Cali Crew

Well, I must say that if we ever decide to move to San Francisco, we'd definitely have a fun cast of characters to hang out with. This trip was a whirlwind of social activity, a chance to hang out with our friends here and see the city from their perspective.


Wayne and Heidi, by their house.

Ham readers may remember Wayne and Heidi from the wedding I was in last year. Wayne is a gifted photographer, marathon runner, and could win the "nicest guy of the year" award if such things exist. He works as a freelance online guy and also helps Heidi run her enormously successful 101cookbooks food web site. They reside on a quintessential Victorian home-clad San Francisco street and appear to live a life where their passions come first. They are true fans of San Francisco, and to me, represent the kind of life I am seeking: Working for yourself, doing what you love, and being a bigger fish in a smaller pond.

The couple treated us to lunch at Delfina Pizzeria, which unquestionably holds up to the New York pizza we're used to. I love that they ordered a plate of broccoli on the side, something Dan and I would never do, and it turned out to be broccoli fried in batter, topped with pepper and finely grated pecorino cheese. So. good. Afterwards, they took us to Bi-Rite Creamery which I read about in Bon Appetit as being one of the best ice cream shops in America on the plane ride home from this very trip. These people obviously know their food. I could get used living (and eating) like this.

On another day, Wayne took me on an informal walking tour of Hayes Valley, up a hill to an enormous church, and knowing my love of sweets, brought me to two bakeries: Miette which is really more of a Euro-style candy shop which sells average-tasting cupcakes and Tartine which has amazing jumbo-sized flaky croissants and what looked like an amazing whole lot more. I hope to go back there one day.


Megan.

I was thrilled that I had the chance to catch up with my friend Megan on this trip. Before Megan moved to San Francisco, she and I worked at a magazine together and ours was an unlikely friendship. My first impression of the girl was a female frat boy (her nickname at work was Meg-a-phone because of her boisterous voice), but over time I came to fall in love the girl with her thunderous laugh, wicked sense of humor and thoughtful perspective on life. I was sad when she left NYC. Megan met us in the Mission at Velvet Cantina and seems to be doing well here with her career and boyfriend situation. She's all grown up now. Though the three of us downed two pitchers of margaritas during our time together which made for a pretty non-grown up next day. I swear, I am allergic to margaritas. Don't let me drink one ever again! They make me feel terrible!


The V-towners: Jim, Brad, Dan and Valerie


The non-V-towners: me, Ryan and Holly.

Most of Dan's high school friends reside in San Francisco, so we all got together for dinner, drinks and cannolli in North Beach. I have heard so much about Jim (aka Hurley), Brad, and Valerie, but I have only met each of them briefly so it was great to spend some time getting to know them. I felt an instant connection with Brad's fiance, Holly, who, just like me, works as a marketing freelancer also has a love of writing and books. She does some of the writing for Brad's online business, Weekend Sherpa, an e-newsletter that highlights the best of San Francisco's outdoor activities. Of course, the night was filled with stories about high school, Visalia and old times which made Dan really, really happy.


Have you ever seen Dan so excited??? This is how he looked all night.


Ryan, Dan and Valerie.

V-towner Valerie, her husband Ryan and their dog Luther live in San Mateo, a suburb of San Francisco, and they graciously let us stay with them the last two nights of our trip. We spent a much-needed lazy Saturday together where we went out for deep dish pizza at Zachary's, and then walked around Berkeley, which I found to be too hippie weird for me. Lucky for Dan, there were a few record stores to keep us busy. In the evening we had a lovely barbecue at their house where they cooked tri tip. Before meeting Dan, I have never heard of tri tip, but it is a cut of steak that's very popular in California and it seems that every time we come here, we have some of it. I'm not complaining, it's very tasty.


Dan with his parents.

Our last day was not spent with San Franciscans at all--but with Dan's parents who drove over three hours from Visalia just to have breakfast with us early Sunday morning. Dan shrugged his shoulders at their efforts, saying, "Well, I had to wake up at 8 am." They replied, saying that they were happy to make the drive. "We'd do anything to see Yvonne." Awww, shucks. We ate at their favorite restaurant, the Buena Vista, and then shopped at the food stands at the Ferry Building before it was time to say good-bye.

California Dreamin'

Perhaps it is not the most productive way to live your life, but Dan and I are always looking for the next best place to live. As I have previously mentioned, Dan and I pretty happy in New York City, but we're always on the hunt for our apres-New York living situation that will feature things like a bigger living space, an outdoor patio and vegetable garden, a dog, good food, city culture if we want it, viable jobs around, and bikes.

Dan has been feeling a little homesick for California and suggested we spend a few days in San Francisco to feel it out. I am not one to ever turn down a vacation.

Since I was a little girl, I always loved California. My childhood trips visiting my aunt and uncle in San Jose, and later Gilroy, left me with wonderful memories of blue skies, swimming pools, mountains, boat rides and horses. The idea of moving to this state always seemed like a possibility. I almost had my chance when I got accepted to USC, but it was too expensive and (to my mom) too far to go. Now, being with Dan, I am happy that my life will always be tied to this place since his family and many of his friends are still here.

Since Dan and I have both been to San Francisco a few times already, this trip wasn't about seeing the sights. It was seeing if we could fit in here. Judging from these pictures, the answer could be "YES."

Anniversary

Dan and I have been a couple for six years today.

Consider this:
May 30, 2000: Dan and I met for the first time in Washington, DC

May 29, 2003: Dan and I start dating in Los Angeles, CA

May 29, 2010: Dan and I are getting married in New Orleans, LA (exactly one year away!)

We didn't plan this. Dan and I picked our wedding date before we realized it was our anniversary. (To be honest, we don't really celebrate our anniversary although this year we happen to be vacationing in San Francisco.)

I think it's so cool. The end of May is a good time of year for us. Is it coincidence or fate?

Sandwich: A Play in 1 Act

YVONNE: Do you want me to make dinner now?

DAN: I am not really hungry.

YVONNE: Well, I am hungry, so I'll just make myself a sandwich. Do you want one?

DAN: No.

YVONNE prepares herself a roast beef and cheese sandwich with mayo on a roll. YVONNE sits down on the couch and takes a bite of the sandwich. DAN sits next to YVONNE and grabs sandwich and takes a bite. YVONNE takes her sandwich back.

YVONNE: Are you sure you don't want a sandwich?

DAN: I don't want one.

DAN takes YVONNE'S sandwich and takes a huge bite. YVONNE gives Dan a dirty look and takes back her sandwich and eats it. DAN takes the sandwich again and eats more of it.

YVONNE: That's the last bite for you.

DAN: You are not good at sharing.

YVONNE: I don't want to share. I want the whole thing. I offered you your own. And I am the one who's hungry.

YVONNE finishes what's left of her sandwich. YVONNE puts away the rest of the cold cuts and mayo in the refrigerator. YVONNE settles down in front of her computer.

15 minutes later.

DAN: Can you make me a sandwich?

The End.

Nuts: A Play in 1 Act

YVONNE: I made brownies.

DAN: Yum, brownies! Give me some!

YVONNE hands Ziploc container filled with brownies to DAN. DAN opens the container and wrinkles his nose.

DAN: "Ewwwwww, they have nuts in them."

YVONNE: They are called rocky road brownies so they have chocolate chips, nuts and marshmallows on top. Sometimes I like to bake with nuts. Besides, I like nuts.

DAN: But I don't like nuts.

YVONNE: Well I made them for me, not for you.

DAN looks confused. He takes a bite and then proceeds to eat all the brownies in the container in one sitting. (Don't worry, YVONNE had some earlier.)

Everyone wins.

The End.

Wedding day fantasies

Brian & Eileen's Wedding Music Video. from LOCKDOWN projects on Vimeo.

My wedding is a year away, but I would be super excited if it resembled something like this video. Only in New Orleans, of course.

Seriously, my mom lip-synching to a Queen song?!!? Now, that's a good party! What good fun!

Some days are better than others.

[Via Rifle Designs]

I know, I know. I have been MIA for a while.

Last week, I spent a few days in New Jersey celebrating Mother's Day and wedding dress shopping. And then I came home and got a bout of the unemployment blues. As much as I dislike working, I also dislike not working. A year ago, I was hearing about jobs--permanent and freelance--all the time. Now, all I hear is silence. I know it's not me because many people I know are experiencing the same thing.

I have done my best to remain optimistic and to take advantage of my free time as I said I would, but I admit that I have had bouts of inactivity and feeling sorry for myself, which I don't like to write about--in particular, last week, hence the lack of writing.

Like it or not, I am a person who has always defined myself by my work. And when I am not working, I feel like a huge loser. (Though if I had a trust fund or won the lottery, I could get over being a loser). I daydream that I could be using this time to travel to a cheap, far-off destination but in this recession, I don't want to take my chances with the savings I have got.

So I am going to try to get a summer job. Something semi-permanent that will keep me occupied and put some cash in my pocket, like working in a bakery or temping or something. I have applied to some places already but so far nothing. It's only been a few days so we'll see.

Pounding the pavement renewed my spirits a little bit and gave me the momentum and enthusiasm to keep moving on. I am still diligently networking and job hunting for my real job, almost every day. I have been telling myself (and I know this sounds totally dumb) but maybe there is a reason why I am not finding work right now and that's because I am finally given the time to write like I have always wanted to. I have been writing on and off the last few weeks. On Sunday, I couldn't sleep until 4 in the morning because the ideas kept popping in my head and I had to get up to write them down. I decoded my scribbles during the day and then Monday night I was exhausted yet I felt the same thing happening to me again. (Luckily I fell asleep much earlier). I am excited about this influx of inspiration and yet I am afraid of jinxing it and so I don't to talk about it anymore.

Dan's been in a bit of a funk lately, too, (we're just a happy pair, aren't we?) but that all went away this week when he found out that his favorite band Cracker is playing a show in New York soon. He said that everything is better now that Cracker is coming to town. I wish I had a Cracker. Or a job. Or a book deal. Or a trust fund.