picture overload

Emily came to town! It reminded me how great it is to have a close girlfriend to hang out with. I loved it! Speak freely. Sangria. Outdoorsy. Remember whens. I love the ocean. Eat good food. Run. Be honest. Be relaxed. Sad to say goodbye. Those words are a small start to how our days together were spent.

We started the weekend right at Cha Cha Cha with heafty servings of SANGRIA and a variety of scrumptous tapas. And to top it off, we played Settlers of Catan (SF Emily, you've got some competition).


Now, without further ado, here are the pictures.


i think david bisbal would be proud of our facial expressions in this pic





we ARE that couple.


the palace of fine arts is so serene. it feels completely disjointed from "urban city."


after making our way from the marina into the presidio, we waited for the bus to take us up to the golden gate bridge. don't worry, we're not that lazy. after photographing the bridge, we hiked along the ocean all the way to baker beach.






Sunday night we ate at Seafood Cafe. We guzzled up our free, cheap wine while we waited for our table and between the 3 of us we had salmon, snapper, and scallops.

Monday: Emily and I got our fill of joggin/walking/running through GG Park. We scarffed down yogurt, granola, and fruit from my favorite La Boulange and "window shopped" the boutiques of Hayes Valley. The afternoon we lazily lounged at divisadero nails (cheap & relaxing) getting a mani/pedi! What better way to spend time then at the nail salon with trashy magazines and a great friend.

Monday night: We hookahed! Micah found a new hookah bar, and it was fantastic. Super chill, great ambiance, speedy service, and killer hookah!



happy hookahing



emily, are you jealous of my mad smoking skills?



maybe i'm jealous of Emily's skills?


And, I leave you with the gross, sleezy 'stache picture...


Emily, thank you SO much for spending the beginning part of your spring break with me! I can't wait to have weekly date nights with you in denver!

Excited

Emily's coming to town tomorrow!

I met Emily in Spain FIVE years ago. We both happened to have choosen the same study abroad program and the same city: Granada! I can't begin to recap all the memories we shared learning how to navigate living in Granada, traveling to other Spanish cities, and coping living with our "senoras" (our homestudy moms). There were so many great moments, so many things that made life in Spain a tremendous learning experience and a life living adventure. We got hooked on "cafe con leche," made fun of our inability to blend in (not gunna happen with blond & red hair!), soaked up the richness of Spanish culture, discovered our favorite Spanish beverage Tinto de Verano (red wine & lemon fanta), and explored, explored, explored.

Since Spain, I've been pretty impressed with our keeping-in-contact skills. I visited her in Texas & spent time with her when Micah and I were in Denver. Oh, did I mention Emily LIVES in Denver..Hurray! And now, she's coming to San Francisco.

I can't wait for our relaxing & fun-filled girly weekend!

Lunch with Micah

I played "stay-at-home-wife" today. Let me explain: I had off work today, so I made lunch and hitched a ride on bus 31 downtown to meet up with Micah. It was warm and sunny, so the two of us went here (see pic below) to eat.



I made salad (how healthy am I?),


and turkey sandwhiches,



Micah chowed down on some goldfish,


and then we finished up with a dessert of strawberries.



After lunch, we took off for a walk around the Embarcadero. The views were fantastic! And, when the sun is out, like it was today, life seems just right. We walked out on one of the piers and found this sticker on one of the lightposts. It says, "Wish you were here." How appropriate since I 1) cannot wait for Emily to come out this weekend and 2) have been thinking a lot about my wedding in June & am SO looking forward to seeing friends and family!




After some pier shots, we struted down to TCHO chocolate and picked up a tin box of dark chocolate smothered mango pieces. YUM!

And that was my lunch.

Muir Woods

LOTS of pictures from a fabulous afternoon spent in the midst of a historic and magical forest. Enjoy!

Hello Redwood trees


Cg's attempt at artsyness


Clovers...I love the color green, it makes me happy


My parents


Aren't they cute?


My parents and me


Charlie & Karen (Micah's parents)


Micah and his parents


The mandatory self-portrait session


Not sure what my expression is saying


Kiss


I like the bright color of the fungus, because it is such a contrast to the earthy tones around it


This is actually the beginning of a fern bush. The braches grow, curve over, and the grow straight again.


Good bye Redwood trees

Exhausted

When Micah and I said our last good-byes to my parents and ushered them into my aunt's car yesterday afternoon to be driven to the aiport, there was a sense of accomplishment. We did it! We survived the to-be in-laws weekend. I felt relief that it went well AND that it was over. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents and it was great fun showing them and Micah's parents around my favorite city. But, three days of introducing the parental units nestled within hours upon hours of entertaining, conversating, and feeding them was exhausting! Speaking of feeding, I ATE SO MUCH. I don't remember the last time I've eaten out pretty much every meal for a week. I love sf restaurants; they are rich in flavor (and calories most likely) and expansive in variety. I love their quaint spaces, bright colors, and distinct style. I ate: seafood, a cafe sandwich, pizza, half a gigantic burrito, thai food, homemade granola with creamy yogurt and fruit, the biggest deli sandwhich, homemade pasta, ice cream, homemade pancakes with homemade whipcream & strawberries, salmon, and a yummy, yummy crepe. If you read that last sentence withour gasping, I commend you.

The merging of two families is an interesting concept. What does it really mean in terms of everyday life. I mean why was this past week a source of anxiety? My parents and Micah's parents will meet again at the wedding, but will they ever see each other after that? Maybe, but maybe not. They most likely will not be best friends; they probably won't be more than families to send a Christmas card to every December. So, I've been asking myself why was it so important that they get along. I understand that our families have made us who we are. I understand that they will continue to influence us. We are family and my parents and Micah's parents will be "connected" through us. Perhaps their meeting and their ability to get along just eases concerns and questions of an unknown history.

Whatever the reason for the weight of the first meeting, I'm happy to report once again that it went well!

I have lots of photos to post from our adventure with the parents to the Muir Woods Redwood forest. But here's one to keep you interested until then.

Are Micah's and my parents the same? Both our moms are wearing green sweaters and our dads are wearing leather jackets. What's up with that?

it twas good.

I made it through the first soon-to-be in-law meeting and really, there was nothing to have worried about. Dinner was a success. Although, I'm pretty sure that my mother-in-law-to-be was less than stoked about eating thai food, she graciously ate it. I felt comfortable in my home away from home...Thai Place II. We had lots of food, and even if the conversation was less than great, it wasn't too awkward (which in my book counts as a huge positive).

After dinner, the 6 of us braved the billowing winds to my apartment. It amazes me how soon men can become "besties" when enticed by March Madness. By the way, I filled out my bracket, but since I haven't watched any of the games I have no idea how [poorly] I am doing. My mom, Micah's mom, and I took sanctuary in the kitchen with a pot of tea. We talked wedding stuff and from there I was pretty impressed by the openness of conversation that flowed naturally and mutually. I guess it just takes finding that common thread that breaks the ice.

So, fear not blogosphere, the first meeting twas good!!

happy st. patrick's day!

Fun facts about St. Patrick:

1) He was born in Britain, and was taken prisioner by Irish raiders when he was 16. He spent 6 years in captivity.

2) After the six years, he escaped Ireland and returned to Britain; walking almost 200 miles.

3) He created this celtic symbol, by superimposing a sun cirle onto the christian cross.


p.s. i forgot to wear green today! but, that's ok, i'll just pretend i'm irish with my red hair!

The parents are coming

The parent invasion week is upon us.

Tonight my parents fly in. I have tried my best to come up with an itinerary that will both complement what they want to do and what Micah and I like doing. I think I will send them on their way to the California Academy of Science tomorrow, since I have to work and they should spend a long day discovering all its amazing qualities.

Wednesday, I have to work a half day and then I will be off in the afternoon to most likely wedding planning with my mother.

Thursday is THE day. Micah's parents fly in around 3:30. They will meet up with Micah at his work and then go to their hotel to drop off their stuff. From there, we will embark upon the first dinner with both sets of parents. Honestly, I'm not too worried about it, since as much as I rack my brain I can't really come up with any touchy subject that would turn the parental units into crazed maniacs plotting an immediate rupture in wedding planning.

Friday and Saturday will be bonding time as we tour the ceremony and reception sites as well as vigorous attempts at making Micah's parents see why we love SF so much.

Wish me luck!

denver or bust!

You heard right. Micah and I are moving (91% sure) to Colorado (in July)! I realize it's going to be lots of change all at once; meaning there will be lots of adjustment. But, I would not want to marry or move to another state with anyone else. I will start grad school at the University of Denver THIS summer. I'm going to be in a dual degree program, which means I'll graduate with not just one, but two masters degrees (social work and international studies).

I am COMPLETELY ready to go back to school. I can't wait to buy new school supplies and smell the new pages of textbooks to come. I'm eager to get my classes and meet my professors and fellow students. I'm pumped!

It's exciting to have the decision made. BUT, what will it be like to say good-bye to San Francisco?

To be honest, I have cried more than I thought possible about the inevitability of leaving SF. I moved here 3 years and 6 months ago. I was completely ignorant to what it would be like to live in a "big" city. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Well, it was love at first site. It gained my trust; it eased me into its world where people were quirky and alive. It showed me beauty and hope nestled in pain and imperfection. I fell head over heels for the city. I have loved it unconditionally. It has made me the person I am today (cliche, but true).

San Francisco has played an enormous role in my life education and my growth into a "real-life" adult. It has stretched me, molded me, confused me, provoked me, taught me, and comforted me. San Francisco doesn't just feel like home, it is home. It is the first place where I created a home for myself. I'm confident that the life that lies before me has much to offer and each new adventure will be a new home. But, none will ever be my first. None will ever be San Francisco (that is unless we move back..here's hoping).

I know I will survive, but what will I do without Eddy's cafe or Godzilla sushi or Blue Bottle coffee? What will I do without muni and what will I do if purchasing a death monster (i.e. car) is a necessity? What will I do without my clients, all of them, the crazy ones, the ones that make my heart cry, the ones that make me frustrated, and the ones that make me feel proud to be just a little part of their story? What will I do without 1056, my sanctuary and refuge? And, what will I do without the friends, co-workers, and family that make San Francisco even more like home?

I don't have a very clear cut answer to these questions, other than I will survive. I will find new restaurants and meet new people. I will learn a whole lot more about the world and the people that are in it.

I will be homesick, but then again Micah and I are making a new home. A home away from home.

clean

I love when my bed is made. I love with my clothes are folded. I love when papers are put away and organized in the correct file folder. I love when the floor is vaccumed.

I love when my room is clean.

However, for this to happen, I have to clean, which is not my favorite thing to do.

I cleaned today. It's not exciting, but I promise to post some exciting news soon!!!

raised from the dead

Disclaimer: It took me forever to upload these pics, I have no idea why my computer has been anti-blogging.

That's pretty much how I feel after getting over this past week. I was so thankful for a refreshing weekend of sunshine after being couped up in my apartment with what felt like the flu of death. It was great to enjoy the streets of san francisco with my love. Here's some pictures from our roamings.

a little firehouse:


me trying to peer inside:


micah at the lyon steps:


the marina (i heart sf):


the love birds:


And I, of course, cannot forget about this one. This "little guy" was perched above a very lovely house in pacific heights. He's pretty well endowed. I wonder what thoughts have to coincide to believe "this robot would make the perfect addition to our house." I also wonder, "what do the neighbors think?":

SICK

I'm that stay-home-from-work, don't-get-out-of-my-bed, watch-trashy-tv, only-have-eaten-breakfast (& it's 4:30pm) kind of sick.

I got the chills, as well as I'm having hot flashes!

I have aches all over, but mainly in my lower back.

And, my throat is burning!