As we go through the awkward transition of moving ourselves across the country, I'm trying to remember all the major, and minor, things that have happen over the last ten years. I know I have missed so many things but here are some highlights from my first five years as a Californian.
I moved here in 2009: the motto of the year was "2009, so divine" The motto for the year is thought up each year in December by yours truly. It should have been "2009, what's yours is now mine" because Eddie and I would find we are sharing a lot of things once we live together. I had two friends help me out with the drive to California. There were 3 adults and one cat riding in a 2 person U-Haul holding all of my paired down possessions and towing my Ford Taurus at the same time. What a ride! and no, there wasn't even a bench seat. and yes, that means one person was always on the floor and one person was always holding my cat Peanut. We arrived during Pride fest in San Francisco. I was too tired to go out though. I don't think I slept the entire time we drove out here.
I met a few new friends that year. I went to a Weezer concert in the city with strangers, worked a couple different jobs, had a few visitors from Michigan as well. Only a couple weeks after I moved to San Fran, an illegal immigrant without a licence rear-ended my car on the high way. It was a big fat "welcome to San Francisco" if I ever felt one before. I said goodbye to my friends and family in June of 2009 but I was able to see them again for a visit back home for the holidays when I got everyone a miniature cable car ornament from Union Square for Christmas.
Which brings us "2010, if not now, when?". after settling in a little more comfortably, and keeping the trunk of my car held down with a bungee cord from my accident, I decided it was good time as ever to really get my California girl life going. I celebrated my first birthday in California by eating brunch at the Cliff House and then flying home to have a "Pink Party" with all my friends back in Michigan. Eddie and I did our first Halloween marathon together in LA and Las Vegas. We did Universal Studios Fright Night, spent the night on the Queen Mary and did Dark Harbor, Disneyland, and a couple of club appearances in LA and Las Vegas with Eddie's sister who was promoting her Halloween costume line. Also in 2010, I had my mom out for her first visit here and we went on a few really good hikes in Muir Woods and the Coastal Trail. It was during this visit that my mom and I discovered Baker Beach, and also found out it was a little nude beach hideaway secret of San Francisco's Gay community. There were penis' everywhere. We couldn't get fast enough up those cliff side stairs. After running up those stairs and all of that hiking, I decided I wanted to be in better shape so I used some of our car accident settlement to get a fancy personal trainer in the city. He worked me out until I cried each session and I think what I took away from his teachings is to drink A LOT of water. Which I already knew. Fancy that.
2011-2012 I rang in the new year in at the Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood. It was fancy and super fun. I also got to have the joy and experience of going to Jamaica to see my best friend get married! Also in 2011, we filmed a pilot of Eddie's sister's TV show and celebrated the launch of a special watch she created with a jeweler in LA. We also spent a fun family thanksgiving at Eddie's sister's house in LA and we deep fried a turkey!
Speaking of turkey, 2011/2012 was also the year I finished my Nutrition Assistant certificate and had an amazing experience doing an internship with the county. I wasn't interested in any of the jobs in my area involving nutrition as most of them were in hospitals. I got a job with my friend who owns a successful salon in the peninsula and became her salon coordinator. I fell in love with the beauty industry! For my birthday that year, I had an amazing strip-club themed night in the city. We took a limo to different strip clubs and ended back at our house
2013-2014 I spent my time really enjoying my job for the salon and began a side job working in social media for other small businesses. I learned so much about marketing and also making websites and even wrote a blog for a vintage clothes company. A reality TV show came to film at our salon and that was fun as well. California seems to be the state of reality TV. I enjoyed playing the part of the antagonist. I organized a charity night sponsored by our salon for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We held it a bowling alley and San Francisco and it was a great success! Eddie and I attended going to many Giants games that year and were enjoying getting to the World Series.
We spent our anniversary at the House of Prime Rib in the city and rented a town car to drive us past the fireworks for fourth of July. Eddie and I took my brother to Las Vegas for his 21st birthday and celebrated my birthday as well since we are both March babies. We got an amazing hotel suite at Planet Hollywood with a projector theater, kitchen, 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms plus a private spa!
I love looking back at all these fun memories. While all of this was happening, I also had my own mental health stories unfolding. I decided to leave that out for this time.
I moved here in 2009: the motto of the year was "2009, so divine" The motto for the year is thought up each year in December by yours truly. It should have been "2009, what's yours is now mine" because Eddie and I would find we are sharing a lot of things once we live together. I had two friends help me out with the drive to California. There were 3 adults and one cat riding in a 2 person U-Haul holding all of my paired down possessions and towing my Ford Taurus at the same time. What a ride! and no, there wasn't even a bench seat. and yes, that means one person was always on the floor and one person was always holding my cat Peanut. We arrived during Pride fest in San Francisco. I was too tired to go out though. I don't think I slept the entire time we drove out here.
I met a few new friends that year. I went to a Weezer concert in the city with strangers, worked a couple different jobs, had a few visitors from Michigan as well. Only a couple weeks after I moved to San Fran, an illegal immigrant without a licence rear-ended my car on the high way. It was a big fat "welcome to San Francisco" if I ever felt one before. I said goodbye to my friends and family in June of 2009 but I was able to see them again for a visit back home for the holidays when I got everyone a miniature cable car ornament from Union Square for Christmas.
Which brings us "2010, if not now, when?". after settling in a little more comfortably, and keeping the trunk of my car held down with a bungee cord from my accident, I decided it was good time as ever to really get my California girl life going. I celebrated my first birthday in California by eating brunch at the Cliff House and then flying home to have a "Pink Party" with all my friends back in Michigan. Eddie and I did our first Halloween marathon together in LA and Las Vegas. We did Universal Studios Fright Night, spent the night on the Queen Mary and did Dark Harbor, Disneyland, and a couple of club appearances in LA and Las Vegas with Eddie's sister who was promoting her Halloween costume line. Also in 2010, I had my mom out for her first visit here and we went on a few really good hikes in Muir Woods and the Coastal Trail. It was during this visit that my mom and I discovered Baker Beach, and also found out it was a little nude beach hideaway secret of San Francisco's Gay community. There were penis' everywhere. We couldn't get fast enough up those cliff side stairs. After running up those stairs and all of that hiking, I decided I wanted to be in better shape so I used some of our car accident settlement to get a fancy personal trainer in the city. He worked me out until I cried each session and I think what I took away from his teachings is to drink A LOT of water. Which I already knew. Fancy that.
2011-2012 I rang in the new year in at the Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood. It was fancy and super fun. I also got to have the joy and experience of going to Jamaica to see my best friend get married! Also in 2011, we filmed a pilot of Eddie's sister's TV show and celebrated the launch of a special watch she created with a jeweler in LA. We also spent a fun family thanksgiving at Eddie's sister's house in LA and we deep fried a turkey!
Speaking of turkey, 2011/2012 was also the year I finished my Nutrition Assistant certificate and had an amazing experience doing an internship with the county. I wasn't interested in any of the jobs in my area involving nutrition as most of them were in hospitals. I got a job with my friend who owns a successful salon in the peninsula and became her salon coordinator. I fell in love with the beauty industry! For my birthday that year, I had an amazing strip-club themed night in the city. We took a limo to different strip clubs and ended back at our house
2013-2014 I spent my time really enjoying my job for the salon and began a side job working in social media for other small businesses. I learned so much about marketing and also making websites and even wrote a blog for a vintage clothes company. A reality TV show came to film at our salon and that was fun as well. California seems to be the state of reality TV. I enjoyed playing the part of the antagonist. I organized a charity night sponsored by our salon for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We held it a bowling alley and San Francisco and it was a great success! Eddie and I attended going to many Giants games that year and were enjoying getting to the World Series.
We spent our anniversary at the House of Prime Rib in the city and rented a town car to drive us past the fireworks for fourth of July. Eddie and I took my brother to Las Vegas for his 21st birthday and celebrated my birthday as well since we are both March babies. We got an amazing hotel suite at Planet Hollywood with a projector theater, kitchen, 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms plus a private spa!
I love looking back at all these fun memories. While all of this was happening, I also had my own mental health stories unfolding. I decided to leave that out for this time.
It's good to take the time to reflect when approaching a new milestone.
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