Being Thankful in the Month of November

I've been seeing people post one thing that they're thankful for each day on Facebook and while I like that idea, I'd rather do it on here. And since I've missed a few days, I have some catching up to do. So here goes for the first 5 days of November.

Nov. 1 - Thankful for my family

Without my family, namely my parents, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, I would not be the person I am today. They have been my support system all along and I'm recognizing pieces of my parents' personality in myself as I grow up more. Which is an amazing thing. My parents are wonderful, loving, hard working people who were smart enough to raise their daughters in the same style they were raised; love with lessons. I love my entire family and am so thankful that I was born into it. I wish I could see my far flung extended family more often, but such is life that we're far away. 

Nov. 2 - Thankful for my friends 

If you're a friend of mine, you'll know that the words "I love you" come out of my mouth pretty easily, mostly in your direction. And that's because I mean it. Either I've known you a long time and you have become such a close friend that I consider you family or I've known you a short time and our friendship is growing. When my family moved out to California, we didn't have a lot of family around and we found a close knit group of friends that became our family. I've mentioned them before and they continue to be a part of "my family" that I miss so much at home. They've welcomed my family into their lives and influenced my life in ways that some of them may not even realize. So to all my "family", I love you so much and miss you all so much. Whether you're in Italy, England, California, Arizona or New Jersey, I love you :). 

Nov. 3 - Thankful for my job(s)

I am fortunate enough to have found an amazing internship at an agency that is known for being a great place to work. I am finding my purpose in life and contributing to a company that I believe in. I am also very fortunate enough to have worked as a waitress at a restaurant steadily for the last 4 years. Yes, I know I complain about it more often than not, but I really am grateful that I have it. There are plenty of people out there today, especially today, who can't even find one job and I have the fortune of having two. 

Nov. 4 - My health 

Even though I probably could have kept much better care of myself over the last few years, I am healthy and happy. I recently made steps to take better care of myself and am feeling better than before. I am fortunate enough to live a life where I can afford to join a gym and take those steps of taking better care of myself. Also, my mental health is good. I am happy and in a good state of mind (even though my friends tell me I worry more than I need to). 

Nov. 5 - My car

Yes, mom and dad, I'm VERY thankful for my car. I came to drive my car at a stressful part of this year and the circumstances of me coming to own this particular car were a major part of my stress. But I am thankful for it and the skills that it takes to drive it. I always knew I would eventually learn how to drive a manual, I just didn't think it would be this type of car. And now that I drive to work, I am doubly thankful for it. Long gone are the days of taking the train, and trust me, that's a big part of me being happy every day going to work. 

So that does it for today. Since it's technically Saturday (nearly 1 am) I'll come back on Sunday with another one. Love you all and miss you all. G'gnight. 

A Catch Up of Sorts

Well, well, well. I haven't written in here in over 3 months. And what a 3 months it has been. When I wrote my last post, I was working at an agency in San Francisco, my second internship of the year. I was struggling a little bit with myself and trying to figure out where I would be by the end of the year. That internship didn't work out and in the end, it definitely was for the best. I had a month in between that internship and the internship I am now in and that month off from working an internship and just waitressing might have been the best thing for me. It really gave me a chance to reflect on the year and to absorb all the lessons I had learned or still needed to realize I had learned.

At the end of the month, I was hired on at my current agency and I absolutely love it. I hope to God that this is the place that I'll be for the foreseeable future because everything about it clicks. I like the work (which is high-tech, which I NEVER thought I would like and said so. I will gladly eat those words for years to come), I like my coworkers (they are pretty freaking rad) and I am happy going into work every day. Because in the end, if you're not happy going into work every day, then you're really not putting your best self forward and doing the quality of work you could do if you were happy. My supervisor said it best today in our weekly catch up, "I know this is work, but it still has to be enjoyable."

I'm still in the same house I've been in for the last 2 years with the same roommate. I love where I live, who I live with and am very thankful for my life right now. I know I miss home and the people at home a ton, but I can always go down for a quick weekend.

Unfortunately, since I'm driving all the time now, I have about zero time to read new books, so the brief purpose of writing book reviews is now kaput. Hopefully, I'll find a few minutes to read a book for fun here and there. Also, I joined a gym so I'm getting home later and later. I'm realizing that when you work a lot, you have to make sure you make time for yourself.

I also want to start writing in here a lot more. I miss writing for myself. It helps you unload what's on your mind, which is why I named this "Extension Of My Brain." So, here's to resolutions a few months early :).

An Ode To A Boy Named Harry With Glasses.

This is about two weeks overdue but I’ve been a tad bit busy. The last Harry Potter film has come and gone and I’ve seen it and I feel…strange. But let me explain how much Harry has been in my life.

The first HP book came out in 1998 but I was not made aware of it until the following year. I remember the first time I heard about this boy wizard in 6^th grade. It was in English class and we still had required reading back then. One of my classmates, I think Steven Jacobs (excuse my freakish memory and blame my father for it), was reading it. Each week we had to give a short summary to our teacher, Mrs. Jordan, about what was going on in our books. When Steven described the scene, which I later realized was the letter receiving, it sounded so strange that I dismissed it immediately. I was at the end stage of reading American Girl books and was discovering my fascination with historical fiction books (which is stronger than ever today). The thought of a boy being surrounded by flying letters and delivery owls was so off to me. And since everyone started reading the books, I refused. I didn’t want to read what everyone else was reading. Well, of course, that didn’t last long. At Christmas that year, I received two copies of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone; one from my aunt and one from a neighbor, both who knew my love of reading. So I figured, eh why not, I’ll give this a shot.

I was hooked. Not as hooked as everyone else, partly because my mom was not one of those moms who would go out to the release of a book and get it right away. But she did read the books just as much as I did (even though I always read them first because I read faster and then would beg her to hurry up so we could talk about it. I still do that, just with the movies now). In fact, the only book I went to the midnight release of was the final one, with a friend, my second year of college. Yeah, that’s how long those books were in my life. But nonetheless, shortly after they came out, my mom would get the new book and I would read it, then she would read it. I think when the first movies came out was when I really started to get into it. It was crazy and *magical* to see the images I had pictured in my mind shown on screen, almost exactly the way I had thought of them. The makers of the films really did do a good job. The early films are full of innocence and light and colors while the later ones are dark and mature, just how the books are.

I grew up with Harry, just like the rest of my classmates. I was 11 when the first books came out. Obviously I aged a bit faster but still. The thought of someone at 17 doing the things he did (yes I know it’s just a book) was unfathomable to me, in my world. I wish the wizarding world really did exist. He taught us lessons about friendship, loyalty, bravery and doing the right thing no matter what it took. Those are as good of lessons as any we will ever learn.

Now on to the final movie, which I saw with my two older cousins. That's something I love about my family; all of us cousins rarely interact, but I can guarantee most of us are Harry Potter fans and I'm so happy I got to experience the last of it with Alexis and Rhiannon. We were all pretty emotional, in our amazing smack-dab-in-the-middle-of-the-theater seats. I shifted so much (I get antsy sitting still for too long) and at one point had my arms hooked around my legs with my chin to my knees. It was an intense movie. Absolutely non-stop from beginning to amazing end. Yes, they changed things from the book a bit, but did it still make sense? Yes. Also, people have said they didn't like the epilogue at the end, fast-forwarded 19 years. I've heard "cheesy" and "corny" used. Well then, you must not have read the books. Because it was perfect in the book. And nearly perfect in the film. We didn't see a bit of it that was in the book but that's ok. We were pressed for time. 

My next wish is that the entire book series is adapted into an animated series, like a mini series that we've been seeing.  That way, every detail can be included and all the crazy magic that didn't quite look right with live actors will be made. I think that would be brilliant. 

A chapter of my childhood has closed but is not over; it will never be over. Thank you J.K. Rowling for creating a whole world and bringing such *magic* into our lives.  

Slowly exploring the new "neighborhood"

San Francisco is a BIG city. Much larger than one would imagine. Thus, it has a lot of different neighborhoods, often divided by just a few blocks. My first internship was in the "China Basin" down by the ball park and my new one is in the "Financial District," a few blocks south of Market. Technically, both are identified as SOMA (South of Market) but the blocks that separate the two define them a lot. The closer to Market St. you get, the more lively you get. The closer to AT&T you get, the calmer you get (and more homeless people); well except for Game Days.

The thing that I am discovering about San Francisco is that it is one of the most diverse food places in the world. In fact, several magazines in the last few months have been featuring it as the "new food capital of the world" (please don't quote me..I just remember this statement, not the publications it was in). So naturally, a food loving gal like me would want to look around. Of course, as much as I love food, I am notoriously picky. Like crazy picky. But even if I can't find something on the menu I like/would eat, I do like to go in and see what it's all about.  My new office is surrounded by TONS of little restaurants.

My first morning, I didn't have to be in the office until 9 am and had been told that no one really arrived before then. So, because I didn't have a key and didn't want to stand next to the door until someone came, I went to the cafe next door to get some breakfast (I am horrible about eating before I leave the house these days - 6:30 am breakfast makes this girl hungry again by 9 am). It was adorable and called Bay Area Gourmet. I didn't notice until later that day that they had a huge "GRAND OPENING" sign fluttering in the ever-present San Francisco breeze. It was interesting because they offer "personal drip coffee." Now, I am a coffee drinker, at all, but I found this process fascinating. The lady would scoop a cup full of coffee beans, put it in the grinder, slip a filter in a little holder with the beans in it, place a cup underneath and then pour boiling water into the coffee grounds and whisk them up, thus letting the very freshly brewed coffee drip right into the customer's coffee cup. I had never seen anything like it. And yes, I know, I am verrrryyy easily amused and fascinated. But hey, it's all about new experiences.
There is also this sandwich place called The Toaster Oven, who specializes in, you guessed it, toasted sandwiches. And I tried one the other day and even with my pickiness, I found it delicious. There's also a soup place across the street called San Francisco Soup Company, that is literally a door a counter and a menu. That's it. No seating area, hardly any room inside for any type of line. I must try it. My coworkers frequent there and the soup always smells delicious. Also, Specialty's is around the corner on New Montgomery. Now, I know this is a chain but I really hadn't been there much and have now fell in love with their chocolate chip cookies (only gotten them once..but oh goodness they were good.) What interests me so much about this particular location is the people who work there. The few times I've been in there (my agency orders snacks from them for client meetings), it's always all guys working and most of these guys look like the total opposite of what you would expect from a bakery worker. Specifically, they're all covered in tattoos and would look more comfortable in a store, well any other place than a bakery. But they are the nicest guys! Gotta love SF :).

So, since I have pulled away from writing about the books I have read (I swear I'm going to pick that up again), I will write about the little food places around my new place of employment.

Enjoy! And come visit me in SF!!

Ch-Ch-Changes

Ch-ch-changes

My, my, my what a difference a month makes, huh? Well, I can officially say that as of today I am working at H3O Communications as an intern, having finished my previous internship with Fineman PR last Friday. It was a great experience and I am forever grateful to the Fineman team for teaching me so much. For reasons that don’t really matter, I took my leave of them and started today with H3O. I’m really excited to work with this new agency and they’re a bit bigger so I feel a little more comfortable. I’m still in SF, working further into the city than before and so far, I like it. Yes, I can see a construction crew out of my window at all hours of the day and the noise gets a little loud but sheesh this part of the city is so ALIVE. There were so many people surrounding me when I walked here this morning and even the office I’m now in seems alive. It’s got at least 4 different colors on the walls and the desks are set up in an awesomely collaborative way. In fact, even though everyone has an “assigned seat” people move around to work on projects and such. A good chunk of the staff have been in a meeting all day (unfortunately it’s the chunk of the staff and client that I’ll be working on…as a first day-er, I wasn’t in on the meeting) but it’s a big space that gets filled up. I really like it.

Life otherwise is pretty much the same. I work all day so I’m out of the house most of the time. Weekends are my veg-out time. I like it. This past weekend was a 4 day weekend, due to the leaving of one job and starting another mid-week and I have to say (and this scares me) I was so thankful to be going to work this morning that I didn’t care that I was still waking up at 5:30 a.m. and rushing to catch the train. Ahhh, routine. I did get a lot done this past weekend (and quick break) but mostly I relaxed. It was nice. You have to remember to give yourself some relaxation/me time or you’ll go crazy. I know that already and I’m not even in a full-time, salaried position.

I am excited about going home next weekend for a much needed family time break. My wonderful parents are throwing me a graduation party, since I have not only graduated but also got a job (how’s that for having my ish together?) and it will be wonderful fun with all the people I love and miss the most, the people who have surrounded me growing up and encouraged me in my college and post-college life. I can’t wait J. So that was slightly a random post, but hey I got one in right? Ciao, belle.

(P.S….I miss Florence so much still, that I constantly dream about it. As soon as financially able to, I’m running back there and will probably hug the glorious cobblestone that covers my favorite city). 

Friends: They're Good for the Soul

     Lately, I’ve been feeling nostalgic for friends that I haven’t seen in a while. Luckily, in the past few weeks, I’ve been able to see a few old friends and have made plans to meet up with others. It started a few weekends ago when a friend from home was up on business in San Francisco and called to meet up after work. This friend is more like family to me and I hadn’t seen him very much in the last two years. He pointed out that we did see each other on New Year’s Eve but other than that, not much else. We had a great time and I really hadn’t spent time with him “out” so it was all an adventure. We had always hung out in the comfort of our family’s company and now that we’re “grown-ups” (still makes me smile to think that) we can do things on our own. Well, he’s a bit older so he’s been out on his own for some time now.

     Then, yesterday, I got a call from a friend from junior college informing me that he was en route to SF and would I like to meet up with him. I laughed at his never changing way of making plans, aka NOT making plans and flying by the seat of his pants. We met up at a bar/café a few blocks from my office with two of his friends, one of which I went to junior high and high school with (small world in Southern California…small world) and we had a great time and then got a bit lost in SF trying to drop one of the guys off. It was great because we are all trying to convince him to choose SF for law school and he had said he didn’t know if he had seen enough of the city. Well he certainly did last night. On the drive back down (he was staying with a friend in the South Bay and drove me home) we talked about junior college and caught up on each other’s lives. It was nice.

     I’ve realized that I have the sorts of friends that I can go ages without talking to, then see them and it’s like no time has passed at all. I think that’s what a true friend is made of. Of course, I would much prefer to see these wonderful people on a much more regular basis, but the fact of life is that we grow up around each other and when college and adult life hits, we can get far flung. The important thing is to hold on to the fond memories you have and make sure to catch up once in a while as well as make a few new memories. I like it that way. I have a verrry busy life right now and I don’t have much time for a social life. It’s nice and comforting to know that I have friends that I can just call up after a while and chat.

     I also found out that some old high school acquaintances are moving up to the Bay Area soon and I offered to show them around. It’ll be good to see some old faces. Yay for being an “adult” J.

Where Were You?

     Last night, May 1, 2011, Osama bin Laden was confirmed dead. It's one of those chilling "where were you?" moments that we'll be talking about for years to come.
    On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was in 8th grade and getting ready for school that Tuesday. I knew something was up when my dad turned on the TV to the news. Then the images flooded in. It was horrifying and scary and oh I still shudder when I think about it. That day at school is a blur but everyone was talking about it. Naturally, being junior high schoolers, we didn't really understand the huge significance. I just remember a teacher saying that our trip to Washington D.C. most likely was not going to happen. The news around what was going on in New York came out more and more.
     A few days later, my family learned that my mom's cousin, who is a doctor, had been at Ground Zero for three straight days. She finally got home on the fourth, burned her bloody clothes and slept for a day. A guy my dad knew from high school was one of the firefighters killed and a distant cousin was killed in the towers. We saw their names on the wall of the memorial a few years later when we visited.
     Now, nearly 10 years later, the evil man who was the mastermind behind it all has been killed. Gone. But the war on terrorism is not over. There is no way in hell those who supported him will take this lying down. The country is once again on high alert and now my 22 year old self is much more aware. And admittedly scared.
    I was watching TV with my roommate and as our nightly routine, both of us were sitting on our respective couches with our laptops up. We were watching "Real Housewives of Orange County" because, well, we need to watching something mind numbing once in a while. I refreshed my Facebook page and 7 new statuses popped up, all about Osama bin Laden's supposed death. I gasped and my fingers flew to Google. With Google tentatively confirming it, I said something to my roommate, who by the way is studying for her LSATs and had an internship on Capitol Hill last semester and knows more about government and foreign policy than I ever want to know. She said if it's true it's huge, turn on CNN.
      It was 7:59. I read that the president was supposed to have made an address at 7:30 ET. Obviously, that didn't happen. Finally, at 8:30 President Obama delivered a quick 7 minute speech that confirmed what all of social media was blasting. And I mean blasting. Watching Twitter auto-refresh along with Facebook was surreal. It was history at my fingertips.
     I stayed up until about 11 pm watching it all unfold. And of course this morning told more. It's a huge moment in history and one that will certainly affect us in the coming days, weeks, months and probably years. We'll get through this.

So where were you?