Sorry to have taken so long to write -- my roomie took her computer away with her for the weekend...

Thanks to a recommendation from Steve, on Friday we had a DELICIOUS lunch at Scoma's on Pier 47. I had the delight of ordering Roasted Whole Cracked Dungeness Crab, which for the unintiated, is a bowl with an assortment of crab parts (still in the shell) soaked in garlic, butter, and olive oil. YUM. They serve it with shell-crackers and a long thin fork, but there is no possible way to eat it politely, and so in no time I was so covered in garlic, butter and olive oil that I could not pick up my drink for the duration of the meal for fear of sling-shooting it out of my greasy hands. But the great thing about lobsters and crabs is that they make a meal not just a meal but a *process*, and so at the end of it you feel like you've really accomplished something.

I've also had some great wines: St. Francis, Kendall Jackson (a House family favorite), and Ironstone Chardonnays, as well as 2-Buck-Chuck -- a particular type of Merlot sold at Trader Joe's out here. It's produced by Charles Shaw, who had such a prolific vineyard year that he can afford to sell a really delicious Merlot at 2 bucks a pop (hence the nickname). It may be the only time in my early life where I could go buy a whole case.

The great thing about having Chad here for a long time was that he wanted to really see San Francisco, so see it we did. In addition to the things I've already listed, we went back to the wharf area to get a Ghiradelli sundae, explored the exploratorium (excellent good fun for all 5 senses), got to know Noe Valley pretty intimately, saw Finding Nemo at last ("Mine! Mine! Mine? Mine!") as well as Pirates of the Caribbean (quite funny, actually!), bought Skecher's rollerskates (4 wheelers, baby -- on sale for the ridiculously low price of 2 pairs for $35) and SKATED through much of Golden Gate Park (hard work -- but worth it) where we experienced the rose gardens and the lakes and ponds, checked out some italian food at North Beach (where the Jazz festival is coming up this Wednesday through the weekend) and walked through Chinatown, watched "Hero" on dvd with Leslie (unbelievably gorgeous cinematography, with a style and storyline not unlike Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon -- rent it if you can, it's an escape unlike any other) after walking around her neighborhood a bit, saw Chad's friend play in a band in Berkeley, and basically did a lot of walking, talking, eating, and exploring.

After he left, I also went to the 25th annual Garlic Festival in Gilroy -- the most delicious day you'll spend anywhere, at least until the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin festival -- where we sampled everything from pasta to kettle corn to ice cream -- that's right, ice cream -- flavored with Garlic!! Gilroy is south of S.F. so it was a whopping 104 degrees. We started sagging pretty quickly, though the occasional fruit smoothie and bowl of shaved ice resurrected us every now and then. They had great t-shirts, mostly along the lines of "eat, drink and stink," but we all wanted to save our cash for food, and it was well worth it. (Steve and Mom -- you need to time a visit for the festival next year. It's your kind of shindig.) The cool bonus to going to the festival was that Vida Long, one of my Wes teammates and good friends and a native Washington Stater, happened to be driving up from a visit to L.A., so she met us there and then followed us home. I got to spend most of this morning walking around Haight street with her -- perhaps one of the last key areas in San Fran that I haven't visited yet -- wacky, fun shops. I didn't buy anything -- buying's for people who have jobs! -- but I certainly know where to go to shop from now on.

In small world news: while waiting for the other half of our party to show up at Finding Nemo, I ran into none other than Bear Witherspoon, an old friend from Rumsey (grade school). The last time I saw was in EIGHTH GRADE, and to his credit, he recognized me and came over to talk to me. I'm hoping to have a meal with him some time this week...

It's been a really fun July, but now that I'm on my own again, this week and all of August is all business. I have some great leads, and I hope to have some interviews lined up by the end of this week. Take care!

At laaaaaaaaaaaaaaast, my love, at laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaast, my car is back. I drove her home and she seems fine. The nice thing is they cleaned and vacuumed her (sorely needed post-road trip); the not nice thing is that there was additional damage. They are going to send me the final bill in the mail, but I already know there was at least $300 more damage. I said it before and I'll say it again: deductibles are a great thing.

Now to get my CA license and registration...I'm sure they can't WAIT to have me as an official driver in this state!!

Good news: Laura, my roomie, and Leslie, one of my best friends, have decided to move in together -- in a separate apartment somewhere nearby. This means James, my good friend from Wes and roomie from last summer, can move into Laura's old room and we can (hopefully) take over the lease come September. I really love this house and neighborhood and James and I live together really well, so I'm really excited at the prospects. The only thing I don't know is if our third roommate, Emi, is staying or going too; but either way it will work out. Emi, by the way, was also born on June 15th. (If any of you were wondering just how many geminis it takes to change a light bulb...)

Now to find a job. Prospects are good!

Hello all. I've had quite a busy few days -- Chad is here so we've been hitting the more touristy side of town. We walked around the Mission pretty thoroughly the first day (we almost bought roller skates but they didn't have our size). Yesterday we hit the MOMA -- the exhibits were amazing -- and Fisherman's Wharf, and then met up with our friends at the Pac Bell Stadium for a Giants game. (They whupped the Colorado Rockies 8-4.) There was a moment of frustration there when we were trying to get from the Wharf to the Stadium and there was not a cab or bus in sight, but in a moment of divine benevolence, what should appear but a pedi-cab! I can't remember if I've ever been on one before, but it was probably the most ideal means of transportation in downtown San Fran late rush hour congestion. The game was great fun -- can't beat a ball park frank. No home runs though, which means we're going to have to go back. ;)

We're going out dancing tonight and we hope to visit Alcatraz at some point soon, plus dig up some serious seafood. Any suggestions from SF veterans re the latter will be greatly appreciated...

Today is a gorgeous, 75+ degree day. A block up from where I live, someone has a planter full of tiny flowers so ultra bluey-purple that you cannot look at them in direct sunlight. Just across the street from them, someone has painted a giant turquoise hippo (who closely resembles William, the Mascot of the Met) above a garage (along with a toucan and some other animals). I am definitely in love with San Francisco right now.

But if I am indeed in love with SF, then I have to admit I had a torrid affair with Pajaro Dunes this weekend. The beach house was amazing -- perfectly situated and suited for the 26 or so of us who descended upon it. It was a dune away from the beach in the back, and 100 yards from the sand volleyball court in front, with its own hot tub. (I was literally in the top 3 of the most frequent hot-tubbers.) Mornings were foggy and cool, days were hot and clear, and nights were just the kind of cold to wear a sweater comfortably. The first night, despite staying up so late that all beds and viable floor space were taken, I was more than happy to camp out on the porch with two of my friends and watch the sky lighten in blue and then gray scale stages. (The second night we snagged some of the beds.) I met new people and got to see people whom I've always wanted to see more of. There was dancing, singing, cooking, grilling, and continuous good spirits and celebration. Alexis and I built a totalitarian government and a sea turtle out of sand and detritus. There was even a spate of foot massages. Not a single negative event occured. Well, arguably, there was a dead sea-lion on the beach, which made a few people sad, but being the arm-chair zoologist that I am, I was thrilled at the chance to observe one up close. (It was not yet in a real state of decay and did not smell, so don't get grossed out.) If anything, the weekend ended too soon...

...but most of us, instead of splitting up, stopped at an In & Out Burger (I must say, I was a first timer and it was ALL that it was cracked up to be -- the fresh ingredients are unbeatable) on the way back to Berkeley, and then played volleyball in the park until the sun went down.

I suppose it's not really fair of me to have a vacation within a vacation, but I am no less grateful for such a fun, escapist, hitch-less weekend with my closest friends. ;)

Ultraviolet flowers to you all, and good day.

Sorry -- I didn't realize how long it's been since I updated. These three days have been good -- I've been getting some info on local banks and wireless calling plans, doing a lot of walking around, and keeping Lexi and Leslie company on various tasks. To my K&T cronies -- the best bank around according to my research is that esteemed and honorable bank right above you. (You understand why I'm being cryptic -- the internet being public). I'm going today to set up an account!

On a different note, I am reading the 5th Harry Potter book -- it's pretty good, in that its style and tone and general set-up is very consistent with the first four. (Thanks Leslie.) I am still reading Bill Bryson's Mother Tongue -- a GREAT book about the English language, if you are a linguaphile at all -- factual without being dull, lots of great trivia and hilarious idiosyncracies -- but I needed a good story to get my momentum back.

We are preparing for a weekend get away at a beach house that a group of us is renting -- it should be excellent fun, and I am looking forward to being around the ocean. Which is not to say that I am at the point where I need a break from the city, but I always love a good jaunt in the natural world. So I will most likely not be updating this again until Sunday or Monday. The weather, by the way, is gorgeous here -- I hope the heat wave has broken out there...

Today was the first day that I didn't wake up cringing. The moon is waxing, and it's time to move on. I went to the garage today where they provided me with an estimate: $2,400.00 Thank heavens for deductibles. I also heard from the other girl's insurance company today, which means this accident is pretty much wrapped up. I just have to get my car back -- their estimate for that is the 18th. That is, if Subaru gets the parts to them by the end of this week. He showed me underneath the wheel and there's more damage than initially met the eye -- metal folded back, damage to the bumper, stuff like that. But they think they can iron out the metal that's wrinkled under the quarter panel instead of having to replace it.

Funniest moment today: I went to the DMV and asked the lady at the first desk, "Um, hi, I'm here to fill out a traffic incident report and to pick up a driver's manual..." The look on her face was perfect.

I think today I am finally starting to get inklings of falling in love with San Fran, but I don't want to jinx that. A definite perk, however, is eating a huge, good meal and then ALWAYS walking it off. Living on an incline is the perfect anti-guilt.

The rest of Thursday was almost therapeutic. I calmed down and got some other little things done until my friends called, and then we picked up one of my favorite people from my Wesleyan class, Duke, from the airport and then went out dancing. THAT was what I needed, because I was still all clutched up inside, and we danced for 4 hours straight. Then yesterday, for the fourth, we went and played volleyball in a local park and then went to a barbeque at another one of my Wes friend's house, where I got to see even more people I hadn't seen in a while, while eating grilled corn and s'mores. I decided to leave a bit early because my roommate Laura was leaving, and but it worked out because as it turned out, we could see most of the fireworks at Pier 39 from our doorstep. We're on a slight incline and we could see them just over the horizon, and as always, they were colorful and shimmery. Happy 4th to you all!

So the first thing to tell you is that there were absolutely no personal injuries whatsoever. The second thing to tell you is that the preceding sentence is there because I got in an accident today. And the third thing to tell you is that my car is not badly hurt, and to reiterate, neither am I or the other driver.

I went to the Dept of Parking and Traffic today to get my temporary parking permit, and I got it with no hitches and no waiting in line, since I went a half an hour before they opened and was the first in line. So I left, but turned the wrong direction, away from the street I needed to get to, to get home. So I came to an intersection where I could turn left (so I could go around the block and reorient myself in the right direction), but there was also a soft left to get on the freeway, and one lane going straight. And I panicked and waited for the traffic in the "hard" left lanes to clear so I could make the hard left from the soft left lane. And then I did. And then there was someone I didn't see, who hit me solidly in the left rear wheel. And that tore her bumper off, and remarkably, only hurt my left rear wheel -- it didn't even scratch the exterior casing. (Although, it did wrinkle the casing inside behind the wheel, which is attached to that whole rear quarter paneling, so they're going to have to take the bumper off and straighten that out.) I had mostly completed the turn at that point and everybody else was out of the way, so we were both able to pull over with no repercussory damage or danger.

She was young (27) and shaking and we both apologized and exchanged info. Her friend from work happened to be driving by a minute later and stopped and helped her reattach her bumper (he had bumper stickers for the magazine they work for -- "Juxtapoz" -- which they used to tape her bumper up so she could get to work. He then stuck one on my rear window. I figured it was a fair recompense for what had happened, which is a pretty funny way to take advantage of a situation. But I figure as well that it will always remind me to chill out on the road -- false panic is worse than getting lost.) I called USAA right away. I'm pretty sure I'm at fault so I'm pretty sure my rates are going to go up. But it was only a matter of time -- I am, of course, a country Bambi in a big city. And I'd never been in an accident before. So the law of averages sharpened its teeth on those factors. USAA was really helpful; they gave me a place to call near where I live. (I also, after the claim, changed my insurance to CA insurance. So I am one step closer to being able to register my car.) The tow truck driver came remarkably fast -- literally, within 5 minutes -- and told me that the intersection where this happened is infamous locally for accidents. Which made me feel a little bit better. He was also from Grenich, CT, even, though he moved when he was 8. (He loves the city, he gave me the low-down on how to find my way around and other insider tips.) He also told me that USAA is the best insurance out there and never to lose it, and that the auto place he was taking me to was definitely top 10 in the city, maybe even top 5. And he was right, because they were all remarkably nice, too. They even gave me a ride home even though there's a convenient bus route that goes from there to here.

They guesstimated it to be around $1700.00; my deductible is $500.00 (and I do have that, so don't worry). But it's going to take some time. At least 24 hours before USAA gets the forms to them, then they have to send an estimate and have me come approve it, then they have to get the parts from Subaru, and then it will take 5-7 days after that. So it could take up to 2 weeks. They guarantee their work for life, though, which is nice. Not having a car in the city is also no big deal, because 3 of my friends (one of which is my roommate) have cars and there's great public transportation anyway. But I am kicking myself for that dumb onslaught of panic, for that sense of "no one's watching" and the results. I suppose it's not very bad as reality checks go -- no injuries, no major damage, with the benefit of being humbled on the road and remembering not to sweat the small stuff. And that added motivation to get a job fast.

I am exhausted and tremulous, so I'm going to go. But that's the news on my second day here in San Francisco. Drive safely...

So I got into to San Fran yesterday with no problem. Goodness, was it ever nice to unload my car of all that stuff, and then to find that it wasn't all that much stuff such that it would clog up my room. Said room, by the way, is big and sunny. The whole apartment is nice -- a kitchen overlooking a neighboring garden, a big living room, a washer and dryer, off the main streets so no rush hour traffic or parking issues...if Laura does decide to leave in September, I may just stay. But she may just stay too, so maybe I'll look locally. But anyway, that's putting the cart before the horse; I need to find a job. I have some leeway in my bank account, so no worries. I believe I'll be fine for all of July, at least, and I shouldn't even need that much time. I saved all the other listings on the job engines that looked interesting to me, so I have lots of leads.

I am DEFINITELY suffering from shell-shock -- I've visited NYC and Boston and Chicago hundreds of times, it seems, and stayed for whole weeks sometimes, but living here is such a different story. I have no guide, no one leading me by the nose and showing me stuff, the way you do when you visit someone. Though 4 of my friends took me out to dinner last night, so I am by no means isolated. I really, really like feeling like Bambi -- it's a regaining of innocence and newness and adventure that most people don't get to re-experience so keenly after childhood. I have so much to do -- change addresses on accounts, get parking permits and my CA license, get a job, get used to the neighborhood -- but that's really the only downside, a downside that should be gone almost entirely in the next week, completely in the next month. Two months from now, I will be completely settled, and that is exciting and inspiring.

I will be celebrating the 4th of July with some Wesleyan friends -- it will be quite a reunion, people I haven't seen in ages, people who live here, people who are visiting -- and then the next weekend we are all going to a beach house. So I'm trying to get the business side done ASAP so I can enjoy myself more thoroughly.

Happy 4th to you all and stay in touch!! I should be able to email more consistently in about a week.