dripping with passion

simple pleasures are what the good life is made of. i got a bed two days ago. i wake up in the morning literally giddy that i'm not on the floor and i can see out the window. when i realize i'm in san francisco i sigh dramatically and smile. on saturday i met ellen at dolores park and we went to the party on block 18 street fair. a band consisting of a ukulele, a trombone and a kazoo played quirky music and the road was bursting with life. for lunch i had watermelon with chile, mint and feta cheese. neat! i saw ashton kutcher at lunch at the ferry building on wednesday. seriously, what a thrill! for family home evening, i went to santa cruz and met my cousin and his family at the beach boardwalk. it was absolutely splendid. vintage rides lit up with big colorful bulbs, one dollar hot dogs and roasted corn, swinging over the sea and sand, cotton candy and chocolate dipped ice cream cones. loved it. today i drove down lombard street on the way home, just for kicks and giggles. me...

i am in love with my life. which frankly seems a little weird considering that i have thrown myself into a really foreign place and a very unknown future. but it makes me feel so empowered to feel happy living this dream, on my own. i somehow feel triumphant in my loneliness and independence. knowing my personality thrives off the affirmation of friends and social interaction, i just find it invigorating and exciting that my heart is so glad traversing the city on my lonesome. yes, i'm hankering to have a job and working hard on the search, but i have to admit it has been really nice to be able to explore a bit without a schedule in the glorious weather heaven has blessed this city with the past week. i am happy! i am a bit surprised to be so happy! i am so happy to be happy. last night i noticed the sun blazing up in the west driving home, so i decided to take the long way home and stop at the cliffs above baker beach to watch the sunset. i sat there and let the salty air play wit...

on tuesday around noon, i sent off a few job applications and, with a sigh, looked at the big bay window in my bedroom. a tickle of delight arrived when i realized i could see the ocean! the clouds had parted - even in my neighborhood! immediately, i knew i had to get out of the house, and within 90 seconds i was in my car set to discover the scenic drive i had noticed on my sf map. i rolled along the streets of this dazzling city and the day turned out to be out-of-this-world splendid. i guess in times like that i should be grateful that i don't have a job - if the sun's out i can gleefully go enjoy! the scenic drive brought me to the top of twin peaks, through haight-ashbury and golden gate park, down sunset blvd and up the great highway along the coast, into the presidio and down to baker beach, and then along the marina stocked with boats gleaming in the sunshine. it was a glorious-beyond-glorious day. and in several perfect moments, when my eyes beheld a vista overflowing ...

...the sun came out in san francisco. on saturday i met up for brunch with two of my dear friends from wellesley, josephine and ellen. it was so good to reconnect and enjoy yummy food and right as we were paying the bill, the clouds parted and a glorious beam of sunshine landed right smack dab on our table! we decided to revel in the blue sky by getting bread pudding at tartine (san fran's equivalent of nyc's magnolia bakery?) and hanging out on the grass at dolores park. we chatted and people watched and enjoyed the general merriment of the atmosphere. hurrah! hurrah! the sun came out! on my way home as i drove up a (very san francisco) steep windy hill, i caught a glimpse in my rear-view mirror of the incredible view behind me. i immediately pulled over, parked, ran across the street, and squealed to myself at the beauty of the sight. it's the first time since i've been here that i've had a clear view of the bay. it was literally breathtaking - and the picture jus...

a few days ago, as i was making my way through the electric busy streets of downtown san francisco, i got a text from a dear friend, sharing an uplifting quote.  "when you push against the boundaries of experience into the twilight of the unknown, the lord will strengthen you. the beauty of your eternal soul will begin to unfold." -richard g. scott i love that. and it was just what i needed in that moment, feeling like a little lost lamb in a sea of metropolis. i believe what elder scott said is true, and i'm holding onto that hope and assurance as i navigate my way through a new life. because for me, it seems there is no other way to live than consistently pushing against those boundaries of experience, because the twilight of the unknown is so much more sparkly and exciting than the static of what's comfortable and the same.  the truth is, i really really like it here. my spirit keeps whispering to my mind that i am in the right place and that for now, this ...

i've heard this quote 10 times in the last 2 days: "the coldest winter i ever saw was the summer i spent in san francisco" -mark twain. clearly mark had never spent a winter in boston or southern england, but still, the man has a point. it is foggy and frigid in the city. i live in san francisco. my house is in an uber cool neighborhood, has stained glass windows, a bright yellow vinyl couch, hardwood floors throughout and pretty vintage doorknobs. two of my roommates are boys - that's a new one! my roommates are hardly ever home. most of them are super artsy. i can see the ocean from my bedroom window. my bathroom is tiled in all vivid purple and the floor of the shower is tiled in a burgundy flowery design. i think that's my favourite thing about the house. the hill i live on is steep. at the bottom of said hill is ocean avenue, lined with shops. this morning i took a run down there and happened upon a great little mediterrean sandwich shop. the owner called eve...

the long, lethargic, glittering days at bear lake are over. this morning i said goodbye to the last of my siblings to leave with tears on the lips of my eyes and realized this crazy era of family pandemonium, beach-bumming and sunshine has really ended. we had such a satisfying and full month together and everyone is excited to get back to their homes and lives, but it is still a bit sad to say goodbye. i adore my family with an exquisite, unique love. now, for me, a new life is ahead. i am in the peculiar town of reno, nevada. my wonderful, wonderful sister-in-law anita is driving out to san fran with me, and i am so grateful i get to embark on this journey with her. we drove for eight hours today though what really seemed like the most continuously barren landscape in the world and are excited to hit lush california in the morning. you know how when you approach a big transition in life, you try to imagine or picture the future and what it will be like? i have been doing j...