The days cruise by & it's almost July.

It's been awhile I know. I've been overwhelmed by work, but hopefully next week's load will lighten. Life has been busy with general summer activities, with Father's day (think wine, good food and lots of LOUD Bretts), my father's return to the bay, house sitting and lots of gatherings with friends. 

Last week (or was it the week before?) I went to Santa Cruz with Phannie and Noelle, (the three amigos together again!), another day we had a BBQ and a Birthday with a puppy surprise for my friend Joanne.

Tonight I am off to a play about North Beach, the Tosca Project at ACT. Here are a few photos from the past two weeks:

Save me, I'm drowning in blue.

A distant light bring us closer.

I am alone on this stretch of time.

 Everything looks great with the hipso, even a father's day bouquet.

Who doesn't love a little puppy!?

Jojo's new mother delight.

Feelin' the Fillmore.

Last Thursday I spent a sunny afternoon (after a long wait at the Chinese Embassy) on Fillmore St in San Francisco. I think it has to be one of my favorite streets in all the city. Less pretentious than others, but with a nice mix of high end stores like Ralph Lauren, Betsy Johnson and Marc Jacobs, and it has my favorite design and coffee shops like Zinc Details, Coffee Bean and Bittersweet.  They also have Crossroads Trading Co where I always manage to pick up a purse or top for under 20 dollars. I stopped in, as I always do when I am on the street, to Papersource for gifts and stationary (see photo below). And of course there is always great sushi, pastry shops, and Harry's Bar and the Fillmore if you want to have a cocktail or see a gig.

 Sweet illustrations at Zinc. I love all of their home products and they stock Marimekko.

I love what Marc Jacobs is doing with colors. I found a spring jacket I wish to own!

Against the wall, the rock wall.

My friend Kina organized a wine event for us to attend, a perfect way to spend a sunny (and I mean SUNNY) Saturday afternoon. We arrived midday to Rock Wall winery, owned by the Rosenblum family, in a very random spot in Alameda, housed in a converted 40,000 square-foot airplane hangar, located on what was once a Naval Air Base with views of San Francisco and the Bay bridge. There were a number of different labels and grapes were from various places like Lodi and Contra Costa County (kind of random). It's just amazing how far reaching the wine industry has expanded, there are tasting rooms and wineries sprouting up all over the place. We found our favorite sparkling wine and a few cool cars to snap some photos...I wish I had my camera, but check out the cool pics from Kina and Jessica's iphone application.

Maybe you can have your cake and a chocolate cookie too.

This past week has been special, but sad.

I've house sat, gone for a few cruises in the mini and celebrated the life of my uncle who passed away. I met with a friend for sushi and a walk on the beach at sunset, went for oysters, and went for a tour of Deutch Bank. I did some temping for an all woman's commercial real estate agency, super intense, super fun. I went to the aquarium with a few friends and listened to music.

And this weekend I went down to Monterey/Carmel. I always forget how beautiful it is there. My mother and I stayed at my Godmother's place. It's great and so is her neighbors and her dog Pip (and neighbors' dog Bently). I missed her and her 'honey's', 'pet's' and 'darling's', she truly is the best godmother. Saturday we headed to a jazz performance by my cousin Marie, who was brilliant on the bass, she also plays the huge trombone (I think). Dinner of lobster/halibut and ice cream on the pier followed with three of my aunts, mother and two cousins, a nice little family treat!

Don't give up the ship!

He was a beast of a man.

Our common good should come first.

Director of all things important.

Your wish is my command.

She sucked the light out of the sun.

Photos taken randomly from the last week or so.

Just Beachy

See below for a little video of Noelle and I's jaunt to Half Moon bay, 30 minutes from home, on the California coast. Thinking the weather was iffy, we didn't put on the sunscreen, we ended up a bit crispy, funny how that happens. It was a beautiful day.

Ignore my hair!

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Daycation one and two!

My cousin Julie and her husband had the week off so she forced us (my cousin Katie and I) to spend a wonderful time with her in Livermore at the vineyards there (maybe my new favorite wine country) and yesterday we took a drive down the coast to Big Sur. It was great weather, it has been raining here so when we saw the weather report called for sun we thought we should go for it. We tried to go on a couple of hikes, but as it is technically still winter, the creek was too high and trees were left blocking the trails (I wondered also if it was because of failed funds and lack of resources for our national parks). It was beautiful all the same.
It's nice to rediscover California.

Enjoying the fruits of Concannon winery.


In Big Sur, by the rising river.


Sisters on top of the world.


Trying to find balance in the forest.


Scream it out to sea!

The hunt is on.

So it's early February and I thought for sure I would be working by now. I know I should be diligently reading What Color is your Parachute at my father's recommendations and cashing in on my connections to find that perfect role, but I am not. Instead I am looking at what's out there (there is more than last week) and applying to many various places via the net. There are some roles I would be perfect for. I know just sending out your resume is not what one is really supposed to do. I know I should be calling places, getting my foot in the door, following up, but part of me is discouraged. Part of me is in flux and so I apply, surf here and there, blog, and try to walk everyday with Noey. I had a scary dream last night of Haiti, I was trying to stop people from hurting themselves.
I am trying to live a good life. Noey and I went on a nature walk on Sunday after a fantastic party in Portrero Hill (maybe my future neighborhood) where we took silly photos. We found a mushroom family (see picture below) on our walk and it's so nice to be in the California nature (see above).




I hope that one place of the 10 positions I've applied to this morning will ring me and I will go on an interview and they shall see that I am worth it, that they should hire me, because I am (I keep telling myself)! And as backup I have the foreign service exam coming up.

I also have great friends. Samantha is jetting off to New York fashion week and gladly offered up her city pad and so I will go there to enjoy SF in its center (with a pool and hot tub).

The house that Dan built and nature photos.

A few pictures with my new camera around the house up in Mendocino. The one below is at the winery down the way, the animals ran to me as soon as I took a seat, (and I don't even care for kitties).












Mexico pics to follow!

To the country....Mendocino country

A spot on the map, surrounded by sweet nothing, I google Yorkville which leads us to my parent's friend's house, their country home, industrial and modern surrounded by woods. It is far north, about three hours. It is beautiful country, we pass vineyards and I think when we turn onto the dirt road, it is closer than it actually is.
Noelle, my best friend joins me, her Rosie dog in tow, after arriving, after about just ten short minutes she turns to me and says, 'Let's stay another night, let's stay two nights'.
We are greeted with champagne, a fire, beautiful artwork, and for me old friends, loves I've always known. Linda makes us a sandwich and then a martini and I tell them of my exodus from London. Noelle tells them of her purchase, a condo. We are very different here and I.
We wake the next morning to the sun filtering through the trees and the open windows, such open windows even in the bathroom, the shower. Music fills the high walls, the tall tin roof, forever and ever. We do yoga, eat great food and explore. We rest and relax and read. Dan tells us of his craftmanship, we project movies onto open spaces.

We greet my parents and do it all over again and then leave the magical place happy.

The house in the woods.



Daniel after Christmas, inside the house. Sorry for the blur and that head coming from the wall is plastic.



My parents and I on a jaunt in the woods.

San Francisco with my best mate from London!

I was so pleased and excited that my friend Belen could join me in San Fran for a visit two weeks ago. Here are a few pics of our adventures.

Belen in Pac Heights...she said she would want me to live there if I return to the states. Belen at the cheesecake factory...I just had to take her there. It was worth the trip and she was pleased. Palace of Fine Arts on a nice sunny day. Belen at our most famous landmark...she thought the bay bridge was the golden gate for the first few days. The last is me at the house in Boulder Creek, in the Santa Cruz mountains. Belen enjoyed the trees and the coolness!