The Kindness of the Twitterverse

Sometimes, people surprise you. In the same way that sometimes friends may disappoint you, sometimes, people will surprise you. Even strangers.

I've recently been spending a lot of time thinking about Twitter. This site that allows you to throw your random thoughts and feelings out into the world. Unlike Facebook, if your profile isn't protected, anyone out in the Twitterverse can 'follow' you. Anyone can read your updates. And slowly, they become invested in your life. At the same time, you begin following people. People you don't know. And yes, you slowly become invested in their lives.

I've made some awesome friends on Twitter. People that I barely know--some that I have never met. For one reason or another, your lives have been intertwined, and you've been brought into each other's lives for a reason.

These strangers. They are my sounding board. They are my support group. They are my people. I've been blown away more than once, about the things they've said or the things they've done to support me. I am so thankful to have these people in my life.

And the odd part? I don't even know if I want to meet these strangers. Maybe it's better to just have these people indirectly involved in my life. I'm not sure yet. What's stopping these people from being my 'real friends'?

In the meantime? I'm determined to give back some of this good Twitter karma I've been on the receiving end of. Why not pass it forward and keep the love flowing?

Bad Blogger

I've been a bad blogger. I admit it. I've had a lot going on, and haven't been able to focus on my writing! It seems as if the last week weeks have been crazier than usual, and as a result, my writing has suffered.

The good news? I've got lots going on. This weekend? Had not one, but TWO dinners Friday night with a friend that was in town. Saturday? Pilates to kick off the day. And then some MAJOR cleaning of the apartment as I continue to get ready for my move--purge and pack, purge and pack. Then I drove my scooter off to a test meal at the new Out the Door Bush Street where Chef Grace Nguyen WOW'ed us with an amazing breakfast. The poached egg over the braised beef brisket was perfect, the BBQ pork bun delish, and the iced Vietnamese coffee was exactly what I needed to keep me going all day long.

From there, my friend and I checked out an apartment she's hoping to get in Hayes Valley, and then went on my sofa/couch hunt. We scooted down to Room & Board, and then to Sphere. We were scooting all over town! It was fantastic. And I was getting more and more comfortable on my scooter!

We popped in on a party some friends were having over in Buena Vista Park/Duboce Triangle area, and then finally zipped home where the night ended with a simple heirloom tomato salad I whipped up.

I realized that in just a few short hours, I had driven on Fillmore, Bush, Gough, Franklin, Market, and all over SOMA/Potrero Hill too. The traffic, cars, walkers, buses, etc. were bugging me less and less. And the hills are getting easier with time. I'm excited to see where my next scooting adventure will take me.

My Sunday morning was spent in Berkeley with a friend perusing through the furniture/design stores on Fourth Street. Then some errands and back into the city. About a third of my kitchen is packed up now, more of my closet has been purged and three loads of laundry later, I am finally hitting a wall.

The detox continues as I get ready for my trip to the East Coast and New York later this week. And then once I return? All packing all the time. SO. My little blog may have to take a back seat for another month. But I'm excited for what the next few weeks hold for me. And getting even more excited for the fall/winter dinner parties in my new home!!

Friday Favorite: French Fries!

Ok. Who doesn't love french fries? Yea, thought so. One of my favorite foods of ALL time. One of my GREATEST food weaknesses. I can never pass them up.


Here they are from Starbelly's opening night party. With a trio of house made sauces. YUM!

A Foggy Surf

A foggy morning along the Monterey coast--just another Saturday. When walking along the beach, we spotted a ton of surfers ready to take on the waves.

I love both of these photos. So calm and peaceful--yet one look at the waves and it's a completely different story! Here's to those adventurous surfers hitting the waves every chance they get!

Friday Favorite: A Thoughtful Treat

I have some amazing friends. From near and far. Friends I've made through work, through my previous job in the NBA, through college, high school, even from back in kindergarten.

But recently, a new friend of mine, that I haven't even met yet, did something so incredibly kind. I've been having a bit of a hard time with some personal stuff, and when she got wind of that, she sent me the sweetest little thing in the mail.

This gorgeous Michael Recchiuti chocolate box. Such a sweet (literally!) thing for her to do. And I can't even tell you how much it brightened up my day. The best pick me up a girl could ask for.

Thank you to Kiki and ALL of my good friends for your love and support!!

Saying Good Bye to Russian Hill

I've been so lucky to be a Russian Hill resident the past 5 years. The hills, the ding ding of the cable car, the classic SF Edwardian style buildings, views of the water and both Golden Gate bridge as well as Bay Bridge.

It's a great neighborhood-with a real neighborhood feeling. Little boutiques, coffee shops, and cute restaurants on tree lined streets. I've got many friends that live nearby, and are literally only minutes away from me. Making it easy for that last minute invite for dinner or that much needed post work glass of wine. And not to mention, my sister and uncle are both blocks away from me. My uncle always joked that if I needed anything and yelled loud enough, he could actually hear me.

What more could a girl ask for?

A place of her own. And so, as I began the search for a new place to live (and quickly put an offer in on a sweet spot!), it hit me. In a matter of weeks, I mayno longer be living in this place I've been calling home.

Second to my childhood home, this is the place I've lived in the longest. This is the last apartment of mine that my mom saw. And thinking back now to that last move-in day, I'm not really sure how I'm going to do it this time without her there. I know she'd be excited for me. I know she'd love the new apartment, and be so happy that I had a place to call my own.

I'm trying not to dwell on all of that. And while there's still a long process ahead of me and I may not even be moving, I am instead focusing my energy on spending as much time in my neighborhood as possible. Gotta duck into two of my favorite shops, Belle Cose, Limonia and Picnic a few more times. And MUST buy a few more old used books from Russian Hill Bookstore. And let's not forget the Jug Shop! Wonder if Chuck will miss seeing me in there as much as I'll miss going in there?

Must hit up my last Taco Tuesday at Nick's Crispy Tacos, sushi at Okoze, another meal at the bar of Pesce, coffee and brunch at Nook, take-out (including the pork fried rice and HUGE potstickers) at U-Lee, bubbles outside on a sunny weekend day at Bell Tower, ladies night at the Cafe Meuse, ice cream at Swenson's, ZA pizza, wine and eye candy at Amelie, burger at Polkers...the list could go on.

Russian Hill. It's a great little neighborhood. And it's been my home. Some of the best spots in the city. The upside to all of this? Hopefully I'll have a new neighborhood to discover!

Bacon

Isn't it cute? The greatest surprise ever! I received this in the mail in a few days ago. And I was literally laughing hysterically when I saw the name of it--Bacon. So so SO awesome.

A HUGE thanks to my friend Melissa (over at Under Construction) for the treat in the mail. It's been a stressful, crazy, and emotional few weeks for me, and this was JUST the pick me up I needed. It's beautifully handmade, and well, perfect for me. It's currently sitting on my kitchen table. I haven't hung it up yet in hopes that it'll have it's first home in my new home.

A Happy Day

Today is a special day. The day when one of my closest friends gets married. I am so happy for them, and so excited to be there on his special day. Here's wishing Bahram and Kristin a lifetime of laughter, love and happiness.

The site of the special occasion! Monterey, California

Friday Favorite: Some Patriotism

Thinking about September 11th a few years back...to exactly where I was, who I was with, what I was doing. Feeling a little patriotic today, so thought this photo of these red and blue berries seemed appropriate!

Lola

Lola's not perfect. But she's beautiful. And she's mine. A little beat up, but nothing a little love can't fix.

Who's Lola? She's my scooter. After soliciting names for her from friends (some of my favorites included Silver Bullet, All Clad, Gavin, Coors Light, Quick Silver, Ag, Silver Streak, and Herring), I finally settled on Lola. One of those names that always make me smile when I hear it.


Why you ask? Because of an awesome song from the Kinks. It just makes me smile, and laugh. And hey, why not name my scooter Lola?

Leaving you with the brilliant lyrics:

I met her in a club down in old soho
Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry-cola
C-o-l-a cola
She walked up to me and she asked me to dance
I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said lola
L-o-l-a lola lo-lo-lo-lo lola
Well Im not the worlds most physical guy
But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine
Oh my lola lo-lo-lo-lo lola
Well Im not dumb but I cant understand
Why she walked like a woman and talked like a man
Oh my lola lo-lo-lo-lo lola lo-lo-lo-lo lola
Well we drank champagne and danced all night
Under electric candlelight
She picked me up and sat me on her knee
And said dear boy wont you come home with me
Well Im not the worlds most passionate guy
But when I looked in her eyes well I almost fell for my lola
Lo-lo-lo-lo lola lo-lo-lo-lo lola
Lola lo-lo-lo-lo lola lo-lo-lo-lo lola
I pushed her away
I walked to the door
I fell to the floor
I got down on my knees
Then I looked at her and she at me
Well thats the way that I want it to stay
And I always want it to be that way for my lola
Lo-lo-lo-lo lola
Girls will be boys and boys will be girls
Its a mixed up muddled up shook up world except for lola
Lo-lo-lo-lo lola
Well I left home just a week before
And Id never ever kissed a woman before
But lola smiled and took me by the hand
And said dear boy Im gonna make you a man
Well Im not the worlds most masculine man
But I know what I am and Im glad Im a man
And so is lola
Lo-lo-lo-lo lola lo-lo-lo-lo lola
Lola lo-lo-lo-lo lola lo-lo-lo-lo lola