happy one-week anniversary.

[photo credit: jshipley photography]

mini-post.

what is that blog?

you've missed me? and you want to hear about my fabulous wedding and what i've been up to in hawaii? well, you'll have to wait for a few more days.

BUT... to tide you over until then, go check out jeff's blog (aka our amazing photographer!) for some incredible photos of what i did on June 20th!!

oh, and if you have a lot of time..check out his slideshow.

good-byes.

Goodbye "wiggle" with your curvy, semi-level bike path.

Goodbye 24 bus and brisk, stressless 18th street walk.

Goodbye pick-me-up-tuesdays and Philz coffee with your creamy, delicious mocha tesora.

Goodbye ImagiKnit with your grandiose selection of yarn and buttons, but semi-snooty staff.

Goodbye Bi-Rite with your healthy & non-healthy (but yummy) lunch options when I forget to pack my own.

Goodbye Tartine and random conversations with Barry who is always out and about with friends.

Goodbye homeless man who hangs outside of Delfina Pizza reading books and muttering to himself.

Goodbye Valencia street with all your music-frenzied, tight pants wearing hipsters.

Goodbye Women's Building with your vibrant colors.

Goodbye third floor and neon light-up vagina sign.

Goodbye CROC with your abundance of files and phone calls.

Goodbye clients who I've grown to love, appreciate, and understand a smidgen more over the last 2 years and 8 months. I wish you safety and security in the future that lies ahead.

Goodbye Tara and Emberly who have taught me so much and shown me through their own actions what it is like to care for others.

Goodbye last day of work.


[photo credit: http://visualingual.wordpress.com]

but a moment.

Last night, Micah and I got one moment. It was a simple moment, not a long one and not an eloquent one, but a this-is-why-i'm-marrying-him moment all the same. I loved that moment...


5 days...

V.

You may not know V (or nique, or veronique), but I do. I've known her for seven years in fact (V-can you believe it's been that long?) and she is a wonderful, wonderful friend. She's one of those friends that's always there when you need her. She will be there for the best of times and the worst. She doesn't shy away from life's shit-iest moments, because she understands more than anything that when life's a big pile of crap, you really need a friend.

V and I met in college and were roommates for two years. Our days were filled with:

1. a mouse named shadow
2. snicker's ice cream bars
3. drew 8 special (popcorn and chocolate frosting)
4. pancake + johnny depp sundays
5. learning languages
6. boy talks (V-remember spanish boy?)
7. kitchen experiments that usually ended in pasta, risotto, chicken, shrimp, pancakes, or quesadillas
8. eating funfetti at any time, on any day, for whatever reason
9. sshminininoff
10. "chubby bunny"

And, all these daily ins and outs only strengthened our friendship and inspired the deep and superficial conversations we had. I am so, so blessed to have V as a friend and I am incredibly honored to have her as a bridesmaid.

V, thank you for our precious phone conversations, your advice and opinions, and your ongoing love and encouragement. You are a beautiful person and I wish you the best of the best of birthdays. Enjoy your special day with your hubby and your baby; they are sure to love on you and tell you just how amazing you are. See you oh, so soon!

ONE week!!

I'm at a lost for words. I could go on and on about how excited I am, and how this week is going to be an enormous test of patience and endurance, and how I can't wait for friends and family to be here. But, I'm not. Mainly because I've realized just how precious of a resource time is and I've got LOTS to do!

On another note, Micah and I saw "Up" last night in 3D. I cried a lot and I highly recommend it.

futz.

During these last couple days, I feel as though a lot has happened. So, let me try to get you caught up to speed.

Tuesday night, Micah and I whispered the secret password "futz" and gained entry into the upscale, prohibition-era bar Bourbon & Branch. With the low lighting hovering over us I felt as though I was lurking in the shadows, but it was definitely a classy joint. However, the classiness of the place was probably somewhat lessened by my sudden and uncontrollable stream of tears that started to flow. Even two days later, I'm still not sure what happened. Micah was reminiscing a host of san francisco memories and then the lump swelled up in my throat and the hot tears started pouring. It was almost like I was having a "break-up" conversation with the city. I heard the city tell me all the good and bad times we'd been through together. "We've been through so much, don't leave me now." "We'll make it through the changes, we can make it work." I silently contested. I assured the city it was me, not her. That I needed the space to spread my wings and see if I could fly, without her guidance and without her security. I needed to have an adventure.

All the while this dialogue is playing in my head, the tears are flowing and Micah has NO idea why on earth his fiancee is having a volatile reaction to "remembering the good ole times."

And even as I write this post, the hot tears are welling back up. I can feel them and I can't stop them. San Francisco, I heart you.


*****************************************


Now, let me switch gears a little. Let me tell you that it's not just the sad emotions that happen, but it's the happy ones; and the combination of the two (or more) is what makes life and living life so complex. At times it makes me feel bi-polar. I'm up, I'm down; I'm up, I'm down.

Wednesday, after another "last" (you know, it's my last drink, my last day, my last straw), I met up with Micah to get our marriage license. It was actually a jolting switch from my last day at court with my clients (restraining order hearings) to stepping into the hallowed halls of the City to obtain our license to wed.

AND...



We got it!



And, then...

I met up with Ji Hae for some dessert.



She asked for water & the guy made sure she wasn't gunna be dehydrated!


I even got a mini-cupcake for Micah. Isn't it cute?



There it is: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

home away from home.

Well, this last week has made me giddy with delight for all the upcoming life events and changes. I'm eager for the wedding, the honeymoon, and yes, even our disasterously under-planned move to Denver. Through all the hassles and stresses of making sure the favors are done, there's someone to pick up the flowers, and the ceremony selections are picked out, I feel rather calm (perhaps unreasonably so).

But who knew in a span of 5 days, Micah would get a job and we would get an apartment. And my favorite thing about our new home-to-be (which I cannot wait to actually see in person) is the vintage 1920's refrigerator that was converted into cabinet space!


[photo credit: Melissa!]


I feel calm and ready for the "big day" to be here. Only 11 more days!

bus pass.

It's pretty cool that this month's bus pass is green and grey. Isn't that like a good omen or something?

the twilight zone.

Gather round everyone, it's story time again.


First, let me give you some background. I've been needing to get my hair trimmed for, oh let's say, two months. And I'm not exaggerating, I really needed a trim. You know you need one when the person sitting next to you on the bus notices and tells you to jot down the number for their stylist. (ok, ok, that didn't actually happen, but it could have.) However, one of the major reasons, maybe even the only reason, holding me back was the hefty, associated price tag. The last salon I went to for a "dusting" (yes, a hair dusting, that's what the stylist kept associating it as) charged me $65 + my first born + tip!

But, it was time for me to cave to the great hair oppressors and pay my dues. Don't worry, I wasn't going down without a fight.

I yelped my way to Danae's doorstep (quite literally). She owns the prestigious salon Progressive Cuts, which just so happens to operate out of Danae's very own house. I know, this should have been my first clue that only bad things and awkward moments were barreling my way, but alas I pursued her. I tell you it was her price that sucked me in, $30? $30 for a hair dusting? It was sweet, sweet music to my ears. Music my pocket book couldn't resist.

I set up an 11am appointment and she emailed me her address, for privacy sake let's say it was 11 twilight street.

So, I got up yesterday morning and meandered the few blocks up to 11 twilight street. I approached a 3 flat apartment building, each flat door clearly labeled "11," "12," "13." Door number 11 was open and I checked and double checked, and re-checked again that I had the right address, so I went in. There was no doorbell to ring, so I assumed this meant to come on in.

I went in.

Flat "11" happened to also be the third floor flat, so I had quite the amount of steps to climb. Each step seemed to push my insecurity further. Is this it? Did I just enter into someone else's apartment? I don't know where I am? Turn around, turn around. My brain was shouting, but my curiosity and my $30 hair dusting pulled me further. I made it to the top of the steps. There was no clear direction. I didn't hear anyone, not a peep. I hesitantly chocked out a barely audible "hello?" as I rounded the corner to the first doorway.

Oh, no...no, no, no. I've made a horrible mistake. This can't be right.

There sitting on an orange furry couch in front of me was a burly, bearded man wearing plaid pajama pants and a scraggly shirt. He was holding a mixer sized bowl and from it he was eating his healthy dose of cocoa puffs.

No, no, no. I turned bright red. What do I do? What do I say?

I could think of nothing else than to question, "Is Danae here?" knowing in my heart of hearts this has got to be one of my most embarrassing moments ever. He didn't miss a beat though. Oh, yah, she's cuttin' someone's hair. Go ahead and have a seat.

My brain had stopped functioning some time back when I first rounded the corner, so I did nothing other than what I was told. I sat down, sat down right next to burly, bearded man. He had just popped in a DVD of an episode of The Twilight Zone, so I inwardly cursed myself for arriving 7 minutes early to my appointment. We sat there, he and I, soaking up every little detail of how the aliens had landed in a small Mexican pueblo and the government would be arriving shortly to investigate the slaying of one of town's police officers.

Oh, goodness, is seven minutes really this long?

Eventually out pops Danae through the kitchen door, leading her client out. She's friendly, she smiles, thanks me for waiting, and beckons me to the hair salon (I mean, the kitchen). There was actually a legit hair style chair (what's that called?). And, for all those out there completely grossed out by the thought of a stranger's hair floating anywhere near a plate of piping hot mac n' cheese, it was at the very least somewhat stationed apart. The rest of the story really isn't all that eventful. She trimmed my hair, nothing fancy, nothing disastrous, and sent me on my way, just $35 poorer.


Would I do it again? Maybe. I mean, it was only $30.



[photo credit: tshirtgurus.blogspot.com]

gainfully employed.

Well, Micah did it. He flew to Denver, knocked some socks off, and was offered a GREAT job position! Not only did he just get a job in this great economy we find ourselves in, but he practically got two promotions and a raise while doing it.

Fantastic. Good job, my little go-getter!

I am so proud of him. I know he was stressed (really stressed) about finding something. I mean, it would have been pretty miserable if he would've had to stay in San Francisco working until he found a position, while I moved out to Denver by myself. Ok, not just pretty miserable; it would have been agonizing. But no more worrying our soon-to-be married heads about that. The gods have smiled and come july we will be relocated and re-employed.


Now, if we only had a place to live...

xoxo.

Sending lots of hugs and kisses to my favorite person in the whole world, who happens to be in Denver today!


(photo credit: http://lelove.blogspot.com)

June.

I've been waiting for you. I've waited for what at times has felt like an eternity, and now, well, it seems as though I've blinked and here you are standing right in front of me.

Either way, you're here and I'm thrilled!

Those feelings of nervous excitement and jittering anticipation are pulsing through me. Really, only 19 days? Really?

wow.