ROAD TRIP!

This was supposed to be a quiet weekend for me. No money... nothing to do, etc. That didn't happen. :o) My co-worker, Erica and I went to dinner on Friday night and she mentioned she has a cousin that lives in Santa Barbara, CA. She was tossing around the idea of driving down for the weekend. Well, I have heard wonderful things about driving that highway. So, we talked about it, considered how crazy it would be and then decided we would leave Saturday morning!!! So, after a good night's sleep and breakfast, we hit the road.

Santa Barbara is about 5 hours South of us but the drive was beautiful. It was along the famous Pacific Coast Highway...

It never felt like we drove 5 hours because we enjoyed the scenery so much. It was so beautiful. Every mile seemed different than the one before. Rolling green hills, beautiful mountains (some with snow on top!), vineyards and the coast. We oohed and aahed the whole time.

It just wasn't what either of expected California to be like. Just as people have stereotypes of Texas, we had some of California. Never did we expect this!! Plus, we have had rain almost non-stop since we have been here, so we were so excited to see the blue sky.



We didn't get to see the coast right away- it took us several hours until we saw the water. And it came out of no where!! Erica was driving and I was looking down messing with my camera. I just happened to look out my window and there it was... the Pacific Ocean. I was so excited, I couldn't get the words out! I just started tapping my window and making weird noises... it actually scared Erica. Then she saw it and we both shrieked! We had arrived in Pismo Beach.

We pulled over at the first chance we could find, jumped out and took some pictures. The area we found was on top of a high cliff and the overlook was gorgeous. (By the way, the fact that we BOTH wore Texas shirts was a total coincidence we discovered that morning over breakfast. Oh well, we are proud of our state!)

Feeling re-energized, we got back in the car and finished our drive to Santa Barbara. Erica had told her cousin (Brittany) that she MIGHT come down but never got back to her. So, our plan was to show up where she worked and surprise her. With a few calls to Brittany's Mom, we knew what time she would be getting off and with the help of GPS, we found our way to The Brewhouse where she waits tables. We would be arriving just as her shift was over.

We walked in and Erica didn't see her anywhere. We decided to run to the restroom and then ask around. As we walked into the bathroom, there was a woman washing her hands. She looked up at me and saw my Texas shirt and started to comment... but then she saw Erica and started screaming. I figured we had found Brittany!! She hugged Erica and was so excited to see us. She told us that she was about to strike up a conversation with me about being from Texas and then she recognized Erica. It was really funny.

We hung around and ate lunch while Brittany finished work. Then when she was off she took us to one of her favorite hang-outs. It was a cute bar along the marina called "Endless Summer". There is just something so relaxing about enjoying a locally brewed ale and looking out at the mountains, boats and the ocean. I thought... I could get used to this California way of life!!

Later, Brittany's boyfriend joined us and we went to dinner on State Street and then to a comedy show. We had a lot of great laughs and then headed to Brittany's house to sleep. She shares a really cool house with several of her co-workers. It is high in the hills and the view from her living room was amazing.

The next morning we hit the road again. We were exhausted but again, the beautiful scenery made the trip fly by. To end a perfect California weekend, we drove through In and Out Burgers for lunch! Thanks Erica for a great weekend... we got to see so much of the California coast and it was so fun!

A Cold Day at The Rock

Last Sunday I slept in a tad to recover from my marathon tour of the city on Saturday. I was really tired and sore from all the walking but I was SO excited!! I had a ticket to tour Alcatraz that afternoon! I can't even tell you how long I have wanted to visit "The Rock". I have always found it to be so mysterious and intriguing.

Once again, I caught the commuter train into downtown San Francisco. Then I took the light rail and connected to a street car. It was fun to ride in the old street car... what a blast from the past. I jumped off at the stop for Fisherman's Wharf. My Alcatraz tour was at 1:55PM, so I had allowed enough time to walk around the Wharf and get some lunch. Unfortunately, the day was a very cold, windy and rainy. Oh, and I didn't have an umbrella. Fortunately, what I had in mind for lunch would help me warm up nicely! I have heard so much about the sourdough bread bowls with clam chowder. After asking several people prior to my trip, the samerestaurant on the Wharf was recommended each time... Boudin Bakery. It was soooo yummy!!

After lunch, I bundled up and headed towards the pier for my Alcatraz tour. It was at that time that the sky decided to open and dump freezing rain. I stood in line relying only on my trusty Longhorn baseball cap and jacket to keep me dry, Everything from the waist down was just out of luck... good times. We all boarded the ferry and headed to the island. It was terribly cold and rainy, so I sat inside. The closer and closer we got, this creepy, looming figure began to appear in the fog... Alcatraz.

I did the self-paced audio tour and it was very well done! They did a very good job of interviewing former inmates, staff and narrating. I have to say that the weather actually added to the "creepy factor" that day. It was very interesting and I really enjoyed it.

One of the most fascinating thing about Alcatraz is its close proximity to the city. It is so close and yet so far away. One of the inmates talked about how when the wind was just right, it would carry the sounds of the city life across the bay and into their cells. When they had outdoor recreation time, it faced the view of the city... a reminder of what they gave up. Almost as if on cue, for the first time that day, the sun came out. I was allowed to see the city in in all her glory.

One of the Park Rangers gave a quick talk about how the cell doors operated. It was very interesting. However, the thing that made an impression on me was when he closed them... what a sound. I caught it on video... its only about 10 seconds long.

(If you can't see the video in your email, click here.)

I spent a couple of hours wandering around the island but then it came time to line up for the final ferry out for the day. As we lined up to board... it began to POUR again. Absolutely miserable. Then once we were on board... it stopped. I took advantage of this and ran up to the top portion of the ferry for pictures. It was so windy and cold and I was soaked through, but I was determined to get a couple pictures!!! Right after these were taken... it poured again!

After returning to land, I made my way back to the street car to begin my long journey home through the train system. I was so wet that I was beyond caring. All I wanted was to get into my sweats and the hotel and warm up. Even though the day had been pretty miserable, Alcatraz didn't disappoint at all. The tour was awesome, informative and very interesting. I am so glad I braved the weather to go.

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...