I declare this the December of Erin!

Look! I have a tree! Sure, its only 3ft., fake, pre-strung lights...but, ITS MINE. And I have not only the cute red and silved balls, but starbucks cup ornaments and others from London. Its pretty much the best tree in the world right now.

AND! 2/3 of my family is already shopped for! All I need to do now is a quick trip to Borders, Target and the little touristy gift shop on Irving St and Im done! Christmas is going to be here so soon I need to soak up as much as I can before its gone for another 12 months.
In other news, i cut my hair again. And now its got even more curl and its even so much shorter than before. I have one of those "cute" ponytails. Love love it.

Mom comes to visit ME in two week. I have out itinerary planned already. This is a big deal because shes coming to see me, not going to sisters dance classes, or Monday Night dinner...this is a whole weekend of me. ...Its the WEEKEND OF ERIN!(George Constanza style;)

Plans include,
Union Square to see the tree and such.
Walking across the Golden Gate.
Titanic Exhibit at the Metreon.
Dinner in North Beach.
deYoung Musuem/Golden Gate Park.
and finally, Fillmore St.

these are all things I always want to do but have no one/no money to go/do them with. Yay! Mom!

baby its cold outside...

Wait, so, like, when did it get cold? I was reveling in my 60 degree weather and then I come back from the fridged north(Red Bluff) and its just as cold here! WHAT?!?! nooo. unacceptable. Who do I have to talk to about this? And does he have text messaging?

At this point, if I was back at my apt, Id post a pic of my cute outfit, a la armwarmers and headbands. Too bad I wasnt smart enough to wear long pants today....oooh well.
Im also my own boss for the next couple weeks. So, naturally, today will consist of coming in late, 2 hour lunch, and leaving at 5 to get my hair cut. Why isnt everyday so lovely?

I keep waiting for this sex and the city style life to start...if Carrie can afford $400 shoes and going out to eat everynight, why cant I??? LIFE IS SO HARD.

(i used this pic to help me think of warmer times. the times when it was like 65.)

country roooooads....

take me hooooooooome. to the plaaaaaaaaace, I beloooooooong! Los Molinos, Los Molinos, take me hoooome. So its not Biggie, but John Denver is cool in his own right.

Im home home in Los Mo. Watching the Macys Day Parade, listening to mom rag about how I should be helping with dinner and dad complaining he cant find the spatula. Aaaaaaaaaaah. I am home.

Went on a lovely 2 mile walk with mom and the butt crack of dawn a.k.a. 7:30am. oooooh welll.

Lets eat Turkey!!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!

The "Looney Left"

San Francisco is known as pretty much one of the most liberal cities in the US. Duh. So I thought I would leave you with some fun little social and politicals happenings in the foggy city. Plus, a few ran-dos.

-Congresswoman Pelosi, who reps SF area, voted in as Speaker of the House. Shes also doing her best(along with Senator Feinstein) to keep the Niners in the city. Or at least, make sure that IF they go, they cant keep the SF part of there name. Take that York!

-Pelosi also featured in SNL skit last Saturday. If you're getting ripped on on SNL, you've made it.

-Board of Supervisors passes down new law, banning styrofoam use in restaurants. Yet, lowers enforcement on marijuana to lowest police priority. Stoners Unite!

-Prop J passed in the city, calling for the Impeachment of Bush & Cheney. Its pretty much a useless prop with no real political standing, but again, Take THAT! Ha!

-School Board ends JROTC in high schools, because it "romanticizes military" to our children. Even our liberal mayor who granted all those same sex marriages two years ago is upset about this decision.

-Speaking of Mayor McDreamy...hes no longer dating the 20 year old from Sonoma State. But who could blame her?

-Ferocious biting Sea Lion! Presumed dead?

-Melrose is still in the running to become America's Next Top Model. But man, shes kinda bitchy. I wont claim her as a city dweller...unless she wins of course.

And theres your recap on the hustle and bustle of San Fran. I dont think half the amount of this has happened in Red Bluff...and the news is only this busy in Stockton because of the high crime rate.

Its home, but its not...

Like NyNewbie, I too will be leaving the big city for a few days to head back to the rural metropolis of the mighty northern california. Granted, she has to fly like 6 hours and Im driving only 3, but these are two things that neither of us do very often.
Also, like NyNewbie, as wonderful as the city is, there are numerous things I miss about my litte hometown.

Turkey dinner- obvi.
Parking Lots.
Burger Shack. greasy, fatty, goodness.
Olive Garden. Even though I have one not too far away, its only fun when I got with Mom and Dad who pay for it.
My 3.5 acres of land. And clear sky. You dont realize how much you miss it til you're gone.
Java Detour. I love me some drive thru coffee.

Now, just so you dont think Im defecting to Chico, here are some things I will miss about the city while Im gone for 4 days.

starbucks on literally every corner.
Panchos. The most mexican food you can get for 6 bucks.
Muni. I hate you, but man its nice to never have to drive.
my bed and everything it stands for.
tivo.
the two bums that say "Good Morning!" to every pedestrian on Sansome on the way to work. everyday.

ps. im driving to work for the first time ever on Wednesday. wish me luck. i think i forgot how to drive.

Someone in San Jose gave me crabs!

So, because I like to live life by the seat of my pants and mix it up all the time, I did something totally different this weekend....I attended a Crab Feed.

Now, heres my weekend. I go out to the bars in North Beach with some of my guy friends. We have a fab time as usual. Then, randomly I decide to go with them to the Santa Clara Crab Feed. Which is basically in this community center basement. $40 gets you as much crab and beer as you can digest. We were there for 4 hours.

lets just say, I wont be eating crab for a looooooooong time.

just when things get slow...

November has literally flown by. I just glanced at my Dayrunner planner and realized its already more than half over! Thanksgiving is in less than a week which means Christmas is so close I can almost taste it..(actually I have tasted Christmas, its a Peppermint Mocha from Starbucks).
Speaking of which, I noticed Starbucks ads in the subway. Maybe its just because Ive never lived in the city, but to me, Starbucks advertising is a new thing. Though, they've already won my loyalty and nauseating amount of my paycheck.
Last night I went out with some co-workers to Wine; a hip wine bar(go figure, right?) to celebrate my boss and another rep who are leaving to go to Google. And, so we're drinking, and mind you, Im very hesitant to let my alter drinking ego "Fuck ya FROKE" out around people I work with, but I did. And I still have a job!!
Basically, last night went from classy wine and champagne to beers at The Royal Exchange and Erin, or should I say, Froke, caught the metro, alone, tired and extremely drunk. But the highlight of the night...a random (and might i add very cute) guy came up to me as he was leaving and told me "Ive been watching you all night and I think you are incredibly sexy"

GASP.

New mission in life: find cute boy at wine bar and marry him immediately.

Useless websites..

Taking a cue from SFist...heres a fun site comparing demos in SF and NYC. This is mostly for Steph. And it kept me entertained for a while. Check it out.

And it needs to be Christmas now. Im craving twinkle lights and gingerbread like whoa.

mending fences with the crazies..

something i forgot to post about last friday, but it was friday and all thoughts of the week pretty much escaped my frazzled brain the minute i step off the muni and walk my two blocks home.
Anyways, I was up at Pier 39 last friday to have lunch with my HS newspaper advisor Mr. Evans(yea, you're jealous Steph and Troy, I know) and as I headed back to work, some guy(homeless? maybe? you cant always tell in this city) started talking to me. Like most, I did the nod and kept walking but he kept talking! Finally, I stopped so I could hear what he was saying.

"Im sorry but you arent allowed to do that." -guy
"Umm, what? do what? what did i do?" -me
"walk by me without a smile on your face! smile for me beautiful!" -guy (wow.ok.)
I laugh. I smile. Never hurts to be cooperative just in case they are crazy.
He gives me a sticker from his coat that says "I *heart* your smile!"

You just never know whats going to happen once you walk out your front door.


And just so you all know, yesterday was a fantastic day like I predicted. I got to get out of the office and go on client meetings and free lunches. WOO. And its all because of the red cups.

My Personal Holiday.

Its here. And I called it. Today is the day. An event that turned my blah-i dont want to get up-screw the shower i wanna sleep longer-my head hurts- im hungry mood to that of pure bliss. Yes, thats right. The Holiday cups have arrived at starbucks!!!
Bringing along with them the Gingerbread and EggNog Latte and Peppermint Mocha.
I knew it was going to be today too. The second thursday of November.
Yes, I know this a pic from last years cup. But I dont have a camera with me to document the occasion today. The other great thing...the new cup sleeves have snowflakes on them!!

I have determined. Today will be a great day.

Goooooo BEARS!

Im officially a Cal Bears fan. I mean, I always kinda liked watching college football games on tv, but never had my own team to root for. Now, thanks to my little Val's boyf, I got to experience a game, firsthand, in the famed STUDENT SECTION. 10th row, 50 yard line...

SF Muni, its not any where close to where you want to be.

Look! I can wear my busline! I take the L. But also dabble in 38, 28 and the occasional 49 down lovely Van Ness. This may be what you all will get for Christmas this year.
I think I will recreate Christmas of '02 and buy touristy presents. For Christmas my first year of college, everyone in the family got Pacific gear(paid for by my student account. so in a roundabout way, mom and dad paid for all their christmas presents a month later). So this year everyone will get SF schwag.

Enter "City by the Bay" sweatshirts and "Dont Call it Frisco" totebags.

Now if I could only figure out a way for Mom and Dad to unknowingly fund their presents again.

Now for Reason #7 of reasons not to expend any effort today.
-This job fuels capitalism, which is a great evil in our society.

Its raining, its pouring...

this girl wishes she was at home snoring.:)

The first big rain has hit the city by the bay and while everyone is complaining about damp hair and soaked Nine West's...Im rocking my new balance sneakers and work clothes sans umbrella. I loooove the rain. Or at least, the first time it rains. The only problem with the rain is when Im actually in nice clothes. And dont own an umbrella.

Walking home will be lovely seeing as Ill be in gym clothes and all sweaty from my hardcore workout(totalling 9miles of running/elliptical this week! go me!).

In SF news...Halloween in the Castro. 9 were shot. 2 are still in the hospital. Is this the end of All Hallows Eve in the Castro??
Also, Mayor of SF is dating a 20 year old Sonoma St. "ALum"? hmmmmm. He is good looking.....
Bill Clinton in Sf today campaigning for Yes on 87. WHY AM I AT WORK??
I blew out a fuse the other day. Couldnt find the fuse box for a day and a half. Turns out fuse box is right outside my room in the hallway.

Maybe that last one wasnt actually "SF news" so much as it was "Erin is a idiot" news.