...and I'm back in the game!...

So it’s been quite a while since I wrote on this. In fact, it’s been so long that I’m sure people have stopped checking it because they think I’ve even forgotten about it: not so! Things have just been a little crazy lately.
Let’s see? Where to begin? There’s so much to fill in here: My trip to Utah, my obsession with Phoenix (the musical group, not the city), my trip to San Francisco…

At the beginning of the month I went to Utah for my sister’s graduation. It was wonderful to see my family and a few old friends. I love my family. I get so excited each and every time I’m going to see them! I have truly been blessed with wonderful parents and amazing siblings. It’s really impossible for me to put into words how much I love them so I’m just going to leave it at that. I had a wonderful time and the trip definitely went by too quickly!
Congrats to Kate on her graduation!

I came on Monday and found out on Tuesday of that week that I was going to go to San Francisco for work. I was actually pretty excited about it because I’d never been to SF and have always wanted to go. I only needed to be there Thursday night but I decided to stay the weekend so I could see a few sights. Since I didn’t have a whole lot of time to plan anything out or decide where I wanted to go, I was kind of at the mercy of my friend who lives out there. Let me tell you, he was a great tour guide and such a trooper. I’m sure the last thing he really wanted to do was walk around ALL day on Saturday, but I really had a great time. We went to breakfast at this place called the Red Door Café (I think, I don’t really remember, but I’m pretty sure it had something to do with a red door)…it was so much fun. There was eclectic art work on the walls. None of the tables matched, which went perfectly with the mismatched mugs, plates and silverware. Some guests sat in arm chairs, others in red wooden ones; it was charming. Ant it was run by the gayest man (wearing a wife beater tank and short blue 60’s style biking shorts) I’ve ever meet…and it was kind of funny to watch him flirt with my friend. He kept telling him to smile. The weather was lovely, so I couldn’t have asked for more. I saw the Golden Gate Brige and Sausalito (sp?), the Coit tower, the Ferry house, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf and the Palace of Fine Arts. The latter was my favorite. It’s absolutely beautiful (and it was the only thing I had on my list of absolute must-sees). It’s so majestic and romantic; I loved it. I had clam-chowder (apparently award-winning…which award, I don’t know, but award-winning nonetheless) in a sourdough bread bowl…heaven! It was so good. And the atmosphere only added to it...it was this charming little courtyard where a saxaphonist was playing jazz music...it was great. And after looking all day I found the perfect souvenir picture down on the wharf, right as all the stands were closing down for the day.

And yes, despite the fact that the place is a total tourist trap (I think I would compare it to M&M’s world or the Hershey Store) I went to Ghirardelli Square for some chocolate…well, chocolate on an ice cream sundae, that is. I had strawberry ice cream with strawberry topping (don’t worry, I checked first to make sure the strawberry topping was made of fresh cut strawberries and sugar instead of corn syrup…) and dark chocolate hot fudge topping, whipped cream and almonds. And, since the guy behind the counter obviously thought I was cute, I got extra whipped cream…gotta love that! Haha. I didn’t want to eat among the crowds there so the ice cream was taken down to the waterfront and there. I loved listening to the water lap up onto the rocks and watch the sun set…it was perfect. I think I could live in San Francisco. I obviously don’t love it as much as New York, but I think I could be quite happy there.

In regards to Phoenix. If you all haven’t heard of them, you’d better check them out: I LOVE them! Suggested songs are: Consolation Prizes, Long Distance Call, Rally, Summer Days…and, oh, all of them!!

My mom, little sister Rachel (even though at the age of 11, she already as tall as I), her friend Gracie and her mom are in town this weekend. I’m kind of sad because they keep ditching me! It’s hard to have family so close yet not really get to spend any time with them. But, I understand that they are having a fun girls’ weekend. They’ve been to see Mary Poppins and went to the American Girl Doll’s store for the theater and dinner with their dolls…they’ve been shopping and just having a good time. And, I’ve gotten to spend a little time with them. We went to the Met Museum yesterday and we had dinner of Friday and I’m going to see them for lunch. Plus, not seeing them that much this time just means they’ll have to make a return visit and/or I’ll have to go home one weekend soon :)