Do I Live Here?

I can't believe I've been here 5 weeks already...seems like it's flown but also like it's been forever since I've been home, or driven my car, or walked on flat ground...

Highlights over the last few weeks since I last posted:

-My David was out here and we did all of the required tourist things one should while in this city--Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, The Embarcadero and Ferry Building. We made dinner reservations at this great place called Bix which is in almost an alley downtown and marked by a hot pink and blue flashing neon sign. Bix is designed to be like the supper and jazz clubs of the 1940s and the food along with everything else was excellent. Before dinner we went to the Starlight room on the 21st floor of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel to have a proper cocktail and view the city from above. The whole night was great and it was good to have him here, a little reminder of home!

-Dim Sum--this city is crawling with places to get dim sum and I've been lucky to have some of the best I think. The Pearl Orient (I think that's the name) in Chinatown gets top honors for the moment.

-Shopping--the area I live has some great shops and boutiques--that's my favorite kind of shopping because I don't have the patience to dig through racks and racks packed with a bunch of clothing. I likely will be coming home with a whole new wardrobe.

-Farmer's Markets--this city does Farmer's Markets like no other. Food trucks, booze, incredible vegetables and fruits (I've never had heirloom tomatoes and strawberries like I have here). It's a true event.

-Weather--September and October is known in San Francisco as their "secret summer". It's been incredibly beautiful and warm. You can turn in almost any direction in this city and likely be able to view the water and nothing better than a beautiful sunny day with a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean dotted with sailboats.

What's scary is how I've settled into a life and a routine here, I have to remind myself I don't actually live here sometimes. I take the bus to and from work and no longer step aside for the ancient pushing Asian woman but get just as annoyed with her shoving herself onto the bus when it's packed to the gills as everyone else. I give all of my restaurant leftovers to the homeless (maybe that's what that waiter at the diner was doing, I never did find out). I no longer flinch when the earthquake alarm sounds at noon every Tuesday. My calves no longer feel like someone is behind me holding a blow torch to them when I'm walking up the hills. I even gave someone directions the other day.

I have another couple of months before I head back and tons to do!! I''m signed up for a wine class and a wine and cheese pairing class to start, but there's so much it's almost overwhelming including the things I want to do and see outside of the city!

I'm missing everyone back home and as busy as I am I've thought many times how good it will feel to walk into my own house at the end of this.

Until next time...
Tricia