where to begin? (actually it's all we've been doing...beginning.)

There's no logical place to begin to catch up on EVERYTHING that has been going on as we settle into our new lives. Needless, to say, we continue to "deal" with the people here. Crazy how the mentality of culture is so different. I remember the biggest lesson from getting to stay in Rome for any extended amount of time being something all together different: "Wow...even an ocean apart, a different language, and extraordinarily diverse histories and nothing is really different--just humanity...living." Perhaps it is the expectation of same-ness that throws the wrench into this hope for familiarity and the making of a place home. But, enough there... MANY good things have been unfolding despite our continuing grouchiness about San Franciscans, and in an uncharacteristic (at least for myself typically) superstitious mood I have avoided writing about the anticipation of any of them on the blog! But, now... it's pretty safe (cross your fingers here [x], please).

First, we sold the car! Yeah...in the space of one week, we "smog-checked" it (Cali is "great" for keeping close tabs on emissions...not so much for keeping tabs on jerks...maybe we could suggest a "jerk-check" to go along with all the other crazy paperwork and hoops you have to jump through at the DMV to register a car...but then...who would be driving??), registered in CA, posted it again on Craig's List...and WHAM! This guy called, we showed it to him on a Saturday and passed the keys off on Tuesday. Acutally, it was the same day that I got a call from Kuth/Ranieri Architects (www.kuthranieri.com) that wanted to hire me! Yeah...I GOT A JOB!

Other than these enormous life changes...we've been doing what we can to make our little haven a home. We spent less than $100 and got a full-size mattress and boxspring, a TV, a DVD player, 5 plates, 2 bowls, a broom, and even a vaccuum cleaner. Thank you Craig's List and Goodwill! We've been sitting on the floor so long now...I think we are becoming pretty accustomed to it. I don't think we would feel right sitting on a couch now, and the dog seems to like it alright :)


Let's see...we scored $5 tix to a Giant's game. Totally lucky. Of course, Eric was kickin the SC pride. "What? You don't know what this obscure little deer is on my hat?? It's only the State College Spikes...New York Penn League?? Oldest league in the nation?? Geez...Whatever, brah..."

Our seats were hell and gone from any type of view of the game but the park looked cool as the sun set and we realized we had a full wi-fi signal at ATT park for the iPhones!!! All was not lost that night!

While we save some dough on haircuts...we've (splurged??) on a SWEET new computer. That's right...I'm writing on this speed machine right now. We've been planning on a new Mac mini for about two months now, and BAM! We went into the Apple store and poor little Oscar (the sales guy there) was so disappointed we just wanted to buy the stupid thing and didn't have any questions...That's right. We're not so into the mindless, nicey chatter. On that note...

Mmmmm...it's OK...this is the new hipster look anyway! Quick- off to my fixed gear bike with my skin tight jeans, messenger bag strapped high and tight, shitty "old school" tatoos, and euro glasses...I have expensive coffee to drink and mediocre art to philosophise about!!!!
(unfortunatly there is only one of those things I don't have- tight jeans hurt my junk)

Oh- and just to make sure it isn't lost in Gretta's optimism- San Francisco blows...alot. And all the NASCAR races are listed at east coast time- If I wanted to do math every Sunday to figure out what time to watch them boys turn left for 3 hours I would have gone to a state school...again. Grrrrr. e

green grass syndrome...want to trade?!?

So, at this point it isn't a secret that California isn't really what I favor. It has been almost 2 months here and I feel like the place is revealing itself slowly- perhaps for the best.
SF is different from Marin County. Take the obliviousness of money and insulation from the "common" people and insert the same lack of personal space based upon urban situation and south american/asian backgrounds. For some reason it is easier to deal with people being rude by taking up the entire eisle at the grocery when it is attributable to their heritage. I think it has everything to do with why people suck and why they are just anoying. Marin people suck to deal with for the most part...city people are just anyoying.
The neighborhood is interesting. Gay as you can find- and interesting. Gretta and I are readying ourselves for the Folsom Street Fair in late September. You see, we don't seem to have tourists in the area- we have visitors making pilgramage to the center of thier lifestyle. I have to say- everyone is super nice to deal with and most of the clubs have something on the outside stating that they are responsible for the neighborhood or about being good people or not getting into the bar. Interestingly, if you were to visit us it might seem odd that there are no women around---this is boy land. Big, tuff, hairy, gay boys. I would hate to be some common street thug starting shit with some scrawny guy while his big partner is in the corner store watching...that would suck.
School is along the same lines as everything else. Disappointing. The facilitys are lacking in common equipment, the rules are piling up like never before, and you have to "check out a key" to use the darkroom. Anyone who would be reading this knows that I HATE to have resrtictions placed on when I can get things done. It may be a long two years or a quick few weeks...I can't imagine budging and don't think they will find me charming for pushing as hard as I do. So- there you have it.
California sucks.
SFAI is over priced and full of rules to keep things in order (not very revoltionary, at least in a good way)
The people suck.
Rich kids don't care about much- just looking cool for the first week of school.
Eric

filling in

It's been almost a week now and slowly the refrigerator is filling as are the cabinets with goodies from the goodwill just around the corner. But....the best news is that Eric is going to get to spend his first night here tonight! Outta the burbs into town. Pep and I have been getting to know the neighborhood in the meantime, and I'll admit she's making friends faster than I could ever. Must be those hound eyes. Finally, for the first time in a month and half, we will ALL be in the same place at once. ahhhhhh...

Pictures of the place are on the way. Now that we both have geek phones, there's little excuse for none.

Movin on up!

Before I put anything out there we both want to offer up huge thanks to everyone who took the time and energy to aid us in the last weeks adventures of faxing info on the drop of a dime.

We got the apartment and Gretta (along with Pepper) stayed in the city last night in our new apartment. 

If you haven't heard about the building here is a quick summary. First, the buildig in LEEDS certified for all you green thinking folks. Second, the building is a sort of new idea in government project housing. The idea is to have different backgrounds all living in the same nice environment. So, there are newly housed chronic homeless folks, recovering issue folks, and lower income folks (us). Interestingly- we are only allowed to make so much money. Don't worry, we fall well short of the limits. The rent is cheap!!!! and we will be morphing into hipsters any day now seeing that we will now call SoMa our home (Folsome and Dore). Follow the link for the building, come visit, and get ready for the party in MAY (also known as the wedding)!

Not nearly cool enough for NorCal

As I settle into the area and accept that this will be my (our) home for the next few years it has become painfully obvious that I am not even close to being cool enough to live here. If you haven't been to the Bay Area in recent years or ever at all let me shed some light onto the area and culture.

1 guys love their tight pants...I mean really guys, what is up with that? I can't wait to get out of my cycling cloths cause they feel weird, how can denim be comfortable? The worst thing is the lack of ass in the tight jeans- I should stop.

2 the "faux-hawk" (that is my term...) is alive and well. what is a faux-hawk? think frat kid wanting to have a mohawk but not really having the convictions to make a statement about anything aside from looking cool...whatever...hair product is alive and well here in Marin County...

3 "expensive bike looking for owner to actually ride me"...I have never seen so many gears and springs on carbon mountain bikes used to hit the coffee shop. My poor Niner (thanks to the boys at FREEZETHAW.COM) is covered in this thick tan dust from never being cleaned and chain caked over while making fun of all the other bikes that never see "trails" but look real fast and clean

4 "trails"...if you live in the east and ever complain about the trails I will hunt you down and beat you senseless! Here in the birth place of mountain biking there are NO LEAGAL TRAILS on public land. The single track that is around you have to pay for! $5.00 a day. Really- I will beat you down! I am so sick of fire roads, crabby hikers, other bikers that are too cool to acknowledge you as you pass  by, and riders being "rad" by riding illegal trails...

5 "west coast folks are easy going"...what? Everyone here is so into being cool (yup- it is a concerted effort on their part) that they end up being asses. In 3 weeks I haven't meet anyone as chill as in the east. All the effort in being chill is counterproductive. Sad.

6 I would give my right arm for a cloudy day. Sure State College was cloudy to a silly level but sun every single day no matter what- really? My nose has been sunburned from day one, climbing on an exposed "trail" is hellish, and honestly- blue sky is only interesting for a short while. Apparently it only rains out here in the "winter" (the temperature never fluctuates enough to feel like another season, I think it is just a convention of the government). Again- whatever.

So what can I say to those of you who hold S.F. and NorCal in high regard? You can have it. Hippy kids with perfect teeth and designer glasses, uptight mothers letting junior tell them what the deal is, bike shop lackies being dicks, 6' wide "trails" of dust and gravel, everyone being soooo interesting, and the bike culture (mounted in the rack of their BMW) being sooo progressive.

The east coast is where it is at. NorCal may have been cool at some time but it appears it may have passed long ago.

Hogs and quiches...

eric

ps

gretta gets out here in a few days!!!!!!! don't expect me to like it any more, I just might bitch less....might

this is as fancy as it gets...

The chapel may be booked...but to put your mind at ease...we haven't forgotten about the party that is to follow (and as it turns out...that precedes also!). Nothing would make us more happy than to just be able to comfortably hang out with each other and the people that mean the most to us as we celebrate the initiation of this happy partnership. That's why we've decided that the most fitting (and let's not forget, fun) means would be nothing more than bbq and beer. Eureka Springs is a lovely place once you are removed from the hellish touristy parts...near the White River and Beaver Lake are some of the most beautiful landscapes that could be found in this bowl between the Appalachians and the Rockies. It's like a little central PA. And once you are away from the cheezy Swiss motels and "antique" stores, you can find some really enchanting places...places, in fact, that are perfect for an outdoor party! Over the weekend, Mom, Pepper and I took a little trip over to Eureka and checked out a few...of course there were more than enough offers of hillbilly fancy (stuffed fish on the wall and knobby pine over-sized rockers covered with fake bear rugs) but the places that really grabbed were two little campsites that had no pretensions of being some Aspen-esque resort. They were cabins in the Ozarks...that's all...places to pitch a tent, put the keg on ice, smoke some pork (or portobello mushrooms, dear veggie friends) and build an enormous bonfire. Below are two such places that we are considering...As the plan goes right now...we have the place for Thursday and Friday nights. We can all arrive there on Thursday, hang out, decorate however we see fit, party, get up Friday, get the food together, get ready, get hitched, get back and chill. Yeah? It would be a dream for us and we can't wait to share it with everyone.

Spider Creek


This place sits right on the White River, at a little spur known as Spider Creek. The water was up while we were there, but the cabins are on both sides of the water connected by a little foot bridge that we couldn't cross. There are places to fish, canoe, and just hang out. There are a couple of open areas for our tent and even a little pavilion (that includes a big screen tv??) and bbq smokers. There's enough cabin space to fit everyone:
3 large cabins that sleep between 8-10 people
4 smaller cabins along the water that sleep 6
RV pads that overlook the water for Ralph, Ingrid, and little Lucy
and of course, a sweet little honeymoon cabin for us!

The people there were crazy accommodating and helpful...and actually seemed excited to have a big throwdown there...hmmm...wonder if they'd still think that after we were finished??

the screened-in pavilion...already stocked with firewood

the honeymoon cabin that overlooks the river

one of the large cabins for a big group...a little party unto itself

the upper cabins...arranged into a little community

the footbridge that connects the upper cabins to the waterfront cabins and one of the larger cabins

one of the waterfront cabins...notice the fog over the river...it was morning...oh so pretty...little ozark streams...

another view of the waterfront cabins

a possible tent site near the water

the other possibility just across the way

Ozark Cabins...

a little place tucked into the woods near the dam and just above the river. It's not really on the water, but it is secluded...might not be a bad idea considering the days of shin-dig that we are planning...

Here, we would have the run of the whole place, which includes:
1 big cabin that could sleep about 12
4 small cabins that sleep about 4
RV pads for Ralph, Ingrid, and Lucy
A "hut" that is basically a screened in pad where we could put an air mattress and/or sleeping bags
A common kitchen, tent area, bbq smokers
1 honeymoon cabin for US!

It is everything we need probably...only the sleeping arrangements might be a little tight...of course, after the margaritas...anything (including the picnic tables) would probably be just fine!

Ozark Cabins campsite...completely open in the middle; the economy cabins are to the right and the honeymoon cabin is to the left, the big cabin is just up this road and the RV pad is just behind where I took the pic

The sweet honeymoon cabin complete with a jacuzzi...it seems to be the popular amenity for "honeymoon cabins" in Eureka...

A small cabin that we think sleeps 4...the lady wasn't really clear about it...hmmm

The back of the economy cabins. The common kitchen is in the middle with the white door.

The front of the economy cabins with a common porch that overlooks the open middle space

The back of the tent area from the economy cabins...not too far away

The BBQ smoker and grill near the tent

The tent area with picnic tables and lots of fridge space...

hungry eyes

though I have little to tell about life here in Arkansas...the stories coming from cali-way are outrageously fun and exciting. it seems that eric is having a pretty good time there despite the disappointingly paucity of trees, rocks, and dust-free trails...fighting off raccoons in the deep of night (that's for him to tell...I couldn't dare), keeping the fishpond from going dry, meeting a "diverse" cycling community, playing with the new iPhone... Speaking of that little geek-inducing device -- Eric has just about talked me into getting one as well. He was right, don't touch it unless you are ready to splurge for one. Besides, like he said...I'll need it in the city: to get around on my new bike, find my favorite coffee shop, get to my new job. yeah right.

To report on Pep: she got to take a little trip with us to northcentral arkansas, Hardy, where she happily laid on the covered sidewalks and snoozed while mom and dad went into the shops...I think her favorite part must have been the ice cream stop...I think she's taking a special liking to Orin..."yeah, dad, i know she looks like she's never fed, but really? does she need ice cream too?" I just hope she's not mysteriously missing the day we're ready to take off to SF -- it seems Orin's getting a little attached to those big eyes...
-g

"Please??? But...I'm Pepper!"