Vacations, Birthdays and More!

The past few weeks have been very eventful and exciting for Paul and me. Summer is usually the laid back months for me with work and dance so its the time to catch up on rest, try to take a vacation and start gearing up for all to come. I was hoping to do the Ledges and Bones SummerLAB (our 2 week summer intensive in LA) this summer but with my boss and other co-workers taking vacations in July, I had to change my plans so I could be at work while others were out.

Paul has never been to NYC and his best friend lives in Philly so we had been talking about taking a vacation to both locations this summer, but the realization hit in may that I was homesick and I wanted to go to Chicago. Paul was totally understanding of that and was on board to a summer vaca in the midwest.

Before leaving for Chicago Paul's little sister graduated from College and we were lucky enough to help celebrate with her! We got a zip car for the day and headed up to Sonoma. It rained which was sad but we got to see most of the graduation (which was outside in the rain) and then the whole family went out for a very lovely dinner at a wine bar.

I arrived in Chicago a week before Paul. It was nice just to relax and have some time with my mom. Then my brother arrived midway through my trip and then Paul got there. We packed it full of tours, visits with friends and family, site seeing and eating! We were able to go to a Giants vs Cubs game at Wrigley Field which was awesome! Paul and my brother met for the first time in person which was so nice to have that finally happen and we were able to see some of my Chicago besties and my Grandparents. There are of course a handful of other friends I am sad we didn't get to see but next time!

Wrigley Field

Paul and I did a boat tour of Chicago it was so beautiful!

On the boat tour

Site Seeing

Paul's first Chicago Style Pizza experience!'

My brother and me :)

Marky and me

Visiting the grandparents

my brother, paul and me in Iowa (and yes my brother is wearing a long sleeve shirt...weirdo!)

"is this heaven? No its Iowa!" Haha CORN!!

Mom and me

In Chicago at Taste Of Chicago

Hot, Sweaty, tired, and full from Taste, ready to shower and drink lots of water!

When we got back to San Francisco Paul's aunt gave us great tickets to the Giants game so we got to go 2 Giants game within a weeks time!

At Giants Vs Mets Game in SF

Free, awesome tickets to see the Giants Play!

Last weekend we drove up to wine country to spend the afternoon with Paul' sister Erica. We have talked about it for awhile now and we finally were able to make it happen. We went to a beautiful winery in Napa and had a sampler as well as a bottle of wine- so good. We drove to St. Helena to have an amazing dinner and then back to Sonoma to Erica's hang out bar. It was full but fun day.

At dinner in Sonoma

Paul's sister Erica (left) and her friend

And then the past week we celebrated Paul's 26 birthday! He had quit the day. We went out for breakfast in the morning and then he had to day off and went and played pool with some friends when I went to work. We both got home, got dressed up and went out to a nice dinner with his family in the city. It was a great day. Mom and I joined together in a gift for him to get a brand new pool breaking stick. He has his own stick but not a breaker so we ordered that for him along with a new bag to hold both of his sticks.

The Birthday Boy

Mother and Son

Lots of things going on and all good. We are now seriously planning and figuring out how to update our place and make it beautiful! Now if I could just win a million dollars I would be happy :)

Long Over Due...Home Fantasy improvements!

Okay, long long long overdue post...

So when I moved in with Paul, the plan was to stay there until the end of the summer, save some money and then find a little bigger of a place for us. We kept most of my things stored in the garage so that we in fact didn't get too comfortable and would remind us that we will be moving again. But, to both of our surprise, we haven't felt too cramped in his little place and have actually really enjoyed it. Now for those of you know me well, and know how I use to live (especially my last apartment in Chicago), you know I love space and I love pretty things! This apartment is far from the typical me so its shocking how much I love living there!

Right before I left on vacation we started having some major issues with our neighbors. Now this isn't new. For the past 3 years that Paul has lived there, they have created issues, but this time its sky rocketed. There is no point to go through all the detail but it was looking like we were going to have to move just to get away from all the crap. Instead though, the house owners (Paul's step brothers grandparents) decided that it was just too much to deal with so they hired a younger man to be the "building manager." this has been good and bad. Things are getting done and there is actual communication (yay) but there are a lot more house rules (good and bad...) Paul and I met with the guy last week to discuss everything, things that needed to be fixed, updated, issues that we are having/have had, and the future. While somethings are frustrating: we can't keep our bikes in the backyard soon because its a "community backyard for everyone in the household," other things like updated paint, sliding glass doors with screens will be put in! They also raised our rent another $50 since I am living there with my pet as well...

Its hard to complain though since we live in the heart of the mission. We are 5 min bike rides to work, we have a HUGE backyard (which they want to make work for everyone in the house...right now just paul, his brother and I use it...but we know the other members of the house wont use it...) we get to have our dog and cat, and what we pay total is less than what one of us would pay to move in the same neighborhood for a place not much bigger than our current place...

So while we keep going back and forth, it looks like maybe we will stick out the bad to stay in a low rent, perfect location house. Knowing we are going to stay though, I have a redecorating fix. I want to make it look as perfect as I can. I want to make the most of the little space we have and really make it our home. I don't see us staying there for a lifetime, but karma is a bitch and I have a good feeling that if we play our cards right, we will have access to a bigger apartment in the house in the future (with a kitchen! yay!)

Here is our current place...this was taken a few days after I moved in and before I bought a 27" computer...so that has been added to the coffee table!

With that back story, here is a list of my dream buys for our place. This is a big old fantasy right now, but maybe one step at a time?

There is no order of what to buy ...I just want to be rich and do it all! :)

1. New hardwood floors (ignore the room in the picture...just look at the floor!) Right now we have red (old) carpet and with 2 pets its just time to get rid of the carpet and upgrade to hard wood (laminate) floors. Our room isn't too big so it actually will be reasonably priced...still semi expensive and some man labor! ($500-$900 is my guess)

3. A new 46" flat screen tv. Currently I have a really really nice 22" Flat screen but Paul has a huge old school box tv (probably 46" but so old that it sits on the floor at sticks out big time). This is just a luxury, we don't need it...but I like it :) (Walmart $489)

4. Decorating boxes for the shelves. I think they are cute! Thats all! (Ikea $5 for 2)

5. A new mini fridge/ freezer combo... We don't need much fridge space, we buy dinner every night at a local cheap market so everything we eat is cheap and right there. BUT we don't have a freezer and umm...I want ice cream at home! So its time to get a freezer/ fridge combo!! ($230)

6. Now this is actually ideal...Right now Paul's "Kitchen" set up is on an old desk. But I think an Island would be PERFECT. It could store some of our dishes/ pots/ food (would have to figure that out). But would be so great! I think this would be a great way to build a nicer little kitchen/ cooking area for Paul. (Target $250)

7. A better dual burner. I found this burner on amazon and many caterers recommend it. I know its pretty ghetto cooking on hot plates, but thats reality and it doesn't seem to stop Paul from making really amazing meals...so why not give him a better burner!! (Amazon $80)
In addition to this, I would love to get a Queen bed (vs our full) and also a new closet organizer/ curtain for the closet. I have a nice dresser that is in storage that I will paint (its natural wood color right now) and that will replace the old dressers we have currently in there. We can make better use of our closet which will be helpful since eliminating the cabinet that is in there right will take 2 draws away from Paul...and thats not good!

There you have it, my very expensive wish list :) $2,000+ I would have my ideal home! haha!

Update on my life

Not sure why blogging is so hard for me to do. I guess part of it is that I sold my laptop and haven't bought my new computer yet. I have my ipad but using it for the blog is hard because my pictures aren't really on the ipad and I started the 30 Day photo challenge, that at this rate with be a 30 Month Photo challenge! I was planning on buying a new 27" Mac desktop, very excited, but stalling now because I am not quite sure where I am going to put it.

Whats the saying, when one door closes another one opens? Sometimes I feel like doors close, smack me in the face, knock me down a few times and then hidden along the way I find another one cracked open and run through will full force taking a big chance. It seems to be the ongoing case for April. April is just not my month of choice. Taxes are due, season is changing (for the better but still its a change), work load shifts, and the past couple of years living has changed. Its also in the perk of performance season here in SF so things are just always happening. Its just busy.

Well last year this time, I was in a mad hunt for an apartment (took a place and after giving 30 days notice to my current the new place randomly decided to go for the couple...) So I HAD to find a new place ASAP, I was in LA 15 days of the the 30 day month, I had mad taxes to do, I had to pack, I was freaking out, life was crazy.

This year, things haven't changed too much. I will only be in LA for 4 days of the 30 Days, so I guess thats better... and I didn't get turned down from an apartment after giving 30 days notice, but I did have a shift.

Long story short, my roommate, was the primary lease holder of the apartment for 13 years, decided to move to Ohio to be closer to his family. This move wasn't sudden but things happened quickly. Steve warned me in Jan that he was going to move, but our hope was that I could stay in the apartment and take over as lease holder. This didn't seem to far out there because the place needs some MAJOR work.

The carpet needs to be replaced, I would say a good 10 animals have lived on that carpet, the bathroom needs fixing up, the washer and dryer are on the last leg of life, walls need to be painted, screens need replacement, the list could go on. But Frank (the other roommate) and I have found a love for the apartment on Henry st and were find with the run down character apartment. New folks however would not be so okay with it all.

Unfortunately though, the Henry house is a family house and with the move, the landlord decided that it was time to move some of his family into the house. Therefore, Steve’s (my roommate in Ohio now) 30 day notice was also my 30 day notice to leave.

Bummer…

The big bummer of the thing was that Paul was going to be able to move into the Henry house, we would take over the front 2 rooms that connect with French doors and frank would move into my room. This would allow us to have ample amount of space for a VERY reasonable price and have a roommate who is not around much and very easy to live with, along with being entertaining!

So then we had to go to Plan B since Plan A was out.

Plan B was to find a new place for us to live, but with a few heavy-duty days of searching, it was clear that finding a new place to live right away was not going to be easy. Apartments are expensive, Security deposits are outrageous and apparently not so many people are cat and dog friendly.

Plan C became in order. This weekend I made the move into Paul’s pretty small Studio In Law apartment. This apartment has been a perfect place for Paul and his dog Manny for the past 2 and a half years, but we knew it was going to be a tight squeeze to bring Gerti and myself into the place as well. We don’t have a kitchen, but rather a homemade kitchen set up. Now this seems bad, and if I was the cook in this relationship it would be AWFUL, but luckily, I don’t cook, ever and when I do “take care of dinner” I typically go and buy dinner out! Paul is a BRILLANT cook though so his homemade kitchen works beautifully for him. We do have to step outside too to go to the restroom, not so fun on stormy nights but it is doable…

We ended up putting many boxes and things of mine in the garage as storage and this week has been me unpacking all of my belongings that can fit into Paul’s place. We took down Manny’s cage and made room for my chair (yay) and brought some of my other furniture in. It is different for me though, far from matchy matchy and pretty tight fit, but I think we are going to make it work beautifully. And lets face it, rent is SUPER cheap for SF so hopefully with this we can save some cash for a future security deposit.

We are hoping to find a new place (jr one bedroom) by August, so fingers crossed!

Regardless, this is a very exciting move for both of us. This is the first time that either one of us has lived with a significant other. I thought it was going to feel strange and completely overwhelming and leading up to the move, it did, but now that I am there and getting adjusted it just feels right.

We are both very happy and feeling very lucky to have each other. And Paul is great because he knows my need to be crazy organized and have everything perfect and he is letting me do as I please in the house! There are plenty of things I would still like to fix and update, but we do want to continue looking for a bigger and better place for us so we are trying not to get too settled.

I will post pictures when I feel it is put together enough to do so J

But for all of you who were not caught up on the craziness of my April, here is a rough update! More to come soon!

Day 12 - A picture of something you love.

well I guess this is a no brainer, but Dance! I don't know what I would do without dance in my life. Choreographing, training, performing, being rehearsal director etc, life would be way more depressing without dance in it! Its definatly my life and love!

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.

Gross, that's all I can say is gross. Wont eat it on anything, ever!

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with.

Oh Paul. This guy is crazy, its not like we live crazy exciting lives, but there are defiantly moments that I look at him and think "really?!" We have found that our biggest nickname for each other is "foolie," because when we are together we are fools! I think he has a deep desire to be a comedian, his writings are fall off your chair funny, he isn't afraid to act like a fool in public and he is always up for some sort of adventure, even if its in our backyard.

What a random 4th of July we had this past year. Started with coffee and breakfast in our PJS at our favorite breakfast place, went into a random morning workout in the bedroom (seriously) to bbqing in the back yar (still in our pjs) until the darkness of night!

Paul had a pain accident that involved a Sunday morning cleaning of the sidewalk, using old jeans, paint remover stuff and a lot of picture! what a Sunday!

"Fear the Beard" if you are Giants fan, you will get it, but all I know is that this boy can grow a long beard if he wants to!

Go Giants! No I know its not Messed up to go to a bunch of Giants games. But the way that we act at Giants games...oh buddy.

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

My mom has always been there for me, no matter what. She has been my rock, my bridge, my sunshine and the calm after the storm. I didn’t realize how special my mom and my relationship was until I moved 3,000 miles away. I miss her everyday and think about her all the time. When I talk to people about my upbringing it is clear how unique we had/have it. Mom always encouraged me to follow my dreams. Not in the cheesy sense, but for real. She (and Brad) are the reasons I was able to move to Chicago, and then pack up my life in the mid west and move to SF where I had no job and no money. They are why I am doing what I am doing now. My mom has gotten me through rough relationship patches, rejections, injuries, and just sad times. She always knows how to be a mom and make it better. I am so lucky to have her ongoing support and encouragement. I wouldn’t be strong enough to live this far away and do what I am doing if it weren’t for her.

Day 08: A picture that makes you Laugh

This picture was taken during my senior concert rehearsal at Columbia. It cracks me up. Beans (standing) saw the PT at school for her ankle and found out she has bad bunions! We were making fun of her all night. We decided to decorate her "cast" (that was going to take "30 min" to take off- according to her PT, Zeus) at the end of the rehearsal and we could not control ourselves. We were laughing so hard that night. I miss our Thursday night rehearsals and dinner at Mai and i to follow!

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item.

I have a lot of things in my life that I truly cherish and value, but lets be honest, my kitty is number 1. She is my life in so many ways. When I worry about things, I worry about her. She is so loving and such a solid companion. My day is always that much better when it starts off with her pretty face and her loving purr. She means the world to me, it was the best gift I have ever received. I treasure her more than words can explain.

Day 06 - A picture of a place you've been to

I feel so lucky that I have been able to go so many places in my 25 years. I have been to Europe, to the East Coast, to the South, I live in the West Coast, life is good. (of course there are always more and more places I would love to go). But, something that i feel really happy about is that I have been able to travel with my brother/ to see my brother and that has been something I couldn't be happier about. Here are just some of my favorite photos with him on our journeys (not even near as many as I would like to put but you'll get the idea!) These are in no particular order, just the order they downloaded in!

NYC 2010 Central Park

Durango, CO at Sean's Graduation (this trip will go in the history books for us, it involved early morning flight after no sleep, walking into graduation the moment he went to sit down, the start of an epic road trip, the end of an epic road trip due to a broken down car, a crazy plane ride and more)

We were on the Princess Cruise Ship, night one of our cruise, and lost!- 2008

NYC at the Symphony? 2010?

In London 2008 this picture makes me laugh cause it looks like his Starbucks straw is up his nose! haha! ALSO, this marks the start of his Starbucks addictions!

On the airplane back to the USA 2008

Imitating a sign in Paris- 2008

Cadiz, Spain- 2008

Morocco, Africa...not our favorite- 2008

Gibraltar- 2008- another funny sign!

Barcelona, Spain...not sure what the face was for, but pretty much defines how we act!