

One important reason for that? I was able to get away from the crowds and find some moments of peace. Our trip happened to coincide with the beatification of Pope John Paul II, which meant many, many pilgrims heading into town to celebrate him. It also meant throngs of people in almost every nook and cranny...not my favorite thing.

On the day of the actual beatification ceremony, my brother and mom went over to the Vatican and ancient Rome, and I decided to wander. I am so glad I did! I headed to the Spanish Steps, then decided to continue walking up the street and see where that led me.

Bike/walking Path

And there, right in the middle of the touristy center of Rome, was the Villa Borghese. I had heard about these for a while, and my goal HAD been to go to the Borghese Gallery, but that was abandoned once I entered the park (oh, and forgot to get a reservation and all that jazz).

The Borghese Gardens sit atop a hill in Rome, extending from right nearby the Spanish Steps all the way down to the Piazza Popolo. I am not sure how deep it goes, but it looks to be a mile or two. I kind of pooped out after a bit, so couldn't explore it all. BUT, what I did get to see was pretty amazing.

If you just continue down the entry path, you'll hit the Plaza Napoleone. From there, you will see a gorgeous cityscape view of Rome, including the side of the Vatican. It is fun to try to orient yourself to where you exactly are! While I was there, helicopters were flying all over the Vatican and more central city area...though it felt like they were miles and miles away, that's how peaceful the park was. This particular plaza is rather popular -- when I arrived there was a gaggle of teenagers there on some sort of school trip, all in matching clothing and special little hats, and being followed by a very harried-looking group of adult chaperones -- but still there was a sense of quiet.

I continued my walk throughout the park, and discovered a carousel, bike rentals, signs for a casino, and much more. Locals were there, on their runs, trying to dodge the tourists (made me miss my running shoes!). There is also this very cool water clock...I thought I had taken a picture but apparently I didn't! There are also a ton of trees...which makes me think that on a hot day, this would be a nice respite from the heat of Rome.

Overall, it is a great place to get away from the crowds and noise. I imagine it would get crowded up there, but the sheer size would allow you to find a peaceful spot. And, overall, I think there is something about parks that mellows people out. If you're traveling with kids, this is a great place to let them run loose for a bit, and entertain them with the bikes, little amusement park, and a zoo. Or, if you'd like, perhaps grab a sandwich and some vino and have yourself a little picnic.

View of Piazza Popolo from Villa Borghese

Sickness, Right?

2011-06-01T23:07:00.000-07:00

It was a lazy, post-party Sunday. I innocently went to my friend's house to pick up my dog (who had an unplanned slumber party with said friend's dog due to party Saturday), and found that I needed to rest a bit before I headed back to my house.

She was also feeling the urge to rest before heading into the kitchen to make her coffee and get an aspirin, so graciously turned on the TV...to one of the most horrific shows I've ever seen.

"Extreme Couponing," which comes to us care of TLC, showcases very sick people who have an obsession with buying things they don't need with coupons. Some of these women apparently think it is cute, or that they are saving oodles of money...but they are sick.

Yes, they are saving money. But they are buying things they don't need. So...wouldn't the better savings be to not buy those 35 bottles of Malox? Or the 15th pack of hot dogs for a party of 20 people when your refrigerator is already stocked with them? These women were GETTING OFF on their purchases.

At least one was buying milk with coupons, so their kids were at least getting one thing fresh. But there was no fruit, no fresh veggies...all processed and frozen food that could be purchased with coupons.

I was grossed out enough that I had to sit through two episodes, hoping things would get better. But when it came time to roll off the couch and go back home, I just felt kind of ill. I am no paragon of good TV watching, but this was a low.

Best Things: Rome Vespa Tour

2011-05-30T22:09:00.000-07:00

One of the most fun things we did while in Rome was a Vespa tour with Bici & Baci. There is a lot to see in Rome, A LOT, and much of it is hard to access via just walking or the metro...and, a lot is off the "beaten" path. And, having been there a few times, I personally wanted to see something other than the Colosseum and Roman Forum and Vatican.

But, I'll be honest...I was a little nervous about getting on a scooter, or, frankly, anything with wheels in Rome. The traffic there is crazy. The drivers there are crazy. To even walk there, you have to be a little bit crazy. So...to me, getting on a Vespa, well, THAT was crazy.

If you can get over the fear, though, this tour is awesome. We decided on "Secret Rome," one of 10 tour choices. Looking now at the itinerary, it looks like there is some plan, but it felt like we were going to some of their favorite spots, which was really fun. We focused a lot on places beyond the Circus Maximus, so it was rather old, but so cool. I wish I could tell you where we were, but I really don't remember names. I could show you most of it on a map, though. Needless to say, it was awesome.

Also cool? Squeezing through little alleys, breezing past innocent bystanders. And being able to say we touched down on each of Rome's 7 hills (plus a few others!) during our trip. And the views! A few of the parks we sped through offered stunning views of Rome...plus one special peek through the keyhole at the Malta Embassy was nothing short of spectacular.

Needless to say, I wouldn't have seen any of this by foot or metro. The Vespa tour was truly special in that way. It was pricey, to be sure, but since it was the one thing my mom really wanted to do, we went for it. And, it was really well worth it!

Italy...the Food

2011-05-27T21:13:00.000-07:00

Enjoy!

Last view of Venice

2011-05-09T18:39:00.000-07:00

A Venezia

2011-05-08T23:29:00.000-07:00

Venice...one crazy place. Arriving on a Saturday meant being thrown directly into the cruise traveler masses...it was insanely busy here. I hadn't been to Venice in about 13 years, and while I don't think much has changed, it was like seeing it again through all new eyes.

I do know last I was here, it was not this crowded. I know this has a lot to do with the time of year (I was here in November), the cruise day, and, oh yeah, the Pope, who decided his fist visit to Venice (the first by a pope since 1985) should coincide with high season and our vacation! This put a little cramp on things,but we managed!

Upon arrival we jumped right into a vaporetto (water bus) to take us to our hotel. The 1 Lido arrived to Ca' d' Oro, about a 5 minute walk to our hotel. A pretty majestic way to arrive! It took us a few minutes to finally find our actual hotel- Hotel Georgione - and once we did, we dumped our stuff and thought it would be a good idea to head to San Marco, since we weren't sure of the Pope's schedule.

I describe easily how crowded it was...akin to Disneyland on a summer weekend. We jostled our way through the little streets, and eventually arrived to piazza San Marco. This is quite an awesome sight...a huge, old basilica sitting right on the water's edge, offering views to four or five other beautiful churches. Amazing. San Marco was all set up for the arrival of Papa Benedetto, with security and barricades all over. The Basilica was also closed -- a real bummer as I don't think I went into it last time, either.

We continued our wandering, and headed to the other side of Venice, near the Accademia. We passed another big church set up for the arrival of the pope, and continued down to the end of the land, ending up at this weird statue -- a young boy, naked, holding a frog...and a security guard or two not allowing anyone near it. So weird.

All this wandering made us pretty tired, so it was back to the hotel for a nap, followed by dinner, more walking, and bed!

Sunday was decidedly less crowded in Venice... We originally wanted to take a grand canal tour, but things were closed thanks to the pope. Instead we hopped back on the vaporetto 1 Lido, and took it to the end of the line, all the way to Lido. I am sure there is still to see there -- think some sandy beaches -- but we noticed that the grand canal was closing for the Papa, and we wanted to get back before that happened. Mom wanted to take a water taxi back, and of course we did!

For 50E, we got our own little tour. The taxi took us out and around the city, where we could see San Michelle (I think it's a cemetery) and Murano. Must say, it was a pretty awesome way to travel! The rest of the day was spent shopping, walking, and having a spritz or two (spritz is a popular drink here...refreshing to me but bitter in taste, so not for everyone).

Our last evening was at a little restaurant owned by GiGi (Luigi), right near our hotel. The gnocchi was one of the best I've had here...clearly very fresh and yummy! We watched the sunset from the Rialto, then headed back with one last gelato.

Tony left very early this morning, and now mom & I are packed up and heading to the airport, too. We get to go by water taxi... So cool! It has been a really fantastic trip... I'm a little sad to go home, but my body is looking forward to walking with a light purse (the big @ss camera gets heavy!), running a bit, and not eating food drenched with delicious olive oil! (my palate, however, is very much going to miss it)

Cookin' in Firenze

2011-05-06T21:51:00.000-07:00

It's been a very busy few days here in Florence!

On Thursday we did a cooking class, which ended up being super fun. To quote my mon,"it almost made me want to cook." For those who know her, you know those are big words! We made a few things, but the big ones were tiramisu and our own pasta & meat sauce. I've learned that fresh pasta makes a huge difference in the taste of a meal! They also gave us wine throughout the cooking class, which we probably didn't need but happily enjoyed. At the end of the class, the chef recommended a place for dinner located in a more "local" part of town, so eventually, when we regained our appetite, we went there.

W also walked around quite a bit after class...and boy, where the streets crowded! Lots of big groups of teens on field trips. Florence isn't a huge city like Rome, so these groups were taking up quite a bit of space! Thankfully, they left and seemed to have taken with them a lot of day trippers, too.

Thursday we decided to get out of dodge and head to Greve in Chianti. I'd never been, and love chianti wine, so was really excited to go visit where it's made! The bus ride there was uneventful, and after about 50 minutes, we arrived to this darling hill town. Walked around for a bit, ate, and eventually found the wine tasting center. This was a cool place - we got to taste quite a few wines, but the was no one telling us anything about them or really enhancing the experience. I hope someday to do real wine tasting here at some smaller production places and not just these touristy things. But, it worked for us ... W had been told we needed to be back to Florence by 5pm as there was going to be a bus strike. So, no problem, we'll get on the 4pm bus.

We apparently weren't the only ones with this plan, and it turned out to be a very eventful bus trip! There were several large groups on the bus, including some bicyclists, a Swedish tourism class, and a mother with three kids, one who was screaming the whole time. I was rather crowded so not everyone could sit. Immediately, one of the Swedish students started crying. Then, apparently the bus driver was going too fast, and this Italian woman was screaming at him while holding this screaming baby. Then, one of the Swedish girls stands up, comes over to her friends, and collapses. Bus is stopped, she is taken off for air, and the Italian woman yells some more. More swedes crying because they thought their friend was dead (turns out, from the moment they got on they were scared they were going to die because they had to stand and the driver was going fast...I love that the dramatic thoughts of a teenager are universal). Eventually, we move again, then the bicyclists decide they need to get off the bus ...at the wrong stop. Finally, the woman with the screaming baby gets off, only to get a stern talking to by the bus driver. Well after 5pm we arrive back at the bus station...I'm wondering if the driver was in a hurry to go on strike!

The food here in florence has been great, and last night sealed the deal. We ended up at a place right by our hotel, always questionable when in such a touristy spot, but wow, was the food amazing. Plus, we talked to our server, Nico, for quite some time, and he loved us, so gave us free limoncello. And not just a shot each...but he left the entire bottle for us to finish. It was half full when he left it! We happily obliged and drank it all.

Today starts the last leg of this journey, to Venice. Apparently the pope will be there, too; hopefully the huge crowds won't follow.

Bella Firenze

2011-05-04T23:41:00.000-07:00

Disappointing tour led to drinking prosecco led to dinner and a few bottles of wine led to after-dinner drink led to this morning...ouch!

Off to cooking class today!

Ciao Roma

2011-05-04T01:15:00.000-07:00

We had one last day in Rome, and we went nonstop. It started with a bus ride to Saint Peter's Square...bus was packed, similar to what I take to work and about as smelly (though less homeless smell and more stinky tourist). We grabbed a bite and a cappuccino (which...I'm in love. Tempted to get my own machine) and headed to Vatican City.

Though I've now been lucky enough to see it several times, the sight of the Basilica never ceases to amaze me. It's stunning and overwhelming. Our first tour brought us into the necropolis, and we were lucky enough to have a good guide who knew quite a bit of church history. The age of everything we looked at was difficult to comprehend...as an American, and Californian to boot, our history is so recent; it's hard to fathom that "modern" here often refers to something 500+ years old.

We learned quite a bit about St. Peter, which I had either never heard in 12 years of catholic schooling, or just didn't remember. We got to check out his bones (~2000 years old) and his tomb, which now sits in the Grotto of the Basilica. After about 1.5 hours if dead things, it was time to head back to the land of the living. And to pizza!

Soon it was time to hit the Vatican Museums. This is one of my favorite museums...but, man, was it CROWDED! We again had a great guide, but you couldn't really stop to look at anything without being pushed and shuttled through. And it was rather warm. Simona, our guide, said the crowds weren't too bad and that it just gets more crowded (and hot) as the season goes on. Yikes. The Sistine Chapel was probably the least crowded, but only because they held a few groups at the door until others left.

The final night in Rome wouldn't be complete without a drink, so we headed to our favorite: Pepy's Bar in Piazza Barberini. It happened to be happy hour, which meant a drink and food from a huge buffet for 8E. Food was really good, too! A few cosmos, manhattans, and brachettos later, we thought it would be nice to watch the sunset from the Spanish Steps. Unfortunately, the rain clouds were covering the sky, blocking and view we may have.

Oh well!

We're now on our way to Florence, and I'm happy to be leaving Rome. It's just far too crowded for me (though I will miss the pizza). Can't wait for some (more) gelato!

Roma

2011-05-03T04:21:00.001-07:00

Sunday was a crazy one here in Rome. The beatification of JPII meant an insane amount of people pouring in here.

I decided to go to Villa Borghese...originally, I wanted to go to the gallery, but never made a reservation. It turned out fine, as the park is so nice and huge. It was a hot day in Rome, but the trees provided so much shade that it felt perfect. Lots of families riding bikes & taking the kids to the carousal. The picture is the view from Piazza Napolean at the Villa, looking over the side of St. Peter's. I then walked down to the Piazza Popolo, and headed down Corso for some window shopping.

Mom & Tony had decided to go to the Vatican, then tried to hit the Colesseum/Forum, but it was all closed. We met up for lunch, and took mom by the Trevi Fountain (which was much to crowded...we returned later that night) and Spanish Steps.

We woke this morning to news of Osama Bin Laden's death. It seems to have replaced the Royal wedding in the news. Weird being so far from home on such an important day.

The Vespa tour was today, and it was pretty awesome. They took us all over Rome, concentrating especially on ancient Rome -- behind the Forums -- and Trastevere. We definitely hit some places we'd never otherwise see, including a few churches and parks with amazing views of Rome. We asked to be dropped off at the pantheon (third time hoping to be the charm there), and this apparently required our drivers to go through the tightest places possible. It was super fun...I definitely want a Vespa for SF!

Sun & Vespas

2011-05-03T04:21:00.000-07:00

Roma

2011-04-30T22:47:00.000-07:00

I know I'm missing a day in here...It's written on my iPad and I couldn't connect to the Internet before we left Monterosso; I'll post as soon as I can!

After another huge breakfast and a very tasty focaccia purchase, we left the already blazing hot Cinque Terre to head down to (a pretty rainy) Rome. The train took us through Pisa and the Italian countryside...not exactly sure our route, but it was really pretty.

As an aside, I really miss internet access. Not for the email and all that, rather, for the ability to look things up. It's driving me a bit nuts not to know what things are (this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me).

Anyway, as we arrived to Rome, the skies decided to open just in time for our walk to the hotel. Yay! It's pretty crowded here; today Pope John Paul II will get beatified, so there are lots of travelers.
Once we dumped our bags, it was off to the Vatican. We hopped in a cab (not as crazy as I had thought) and headed on down, zooming past Trajans Market, the monument to Vittore Emmanuele (shout out, Bill E), and down past lots of other old stuff until we reached the Vatican.

It was CROWDED. Too much so for me. It was fascinating to me, all the pomp and decorations, but I couldn't get out of there fast enough. People were already starting to camp out for the mass today. It's going to be a madhouse down there.

We decided to walk back, and headed through the Piazza Navona (and past some statues by a Francesco Mochi...an Italian Mochi?), and past the Pantheon. It was nice to get up and move around!
Then it was back to the hotel then dinner, a rather touristy place but decent (and topped off by free limoncello). We haven't yet had an A+ meal...any suggestions?

Long Day's Journey

2011-04-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

After about almost a full day of travel, we made it to Monterosso al Mare, the northernmost town of the Cinque Terre.

We left San Francisco at about 2pm...a window and middle seat (I was the lucky one in the center). On the end was this woman from Oakland, who at first didn't seem to want anything to do with us. I noticed she popped quite a few pills in the first hour or so of the flight...not sure of what but she did keep taking something. When the meal came around, she strews speaking to us...then suddenly stopped,mid-sentence. It was a little scary, I thought she had a stroke or heart attack and started wondering how I could get the flight attendant over. The woman suddenly came to...turns out she had taken sleeping pills and had fallen asleep, mid-sentence. She then continued talking to us, slurring like she was drunk and falling asleep here and there. It was pretty funny.

Landed in Frankfurt about 10am (1am SF time)... We had to pass through security, which took quite a long time. When we finally got there, the guard told me the rules had just changed and I needed to take off my pants and shoes. Flirting. Weird for a German security official, no? Then, sadly, my hairspray got confiscated because it was too big -- 4oz instead of 3. It had made it through SFO with no problem, so I was surprised.

After all that, it was soon time to get on the final plane of this leg. A quick hour later, we were in Milan to meet up with Tony! He was an old pro at taking the bus from the airport to train station, so led the way. It takes about an hour -- though it seemed much longer-- and by the time we arrived it was right about time to get on our train, so we hustled to our spots.

It was a lovely, quiet ride through the Italian countryside...until Genoa. As we were looking out the window at this gorgeous city -- much prettier than I remember-- a group of about 39 ten year olds got on the train. Our quiet car went to very, very loud, with kids running amok, spilling things, wrestling around (and the teachers safely at the other end of the car!)...generally being kids. But the time we got to Monterosso about an hour later, we were all ready for a drink!

We arrived about 7pm (10am SF time), enjoyed the sunset scenery, and head to our hotel, which is in an awesome location right across from the water. After dumping our stuff, it s tine for some food and drink! We enjoyed some local pesto (specialty of the region), local wine, and local limoncello. Then we got one more bottle of local wine and drank it while sitting on our balcony, watching the ocean.

All and all, a very nice end to almost 24 hours of travel. We woke up and decided to walk the Cinque Terre trail...more on that later!

Made It!

2011-04-28T22:56:00.001-07:00

After a fairly long journey, we made it to Monterosso. I'll write more later, but wanted to let you know!

Away We Go!

2011-04-27T13:31:00.001-07:00

Chilling out at the airport...mom & I are both fed & watered and looking forward to getting on the plane! We currently have a window & middle seat...I am hoping the person next to me will switch to the window (I wouldn't, but sone people are nicer than me!).
I'll be updating as often as I can while on the road. All depends on the availability of WiFi; hopefully it will be better than last time.
Arrivederci!

A Little of the South Here at Home.

2011-04-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we threw a wedding shower for two of my dear friends. I had to share our delicious creations with you...

My friend A planned the Southern-inspired menu and coordinated the cooking. I served as her sous chef, preparing several items per her recipe and instructions. Doesn't it look fabulous!? (tasted awesome, too!)

First, some fried chicken...

Then, some blackened shrimp, and behind that, some muffalata.

Finally, some delicious Red Velvet & Mint Julep cupcakes to sweeten the deal!

And, who can forget drinks! Certainly not us...we had Sangria, Mint Juleps, wine, champagne, and Sweet Tea. Yum!

Dressing for Travel

2011-04-20T21:58:00.000-07:00

Hi kids.
I'm back. I've been super busy with work and planning various things -- travels, showers, parties -- and haven't had much time to update (or think about updating).

But, in planning this upcoming trip, I've been doing quite a bit of research...and one thing I found myself looking up was what type of shoes to wear so that I wouldn't stand out. this lead me down many rounds of, "you will look like an American if...X, Y, Z." After about the 10th thread of this, I realized...that is dumb.

Why? Because no matter what we wear, we'll look like a tourist. And if that's the worst thing in the world, well, our lives are pretty good.

I live in a heavily-touristed city. I can usually spot a tourist from a mile away, especially if they are of the non-American variety. None of the ones I see are particularly concerned with looking like an American. So why are we so concerned with looking non-American when we go abroad?

The old belief that being an American abroad means being treated poorly just doesn't hold true, and hasn't since I first started traveling (if not earlier). Fact is, there are @ssholes everywhere who will treat any tourist poorly, regardless of where they may be from. The bigger deal we make out of it, the bigger the opportunity to push your buttons. No one cares if you are a tourist. Most people embrace tourists, as it keeps the local economy going (and, if they don't, please see: @ssholes everywhere).

That said, there is no need to be dressed head-to-toe in the stars and stripes... ever.

March Madness: Mad Marketing

2011-04-05T00:08:00.000-07:00

March Madness -- the affectionate term for the crazy few weeks of the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament -- came to an end tonight. One team went home extremely happy, 67 others finished up a little sadder, and the whole viewing audience waited for the 2011 version of "One Shining Moment."

Most of you know I am a complete sport nut. I am also a marketer, and have been thinking quite a bit about this tournament from that perspective the last few weeks.

Because it's brilliant.

March Madness kicks off "Selection Sunday," an event where each match up is unveiled, with cameras on the bubble teams to watch them as their dreams come true, or are dashed. A few days later, traditionally on Thursday & Friday (this year there were a few pre-round of 64 games), the tournament starts with back-to-back days packed with games (starting at 9amish and wrapping up about 9pmish on both days). 64 teams face off from across the country, and college basketball fans sit in their favorite watering holes, filled out brackets in front of them, and park for the day, watching their brackets fill or bust.

Oh, yes, the brackets. Somewhere along the line, someone had the genius idea to allow fans to fill out brackets, where they would decide, game-by-game, who the winner would be, whittling it down to the final four, finals, and winner. While gambling this way is illegal, filling out brackets has become an event in and of itself, filling those 3 days from announcement to tip-off with anxiety, excitement, and second guesses.

Already, in looking at what I wrote, I see a marketer's dream come true. "Selection Sunday." Bubble teams. Round of 64. All terms introduced and made popularized by this event. And make no mistake, this is indeed an event.

Much like the NFL has been able to market itself as something that can't be missed, so has the NCAA and March Madness. Even those rather uninterested in sports take part in filling out a bracket, cheering on a team, watching those first couple of crazy games. The tournament continues for 3 weeks, culminating in the Final Four/Finals weekend. This has to be one of the most coveted tickets in American sports (perhaps just by me). And why? Because most of the players will ply their trade no further than this moment; they will go on to be something else entirely. But here, in this stage, they have the opportunity to be the best -- beat a team they never should have (and this often happens, this year's finals is evidence!), win the ultimate honor of their sport's careers. And it is pretty awesome.

Hence, "One Shining Moment." This is often the thing we look most forward to at the final game. This simple, cheesy video. Facebook newsfeeds fill up with comments on it. Twitter trends it. And the marketing folks behind the NCAA finals do a happy dance of joy. They have done their job, made accessible something that could seem a little out of reach, and made it common knowledge.

Brills, really.

Giving Up

2011-03-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

The Catholic (I think it's only Catholic) tradition of Lent began about 2.5 weeks ago, and this year I decided to give something up.

I am not a practicing Catholic, and haven't really thought much about Lent in years -- though I do sometimes catch myself not eating meat on Fridays. But this year, I took a look at my life and some habits I'd been forming, and thought it might be a good opportunity to clean those up.

Despite what some may argue, this isn't a religious thing for me. Rather, it's about having a set period of time to get things back in line. I've often heard that when starting something new -- exercise, diet, etc. -- it takes about six weeks to make it habit. I venture there are some things that take less, and some more, but I like it as a general guideline.

So, for six weeks, I am only allowed to drink 1x/week, and eat junky food/sweets for 1x/week.

Yes, I know Lent is about giving things up altogether. But, like I said, this isn't a religious thing. And, it is something at which I would like to be successful. If I deprived myself completely of these things, I would not only go nuts at the end of six weeks, I wouldn't succeed at all. The point of this exercise, for me, is to reset my body's expectations and cravings. I had been craving sweets quite a bit, and indulging more than I needed to, and I'd like that to change. (the alcohol wasn't as big a deal, as I usually only drink once or so a week, anyway)

So far, so good. Though I can't believe it's only been 2.5 weeks, I am already craving the sweets a little less. I don't stop by my colleagues cube and mindlessly take anything from her little candy jar (though I'd like to!). I don't meander downstairs for a little something something from the vending machines at work, and I have fruit after dinner instead of ice cream*.

Will I last another 3.5 weeks? Who knows. I sure hope so!

* reading this you may think I am a sweets girl, and that is not the case...While I won't turn down a cookie or a bowl of Dreyers, I generally crave salty/savory items, which is why this sweets craving threw me and needed to get in check!

Feeling Uninspired.

2011-02-28T22:43:00.000-08:00

Of late, I have been feeling particularly uninspired.

I know I should take a class, read, do something creative...and I have some great ideas -- I'll go down to the bridge and take evening shots with my fancy camera! I'll read two books a month! I'll get licensed for work! I'll take a painting class.

All these things...and yet, no inspiration to actually do them.

Photography has been particularly hard...I took a photography class...learned a few cool things. But yet? Have barely picked up my camera since. I haven't taken pictures of any sort since Halloween. This is not like me. But I stare at my little orange camera, and my BAC (big @ss camera), and have no urge to pick either of them up. I can't even find the battery charger for the little orange one.

Even writing has been a chore. I love to write; it's a catharsis. But I am not even feeling the urge to pick up the pen (yup, I write in a nice Moleskine, usually...love the feel of my pen gliding across that paper).

I am not quite sure where to find inspiration...any suggestions?

Hard to Believe...

2011-02-24T10:30:00.000-08:00

....today it's been 6 months.

My friend recently shared this quote with me; it's helping her to get through her own very hard time.

There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go.
~Author Unknown

Te hecho de menos, Daddy, ahora y para siempre.

Oye the Translation

2011-02-18T22:35:00.000-08:00

I have a very good friend who blogs...a lot. Which is great, you would think, as it would allow me to keep up on her life and goings on in it.

Except...it is not in English. And, while Google Translate is a great tool, it often makes no sense.

It translates her name to "Roy." It took me a while to figure this out, because I had no idea that is what her name would be in English. So that was the first stumbling block. Then, half the translations make absolutely no sense.

It is rather frustrating, actually, because I can't tell when things are good or bad. I, in fact, can't tell much of anything. It is almost easier sometimes to read it in the real language rather than English, because I can kind of tell what she means by the way the sentences are structured.

It's reinforces how important a more humanistic approach is to translation, rather than a literal translation by a machine. Which makes me laugh sometimes, but doesn't help me stay up to date on her life.

So...Google Translate = good for words, not so much for stories.

The Funny Thing about Death

2011-02-14T21:01:00.000-08:00

Death is not uncommon on TV. You have death on all those CSI-style shows, death on dramas, even some death on some comedies. Occasionally, it involves the death of a main character. More often, it happens to a tertiary character, and perhaps they delve a bit into how that affects the main characters, but it often seems like it's forgotten about quickly.

Recently, How I Met Your Mother really flipped the script. And I think it was awesome.

This show has always tried to show life of the typical late-20/early-30something. Much like Friends, but, to me, a little more tangible. Perhaps because I am around the same age as the characters on the show, and going through the same things, but perhaps because seems a little more real (they drink a lot, they wake up unsure of the events of the evening before, they sit around and watch TV with their friends...). The premise has always been around Ted, one of the main characters, and his search for his Mrs. Right, and how his friends are there throughout his process. The real heart of the show is found with Marshall and Lily, the married couple. And, most especially, Marshall, who always seems to be there for his friends, in the least-schmaltzy way possible.

Ok, enough with that. If you haven't seen the show, you should.

A few weeks ago, watching this show, I sat feeling like I was punched in the gut all over again. I went through the bulletin boards on the web, and found that I was not alone. And I think it was what the show wanted -- to be as real as possible.

Everyone experiences the death of a loved one differently, but the way Marshall lost his dad really...well, it put me back to the morning I got the call that my own dad had collapsed at work, and then was greeted by my mom telling me he didn't make it. My response was similar to Marshall's, "I'm not ready for this." My brother's response was equally similar, "My dad is dead?" Both filled with shock, neither ready to believe it.

Many on the interwebs didn't like this. Why, HIMYM is a comedy! Why should we deal with sudden death! This is inappropriate! But for many of us who had gone through something similar, this was so spot on we had to disagree...the show has always tried to imitate life, and in this, it really did. When you hit that early-30s stage, you've likely dealt with death several times over...and chances are good, someone in your group has lost a parent, either through sickness or sudden accident/natural causes (though I still see nothing "natural" about a 50-something dying suddenly, but that's neither here nor there). And, when it happens, the wind is knocked out of you. And, chances are good, that all you want to do is make your friend laugh.

There is no way to sugar coat it -- death is a part of life. Comedy is a part of tragedy. There is sweetness and awkwardness and sadness all mixed together...and for a television show to be as close to real life as possible (but a lot more entertaining), I think it is important to show this aspect.

So, yes, this caught me off guard and found me curled up crying for quite some time, but I really appreciate it. I appreciate it giving me a sense of normal. It may seem silly, but seeing my "life" play out on the small screen, seeing people talk about it on the web, it made me feel less alone in my experience.

Quarter Century: Challenger

2011-01-28T12:16:00.000-08:00

Twenty five years has passed since the Challenger exploded, yet I remember it so clearly.

Sitting at the reading table in Mrs. Richardson's class. The TV wasn't yet on...and Mrs. Jennings came running into our classroom, flapping that something terrible had happened and we needed to turn on the TV and watch this ASAP (they must have been airing it on the whatever cable the Catholic Schools used back then).

We all sat in stunned silence as they replayed the explosion. That there was a teacher on board made it all the more tragic to us -- what if it had been our beloved Mrs. R? How must Mrs. McAuliffe's students feel, losing her? Our minds weren't developed enough to think much past that, it struck us all.

I can't believe it has been 25 years. For most of my life, this was my generation's "Kennedy moment" (until it was replaced by 9/11, which almost all generations alive at that time will remember forever).

School Daze

2011-01-13T22:20:00.000-08:00

New year, new aspirations.

I feel like I should take some classes or something. Earn my certification in something. So far I've looked at Project Management certification, Social Media certification, Editing, Marketing, Non-Profit Leadership... none of them totally pique my interest (maybe the PM certificate...I feel like Social Media is something you learn on your own, but maybe it would help career-wise). And, even if they do sound good, the cost is a little prohibitive. All the certificate programs are a couple of thousand dollars...which I guess would be fine if work was paying for it, but I couldn't get that kind of funding, nor do I really want to.

But I do need to do something. Trying to find online courses so I can do them at my own pace. But it's time. I wish I could do my MFA in Art History or Literature or something. But, that won't really get me anywhere, career-wise. It would sure be fun!

Life's a Song...Sometimes

2011-01-10T19:45:00.000-08:00

I've liked this song for a while, but just recently really started listening to the lyrics...and aside from the drug reference, it pretty much encapsulates what life is like for me sometimes.

I'll be honest, I'll be brave...and hopefully my ship will come in soon!

Photobook Showdown: Picaboo vs. Blurb

2011-01-08T20:35:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, upon my return from a trip to Italy, I found it difficult to find exactly the right book to store my photos. Worse, everything I kind of liked was expensive, and that didn't count the money I had already spent to print the pictures. I was at a standstill.

I had heard about photo books, and seen the ones from the likes of Ofoto and Shutterfly and didn't much care for them. But, soon I read about more sophisticated tools from various companies -- the one I liked the most was Blurb.

The layouts were very professional, and there is a ton of flexibility in how I can format, add text, fonts, and the like. The final product, consisting of my Spanish/Portugal pictures*, looks like something you could purchase in a store. Blurb also has the option of selling your books, so if that is something you fancy, a user can easily monetize their creation. I was hooked.

Recently, there was a Groupon promotion for a new company -- Picaboo. Knowing I had a backlog of photos just waiting for their moment to shine in print, this was an offer I could not pass up (and the price...it was a steal). I sat down to put together my book from my Northern European travels last year and was excited to show them off.

Unfortunately, I wasn't too thrilled with the program. The layout options were not as plentiful, nor were they very flexible. The text section was very limiting, and it was lacking -- from what I could tell -- some of the more professional options that Blurb has. There may be ways to do some of the things I wanted to do, but there wasn't an apparent/intuitive way to get that done. I am fairly tech-savvy, and still had a few issues with layouts and text. I couldn't write on the write on the spine, and I didn't see an option for a glossy wrap cover. In the end, I do like the book I made, at least the way it looks electronically; hopefully the print version won't disappoint.

For both companies, you need to download a software program that allows you to format the books.

As for pricing...For Blurb: For a standard size book (10x8) with custom wrap cover (dustcover is also an option), prices start at 31.95$ for up to 40 pages, and 37.95$ for up to 80 pages. For Picabo: A similar size book (8.5x11), prices start at 39.99$ for up to 20 pages, plus 1.99$ for each additional page. This pricing disparity is striking to me...I wonder if the paper for Picabo is better or something?

Verdict? I would go with Blurb. I'd be willing to try another site, as well, so please share any suggestions!

*No, I still have not made my Italian book. I'm saving up...the pictures from that trip are so lovely, I want to make sure I can do them justice!

Reading is FUNdamental: Book Roll 2010

2011-01-05T22:01:00.000-08:00

I read a fair amount of books this year...not as many as I would have liked, but still not too shabby!

So...I thought it would be good to share thoughts, recommendations, and what nots! I wrote previously about a few of these, so linked where that was appropriate.

February

The Art of Dancing in the Rain, Garth Stein
I thought I had written about this...but I guess not. This as a rather easy read, and one, like Marley & Me, that will manipulate you and make you shed a tear or two (well, if you're a pet person). Not the best novel, but a nice, light read for days you need that.

March

Trouble, Kate Christensen
Sometimes, I regret that I ever started reading chick-lit, as my Amazon recommendations start filling up the minute I do. Trouble is typical fare...a story of sadness, romance, and ultimately some neat ending. Maybe a good beach read, if you can hang with it.
Juliet, Naked, Nick Hornby
I love Nick Hornby, and this one didn't disappoint. A slightly twisted tale of coincidence, love, and friendship...there are several things going on at once, but it is written in a way that doesn't feel confusing. Hornby often writes from a men's point of view, but he gets the female viewpoint pretty well, too. If you like GenX-style, and Hornby, you'll like this one.

April

Three Cups of Tea, Greg Mortenson
Inspirational. An absolute must.
Frankly, My Dear, Molly Haskell
A behind-the-scenes look at Gone with the Wind. Only read if you like GwtW, and have a lot of time on your hands (like vacation, which is what I was on!).
Little Children, A Novel, Tom Perrotta
Fairly convoluted and gripping tale...was also a movie with Kate Winslet (who is supposed to be on the fug side...which is impossible). I liked the book much better than the movie, because, like many books, it had the opportunity to build the characters and their motivations, which don't make sense on the screen. Quick, rather intense read.
Three Dollars, Elliot Perlman
I really love Perlman's Seven Types of Ambiguity. I think I liked this book, but it's rather forgettable to me.

June

Interpreter of Maladies, Jhumpa Lahiri
I have read several novels that recount the immigrant experience, and I find it interesting that those written by Indian authors sound so similar. Often set in the Boston area, they talk about the struggle to fit in versus that of not losing touch with their homeland. I don't think this is unique to the Indian population -- I would assume it is very common among all immigrant populations -- but to me the similarity of tone is striking. This book is no exception, and was a good reminder of how much we take for granted when we are born here.
The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn, Allison Weir
Only read if you are obsessed with the Tudors.
Naked, David Sedaris
Not gonna lie...I tried to get into this one several times, and failed. Did not finish.

July

Open, Andre Agassi
An absolutely fascinating look at the rise, fall, and rise again of Andre Agassi. He was such a huge figure when I was growing up; I so clearly remembered some of the events he described, it was fun to hear the back story. It's a little too self-indulgent, but still an entertaining read (and written in the exact style of my friend, so much so that I heard his voice while reading. Eerie).

August

The Big Short, Michael Lewis
The president of my company recommended that we all read this. All the reviews said to read this. And when I started it, I will say, it broke down the financial crisis in a way that really made sense (which was super helpful to me, who works in the industry and sometimes gets confused in the brain). But after two attempts, I still haven't made it all the way through, mainly because I keep having to re-read parts and then it is due back to the library. I do hope to accomplish this in 2011.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Steig Larsson
The first in the trilogy (which was published right around when the author passed away, but didn't get popular/made into a movie until after). There is a reason this series is popular; it's a total page turner. It is rather violent, so be warned.

September

Zeitoun, Dave Eggers
Read this. Be prepared to get angry, but read it.
The Girl who Played with Fire, Steig Larsson
The weakest of the trilogy, but still really enjoyed it.
The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Steig Larsson
I read this in one night, that's how much I liked it. I think the first is the best, as it set the stage really well, but this third book really wrapped things up well.

October

Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen
I finally made it through an Austen book. Whoo-hoo! I like the movies better.

November

Little Bee, Chris Cleave
On the first page of the book, the author expresses his wish that we not share the secret of the book, so I won't. But I will say, this book seemed to be part of a theme I had this year of reading books that opened my eyes up to different parts of the world, and how humanity has been lost (but can be found again).

December

Talking to Girls about Duran Duran, Rob Sheffield
A cute book about 80s music, and various anecdotes from Sheffield's life. Another book that made me wonder if my life would look more interesting if I wrote a memoir.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot
A true story about the woman who is central to many of the medical advances made since the 50s, and how her family never knew (and can't even afford their own health care). And, at the center, an ethical question: should people have the rights over their own cells, or would that impede process?

El Año Prospero y Felicidad

2011-01-01T03:16:00.000-08:00

It's 2011...it's time to turn the page on last year, and, I, for one, have been waiting all week for it to end. Though, upon further reflection...2010 will be the last year I have new memories of my dad. So I guess at some point I will look fondly upon it, at our super fun Father's Day at the North Beach festival, and our great last weekend at the River. But I am ready to say goodbye to this year, to all the sadness it brought to my family and to many I know and love.

So hello, 2011. May it be full of goodness and joy. I'm bringing you a new attitude...let's make it awesome.

Be the Change: Three Cups of Tea

2010-12-30T21:59:00.000-08:00

About a year ago, a friend of mine threw down a challenge: start a non-profit by the time he was 35. He had some funding, but wanted me to come up with an idea and run with it.

This idea is somewhat paralyzing for me...there is so much I'd like to do, but I am not exactly sure in what way. Volunteering, paying it forward, etc. has always been a big part of my life; I started volunteering at about 16 and haven't really stopped, from joining the community service fraternity in college to being on the executive board of directors for a prominent local non-profit. While I have worked hard throughout my life, I know I was lucky to be born into the situation I was, and had excellent role models in my parents, who do a lot of good without ever asking for recognition or thanks -- it is very important for me to help give back and participate in making the world a better place.

To help inspire me more, my friend recommended that I read Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson. And I am so grateful he did, because this book is not only inspirational, it is has changed my perspective on life (which may sound melodramatic, but thems the truths).

Greg is one person who was able to help many. Through a truly grass roots effort, he worked tirelessly to fix a problem he saw. He lived in his car, using his money instead to rent time at the local copy shop to write letters, and buy postage to send them. When he finally hit pay dirt, he was able to use fairly minimal funds to build something that will make a huge difference to current and future generations.

One person. Being the change he wanted to see.

It makes me think, if every one of us did just one thing, once a week/month/year, to be that change... what could we accomplish. If we concentrated our efforts, what greatness we could achieve. To me, Three Cups of Tea is something we can all do, and is my rebuttal when people say to me, "well, that's nice that you do that, but I don't have time and don't really think my effort will make any difference to anyone*."

As I move into 2011, this has been weighing heavily on my mind. When something significant happens in your life, you tend to reevaluate things...am I on the right path? Am I doing what I enjoy and makes me feel like I am doing something relevant?

I am starting to wrap up my last year on the board of directors, and looking for my next focus. In my current role, I have helped make a difference in the lives of at least 6,000 high school girls, at least that's my hope, and I have loved (almost) every minute of it. I want to be able to continue this, maybe with a different demographic.

If this past year has taught me anything, it is that we don't know what is around the corner, so it is important to just DO, and not think too much. Hearing about so much of what my parents have done, things I didn't know about prior to my dad passing, is really inspirational to me...I always wondered where my brother & I got this bug, and now I know.

So there is my challenge, my resolution, my hope for 2011: to continue to make a difference, and continue to strive to be the change I'd like to see in this world. There is so much opportunity, and just one person can make a ginormous difference.

*caveat: I don't hear this from many, or any, of my friends. I have an AMAZING group of friends, many of whom are involved in their own associations, and all of whom make an effort to get to each others' fundraising events, volunteer days, etc. This is something for which I feel truly blessed.

God Jul. Buon Natale. Feliz Navidad. Merry Christmas.

2010-12-23T16:43:00.001-08:00

2010.

Brava! Brava!: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2010-12-12T10:47:00.000-08:00

So often, movies make a mockery of a good book. They try to cram too much into two hours, attempting to hit every plot point that the book presented, failing to make the movie very deep or interesting.

Last night I finally got around to watching The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I loved this book, so was pretty excited to watch the movie. Seeing as it's in Swedish, I had to be in the right frame of mind to sit and watch and read the subtitles. The book was a quick moving, plot-tastic piece of literature. It was really fun to read, but there was a lot packed into those 300 or so pages!

I must say...the movie hit all the right points. It didn't get everything in the book, but it didn't need to. As the movie unfolded, I was excited to see what they chose to follow, and what they chose to ignore. They chose to ignore some storylines that were pretty big in the book, but not pivotal to the main plot. I think there were a few things that made a little more sense since I read the book, but you definitely didn't need the background to get it.

I am not going to give away any big points, that wouldn't do the movie any justice or be fair, but it was pretty awesome. The look of the main character was pretty close to what was presented in the book...something that would be awfully hard to do, and something I think the American movie casting already got wrong (I just can't imagine the woman cast looking at all boyish, but I guess we'll see).

I am super interested in seeing the American movie now, because I wonder if it will choose to stay faithful to the book or the Swedish movie. If it's the book...we may be in trouble, as American movies tend to try to cram everything in (especially any sex), and that really isn't so much the point of this movie.

Gobble Gobble

2010-11-25T06:59:00.000-08:00

There is so much to give thanks for this year. A very happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

May it be full of fun, food, and a serious lack of slaps :-).

Love This: A Bird's Song

2010-11-23T19:34:00.000-08:00

I just heard this song for the first time, and wow, found it so awesome. A little sentimental, sure, but quite lovely.

Ignore the graphic...it's the best thing I could find on the youtubes!

Kick Some @ss

2010-11-15T21:53:00.000-08:00

Your body was made for so much more than being looked at, deprived of food, and enjoyed by others. Your body was made for kicking some ass. - Jezebel Article, 15 Nov 2010

I'll admit it...I haven't been feeling so great about my body lately. Thanks to the events of the last few months, I'm carrying some extra weight -- the grief baby, as I am calling it -- and generally am not motivated to do much, though I'm trying.

So this article was very timely for me. I need to remember to celebrate my body. My ticker is still ticking. My legs are still carrying me. My brain is still functioning (well, mostly!). I had similar feelings after my grandma passed away...I found myself complaining about my body, and then remembered...it's still functioning. Regardless of what I do to it, I wake up every morning, am able to get out of bed and go on with my day, however I please.

So I say thank you...thank you dear body for giving me these strong legs to help me keep walking through the last few months, arms to reach out when I need help, and a heart that will keep on beating, even while it mends itself.

Scary Things

2010-10-27T20:03:00.001-07:00

So far, I have liked pretty much everything about Boston. Sure, sports games are on late, and I couldn't imagine driving here, but overall, it's pretty damn fantastic.

Except for:

1. Revolving Doors. I get that they are eco-green or whatever. The fact is, they scare the bejeebus out of me. I mean, completely. Did I get stuck in one as a child? Knowing my brother, this is a real possibility. But...why do they have to put big signs on the non-revolvers, so it looks like if you open them the emergency bells will sound, when, in fact, they will not.

2. Auto-toilets. These drive me irrationally crazy. They never seem to work well. I still have to touch the flush button have the time. And, unless they have auto-everything else (sink, soap dispenser, paper towel dispenser....), there is nothing more sanitary about it.

But the revolving doors...it's almost embarrassing.

Boston in Fall

2010-10-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

After 6+ months of not being more than 2 hours away from my home, the time finally came for me to hop on a plane and go far away.

I will admit to being a little stressed about this trip. Yes, I am stressed about everything these days, and one little thing can set me down a crazy path, but in this case it was somewhat justified. I am going straight from a work trip to a fun trip, and trying to cram it all (10 days) into a carry on suitcase. Gulp.

I arrived here in the lovely city of Boston last Friday. Flew on a red eye...I am not quite sure why I always think those are a good idea. I try to remind myself I am not 24 anymore and can't function that well on no sleep, but I am a glutton for punishment, I guess.

I arrived to a crisp fall day, complete with leaves turning orange and falling around me. Off to a meeting in a nearby town, then back to the City and a quick crash. Oops....night one, gone!

And, let me just say...bravo Westin. The Heavenly Bed is indeed that, and this may be the quietest room in which I've ever stayed. The bathroom here is a little small (though it has the same granite as my home), but I can overlook that due to the humongous bed and lovely view. (and flat screen, HDTV!)

So...morning #1 got off to a slow start thanks to this comfy bed. I finally rolled out and took a run down the Charles. I guess this weekend is Head of the Charles, a huge race...while they didn't come all the way down to where I was running, I could see the many crew boats out there ready to race. It also explained the fifty bazillion people all over the place! The run was not one of my best. I am not used to the cold, for sure!

After that I walked around Back Bay for quite some time. What a cool place. Apart from the extreme crowds, and their extreme inability to walk any faster than very slow or walk less than 3 people across, this area is awesome. I am not a huge shopper, but spent the day perusing all the different shops I could find on this one street. There weren't a lot of chains, and there were a bunch of stores we don't have in SF. What a nice change of pace! There is also this very cool mall, across the street from my hotel, full of shops we don't have at home. And some we do, which was also good, as I had forgotten a few things (like anything to wear during the day while in Boston or NOLA). After a full day of walking, it was time for a beer and some ball.

I can't believe how late national sports start here on the East Coast. Last night's game didn't start until 8pm (which means, at a minimum, it wouldn't be over until 10pm, but in actuality didn't end until midnight). On a weekend this isn't the biggest deal, but imagine on a weeknight. Eek. Today's football didn't even air until 1pm. 1pm!!! Where is the laziness in that?! I'll take my rolling out of bed, doing a quick walk with the poochie, and rolling back onto the couch to watch ball all day.

Anyway, today was another lovely fall day in Boston...complete with a little rain. I walked up to Public Garden and Boston Commons. All this walking reminds me of what I love most about traveling -- just wandering and getting lost in where I am. It could not have come at a more perfect time in my life, when getting lost is the only thing that makes some sense.

If it weren't for the cold (Luca would hate the little booties he'd need to wear), I think I could get used to this place.

Ok, Baseball Season, Enough Now

2010-10-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

When did the baseball season go so late into the year? If this Series goes all 7 games, that means it won't end until November.

November? Growing up, it was always done by or on my cousin's birthday, in late October...

Now, as you know, I love baseball. Love. Adore. Unicorns and rainbows and all that jazz.

But this year, this year it just reminds me what's gone. I am hoping I can get back to a good

place with it, but, right now it just reminds me that the one person I talked to about baseball constantly is no longer accessible to me. That I can't just pick up the phone and talk to him about how not happy I am about the Giants making the World Series, and I can't hear him telling me I need to get over it and be happy a team from the Bay Area is on the team. The past few weeks I have gone to the phone several times to make that call, only to realize I can't.

So while all my friends are celebrating, and, I'm happy for them, these last few weeks have just made me incredibly sad. I can't wait for it all to be over.

Oh, San Francisco...

2010-10-18T19:09:00.000-07:00

This is hilarious.

From generic.

Following the Rules

2010-10-17T14:02:00.001-07:00

One of the great things about living in San Francisco is the abundance of activities available to us for celebrations or just general fun.

Last night, I got to take advantage of one of those activities -- a boozy trolley car ride. This one was for my friend J's bday, and was themed "Hot Trolley Time Machine," with all of us ordered to dress as they did in the era of our choice. I am not huge on costumes, but here in SF, if you are going to do it, you have to do it as right as possible. I went as a 50s girl, with big flippy hair and saddle shoes. It was awesome that everyone was really into it, with costumes ranging from a gladiator to Snooki.

But what really cracked me up were the rules we were told before we got on the trolley, which included, but not limited to:

- Do not hand anyone off the trolley any drinks from the trolley

- Do not bring any booze from the bar onto the trolley

- Do not hang from/try any acrobatics on the hand straps

and, the best one...

- No peeing from the trolley

There were a bunch more, but these were particularly funny, because it meant that they have all happened enough times that they had to make it a formal rule that you CANNOT do these things. None of them surprise me, and I could see a few people I know doing one, if not all of these things...but, really? Like it wouldn't be common sense not to do them? It's illegal to carry a drink out of the bar...it's illegal to pee in public. It just made me laugh, for a good long while, that they had to make these formal rules and relate them to a bunch of 30+ year old adults!

(That's a pic of me while on the crawl. I had one simple goal: to make the Devo hat this one guy was wearing mine. Goal achieved...annie FTW)

Baseball

2010-10-12T20:41:00.000-07:00

Postseason baseball...there is hardly a better time in sports.

No, my team didn't make it this year, but they gave a valiant effort towards the end (and early in the year), and hopefully they'll pull their heads out and content next year.

This weekend brings the team in the town I live -- the Giants -- vs. the team that I grew up loving -- the Phillies.

Yes, the Phillies.

This may seem strange...why would a girl out on the west coast love the Phillies? Why ever would she root for them (and I will be rooting FOR them, not just against the Giants. Sorry friends!)?

I don't think many people would believe this about the Phillies, but it is true. Growing up, my cousin LOVED Mike Schmidt. Because he was the oldest of our little crew, we often had to like what he liked, and, as such, all loved Schmit and his fabulous mustache, too. We wished the A's would play the Phillies just to see him -- remember, in those days there was none of this interleague play, only the World Series and maybe an exhibition pre-season game, and Candlestick was far and not easy to get to, so we couldn't go cheer him on versus the Giants.

At any rate, we always loved the Phillies. And, as such, that love extended to the city of Philidelphia, which...none of us had ever visited, and I would frankly have been surprised if we even really knew where it is located (age check: we were all probably under 10; doubtful that geography was a strength of ours). But, this didn't deter us one bit. No, instead...we had dreams, all based on the following: Mike Schmidt, the Phillies, Philadelphia, and baseball cards.

In short...our dream was to live in a trailer, which would be located by the baseball stadium, and make Mike Schmidt baseball cards. As we had families, we would just add on trailers, all which would connect to the main baseball card-making hub. See, we planned ahead!

The best part? At no time did our parents discourage us. They were seemingly on board with us living this dream, as long as they could have a nearby trailer as well. No problem!

So, you see, my childhood dreams all tie to the Phillies. Yes, we were all A's fans first and most, but, you just couldn't say no to the Schmidt 'stache.

So...go Phillies!

Pretty Boy

2010-09-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

Some people think this is mean...but Luca likes to make me laugh, and this sure did.

I thought he would like to try on part of one of my Halloween costumes (yes, one of two costumes...in New Orleans we go big or go home)...a lovely pink tutu. I think, in fact, the first tutu I have ever owned.

He wasn't too happy, but kind of walked around in it while he was trying to shake it off. HILARIOUS. (well, to me at least) Don't worry, he got treats.

Best.dog.

Time Passes

2010-09-22T21:37:00.000-07:00

It's been a month since my world was completely turned upside down. I'd like to think things are getting better -- I know someday they will -- but right now, that's just not happening...and with birthdays, holidays, and family events coming up...well, I imagine it's all just going to suck.

But I will say I've learned a lot over these last four weeks, not that I ever really wanted to...in talking with my friend who also had a terrible loss earlier this summer, I am finding that how I am feeling is not all that different from other people going through something similar.

Friends - I have the best friends. I really do.

Reaching out - The one thing that has really helped in coping with all this has been people reaching out to me. This was probably the biggest shock to me...I am pretty used to being quiet and alone. Whether it's a call, email, text, whatever...just hearing from people, without me reaching out to them, makes things feel a little better. And with that...there are people I wish I could reach out to, that I'd really like to talk to. But, really, I'm having a hard time with that. So hopefully I'll hear from them soon, but I can't express how much gratitude I have for all the support I've been given. Amazing, really.

Ask Me - This one surprised me, too. I need to talk. I need to tell people what a great and funny guy my dad was, and what happened to him. Some people are hesitant to ask how he passed away, I know I was in the past, too, but I've found that it helps immensely to let people know.

Tell Me - I want to hear stories about my dad. Many of my friends hadn't had the chance to meet my him, which makes me sad, they really would have liked him, but a few have said really nice things based on their experiences at his services. I am surprised, pleasantly, with how much these things help.

I have been really humbled, really, by all the support I've received over this past month, some from very surprising places. I am ever so grateful for all of it. I've learned so much, unfortunately the hard way, but it is one positive to come out of the experience. People have such a capacity to amaze...

(these beautiful flowers arrived at my work the other day, sent by my most awesome former teammates on the Boozehounds. It was such a sweet surprise, and...well...no words...)

Boo: Tasting Fees

2010-09-19T10:33:00.000-07:00

I am heading to Napa soon, and we wanted to do a little tasting before an event. In researching wineries, I have been appalled at the tasting fees. I can see perhaps justifying 5$ here and there, but many of the places have fees upwards of 20$! This is so ridiculous to me...

I consider myself very lucky to have grown up in the area I did, where I was close to beauty that others may never see in their lifetime -- the Bay, Yosemite, the Redwoods, vineyards... Each time I see these things, I am ever so grateful.

I love the wine country, and grew up visiting the area and various wineries...usually in the Russian River area, where I believe I first got served at around 15 by a particular place, but, still, throughout the Napa and Sonoma counties. Tasting has always been fun, and, when I was growing up, free.

Some waive the fee when you buy a bottle...but, still, the commercialization of the area is just out of control. I also understand the need for a winery to make money...really, I get it. But in the Napa area, you couple these ridiculous fees with complete snootiness of those pouring (and chintzy pours!), and where is the fun in that?

I have a bunch of wine that I have purchased simply because the tasting experience, and the memories that come with it, were so good. Maybe if they threw in a little food, the fees could be justified. But as it stands...I will take my business elsewhere, kind sir.

Go...Giants?

2010-09-15T01:37:00.000-07:00

Shudder.

This time of year -- the end of the baseball season -- was probably when I talked the most to my dad. I would usually get a random call in the middle of the day to talk about something that happened in a day game, or to chat about the night before, or to see if I saw that one catch that one guy made and didn't it remind me of the time that something happened in one of my brother's baseball games where I was keeping score (which I never did, but my dad remembered everything...steel trap of a mind).

Generally, we'd talk about the A's. And sometimes about the Giants...and when we did I had to remind him that I don't cheer for the Giants, and he would remind me that they are our closest national league team, and I should want them to do well. We would go back and forth on this a few times until one of us, usually me, realized neither of us was going to win.

So he would have loved the current pennant race going on right now. The Giants were on fire, and though they've slowed a bit, they still have a real chance of winning their division. The A's are playing great, too, and I know we would have discussed how they had an outside chance, but the A's stink and probably would choke. Then we'd argue again about how I hope the Giants choked, he wouldn't understand, and we'd then have to agree about how much we don't like the Red Sox.

It's hard to go through these few weeks without him to talk to...he is a big reason for my love of baseball.

So as we enter these next two weeks, the final two of the baseball season, I guess I'll do him the honor of NOT routing against the Giants. I am heading to the Giants/Dodgers game on Thursday, and...well, maybe I'll even give a clap or two when the Giants win, just for my dad.

Get your Dance On

2010-09-11T06:41:00.000-07:00

My friend Dan introduced me to this song during our River road trip a few weeks ago...

It cracks me up...I'm doing my finest doo-wop boogie.

And no, he wasn't trying to tell me something. He just thought it was funny, as do I.

**caution...strong language. Will make you want to shake your groove thang**

Must Read: Zeitoun

2010-09-08T06:19:00.000-07:00

Like many Americans (I'm assuming here), I haven't read too many first-hand accounts of Hurricane Katrina. I remember watching it on TV, seeing this city that I loved turn into an absolute state of chaos. Seeing the conference center I'd spent more than a week in turn into a den of human suffering. And beyond that, I knew that it had been mishandled by the government on all levels -- city, state, national -- and also by the people that had refused to leave.

This new book by Dave Eggers (one of my favorite authors) shed a whole new light on it for me. The back cover describes the tragedy as both natural and having something to do with terrorism. This confused me a bit...terrorism and Katrina? I hadn't heard that one before and was wondering how he'd weave it in.

Zeitoun is an American, born in the middle east. He and his family had a booming business in New Orleans, and he is as hard a worker as you've ever seen (in a way, his description reminded me of my dad, who I think would also have been bull-headed and not left his business in the path of an oncoming storm). His family leaves NOLA, while he stays behind.

While not wanting to spoil it, Zeitoun's story really shed light on the human element of Katrina, and the scary idea of martial law. Zeitoun and his friends were able to help many people that government officials would not, and then were suddenly suspected as terrorists due to the color of their skin, despite having official documentation. This was part of Katrina I didn't know...that it had gotten so out of control that even those who helped were treated like prisoners at Gitmo.

The writing is a little uneven, but it's a quick, important read. Katrina is one of the biggest national failures of recent history, one that I sincerely hope will not be repeated.

Summertime Rolls...

2010-09-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

Thankfully...summertime has rolled right to a close.

The end of summer always brought mixed feelings for me. Often, I was ready to go back to school or do something. But Labor Day also meant take down weekend at the River, and saying goodbye to all our summer family.

This year it was particularly hard to say goodbye...for obvious reasons. We had so many people rallying around us from this special group -- from the services to taking down our camp to the party that got held in the campgrounds (which my dad would have HATED....but we loved) to feeding my brother & I incessantly -- leaving them was particularly hard. I skipped out on goodbyes...I was upset on Saturday night and not feeling well, and couldn't handle a dance. Pulled an Irish goodbye and headed home.

I must say, however, this summer at the River and life in general has been bittersweet. Aside from the events of the last week or so, which turned things upside down, this summer has been a weird one. It's been a complete roller coaster, and not necessarily the fun kind... Occasionally it was, but...I dunno. I am glad to see this summer end.

This summer did, however, bring this song to my head quite a bit. From about early July on, it's been in my head quite a bit (not sure if that's when I first heard it, or circumstances brought it to mind...regardless...{love}).

(and...if I knew the video featured so much of Dave, who is getting hotter and hotter the older he gets, I would have shared earlier!)

I Choose Me

2010-09-02T22:14:00.000-07:00

Happy 9.02.10!

(ok, yes, I am cheating and posting this a few days late)

Seriously, the happiest day I've had in a while. Why? Well, first, my friend and fellow Bev9er uberfan reposted this lovely picture (which, if I ever get my own campsite at the River, I will totally be importing this and spending my summers in it). It was the one thing that made me grin from ear-to-ear last week.

Then, this same friend and I mused about all the great things we learned from this most fabulous show....Lessons include:

- If he loves you, he'll wait for 6+ years, and even though he may cheat, he won't pressure you to have sex

- Even if you are 32, no one will ever question why you are hanging out with high school students.

- It's ok to call someone else a slut for sleeping with a bunch of guys, even if I have slept with all the same people.

- U4EA may make you do the nasty with someone, even if you've already said no

- Bringing an egg into a liquor store may get you directions to a rave

- Getting caught in a fire may be a gateway to experimenting in lesbianism.

- Do not trust people who just want to take the special electric car for a joy ride

And, my friend's life lesson: even the most sanctimonious stuck up bitches can get addicted to drugs.

And you should never, but never, make Ray Pruit mad.

In honor of this fantastic day, I wanted to present to you one of the best all-time moments...featuring DownwardSpiralDylan & once virgin now easy girl Donna Martin. But I couldn't find it. So instead, I will leave you with this great song by David "I may be white, but I'm not vanilla" Silver:

Managing...

2010-08-31T06:06:00.000-07:00

A week has passed and I can't say it feels any better. If anything...now is the time when the thoughts really get to you because everyone is gone and life is supposed to get back to a new normal.

It's been particularly hard leaning on other people. I am not used to doing that...most of the time I am trying to take care of other people and helping them. I tend to internalize things more (because of this, I was recently called a cold City girl; hearing that from the person who said it pretty much broke my heart) and this is one thing I am not quite sure how to handle.

My friends have been awesome and told me I get til my birthday to be as messy as I need to be. Hopefully I can pull it together before then.

My dad's service was pretty awesome. There had to have been at least 500 people there...from what we heard, there were people standing on the steps outside of the church because there was no room in the entryway. At the end, my brother had the idea to have everyone sing "That's Amore," one of my dad's favorite songs. Everyone did sing, and...well, it was the coolest. I took a video, which may be less than classy at a funeral service but it was too awesome not to.

This is the Sh*ts

2010-08-26T23:43:00.001-07:00

"It almost seems foolish to mourn men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived."

RIP, Daddy.

This just sucks.