walking tour of Auckland

> spent the afternoon giving myself the walking tour of the downtown
> area. definetly feels a bit like sf. shopping galore, areas with
> little cafes and bars, mixed with a stunning waterfront, and green n
> lush parks tucked just off the main roads. pretty easy downtown to
> navigate.
>
> after a quick power nap, I booked myself on a "canyoning" tour for
> tomorrow. girl needs to get out of the city and get this party
> started right by rapelling downsome cliffs and waterfalls!
>
> venturing out again shortly to find myself a place to get some food,
> drink, and possibly a nice sidewalk seat to peoplewatch as Saturday
> night gets it's party on. I think this particular party girl stands
> a chance of making it till 9 or 10pm before jet lag puts me down for
> good! ha.
>
>
>

settled in

> beautiful day in Auckland... little overcast, but mid-70s, and warm
> when the sun peeks out. quite perfect. the city hostel is quite nice
> (good thinking last month when I figured I might want a private room
> for the first few days!), and within walking distance to the
> downtown area.
>

arrived!! now what to do?

> just got off the plane in nz. i was so sleepy yesterday after I shut
> the phone off and left work behind and went into decompression
> mode... that I managed to crash for most of the 12 hour flight.
> uncomfortable plane sleep, but sleep. the brain silence was nice.
> didn't open a book or single magazine.
>
> it only hit me in the final 20 minutes before landing that I would
> be on the ground and starting vacation. had to sit in the airport
> for a few min just to get my bearings, n figure out where I am going
> n what I am doing!!
>
> off to find the hostel, ditch my bags n explore a little bit!
> keeping phone off for the most part until I find myself an
> electrical converter to charge it. ha. the little details I totally
> forgot about. worst case, heather has one n will be here Monday.
> phone free for a few days sounds nice.
>
> Sent from my iPhone

packing... starting to see the finish line. (or is that the start gate?)

beer cozy? Yup, you made it to the "A" pile. who knows. one must be prepared. bouquet of sunscreen. 8 / 15 / 30 / 50. 50 for the tattoos. first time ever i have bought, much less used, that shit. still getting used to that idea. underwear, toothbrush, passport. flip flops. harry potter (yes, I have to finish this book from 2 vacations ago before I buy another book). wonder what heather is reading? wonder what i stand to inherit after we spend our first few days decompressing on the beach. in reality, it's gonna take me the first half a week to get through the trashy magazines I am going to buy at the airport. threw in a few extra mid-weather things. original packing scheme was all shorts and tank tops. weather only seems to be in the mid-70's, so I was allowed one more hoodie. might be a record for me. ONLY 2 hoodies. 1 zippie. 1 pullover. amazed at the amount of half-packed ziplock bags of traveling gear i have all over my house. quick mix and match of the gear and accessories. seems I am ready to go somewhere on a moments notice at all times. spontaneity. love it. although this trip has been on the books for a while, and we do have A LOT planned, i haven't had any time to get my head around it, so it feels really fresh, unknown and exciting. just the way i like it. 


not quite 1am, and the suitcase is closed. not bad. considering i didn't start packing until 11. 1 small suitcase. 1 small backpack. i am surely overpacked, but not too bad. 


clean the house, print my travel stuff out, and sleep could happen tonight. not much. but some. 


run to the finish line at work tomorrow... and out the door BY 3PM. Straight to the airport. Can't wait for that "i'm on vacation" moment to hit. when the bags are checked, security cleared. trashy magazines purchased... cold beer in hand before boarding. that's the moment. 

...less than 40 hours to go.

...have about 60 hours worth of work to do, and haven't packed. good times. great planning. no matter. ready to leave it all behind for three weeks!

...Count down is ON! T-minus 4 days till i leave for NZ.

this week is going to be a race to the finish line... but the finish line is OH SO SWEET! Thursday night I get on a plane headed to New Zealand for three weeks of VACATION. Can't wait. So needed. Summer. Toes in sand. Decompress.

As usual... In the chaos of the daily grind, I haven't had much time to really immerse in the fact that I am really going. Will be traveling with my friend Heather Landers. This will be her third time to NZ, and she has been fantastic dreaming up the course of our travels. Being my first time there, I am just so excited to explore. And explore is definitely on the agenda! We will be covering a lot of ground, and have planned the itinerary with a constant cycle or explore and adventure days, and travel days. hidden beaches, sea kayaking, glaciers, ww rafting, fjords, sailing, and a lot of driving from here to there. my favorite kinds of ADVENTURE.

will be blogging along the way... so check back often for updates! :)

Robin, round #3

Session #3 and the robin is really taking form and looking lovely! so exciting. it is fun to see the new work play with the work on my back. healing nicely, and colors really pop now that the red has gone down. 

Lovely visit! Sights seen. Time spent with Mom.

Monday October 19, 2009

Made it back to SF around 7pm, and had some time to relax back at my apartment and repack before heading to the airport for Mom's late night flight. It was a whirlwind 4 days, but I thoroughly enjoyed having Mom visit, and spending time catching up, and showing her around my home. :)  

Rainy Monday Morning & Big Sur

Monday October 19, 2009

Woke up to rain in Carmel Monday morning, and I was finally overcome with the cold that I had been ignoring for the past three days. Humph. Armed with a cup of tea, and pocket full of tissues, we braved the rain and drizzle, and explored the shops of Carmel. After we got our fill of shopping... we got back in the car and headed south once again on CA-1 towards Big Sur. The rain lifted enough for some spectacular views of the coastline, and photo opportunities! The farther south we drove, we hit the fog and rain once again, but it was just in time for a lunch stop at famous Big Sur restaurant, Nepenthe. Warm soup and sandwich hit the spot! http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/

Having reached our southern-most destination... we turned around, and headed back to the city.  

Carmel-by-the-Sea for the evening

Sunday October 18, 2009

After a long day of driving, eating, and absorbing the coast, we rolled into Carmel for the evening. Checked into a little Inn in town, and relaxed for a bit. Still half full from lunch, we rallied out of the Inn for a late dinner. For a sleepy and quiet town on a Sunday night, we were a little surprised that we had to wait for 45 minutes for a table at the little Italian restaurant... think it was just an excuse to send us to their wine bar next door for a bit! No matter. Lovely dinner and glass of wine topped off the night. 

Sunday Drive down the CA coast

Sunday, October 18, 2009

After a slow start leaving the city (SF women's marathon ran right through all the neighborhoods between my apartment and mom's B&B)... we hit CA-1, and wandered down the coast from Pacifica to Monterey. A little more overcast of a day, it was still a stunning drive. Taking our time, we stopped for an awesome seafood lunch just above Monterey, in Moss Landing at Phil's Fish Market. http://www.philsfishmarket.com/

Thoroughly stuffed, we continued on down the coast to Monterey. Walked around Cannery Row, checked out the bay, and did a little shopping. 

Saturday night - Teatro Zinzanni!

Saturday October 17, 2009

Saturday night we got gussied up, and went to see Teatro Zinzanni. Love, Chaos, & Dinner. Super fun dinner and show all rolled into one! Theater, song, acrobatics, comedy, so hard to describe... fabulous night of entertainment. http://love.zinzanni.org/

(Mom or Dad, can you scan the picture from the show and send it to me?)

Saturday Morning... Haight Street and Brunch.

Saturday October 17, 2009

We started Saturday morning much like Friday. Picked mom up, ditched the car by my apartment, and jumped on the train. This time our destination was Cole Valley and Haight street. Neighborhoods very central to the time I have lived and played in the city. This afternoon was about my neighborhoods and my people in the city. 

Not 5 minutes off the train we ran into Oana, her husband Adam and their 2 week old son Niko. Oana was my roommate for 7 years in SF. I was wonderful to see them... we have come a LONG way since meeting at 24 years old! 

Stroll through the neighborhood, and met up with a bunch of my SF (and former SF) crew for brunch at Blue Front on Haight street. Mom got to meet and spend a little time with some my peeps, Shannan & Nathaniel visiting from LA, Heather in from Tahoe, John Kim from Chicago, Geordie and Megan, Tom, and Wendy. And no Geordie, you can't email my mom. Some things are just off limits. 

After brunch, we continued to wander through the neighborhoods with Wendy. Did a walk-by of the page street victorian I lived in, and rounded out the afternoon with macroons at a cafe. 

Mom's Bonus!

Whenever I wonder where my over-working ethic comes from, I don't have to look too far. Mom have been busting her butt for the Town of Atkinson for years, but most recently as the Assistant to the Town Administrator. Problem being, they have blown through 3 TA's, leaving Mom to pick up the slack for long periods of time. It was very welcome news to hear that they took the time to acknowledge her hard work, and award her a bonus. Yea Mom! 

Late night Friday night... G's 40th!

Friday October 16, 2009

After a packed day in SF with mom, I dropped her back at her B&B... and headed out to Wazeima to make an appearance at Geordie's 40th B-Day party. Walked into the bar, and was greeted by many unexpected friend in from out of town, and kids and babies everywhere. Yup. That is how my crew rolls now! Babies in bars. It was a crazy reunion of the "old school" SF crew. Good times! So good to see everyone... 

Up to Marin for the afternoon / evening

Friday October 16, 2009

Quick pit-stop back at my place, and we jumped in the car to go see Kristin and the kids in Marin. It was an amazing warm and clear October day, so we took a few little detours to view the bridge from the headlands, and a drive through Sausalito. 

Spent a lovely warm afternoon at Kristin's house catching up with her and the kids... then headed to Ross for a spectacular dinner at a little French restaurant. Lingered over dinner into the evening outside. Love October in the Bay Area! 

(bummed I didn't take any pic's of Kris or the kids...)

Friday morning... CA Academy

Friday October 16, 2009

Friday morning we started out back in my sunset neighborhood. Gave her the 2-minute tour of my apartment, then jumped on the N-Judah, and headed to 9th / Irving.  Coffee and munchie stop at Arizmendi bakery (YUM cheese rolls!), and we walked into GG park to the Academy of Science. Spent the morning exploring the Academy, and caught the new planetarium show. Fun little intro the city. Lunch at Park Chow, and we caught the train back to my place. 

www.arizmendibakery.com

www.calacademy.org

www.chowfoodbar.com/park_location.html

Late-night arrival

Thursday October 15, 2009

Mom arrived late Thursday night (Oct 15th). Picked her up at the airport, and we headed to Mel's Drive-in in the city to get a late night bite before calling it a night. It had been a long brutal work week for me, and she had been traveling all day. Found a great little B&B on the other side of GG park in the sunset for her stay in SF. Great little gem! 5 minute drive across the park from my place, and close enough for her to hear the ocean. 

http://bbsf.com/InnDB/Content/ShowInn.asp?InnId=8&NumGuests=2

Mom comes to SF! Flashes me back to 11 years ago...

Hard to believe that I have lived in SF for nearly 12 years now. It has gone so fast, and so much has happened... but it is truly my home now. NH is and will always be my rock, but CA has opened up the world, and been so darn much fun! 

Mom came out to visit last weekend for the first time in 11 years. Having such flasbacks to the last time she was here. I had been living here for less than a year, 24 years old, still stumbling around clueless, a little (ok, very) deer-in-headlights. I had just barely moved into my first SF apartment (Post street, with a handsome hell-kitten named Miles) after couch surfing and traveling for 8 months (kate, joan, jess and steph built a lot of karma points for putting up with me on and off for that long!) . Made some of my first SF friends (Jodie, Oana), hadn't even met Jana or Geordie any of that crew yet!  I had just started "freelancing" working with Kelly, Dale, Deborah, Steph, Chris J, Chris E, and Wells Marketing... which I figured would be a decent way to make a few $$ before moving on to some other place, or heading back to NH to settle down. Ha. Who knew? It is awesome to think back, and still see the threads of so many of those people and places still in my life. 

Last visit, Mom and we toured around SF, hitting cable cars, North Beach, random restaurants on recommendation from others, bought my first business computer system, then headed up to wine country, cuz that's what you do in CA, right?! This time, it was fun to show her around the places that are my deeply rooted in my life now. Take the train from my house, walk through my neighborhoods, meet some of my friends who have become my SF family over the years, do a few unique things and explore the CA coast that I love! It was a full 4 days... 

Flashback to October 1998...

My Robin.

October 4, 2009. Session 1.