why is there no really good, sharpity sharp sharp, extra sharp cheddar cheese out here, hmm????

all these californians, man… they love their organic goat cheese and their “jack” but completely miss the boat on the x-tra sharp cheddar.  same with buffalo mozz, while i’m at it.

the reason i am posting this is because i am craving some hot buttered rum right now with a nosh of sliced honeycrisp apple and some super sharp chedd.  MMmm.

But the corgi is so delightful

And since we have to spend the whole day shopping anyways

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain*

*this is an actual song I was just singing to Linus, to the tune of Let it Snow.  I sing to him all the time, normally horribly silly songs I have made up on the spot.  I also sing to (and dance with) the cat.

Something about California weather just doesn’t speak to me during the holidays as much as snow in NYC!  It is pouring rain right now!

Undeterred by the rain, we are off for a super-fun day of the following errands:

-going to the hardware store to buy PVC pipe and caps to make Marshmellow Shooter Guns for my nephews out here for Christmas

- the pharmacy

- to SF Circus Center to register for my classes

- to my Aunt and Uncle’s in Pleasanton to say hello

- to meet up with my Cousin’s and their kids in Pleasanton to also say hello.  Their kids are so sweet and loooove Linus- we have deemed it “going to see his Fan Club” because they go nuts playing with him when we visit and actually call us asking “Can Linus come over?” (never want to see us, only the dog- lol!).

- to Target to stock up on boring household stuff- all that stuff you need when you move to a new place: lightbulbs, handsoap, bathmats, etc

- to the grocery store for general shopping and also getting ingredients for Christmas cookies (yay)

So yeah, noneventful weekend with some majorly snooze-inducing errands.  Decided not to go skiing yesterday and instead spent the day driving all over and buying furniture and picked up two desks, a kitchen table, and a bench so now we have places to sit and study in the apartment!  Hurrah.  Now all we need is a couch, really, and then this place will actually be a home. 

We did get in a small mini-hike yesterday, walking up to the top of Twin Peaks.  The reason we did this was because I saw on the city map our landlord gave us it was labeled “Christmas Tree Point” and so I wanted to check it out on our way home from getting a desk to see if there actually was a big Christmas tree at the top.  There WAS NO CHRISTMAS TREE at the top of Christmas Tree Point.  WTF?!?!?  Earl’s theory is that it’s called that because from the top “the city is lit up like a Christmas Tree.”  Well, fine.  And, it was pretty.  But, I am mad to have been mislead by your metaphors, San Francisco!!  It is freaking Christmas season, let’s be LITERAL here.  There should be a freaking Christmas Tree on the top of Christmas Tree Point, dammit!  Maybe next year I will hike up there myself hauling up a Christmas Tree and bring ornaments and decorate it.  So take THAT.

Tangentially related, I have a confession to make, and my excuse is that it kind of sucked being busy with “moving” stuff this year instead of going nuts over Christmas like I usually do.  To give be cringe-inducingly honest,  I did not get my Christmas cards out!!!  I got started on them, but it was taking super long and seemed so overwhelming and when I couldn’t find the stamps in piles of unpacked papers I gave up.  Then by the time I got started on them again, it was already too late to mail them out, so I didn’t.   Man, I feel so lame looking back over that admission!!  Agh, I suck.    But, I vow to send out extra-super-special cards next year, and really obnoxiously early, to make up for it.  This has been, I believe, the first year I HAVEN’T sent out Christmas Cards in about 10 years.  Boo to a poor personal Christmas Card Performance for 2008.

Man, January 6th can’t get here fast enough!

Hard to pick out a favorite moment, the entire thing is awesome, but in particular I like:

- the two guys flipping at :44

- the guy at 1:22- holy cow!  I actually dated a guy in college who could do this, kind of.

- the couple going through the ring at 2:41

- 3:50!  Silly but looks super-fun

- aerial silks girl at 5:15, holy splits!

I’m sure it takes years and years until you get to the skill level of anyone featured in this, but still… so neat!

One of my favorite Christmas songs!  The version with John Denver is the best, particularly when they talk about the figgy pudding. So funny “we won’t leave until we get some, we won’t leave until we get some!” heh.

Kermit: All right, Guys, ready? Go!

(Chorus)
All: We Wish you a merry christmas
we wish you a merry christmas
we wish you a merry christmas
and a happy new year!

Gondo: Now bring us some figgy pudding, now
Miss Piggy: Piggy Pudding?
Gondo: No, FIGGY pudding, its made with figs
Miss Piggy: Oh
Gondo: and Bacon
Miss Piggy: What?

(chorus)

We won’t go (won’t go) until we get some (won’t go)
We won’t go (won’t go) until we get some (won’t go!)
We won’t go (wooon’t gooo!) until we get some (won’t go!!!!!!!)
Now bring it (that’s better) right here

(chorus 2x)

Here is version #1 (just the audio)

And version #2 with the singing/dancing muppets (but no figgy pudding).  I do like how he gets Spargus to dry the dishes.  Too bad Linus isn’t a muppet dog

Man, with the move and getting settled in I am behind of everything these days, from mailing Christmas cards to getting pictures off my camera to writing posts on this blog!

But, we do have a Christmas tree and stockings, so I thought I would update and share some photos.

Oh, also something exciting is going on!  Tonight is Earl’s office’s holiday Christmas Party, which I am excited for.  Mainly because I just snagged the cutest dress to wear tonight at Bloomindales for $88, marked down from $198!  I used to HATE Bloomingdales in NYC with a passion- too tightly packed and too many aggro-fashionistas and MILFs throwing elbows and trampling you down to get to the goods.  And the sales people and everyone that worked there were so freaking snobby. This one in SF, at least this morning, seemed a lot more open and mellow.  Maybe the recession?  I luff this dress because it’s snuggly and I can wear it to lots of other things- skiing, dinner, hanging out with family… not just a sheer “cocktail” dress which would wear once and stay in the back of the closet.

Here’s our tree:

Decorating the Tree

Yes, we ended up sticking with the stupid fake-fiber optic one from Duane Reade.  *sigh*  We decided since we were still getting unpacked and organized here, it didn’t really make sense to go out and get a tree, a stand etc etc when we don’t even have a couch yet.  So, I was a little bummed because I wanted to get a GIANT GORGEOUS REAL ONE but, I guess I can save that for next year.  Besides, our silly plastic tree looks pretty cute after it was all done up.

Linus wears an ornament

My favorite ornament- little wren

The final product:

It's got a little Charlie-Brown thing going on with the top bending over

Stockings on the fireplace. Since this photo I’ve grabbed one more for the newest addition to our clan (Linus).

poor Linus, no stocking

You can see our tree from the street! Not bad for a little $25 plastic jobber You can also see EVERYTHING ELSE from the street. We need some curtains!

street view

Doesn’t look as nice as my fire escape did last year in NYC, but… hey, we’re getting there. And I’m thinking of this as a warm up for next year, where we can really go to town.

Finally going through the last two weeks of road trip photos and uploading them.

Here’s a teaser, taken in Northern Utah near Dinosaur National Park:

Linus Grin

Been here about two weeks.  Some things I’ve noticed about San Fransisco:

• Most important point first!  The pizza is much worse!  Off the charts worse.  Believe me when I tell you we have TRIED to find good pizza here, to no avail.  Every single place we’ve ordered from has been “meh” compared to a generic NYC-thin slice.
• Along those lines, not all that many places deliver food!  WTF?!  Although we are technically right in the exact geographic center of San Francisco, there seems to only be two cuisines we can get hot and quickly to our door- Indian and Ethiopian.  Whooo.  ::eyeroll::
• Homeless people: Less dangerous, but more annoying.  In NYC, the homeless people would randomly stab you on the subway.  They’ve always got that crazy/dangerous thing to watch out for.  Here, they are more common, much more prominent and in your face, and more annoying.  They will bug you for money, however, the majority of them do seem to be mentally stable.  Are they just lazy, peace-loving people who choose to be homeless?  Pleasant weather and generous benefits put some weight behind that theory.  Until recently, homeless have gotten $350 a month, (in cash) from the government.
• Public transportation sucks.  Never thought I would actually MISS the NYC subway, but I do.
• Not as many people pick up dog poop.  Compared to NYC, it’s all over the streets, and completely disgusting.  This bulletpoint ALONE makes me wish Giuliani would run for Mayor of San Francisco (and I am a longtime Giuliani detractor).  Because of dogpoop everywhere, I have enacted a “no shoes on in the apartment” mandate.
• My oh-my, are the people that live here healthy.  San Franciscans make New Yorkers seem like fat slobs in comparison.  You RARELY see a fat person walking around on the street.  And when I’m running in Golden Gate Park, which I have been doing most mornings, hardly anyone is huffing and puffing along like myself.  The women prance along like svelte gazelles.  And muscle-y guys troupe quickly along like Marines that are coming to kick your ass.
• Related: our freaking local grocery store DOES NOT CARRY DORITOS.  Okay, okay, you got me.  I wanted a cool-ranch fix yesterday and the afternoon found me in there looking for some.  Well… it was literally vegan rice-crackers, Annie’s organic wheat things, and bunch of brands of healthy tortilla chips (no tostitos, either).  They didn’t even have PRETZELS!!  The most unhealthy thing they had in there was Kettle-cooked organic potato chips.  I settled for tortilla chips and humus.
• The organic/healthy/save the earth thing everywhere here is getting a little preachy and annoying.  At our local coffee shop they yell at you if you do not separate and properly dispose of your cup in FOUR separate recycling bins (1 to dump left over coffee, 1 for the sleeve, 1 for the lid, and 1 for the actual cup).  Are you kidding me?! I just want to throw the fucking thing out and get the heck out of here.  Argh.
• The service industry does not care about customer service.  Service at most/all establishments is slow and put-upon.  “Laid back” does not really cover it.  You feel like it’s a big hassle to give anywhere your business.  Take this with a grain of salt, because this is compared to NYC, where people jumped all over to wait on you and service was generally impeccable.  They had to be.  There was just too much competition.
• Many, many, many of the eating establishments here are order at the counter and serve yourself.  Table service?  Extremely rare.
• Yes, yes, we have to talk about the weather, don’t we.  It’s so gorgeous here, I am actually getting a TAN.  In DECEMBER.  I went running today in a t-shirt and shorts.  It’s great.
• While we’re stating the obvious: hills.  EVERYWHERE.  I recall how in NYC I would often trek 2 or more blocks completely out of the way in order to avoid a hill.  Here, they are twice the size, triple the steepness and completely fucking unavoidable.
• Much better hiking/access to outdoors.  This weekend we’re going on a hike up Mt. Tam and it’s only thirty minutes out the door! Nice.  Skiing this winter looks to be just three hours away, compared to 5 or 6 in NYC.
• Related:  Having a garage to park your car in, below your apartment, is really sweet.
• Probably because so many people have the above- it seems like a lot more people living in the city drive around on errands/whatnot to get places than walk or take public transit.  Directions to most activities ALWAYS includes a mention of parking, which you would rarely get in NYC.  Attention city planners:  This means Americans will only give up there cars and resort to public transit when they are utterly forced to, like in Manhattan.
• I had this big rant on friendliness, although I am reluctant to share because maybe I too-quickly judged.  However, it seems like people AREN’T as friendly here.  Sure, they’re helpful, they’ll give you directions, but… that’s the end of it.  In NYC someone can tell you “fuck youse,” you respond “up yours,” yet your paths cross the next day and they invite to share stories over beers.  Here… not so much.   It kinda feels like The Seattle Freeze.  I don’t know.  Hopefully this will go away over time.  Once I stop being the Single Fat Person in the Entire City maybe all the skinnies will suddenly warm up.  And, how could I forget, better start recycling or I shall continue to be shunned.

So yeah.  I’m having a few growing pains in this new city, but should get over it soon.  The transition from New Hampshire to NYC exactly seamless if I recall.  And as Kermit tells us in the below (awesome!!) video, there are plenty of things about Manhattan that suck big time, too.  I may be romanticizing NYC simply because I don’t live there anymore.

Well, I found out what my birthday present is going to be!  (because I asked specifically for it).

Are you ready????

Did the title give it away??

Any last minute guesses?

CIRCUS SCHOOL!!!

That’s right.  As of Janurary 6th, two nights a week I will be going here:

And I will be learning to do this:

Hurrah hurrah hurrah

I’ll be taking two aerial skills classes, which are:

1.)

Aerial conditioning
Prerequisites: Aerial Conditioning – none
Advanced Aerial Conditioning – instructor’s permission
This class is for beginning students, or for students who want to excel in static trapeze, flying trapeze, rope or Spanish web. Students will build the strength, control and flexibility essential for achievement on aerial apparatus. Classes will include warm-up, floor stretching, strength training, time in the air on rope and static trapeze, and homework assignments.

and 2.)

Intro to aerial skills & static trapeze
Prerequisites: Intro to Aerial Skills: none
Intro to Aerial Skills is designed to build strength, flexibility and introduce students to basic aerial apparatus, such as the static trapeze and vertical rope.

The classes run two nights a week for three months.  Then hopefully in April when the next semester begins, I will graduate to straight up rope and potentially also aerial silks, which is my ultimate goal (depending on how far I progress in these two classes, I guess you can’t pre-requ your way into aerial silks you have to be given permission by the instructor because they are apparently stretchy and harder than rope).

WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  January 6th can’t get here fast enough.

Here is a bonus aerial silk video, which is crazy hypnotic to watch:

A shout-out to my friend Shannon, who, upon hearing the news deadpanned with perfect comedic pitch: “enjoy the circus.  don’t run away and join it.”  hee

leaving the windows open on cool San Francisco nights.  Reading together in bed for hours, engrossed in our respective books*, while snuggled under a blanket, with our feet touching under the sheets.

Just a quick hello and an update. I got my laptop back from HP! And it is refurbished, (for free!), with a new motherboard (WHY did it need a new motherboard when it was only a month old?).  I also got a new phone from Verizon, also covered, that needed new “software.”  The verizon store was PACKED with people all crazed to buy the new Storm.

We put up our Christmas tree and it looks wonderful in the big window, I will put up some photos tomorrow.  I have some many pics on my camera which aren’t uploaded that the memory card is completely full.  Ack!  Very behind on blogging.

In the meantime, I have been learning the city in the style of a tentative housecat… slowly exploring, venturing out into our neighborhood further and further each day.

*me- Elizabeth, a bio of Elizabeth Taylor, E- Finite-Dimensional Vector Spaces…heh, my reading seems quite the fluff piece held up to linear algebra.

so cute!

whattudog, whattudog

This had me dancing around in my socks with Linus