MERRY NEW YEAR!!!

Hope this finds you all well and looking forward to a new and wonderful year. For me, 2006 has to go down as one of, if not THE BEST year of my life. I met so many amazing, beautiful people and wandered through incredible cities and countries. I can't believe it's coming to a close...I have to admit I'm a bit sad and have been melancholy the last couple of weeks...BUT! I am looking forward to spending every waking hour trying to create ways to get back out there! Right now, I am just trying to make money to get back on my feet and next week I am going to look for a second restaurant job to get this process rolling ASAP.

I had a meeting with a mentor last week, Dennis Eroken...who is an amazing entreprenuer and friend. www.e-agency.com and he was kind enough to listen to my babble about starting my own tour company and shed light on my ideas so I am going to get started right away. The start up cost is pretty minimal, I figure with $15,000 maximum, I can pay for my tour management course, buy a new laptop, market myself and get back to Europe for a test-run. There are tons of grants out there, which I will look into, but until a windfall blows in my direction, I will be plugging along, saving my tips and working to get the capital I need. Just in case there are any eccentrics out there with money to donate, well I won't say no. Anyone? Retired travelers perhaps? No shame here, folks. Just asking.

I am also looking into other tour companies to work for, but the course is first...won't even know what to put on a resume at this point. "LOVE TO TRAVEL...HIRE ME." Probably not.

So, off to work at the P and P tonight. I actually like it there, very nice and pretty easy. Housesitting next week as well until the 12th of January. Will flood the East Bay restaurant scene with my resume and hope for the best.

Feliz Nuevo Ano everyone. Be safe and sane and above all...GO SOMEWHERE THIS YEAR! It just might change your life...

My Christmas Wish...

What I wouldn't give to be in Venice right now. Ugh. So, since my Christmas DAY wish won't come true, unless Captain Picard miraculously appears and beams me over...it is my New Year's resolution to get back as soon as I can. Oh, and if you are wondering, my wish is somewhere in this photo. Can you guess what it is? Merry Christmas everyone and happy travels! LATERS!

Back to Reality

Ugh. The dreaded "R" word has crept up and taken a bite out of my arse. Oddly, I am back in crazy work mode and ready to get down to business. Just landed a great restaurant gig at a great little place called "The Peasant and the Pear," in Danville. www.thepeasantandthepear.com

For those friends who are not from the San Francisco Bay Area, Danville is a very quaint little town about 35 miles east of SF, about 10 minutes from where I grew up, went to high school, lived, worked, etc. I actually had a stint as a server at a place called Fat Fanny's when I was about 19 or 20 and have worked all around this area in various establishments while I pursued my illustrious (ha!) career in the media. Now, I'm back to the grind, hoping to save for my next travel adventure and make some contacts for leading tours through Europe. I also have a couple of house sitting gigs and will be moving into a condo on January 15th with a supermodel named Lisa. (Okay, she isn't really a model, but she should be!) So, the only task I have left to complete is getting a second job during the day, which I hope will be CHOW since I know the menu and have basically trained almost everyone that works there. The shifts will be the hell ones, Sat/Sun brunch and hopefully Thurs/Friday a.m. as well, but who knows. They have been slow to get back to me which is understandable, since the holidays can be murder around there. If they can't manage to get me some shifts soon, I will have to offer my services elsewhere.

So, that is that. A little Christmas with dad and Kate, a little housesitting, working New Year's Eve, taking care of various animals and quickly having no social life to speak of. No bother, I just spent the last 9 months having enough social life for 18 people. LATERS!

Tattoo...me

Yes, it's real. This is my new tattoo...done in Prague, October 26, 2006. I've wanted it for a long time and frankly was tired of getting henna all the time, which faded and ended up costing more than permanent ink . I guess it was just a culmination of the most daring adventure of my life and one that I will never, ever regret...or forget. EVER!

Lo$t Wage$

Another Vegas weekend is in the books and as far as they go, this one was quite tame. It was Lori's #* birthday and since she is the quintisenntial V-Town gal, we thought it only fitting to decend upon sin city for a girls weekend of drink, dance and debauchery. However, as we found out, the week before Christmas isn't really the time for items 2 and 3, simply because most places either shut down, pare down or the populus is just well, down.

We arrived on Friday around noon to find that the MGM Grand (Lori's sister Carol works in the VIP Lounge) was hosting the annual All-Star Cheerleader competition. If you are unaware of this phenomenon, it can be best described as a thousand perky little rug-rats in tight pony-tails, short skirts and glittery make-up that can be seem from Neptune. Throw in the random outbursts of chants and dances and you have a hotel full of purgatory for any adult who wanted to get away from their kids, which included our entire entourage. I was just annoyed at the fact that they would wear spongy rollers around in public, with their hair pulled back so tightly that it gave ME a headache. It wouldn't have been so bad if any of them had ever stayed in a hotel before, but in true "we've been let out of our cages" style, it was (1) pushing all the elevator buttons, (b) bursting into song at will and (III) jamming up every snack bar and vending machine this side of the Venetian. Anyway, at the end of the day, I was at least happy for them, it must have been great to be that young and get to go to Vegas especially the ones from every little podunk town in the US. Note to all, however, don't go to the MGM this week of the year...all the clubs and half of the restaurants were closed. Same with many other places so I guess just choose wisely.

Anyway, Lori had a great birthday weekend, we went to the Spa and had an amazing Sushi dinner at the Wynn...went dancing, got elbowed in the head by a couple of bouncers, and crashed early Saturday night. Friday stayed out dancing at Mandalay Bay...pretty much it! I did take photos of the strip and can't seem to download them because I used my old camera. Ugh.

Not much else to report. Honestly. Off to find work tomorrow...The $500 I have to my name won't last. Ugh.

***One crazy note***

Had breakfast at CHOW today and ended up sitting next to Clint Eastwood. We had a nice chat and when he left, patted me on the back and said "take care, kiddo!" LATERS!

New Photo

I've decided that I am tired of looking at the same stock photo that once was my publicity shot for The Bone Morning Show. Frankly, I am most happy and content just as you see me here: Guinness in hand, sitting in an Irish Pub in the middle of London surrounded by friends. CHEERS!

CHOW Madness...

After flying from Orlando, sleeping in the baggage claim department at SFO, taking BART and a cab to Melissas house, hanging with the Nicky and Eryn...Jake and Bosco...laughing with John and having accute insomnia I managed to somehow make it to the annual CHOW Holiday party at Cafe du Nord, in the Castro...San Francisco. Here are the only shots I could manage, other than a couple that came in a shot glass and tasted strangely like Jack Daniels. Thanks to Tony G. for the ride home, and frankly, opening CHOW in the first place! It was great to see everyone, so many new hook-ups I can't even believe it! Really.... Huh, not this girl. My only new hook up with be a three-some...me and two jobs for the next few months so I can plan my next adventure. Off to Vegas this weekend and then will try to get serious about life next week. LATERS!

Back in Cali

Can't believe it..seems so surreal. I'm officially back in California, sitting at my dad's computer in the office, in Ripon, in Cali. I don't really know what I think of it all, but it's reality and it bites.

Not that it isn't great to see dad. It is. My sister Kate seems fine, she is actually going to school these days which is dandy. I stayed at Melissa's house with her hubby and kids Monday and Monday night, went to the CHOW Christmas party. That was a hoot, always is. It was great to see everyone again and the usual fan fare of crotch-grabbing, ass-slapping and tongue-shoving was ever-present. Ah, I miss those days. Sort of. Would rather be traveling.

I've had a bit of a rude-awakening with a stupid credit card situation, but basically I opened a credit card with United Airlines so I could charge and get credit for future flights. Turns out, I had a balance of about $20 left after I paid the flight off. Of course, I never looked on line to see what was up, so they sent notices, late fees and various other crappy news and then closed my card. GREAT! I haven't had a stupid credit card for 10 years and now I have a blemish on my credit report. Anyway, yet another valuable lesson learned. The second lesson is that I should have canceled my Cingular account last Spring and entered the world of pay-as-you-go SIM cards. Lastly, I should have gone with my guts and bought my round-trip ticket for December as I originally wanted. Instead, I had to buy a whole new one. These little lessons have cost me about $1000. Oh well. Live and keep learning.

Today I have to get my car up and running, keep unpacking and re-pack for a weekend in Vegas. Vegas you ask? How can I afford Vegas? Well...I can't. I was going to take some cash out of said United Miles Plus card, so I have absolutely no idea how I am going to manage Vegas. At least my plane ticket is all sorted and I have shampoo, toothpaste and face cream. Slap a sexy little number on, tote the hip-flask and I am all set! It's Lori's birthday this week, and she is a big Vegas girl, so that is the point of party. Will let all hang loose this weekend and then most likely start working next week. Ugh. Not that I mind working, but I don't know where to live, where to work, etc. Anyway, will just chill this weekend and then start thinking about it. Need to also work on my CV. So, with all that said, I guess I should stop blogging and get my ass on the phone! LATERS!

BetaBlogger

Here are a few more photos from my trip. Still at mom's here in Florida, but off to Cali this afternoon for the final leg of my journey...for now! I am trying out this new blogger format and I have to say BRAVO blogspot! It's much easier to use, edit and add to previous posts than ever before! Wish I would have had this capability before, but alas, will make up for it when I get to dad's this week and hopefully can make a new and better gypsy tale. For now, I will say goodbye to the little pasture on the hill, to my FLA relies and to mom. LATERS!

New Photos...Post

Say It Ain't So...

"There is no unhappiness like the misery of sighting land (and work) again after a cheerful, careless voyage." ~Mark Twain, 1865

Well, the time has come. I have left the sanctity of my crazy life in Europe. Got on a plane yesterday from Heathrow and now I am back at mom's house here in FLA... A bit shell-shocked, culture-shocked and just all-around shocked, but am determined to start a new life in Europe, hopefully as a tour guide, English teacher or renegade warrior. First I must deal with the reality of bills, responsiblity and a J-O-B. Ick.

My flight from London was incredible, in fact, it was the best one that I have had in long time. Trust me, take Air India anytime you can from Europe to the States. The crew was amazingly nice, the Heneken was free, and it didn't even smell like curry! They were late, however, so I missed my connection in Chicago and poor mom and Auntie T had to pick me up and we didn't get home until after midnight. Oh well, that's travel for ya!

Going to do some proper laundry, eat some of my favorite foods and go to visit Gran at some point today. I'm here until Sunday, then I am off to Cali until the following weekend, then I'm going to Vegas. Must wean myself away. Thinking about Venice in January...crazy I know, but must go and see my Gondo again, he invited me right as I was leaving and well, can't say no to Eros. Ever.

Anyway, will spend the next few months getting my bank account up to par, researching tourism jobs, and may apply to a program in SF that trains tour managers. (Thanks for the tip, Alex!) Also hoping to apply to Backroads, a company out of Berkeley who handle tours in the U.S. and Europe...wish me luck.

I was just looking at the pictures of the chicken and I miss that little guy...ugh.

Mom's computer will not allow me to download my photos without considerable strain so I have to wait until I get home. Until then, the gypsy keeps moving...LATERS!