I miss you and all those goofy faces you make. Happy 23rd, Fuzzy! Wish I could be with you to celebrate our 23 years together...I've loved every minute of it. Don't know what I'd do without you.
Think you could set up a slip n' slide in Astoria Park for old times' sake?
And other tales of apartment hunting in San Francisco...
I've been seriously looking for an apartment for about three weeks now. My free hours are spent checking craigslist, emailing, calling, setting up showings, going to open houses, and generally stressing out over whether I'll ever find the perfect place or if I should just settle on something mediocre. And if I have to settle, what's more important to me? Newness? Neighborhood? After liking and losing three places already to fierce competition, I'm starting to worry.
The height of my housing frustrations was last Friday, when I was brought to tears in a leasing office. Really. I had the day off work, four showings lined up that morning, and I was DETERMINED to find a place that day. The first appointment called me an hour before to let me know he had already rented the place. When I made it to the second showing, the guy told me he had just rented that one too. The third appointment didn't even show up. I arrived at the fourth one looking and feeling desperate, and I was informed that it had just been rented that morning. Of course it had. My eyes started tearing up, and I managed to squeak out, "Ok, well, will you have anything else opening up before the end of August?" One was opening up August 6th and hadn't been listed yet, and I got a showing for the next morning at 9am.
As I was leaving that place, I got a call back from a building manager (Dennis) in Nob Hill, and we set up a showing for 5pm. I was hopeful. It sounded like a nice place, but I was a little worried about the neighborhood. Lower Nob Hill gets kind of sketchy.
The outside of the building was pretty gross, and I held the phone receiver a few inches away from my ear as I called him to buzz me in. The buzzer didn't work, so he came down to open the door. Dennis was in his mid-forties, wiry, leathery, tattoed, slightly musty smelling, and a hunchback. He took me up to the fourth floor in an elevator that was older than I am, with the doors you close manually. All I could think of was being caught in that elevator during an earthquake like the one we had the night before, and falling to my death.
When he opened the doors, we were about three feet below the floor, and for a moment I thought he was going to make me climb out of the elevator. But he closed the doors, pushed the button again, and brought us up to about five inches below the floor. "Watch your step," he said as he led me out to the dim hallway.
The actual apartment unit wasn't bad, but the entire package, for the rent he was asking, was definitely a no.
On Saturday, I went back for my 9am showing and loved the place. Big building with laundry, a 4th floor outdoor pool and BBQ area, workout facility, new kitchen and bathroom, great closet space...I was in. I filled out an application and got the ball rolling. The neighborhood wasn't great, but it was close to a lot of my favorite spots in the city, and it had a 24 hour doorman and underground parking. Today at work, I told everyone about my new place, and they freaked out. Yes, it's a slightly sketchy neighborhood during the day, but apparently it's REALLY bad at night. No wonder the rent was so low.
I haven't signed a lease on it yet, so it looks like I'm back on craigslist again for awhile. Spreading the word with anyone and everyone I know in the city, so hopefully I'll get something by word of mouth.
I'm not sure how much more of this I can take.
After a stressful week of apartment hunting in a city where landlords ask for all but your firstborn child before they'll rent you an apartment, Leslie and I felt that a beach trip was in order. We grabbed our sunscreen and a stack of magazines, and headed up north to Stinson Beach.
The last time I was here, I watched my sister Evelyn run to the water, whipping her clothes off in excitement. She was three years old, and it was the first time she'd seen the ocean.
What a perfect day. The drive was beautiful, and lounging in the sun all afternoon was exactly what we both needed. So relaxing. This could definitely become a Sunday routine.
My friend Leslie is also new to the city. She and I have been out exploring together, making new friends, finding funky dive bars, and trying not to pull our leg muscles on the killer hills. 
We went to a 4th of July BBQ hosted by our new friend Matt, otherwise known as "that guy who got the party bus to Stillwater" and his roommate Travis.
Later, we made our way down to the Embarcadero for fireworks over the bay and an AMF at Sinbad's. Had a moment. Then our new friends took us to their favorite dive bar, Dave's, where they sang along to the seemingly endless stream of Tom Jones songs. Oh, and when we couldn't get a cab after the fireworks, Matt made a deal with the driver of this PT Cruiser to give us a lift. Sketchy? Maybe. 
Went out last night in honor of the All Star game. Tried to rub elbows with the players at the Ritz-Carleton hotel bar, but no luck there. Lots of fans. No players.
Ended up at the International House of Cocktails. With these two. 
And this guy, who had just biked up from San Diego and is running for Mayor of San Francisco. See the stars and stripes there on the back of his bike? Now that's a true American. He also told me I looked like Marilyn Monroe and he would give me a job when he took office. 
I think we're off to a good start here.
Being home is sitting on an ice cold toilet seat. Stepping on pine needles and staring at stars. Watching television in the basement with Dad - wrapped in blankets. Arugula salads, cottage cheese and sesame seed crackers with goat cheese. Falling asleep anywhere because you're so relaxed and the furniture is so comfortable. Watching Evelyn eat fruit, drink Dr. Pepper and recite movie lines. Crossword puzzles, pencils and full cartons of milk on the kitchen table. Wine whenever, delicious food always and love everywhere. Sleeping in my old twin bed with my old comforter and one flat pillow. Early wake up calls. No eye makeup remover or toilet paper but tons of cereal and a nice shampoo selection. Sprinklers on, flowers blooming and trees, trees, trees. Good music playing and fingers typing. Hugs from Mom. The sound of Oscar when he's hungry, Dad snoring and Evelyn's guitar at midnight. Hot baths and fuzzy towels. Coffee with organic 2%. No cell phone reception. Infinite TV channel options. Finding old stuff that could never be thrown away - notes, diaries, pictures. Being home is pacing through halls, in and out of rooms - not being able to sit still out of excitement of being there.
My time in MPLS was relaxing. I connected with people I hadn't connected with in awhile.
I spent time in Cannon Falls with Momma, Wendy, Brent, Hannah and Kitty. Chatted on the porch and ate yummy fish tacos - my new favorite.
Had $1.50 beers at Brewsters and Chuggers.
Saw locals which made Kitty feel awkward. 
Had a great 4th of July with weiners, pims, family, friends, dogs and charades. 
Went out with the girls. Stopped in to see old coworkers. Hung out with Evelyn. Got 9 books for $7 at the Goodwill. Spent an entire fun-filled day with my beautiful Grandma Nagan. Ate a lot - and even worked out once. Drove around the lakes and did a run through the MOA. Ice skated with the infamous long bladers. Got a pedicure with Mom. The color? Ruby Red.
I'm back in the hottness that is Astoria. Here I've got a tiny fan, a crowded community pool and a small patch of grass with four flowers - nothing like Minneapolis in the summer. But it was a wonderful week and now I've come back fully recharged.
There are many things I love about my new neighborhood...
New vegetation
Palm trees
Street art
I have a crush on whoever did this one
Hazy Sunsets
The thing I love most so far? The Berkeley Bowl. It's a grocery store two blocks from my apartment that has a ridiculous produce section. It can be overwhelming, actually, with six different types of any given fruit or veggie to choose from. Everything is incredibly cheap too. Last week I got 3 apples, 1 avocado, blueberries, strawberries, mixed greens, and 2 tomatoes for under $6. They also have the biggest olive bar I've ever seen. Shopping there is kind of an ordeal though, because no matter when you go, morning/afternoon/evening/weekeday/weekend, it's ALWAYS a zoo. Screaming children, carts everywhere, and long checkout lines. But it's totally worth it. And, if you stay calm and don't let people get to you, there's some great people watching.
