17. Charley's

Worked a lot today. At home. So I was glad when it was time to head out, catch the train down to Mountain View and meet Ross for dinner and another car trek. We ate at Charley's, one of the cafs at [Ross's work]. I wasn't allowed to take any photos, except of my dinner. Which I did. Just for Erin. And since apparently posts without pictures are really lame. But I cannot for MY LIFE get the photo off my freaking phone. I have spent half an hour and I'm tired. This is a moment when I can't love my mac because it is, yet again, so much LESS intuitive and LESS user-controlled than the PC. AND I hate my phone too because it's so completely confusing that I have no idea what else to try.

We were meant to look at a car today and didn't because the guy cancelled (he seems flakey). We tried to look for couches but we could not find the Macy's furniture place. Last night we looked at a place called Ana and we found a couple really good options. But after years long debate we had found a couch we could agree on in IL...if only they have it at this Macy's too, there's a big semi-annual sale going on.

So in essence the progress that was made today was simply that I got up. I saw the inside of the [Ross's work] campus. And we decided not to get a Z3 even though we think it's cool--because of maintenance costs. Because of this, we cannot allow ourselves to look at one lest we justify it in some way.

Tomorrow our lease officially starts so maybe I will go sit in that empty house and plan my organizing or lay out where that sofa I like will go. Or perhaps I will have a Grey's Anatomy marathon.

16. Another Day in the Neighbourhood

Funny image this. I knew Californians were healthy, but...

15. It's Official

Signed our lease today, and measured all the rooms. Then looked at another car, shopped for furniture and storage ideas, then watched a movie w/ dinner at home. No car. No furniture. But loads of ideas. And...can't wait for my stuff to get here!

14. Got Breathmints?!

The Gilroy Garlic Festival!

Yes, food fans, a festival dedicated to Garlic, complete with Garlic Fries, Garlic Chicken, Garlic Pizza, Garlic Corn, Garlic Shrimp, Garlic Tacos, Deep Fried Garlic, Garlic Crawdads, Garlic Calamari, and GARLIC ICE CREAM (surprisingly tasty) and more!!

It took us almost 2.5 hours to get there because of the traffic-almost 50K people attend each year, and the festival has raised over $7.5M for charity since it started in 1979. In the sweltering heat, we roamed the garlic foods, the crafts, and saw a cooking demonstration before heading back to San Mateo where the weather was 20 degrees cooler. We went to Pancho Villa's and had the best Burritos so far. Truly yummy.

13. Fly Through the Air...

Today was the annual family picnic for Ross's work.

They rented out the Shoreline Amphitheatre.

There were rides...

Food Galore...(this from the hot dog bar, replete with at least 6 kinds of dogs)

Midway games...

And [Ross's Workplace] Idol (and really the feeling was akin to being in Cameron Stadium with spirit bubbling over the top)!

There was even a circus!

Throngs of people crowd the midway, playing games, stocking up on treats and taking in the entertainers strolling around or propped up on stages. In the main arena: acrobats and entertainers. Swept away by strange accordion music and twirling gymnastic marvels, it's hard not to feel happy.

And then the best-for-last appears, the trapeze artist--a small woman in a black suit, hoisted up via pulley system to her swing. Just like a toddler at the park, a man gives her a push and then she's moving. Her tricks are not as complicated or marvelous as the acrobats or contortionist, probably not even as fancy as the juggler. But it's what the audience has been waiting for and it's mesmerizing.

Back and forth, back and forth, a live pendulum. There's a desire to hop on with her, a feeling of flying. As a child I would swing for hours and hours, wind in my hair, feet pumping. I would sing songs and wish on clouds and imagine that anything was possible, that the world--everything under the big sky I was flying through--was mine.

She's really high up, that trapeze angel. With each forward rise, I want to jump. Jump out into the big blue sky, jump out and claim whatever is waiting where I land.

12. A Walk to Work

Post for Thursday 26 July.

On my way to client I walk through South of Market area in San Francisco and I could see:

• (apparently) Erin & Bryan's old apartment
• Art Park where Barry Bonds is soon going to break the home run record
• South Park, where a lot of dotcom boom happened--again, this is alleged; my workmates say I walk near this but I haven't "noticed" it yet.
• Loads of restaurants
• A guy in a Pea Coat -- is it going to snow? (these people really think it's cold WA HA HA HA HA)
  

Mostly, I have no idea what there is on my way to work, even though I've walked it 5 times now. I'm just glad to know which direction to walk when I get out of the train station. The first time, I was not sure I was going the right way. After a few trips I feel confident I'll get there and I know how long it takes. Today I even walked a slightly different route to see if there was something to see - and I learned that that stretch is really kind of blank. How long till a place is familiar? When does it happen that you start to have a map in your head that tells you where to go for Thai, copying services, or cheap t-shirts?

In a way I suppose it's like dating. At first you just feel so excited for no reason. Then you have to find things out like: does this person like thin or thick crust? At some point you know the special switch of their gait and the shape of their conversations, even their decisions--the way around the minefields, the way to laughter.

And so we begin slowly some process of relationship which this huge and beautiful series of cities. And it is like the beginning of an affair--when work and daily grind seems abominable because it keeps me from seeing and exploring that keen new relationship. I just can't wait till the weekend...our next date...

11. Arrested

Did I say the train was easy? In my rush to board today I forgot to stamp the ticket. I got a citation and have to go to court. Yesterday their machine ate two of my trips. They're not going to do anything but have ME do something to obtain back the trip they owe me.
Justice.

10. Tracy Takes the Train

Today was a regular day--we both went to work. I took the CalTrain into the city (really, fairly successfully except for my alarm not going off in the a.m. and needing a ride and then the machine eating two trips off my 10-ride pass instead of just one). Express Trains are good. Tomorrow I'll walk to and from all the trains.

For lunch, I had a really great veggie burrito.

And it was kind of cold up there in San Francisco.

And some days, just making it to work and then back to the smiling face of your main squeeze waiting on the platform is all the progress you need.

(Sorry, fans. No photos of the Googleplex. That is not allowed.)

9. The Noogler Googler

Aside from the "conference" he attended the week of 9 July, this was Ross's first day of work at Google! Here he is after his big day, which started with his computer and phone both breaking down. He got there earlier than everyone else so started his day with an extra breakfast.

Here is the first free-Google-food breakdown:
Breakfast - Eggs with Salsa, Vitamin H2O, Fruit

Lunch - Salad with strawberries and seasoned won tons, corn and sweet potato chowder, and miso-glazed butter fish (what?!?), Ginseng Cola

Snack - Fresh baked cookies for someone's birthday (OK those weren't from the caf)

I just had this weird lemonade drink that's supposed to help me get healthy and then later a PB sammy and some cottage cheese. How is this fair?

Oh, and he says work was OK too.

8. (actual) Progress

Place to live: check!

We rented a place today! It's not final, final--we didn't sign the lease yet, but the owner is turning away the other offers and awarding the place to us. We sure didn't expect to be doing this now; the way places move around here (just the way this place moved--immediately!), we thought we'd look at the beginning of September. But our area tour on Friday led us to this cute duplex that has so much of what we wanted, we couldn't turn it away.

It's a large (for the area) place that feels like a home with a nice live-in landlord and hard wood floors, our own private outside space, and a garage which is good for storage and maybe even my torch. It's in a real quiet neighbourhood, an amazing 1/4 mile (really) walk to the train and downtown Menlo Park which has a wonderful bookstore, a yoga studio with the right kinds of classes, tonnes of great restaurants, as well as Draeger's (gourmet grocery), Trader Joe's, and Safeway. We can also walk to Palo Alto's downtown.

Our rent starts 1 August, which means we lose 1.5 months of safety net from our relocation plan. We lost a lot of sleep over the landlord's offer to take it starting 1 August when we asked for September. We went in circles and circles about it. Really it all came down to a question of faith: do you have faith that you'll find just as good an apartment later OR do you have faith that the house will sell? I woke up Saturday morning and my gut said: take it. Still, we went in more circles. In the end we had to go with the gut.

This is California, the land of gold and promises of abundance. It wouldn't be what it is without a little faith.

7. Magic

The real event of the day happened about 8:30; we went to the movies to see Harry Potter. I was just plain pooped. I suppose the "stress" of the situation is catching up with me; I'd lost some sleep last night over our apartment situation (yeah, I know I haven't divulged all this quite yet, but I'm still working on not jinxing it -- so you'd better still have your fingers crossed; sorry if they're getting stiff) and by the time I went back to sleep, got up only in time to see a guy about an Alfa. Yeah, a different guy. Sweet little machine, top of the line 87 Alfa Spider in beautiful shape. Really nice people too. Still had to think on it.

We hoped to resolve the apartment issue and maybe take in a festival in Menlo Park, but we couldn't connect with the apartment lady so decided to resolve the car issue by buying a Mini Cooper. It only took us, what? 72 hours to come to this conclusion! Great price, SUPER low mileage, nice little machine. Drives so tight, low noise, and my hair wasn't even blowing out of control. We love it. We were tempted to buy a new red one, but stuck with the used deal, in the name of recycling (and our bank account). So, we signed the papers.

Then at some point in the excruciatingly long time it took for them to close the deal (no kidding, we sat there over an hour after signing), I got a feeling, one of those itchy uncomfortable gut feelings. WSo I said, "I wonder what would happen if we just walked out," and I could tell Ross was having second thoughts about the car. We talked about leaving, talked about the Alfa, but when he had his chance for out, he didn't take it. We did mention that we were having second thoughts, and low and behold we were in the finance office immediately (go figure).

So back on track, we are about to be the proud second owners of a gorgeous little machine. We were reviewing numbers, facts, prices, etc., when there it was again, that magic feeling. I looked at Ross and he looked at me, and as I grabbed to remove the new mini key from where I'd just hooked it to my chain, he said, "We're not going to do this." After a 4+ hour jaunt to the east bay, we were running home empty-handed. And happy. And relieved.

We listened to our intuition. And it was clear to me we Ross and I were tuned into the same station! In the face of so many unknowns, it's good to know you can rely on the internal compass.

6. (Potential) Progress

Today's main objective was an "area tour" with the relocation agent. We didn't have very high expectations given it was supposed to be half a day or so and that we've already driven through and eaten in all the towns (between this week and our visit in the Spring). My goal was insights to the differences in each community. Ross thought this was probably unrealistic, stating, "they're all basically the same."

When she showed up with apartment listings I was deeply confused, since we clearly told them we don't want to rent anything till September, but I went with it figuring, "well, at least I'm not back at the house surfing the internet for more car listings all day."

We saw some disappointingly outdated and small places in great locations. We saw some terrific but expensive places in OK locations. And we saw a really great and expensive place in a perfect location. Then, we saw a really great place in a really great location for the price range we wanted. We have a good feeling about it and we are having the relo person negotiate with the owner to see if we can start our lease in September instead of immediately. Since I don't want to jinx it, I won't say more. But suffice to say I'd like to institute a cross-country crossing of the fingers!

Tomorrow, more car business. And who knows, maybe some unabashed actual fun. (but if not, there's always Sunday.)

[yeah, the cat has nothing to do with this subject, but he's at home as you can see.]

5. (anti) Progress

Today, we called a guy about an Alfa. I think it might be a kind of addiction. When I saw it, it was the cutest thing. Racing green with a black top--sweet condition. And I thought, "This is our car." Ross drove it (for a long time!) and here he is checking it out from every possible angle. He had a few hesitations, so we decided to think on it. We also looked at a Miata, also racing green; very cute and in immaculate shape. Our debate is ridiculous. We have spent all day eating our way through discussion from coffee at Peets, brick oven pizza at Amici's in San Mateo to dinner at Mint Leaf in Palo Alto. We web-searched, and peeked in people's cars in parking lots.

We didn't cook healthy at home. We didn't get our netflix or any other mail b/c we lost our mailbox key. We didn't register the car b/c we left the title at home in IL. And we didn't make a decision about the car (the expense of which was...we didn't go to the amusement park instead of dealing with the cars).

Let me tell you what though: We discovered good pizza. We loved Palo Alto. We DID find some cheap chairs and a little table so we can sit out on our deck. And, I must have said at least three times how perfect it was outside. It was sunny and breezy and just right. And whether we go with an orange mini convertible or the green miata or one of the alfa's we'll see, the ragtop is a must-have for sure, even if it does blow your hair up your nose.

4. Sunny California

Woke up and wondered why it was grey. But then by mid-day it was blue skies and sunny and warm, just how I imagined. We mostly took phone calls and ran errands, seeking cheap patio chairs in every home depot, target, big lots, and world market from San Mateo to San Jose, which was a good way to work our way to see our friend Jason T., and pick up Ross's humongous suitcase full of Ross's clothes. We ate mexican twice today LOL (so much for improving our diet).

Tomorrow's another day. I'll have to start getting back to normal: work. But tonight, just rest at a normal time. With sunny little dreams of a garden that bears figs or avocados or lemons.

3. Head West

Bonneville Salt Flats & The Bay Bridge

Miles Traveled: approx 850
Progress: 100%

Across the NV/CA border, the landscape turned lush and varied in the Tahoe National Forest. The bay was all fog as we entered. We knew there would be gold here. The journey here feels longer than just the drive. And landing feels like coming home.

I’d like to rest my heavy head tonight
On a bed of California stars
I’d like to lay my weary bones tonight
On a bed of California stars
- Woodie Guthrie

2. Plains, Trains and Automobiles

Miles Traveled: 1001
Progress: 63%

God is no slouch. Today I had an Oreo Blizzard at DQ. And, the last room left is a jacuzzi suite :-)

Sights: Corn, Cows, Wind farms, Trains (really long ones), Corn, Cows, Sunrays, Prairie Dog, the insides of too many truck stops, really awesome rocks, Philo's sweet face sleeping in Ross's lap, the backs of my eyelids. Oh yeah, and corn and cows.

Conversation Topics: Who did Bob Feller pitch for? Is it true there are places you can still see the ruts from the wagon trains? Can windmills get turned off? What about this farm bill? How many more hours? Should we be more worried about a global or a national economy? How much longer? If you weren't married, what kind of car would you get? What kind of rock is that? Seriously, none of these plains states were remote enough for the Mormons--they had to keep going? Is eeethanol an acceptable alternate pronunciation of ethanol? Are we there yet? Will we ever eat another meal in a restaurant not attached to a petrol station?

Conclusions: There may be nothing cuter than a cat's toes.

1. Goodbye Again

Miles Traveled: 360

Progress: 16%

For the 9th time in ten years, here I go again - the excitement and the heartbreak of moving. This time, I have the distinct feeling we're going home which is odd but reassuring, and but for Erin popping her head out the door to scold me for the tears, I don't have the urge to look back.

Driving across the heartland, I wonder: if everything I need for the next two months is in this car, what the heck is still back at the house? We discuss job opportunities, grocery shopping, the cat's puke, whether the phenomenon of truck stops exists in other countries (FYI: largest truck stop on I80 in Iowa), and what settlers were thinking when they said, "Hey let's settle right here."

Perhaps they simply thought, "We have everything we need: our tools, water, land as far as the eye can see, and the company of friends. Why search any further?" I know the place we are going will have all we need to thrive. But we left behind some dear, dear friends. As Bryan said, "This is the saddest I've been in a long time."

Good Night, friends. May the wagons circle about you, keeping the warmth in and the danger out.