47. My Bike, Ike.

Today, I commuted on my bike. So apparently I have become a Californian...and a biker! Which is what I wanted!

I am actually afraid of riding in traffic which is why this was significant. The commute was just one mile each way to the doctor here in Menlo Park, but it was so great! I felt so free not to be locked in my car, and out in the sun! So I had an embarrassing grease mark on my leg when I got there, so what?!

And if I'm going to bike, the bike needs a name...

46. Dinner anyone?

I worked 12 hours today so not much to report really. I walked to the post office to send Erin the book I finished, and I bought stamps. Do you guys realize it costs 80cents to mail a square envelope?

Ross brought home the grill today. After researching his head off. He had to take it out of the box to get it home in the sedan and then he put it together -- isn't he proud?

Me, I'm trying to start the bathroom decal project and realizing that is going to take HOURS.

Send me emails, eh?

45. What's in a Name?

Some people have a signature perfume. I may be adopting a signature wine. I've been off the drink (mostly) lately, but after a long day of work and dealing with the remnants of boxes, etc., when Ross pointed out this bottle of Redhead Red, I couldn't resist.

I'm having it out of my goddess goblet, for good juju. Fruity. Light-to-medium bodied. A little tanic twirl. Not embarrassing to serve to others. Yes, it just may have to be my signature wine. Redhead Red.

44. Productive

I have to love a day when I have to be in the office by 7a (tomorrow I have to start meetings at 6:30a). Yogurt & Granola, decaf, water and pretty consistent activity till 2:30p or so when my work day was "done" (I decided) and then I went off to find and sign up at the gym.

I followed the directions that I got on an un-named but today very aggrevating map service... to a residential neighbourhood I will never be able to afford. Obviously NOT the location of the East Palo Alto YMCA.

Then I walked up to the hardware store, got keys made and got a plug for the bathtub. And stopped at the bookstore. And finally rewarded myself with the ice cream I'd been craving. Hey, I TRIED to work out, didn't I?! I managed to save half my ice cream from melting and watched the last disc of Grey's Season 2--only one episode (are they trying to kill me?).

All in all, things are shaping up to normal here. But one word of advice: just get the full fat ice cream. The fake sans fat stuff is bad for you too and really, it just doesn't taste as good.

42. & 43 Stuff

Book boxes unpacked - check (complete with tears, complaining, and much struggle to find homes).
Office gear put away - check (let's hope we don't need that dresser for clothes or something crazy like that).
Water disaster created and survived - check, check (yeah, Ross doesn't really want to remember this so I don't have photos but as he was organizing the garage, the last screw of the last shelf to go up found its way into a water pipe...oops).
Dinner ordered from Su Hong's upon recommendation from friends - check (complete for two nights since we over-ordered!).
Complain about having too much stuff - check.
Discover some stuff was left behind at San mateo - check.
Go get the random stuff left in San Mateo - check.
Buy more stuff at BBB, Target, Ulta, and the pet store - check.
Kitchen and bathroom mopped - check.
First load of laundry done - check.

Best Weekend highlights:

• Fixed plumbing leak and went to bed...
• Rode the tandem bike to the farmer's market (but they were out of sugar snap peas!!! NOOOOOOOO!)
• Ate delicious grilled cheese sammy w/ artisan bread, meunster, organic heirloom tom, and fresh organic basil all from the farmer market. Yummmy.
  
• Visited the Palo Alto Art festival -- gorgeous. Successfully diverted purchase of more stuff! Yeay!

41. TGIF, I guess.

Some days are just not that exciting. I rode the train from Menlo Park which was a shorter walk but much longer ride to the city. I limped to work because my foot is really wrecked up since doing yoga the other day--apparently, it just wasn't the physical therapy I needed. I had an awesome burrito at Maya today (as usual) and debated the organization of a particular object/action set within the client system for 4 straight hours. I took the train back South from the city, headed to our apartment in San Mateo to clear out--but I was on the wrong train. So I had to have Ross pick me up in Redwood City (yes, this is your primer to the silicon valley). We got the rest of our things, cleaned the apartment and checked out. Then we went to the movies in San Mateo, but they were sold out. So we went to dinner and a movie in Redwood City. But the only movie we were in time for was Nanny Diaries which (I'm forced to admit) would have been OK to leave for a desperate night's entertainment while on the road for work.

It's Friday. So now we have the whole weekend to...unpack more.

Or, you know, become arsonists so we don't have to deal with this stuff any more.

40. The Law

Some of you know how I have this irrational fear of police and priests. So being that today's schedule started with an appearance in court and ended at the DMV, I wasn't looking forward to it.

Standing in line to register for court (if you've been reading you'll remember I was busted for forgetting to stamp my multi-ride ticket my second day in SF), I started to have major anxiety while considering how I was supposed to act in the courtroom and what I would possibly say to the judge. I decided if they gave me the chance, I'd rather pay the maximum fine right that second than go into that courtroom and face him.

My ticket wasn't registered in the system yet, so I got to put off the entire gig. I got a procrastinate about court card from God.

I went to a cafe in Burlingame, and spent the rest of the morning studying my driver guide. Very, very diligently. It was as if I was possessed by little police men and nuns in my head drilling me on the distance you can park from a train track and when to turn on the turning signal. (Lora, in CA it's legal to turn left at red at a left-running one-way street). I learned in NC that it is very traumatizing and humiliating to fail the written test. So I was pleased when I managed to pass IL on the first go, and...ladies & gentlemen (drum roll), the CA test on the first go as well. Talk about relief!

So I am the proud owner of a CA - registered auto and am the knowledgeable carrier of a CA class C license. Aren't you impressed beyond words?!

39. Fuquan Sighting

For Wednesday 22 August

Tonight it was off to Burlingame to meet up with our friends from Fuqua, Christine & Ryan Moore .

I had pizza again, and some good stout. Mostly, good conversation and good news -- Christine & Ryan are expecting! In NOVEMBER!

CONGRATS RYAN & CHRISTINE!

38. Out of the House

One of the best things about this place is that I can walk to the train, to town, and to yoga!
Today I took my first vinyasa class at Devi Yoga on el Camino just a 3.5 block walk away.

It felt so good to do it. And the walk there and back with the warm sun on my shoulders was an extra treat on a day when otherwise I was chained to my laptop. Namaste.

37. A Day at the (home) Office

Today I started back working for an old client at the new home office--incidentally the last room that is a disaster. I was successful in concentrating on work for several hours after waking up at 4:30 thinking about work, not being able to return to sleep, dealing with a screaming freak of a cat, and then spending 3 hours solving my own DSL problem (since 2 of the 3 calls to ATT were useless).

And this is what my cat does to torture me while I work--he curls up and naps right beside me. Sweet little devil.

I accomplished nothing much around the house today (although I did both make coffee and drink it out of my favourite mug AND make a chocolate strawberry smoothie, both of which made me feel very homey), but we did tick one thing off the exploring list--we ate at Applewood Gourmet Pizza which is just down the street. Their ratings say best pizza in Palo Alto, which was a good sign. And the crust was crunchy at the bottom but chewy in the thick parts--pretty darn good. It's no replacement for Piero's Chicago Style pizza (best on the North Shore!!!), but it's a good thing to have around the corner.

36. At Home in Menlo Park

There are certain types of exhaustion that feel sublime. Today was long but rewarding.

I take my time hanging the art, but it all finds a place just so--yet different from the other homes in which it's hung. The cat sniffs his way around each room. Some groceries find their way into the fridge, and finally it feels like home.

We even took a break today to have a late lunch, coffee and a long walk with our new friends Adrian and Miki. What a treat!

We can't wait for you to visit...

35. Date Night

Ross planned a surprise. So after a day of searching for the perfect cheap-a$$ shelving system and then finding it out of stock, we spent about an hour installing DSL and unpacking boxes before heading out for "the date".

We wound and wound along some not-too-country roads, till we got to Saratoga which was cute as pie. We had Thai. I could have had something different, but I went for my favourite: Pad Khee Mao...HOT.

After, we really did wind and wind up these crazy mountain roads till we got to a really side road that wound even further like a corkscrew quite appropriately since it was...a winery. The Mountain Winery where we saw Lewis Black. It was HILARIOUS! And the Reserve Syrah I had was scrumptious.

Let it not be said that we don't get out!

34. (Friday) Storm Philo Preparations

Friday was just me and the cat while I did some work and administration. Little sweet-meat ran around like a hurricane in the a.m. and then fell sweet asleep under the side-table in the bedroom.

More unpacking and preparing the new house for Philo's arrival once Ross got home from work. While I finished and cleaned the kitchen, Ross put earthquake straps on the TV. Not so much because we're that worried about earthquakes, but because of Philo. (Meanwhile, earthquake straps seem to be a real rip-off. For $30 it's basically a strap with stickers at each end...stickers? seriously?)

Saturday we will continue storm preparations by trying to hang the art. Then Monsieur Chat can be moved to his new palace, where no doubt he will run around like a mad-cat winning the hearts of the whole neighbourhood.

33. Nothing to see here.

Last night's idea to watch Grey's from the bath tub, complete with cinamon ylang-ylang foam was absolutely brilliant. A little ice water instead of wine/champagne (which really, in a calorie-free world would be the complete perfection), and I was so very, very happy.

This morning it was up and at 'em to the client site in SF and it's too late to go to the house to unpack more, so we will eat and watch more TV in our sloth-like temporary apartment. I am hoping that sticking around will give the cat enough attention so that he resists screaming at us all night for a fifth night in a row--and that I may get some sleep!

Hope you're all well!

32. Too much stuff and Li Hing on the Floor

I unpacked the rest of the kitchen/dining room stuff today and made a real mountain of paper --at one point I literally had to climb out!

Food and spices are a bit of a challenge for space. And I have to say I was sad to accidentally dump precious Li Hing on the floor. Where are the cookie sheets? I think, perhaps...um...back in Illinois.

Progress:
- Master bedroom made & my clothes unpacked
- Linen closet unpacked and organized
- Entire contents of the kitchen and china/crystal unpacked and mostly put away (only mostly)
- Sofa arrived, looks kickin'
- TV together and hooked up to all its appliances (yeah, that involved Fred fixing the TV stand which the packers broke)

And now, exhausted, I plan to get into the tub (already running) and watch Grey's Anatomy.

GOOD NIGHT!

31. Somewhere amid the paper & boxes...

It was a long day of bringing in the boxes and hoping they would all fit, followed by unpacking. I didn't see the light of day after 11:30a when the movers pulled out of the drive.

The crate-un-doers came after that to un-crate some art and my stone ganeshi from India, and the granite table top. Ross visited me for lunch (his work lunch kicked my whole foods lunch's butt). And I unpacked and unpacked and...still didn't finish the kitchen.

I have to say, among the favourite things I unpacked was my blender. I was so happy to see my old friend. I cannot wait to have a fruit smoothie!!

30. Small Pleasures

Today was a regular day. And there were some real highlights:

• taking a walk to whole foods to pick up the basics and packing my groceries in the reusable grocery bag Erin gave me
• talking to Kendra on the phone!!
  
• cuddling with the cat (b/c usually he picks Ross)
  
• seeing Rosco come on in the door at the end of the day

Simple.

28 & 29. The B&E B&B

We checked into the B&E B&B on Friday night while Bryan & Erin attended a play. After the ceiling situation, it was 10:30p before we got to the city, but a key awaited and the doorman "checked us in".

Upstairs, a glass of port and some Netflix were laid out for our pleasure.

Saturday was a lazy day that began with Erin's famous breakfast. This time, buttermilk whole wheat pancakes and scrambled eggs accompanied by the latest news of the B&E and some heated debate about grades of maple syrup. We chatted in our PJs for hours. And finally mobilized for lunch about 3. Then off to a Japanese heritage festival so that we wouldn't have to say we spent a weekend in Chicago without ever leaving the B&E--although there's no shame in that :-)

27. The regular moving disaster

In VT our water heater broke 6 weeks before we moved and we spent the entire last six weeks under construction, with the last boards of the floor going in the day of closing. In NC they found mould under the crawl space, so Ross spent some quality time with bleach and God knows what critters. So of course by the time the leak started from the kitchen ceiling yesterday, we weren't much fazed.

We called a plumber, even though Ross could see and fix the problem, so that we'd have proof that the issue was handled. Then today Ross spent a good deal of energy patching the ceiling -- twice. And painting it. For next to naught--the thing is a disaster.

The rooms are empty. There is nothing left to do but to literally move on. And hope that someone else soon calls this place home. Keep your fingers crossed for us, think positive thoughts. We are out to the B&E B&B where we look forward to seeing our friends' smiling faces.

26. Packing Boxes, Filling Holes

This is how it is done: Move in. Unpack your things, pausing as you open each one to remember its origin, its kind benefactor, or the memories it hefts along. Put the things in new places -- some visible -- where they "belong". Acquire new things, and new memories. Settle in.

As each thing gets tucked into its place, each wall takes its colour, and each seedling starts to take root, reverse: Rid yourself of certain things you no longer feel are required to induce memories you're not entirely sure you'll hold onto into your old age, but either way are not beholden to some limp teddy bear or golden rose for protection. Rid yourself of other things you do not need but have somehow acquired, slimming down for some new and brighter, lighter life on the other end of the moving truck. Pack your things into boxes, pausing with each one to note it's imprinted memory or particular joy.

Stand back. Survey your life--it is a sea of brown boxes. Can it be so contained? Will your memories be able to breathe in there? Look about. Clear out the dust, and clean the fridge. Wash out the having-been-here of you.

Last turn through, spackle the holes. Fill them up and ready the place for a new set of lives and memories. Turn inward. Observe the holes of a million imprints of smiling friends and funny neighbours. Those holes remain--my precious having-been-here.

25. 2000 miles without a key

Or, up the creek without a paddle. I have the keys to our temporary apartment, the keys to our new apartment, but neither of us had the keys to our house in IL. I realized this when our plane landed at midnight. We tried the neighbours, bad as we felt about it, but they didn't answer. Then Ross called our Realtor for the code to the lockbox. Jan gave us the code, and an hour and a half after landing, we're finally home and in the door.

What can we possibly get our realtor for the favours she's done for us since we left (rifling through our files to send our car title, giving us this code in the middle of the night, checking on the house after storms to make sure it hasn't flooded...)?

24. Possibility Spaces

Yesterday I took the train to Menlo Park to check out the painter's work. Shortly after my ride, someone was hit and killed by a train. This morning as I took my ride, I thought about the circumstances that would induce that result, and the subsequent events within this victim's circle of friends and family.

The book I read on the train made mention of "possibility spaces" the idea that there are many possibilities and each of them has an outcome. I'm sure I don't understand the metaphysics behind how this is be possible, but I think many of us intuitively work with this idea when we look backward: "what if I'd only", or "I should have". We're so good at that. But we don't always look at current adversity or even future possibility with that kind of flexibility--the kind of flexibility that says any option is open.

Some choices cause unpleasant results (walking across train track shortly to be occupied by train), but what if we think about the possibilities we have to deal with the adversity, to lay out all the options of what's next, to simulate in our minds all the next decisions and go with the best one? Laying out the possibilities means taking ownership of the choice and outcome, which is often easier to swallow.

Today my choices included not quitting work and not having a McFlurry. Also, crossing the roads and rails when I was supposed to, passing on Coffee after lunch, and taking a salad for once instead of a burrito. Man, I am IN CHARGE!

23. Teal Takes Off

Worked most of the day from home.
Took the train to the apartment where the painter had been working.
By far the largest departure from our previous abodes, a blue teal in the kitchen to contrast the masses of white cabinets and the yellow appliances. Looking good!
(sorry, forgot to take photos).

Much other progress on the house too with a rug and sofa ordered yesterday :-) Can't wait for you to see it!

22. To Market

It was a lazy Sunday here. It was overcast and misty which had us in shock for much of the morning while we watched discovery, and surfed the web. I did a little work, and Ross talked on the phone.

We hit the farmer's market in Menlo Park where everything was colourful and tasty--we are only in town for a few days so we didn't stock up on too much but got figs, raspberries, and white peaches, as well as some sugar snap peas. We bought peas. Then I ate some on the way to the car...and then had to go back and buy more peas because I realized I'd eat them all for snacks and not have any left over for dinner!

We shopped for the house and did other chores too, stopping for lunch to have Burritos (we're addicted). This evening we sat with our market finds and some good cheese and olives and had a living room picnic over a movie. Content.

21. To the Shore

My brother and I were sitting in the back seat of my parents' car driving from Swaziland to Durban, South Africa the first time I saw the ocean. We caught a glimpse of it through the trees--a glimpse of that place where you only know by instinct that it's not quite the sky--and we were hooked. We watched the ocean side of the highway for miles after that, just trying to see it again.

My dad would take us out past the wave breaks with him, and we'd float in the swells, bobbing, bobbing. I remember thinking even those first times in the ocean that it felt like being rocked in God's hands. I never wanted to come in. And when we did end the day, our nasal passages cleared with all the salt water, our freckles dark, and our skin smooth from the brushes with the ocean floor sand but sticky with salt, we were dead-dog tired having spent up our full reserves of excitement.

When I spotted my first glimpse of the Pacific since we've been here, I felt that same excitement. And was glued again to the ocean side of the car, just wanting to see it's grey edges and white foam. We spent the afternoon wandering the shops of Half Moon Bay, and the early evening walking the coast in a marine reserve where we spotted Harbour Seals. It was way too cold to swim, so we bouldered around the shore looking for creatures and waiting for the tide to roll low enough for us to find snails and crabs and even some anemones in the pools.

My brother liked to boogie board and play around, but I just liked to float. I liked to look out at the horizon and imagine the future that could possibly be; and I liked to imagine all the people I missed were somewhere on the other side. Today, the seals pop up and stare straight at us as if they recognize us, as if they're just about to say something. I do think there's a kind of recognition here at the edge of the water, where the crash and roar of the swells might just sound like the woosh and swirl of a giant pulse--there's something elemental, a belonging and a peace.

20. Peet's v. Starbucks

Around here, you can usually walk not only to a Starbucks on every corner but a Peet's around the corner from Starbucks. I can get to both from work. I even have both in my apartment complex.

This is the kind of thing where you have to pick. Like Pepsi or Coke, Mets or Yankees, Cubs or Sox--you know, you have to have an allegiance. Especially in the event there's no locally owned cafe nearby.

I've heard a few reasons for Peet's. I have my own reasons for rebelling against any major chain. But what do I know about coffee?

But when I walk into Peet's, they are friendly and courteous and try to remember your name from yesterday. Any coffee with a smile is better than mediocre coffee from a snotty empire. Peet's has my vote.

19. A little change will do you good

Today I walked down Third Street. This is newsworthy only because I haven’t walked along Third Street before. I was walking to and from the train in the path recommended when I first arrived—the easiest path. No one ever said it was scenic or interesting, just easy – when they were worried I might get lost.

Something possessed me to walk past Second all the way to Third before turning left toward the station. And I happened upon South Park. I’d been kind of racing along, head down trying to make my train when I looked up and saw the sign and to the left a green treed area with kids playing, and all about me shops and fun.

What colour, what opportunity. Because I picked up my head and looked about. Because I dared take a different turn.

18. Design Design

Wednesday 1 August

Today the cat did this...

While I did this...

I was busy designing a framework and task flow for a complex system my clients are building. I was getting so frustrated, I wanted to pull out my nose hairs one by one, but now at 1am I think I've made some progress and am looking forward to another trek into the city tomorrow to see where the next brainstorming session takes us.

And interspersed with all my systems design was the funnest design -- home design! MUCH progress today. Found a couch and it might be able to come in a few weeks. We agreed (be sure to appreciate that for a one-evening endeavour this is a small miracle!) on a few rug choices. And, we decided to go ahead and let someone else paint the house for us. AND (just compounding this with the first miracle makes it even bigger than it would have been alone) we agreed on paint choices for the entire project in about an hour. The painting will commence on Monday.

Note that in embracing my pink-tiled 50s bathroom, I'm determined to make it mod / retro, and in so-doing have finally found a reason to use wall decals. Potentially, anyway. Check out: www.whatisblik.com and www.winkplay.com ... OOOO I'm so psyched.