November 26, 2005

The Last Night on Waller Street

Tonight is my last night on Waller Street. That's the Upper Haight, People, the Haight Ahsbury District - yes, that's right - I'm officially done with the Summer of Love.

I decided to just chill out and watch bad TV w/ a nice wine on the last night (no dvd or books left here), so went to the store and bought wine. On way home I thought - "no glasses left to drink from!" Then realized I had 2 glasses left in the cupboard. Saved!

Then! 3 steps later in my walk home and... no wine opener!!! - oh boy, defeat. Then realized I had one in the pocket of a travel bag (I am from near Napa afterall - almost every bag I own has a wine opener in its pocket!!! Thank goodness!!! Saved!

So here I am. A few glasses left and some more bad TV to go. But This. Is. It. I'm on to the next chapter.... and it's a good thing, because I'm out of toilet paper.


November 18, 2005

My Passport Photo

I thought I looked cute today. That is, at least, until I was handed my fresh-off-the-press passport photos. I paid $14 to look like this for the next 10 years?! In fact, I think the photographer was even giving me a re-shoot chance and I didn't realize it. He said "I think you were smiling a little too much??" Ah yes, that would explain why I look like an Asian vampire with a double chin.

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but this photo left me speechless. Fuck. Should I re-take them when I haven't consumed beers and only had 5 hours of sleep?



November 13, 2005

Packing It Up

It is Sunday afternoon and I have been making a bigger and bigger mess since I woke up this morning.

I am packing, and if any of you have lived in the same place for more than a few years, well, you have a lot of stuff.

I really thought this packing thing would be a breeze. After all, for the last 3 years or so I've had a really tight budget, and have had little opportunity to exercise my materialistic tendancies. Additionally, there is very little storage in my apartment. Unfortunately, if one is considered good at packing, then inherently that person becomes a good pack rat. It's amazing how I've managed to accumulate little boxes and baskets that store knick nacks of all sorts that I used to think were really important to keep.

My closet has been the biggest surprise. It is only the size of a coat closet, but somehow I have managed to make it contain (aside from clothes) a suitcase, several rolls of gift wrap and a box of ribbons, a comforter, a quilt, a blanket, 4 sets of towels, 6 sets of sheets, an old box of files, my checkbooks for the last 6 years, 2 pairs of boots, a lacrosse stick, a tennis racket, a bag of worthless paper items, 2 halloween wigs, 4 ceramic sculptures I did in high school but still cannot bare to part with, and a box containing a car stereo and speakers. There's other stuff to but I think you get the point. It dawns on me that I am a bit of a pack rat.

Anyway, the point is that I am really tired from 2 days straight of this, but it's like a drug I can't stop. Passing any lingering item while walking from one room to another will just make me stop in my tracks and tackle it. I guess it's better than procrastinating.

November 06, 2005

You Mean.... I'm Nice?


How evil are you?
It's hard to believe that someone who gets dramatic over the odor of urine at her doorstep can be classified as "Angelic."



November 04, 2005

Pissed On My Parade

I am very glad to say that someone has pissed on my parade.

In my last post, I announced the "End of an Era." I shared the bittersweet feelings I had about moving out of the apartment I have inhabited for the last 9 years. Nine years!

After parking my car this evening, I headed to The Gate that separates My Home from its actual location in The Haight Ashbury. This is The Gate that creates an oasis every time I step through it. Case in point: this evening, within 5 yards of arriving at The Gate, I smelled urine. And as I approached, the smell got stronger. That's right, People, someone had decided that a little nook between my building and the next one over is the perfect place to relieve oneself. Even passing through The Gate and advancing on the porch steps did not alleviate the foul odor.

So when I got inside the front door, I breathed a sigh of relief. Relief not only of being past the portico, which smells so horrendous, but that this will be one of the last times I have to do so. As days pass and packing begins, bitter starts to separate from sweet, and I am growing more excited about the new location.


November 02, 2005

The End of an Era

I'm moving! I'm moving!

After 9 years living in the same apartment, I'm cutting the cord. It's not that I want to, but budget confirms I have to.

One the one hand I am really sad. There are so many good memories from this place, and what is happening is like closing a really big chapter. I'm also downsizing, so the majority of my furniture has to go. And I do mean the majority! Let's just say the new place will be very zen and sparse. Otherwise, I don't think I'll be able to move from Bed to Bath at all.

I'll miss being close to Golden Gate Park, and I'll miss being around authentic people. After all this time I now know a lot of my neighbors and local businessmen. How will I know who to trust with my drycleaning?? Who else will give me a "neighborhood discount? "

On the other hand, of course, I'm a little excited. Finally getting out of The Haight. Away from the riff-raff of homeless runaway kids, of drugged out guys in their 60's who are STILL HERE from the '60's, away from the 2am bar-closing noise, the marked signs of vomit on the sidewalk, the smells of people living in the streets, the loonies, the tourists, etc etc. I just hope all of the plastic people in the new neighborhood will be tolerable. Yes, Little Los Angeles is where I'm headed, otherwise known as The Marina. Sorry folks, no room for guests. Or parties. But if you want some cozy one on one time with me, you got it!