My Day in "The City"...

I learned early on that San Francisco is referred to as "the city", so now you know too!!! After a crazy week of getting to California, meeting my new co-workers and spending a few days training, I was ready for a break. I feel like my weekend trips are a well deserved mini-vacation. In typical Amy-style traveling, I crammed a WHOLE bunch into one weekend. I booked a "comprehensive" tour of the city for Saturday. I saw a LOT!!

I got up early and caught a cab to the train station near my hotel. This train is the commuter train, so it only comes every hour and then the ride into the city is about an hour and 20 minutes. I came prepared with my iPod and got a good seat on the second level of the train so that I could see as much fly by me as possible. Since I have always wanted to visit San Francisco, it was brutal to have to wait over an hour to see the skyline appear... but I did it!! Once off the commuter train, I jumped on a light rail train that took me to The Ferry Building where I was supposed to meet my tour.

I arrived with time to spare and I am so glad!! Every Saturday they have a HUGE Farmer's Market and no matter where I am, those are one of my favorite things to check out. There was your normal market fare like fruits and veggies. However, there were also yummy things like local honey, wine and cheese. I sampled everything I could get my hands on. Then I strolled around the inside of The Ferry Building where there are some really interesting shops. There was an herb place, a pork place, an olive oil place and many other interesting things. I sampled the olive oil and fell in love! YUM! The names of the places were almost as interesting as the shop itself!


Soon my time was up and I headed outside to meet my tour group. The first leg of our tour was to catch the Ferry across the Bay to Sausalito. The Ferry ride is about 20 - 30 minutes long. It was pretty chilly that day but I braved the upper level so I could see the sights. Since we were all tourists up there, we all took turns taking pictures of one another.


It was kind of foggy that day, so the farther away we got, the harder is was to see the city...

(The next picture is Alcatraz with the city behind it...)

We arrived in Sausalito and were given an hour of free time to get lunch and stroll around. Its a unique little town that is home to all sorts of galleries and shops. Not to mention one of the best views of the city (except on foggy days...)

The following picture need some explanation. There was a street artist that did amazing things with some of the rocks along the shoreline. He somehow managed to get them to balance! There are no supports or any kind... it was cool.

I ate lunch in a little deli and soon realized why it is home to the most expensive homes in the San Francisco area... for lunch I had one small piece of quiche, a bowl of clam chowder and a Coke. It was $18!!! So, I just bought a few postcards and called it a day on spending any money in Sausalito! I wondered over to the fountain in the middle of town to meet with my tour group.

(By the way... since I was traveling alone, I just figured I wouldn't be in my pictures. So, I dressed for comfort, not fashion and didn't wear make-up! I hadn't counted on my tour guide offering to "play photographer" for everyone! So, I please forgive me...)

We would soon find out that the Sausalito portion of our tour would be the slowest part of our tour. Once we boarded our bus, we were on the go for the next 4 hours! First we crossed over the famous Golden Gate Bridge and stopped to take pictures...

Then we drove through The Presidio and then stopped at The Palace of Fine Arts... a beautiful place!!!

Then we got back on the bus and headed to Golden Gate Park. The section we visited is home to the Japanese Tea Garden, the Natural Science Museum and the de Young Museum which is currently home to the traveling King Tut exhibit. (I am planning on going there my last weekend here... so I am sure there will be a blog about it!)

We were given time to explore the area (we didn't go into the museums) and then we got back on the bus and drove through many famous San Francisco neighborhoods like Haight-Ashbury and Nob Hill. Our next stop was "Postcard Row" which was one of the places I had been looking forward to! If you aren't familiar with "Postcard Row" or the "Painted Ladies", you will recognize them...

One of the reasons I chose this particular tour was because they are the only one that actually takes you inside one of the houses (the one on the left end). The owner is a friend of the tour company and he opens his home to weekend tours! He was there and chatted with us about the history of the house and some of the famous tenants that have lived in the row over the years. It was really interesting.

(Look! A famous Trolley!)

Next our bus took us by Grace Cathedral and then dropped us off in Russian Hill for a stroll. However, it wasn't a leisurely stroll since this area of San Francisco is home to some of the steepest hills! Does this sign give you any indication..?

Our tour guide pointed out this street...

The picture doesn't do it justice but it is a 45 degree angle. One thing he mentioned that I had never thought of... the driver has to practically CLIMB out of the car and the passenger has to hang on to the door as it opens because it will fly open and hit the car next to them. It is door ding central!! So, of course, with all of these crazy hills, where do you think we headed to? That's right- The World's Crookedest Street...Lombard!

It was crazy to see how much that road is actually used.

Then our bus drove us through North Beach (the Italian neighborhood) and we headed towards Chinatown. We were dropped off and we walked through Chinatown. I have now been to FIVE Chinatowns in my life... New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, London and Honolulu. I gotta say... they all look, sound and smell the same!

After our stroll, the tour was over. The bus dropped us off at The Ferry Building where we began. I was hungry so I headed inside to see what was still open. Lo and behold, the only place was Boccalone... the place that boasts "Tasty Salted Pig Parts". I had an AWESOME sandwich! As I was eating a co-worker of mine called me about joining them for drinks. Erica and I actually both work in the Austin office but are here and staying in the same hotel. We have hung out quite a bit and have become pretty good friends. Her family flew in from Texas for the weekend and they were out and about. So, I hopped on the bus and met them at Joe DiMaggio's in North Beach. It was a really fun night and a great end to a busy day!

I was able to catch a ride home with Erica so I didn't have to take the long train ride home. I FELL into bed exhausted! However, I couldn't sleep in late the next morning because I already had plans booked for Sunday. Alcatraz!!

Orientation...

I know that I promised my next would explain the "Tasty Salted Pig Parts" sign, but I am too exhausted to blog about my day in San Francisco. I was in orientation all day today and it wiped me out. I want to tell you about it though, so I will deviate from the plan for just this one blog. Okay? Okay.

They do a monthly orientation for New Hires at ShoreTel. I just happened to already be at HQ, but they actually fly the employees in from all around the world to attend. A member of my team was from the UK but I also go to meet some other Austin people. (I will explain "my team" coming up...) It is an all day program designed to introduce us to our new company, its beliefs, practices and people. It was very interesting for me since I am not from a communications background. We also got to meet all of the Executives, which included the founder of ShoreTel.

I was very impressed with a lot of the things they talked about, making me proud to be apart of this company. One of the things that was stated over and over... the culture of the company doesn't not include "politics". They were very clear about that. They have the mentality that everyone from the receptionist to the CEO are valued and heard. The founder even stated that they have hired some people and then realized they liked to play in office politics... they are no longer with the company. Another thing that was stated over and over is how selective they are when hiring new employees. Now, I have heard this from other companies too... "we only hire the best", "we search for the cream of the crop", so I didn't think anything of it. However, then the VP of HR asked people to raise their hands according to how many interviews they had prior to being hired... Some people had TEN interviews!!! I thought my three interviews were extensive... holy moly!! So, I think I believe them about their selection process. Overall, I was given, what I feel is a very honest look at the company. The founder, CEO and other executives all have the same goals. They spend more time at work than at home, so they want their "second family" to be happy too. Very refreshing...

The final hour of the day was, by far, one of the coolest things I have ever done at a new hire orientation. It was a scavenger hunt! But not your typical one with things like, "There is a clue taped under the table is Rm 201... go find it." Oh no... they didn't mess around. We are, after all, a high-tech company!! They actually brought in an outside company they facilitated a very elaborate game. We were broken into random teams and issued a cell phone and digital camera. We received all of our clues via text message and had to use the phone and camera to answer the questions.

All of the questions were company related, so we had to know how to ask or where to go to get the information. Some of them were silly (like write a love poem about ShoreTel) but it was a lot of fun. Some of them required goofy pictures and video too. My team was an interesting mix of Americans and foreigners, as well as Sales, Engineering and Operations folks- so we all had very clear strengths and weaknesses. It challenged us to work as a team and be creative all while learning company facts, history and policies. When time was up, we went back to the presentation room. They had snacks, beer and wine waiting for us as we watched each team's pictures and video. It was hilarious!!!

So, that was my day today. It was exhausting but so fun. I feel so confident about my future with them. They obviously care about their employees, are open and honest and encourage individuality. The CEO actually said that they don't like to have a lot of rules. They just hire people that can be trusted to make the right decisions. Nice...

There is something I have noticed about me these past few days... I feel like me again. The silly Amy that is always cracking jokes, meets new people and laughs. I was walking up and introducing myself to fellow employees and executives. I am confident and excited about meeting them. I feel like the timing of this new job is allowing me to recreate myself... and somehow the person I am becoming isn't new. She was just gone for a while.

New Year... new me.

It is hard to believe that the last post I wrote on here was September 15, 2009! SOOOOO much has changed since then. So, let's do a little catching up...

New name... Let's just hit the big one first- I have had a name change. Jason and I split up and the divorce was final the first week of December. Most of you reading this know all the details, so there isn't any need to go into them again. Bottom line... it was tough and sad but for the best. Jason and I still talk occasionally and we are moving on with our lives.

New address... After being home owners for less than a year, Jason and I sold our house last November. However, even before that we had decided to separate so I moved out. Since last September I have been living with a friend named Sally. A lot of you know her since many of us met the same way... through Amy Stanley. Sally and I became closer when we were set up as roommates on Bachelorette cruise for a mutual friend. I really got to know her that weekend and discovered what an amazing and interesting person she is. When I asked her if I could move in with her, she never even hesitated. She told me to come, bring Cheyenne and stay as long as I needed to get things worked out. There hasn't been a day since that I haven't been incredibly grateful for her patience, generosity and love. When this started, I had hoped it would be temporary while Jason and I worked out our lives. However, that takes us to the other new thing...

New job... Last October, I lost the job that I loved and have blogged about so many times. It was such a heartless and brutal experience, I don't want to give them any more time on my fun blog. I don't work there anymore... that's that. Fast forward to now and boy have things changed!! After being unemployed for over 2 months and having no income other than what my parents and a few friends provided, our prayers were answered. After three interviews and a long process, I was hired by ShoreTel, a VoIP communications company. Part of the hiring deal was that I had to go to California to be trained at their headquarters. Has anyone ever known me to turn down a trip ANYWHERE?? So, as I write this, I am sitting in a hotel in Sunnyvale, California. I am here for three weeks to learn my job because I will be the first member of that department to be in their new Austin office. I have been here since January 12th and will stay through February 3rd. (I am also coming back for a week in late March.) So far, I love it. Plus, I have never been to this part of California so it has been an adventure. I will blog soon about my weekend adventures into San Francisco!

New Year... So, that brings us up to date, for the most part. I have very high hopes for 2010. There will be no more days of sitting in the living room crying out of boredom or loneliness. This year is all about the positives. I am going to continue living with Sally until I can pay off my "divorce debt" and catch up from being unemployed. Then I will turn my focus to saving up to move into my own cute little place. I am going to absorb everything at work and appreciate what it is sure to provide me.

New ME... These past months have really humbled me. It has taught me so much and forced me to look at some things head on. I learned that there are times in our lives that we have to ask for help. And during those times, you just swallow your pride and do it. As my Dad told me, "That is what family does." I know that many of my friends feel the same way too. It made me look around and realize how loved I was and how many people I have in my life that want to help. I also learned to lean on God more. Its just not as easy as it might sound. However, there have been some times during all of this that His presence was SO clear to me. I could feel Him loving on me. I know for a fact that there are people He put in my life years ago in preparation for right now.

There are so many people to thank...

My parents... Not only for all of the material things they helped with but for their love and support. They have also provided a safe and happy home for Zoe & Gypsy while I get settled. I am so blessed with you as parents.

My family... I know you all prayed for me.

Sally... words cannot express what you have done and continue to do for me.

There are so many other people that I am afraid I will forget someone. The last thing I want to do is hurt your feelings. Hopefully, you will see yourself somewhere in these words below...

Thank you to those that brought me food when I had none, spent hours in the kitchen preparing food for me to take home and freeze and even providing Cheyenne with food. Thank you to those that listened as I cried, had pity-parties and whined. Thank you to those that let me come over in sweats, no makeup and had no expectations of me being any fun. Thank you to those that took me to lunch just to get me out of the house. Thank you to those that would slip me that $20 bill and refuse to call it a "loan". Thank you to those that would text, email or call me on a regular basis, just to "check in". Thank you to those went on walks with me and Cheyenne so that I could get some fresh air. You all contributed to the New Me.

My next blog will explain the meaning of this sign...

Flat Gypsy...

Some of you may have heard of "Flat Stanley"? Well, we have a Flat Gypsy!

Gypsy is one of our cats and she is... special. In her own way she is... unique. Absolutely nothing, and I do mean NOTHING bothers her. She can get trampled by the dogs, fall off furniture or be thrown over your shoulder as you walk around the house... she never blinks. One time, I was painting my toenails and she came to check things out. She leaned in to take a whiff of my polish remover and it could have been water for all I knew... not a flinch or shudder. She just walked on like it was a normal occurrence to smell acetone!

For all of her quirks, she is very loving cat that knows no stranger (much to the dislike of some of our visitors). She has a funny growl that we will often hear as she chases a piece of dog food around the house. Oh, and she talks to things. We will hear her carrying on conversations with toys or a piece of trash she finds interesting. She is quite a cat and we love her for all of her weirdness.

Ever since we first brought Gypsy home she had a funny way of relaxing on tile or wood floors. She fully extends her back legs behind her so that her stomach and tops of her paws are flat on the ground. Gypsy is a big cat but she manages to flatten her body out.

Then
(She had a chemical burn on her neck when we first adopted her... its all better now!)

Now

It actually looks kind of uncomfortable but she is totally relaxed. I am not sure if it is the stretch that feels good or the cool floor along her belly. No matter how many times I have tried to get a picture that truly shows how this looks, it has never worked. Then the other day, I had the idea to lay down on the floor with her so my camera was level with her. It worked...

One endearing thing about Gypsy? Even though she can be a pest some times, she is always by my side. She sleeps with me, follows me around, talks to me and always, always wants to be petted. One of her favorite things to do is to lay on the desk in front of the keyboard as I type. Sometimes she watches the mouse on the screen, sometimes she plays with my fingers as they type and sometimes she just sleeps. In fact, she did just that as I wrote this blog...

Sadness is...

Sadness is seeing Lake Travis these days. The drought in Texas has made nationwide news... it is bad folks. It is on our local news every night and they talk about the dangerously low lake levels. When you don't pass it every day, it is easy to put it out of your mind. Well, I DO pass it every day... back and forth to work.

I have always said that I wanted to stop and take pictures so I could blog about it. Well, a few days ago, I finally did. They just don't do it justice though.

This is what I see as I drive down 620.
This what I see as I round the corner behind the Oasis.
Yes- those "islands" are in the middle of Lake Travis. Normally you would ski boats or jet skis racing by. Instead you see islands that have steadily grown larger as the hot summer progressed. They have become so established, they are growing vegetation on them!!!
At one point during the middle of the summer, they closed ALL boat ramps except one. Another thing I happen to pass on my drive is one of those boat ramps...

You can see what was some one's personal boat dock sitting in the dirt. At one time they could walk from their lake house to a ramp that would take them out the dock and their boat. No need now.
If you look VERY closely you can see where the water finally does begin off in the distance.

"They" say we will have a wet winter... let's pray they are right.

It is official...

This is now in our front yard...

Sigh.

How Much Is That Baby in the Video Store?

A couple of weeks ago I had a movie night with Kasi. It was a slumber party complete with Coke & Cream Soda floats, pajamas and Troy!!! We headed to Hollywood Video to choose our movies and Troy cracked me up... so out came the camera.

After Kasi and I made our selection, it was Troy's turn. At some point as she looked through the children's movie, she removed a bar code sticker from a video and placed it smack dab in the middle of her forehead. Then once it was securely in place, she seemed to forget about it.

She spent the rest of the shopping trip (and part of the ride home) with her sticker proudly displayed.

As we checked out, some of the folks in line were giggling at her cuteness. And of course, as soon as Troy realized she had an audience... the show began.

Personally, I think she is worth WAY more than the sticker value of a Strawberry Shortcake video. :o)