Adventures of LC

My Summer so far

2008-07-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

Have been busy enjoying my summer to update my blog. I have continued working part-time as an admin for a day treatment program in Lemon Grove. Have been babysitting in the afternoons watching my boss's baby, Nicholas. He is almost 8 months old and I watch him at his grandma's house in North Park, which means I am up to speed on the latest and greatest of QVC and HSN ( for those of you who don't know, those are channels where they show you stuff you can buy by calling a 1-800 number, real popular among the older set.)

Have been dating James for almost 4 months. He is awesome. I have included some photos below.

Hiking in La Jolla

San Diego County Fair

Sweating like a pig in 106 degree heat in Tecate, Mexico

The train that took us from Campo (East County SD) to Tecate, Mexico

Hope to make a trip up North sometime in August and also missing my sister, so a trip east to Arizona is on the top of my list.

A Balancing Act

2008-04-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

This semester has been insane. I have 5 more papers to write before the semester ends in less than a month! Procrastionation has been my worst enemy as well as the great weather San Diego has been having.

I have experienced many changes since I have blogged last. In a nutshell I began dating a fellow classmate, we'll call him the Bostonian. Started dating the Bostonian before Thanksgiving holiday. The relationship did not last long and he broke up with a few days after Valentine's day. The break-up could not have occured at a better time as I was over my head stressed out by my 2nd job as Graduate Assistant for my masters program. Luckily, I also let go of that commitement as it was overwheleming me and I was hugely underpaid and under appreciated.

I am trying my best right now to live a balanced life. I am back to running and have found several routes around my neighborhood. I am also back in the dating game and have gone on some great dates. There are 2 guys I have been on a few dates with that I like. One guy is Navy reserve/foodie and the other is Bio-San Diegan. Navy Reserve/Foodie has been on 3 dates with me and kicked my but in a competitive game of connect four. Bio-San Diegan has his masters in Bio-Chemistry and is originally from San Diego and we have been on 2 dates.

Great weather and the company of great men make it too easy to postpone the writting of papers, but I know they will all get done. Just 4 more weeks!

"It never rains in Southern California"

2007-09-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

So this song came to mind this morning as I heard raindrops. My first thought was that someones shower was leaking or really loud. But nope, low and behold it is raining here! Yippee! This San Franciscan is as happy as a clam!

Please see my first San Diego rain below:

Also just got a part-time job. Its an Admin job at the San Diego Center for Children. I was getting a little worried about finding a part-time job that pays above minimum wage, I was about ready to apply for a job at Starbucks. Which is still something I may consider depending on how much time I have left to study. We have tons of reading, like 200-400 pages of reading a week! Also we have a couple of group projects, my favorite! Just kidding!

p.s. The rain pic is my new hood, Mission Hills, which is 4 blocks from the Hillcrest border.

On the road again

2007-09-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

Well, there was a lot left unsaid about my new neighborhood. It is Logan Heights, it is slightly sketchy as I discovered last week. While driving home around 10:30 pm, a car jutted out from an alleyway, (there are many alleys in this part of SD)stopped their car in front of mine, T-bone style. It was a souped up rice rocket,with two young Latino males in their early 20's. They stopped their car in front of mine and the two proceeded to walk towards my car. I was in disbelief for 2 seconds and then quickly drove around their car without stopping (They stopped right in front of the stop sign I was was supposed to stop in front of. At that point, there was no one around, so I just quickly drove around them. Five minutes later, my heart began racing as I realized that I could've been a potential car jacking victim. I looked behind me and they were no longer around. I quickly went home. Ever since, I have not felt safe here in Logan Heights.

Also, my apartment as cute as it looks in pictures, was not painted, cleaned or really in rentable condition. The management here said they fix things asap, but they have failed to do so - I have already been here for a month! Seriously, how long does it take to get these things done?! I have made things work here as best as I can, but after my incident with the guys I believed to be "Cholos", I have decided to move out.

Jasmine is pooped from searching on Craig's List all day

San Diego

2007-08-25T22:37:00.000-07:00

Me relaxing at Pacific Beach

Karma is a @#$%&! So, after making fun of my friend Sarah for wanting to move to the Mission district in San Francisco (Damn hipsters!) I somehow end up in San Diego's version of the Mission, Logan Heights (but really I am sooooo close to Barrio Logan,I can taste the tacos from Porkyland from bedroom).

The view of my hood from my front door

My apartment search proved challenging as I struggled to figure out neighborhood lines in San Diego within a single weekend. I searched for apartments in North Park, University Heights and Hillcrest. Many apartments that claimed to be in North Park, were sooo closed to El Cajon Blvd (San Diego's answer to the bad end of Polk Street in SF), it was dangerous and there reportedly alot of car theft. So I ended up at The Village at Ocean View, also known as the gated apartments with the most white people living in it. I have a nice gated place to park and I feel pretty safe.

My first living room!

Perks of living here:

1) Good tacos
2) Good produce at the Mexi-mart
3) Close to all major freeways
4) 10 minute drive to my classes at Dede Alpert Center in City Heights (similar to the Tenderloin)
5) A one bedroom apartment with hardwood floors and tile and my own parking place all for only $805 a month.
6)My cats are learning Spanish (j/k, but seriously don't be surprised when I tell you they love Tacos Al Pastor)
7)My next door neighbor/Surrogate grandpa named Bernardo. He is always bringing me spicy Mexican food and fresh juice.
8)All my pals have pending plans to visit me,so I am excited to show people around.
9)The closest beach is Coronado, which I think has the cutest lifeguards!!Its a short 10 minute drive from my place.

My favorite moment so far this summer, was playing at the beach with my Niece Blanca.

21 days and counting!

2007-07-12T22:29:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I will be putting in my 2 week notice, YIKES!

Instead of worrying about it, I went to get a mani-pedi with Sarah at Pinkie's Nail salon in Potrero Hill. I had a gift certificate for a free pedi, a perk from work, it came in a goody bag from an event my manager attended. Below see Sarah and I camera ready with our mani's!

(Sarah and I)

My ex dropped into town, nice to walk down memory lane or better said down Mason Street with my first San Francisco boyfriend . . . I figure it takes about 6 years for me to feel comfortable enough to do the friends-thing with my ex's. There we are below, some nice tourist took our photo with my nifty new camera phone.

(Adrien and I)

Surfs Up!

2007-06-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

Yay, so I finally brought a camera to my second surf trip/lesson. Check me out with my surf buddies! I will be officially moving to San Diego the morning of August 3rd. I am excited and scared and looking foward to it all.

The cutest guy!

2007-06-12T20:12:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to share a photo of my little brother's baby, Malachi(don't know how to spell his name...

So far he has barfed up on me every single time I have held him, but I love him anyway. Sad that I won't be able to see him grow super fast, I will be the Aunt who tells him how much he has grown every time he sees me. Can't wait for him to walk and be more interactive. I think he will love the San Diego Zoo and Legoland.

Speaking of little people, my sister Meija may soon have a little one of her own. Her and her husband are adopting. I am crossing my fingers that it all works out and they get this 4 year old girl. Love being an auntie.

Anticipation

2007-06-07T06:56:00.000-07:00

I officially have less than 2 months left in San Francisco. I have dreams and nightmares about the actual move to San Diego. I have never moved this far, my furthest move was from my home in Palo Alto to San Francisco State Dorms.

I am super excited about what San Diego has to offer beaches, good surf, more days to run, new people and grad school. Also having my sister Meish just a few hours east, in a suburb of Phoenix is a comforting thought.

I worry most about driving my cats 9+ hours in a car, seems daunting, drugging them up seems more appealing as the days get closer. I wish they were like people sometimes, so I could somehow prepare them for this mini-journey. Hope this doesn't make me a cat co-dependent.

My new job is insane, the last 2 days have been filled with lots of meetings and my new boss yelling at everyone. Its nice to know that it is only temporary. I am friends with the other Admin in the office Sarah, we saw Knocked Up last night, pretty funny and scary. I am definately not ready for any of that stuff.

Surfs Up!

2007-05-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

Surfing was awesome on Sunday! I am officially hooked and can't wait to go back next month! After 2 hours in the water with our super supportive instructors Tara and Sam, I wondered what I had been so afraid of. We are now huge loyal fans of Cowell's beach and it's surf shop! I will definitely return for another lesson and more fun in the sun. I really want to buy my own wet suit and then one day my own long board.

After surfing a group of us gals went for a big dinner at Riva's on the pier. Super yummy! Plus they sell gelato, which helps on the walk to the parking lot.

Work this week has been insane, I feel like I am drowning in work and have had issues concentrating on one thing at a time. When the big cheese is the office, its like a tornado of activity and loads of work gets dumped on my desk. Plus it doesn't help that I have insane expectations of myself. Luckily, I know that I am really only there for another 2 months, unless University of San Francisco accepts me . . .

Have you seen the Chilean Sea Bass?

2007-05-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

So, no word from the Chilean Sea Bass, Boooooo! Whatever, officially over it.

Besides, I got bigger fish to fry, the move to San Diego and all that it entails. Plus I am super excited this afternoon I will be learning how to surf at Cowell's beach in Santa Cruz. Ever since yesterday's surf simulation class I have had this song stuck in my head.

The Chilean Sea Bass strikes again

2007-05-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

Went on another date with the Chilean Sea Bass (CHB) on Friday night. We saw a movie at 1000 Van Ness. He suggested we watch "Hot Fuzz", which ended up being super funny, I was laughing so hard I was crying.

After the movie we grabbed dinner and drinks at Chevy's and just like date number 1, it was a long dinner with lots of good conversation. After dinner he walked me home. I nervously chattered for like 10 minutes in front of my building and then we kissed. And what did this nervous Nelly say after she smacked lips with the Chilean Sea Bass? "So are you gonna gross me out again next week?"

He totally could have misunderstood me, but he knew that I was referring to the blood and guts film we just watched. - P.S. Hot Fuzz is pretty gory, so if you cannot stomach a double decapitation do not try to watch this film.

When telling my gay boyfriend(GB) about great date # 2, I tell him that I am going to email CHB to thank him for a nice date. GB says, "Email, why don't you just call him!" So now I am debating about whether I will call him tonight or tomorrow night????

I HEART Cupcakes

2007-05-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid I called cupcakes, pupcakes! Check out this cool blog on cupcakes!

http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/2007/05/because-you-can-never-have-too-many.html

First day back on the force (work force, I mean) and Texas Toast

2007-04-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

Today was my first day at the new job. Felt overwhelmed by all the new things I had to learn. Oddly I missed the backwards systems at UC, as there aren't any systems in place to organize at the new job. In a cool way I get to organize things in a way that is more Lynnesa-friendly. Needless to say my day flew by and it was soon time to go home.

Now, about that Texas toast reference. I was supposed to have a date on Sunday with a guy from Texas who seemed promising... he had a cute dog, southern accent and was a wine aficionado. We wrote emails back and forth and he came up with some lame excuse about how a date on Sunday might inconvenience me, huh? So, I am dropping this guy like Texas Toast. Next.. . .

Won't be eating here anytime soon

Actually, there might not be a next, I am seriously considering putting my online dating profile on snooze til I settle down in San Diego.

That is, unless the Chilean Sea bass decides to ask me on another date. .. hmmmm

Call the CHP I am now a licensed driver

2007-04-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

Say hello to a licensed driver! Yes, I passed my test, I am sooooo relieved and happy. I didn't realize how nervous I had been until I saw sweaty my palms were.

Smurf this

2007-04-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEaNazgD3ms

Nerdy in a good way

2007-04-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

Went on a really great date last night with a Chilean techie guy. He was super nice, interesting and Nerdy, but in a good way. He had a lot of varying hobbies like composting, bird watching and other Eco things. In a movie he would be played by a cute Ray Romano, you know the guy from the show Everybody loves Raymond.

We met up for coffee at Peet's in the Ferry building at 4 pm, the conversation was sooo good I asked him if he wanted to grab dinner. So we hopped in a cab and went to Myconos on Polk Street. We shared this Greek platter for 2 and a bottle of Greek Cab. It was the longest dinner I have ever had in dating history! We just kept on talking and talking and suddenly I realized that I no longer recognized any of the other people seated in the restaurant. After dinner we walked up to Nob Hill and I showed him my favorite views of the city. Then he walked me home, it was about 10:30 pm or so.

Overall it was a super good date, but who knows. I just hope he doesn't turn out to be a fat liar like Buddhist mentiroso.

Ending & Beginings

2007-04-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my last day at UCSF. It was a sad and happy day. I will miss all my favorite co-workers. Glad to leave behind the worst supervisor I have ever had in my lifetime, seriously. Leaving her was like getting out of a bad relationship, you don't realize how bad it really was until you leave and get a little space away from it.

I will begin my new position as Executive Assistant to the Regional Vice President of Forest City on April 30th. Looking forward to my new commute of 15 minutes, walking! Also I will steps away from the mall, Blondie's Pizza and of course 15 minutes away from my apartment.

My graduate program at San Diego State University will begin August 29th. I am aiming to move to San Diego the first week of August. I would like to scope out the areas of Hill Crest, North Park and University Heights sometime in the middle of July.

I officially feel like the Good Bye Girl, leaving UCSF, Forest City (eventually) and then the City.

Will my adventures take me to San Diego?

2007-04-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I found out that in a few short days I will know if I got accepted into San Diego State University. YIKES! Is LC ready to take it to Sunny San Diego? SDSU is my first choice after all and it would be pretty amazing to live in San Diego. I have done my time here in San Francisco (almost 11 years!) maybe its time for a new change of pace.

Was Buddha a liar?

2007-04-10T21:27:00.000-07:00

So after my introduction to Buddism, Aidan decides to be honest with me, well actually it was really all my doing. Let me explain . . .

So while discussing the topic of marriage, I notice his face for 2.5 seconds, almost as if he was wincing. So, I dare ask " Have you ever been married?"

Which is totally out of left field right? Since his profile states that he is 36 years old, single/never married and no kids. So in less than 2 minutes Aidan goes from cute to big fat liar! Not only has he once been married and lied about it, but has 2 daughters (21 and 18 years old) and he is 41 years old.

He claims that he changed his profile age, marital and kids status to please me, how thoughtful! While dropping me off at the end of the date he says " I can tell you are not happy with me". (Wow, seriously this guy is genius!) " There is not much to be happy about, is there?" I reply.

Needless to say I wrote him a quick email the next morning telling him that it wasn't going to work out.

WWCD? Carrie would go out and have brunch with her pals and laugh about what a looser this guy was. She would say " I dont need a 41 year old liar to enlighten me, I can see that it is impossible to base a relationship upon a lie" .

Buddism?

2007-04-03T18:23:00.000-07:00

Hmm. So Aidan has invited me to check out some Buddhist event, its open to the public. Does chanting on the 3rd date make me look easy? Hmmm... ? Not sure, WWCD (what would Carrie do)* - better yet what would she say?

"What's a little Buddha-Buddha for some booty?"

P.S.
Did I mention how this guy looks like Aidan?

1) Long hair - think Aidan, season 4
2) He works with his hands- he works as a handy man
3)He has that total go with the flow attitude about life.

*another reference to one of my favorite shows, Sex and the City

Playing barbies in my head

2007-04-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

After yet another somewhat promising 2nd /1st date*, with Aidan (okay not his real name, but he totally reminds me of the character Aidan on Sex and the City), I began doing it again. Playing barbies with him in my head, you know when you start fantasizing about all the cool things you (Barbie) and him (Ken) will do, camping, weekend trips, slow dancing, lazy Sunday mornings and meeting the parents. I laugh at myself for doing this, but I find myself doing it whenever I think a guy has potential.

During dinner I found myself uncontrollably smiling and realized that he too was smiling. I then felt self conscious as I realized that I am very much attracted to Aidan.

Lately, I have gone on some dates with some less than stellar guys. There was Therapist-Intern guy who was super serious, intense and uptight. Also the whole Therapy thing, made me want to spill my guts just to see if I could get a free session out of him.

Prior to Therapy-guy, there was Ego-maniac guy, who thought he was the best thing since sliced bread. Every time I told him a story about something I had done or seen, he would one-up me and refer back to how great, smart and fast he was. The only thing he had going for him was that he was an excellent kisser, but that doesn't a relationship make.

*Aidan and I went on our first date about 3 weeks ago, so our 2nd date felt like another lst date all over again, except I knew that he looked like his photo, cute!