Fireworks on the Fourth..

Happy Fourth to everyone! I'm currently celebrating my country's independence by sleeping til noon and then watching Flip the House Marathon on TLC....just like George Washington would have wanted it.

To be completely honest, I get kind of homesick on the fourth. To me, 68 degrees and breezy doesnt say 4th of July to me. Growing up with the quintessential Fourth of July parade down the main drag of our town (Sherwood Ave./HWY 99) followed by a celebration in the park complete with three legged and potato sack races, face painting and bbqs, I now have a hard time imagining it any other way.
Bars, parties, piers...its all nice and beautiful. However, its not 110 degrees, in short and tanks; sunburns and sprinklers. 4H projects. Horse rides. Small towns.

And as much time and energy as I've spent getting as far away from that as possible, I find myself missing it to death every July 4th.

A fast as a New York Minute..

So, Im back from New York. I feel like just yesterday i was buying plane tickets and now Im back to the daily grind of work and hilly San Francisco.

New York is basically like San Francisco, just bigger, and with less hills. And a far superior subway system.

Plus, they have the actual Restaurant from Seinfeld. Which is the only reason for the jaunt to Morningside Heights. (Im sucha New Yorker now.)


Thank you Steph for introducing me to NYC!

Porky Pig! On Crack!

There isnt really a point to this post besides the fact I havent posted in over a month.

Since then its been a whirlwind of trips and new arrivals and work. Currently I spend my time at work or playing with the newest members of Apt 304; Ziggy and Pippin. I would post pics of Pippin but she has yet to come out from underneath the bed long enough for me to grab the camera and snap a couple shots.

Now I just have about 2 1/2 weeks to save my money and get ready for my vacation(FINALLY!) to New York City for a week of sightseeing and fun with NYNewbie. I've been spending all my free time reading up on things to do and reminding my boss that this is vacation and not a work trip.

Aaaaaah. I wish I could say I wouldnt work at all...but that would be a lie. Bah.

All I do for You..

This post is dedicated to NYNewbie for the long awaited photos of my apartment! Also, a documentation of the ferry boat ride from last Wednesday. I apologize in advance for the chronological discrepancies...i fell asleep on the ferry ride over to Vallejo so half of the pics are to Vallejo and half are coming to SF.

Enjoy!

Movin' on UP! To the East Side!

...to a deluxe apartment....on the 3rd floooooor!

I like to improv.

But yes, I am officially relocated to that fuzzy area between the FiDi, Chinatown, and Union Square. Or as I like to call it, a little piece of heaven.

And if your idea of heaven is a tiny studio apartment with a barely flushing toilet and backwards sink faucet, you are my kind of person. But seriously, I love my new place. I love that I have a closet the size of two twin beds(foot to foot, long ways) and so many weird drawers and shelves I could die.

Best part is I walk to work. 8 blocks! And, yet, I still manage to be at least 20 minutes late to work.
-"Sorry Richard, the 'DO NOT WALK' signs were unusually long today. and yesterday. and last week. and, oh hell...."

Things will be great when you're DOWN-TOWN.

Esp. when you live DOWN-TOOOWN.
As of about 5pm today, I am the newest renter in Stockton Court Apartments! I am the proud renter of a little studio with the biggest closet Ive ever seen.

There was a lot of back and forth. I hate forms. But, its worth it. Because starting 4/6, I will be living on my own. No one else. Except for Bowie.


And I couldnt be more excited.

Things you can always count on...

which is what makes me love SF...even for its faults.

-The Muni never running on time. So when it does by a miracle of God actually show up, you are so relieved with joy you think to yourself "Today is going to be a GREAT day!"
-Cabs never being where you need them...and being everywhere you dont.
-The homeless man on Bush street who called me "Suga Lips"
-Outrageous rent. Most people cant fathom paying. I do so with pride and a little less dignity.
-Starbucks tasting the same anywhere you go. Its what you can depend on in this world.

When everything is going wrong, like apt searches and work issues and timing issues and man issues...its a relief to know that even though all of this is out of control, I still get to live in this fabulous city.

Well, as long as said apartment search goes according to plan...but when does anything actually do that?

I dont believe I shared with the world...

...the near death experience of my ipod.

It was February 13th, I remember the day exactly because it was the day before VD and I was set to get my hair did for the occasion of not having a date or really any plans in general.
I will layout the series of events in chronological order so you may understand my experience. Two facts you must keep in mind: 1) I have a hair appt at 7pm and 2)I am possibly the most awkward person alive.

5:30p: most people leave work. I however, am stuck in obsessive complusive trance of making sure my campaigns on Zagat and Fodors are flawless.
6:15p: still at work. I wonder what the world is like for those "Type B" personalities. Must be nice.
6:35p: leave work. Have already figured out hours ago thanks to 511.org that it will take me exactly 9 minutes to go from Montgomery Muni Station to Van Ness Muni Station. Factor in walking time from Van Ness to Grove St. 15 minutes total. Thank you OCD.
6:45p: Get to Montgomery Muni Station. Thrilled at the idea of being able to jump on any of the trains, not just the L. However, here comes a train so i start a "cute run" in heels to the train.
6:46p: laptop carrier obviously not zipped up completely. Out fly..literally FLY my: cell phone, blackberry, and ipod..lady next to me says, "hey, you're stuffs everywhere" thanks, ma'am.
cell and bberry(Laverne, I feel the need to name my electronic accessories) are a little beat up from being hurled from the bag, but are ok. However, iPod(Oliver)......
6:47p: IPOD IS UNDER THE PLATFORM. He hit the tracks and went under the platform. *Pause while Erin completely freaks out at thought of Oliver being lost to the Muni Gods.* Brief flash of While You Were Sleeping when Sandra Bullock sees Peter Gallagher get pushed onto the tracks and she jumps down to save him.
6:50p: J train on its way...will it hit my pod? Only time will tell.
Whew, ipod is safe. For now.
6:51p: Run up to station booth
Conversation as follows:
Me: Um, my ipod...on the tracks....i need it. help me.
Big Scary Station Attendant: what? well, honey, thats not an emergency. We cant stop the trains.
Me: What? not an emergency? its my IPOD.
BSSA: Give me your name and phone number and we'll call you when we can get it.
Me: Chya. right. Get it. NOW.
(Big Scary Lady radios to engineer man. Someone will be down to help me shortly)
7p: Call Rachel, my hair lady. I will be late. Ive had a muni incident. people look on. staring.
7:06p: mean unhelpful engineer man comes and jumps onto tracks to save my Oliver. Hes slightly dented, but all in all, safe and sound. people look on. staring.
7:10: Get on train...craddling ipod in hands. I will never let go, Oliver. Ill never let go.

Now the question...did my iPod attempt suicide? Does he need psychiatric help? Was he taking a stand against the obscene amount of Ace of Base recently downloaded(for the gym, I swear). Maybe he just didnt want to get onto another crowded train for 30 minutes. Im sure we will never know. Though, Ive thought numerous times about hurling myself onto the tracks when Ive been waiting for one for 20 minutes...of course it wouldnt do much good, considering there arent any trains coming the first place...thus the root of my pain.

Gung Hey Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese New Year! Last night was the Chinese New Year Parade in SF. It was like being a little kid again, running down the street with a hand full of sparklers and smoke bombs. Apparently the SF celebration is the biggest one outside of Asia. All I know is, I celebrated the new year by drinking european beer and chowing down on cheese steak. V. Chinese, I know.

Its about 70 degrees here right now. I went out and bought a cute sundress to celebrate the occasion. Oh, global warming.

Its like working...but in sweats

Im working from home. Its Friday. its a beautiful day outside.....

Im dying a little bit inside. All I want in the world right now is to get wireless internet at the park so I can go outside and work. But at least I have The Office Season 2 DVD on in the background so my insanity can be somewhat appeased.

Snow Patrol was amazing. Bill Graham Civic. $3 margaritas beforehand. Yet more reasons why I am totally and completely in love with this city. Tonight, Irish music in an stereotypical irish pub and drinking good Irish beer. I basically cant wait.

Sick, but watching Batman Returns at 11pm..

I am so tired and stressed, yet im still up, sick, watching Batman Returns. The one with Michael Keaton and Michelle Pheiffer. I think I like this one the best. Im a huge Batman fan, but I digress.
Im sicky icky. And i only see it getting worse. I thought I was better today then I developed a stuffy nose at about 7pm tonight....oh, but wasnt GREYS AMAZING????

other note, Top Model season premiere, next WEDNESDAY. Who needs a boyfriend, or social life when you have a steady stream of shows Monday-Thursday..ok, Friday, What Not to Wear. I admit.

I have like, too many bills. I dont like bills. I esp. dont like bills that overcharge me for shit. And I dont like bills that say I parked in residential only parking and it cost me 50bucks. I dont love that. Maybe this weekend will consist less of drinking and going out and more resting and watching movies I already own?

"49 square miles surrounded by reality..."

And its so true. Leaving the city is like being thrown back into this harsh reality of gas prices and parking lots and ugly buildings. But coming home is like being wrapped up in limited freeway access, starbucks on every corner and friendly natives.
I know I may be going slightly overboard and my LA friends are probably about to kill me, but I dont care. And even though its pouring rain and has been for the last two days, I can still feel the relief wash over me.
Even the homeless are more fun here. They do things like make figurines out of copperwire or sit at the same spot everyday to say hello to the business people walking by. They have funny signs!
In LA, they just yelled jibberish at me....and I felt awkward and dirty.

And one more thing that blew me away(and this comes from living in a city where everything is within walking distance) was that when i would ask someone if there was a store or gas station nearby and they would look at me with a blank stare. They DIDNT KNOW! How do you not know where the nearest store or gas station is??? It boggles the mind, really. John Lennon once said, "Los Angeles? Thats just a big parking lot where you buy a hamburger for the trip to San Francisco."

"What fetched me instantly (and thousands of other newcomers with me) was the subtle but unmistakable sense of escape from the United States."~H.L. Mencken, writer

just REAL quick...

....i hate LA. And living in the city has made me hate LA even more.

I have never been happier to see foggy, rainy, NON-smoggy San Francisco...whats that smell? oh, its fresh air.

and im done. and so glad to be home.

i like the illogical reasons better

So I know I posted about this back a few months, but its happened again! Remember, if you will,(or just check out my archives) the bus driving down Sansome St. with the LED sign "Nowhere in Particular"? Well, I thought this was just a one time occurence, something only I got to see. But then I was completely tripped out when heading to Embarcadero Center last night after work when I saw the same bus(assuming its the same, it may not be) going south on Battery St. and turing left on Clay!!! What is this??? WHERE THE HELL IS THIS BUS GOING? Or maybe it really is the bus to hell? Theres usually no one on it. Which makes me wonder why its driving around wasting gas. The city complains about the transportation budget...maybe less driving to nowhere in particular, mmk?

But seriously, I actually just did some research on this and turns out this is just an old bus driver joke(you know how those drivers love a good belly laugh....not that ive ever seen it). It is slightly less exciting to hear that they are probably just going back to the bus garage or going out of service. So Ive decided to ignore the naysayers and go on believing that the bus is going somewhere fantastic and there is a illogical reason behind all of it. Cause, I mean, thats what San Francisco values are all about right?

Speaking of SF values...how bout Mayor McDreamy? He dun fucked up, son.

Sunday Morning Shout out

Taking a cue from NYNewbie...heres a nice little shout out list for a nice little sunday morning, er, afternoon.

Starbucks- I know we've discussed this before, but I really cant get over how great you are. A nonfat latte at noon on a sunday may be the greatest thing in life.
Soap Net- Beverly Hills 90210 marathon? oh yes please.
My Nails- the fact that I havent bit my nails in 3 weeks is unbelievable. I feel like a big girl.
Work- Im strangely still into you. Im not sure why.
Arrested Development- I could watch this shit all day. I mean, C'MON!
omigod shoes- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYnn51C3X_w
The Hills- I get out my aggression on dumb bitches by watching this show and making fun of Heidi. Its very therapuetic.
The Forrester- Finally have my car back. 2002 Subaru Forrester from now on to be known as Leo. I do love you. And Ill never let go.
San Francisco- Sure Tahoe is lovely, and the outdoors are necessary from time to time...but nothing is better than getting into the bay area and feeling the wave and satisfaction breeze over you. Especially so when you get dropped off at the Oakland Airport, AirBart over to the Bart station, have one of your bags break, then a nice lady gives you a bright blue trash bag to put everything in. Then wait for Bart, trash bag in hand. Get off bart at Embarcadero Station to transfer to Muni. Some lady freaks out at muni driver. Get on Muni. Make it home 25 minutes later. I feel like this shit only happens to me. I should have my own show.


ahhhh to be home.

Kindred Spirits...of a sort

So Ive discovered this fascination with Mayor McDreamy is not just something that I keep to myself and secretly stalk alone on a Sunday night at 10pm....not that I do that, Im just saying. There are blogs upon blogs about Mr. Newsom and his happenings around the city.

Recently, Gavin's had a hard time dealing with the press on the Yale Choir Boys(people? i dunno.) as well as criticism that he is not reacting to the homicides in SoMa. Poor McDreamy. Why cant they see that you have other issues on your mind besides public issues? Walgreens just stopped continuing your supply of hair gel!

Ive found people in my office are equally obessed. This should lead to some good office water cooler gossip.

sometimes its saturday night....

...and you're wanting to fall asleep at 8pm. But i guess shopping til you drop does that to a person.
I took on Union Square and Westfield today with momma. New jeans, new tops, new makeup, new red trench coat! I need some new flats, but thats in the next paycheck.

Thursday Im taking off for wine tasting in Napa and Tahoe with the company. This job seriously rocks.

It keeps ya on your toes..

Wait? whats this? Erins updating? Insanity.
Well, this new job has left me so busy during work(when i usually updated) and drained by the time I get home, I havent been able to fill the world(Steph) in on my SF life. Firstly, this last week rocked. I have been in training all week for this new job and tomorrow I am officially released onto the agencies and real work. This job is really made for me. I get to wear jeans to work, work form home when I want, and talking on the phone all day. Not to mention the extensive "research" I have to do for my sites...so bascially i get paid to surf the web.

Besides the work world, my life is good. I am definitely on an upwardly positive road. There comes a point in ones life in a new place where you finally become completely comfortable. You dont stress about missing the bus(theres always another one, as they say) and you realize that checking your bank account everyday doesnt really help your stress levels.

In other news, I havent bitten my nails in like 2 weeks and they are beautiful. I think this new job is really making everything brighter.

New Year, New Job....

Im officially done with ABC Radio. Monday I will move to the otherside of the floor and begin my new life as an Account Executive for Winstar Interactive!! This all happened so fast(literally, was interviewed and offered the job on Tuesday) Im still reeling. Things are going to be completely different but I think this new job will be great for me. New co-workers rock already. Definitely the youngest here....but I was the youngest at ABC too!

Will update on job happenings as they occur. Basically, Im unreally excited.