Carrie: The San Francisco Treat

I have this friend Marika who I have known since second grade. Growing up we did everything together: dug through the garbage for Marika's lost retainer, went to our first dance, got our driver's licenses and we were even roommates in college for the best three years of her life. So it's no surprise when she decided to move to San Francisco with some friends, I wanted to check out her new digs and find out more about life in The City by The Bay.

Her Victorian-style house in Pacific Heights is a renter's dream. High ceilings, crown molding, backyard big enough for a nice garden. Not to mention she has a window seat in her bedroom, Stephanie Tanner-style. Which is nice.

Marika's roommates are old friends from San Diego. They grew up in the San Francisco area, so had friends who now lived in the city. It was nice to hang out with people who are new to the working world and still want to go out and have fun. Being surrounded by people who live a similar lifestyle to me was very refreshing. Only difference is, they have an alive city at their disposal while I'm still a small-town girl.

These people reminded me a lot of my own group of friends. We are similiar in the way that most of the people in our groups are friends from back in high school and can always remind you of home and where you came from. I saw from these people that they could be themselves in front of each other and also welcomed others with open arms. Essentially, they are my group of friends with a heightened drive for outdoor activities. My friends' athleticism extends about as far as a game of beer pong. But still it was nice to know that in a big city like San Francisco, you can find people who are genuine and are a lot like you.

I drove into San Francisco thinking about the noise and the traffic and the crazy bums who might try to steal my purse. I left thinking about the nice bars, the shopping, the excitement and most of all, the people and the endless possibilities the city can bring. I'm glad to know that Marika is in good hands with all of the nice people whose paths crossed with mine this weekend. Could San Francisco be the next chapter for me? Maybe. But it's nice to know that there is something else out there for a girl who has spent her life living in the small towns. And remember: if you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair...

The Woman, The Myth, The Legend

Ladies and gentleman... Meredith Litke.

Why?

Sometimes I ask myself, "Why does this even exist?" Can be a thought, a concept, a thing, a person... whatever. Since I think of these things quite often, I figured I would compile a list of some of the most questionable existences that frequent my daily thought:

1. Jean-on-jean: It's the pairing of a jean top with jean pants. Even worse is when the jeans are different washes. Regardless, should be avoided at all costs. Not to be confused with the "mom jean." All of these fashion no-no's are sure to create a deadly combination. Just don't do it.

2. Cellulite. Why? Enough said.

3. People like the dude from Indiana Jones last night: Let's just say he was a rather large fellow, with a huge head that blocked my view of the bottom half of the screen. Not to mention started chatting with his pal the first five minutes and I had to "shhhhhhh!" him for everyone else's viewing comfort. Oh and did I mention he "beefed" twice and it smelled horrible? And with Nick's overly-keen sense of smell, I was also distracted by his gagging noises. I swear I could not make this stuff up...

4. Local commercials: I know, this coming from a girl who works in advertising. That's not to say we haven't come up with nice commercials at my company, but we are in an overwhelming minority. I used to think Chico was the worst, but San Luis is right up there with them. I'm starting to think it's an epidemic.

5. Anyone driving past the age of 75: I'm sorry, but old people do not need to be on the road. They drive slow, hold up traffic, cause and nearly cause accidents, etc. And let me say I'm being liberal by saying 75 -years-old. A lady in her 60s was driving on the wrong side of the FREEWAY in San Luis a few weeks ago, didn't stop when the police tried to pull her over, rammed a cop car and was finally stopped 15 miles down the freeway in Arroyo Grande by a spike strip. Apparently she was "confused" and got no charges brought on her. Old people are dangerous beings.

That's all I can think of for now. Stay tuned for random posts about more "why's?"

Mind Your Own Siz-ness

Top 10 Sizzle Moments of All Time:

10. She falls off the log in Tahoe at the rip old age of 5 after my mom tells her repeatedly not to play on a slippery log in the snow. We have video to prove it.

9. Dressing her and Angela Barbieri up as cholas when we had cabin fever.

8. Sizzle doing "the worm" in Sally's living room in Chico for our end-of-summer bash.

7. Her soccer-kneel pose in the backyard when my mom sent my dad to take her team pictures and he took one look at the price of the head shots and said "F-it. I'll do it myself at home." Mom was livid by the way...

6. When we got my mom to trick Kristen into thinking some cheap, fake gold bow pin was vintage from my great grandma and she turns to my mom all annoyed and says, "What the hell am I going to do with this?"

5. Telling Sizzle when she hears the dial-up tone on the computer, she has to scream into the speakers so "an operator" can hear her say, "I'd like to get on the internet!"

4. When Sizzle was 6-years-old, she got mad at my parents and stole my Barbie car telling us she is running away to Wal-Mart.

3. Sizzle went missing when we were camping in Oregon on her bike. My dad found her riding her bike in circles after she asked a park ranger where camp site 45 was. He pointed her around the bend and gave her some Smokey The Bear stickers. Needless to say, she never found us.

2. My dad took Sizzle and I to get my mom Christmas presents one year. For some reason we got her kitchenware and Kristen put an egg-seperater in my mom's stocking. When my mom asked what it was, Kristen replied, "It's a bean whacker. You whack beans with it." She really did think that's what it was.

And the best Sizzle moment of all time:

1. Seeing Sizzle cry as she was sent to her room for blowing out my candles 3 times in a row on my 10th birthday.

The Trials and Tribulations of Benjamin Hein

A wise man once said that blogging gives the average Joe-schmo the freedom and independence to be a self-publisher and share their ideas and thoughts with the world. This man was not Benjamin Hein (yes, Hein... like the ketchup, minus the z).

Although his exterior may allude that Ben is an egotistic, self-absorbed, has-been high school athlete who still lives vicariously through his youth (his long, long, long ago youth as I may add), he can sometimes bring something to the table...

For example, Ben is the mastermind behind the "bomb.com" phrase that is seemingly sweeping the nation. Everyone that spends more than 4 hours with me in one single block always seems to walk away using "bomb.com" like it's en ever evolving virus that won't ever go away. Ironically, Ben's existence matches this simile. I can't hand him too much credit as he has been known to steal my sayings and claim them as his own: i.e. "See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya."

I know what you all are thinking: Who is this D.B.? For those of you who don't easily connect the puzzle pieces that make an acronym, D.B. stands for "douche bag." Well my friends, this D.B. is my co-worker. He is also my self-proclaimed "boss" although I have yet to sign any paperwork linking my services to him. Ben Hein is the one that makes inappropriate comments and makes even the most liberal groups uncomfortable. He is the one that takes his lunch breaks late so he can drive by the high school when class gets out, popped collar and AC/DC blaring. And most importantly, he is "that guy."

Ben may think my blogging is frivolous and mind-numbing, but then again so is he.

"I'm half-assing it with all my heart." -Ben Hein

There Are Still Generous People Out There

Ok, so I'm totally new to this blogging mumbo-jumbo, but I'm gonna give it a whirl...

Today was the my big event: Hunger Awareness Day. It's something I've been coordinating for months now. And I must mention how fulfilling it is to see people my age donating $50, $100, etc. Makes me feel like the future is in good hands.

Today also taught me that it doesn't matter how big or how small a donation, every contribution matters. Even if it's not in the form of money. "Joe the Homeless Guy" as we called him, was screaming random phrases in the intersection of one of our donation sites, making a big scene and dancing like a lunatic. It was that kind of energy that pumped up the volunteers and got them collecting money from everyone we can trap on the sidewalk and along the street, bribing innocent passer-bys with "I Support Hunger Awareness Day" stickers.

All in all, a great success and a wonderful organization to be associated with.

P.S. Another fun fact 'o the day... Marika Knapp was born 23 years ago today. Happy birthday.