Happy (Belated Valentine's Day!)

Not much going on for vday, but Lobster sent me a beautiful bouquet of pink lillies. Why? Because:
1. They're not roses.
2. They're my favorite
3. Because the Lobster knows...

They were originally to be sent as a surprise to me at Skona, but, according to the previous post, we had to break the surprise on the 13th and get them rerouted to the apartment. They're absolutely beautiful, and quite potent to say the least.

(pictures below)

We decided to stay in, and we ordered sushi delivery. Two words: Uh-Mazing! (pictures of our feast below)

In other news, I have two interviews this week: one tomorrow and one on tuesday. Luck wishes are accepted.

We went to Bed Bath + Beyond today and picked up some last apartment necessities such as curtains, a door mirror, some new goodies to clean house with, and other stuff that b0res you to tears, yet we get excited purchasing. (You know..."stuff"...)

Tonight I made our first crock pot meal of chicken and veggies. It was to be a minestrone-type soup, but I altered it and added too many veggies and chicken pieces so that the noodles wouldn't fit. Meh. It's ok, it turned out great and we've got meals for the next couple of days. More cooking to come.

Speaking of cooking, Lobster made an amazing Scallop and corn soup the other night. I can only show you a photo, because you can't taste the deliciousness of it.

Ok, I'm off to dye Lobster's hair, and rinse out my own hair dye and prepare for my 10 a.m. interview. Updates soon!

P.S. Happy 34th anniversary Mom + Dad!! I wish I could be there, but next year....we will do something great for the big 3-5!

xo
P.

Back to Square One [Brenda's Venting....]

I'm telling you, perhaps I speak too soon. I received a call today from the Creative Director at Skona, saying that...well, to put it gently: I'm too qualified for the position offered. Basically, they're in need of someone who doesn't aspire to be an Art Director or Senior Designer, and looking for someone to do the grunt work.

I suppose there's a silver lining somewhere in there, but in the meantime, I'm back to looking for jobs again. Scott, the Creative Director was completely cool about the entire situation, and in fact, I commend him for noting that I want more out of my career in advertising, and he was afraid I'd resent the agency for "stiffling" my abilities. Well, he couldn't be more right in all honesty.

As much as I loved the environment there, I do have to admit that I need more. I need to be creative. Not just sit in an office where I'll never really move up in the organization (due to it being so small), and just producing boring manuals, etc. rather than concepting and designing.

At least he noticed that I have the talent that I deserve more out of my job. So, I can't be so sad....I guess.... it just sucks. I'm tired of looking for jobs...

Speaking of which, i do already have two interviews set up for next week. A second interview at DraftFCB (I went in on Tuesday, they called me an hour and a half later to meet with the VP of Production Services next Tuesday), and the second at The Creative Group - a placement agency for creatives.

Go figure, though. I received a call on Friday from 24seven, a placement agency I interviewed with last month for a gig, and I had to turn it down because I thought the job at Skona was a sure thing. Damn!!

Well, that's all from my end. A little bummed, but in the month we've been here, I've had 8 interviews and 3 job offers. Keep those fingers crossed that the interviews next week go well. I pulled 14 hour days this week, so I am going to take the next couple of days to sleep and get my head back together for the big ones next week.

My dad reminds me to keep my chin up. I'm trying. And the Lobster is totally supportive of my endeavors. Funny enough, Lobster and I talked last night on the couch about my job at skona and something (i don't know what) told me that it wasn't the right fit for me. In fact, I recall saying that almost specifically. And Scott reiterated that to me on the phone tonight when he told me, "we appreciate what you did, but we need more of a gopher type"...and well, that's just not who i am.

I want more.

I'll get more.

I just need to remind myself to never settle for less than what I want.

that's why I'm the Pea to my Lobster. I got exactly what I wanted in every way possible.

Love,
Brenda

Oh my we recorded something

Chip sang a couple of songs. We did a really shitty digital recording from a hand held device that likes to make annoying crackling sounds. So ignore the crackles and listen to the pretty songs. This is what I get to live with! I love it. Hopefully we'll be able to get him to do an acoustic show around here soon. He's got about 6 or 7 songs to do, and maybe a couple of covers. (He's gonna do at least one Coldplay for me. woot!)

But you can hear a couple of songs that he's done recently....keep in mind these aren't done yet, they're just snippets of what Chip is working on. The recording is rough, the lyrics aren't quite done, etc. But we wanted to show that Chip is at least inspired and working on new stuff.

Enjoy.

xo.

Pictures and other fun goodies

Yesterday and today were beautiful so we decided to venture out and frolic around the Haight-Ashbury area. Also as requested, are photographs of the apartment with our beautiful new Flokati. Horray!

Today we spent two hours doing our bi-weekly grocery shopping. We're getting better, we go with a list now of what we need based upon our pre-determined meals for the week. This week's menu consists of Tom Yum soup with shrimp (which we just finished eating, sorry - no pictures...we chowed down before I could snap a few). Chip did a phenomenal job on it, it was quick and delicious and far better than most of the thai restaurants we've had the soup previously. Good job, Lobster!

Other menu items include: Cod and corn chowder, Thai beef salad, Tilapia with mango salsa, chicken noodle soup, basil lime chicken with roasted vegetables and a few others we decided to try. The Soup Bible I bought Chip for Christmas seems to be paying off, as well as the recipe book that Chip's mom sent to us.

I've also created a monster - Chip is officially addicted to Edamame. For those who know me, at least on a superficial level, know that this is a staple in my own diet. Well, we've realized that we must keep it on hand at all times, because it's probably the best snack ever. We had a late-night snack last night where we used the Simply Steam bags, put edamame with the delicious SoyVay sesame ginger dressing and steamed them. He's now as addicted as I am.

Anyway, today we did about 400 dollars in groceries, which lasts us about two weeks. Comes to about 100 a person a week in groceries, which seems to be about average. We also went to a gym to check it out and get prices, so we should be official members by the end of next week at the 24hour-fitness center which is conveniently located 5 minutes walking distance from our place and right off the 22-Fillmore bus which I take to-from work. And, open 24 hours a day (obviously, from the name). Check out the gym at: www.24hourfitness.com

So, that's about it on our end. Here are some pictures, as promised!

xo,
Lobster + Pea

slackers!

Ok, I know. We're slackers. Butt Geoff decided to remind me today that he's bored at work, and needs some good stuff to read. So, lets get you guys up to speed.

Right now, Chip and I just finished dinner. Veggie burgers and roasted veggies and apples with honey for dessert. Don't question us: it has nothing to do with us living in San Francisco - we just didn't have any meat (chicken/fish) defrosted.... and it was late, and veggie burgers were super easy to prepare.

Now, as we sit and watch "The Hunger" (with my man, Mr. David Bowie), we write this blog together...well, Brenda types, Chip dictates. As I ask what Chip would like me to write for him, he replies: "Tell them, 'Fuck off, Turkish.'" If you don't get that reference, you obviously haven't been watching enough Snatch. And thats NOT a porn, Mom. Its a Mr. Madonna movie.

He's joking, of course. But really...here's what's up on our side of the country:

Our place is set up, minus a few minor details such as posters hung, mirrors on the wall and a night stand put together. That's about it. oh, and curtains. But we're waiting on those, mainly because we have been too lazy to measure the windows.

On the job front, here's updates....I was offered a job as Production Assistant Coordinator at the JCC of San Francisco. They only offered me a meager salary, but with free gym access and Union benefits. As I was prepared to grudgingly accept the job (after all, a job is a job and rent is rent), I had sent out my resume to a local ad firm looking for a Production Coordinator/Production Artist. The Craigslist post requested that the subject header was to be your favorite movie quote when you replied to the ad.

My quote read, "Get busy livin', or get busy dyin'." (For those not clear on that reference, Google the line and you'll understand).

I sent that email at 8 p.m., received an email at 11 a.m. the next morning and had an interview set up for the next day. I went in for what I thought was a 1/2 hour interview, met with the hiring mgr. and creative director (Katy and Scott Springer, respectively, and yes - married) for an hour.

The next morning, Scott emails me and asked me if I wanted to come in to do some freelance design work since the agency is swamped with client requests and offered me a rate of 275 a day for a few days. Well, its been a week, and they haven't hired anyone yet (myself included) but I've been promised an answer by Friday regarding their decision to bring me on full-time. I have to say, I love it there. The agency is a 30 minute bus ride on the 22/Fillmore, no transfers. From my door to their door. The environment there is super laid back. Scott is Canadian (and a partner and Creative Director), the Account Manager is Jenny Sagstrom (Swedish), our bookkeeper is Gary, Jenny's husband and from England.

It's like being at Epcot, minus the "it's a small world afterall" playing continuously. At 5 p.m., Scott breaks out wine for whoever is there and we drink and chat to chill out after a busy day. I really enjoy the small boutique environment, there's only 7 people in the office, and everyone hangs out outside of work and we all get along like a second family. It's pretty cool and I can only hope this turns full-time. It's exactly the environment I know I want to be in.

So, I've yet to tell you the agency's name: Skona Advertising. You can find them at www.skona-advertising.com and see what clients they have. Scott has won so many advertising awards, and is really great at what he does. He'll be a great mentor if he'll keep me around.

So, the JCC is officially out of the running. They wanted me to "start" today, but Skona asked me to stay on at least (i hope) through the week. So, either I'm out of a job on Friday or I'm in a new full-time job. Lets hope for the latter.

As for Chip: he's in his third week of classes and his favorite class right now is Buddhism and Cognitive Science, taught by Dr. Steven Goodman. Chip is finally at peace and at "home" since we received our Flokati rug today. He felt that this was not an "apartment" until the rug was on the floor. Now, Chip has found his inner enlightenment, and can drop out. I kid. Chip has also decided that he'll probably take a class in Tibetan over the summer at CIIS as his language requirement.

We went to see Stan Grof last week speak at CIIS. The speech was entitled, "Consciousness Research and the Soul of the Universe." Stan was inspiring, because of his wide range of experiential knowledge of over 50 years. He spoke of working with Albert Hoffmann in the early days of LSD experimentation, and he also talked about archetypal energies playing a very important factor in our experience of the world.

As interested as Brenda was in this, it was also her first day at work when she saw the speech and struggled to stay awake, albeit there were definite parts that perked her ears up. Chip was elated throughout, this man has been pivotal in Chip's studies and desire to focus on his specific coursework.

Chip might have a job working at the front door at CIIS, for about 15 hrs. per week paying 12 an hour. It's grocery money, basically.

Valentines Day is approaching and we have plans to attend the Queen of Hearts Ball at The Mighty. I think "queen" in "Queen of Hearts" means "drag"....but we'll see. There will people uhhh...juggling dildos.

Come up with your own conclusions. Chip booked this, what a romantic. Kind of reminds me of the first bar he chose us to drink at when we moved. Hmm.... I think San Francisco might be rubbing off on him a bit, even if we don't live in The Castro area (look it up...you'll understand).

We've got tickets to see Explosion in the Sky in March, and plan to see The Cary Brothers as well both playing at The Great American...it's supposed to be a great venue, so we'll see.

Hmm...I've also been informed that Liz, my best friend along with her two roommates, Kris and his girlfriend Amanda are moving out here at the end of March. My heart swells thinking about it and thinking I'll be reunited with my Liz, and not just her visiting, but her transplanting to this amazing city.

And when I say amazing, I have to admit what an understatement that is. This city is incredible. I couldn't be happier living here and as much as we miss our friends and family, Chip and I are settled and happy together in our home.

So that sums it up for now. I'll take more pictures soon of the furnished apartment! Miss you and love you all.

xo,
Lobster + Pea.

We Haven't Forgotten About You....

Ok, I know it's been almost a week since we've posted anything. I promise it's completely unintentional, but we've been quite busy. I won't give you all play by play for the last week (mainly because I can't remember everything anyway) but here's the gist from last Friday's post:

• Brenda came down with the flu, or something quite comparable. It was hell. I'm about 80% to normal as of Wednesday.
• Brenda had an interview at at a placement agency (24seven Inc.) on Friday.
• Chip bought girl jeans because he couldn't find jeans in men's that fit. He promises it wasn't for fashion, it's because he's a skinny little lobster.
• We have (or had at one point) a fully stocked fridge (finally). It's been nearly a week. Time to re-up again. We eat a lot. Mainly because we walk.... a lot.
• We went to Ikea on Sunday, compliments of our friend Katy who was visiting on business from DC (picture below). She had a rental SUV, and was super awesome about waiting around for three hours while we bought out the store. We picked up nearly the last of what we needed (a second bookcase to match the first we found on the street, coffee table, lamp, end tables, kitchen cart, mirrors, and some other tidbits)
• We've spent the past few days literally with one of us having to sit around the house waiting for deliveries to arrive.
• Finally received our bed on monday. NO MORE AIR MATTRESS!! It only took us 8 hours (yes...EIGHT HOURS) to put it together. Don't ask.
  
• Two nights we met up with some former Richmond friends (some who live here, and some who don't). Mark, Suzanne, Sarah, Diane, Andy and Dave are a few former Richmonders that live here that we knew casually in Richmond, but hung out here in the city like we were all old friends. Seems that a lot of the Richmond transplants seem to stick together out here. (Pictures below!)
• Katy from DC and Cornell from Richmond were lovely visitors for a couple of nights. We ventured out to a couple of bars that were really cool and right up our alley as far as environment and atmosphere.
• Chip started classes yesterday. So far, so good....
• Brenda has a job interview on Friday with GreySF. Wish her luck.

Ok, that's about as quick of a summary as I can give, or as far as I can recall. Sorry about the lack of posting, but it'll be more often, I promise. Enjoy the pictures and feel free to comment. We miss all of you and look forward to visitors! (wink, wink....)

XO.
LobsterPea.

[P.S.: we have a date set, by the way. Sept. 27, 2009......]





Our Buddy Brad from Richmond, living in Oakland. We're all hanging at my favorite coffee shop in Haight, Coffee For The People. Best Apple Cider ever!




Dude, that apple cider was f'n HOT!! Ouch. My mouth burned.


Open a condom, and get a free shot of vodka! Woo! Here's sarah with hers....


Katy. She's our hero. She is our patient Ikea chauffeur.


Here's Mark, he isn't too far from where we live in SF. Great dude, fun times.


Chip "claims" he hates popcorn. He ate three bowls....


We call this an easy lunch: Baked Ahi tuna with Celery/onion/mushroom/tomato and salsa sause served with polenta and steamed snow peas. Mmmm....


CORNELL! Visiting from Richmond(who we hope will move here soon too!)


The beginnings of an awesome living room set-up.




Beautiful Bed. 8 Hours to put together. Wonderful to sleep in.

People are crazy. We fit in well.

Right. Today was an adventurous one for the both of us. We've both agreed (well, understood) as to why there is so much damn food in this city. You can't go four feet without somewhere to eat.

It's the same walking down the street. Impossible to go four feet without smelling pot. No wonder there's so much food in this city - people are always stoned and hungry.

So, lets fill you in on the events of today - some of which are quite funny. We woke up from our food filled coma from our second night of cooking in (Grilled Salmon with sauteed sesame ginger asparagus over polenta...we're getting good at this!). Brenda, who seems to have somehow become domesticated wakes up and makes a breakfast consisting of egg beaters omelettes made with freshly diced veggies. Yeah...what's up with this? I cook? ha.

I had an interview today. With a placement agency called 24seven, which actually focuses on placing at the advertising agencies out here. The interview seemed to go well, it turns out it's pretty hard to get registered with this company. By the end she tells me of an opportunity opening up with DDB, which would...well, rule if I could get in at least as a designer. The pay starts at only 55-60, but thinking about how few expenses I have other than rent/utilities/groceries...i can make that work. I lived on my own in college off of part time jobs paying 10/hour and i had way more bills and no one to split them with. So...

Today, (yes, it's 4:30 a.m. - the air mattress we have is killing me and I'm hardly able to sleep much) I have a job interview (the second one) with the JCC of SF. Keep those fingers crossed - I could work there depending on the pay and benefits, one of which being the free gym access.

Back to yesterday, however. The job interview was in union square, which worked out perfectly because i had to return an item i bought at the MAC store located a block away. Except, I had a 15 lb. portfolio bag on me, and heels that kept sliding off my feet. Walking uphill with this. not fun. And surprisingly, it was difficult to catch a cab home from that area, considering how many tourists are there. But, i guess I don't fit that mold anymore, since three people asked me directions while in that neighborhood. I finally get home to see that I can't get into my apartment. Locked out? In a way....

Let me explain: My darling little lobster decided that after we received our television today from FedEx (who Chip had to basically run down and jump in front of his truck because the guy was gonna leave without delivering a second day in a row) he would go out and get us a DVD player from Circuit City on VanNess. However: if you are inside the apartment there are two deadbolts. One at the top, which is the old one and the bottom one, which was put in with the new door handle. The top one does not have a working key - our keys only work for the new deadbolt and handle. You can still lock the top bolt only from the inside (flipping the little lever thingy) but if you go out the back door to leave the house: you're locked out. Why? No key for deadbolt on the top, and our back door has no keys (it's a secure back area, it's impossible to get in without access to the front door code).

So, I'm exhausted from running around and now I'm locked out in the front and back. Calling the lobster, who is walking home from CC arrives to see the same thing. We're locked out. And hungry. And the Pea has to potty. Ugh. Eric, our French (and often hilarious) landlord arrives in 20 minutes and the two boys get the front windows open and are able to crawl through.

Lesson #1 learned: don't flip switches if you can't undo it.

We go to the store (again) since we soon realized how much food we don't have, and how much food the two of us eat. So, another 2 hour shopping excursion we finally have a FULL fridge and well stocked pantry. Pictures to come (because I'm a dork). Chip made a great dinner of grilled bbq chicken over spring salad and ranch dressing. We watched a movie on our beautiful new flatscreen tv and sweet dvd player.

and....off to bed.

now, at nearly 5 a.m., I'm awake and the lobster is soundly sleeping on a mattress that sucks the soul out of me. but the good news is: we'll have our bed shortly!

Today and this weekend consists of more interviews, Ikea trips, and drinks with some folks we've been unable to catch up with.

Ok, that's it for today. We've been here officially one week. More to come soon!

Party All The Time

It's our theme song. Perhaps our first dance song. No, I kid. Either way, it's been a song that basically sums up what's going on. Including me singing and dancing to it in the street. It's ok, we were on Haight. They're used to the crazies.

Today, Chip got a hair cut. I can't tell which hair, but it was one of them. ha. I'm funny. Looks good, smells good. you know, a party.

We bus it over to Safeway to do a little grocery shopping. HAHA. 250 dollars later..... we have to call a cab to take us home since we can't carry all this stuff home. We did good. There are sweet pictures below of our non-barren fridge and pantry now.

We also got our couch, pictures below.

Tonight, we also had our first home cooked meal! Baked tilapia with veggies. We prepped the veggies (veggies were red pepper, onion, mushrooms and carrots tossed with olive oil and seasoned with garlic, basil, salt and pepper). We sprayed the tilapia with olive oil, salt and pepper and put the veggies on top of the tilapia. we wrapped it all together in tin foil and baked for twenty minutes.

(Brenda made an appitizer of water crackers with Sabra hummus with a kalamata olive on each)...

This is what our first meal consisted of:







Enjoy. Post comments. And yes, the pantry is full of THAT much soup. We crazy.

Day 4: The life of stiff legs

Here we are: day number four of our new life in SF. Today, we wait around from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (4 p.m. to 8 p.m. your time... ha) for our new couch.

Saturday: we meet up with Aaron Israel for brunch at Cafe Soleil down off Haight. Lovely little outdoor/indoor cafe. I gobble up an average Hummus sandwich and Chip eats a Nicoise salad. Aaron, the smart one, gets the salmon sandwich, which i immediately wished I had gotten.

Chip and Aaron decide to drive around the city. They venture to Twin Peaks together and got a view of the entire city. There are apparently many Chinese [Asian...or Azn as Chuck Thorsen says...] with cameras around. Brenda decides she hasn't slept in days and wants to take a nap. Kind of. They return home to Brenda passed out drunk with a bottle of Riesling next to her. She gets up, gets ready and the three of them head to Aaron's place a few blocks away for appetizers.

Aaron's apartment looks over the entire city and the view is spectacular. Aaron seems quite proud that Brenda is learning where each district is by pointing out the spots in each location. We wait around for Jasmine and Jeremiah to come into the city so we can go to dinner. Upon their arrival, we walk back to our place on Fell and meet up to go grub.

And grub we did..... We walk a million blocks away into the top of Upper Haight [near Golden Gate park]. I suggest googling our start location to where we ended up, and you'll get the gist as to how much walking we do on a daily basis. That walk is actually done about three or four times a day....I'd say on average we're doing 3 to 4 miles a day. All uphill. Here's the idea of what we walked for dinner:


View Larger Map

Multiply that by three on the daily. Yeah. It's nice: we'll eat whatever we want because it's gone before we know it. So....we eat at this lovely mediterranean joint where we sit on the floor without shoes. A belly dancer comes out, we have fun. 'Tis was a lovely evening until Brenda still tired and jet lagged and drunk needs to sleep.

Yesterday, we ventured out to Bed, Bath & Beyond. Remember in Old School when Will Ferrel's character said, "we have a busy day ahead..."

Well, the conversation in Old School goes more like this:
FRANK: I told my wife I wouldn't drink tonight. Besides, I got a big day tomorrow. You guys have a great time.
College Student: A big day? Doing what?
FRANK: Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday, we're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time.

Seriously, that was us yesterday. A full day at B3. We didn't buy wallpaper, but we did buy:
shower curtain
dishes and cups
pots and pans
a shower caddy that came off in the shower and knocked me out.
kitchen stuff (you know..."stuff")
hangers
hampers
bathroom stuff (which is done, by the way and looks great)
trashcan
a Swiffer. because it's a necessity in life.

basically the typical starter stuff. we can at least cook now, all we need is to get food to actually cook. one room is complete, if you want to consider a bathroom a "room" and the kitchen is getting there, we just need a microwave, and small appliances.

Speaking of small appliances, thanks to Jessie for the LNT gift card - you helped buy us half a microwave.

so....three hours at B3 later, we grab a cab home. oh wait, we needed walgreens too for lightbulbs and other small thingies like TP and paper towels.

We come home, unpack our new goodies, get things put away, find the trash bins outside and realize how damn hungry we are since we had not eaten since the morning. So last night we eat at a place called Raja - amazing Indian food - where Chip says the host was completely "enlightened" because he didn't speak - just smiled. And refilled our water. I dared Chip to hug him, but alas, we were comatose from food.

Speaking of comatose, we passed out at 8 p.m. last night from the food [we had intended to go out...] and didn't wake up until 9 a.m. this morning. Yep.

So, we left the house at round 10:30 and walked towards downtown. Found a place called The Crepe house on Gough Street. Holy amazing. Yeah. More walking. Nearly a mile:


So, we eat. Foot it over to Chip's school. Another half mile or so....check on his Financial Aid, sit on the rooftop garden, smell someone toking up, leave, come home, meet with Eric our French awesome landlord and type up this blog.

So, things are coming together. Today: we drink vodka and wait for our couch. Tonight: we drink more vodka and sit on our new couch. Kudos also goes to Chip and I for ordering our new flatscreen TV from Circuit City [no bias, I promise] - which should arrive by the end of next week.

That's about it for our fun little update. I know it can sound redundant after a while. I promise the more we live here, the better these blogs will be. But enjoy them, nonetheless. Pictures will be up soon - as soon as I can take some.

xo.
Brenda and Chip [the soup]
View Larger Map

But worth it.

48 hours and counting....

We're on our third day here [almost] and let me just tell you....it's been crazy/hectic/amazing/etc. So...let me fill you in:

ARRIVAL: Day 1.
Hour delay in Boston for our connecting flight. Delicious food eaten in the airport Wolfgang Puck express. [I totally wish i was joking.....] Caught our flight, passed out for the entire ride. Woke up drooling on chip. Awesome.

6 large suitcases and 4 carry ons and 1 guitar later - we're well on our way home. So, we arrive at about 5:30 to the apartment, and try to turn on the heat. Shit. Electric radiators not working. And....our bed or couch hadn't been delivered yet. We tried to set up a makeshift bed out of clothes and a blanket on the floor but that shit wasn't happening, so the delightful and quite brilliant fiance of mine decides "fuck this, we're getting a hotel" and we wind up at the Hotel Triton [not the celebrity suite this time, Brandi....sorry, Kathy Griffin would not be happy].

We called our landlord and told her what was up, and she immediately went out and bought us the space heaters b/c she rules and felt bad we had to stay in a hotel. well, she called the electrician too, but still - this is the same awesome chick that gave us a shower curtain housewarming gift. So, we stayed at the Triton. No biggie. Ate dinner at a Thai place, not bad.....for union square prices, that is.

we've concluded that san francisco has more thai restaurants per capita than any other city. i can't turn a corner without finding tom yum, pho, or thai somewhere. chip and i have agreed to start a tom yum gloong [or just tom yum] diet. i'll have it with a side of cucumber salad w/ thai lime dressing. riiiiight.

well...day 1...well...it was a little rough. but done.

DAY 2
Much better.

Woke up and got some "breakfast" down in union square. when i say breakfast, i mean soup and salad at 10 a.m. because we're still on east coast time. we soon realize we can't afford another night at the hotel, so seeing that misha [our landlord] went out and bought us space heaters, we could just get an air mattress. chip is a genius....

we picked up a $40 one at walgreens [which, by the way, is also on every corner in this city. it's the thai counterpart for pharmacy items]. i still had plenty of time to kill before my interview so we go back to the apartment and try out the mattress to see how it fits. actually, it fits great in the bedroom so we put it in there, put on sheets, blankets and the two sweet ass pillows we uhh...."borrowed" from the hotel.

maybe i shouldn't write that here. oh well. they're really nice pillows though.

so, at around 1:15, i gotta bolt to the JCC of San Francisco for my interview. OY. A quick cab ride to Pacifica and I'm surrounded by...lets just say: I couldn't afford to live there in three lifetimes of savings. The JCCsf is stunning. Four stories. Lots of friendly people saying hello left and right. The interview lasts an hour, but cut short because Susan [Kirshenbaum....go fig] had a late afternoon meeting.

But she invited me back for interview round #2 next week. Fingers x'd.

And then I return home and wait and wait and WAIT for my UPS package to come. Alas, to no avail. So, Chip and I go scrounge for food. We walk down to lower haight. nothing there striking my fancy. we then walk toward Haight-Ashbury and hit Divisadero along the way and find a lovely little Moroccan restaurant where I made him share a Dolma app [Liz: I thought of you with each bite! Stuffed grape leaves....oh, I'm sure you're wretching...]

After dinner, we head towards the upper Haight area scoping out a bar somewhere. Chip, my darling and enlightened fiance says, "how about that 'Trax' bar?"

Why not?

Upon entering, we sit at the bar, Brenda still stuffed from her Dolma and Shwaerma dinner is not paying attention. Chip gets up, walks to the edge of the bar and says, "I've got in inkling."

His inkling? Chip chose a gay bar. No biggie. We immediately befriend this gentleman by the name of Mike who buys us our first round to celebrate our arrival. We chat it up for a while, and then....comes....Pinky.

The lighting director for U2, The Rolling Stones and Shakira. That guy wasn't gay, but quite an interesting conversation nonetheless. He tells us of this place called The Mitchell Brothers theater. I really can't tell you what it is, because when we Google'd it....we uhh....were shocked to say the least. It's pretty notorious. I suggest anyone not faint of heart to check it out and don't do it at work. HA.

So, we chat with "Pinky" and Mike most of the night, and we get all but two of our drinks paid for and we were invited back to hang out more often, since Chip was referred to as, "the best looking guy to walk in there in four days" and I was referred to as "Posh's biggest threat" [whatever that means....]

off to bed.

Today, Saturday, we awoke and headed into Union Square to find a Crate + Barrel. We did. We didn't buy shit. We then met up with Aaron Israel at Cafe Soleil to eat a delicious brunch together. And now, as the two boys are prancing around town, I sit here blogging because I'm still jet lagged [and once again, full to the brim].

So, that's it for now. We miss everyone so much, but at the same time, we know that things will be fantastic for us out here. We've done so much walking already that any meal we eat gets burned off before we know it. We know things will be fantastic for everyone at home - but be comforted knowing that we have found a way to find our bliss. Things will be great for us, so not to worry.

We'll keep you posted.

With love,

Brenda and Chip