I love wandering into a random [somewhat, as I'd searched online for reviews first] place and finding something that just triggers happy feelings. Ian and RV were meeting up for their monthly [every-so-often, but should be more often than that] drinks. I tagged along after suggesting the place and fell in like. It’s not love yet because I haven’t seen it at other hours, but for a Sunday afternoon, it was nice.

My friend, Kara, recently started a blog called “I Love It, SF.” In it, she explores the great things about San Francisco and documents with brilliant photos and of course, writing. I’d really like to get back into that as well, capturing the moments that truly make life fantastic [superduperly so]. I recently replaced my point-and-shoot camera with the assistance of some friends on which one to pick out. This Canon SD780 IS is on its way to me now, so I’ll have photos to go along with stories!

Yes, it’s RED!

Since it was the last day for stuffing my face, I joined a bunch of friends for a large hot pot meal. Unfortunately, something didn’t settle well in my stomach, and I haven’t been able to keep it in… I think I’ll have to empty out entirely before I can get some rest before the big day. Major discomfort. Major grossness.

All the while, I tried to enjoy the Cirque du Soleil show in town – Ovo – with RV, Kirsten/Stephen, RV’s mom and her friend. It was a fantastic show and definitely worth every discounted penny that we spent on it. Amazing skills and fun costumes! Battling food poisoning while watching the show – not so fun. I survived and didn’t make too much of a scene. Thank goodness for intermissions and fancy portable toilets. *phew*

But yes, that means I’ve crossed off another from the list!

082 – See a Cirque du Soleil show.

I have been on the prowl lately.

There’s a house that’s caught my eye. It’s in a neighborhood not too far from the one I live in now, which for many people who want to live in San Francisco is a little out there. But I’m okay with that. If I want to afford a single family house in San Francisco, there will be sacrifices made on location, size, newness, etc. I’m currently working on getting pre-approved for a loan, and based on certain circumstances, bidding on the house will actually take place in court on some date still to be determined.

I will likely not get the winning bid, considering that it’s definitely of move-in condition and is starting out under $500K. For SF, that’s amazing for not being in a particularly bad neighborhood. I am hopeful, however, that I will find something eventually. I’m not in a rush, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to look around.

I didn’t really have a decided costume for Halloween until about an hour before a party Friday night. It became a pre-Halloween costume because the following evening [Halloween proper], we went over to RV’s mom’s house and watched a late night baseball game instead of joining in the festivities in SF.

I wore a random purple wig I’d bought a few months prior, a purple dress, and Slinkies for arms. Not really a specific character, just not my usual self. Several guesses for my outfit: Rainbow Brite, raver chick. I was aiming for a toy or purple-haired doll.

I wasn’t sure what to expect and didn’t really think our friends would go all the way to the Outer Richmond for the party, but it turned out quite well. Mateo and Robin live in a really nice house, Ian was DJing up some good music, and there was good company. I also met Valentine [the cat pictured] who must be the softest cat EVER. I ignored my allergies for about five minutes to play with him.

The party was a good time, and we didn’t get home until after 3:30. I ended up sick the next day though. Had pho with rare beef and tendon for lunch with RV and Theron, and everything was fine. Pilates and a long car ride later in the day triggered some undigested dinner though, so the rest of the evening involved resting up and watching the Yankees kick the Phillies in the behind. I’m not a huge follower of baseball, but since it’s the World Series, I paid attention. It only gets interesting when the teams are good, and the games are somewhat close!

Today, more pho with rare beef and tendon after getting an extra hour of sleep! And then as we headed down to the farmer’s market, we noticed that the Asian Art Museum was free [Target First Sunday!]. We walked through, looked around for a few minutes, and continued on our way to the farmer’s market where we picked up veggies and this lovely plant. It ended up costing more than the veggies that RV bought, but it will surely last longer!

Of course, I forgot to ask the woman selling the plant what it was. I know it’s a succulent, but which one?!

I’m working on incorporating more photos and daily life documentation, so if that’s not your cup of tea, read no further. ;-)

As many are aware, I’ve had to cancel quite a few of the trips I’d planned due to unforeseen circumstances! I haven’t had time to talk about those circumstances on the blog, so here goes: I may start working again, which would cancel my weekday travel, and I have a surgery and post-op date, which happen to fall around the time of travel also. Fantastic, right? Luckily, when you book tickets at the last minute, they’re extra expensive, so I will get my money’s worth from the one trip I’m taking this coming week to Washington D.C. I just have to make sure I cancel/reserve according to the 3-day policy, and I’m set.

Today was my first #AYCJ encounter! I didn’t even have to leave my own city.

RV and I caught up with @redelvis, @sawyouonjetblue, and @Michele_Pacheco to cross the Golden Gate Bridge. We ended up thirty minutes late since brunch ran a little overtime! We caught up around the end of the second half of the bridge. After taking some quick photos, @redelvis stuck behind with us and spent the remainder of the stroll across the bridge teaching me binary!

Yep, another one off the list:
050 – Learn the basics of binary.

While it would probably have been easier to grasp if we actually wrote numbers down, he did a great job of explaining. I learned not only to count, but also to convert decimals to octal and then to binary. So I think I’ve got the basics!

On the plus side of having more free time, I am getting to do more things that I’ve been meaning to check out. This past week has been full of randomness – a book signing, sewing class, online television appearances, a birthday happy hour, moving furniture, lunch dates with friends… It eases my mind a bit that I’m not just wasting away at home. It really helps having supportive friends to fill the calendar!

I’m starting off the next week with the SanFran MusicTech Summit. Some very interesting panels about music and technology that hopefully don’t coincide with one another! The conference runs from 9AM onward with three panels every hour or so. The schedule is up for the picking and choosing of panels [15+ to choose from]! Some of the topics are: Music in Audio-Visual Works, Reaching Fans, Doing Deals, Webcasting Issues, Musicians as Active Participants in Their Own Careers, Social Networking & Music, The Future of the Music Industry, Brands & Bands: The Evolution of Music Marketing.

I’ll be learning, connecting, and of course, taking notes! If you’re at all interested in attending, registration link here!

Just made an awesome investment in this book of savings. It’s the 2009 Green Zebra – San Francisco Savings Guide with savings on organic restaurants, eco-friendly products, yoga and fitness, spas, cultural activities, AND getaways.

I don’t usually buy coupon books because I tend to forget about it, and the spending requirements are a little crazy. Save $10 on $200 when I normally wouldn’t have spent $200. But looking at this book [which will last through the rest of 2009], there are a ton of coupons that I know I would use or that my friends would use! And it doesn’t take much to get the $25 you spent back.

Examples of savings include: Free breakfast at Sellers Market, free breakfast at La Boulange, buy one yoga class and get one free at multiple yoga studios citywide, Zipcar savings, free coffee at Philz.

Those are just a few… There are 175+ coupons in the book. There’s a monthly newsletter to sign up for AND a mobile program too. When you sign up, Green Zebra will email or text you when new savings/coupons come up, and you can just show the vendor your phone for the savings.

No, they aren’t paying me to blog about them. I get nothing. I bought my own book of coupons to use. I just think it’s pretty neat. If you’re in SF or the Peninsula [there's a separate version!], check it out. Or if you know me personally, maybe I will share my free coffee with you.

Yesterday was a beautiful and random day. Sure, it was really cold, and the wind chilled me to the bones. But spending it entirely with a friend [Hi Keane!] with no strict plan in mind, just ideas that popped up on a whim, was what made it fantastic.

It started off with an attempt to have lunch at the Fillmore Mexican Grill. Wasn’t sure why it was closed randomly, but I was able to get my salmon burrito fix today instead. So we ended up having lunch at a Thai place in the neighborhood that he had wanted to try for some time. We ended up missing Watchmen because it was only after running into two other closed restaurants that we found ourselves at this place. By the time we were done, the movie had already started, and there were no other showings nearby at the time we wanted to watch the movie.

Then we decided to hop on the bus towards the Mission and Potrero Hill. When we hopped off, we took a quick tour of Mission Dolores [something I've not done in the 25+ years of being in San Francisco].

After Mission Dolores for the first time, we found ourselves at Monk’s Kettle for the first time also. Grabbed some quick drinks before wandering to the Yerba Buena Gardens to kill some time before an event at 111 Minna. To continue with the day of firsts, we took the cable car up California to Bob’s Donuts, where I purchased my first two Bob’s donuts – sugar [for me] and glazed [for RV]. Donuts in tow and after a quick Whole Foods run to pick up some snack items for the following day, Keane drove me home.

I love random Sundays.

An update on the 101 in 1001 list:

060 – Visit the de Young and Legion of Honor before membership expires.
The day before New Year’s Eve, RV and I took a trip to the de Young Museum, and this weekend will be a trip to the Legion of Honor.

I’m just happy to finally make the most of the membership. A membership is about $80, and it allows me to get in with a guest. That’s $20 each time that I visit. I haven’t visited more than three times this past year, but each time, there have been special exhibits, and that’s $20 per person. $40 x 3, and I’ve made it worth my while.

Despite my love for the museums, I doubt that I will be renewing the membership for a while. There is so much to do and not enough time to go do it all. Maybe again in the summer when I have free time…

Party last night at Orange Photography.