Hot tubbing with Leah

Leah and I are starting a new tradition of Restorative Fridays - very California of us. Today we took a restorative slow flow yoga class at Piedmont Yoga Studio and then went to Piedmont Springs for outdoor hot tubbing. For me this was preceded and followed by naps. Now this is what I call balance.

Letting Go and Holding On

This has been a week of letting go and holding on. Seems like a reverse sequence of events, but it makes sense. In canceling my UK trip I had an unexpected feeling of "letting go". The past was suddenly in the past instead of so closely tied to the present. I took notice and realized I was feeling more settled into California and the US when I let go of my trip. My apartment became more welcoming and my my eagerness to do what is right for me became more of a drive. I had been floating down the river, still lightly tethered to the past.

Then today, in our Saturday morning yoga class with Nancy Leigh-Smith at Alameda Yoga Station, I experienced healthy holding-on. The yogis in this class are a welcoming pool of support, providing an anchor for me whenever I am lost at sea. We practiced a stretch where we held hands with a fellow classmate and stretched as far back as we could while holding our joined hands in front of us and our other (deliberately not calling it free) hand behind us. Nancy asked me to demo it with her in front of the class and I instantly felt like we were figure skating partners. It was so much fun. She kept saying, I think you can go back further, you can pull harder.

Next I practiced the stretch with a partner and while I reached my hand back, another partner team, Jeff and Andy, were right there. Jeff and I instantly clasped hands and it became a four person stretch halfway across the room. It made us laugh and smile. We looked to see if we could include more classmates but we were too far away. However, we were all connected through our grasp of California.

Honoring Summer

When you're an adult the seasons pass one after another with very little celebration, unlike when you were a kid and each season had its activities and holidays. In California, with its endless summers, it is even more difficult to distinguish the seasons as each day blends into another.

So, in honor of summer I will find a way each day to take a mini-holiday. Criteria is that it has to be cheap or free, within walking, biking, BARTing or City Car Share distance, involve outdoor activity, and summer attire.

Let the summer games begin.

The above image was taken on July 4 at the William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach.

Rediscovering Oakland

I find it hard to believe but come July 2 I'll have been living back here in California for a year. This whole time I've been quite San Francisco focused with my social life and work. There are areas of Oakland that I haven't seen, that is until yesterday. I tootled around Piedmont Avenue and Uptown. Reminds me of what I loved most about Oakland when I lived there.

This City Car Share is good and also a bit bad. Good because it gives me wheels, bad because at this point I could probably buy a car for what I'm putting into these rentals. Should I get a car? Ike the Bike is keeping me in superb shape. I don't even get winded doing some extraordinary hills. But, as I feel more settled I am missing the freedom to travel far and wide in the Oakland flatlands and hills.

My possessions arrive from Houston next week and I'm starting to make more significant "purchases" if yard sales count as major shopping venues. Two weeks ago I bought a ceramic painted sink for some future bathroom I hope to have. Today I purchased downhill skis, boots and poles. Clearly, I'm committed to being here.

Kismet in Kalifornia

My friend Rene introduced me to a new word today "kismet". It is the the confluence of coincidence and future fortune. This has been the theme of our road trip to LA LA land to prospect, purchase and transport antique woodworking machines back to Oakland.

The story of each of these machines is intertwined with the history of the men (and women?) who inherited them and are now in need of liquidity. As we meet these "sellers" we hear their stories which reflect the bittersweet legacies attached to the machines now moving out the door.

Yesterday we journeyed to Van Nuys, CA to meet a guy selling a band saw. At first he really just was a "guy" who was late for our meeting and who, when he finally did arrive, had forgotten his keys. After climbing over the security gate to let us in, the guy guided us to the saw which was berried amongst other sleeping iron giants.

As Rene explored the saw's inner workings the seller began a spontaneous monologue about his grandfather and father who had started the family business he was now regretfully closing. He whispered under his breath "this shop use to be filled with men."

Suddenly the seller had become Andrew and for the remainder of our journey we have been discussing his mixed messages of wanting to sell yet setting up every possible barrier to completing the transaction. As we parted ways, leaving the saw behind, Andrew's reluctance to close the doors was reflected in his lifeless stance. It was obvious to us that he was hearing the buzz of men and machines now gone.

Again, sharing his inner dialogue, Andrew told us that he was the only one remaining to close the doors and wasn't certain the he himself would continue his craft.

Plug and Play

My first blog post from my new iMac which I've named "April". Plug and play to the extreme. I plugged this beautiful baby in and it sang to me. What a welcome! First the happy mac welcome sound, which I didn't even know I missed until it played, then a welcome show with music. Sing to me. 

Photos soon...

The experience of walking into the confusing Apple store nearly turned me off from buying April but I kept my cool and found a "Specialist" named Zac to help me figure out which Mac to purchase. He was very patient and followed me around, both the store and my thoughts, as I tried to figure out which system to purchase. April has a GIANT 20 inch monitor. Zac was enticing me with the 24 inch one but this was already over-kill. 

Buying a Mac feels totally self indulgent, and you know what, I'm ready for a little self indulgence. Today I filed my divorce paperwork and to celebrate I'm nurturing my inner-creative by purchasing a creative computer. 

I use to be a Mac person. For college graduation my parents bought me a Classic. The screen was so small I had to scroll back and forth to see a full sentence. It was best used for Tetris. Then my first job in California introduced me to the big design type systems, perfect since I was working at CopyMat in Salinas the Design Center Manager. That was ions ago. 

I had a big old Mac for a long time until I sold it at a yard sale in Oakland. I think the year was 2000. Actually, not that long ago. But the nine years between then and now were when the Mac got fancy. Selling my Mac I instantly felt out of the cool-Mac loop. As the years passed the gap widened. 

In Houston my job with Aurora Picture Show was in a full Mac environment and by that point I was full PC. I instantly took a disliking to that clever Mac sitting on my work desk with all its fancy gadgets and whoo haa. But you know what? I think I was a bit jealous of all the creative stuff I didn't know how to use. 

Here's my chance to get jiggy with it. Where are all the wires and the clunky CPU? Gone! Now to figure out how to download images and why is that globe bouncing at the bottom of my screen?

The nicest feature is that I can partition the hard drive so that it can be a Mac and a PC. The best of both worlds. 

Bridge, Tunnel, BART Disorder

I've been resisting biking in the dark, cold nights of winter. Okay, dark but not too cold as this is California after all. I'm geared up with very good lights and warm clothing so all you worriers can worry a bit less.

Tonight I'm heading into San Francisco to see my co-worker Kay Hilton's play. The ride to BART was surprisingly easy. However, I think I'm getting the bridge, tunnel, BART disorder which many East Bayer's are afflicted with when considering expedition's into the big scary city. The only problem with my affliction is that I work there!

Pleasant Day at the DMV

The secret to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is to make an appointment online! I walked in 15 minutes before my appointment and saw the long lines and unhappy faces. The I noticed the sign for appointment check-in. No one was waiting. I filled out my form and had to run to the next counter because my number was called that fast. Then on to get my photo which required three minutes in line.

All the employees were friendly and chatty. However, the folks online were very grumpy. I imagine that they are unaware of the internet appointment option. It is likely that many don't have computers. Now back to my bike and into the city!
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The Sky is Falling

Looking out the window this morning I gazed curiously on a mysterious occurrence. Flecks of something were moving across the sky. It actually took me a good 30 seconds to recognize rain! To think that I've only been back in California for almost eight weeks and rain is already unfamiliar.

My first thought was that the fog was super thick and making rain-like drops. Then snow came to mind, followed by sleet. The rain only lasted a few minutes which is a shame since we are in a drought. However it was good news for my commute-by-bike.

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The Accent Again

Here I am sitting at the bar at Applebee's satisfying my Friday night burger craving and again I get the accent question.

Drunk man #1: Are you from Australia?

Amy: Are you saying you think I have an accent?

Drunk man #2: Where are you from with that accent?

Amy: California but I just moved back from London.

Drunk man #2: They speak perfect hoity toity English over there in London, even if they don't think they have an accent

You gotta love how we Americans let it hang out on payday.
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I Left My Heart in San Francisco...

...and now I'm going to find my heart.

After much soul searching and following my heart I've realized that San Francisco is where I belong. That was where I lived before these three years of adventures through Houston, Connecticut, London and DC. It is where I have been the happiest and now I am going to move back.

So, June 28 open up those golden gates, California here I come! Over the next month I am going to continue my welcome back to America Whistle Stop Tour of the East Coast. Next week in Connecticut and Maine, later in the month in Philly. Then... off to San Francisco via Virgin Atlantic airlines first class. I figured it would be appropriate to have a UK airline take me home.

Behold the Oracle's Wisdom Chai Loving Hippies

Want a good laugh - try the Oracle of Starbucks. Type in your favorite drink order and it gives you wisdom about your personality type. Spot on for me. Stephen will be much amused that it calls my a hypochondriac. Even says you probably live in California.

Beverage of choice: Soy Chai Latte, Tall


The all-knowing Oracle of Starbucks
Behold the Oracle's wisdom:
Personality type: Hippie

In addition to being a hippie, you are a hypochondriac health nut. You secretly think that your insistence on only consuming all-natural products is because you're so intelligent and well-informed; it's actually because you're a sucker. You've dabbled in Wicca or other pseudo-religions that attract morons and have changed your sexual orientation a few times this year. You probably live in California. Everyone who drinks soy chai latte tall should be forced to eat a McDonald's bacon cheeseburger.

Also drinks: Beverages with lots of marketing that says they're herbal and organic.

Can also be found at: Whole Foods, indoor rock climbing facilities.

I happened upon this when looking for cool email signatures to add to my work correspondence. Resulted in finding Information Week blog posting What Does Your E-Mail Signature Say About You?

Open Up Those Golden Gates

Stephen and I head out to California today. It is his first visit in more than a year and I honestly can't remember when I was last there. Maybe it was last Summer when I presented the Busines Arts Council Board Leadership Training Program. So far it has been very easy to slip back into life in the States. California will be the final frontier.