Back in Los Angeles

My business trip to San Francisco was one big fiesta. I was able to meet up with so many friends that I've met "along the way" - and each one being so different in personality, has reminded me how beautifully insane our differences can be.

There were nights when I walked up and down Market St., critiqued art at MOMA, and spent hours pub crawling through Northbeach while trying new mom-and-pop joints to eat at. There was Sea Food, Indian food, Italian food, Japanese food, Irish food, food, food, food!

I didn't take very many pictures. I was too busy living life first hand - but all of the images, the scent of the bay, the laughter of friends, the clinking of glasses, the feel of his touch - are with me forever.

San Francisco Night 1

What an amazing start to my business trip. With my flight arriving in SFO at about noon, I was given enough time to paint the town red with one of my best friends from London, Jodi.

Jodi's been living in SF for a few years now, so she was able to show me around town like a true native - and we went from tourist traps to neighborhood pubs, all within a 7-8 hour time span. We walked through Chinatown, had clam chowder and a beer at Fisherman's Wharf, admired the view from Lombard St., and sat and paid our respects to the water. We even rode on the side of a trolley, where she gave me the most amazing play-by-play of all that the city has to offer. What an amazing tour guide.

Everyone has been extremely nice so far. The barista at Peet's Coffee gave me a mocha on the house, and the bartender at a pub gave us several glasses of free beer and cider.

The last 3 hours of the night were spent at the London Black Horse Pub, where we met two extremely amazing blokes - one, who was drop dead effin' gorgeous, was set to sail to the Galapagos Islands the following morning. Good looking, worldly, and 6'3".

We had to cut the night short - considering I am here to work - so I manned up and bussed it back to my suite.

I love you Jodi. I love you San Francisco.

Seattle, WA

Every city I explore... I want to move to. I think I'm just growing a small distaste for California. Well, Californians. We can be mean at times. We fill the state with ego.


Photo: Needle!


Photo: Needle from the freeway.


Photo: Best clam chowder joint ever.


Photo: Yummers...


Photo: I look dumb & excited.


Photo: Cute.


Photo: On top of the needle.


Photo: I thought this pic was rad.


Photo: Lights!

Burlington, WA

For everyone who has been wondering where the heck I've been hiding... I've been working. A lot. I'm one of five "lucky" adjusters (from California) partaking in a company wide pilot... translation: new unit, more training, more work, less Ro. So my new unit and I met up with our Texas counterparts in Washington for one long week. Got all that?

The added training just stuffed my brain with all this amazing knowledge. Plus, it was good break from the daily grind, pant suits, and high heels.


Photo: Chuckanut Manor


Photo: See, told you it was called Chuckanut.


Photo: Lisa on the extracting machine.


Photo: Dry down races!


Photo: Me, sitting and doing nothing.


Photo: My buddy Steve! Or, as I call him, evetS!


Photo: My boss stole my camera out of my purse. That's why I have this.


Photo: Speaking of my boss...


Photo: Margaritas! Who'd of thought I'd be drinking with the boss.


Photo: My first geo cache!


Photo: Our team name was "Sham-Eaz" - we were dope.


Photo: Thom! Not Tom.


Photo: Puget Sound is emerald green.


Photo: Le gang at Deception Pass.


Photo: I was henceforth named the Flower Killer. I prefer Tulip Trimmer.


Photo: Can you find me?


Photo: Take my foot up the butt! Haha, so mature.


Photo: Management in the mock-house.


Photo: At one point, EVERYONE started dotting one another.


Photo: In a bed of my faaaavorite flowers!


Photo: Tulip Festival

More Vancouver Pics

Lisa and I took turns taking pics of one another with two different cameras - which is why I had zero pics of her in my last post. She handed me a disk of all her pics yesterday at work... so meet my good friend Lisa, America's next top model. As with all my other pics, click for a larger version.


Photo: I'm not really that short. She's just really tall and skinny.


Photo: We <3 big bear hugs.


Photos: Sips of coffee on Robson Street.


Photo: Expensive ass coat makes me look like a fatty.


Photo: I guess we could've stood a little bit closer. Haha.

Vancouver BC, Canada

Photo: Vancouver BC

Two weeks ago to-date, Lisa and I went on holiday to Vancouver British Columbia! After a nice short flight to Seattle, we jumped into our rented Corolla, and drove our way through the border. I've got to admit, driving on foreign soil made my palms sweat a bit - but after two days of maneuvering past blinking yellow lights, we knew that city like we'd been there for eons.

The trip started with the typical tourist attractions: the West End and the Capilano Suspension Bridge... but once we got all the nature-walking out of our system, we parked the auto and made our way to Robson Street... and what a feast we had! The highlights of our eatery-overload include CoCo Rico (panini platters!), Cin Cin (where we had a $106 schmancy dinner for deuce), and The Elbow Room (where they're known for their no-nonsense customer service). All exceptionally delish! And being that I'm very, very loyal to Starbucks, it was to no surprise that I found their espresso shoppe, Blendz, to be a bit below the bar.

Once the sun fell, it was hours of walking and observing Canadian night life. I would say that Vancouver is the perfect hybrid of all things European (Accessorize, Toni & Guy, Le Crep, etc) and all things American (they had a freakin' Red Robin for crying out loud).

I was quite impressed with the compact living arrangements and multitude of glass condos that encompassed the concrete jungle. It was very clean for such a large city. Overall, definitely a great first trip out of the country for 2007. I'll definitely be going back.