Day 98 - First day at a new job, originally uploaded by clarity25.

I woke up this morning at 7 A.M. with conflicting emotions.

On one hand, I was happy to have a temporary job in a law firm that pays so well, on the other hand.. it's so far removed from my dream job situation or anything I had even trained for.. it was a little unnerving.

I'm stepping out of my element

But lets face it. According to a recent SF Chronicle article..It takes an average of 3-7 months of job hunting to find your dream job these days and I'd rather do temporary stints during the process than sign up for something more permanent and get stuck...It's only a week of my life.

While I slid on my stockings and pulled back my hair.. I tried to look at it as an adventure. I thought of Ally McBeal and Dancing babies.. Lawyers are just people too after all. I shouldn't be so intimidated by the expensive suits.

I pulled on a pair of sneakers and put my high-heels in my purse. I kissed Eric goodbye and walked out the front door. As I strolled down Clay street, I could see the Financial district at the bottom of the steep hills..the tall buildings made of glass, the bay bridge..It really was a beautiful view. (see previous picture)

I continued my walk and blended in with all the other adults wearing business attire, walking briskily to their jobs, sporting I-pods in their ears and fancy handbags slung over their shoulders. They didn't seem to notice that I was a newbie or how I was gazing up at all the skyscrapers like a complete tourist. I was feeling a mixture of awe and terror...clutching the FED EX package and the print out with the address of my new job.

The building that loomed in front of me was also made entirely of glass and seemed to stretch up as far as the eye could see. I've never worked in a building this tall and pretentious-looking before. My first instinct was to run away screaming. What was I doing here?

I exchanged the comfortable sneakers for those dreaded high heels and pushed through the glass doors into the expansive intimidating lobby. The clicking of my heels against the floor seemed to echo as I walked to the front desk to sign in. I was handed an ID badge and instructed to go to the 24th floor.

I took a deep breath, stepped into an elevator filled with suits and pressed number 24. The big thick metal doors slid shut.

I'll write more about the experience of my first day tomorrow. I'm exhausted right now and I just want to take a long hot shower.

Yes, I survived it.

NOTE: This picture is a sad attempt at Take a Class with Dave's Week 53 assignment. CUBISM

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 7:36 AM | 9 comments

This afternoon I walked down to a Temp agency in the Financial District.

I figured it couldn't hurt to sign up and see if I could find bring in some extra income with temporary work while I wait for the verdict from my previous job interview.

After a round of extensive tests to determine my typing speed, MS Excel, MS word, Powerpoint and Photoshop skills.. and filling out numerous forms..

I was asked "How soon can you start working?"

"um.. tomorrow?"

"Okay great". My new recruiter handed me a FED EX package. "This is for a one week assignment in a law firm. You'll be doing mostly administrative duties and data entry.. but your first task will be to proctor for the law exam. The exams are in this envelope. Bring them with you tomorrow morning to the following address. The dress code is Business professional. Do you have a business suits?"

"Yes.." (sort of...)

"Okay, good luck. Here's your work ID to register your hours worked on our website at the end of each day."

"Thanks"

and that was it. I walked out with my mysterious Fed Ex package and returned home.

So it' looks like I'll be slipping back into my high heels and returning to the daily grind in...a law firm? The only knowledge of Law firms comes from reading the random John Grisham novels purchased at Airport Kiosks.

That will be a first...Even though it's only a one week assignment, the pay is great.

I'm kind of excited, nervous and wondering what tomorrow has in store for me.

Now I have to head downtown to get a sharp-looking Business suit.

I'll let you know how it goes...

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 6:08 PM | 1 comments

Day 96 - missing my sister, originally uploaded by clarity25.

This afternoon, I was going through my clothing and found an old shirt my sister had given me. We're always buying eachother silly shirts with dumb sayings. "soul sista" "girl power"

I slipped it on and a flood of memories came back. Laughing together in our old bedroom, running over the cobblestone streets of Germany from pub to pub, secrets shared, and tears cried. I realized she knows me better than anyone else, even better than Eric does because our memories go back to childhood. It's bonds like that which are most important and can never be replaced in life.

Anyway, Laura.. I know you're reading this.

I really miss you girl.

Book that flight to San Francisco already!

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 6:07 PM | 1 comments

Today was a good day.

John, Celine, Eric and I took a walk down to Union Square and did a lot of window shopping. It was great getting out of the house as a group again and just having fun together.

In the evening we went to a pub called "California Dreaming" and played a few rounds of pool.

John is feeling so much better healthwise and in good spirits.

Things are looking up...

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 6:07 PM | 0 comments

I just realized something today.

I no longer have a single pair of matching socks.

I searched high and low for the missing pairs with no success. I'm not sure when this happened exactly or where those missing socks are disappearing to.. but they're gone.

But somehow that fits my situation, everything in my life is a little out of sync lately and my socks feel like a symbolic representation of it all.

But we're on the right path and I have a feeling things are going to fall into place.

And who knows, I might even find one of my missing socks in the process.

Random Question: When has your life dramatically changed as the result of some seemingly random external influence? how much do you feel in control of the course of your life?

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 2:32 PM | 3 comments

"Time is like money, the less we have of it to spare the further we make it go"

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 2:32 PM | 1 comments

Day 92 - Muir Woods, originally uploaded by clarity25.

I've wanted to visit Muir Woods ever since I saw "Vertigo" by Alfred Hitchcock. I always dreamed that someday I would live in San Francisco and have the opportunity. Every weekend, I wanted to take a drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and checking it out. Somehow there was always something else to do instead.

But this Sunday was finally the day.

It's about a 30 minute drive outside of the city. The roads leading to Muir woods were curvy and on steep cliffs. Every curve we drove around, I gazed down at the massive drop and felt a little naucious. The view was breathtaking though.

I couldn't believe the size of the trees when we reached the forest. They stretched up high into the heavens and the trunks were HUGE. I've never seen anything like this before in my life. I was awestruck. It reminded me of the ewok jungle in Star Wars. It had a magical quality..



We needed to get away from the city for a while. I'm really glad we just jumped in the car and made that trip.

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 2:31 PM | 2 comments

Day 91 - Tales of the City, originally uploaded by clarity25.

"Tales of the City" by Armistead Maupin.

Hands down one of the best books I read this year. Today I couldn't stop reading until I was finished. It's about a girl in the 1970's moving to San Francisco for the first time and her experiences.

Check it out if you're looking for something good to read and then let me know what you thought. It really captures the essence and feel of this crazy city better than any book I've read.

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 2:30 PM | 2 comments

Day 90 - Massive Storm of 2008, originally uploaded by clarity25.

I woke up to a swaying sensation and heard the sound of our bedroom windows rattling.

I thought it was an earthquake.

Outside the wind was blowing with a ferocious speed that startled me. The Golden Gate bridge was engulfed in a storm cloud and rain pounded on the windows.

I walked out of the bedroom and saw Celine sitting in front of the T.V. "There's a big storm today. The second of three storms coming our way. The winds are blowing at 75 miles per hour. Street lights are down in some parts of the city, electricity outages and trees are falling."

The apartment swayed again as a gust of wind hit the side of our building. "Oh my god! Did you feel that??" I felt unsteady on my feet. We live on the top floor of a very old building on the top of Nob Hill/Russian Hill.

"It's been like this all morning.. it's scary, isn't it?", Celine whispered "I feel like the windows are going to blow in. The radiators stopped working too, it's freezing in here. The Cats are hiding in the closet."

It was a long day.. flickering lights, rattling, rumbling, creaking, swaying and nail biting. I feared the storm would transform into a hurricane or tornado.

But by the afternoon, the winds subsided and the skies cleared.

Anyone else in SF for this insane storm?

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 2:30 PM | 1 comments

Day 89 - Exploratorium, originally uploaded by clarity25.

Today we visited the Exploratorium, Museum in the Presidio.
When I first stepped inside, I was surprised.

I was expecting a traditional museum setting. Instead, I discovered a massive warehouse with objects, gadgets, gears, papers, wires and contraptions dangling from every which way. Kids running in all directions. Bubbling Geysers, engines running, pendulums swinging, and balls flying.

I felt like I was a little kid again watching "Mr. Wizard".

It was pretty crowded and I'm assuming this is due to the free admission. The kids all seemed to be injected with pure sugar and a little strung out. They pulled on every knob and pushed every button with rapid abandon. some didn't even seem to care what the button did, they just had to push it over and over and over..

But despite the masses of other visitors crowding around every exhibit, it was fun to walk around and observe it all. I loved the optical illusions, the mind exhibit, the floating mirror cracked me up. I loved the exhibit with the strobe light that catches your shadow in frozen motion.

We were there for about 3 hours, just exploring and watching. I wish I could have tried out more of the experiments myself. I'll definitely be going again (Hopefully it will be less crowded so I can try out some of the activities first hand instead of watching from afar)

This is a great place though. Definitely worth a visit if you're in SF. It's free the first wednesday of every month.
(this is a picture of me playing with the Tricky mirror exhibit.. trying to find my own reflection..)

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 2:29 PM | 1 comments

10 for a dollar at Walgreens on Polk street. After Christmas sale.

I've been eating them non-stop. They are basically Cadberry easter creme eggs with new wrappings. Usually I have to wait until April to eat these... Now they came out with a christmas edition.

I have a big bag of them and I'm in heaven.

Are there any other creme egg fans out there?

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 2:29 PM | 1 comments

Day 87 - Melancholy, originally uploaded by clarity25.

"All changes, Even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another..."

Simply feeling blue today.

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 2:28 PM | 0 comments

Day 86 - Midnight - New Years, originally uploaded by clarity25.

New Years was pretty low key for us this year.

Believe it or not, We had the opportunity to party with the beautiful and amazing DOTTIE

...but John wasn't feeling so well and we wanted to bring in the New Years together as a group, so we spent the evening at home drinking champagne

Just before midnight, we ran down Clay street and stopped at the corner of Mason.

There was a crowd of people partying on the street and waiting for the fireworks over the Embarcadero.

This picture was taken the minute the clock struck midnight. It's blurry because Eric pulled me in for a kiss just as it was taken. so my camera was in motion. But it captures the excitement of the moment, the fireworks beginning to explode over the city.. the happiness of a new year beginning.

The fireworks were nothing short of incredible and the view we had from the top of Nobhill was perfect.

It was the most beautiful show I've ever seen in my life.

Happy New Years Flickr!

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 2:28 PM | 1 comments

Day 85 - Happy New Years, originally uploaded by clarity25.

Another year has come and gone. It feels like just yesterday that I was bringing in 2007 with my family in New York.

Now here I am in San Francisco, California living with my two closest friends from college and bringing in 2008. A turn of events I would not have anticipated or imagined a year ago.There's been some ups and downs this year.. but that's what life is all about.

Life takes twists and turns that surprise you.

which just proves that you never know what tomorrow has in store for you..

So here's to 2008!

Lets see where this year takes us. Best wishes to all of you out there reading these words. Friends I know personally, friends I've never met but mean the world to me.. all of you. I'm hoping that all your dreams, desires and hopes come true this year.


We have an expensive bottle of french Champagne from Celine's father. We're going to pop it open and perhaps take a stroll down to Union Square. I hear there might be fireworks..

Happy New Years!!

Lots of love,
Clarity

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 3:37 PM | 2 comments

Day 84 - making sushi, originally uploaded by clarity25.

Whenever I'm feeling low, the one thing that cheers me up right away is making sushi. It's my favorite food in the world.

The hardest part of sushi preparation is the rice.

There are many different methods posted all over the internet and I've tried them all. but THIS is the best way to get the rice perfect. Guaranteed every time.

I'm going to share my secret: If anyone is interested in making sushi, copy and paste the following instructions.

******

Ingredients: SUSHI RICE and a bottle of RICE VINEGAR

Wash 3 and one third cups of sushi until the water comes clear. (which requires about 10 different washings to remove all the starch)

Place the drained rice in a rice cooker or a pot with a very close fitting lid.

Add 4 cups of water.

Cover and bring the water to a boil over medium heat.

The minute the water starts to boil, cover VERY TIGHTLY and boil over high heat for EXACTLY 2 minutes.

Then reduce heat to medium and boil for EXACTLY 5 minutes.

Over low heat, cook for 15 minutes, or until all the water is boiled. Keep a close eye on it, if you smell burning.. remove it from the heat.

Take off the lid, spread a clean kitchen towel over the top of the pot, replace the lid and let it stand for another 10 to 15 minutes.

Then put the rice into an non-metallic container.

Get a portable fan and a wooden spoon.

Turn on the fan while stirring a little bit of rice vinegar into the rice.

Once the rice is cooled off..

You can start making the sushi.

****

Yes it's a major pain to make the rice, but the rest is fun, you can find the instructions on any website and be as creative as you want with the ingredients.

It's worth it in the end.

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 3:36 PM | 1 comments

Day 83 - Tiger attack, originally uploaded by clarity25.

On the first wednesday of every month, the san francisco zoo is free to all residents.

We visited the zoo for the first time on December 5th

What surprised me the most was the set up. No bars or cages in the tiger and lion exhibit, just a moat separating the visitors from the wild.


Anyone could jump inside and I was surprised that the tigers weren't climbing up the rocky moat to attack the visitors. It made me nervous how close they were.

So when this news about the tiger attack broke out all over the news, it didn't come as a massive shock.

For those who don't know the story already. A 350 lbs Tiger named Tatiana leapt over the moat and mauled a 17 year old boy. Then stalked the boy's friends, who were trying to escape the park...eventually attacking them too. They are now in stable condition.

They don't have any video recording of the incident, so no one knows what or how it happened. There is just a lot of speculation and theories. Was the tiger taunted by the boys or did she just lose it? HOW did she get over the moat in the first place? How could something like this happen?

The zoo is closed until they figure out what went wrong.

My heart goes out to the family of the victim. It happened just before christmas and they were waiting with his presents under the tree for his arrival home.

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 3:36 PM | 2 comments

Day 82- coffee break, originally uploaded by clarity25.

Eric and I took a walk down to the local coffee break and discussed our future life plans over a steaming hot cappucino and a macchiato.

I felt much better afterwards.

we have eachother, that's the most important thing.

The rest will fall into place in time.

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 3:36 PM | 0 comments

Day 81 - Overwhelmed, originally uploaded by clarity25.

I've seen better days.

Sometimes it can all feel so overwhelming. If only we could get a break.

Everything in life happens for a reason.
Things will get better though, I just have to be patient.

 
posted by Clarity: 365 days at 3:35 PM | 0 comments
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