Sufjan Stevens – I Walked

Sufjan Stevens – I Walked


Getting into music like no ones business. I've been so many places, seen so many shows. It's been a good music summer...heading into fall.

We've got to keep on moving.

Flower power in Noe Valley

We like those 9 dollar beers and that free advice at the baseball game.

It was a total Vampire takeover.

We got down, real down, in the heat.

Opening acts have stars in their eyes.

Yo Mama

It's been a ridiculously long time since I've updated this little bloggy blog, I've only had time to blog on my other more fast paced, instant gratification blog (top right).  I've been working ever so much (and not getting paid very well). The weekends have been full and I will post more later on all of the activities. I've also lost my camera charger so I've really been at a handicap without my picture box.

I just bought a ticket to London. I am so excited, as well as a bit nervous, lots of memories are bubbling up to the surface, some of them not so peachy and so I hope it will be altogether a great experience. As my friend says, send it love and light and so when I think too hard about it all and about going over there for the first time in what seems like a lifetime, I just think love and light, and get really excited.

I leave you with a few photos from Yo Mama, a yearly event in Yorkville where we brought up archery, food, champagne, musical instruments, videos, music and a friend...I think a good time was had by all.

I am cruising the city on my two wheels.

Maybe this little blog should be the cycling elephant! I bought a bike and I feel so free! I wanted a bike like my friend Rose has (see above), but I got one that is better for the hills and city. It's funny though because I bought it frustrated at having to rely on friends for a ride and since I got it, I keep getting rides everywhere.

It took me 25 minutes to ride yesterday morning all the way down third street straight to work which is less time than it takes me on the muni. For some reason I keep singing to myself, ' I am smoking fools' and rapping, no idea where this came from and I wasn't going particularly fast. Maybe it was because I consider it a somewhat 'ghetto bike' which I got for 80 dollars. When I picked it up the guy I bought it from was surprised I was going to just ride off with it so I was skeptical about its capability, but it is nice and light and does the job, even my friend Nate thought it was a smart purchase. It will pay for itself in 15 rides to work and it's great exercise.

 

I keep waving at others who are riding, like now I am in the cool club and I've got that glowing feeling of everyone should be hoping on a bike and doing the same thing. All I need now is a basket and some stickers! I will post a photo soon, but until then a few pictures to get you in that riding mood.

Not every day can be a 10 out of 10 type day.

Sometimes I have to stop myself from being too overjoyed. What, you say!? Too overjoyed!? From Friday fun with the lovelies...to... I know this is silly, but when I have days like yesterday when things just aren't good, I feel as if my world comes to a screeching halt. I really get more frustrated then I should when things aren't right and it makes me question life in general. It's nice to have a happy balance, one must know that there are days when it's just not your day (momma said...), where you feel rubbish and you just want to go in a dark quiet place or you want the day to end.  Not everyday can be perfect, right? Here are a few photos below and above to fit the mood.....

I can now say although I felt so bad yesterday, today I woke and the sun was shining and it's hard to be blue when it's so nice out!

Photos found here: www.bizquel.tumblr.com, www.shesgonerainbow.tumblr.com, and www.bears.tumblr.com

Blog Envy: Sending Postcards

                             

I do travel, don't get me wrong, but now that I am working I have to live vicariously through others.  I am just not getting around as much as I used to. It would be amazing to be able to sell my home (if I had a home) and travel the world like Alex and Mina from Canada. They left their jobs (what?) and decided to go on an adventure, blogging about it along the way, sharing with the world (and little old me) their experience.  It's insightful and I like their photos (especially of Africa). Take a look here. 

Filter free ladies laughter and sun! Oregon Trail Part deux.

There must have been something in the water in Oregon because our little road trip was magical. I thought I was just along for the ride, I wasn't quite clear about the game plan, but Calleen (Noey's sister friend through a catering gig many moons ago) had it all planned to perfection. I didn't know who we would meet along the way, but by the end of the trip I, along with Noey, were giving our new found lovelies Pam and Cailin (and Jill!) each other advice, lots of hugs, and all saying how much we loved our time together. When we left, for me, it was as if a bubble burst and the air we had been floating on ceased to exist. I think we all needed the little trip. Pam and Calleen especially were or are going through unforseen life changes, new chapters, and Cailin is heading to UC Berkeley as a new student which is always such a great new adventure in ones life.

I say this often in my blog about how much fun I have, but I can not honestly remember the last time I laughed constantly for five days straight and did not bicker a bit (just a pillow fight or two) with a group of strong willed women (are there any other kind?). From this trip we will forever have endless inside jokes. Writing this brings a smile to my face and I am sure my laughter lines have deepened.

It was a girly weekend for sure, and I felt a bit bad for Gerald (Pam's husband) who was the only male for a few nights, having to deal with all of our women talk and that meant no filtering, lots of noise and excitement. Sean, Calleen's nephew (see above with his wife Jill and Calleen)  graciously cooked for us and dealt with all of our energy too.  One night, in the middle of a serious conversation, Calleen turned to me and said mid sentence, totally switching course, 'oh and your hair looks great like that by the way' Sean exclaimed ' Damn WOMEN!' He had some great stories, as did Jill, who was a nurse in the maternity ward. She took us to downtown Bend where we shopped, enjoyed the art and local color. There happened to be an old car show and I was in heaven (I want something old school to drive). 

After this little tour in Oregon I realized that friends are such gifts and I am so blessed to have amazing friends to have through the trials and tribulations of life. I am sorry this post is so cheesy, but it's often times very hard to find balance in relationships in general and maintain positivity through the crazy times and I felt all goodness was achieved on this trip. It made me hope for the strong bond of a friendship which I saw with Pam and Calleen who've watched each others children grow, and also what a good relationship should be when looking at Jill and Sean and also Pam and Calleen's with their respective husbands. And finally I hope I have a daughter who is so well rounded, kind and funny as I thought Cailin (with her friends and us below) to be. Sometimes you can meet someone and know in an instant that you love them (P). And other times a trip like the one we had actually makes you value the life you lead, your friends (N&C), and makes you strive for something better, something great. 

Vistas far and wide, chickens and a rat too. The Oregon Trail part Un.

Since I am working hard and only had one chance to roadtrip and travel this August and because it was an amazing trip, I thought I would dedicate a few posts to my trip up north to Oregon so please bear with me.

Maybe it was so good because I was with my bestie and her best friend, and her best friend, maybe it was the heat and great sunshine, or the fact that I didn't have to work, or maybe it was because we were surrounded by never ending nature.....

The dry brown beauty of the land passed us along on both sides as we made our way up north. I am my mother's daughter, I tried to snap shots of cows I saw in the fields, tried to capture the overwhelming expansive forest blanketing the peaks and dales that floated towards us. Old country cars cruised the slow lane, we passed them up, Calleen knowing the open road up north like she knows her kitchen.

We stopped in Ashland, we stayed in Jacksonville, in the beautiful home of Pam and Gerald (best mates of Calleen) who had chickens, goats, a hammock, swing and a sweet Zoe dog who was chill. On our trip we went to Elk Lake, 30 minutes outside of Bend (photo above), had a nice river next to the home of Jill and Sean, where we enjoyed long walks. We took a trip to Crater lake (far above) and a ride down the Rogue river (below Cailin's friends on the river).

Those hills are rolling hills, ones that speak in the dark, that suck the fog, and withhold the summer.

On the eve of a little road trip up North (high five for sun and lakes!), I thought an update was in order. Last week and this one so far has been a whirlwind of activity that only summer seems to bring, but wait what is this weather we have here in SF? I visit the East Bay and think, 'It's like Miami over here', so very different on each side. I guess I was all wrong about comparisons between Cali and England. I love the sun, but that fog has been good for keeping me cool when climbing the hills of Noe.

Noey (my beautiful bestie) and Oja (beautiful too!)

My friend started a pool group, I am rubbish at it especially with a few beers in me, but it's nice to see people midweek. I caught up with five friends this weekend, nice long quality chats that were much needed for the relationships I value so much. I went on long walks, had dinner with two different groups, I celebrated the birthday of my friend Alaina (see below and above) whose dinner parties go down in the history books for the best food, think blackberry pie, chocolate mousse, corn pone (from scratch!) and intense conversations, you leave unable to figure out if it is the food or constant laughter that makes your stomach hurt when you walk out the door. 

I did a little dance, scratch that I did a LOT of dancing, walking down the street in Noe where I was housesitting, at a concert The English Beat (see photo below, I was thinking I needed some 80s big hair), and with a friend of mine at the house. I've been going out to dinner (probably at the downfall of my tummy and wallet), loving the variety this city has to offer. My boss is a resto guru and so I have a long list to get through, Prospect, Des Amis, Shmidts, Francis, The Salt House, and Quince (all in good time).

We kissed little baby hands and listened to music in the sunshine.

Sweet Simone in my lap.

Momma loves Simone.

And momma loves Jack, the new addition to the Vieira-Ducey family. He came a little early, but he's got such personality.

Little Jack was so subdued with music blaring and dishes banging at the resto. I love his little baby hands and he looks a bit like his daddy who I knew when he was this little.

Say cheese and pass me a corona, Sunday in Dolores (again), but this time with Debra!

Big Fela's sweet in the heat.

SF symphony serenades.

The summer has been amazing so far. I've been housesitting so living rent free and exploring new neighborhoods, walking and talking with people on the streets. Babies bring forth joy and it's been a treat to have cuddle time with the new additions to an ever expanding family/friend base.

Viva Espana! Campeones del mundo!

It was a great day yesterday, a day to remember, at least for me. It also made me realize how so different America is from the UK, how we have such different interests in our sports (something I generally don't care about). And how we have such different immigration. Maybe it is just me, missing all of my Spanish friends, loving that community....the world spinned on, nothing changed in the street here. I was called little red riding hood, or something else so unrelated to the actual excitement occurring across the ocean about a football championship,  something I used to dislike so (too much running!), but now have fallen in love with (gracias B). 

No one could comprehend the happiness I felt when Spain, a country so steeped in football history, won the highest title in the world on Sunday. Not only are they world champions, but just a few years back, they also won the Euro, my memories so close. The Spanish truly know how to celebrate and my heart flutters at the thought that I could not be where such celebrations occur (see below the link to the madness).

Photos below of the last day of the world cup, when Espana won for the first time in history, when a favorite team of mine actually won! 'Ola, ola ola ola, ola ola'....'I am still wearing red.

Poor Jill, a dutch fan.

The crowd at Civic Center

Nothing compares to the fiestas occurring in Spain, take a look here. Also click on this link here to see the commentators go wild (I am embarrassed to say I've watched this video more than once).