Errands...

One of the reasons I love living in the city, is that you can just step right outside your door and complete all of your daily errands, without getting into a car, stepping onto a bus or hailing a cab. Everything one needs is right around the corner. Sure, there are some neighborhoods that are much more residential than mine, like the outer Richmond or the Dogpatch, but really, within the 7 X 7 miles of this fetching little city, popping out for some ice cream or toilet paper usually requires nothing more than throwing on your Uggs, jacket and a beanie. Then you are more than ready to run the neccessary 2 blocks to the corner market.

Today, I hiked from my house to Trader Joe's, which is located on Bay Street, right down from Fisherman's Wharf, where I bought about $60 worth of frozen food and cheese. I hiked back up Bay, which I must say is quite a workout when you have $60 worth of frozen food and cheese in your backpack. I then dumped off my frozen food and cheese and proceeded up another hill to Polk Street where I bought neccessary items at the Walgreens, then went next store to Real Foods, which is kind of a red-headed step kid to the Whole Foods, and bought my produce and eggs. I then went back down the hill to chez mois, dumped off my produce and headed out for a stroll along Union Street where I bought a nice hot vanilla coffee and checked out the boutiques. Nice. I just love it here. It reminds me of when I lived in Montreal, sans car, and was fit, happy and ready to take on the world!

Also today, sadly, I learned a tragic story. Last night, a girl who worked at Park Chow, this is another one of the Chows, was celebrating her 21st birthday with a bunch of people from Park Chow and after many cocktails...fell off the roof and to a tragic end. Ugh. Shock, sadness...more shock. I didn't even know the poor darling, and I only write this because I realized that it could happen to anyone. I have a roof and have shared a cocktail or two up there, so the new steadfast rule is NO MORE DRINKING ON THE ROOF! I have pretty much given up the hooch anyway, but this poor dear had her whole life ahead of her and just because of one mis-step she is gone. My heart goes out to her family, and all the crew at Park Chow...I didn't know you Rebecca, but I am sure you will be terribly missed. I am going to go over there tomorrow and bring them some flowers...I don't really know what else to do.

Tomorrow I am also going to go and buy a new pen and journal. I have been so remiss in recording my thoughts...but if I don't get them out of my head I am going to go mental. I guess I have to confess I have been a little bit lonely out here in the city, it's hard to meet people and I am getting really tired of meeting people at the bar. That is to say, since I have spent the better part of my life working in bars and restaurants, this always seems to be my comfort zone. It's easy to sit and talk to the bartender because I am one. And frankly, I wouldn't have met Howie or gotten my job at Ottimista unless I did go the the bar, but, I have decided to try my best to get out and maybe join a club, or some group or something. I am going to try to adopt some good habits and chuck some of my crappy ones. Otherwise, one day, after one of my little adventures, I'm going to wake up in Seattle with a bumper sticker on my forhead. While it would probably be a funny and interesting tale, it's time I try to focus and tell the tales I already have experienced. So, yes, get them out of my head, on to paper and out into the universe. Believe me, I have enough for a series of articles, if not a trio of books. So, tomorrow, it's off to buy a journal, then to Park Chow to try and show some support. Once, in the CHOW family, always in the CHOW family.

Wine Girl...

...okay, not really. But, since my last blog I am pleased to report that although I didn't ace it, I passed my wine exam. I think I may have "over-studied" because I knew way more than was asked, but I didn't know some key elements. Now that I have taken my first test, I will know what to study for next time. BUT! The best part about the exam, was after the written element, Don gave us a blind tasting of three wines and I was the only one to guess any correctly. I got 2 out of 3, and no one else did. Wow, I felt like I kicked some serious ass because I'm still not sure if they are really diggin' me there. We'll see.

This week, I am studying Tuscany and my head already hurts from exhaustion. Again, a new skill set. After this, I will be able to go into any Italian bistro and talk to my guests about Vino Italiano...that is, if I can impress the manager who does the interview. I am going to start looking for a second job soon, and haven't decided whether I want to stay in the same style of restaurant, or take the easy route and get myself to a tavern. Time will tell, I still have to finish my DUI crap (more on that later) and then settle in to my new life here, working 2 jobs, saving and trying to make back the money I have sqaundered on partying and my DUI.

Won't be doing much for Thanksgiving, doesn't really matter I guess. I got invited to an orphans dinner by one of the bartenders from work, but there will likely be drinking involved and it doesn't really interest me. There are a couple of places here in town that offer a Turkey Dinner, like Perry's on Union Street or the Bell Tower on Polk...but how sad that I would show up alone, so I might just volunteer at a soup kitchen or go to the Sunrise Ceremony on Alcatraz. I might just go down to the Wharf and watch the sunrise anyway, and reflect on all things for which I am thankful. For sure, I am thankful that I didn't lose my mind this year...although I came quite close. I'm thankful that I haven't gone off the deep end...and that my heart, head and body seem to be in one piece. I'm thankful that I have friends who love me, miss me and still keep in touch with me, even though I have chosen to go through the bridge and across the tunnel to find a new life in San Francisco. And, of course, I'm thankful that I still have both of my parents and I know they love me very much.

Vino Italiano

Today, I am doing something I haven't done for quite some time. Literally. It could be at least 12 years, since I studied for an exam and if memory serves it was to be a Notary Public. Wow, and I say this with absolute glee...TIMES HAVE CHANGED! Whew...

As reported in a previous blog entry, I am now working at a trendy Italian wine bar in the Marina named Ottimista. As would be expected, I am charged with having a decent grasp of Italian wine. I need to start by saying that I do have a decent grasp of wine and convinced the owners during the interview that whatever I didn't know I would learn. After all, I have been in the business for most of my life, and how much more difficult could Italian wine be from Californian or French?

I'll tell you.

California has around 60 grape varietals, which means there are grapes then sub-species of grapes and so on. France has around 90. Italy, in all her glory, has around 1000. Mille. I was handed a 500 page book called "Vino Italiano" and asked to study, get to know, browse and memorize its contents so that I may have a better grasp of the regional wines of Italy. How the hell I intend to pull this off, I have no clue. But, I have been studying day and night and hopefully at some point this is going to sink in. Lombardia, Luguria, Veneto, Alto Adige... yada yada. Ironically, the clientele at Ottimista, by and large, couldn't care less about the varietals, regions, climates or even the price of the wines. They want to know if it's sweet, dry, red or white. In fact, a sexy wine glass full of cranberry juice with a new Prada hand-bag and a Marina girl is ready for action!

So, I have been playing the studious one all week, making notes, flashcards and coming up with all kinds of word-association tricks to memorize this stuff and at the end of the day, if I blow the exam, at least I'm developing a new skill set. I know that I have done my best and that my guests appreciate me. Mostly, it reminds me how much I love to read, learn and act a lot more clever than I really am! Now when I go for that next job interview, I can actually fake my way through with proper jargon instead of faking foreign words with a decent accent.

Roof with a View

Well, I'm finally settling in to my mew digs here in Cow Hollow. I'm on Franklin Street, just between Broadway and Union...complete with washer and dryer and rooftop view. Today, I can't even see the house next to me, but these photos were taken the day the blue angels dropped by for an air-show, exactly one month ago today. This is just about the amount of time I have been frolicking and flittering about the city like some crazy tourist. I haven't stopped smiling every since. It's a good thing I got a part-time job, because I would have surely squandered all of my savings on fun.

I've already made a few new friends, mostly the local bar-keeps, since this is the way that I find work. I went to the Bus Stop on Union Street the first few days I was here, and met Paulie, a BeanTown transplant who then introduced me to Howie, another Bostonian and local bartending legend. Howie turned me on to Ottimista, a trendy Italian wine bar on Union, between Laguna and Octavia and I have been working there ever since. It's pretty challenging, because Italy has over 1000 varietals of grape, and compared to California's 60, it can be pretty daunting. But, the crowd is great and super nice, despite the whole "Marina" reputation of being snobby. I have had more pleases and thank-you's from guests than I can remember.

I am going to be looking for a second job soon, first I have to clear up my court issues, and I supposed that the next blog has to be a red flag warning to all of you thinking about drinking and then trying to drive. It will mess up your entire life for at least a year, and dash plans that you may have had for months. My DUI prevented me from going to Europe, and cost me around $8000. Now, all those shifts I worked day and night to save all that money are really for nothing except paying off a bad decision. SO DON'T DO IT PEOPLE! I'm begging you. Although, on the bright side, I am living in one of the greatest cities on Earth, and never would have otherwise. So, bad decisions and crappy luck can turn into positives if you try your best to see them.

Sadly, Howie, my guardian angel, is leaving for a while. This 53 year-old bald jewish man, who has looked after me since my arrival, is taking off for warmer weather. I have a bit of a crush on him, I must admit, but just like me, he is a free spirit and has to fly. Oh well, birds of a feather.......

Starting Over...

I promised myself that I would at least throw down a few words today. Suffice to say, the last two months were more difficult, crazy and ultimately exhilarating than the one before my last post. I have moved to San Francisco, where every day is like...well, I would say Christmas morning, but I've never much liked Christmas morning so let's just say it's like arriving in a city for the first time. I'm working, sharing a flat and starting to get re-invigorated. I feel kind of stupid for not writing, but the truth is, I've been so ovewhelmed that I just couldn't get over here and do it. Hopefully that will all change and I can share my wonders with the 3 people who actually read this!