Day 204 - I left my heart in San Francisco, originally uploaded by clarity25.

Well....We're back in New York.

We returned late at night and the next morning I was up at 6 A.M. for work. It was back to the daily grind. Traffic, working behind a cramped desk, passing out from exhaustion when I return home and starting all over again. I didn't have time to upload the pictures from my vacation until now.

All the pictures from our San Francisco trip are in one folder. You can view them all together: HERE

I also wrote all about the trip in my diary....HERE

We had such an amazing time, I'm glad we visited San Francisco before moving there. It was everything I dreamed of and more. I fell in love with the city and I really feel like I found a place where I truly belong. I have this deep longing in my chest to return as soon as possible. It's almost like an ache inside. I can't even describe it in words.

We moved up the date of Departure from New York from October 1st to the beginning of September. Now We'll be driving to San Francisco sometime between September 6th and September 9th.

Which means we have a lot of packing and planning to do before then.

But as you can see, I have one suitcase fully packed.



Day 204 of 365 days

Day 203 - Streets of San Francisco, originally uploaded by clarity25.

Everyone is more liberal in San Francisco and evidence of their disappointment with our current administration is everywhere..

Even on the sidewalks. .

More on this day in my diary entry HERE

Day 203 of 365 days

Day 202 - Golden Gate Bridge, originally uploaded by clarity25.

Yes, this counts as a self-portrait because my finger is in it

Here I am in front of the Golden Gate bridge..

More about this day in my diary entry HERE

Day 202 of 365 days

Day 201 - Coffee at Bohemian Cigar store Cafe, originally uploaded by clarity25.

Today we explored the streets of San Francisco

Powell street, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz, Climbing up Lombard street...

More about this day in my diary entry HERE

In this shot was taken in Marios Bohemian Cigar store Cafe next to Washington Square. We were checking the map because we were utterly lost!

Day 201 of 365 days

We're HERE! - View of Golden Gate Bridge from Livingroom window, originally uploaded by clarity25.

We're in San Francisco! It's beautiful...

Eric and John are lounging on the sofa talking and the livingroom windows are open. We can hear the bells of the Street cars clanging in the distance and there is a soft breeze coming in. The view from his apartment is absolutely stunning! You can actually see the golden gate bridge and all the mountains in the distance.

It's like gazing at a postcard image. It's hard to believe it's real. John's apartment dates back to the early 1900's and has all hardwood floors. A strange layout attached to the livingroom is a separate room with just windows on all sides.

Getting here was a real struggle. We were bumped off two flights. We were in the airport for 9 hours!

I was so tired and I was close to giving up hope. We were on the bottom of every standby list even though we had arrived 4 hours early. it was so discouraging.

Then suddenly there was an opening in First class. The 4 people ahead of us were dressed in T-shirt and jeans. They chose US because we were wearing business attire (like our Aunt told us to dress). We were allowed to bypass the others and were put on the flight last minute. First they said there was only ONE seat available and tried to separate us. But just one minute before, they realized there were TWO seats. They rushed us onto the plane.

So we flew FIRST CLASS to San Francisco. I've never flown first class before. It was amazing, the food (a 5 course meal with unlimited cocktails), the big leather seats that tranform into beds,

I still can't believe we're here... I can't believe we're going to live here...

There's so much more I want to write about, but we're heading out now. John wants to show us Golden Gate park.

I'll update again when I get a chance, I just wanted to check in a let you know that we made it! We're here..

we're actually here!

Day 200 - We're leaving on a Jet plane..., originally uploaded by clarity25.

This is my 200th picture for the 365 days project. I never imagined I'd make it this far. So much in my life has changed since Day 1 . I wanted to make this picture more interesting, but I don't have much time... so this is all I've got.

It's 12:30 A.M., We will be leaving for the airport in an hour and 45 minutes.

Eric is taking a nap. I'm exhausted but I'm way too excited to sleep. Plus I don't want to risk sleeping through the alarm clock and missing our flight to San Francisco.

Our aunt told us to wear fancy business attire because it will increase our chances of getting on the flight. (we have standby tickets) and also we might be bumped up to FIRST CLASS.

I'm used to dressing comfortably and casually for airplane trips, so this feels really strange for me. Eric has a 3 piece suit. We look like a "Professional Couple" -- Hopefully we can pull it off:)

If we don't get on the early morning flight, there are 4 other flights to San Francisco today. Our Aunt warned us that the flights are packed but she assured us that we would definitely get on one of the flights.

If I have internet access, I'll update when I reach California. Otherwise I'll write all about the trip when I return on Monday.

We're going to San Francisco!!

WOO HOO!!!! I can't describe the giddy feeling in the pit of my stomach! I get like this everytime I travel somewhere new..

Have a great week!

Day 200 of 365 days

Day 199 - plane tickets, originally uploaded by clarity25.

I don't know if this silly thrown together self-portrait adequately expresses my excitement over this new development.

But if you didn't already figure it out from the picture...

We are going to San Francisco in 3 days!!

My Aunt works for a major airline and I called her up. I told her that we really wanted to visit our friend in San Francisco before we moved there. Just a few days to get a feel for the city, potential jobs and the apartment we'll be living in.

My Aunt immediately signed us up for the family member discount flight plan and booked us Stand by tickets at a REALLY CHEAP rate.

We're so happy and so GRATEFUL! Eric and I did a happy dance around the livingroom tonight.

Tomorrow we'll be requesting a short leave of absence from our jobs and Thursday morning at 5:30 A.M., we'll be hopefully on a flight to San Francisco!. (I've never had stand by tickets before so I don't know how it works. If anyone has any experience with this, please let me know) We'll be returning on Monday

This will be my first time in California...

In 3 days we'll be visiting our future home!!

Day 199 of 365 days

Day 198 - So much to do...., originally uploaded by clarity25.

**Saturday**

There's a lot to do and very little time. It always helps to write a list.

This upcoming move to San Francisco would feel a lot less overwhelming and daunting if I had more TIME to get things done.

It's hard when we're both working full time.

This week went by so fast, I didn't even have time to collect my thoughts.

Work..sleep...work...sleep..eat...work..sleep...

I feel like I'm running on a non-stop treadmill and everything is slipping out of my grasp. I didn't have much time for photography or any creativity this week. Which is why I was absent from Flickr. My updates might become sporadic during this time... But I'll be sure to always check in at least once a week.

Right now we're trying to find affordable plane tickets to San Francisco so we can visit our friend a few weeks BEFORE the move. We want to spend a couple of days with him, check out the area, look into the job opportunity...etc. It's better then just quitting our current jobs, leaving everything behind and jumping blindly into this new scenario.

Just checking in to let you know I'm still alive. I took a 365 pic for Friday too. You can click back to view it. Hopefully my next picture will be a picture of PLANE TICKETS. *fingers crossed*

I have to get back to my search...My aunt is a flight attendant... Maybe I should give her a call for advice.

Have a good weekend!

Day 198 of 365 days

Michael knows that something is up, originally uploaded by clarity25.

I wonder if Michael realizes that he's going to be facing some major changes..

He can sense the anticipation, feel that something is brewing...He looks at us with intense curiosity while we talk excitedly about moving to San Francisco.

We've been discussing the dilemna of...HOW to get him and Fiona to California. We can't take them on a week long road trip in our tiny Corolla packed filled with our belongings. Even with a bunch of sedatives, I don't even think there will be any room for two cats and the bulky traveling crates.

We keep hearing horror stories about flying your pets separately in cargo and things that have occured to other people's cats, dogs, birds..etc.

There HAS to be an AFFORDABLE and SAFE way to ship your cats to another state.

There just has to be....

We'll find a way.

Day 197 - Kicking off my work shoes, originally uploaded by clarity25.

**Friday afternoon**

Another 40 hour week at Innitech Corporation has come to an end.

This week was particularly exhausting. I'm being trained on new material and the job is becoming more demanding. I didn't have any free time. I just returned home every afternoon and passed out from exhaustion in bed.

I did nothing from Monday to Friday but work. I didn't even have a chance to log online and check my E-mail.

But I have to remind myself that I only have 2 more months in this job.

Only 2 more months of wearing those shoes.

They used to be new and pretty....now they look worn out and frayed around the inner edges.... as worn out as I currently feel.

Me and my shoes just have to hold together for a little bit longer

Day 197 of 365 days

Day 196 - Road Trip 2007, originally uploaded by clarity25.

After talking to a lot of friends and studying the advice I received in comments + E-mails. (Thank you so much for your help with this!)...

We decided that we would store most of our belongings and furniture at my parents house for now.

We will pack up our little Toyota Corolla with all the essentials (as much as we can possibly fit) and drive cross country to San Francisco.

My father will drop the cats off at the airport once we reach San Francisco and we will pick them up from the pet cargo area. I think they would handle a couple of hours in an airplane better than a 5 day car trip.

Since we'll be moving into a fully furnished apartment with our friend, it doesn't make sense to bring over our entire household just yet.

So Now we're faced with a very long road trip. 42 hours and 39 minutes to be exact. Although someone told me that was a very optimistic estimated time from MapQuest.

We'll be taking the (I-80) route from NY to CA. We'll be driving through a number of states...

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada...

and finally we'll reach California.

Of course, I'll be taking my camera and my laptop. If the hotels we stop in have free Wireless internet (Which most DO have these days) I'll be posting updates here for my friends, family and D-land buddies during our road trip. (so you'll all be coming with us) It will take at least 5-6 days. We're giving ourselves a week so we can do this at a comfortable pace.

Now there's a little fact that I kind of left out about this Great American Road Trip.

Our car already has about 195,000 miles on it and it's ten years old. So in all honesty, IS THIS CRAZY? WILL WE MAKE IT? I don't want to break down in the middle of Death Valley...

I've never in my life taken a road trip like this, neither has Eric. If anyone has attempted something like this, Is there anything very important that we need to bring or anything that we need to know?

Day 196 of 365 days

Day 194 - Lights out...again., originally uploaded by clarity25.

"There's something about the very appropriate name San Francisco. St. Francis, the most benevolent saint in the hierarchy, was the archetypal caretaker of the wounded. His nurturing and tolerance allowed for healing and growth.

Like it's namesake, San Francisco opens it's arms to all sentient beings. the emotionally and spiritually wounded in particular, have always come here looking for freedom and change, for a place to grow and be themselves.

San Francisco is the metropolis of possibilities. It is soft and misty. Like a dream.

It seems beyond History..."

-"Travelers Tales: San Francisco"

We had another power outage...

Once again we were without electricity for most of the night. There was a lightning storm. We lit a number of candles and read together.

I'm beginning to enjoy these temporary power failures, as crazy as that sounds...

It's just so peaceful. No sound of airconditioners, or the refridgerator humming or the computer fan running. No electrical buzz whatsoever..

Complete silence.

Just me, eric and the surrounding darkness.

-Day 194 of 365 days

Day 193 - Doing Research, originally uploaded by clarity25.

***Wednesday, Fourth of July****

I have the day off today but Eric has to work.

I checked out a handful of books on San Francisco from the New York Public Library and I read through a lot of them this afternoon in bed. I'm trying to do as much research about the city before we move there on October 1st. (see previous entry for more details)

I also have been trying to figure out the most affordable way to move cross country....

We have a car, 2 cats, and a lot of stuff (i.e. an entire household) to carry with us.

A POD costs 5,000 dollars. So that's out of the question.

Renting a A UHaul Truck costs about 2,000$ -- in addition to the cost of gas. For nearly an extra 1,000$ we can have our car attached to the back of the truck.

But I received a quote from a moving company that will pick up our boxes and furniture at our front door and deliver them to San Francisco for us. That costs 1,800$

We can go with that company and drive our car to San Francisco. We can fly our cats separately...

Or attempt to take our cats with us for the road trip, although I think they would scream the entire way in agony.

There must be an easier way...Any Suggestions?

We have less than 3 months to figure it out. I'm both excited and overwhelmed...For now I'll just continue my research...

Happy Fourth of July!

Day 193 of 365 days

Day 192 - San Francisco!, originally uploaded by clarity25.

Our friend from art college that now lives in San Francisco invited us to live with him.

We are moving to San Francisco on October 1st.

We talked this through all last week and now it's official. We ARE going to do this. Life is too short not to.

So.....In 87 days we'll be driving 2972.72 miles cross country and moving to the west coast. This is a major move. There is a lot to do and not much time to do it

Day 192 of 365 days

Day 191 - A Change in our plans..., originally uploaded by clarity25.

**Friday**

If this picture looks familiar it's because it's from one year ago. It was taken during a crossroad in our life. A period of transition.

A year ago we were in Germany struggling to get Eric's Greencard and go to America. It was a difficult transition. Leaving our job as artists in a German Multi-media company, saying goodbye to Eric's family and all of our friends. Friends I had grown to dearly love during my four years in Germany.

We made it to New York and Now we're faced with another struggle.

...getting out of New York....

Life is funny like that. The grass is always greener on the other side...

The lease on our current apartment expires in 3 MONTHS.

it's time to form a new plan of action....

We have one.

like every change, this is also scary, new and overwhelming.

But it's also exciting. I'm biting my nails again... Eric is looking off into the horizon .

This week we made an important decision. There has been a new development and we're setting sail on a new course.

This was a hectic week for me so I didn't have much time to take pictures for 365 days. But I just uploaded the self portraits for Monday and Wednesday. You can click back to view them.

Have a good weekend:)

Day 191 of 365 days

Day 190 - Lights Out, originally uploaded by clarity25.

**Wednesday**

The electricity was out for our entire street most of the night.

Eric and I lit a bunch of candles all over the livingroom and spent the night talking together.

There was nothing to distract us from eachother. No internet, no television, no radio. Just the two of us and the flickering candles illuminating the darkness. We opened up about our fears, our feelings, our hopes for the future. We acknowledged how far we've come, what we hope to change and where we want to be...

It was an emotional and important night.

We needed this time together.

Sometimes a power outage is exactly what you need to stop you dead in your tracks and remind you of the more important things in life.

We are both sitting on the sofa. If you look closely you can make out Eric on the right (I blurred him out a bit because he was only in his boxer shorts) and me on the left. Due to the long Exposure, There are two images of me as I lean in to kiss him as the picture was taken.

Day 190 of 365 days

Day 189 - Life goes on, originally uploaded by clarity25.

**Monday**

I returned to work after my short leave of absense. I stepped into the elevator and joined the laughing group of men in business suits chatting about work. Everyone seemed to be in a great mood and I forced myself to smile politely.

My friend, Carrie Bradshaw approached me when I sat down wearily at my desk.

"So you're finally back from your little mini-break, huh? Lucky you! You didn't tell me you were taking time off. Did you have a good time? Where have you been? What did you do?", she asked

I paused. I contemplated telling her what my family is going through and the sadness we're experiencing. The tears, the struggles... But I didn't because the whole department would know by the end of the day. (SEE HERE) I didn't want to be the subject of gossip even if it's well meaning. Some things are just too personal.

"I spent time with my family", I said "That's all, really....nothing special."

I averted my eyes and changed the subject.

After she left, I started up my computer.. gazed at the massive pile of folders resting in the IN BOX and sighed..

Life goes on.

Day 189 of 365 days