Well I suppose I should update this.
I spoke to my advisor Alex at AAU, and he said that I could actually transfer without a math credit or without my AA from NJC. I could transfer at any time if I wanted to, I have over 60 credits.
So I went to NJC and I found out that I will be spending two more semesters here instead of one because of my stupid math class. Yeah. But that's okay, because I can go into more specialty art classes next semester. I wasn't going to transfer to AAU until June or September of 2011. I can also get a butt ton of grants from the school and from FAFSA for my GPA and portfolio.
So yeah that's all for now I think. I've been browsing apartments online but it seems like they are all way more upscale than I want. Oh well, I have a long time to find a place and a roommate.
It's too hot here. I miss the cold fog.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Some Kinda Emotional Thoughts...
I cannot fail at this. I've never wanted something so bad in my entire life.
This isn't like a relationship with a person where it takes two to make it work and I can't blame it on the fault of someone else if I don't make it. The only person that can fail and break my heart is me. I'm the only one who can't succeed in this dream of mine.
Am I a child to think like this? Am I a child to throw a tantrum every time my parents even mention a hint at me not being able to go? I know I am going, I will go no matter what. I know my parents are being more logical about it than I am, but for once I want to dive head-first into something without thinking it through. I want to go on an adventure. I want to do something that I haven't thought about every tiny possibility of what gould go wrong and weigh all the pros and cons of it.
Yes, the college will be expensive. Yes, it's going to take a LOT of work. Yes, it's going to be scary jumping into a new city a thousand miles from Nowhere, Colorado without anyone I know there.
Too many times I've seen people here in that very same town in Colorado I just mentioned give up in their dreams because it's easier to stay here. It doesn't make them happy to stay, it's just easier. I can't think of one thing in life that makes anyone happy that is easy to achieve. It would be easy to go to CSU or some art school here. But it wouldn't make me happy.
Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad. I've thought about it:
I am going to San Francisco.
As for Day 5 in the City by the Bay, we got out, checked out of our room, left our bags with the bellman and went on an excursion to find my favorite childhood book The Cable Car and the Dragon. We finally found the Barnes and Noble at Fisherman's Wharf after asking a waiter for directions because my iPod lead us astray. Ugh.
After a fast lunch at Denny's and a dessert of apple cobbler in attempt to keep my heart from breaking, we headed down to the Hyde Beach for my last goodbye to the city I fell in love with at first sight. I watched the bridge to my left, Alcatraz Island to my right and the endless hills growing out of the grey water before me forever...
I cried.
I tried so hard not to, but I knew I would. I'm tearing up just thinking about it again...
Our time at the airport went flawlessly, and I came back here with a hole in my chest. That's the story...
The hole in my chest won't heal because I really, truly, sincerely left my heart in San Francisco. There's only one remedy for it and I swear to god I'll get there.
This isn't like a relationship with a person where it takes two to make it work and I can't blame it on the fault of someone else if I don't make it. The only person that can fail and break my heart is me. I'm the only one who can't succeed in this dream of mine.
Am I a child to think like this? Am I a child to throw a tantrum every time my parents even mention a hint at me not being able to go? I know I am going, I will go no matter what. I know my parents are being more logical about it than I am, but for once I want to dive head-first into something without thinking it through. I want to go on an adventure. I want to do something that I haven't thought about every tiny possibility of what gould go wrong and weigh all the pros and cons of it.
Yes, the college will be expensive. Yes, it's going to take a LOT of work. Yes, it's going to be scary jumping into a new city a thousand miles from Nowhere, Colorado without anyone I know there.
Too many times I've seen people here in that very same town in Colorado I just mentioned give up in their dreams because it's easier to stay here. It doesn't make them happy to stay, it's just easier. I can't think of one thing in life that makes anyone happy that is easy to achieve. It would be easy to go to CSU or some art school here. But it wouldn't make me happy.
Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad. I've thought about it:
I am going to San Francisco.
As for Day 5 in the City by the Bay, we got out, checked out of our room, left our bags with the bellman and went on an excursion to find my favorite childhood book The Cable Car and the Dragon. We finally found the Barnes and Noble at Fisherman's Wharf after asking a waiter for directions because my iPod lead us astray. Ugh.
After a fast lunch at Denny's and a dessert of apple cobbler in attempt to keep my heart from breaking, we headed down to the Hyde Beach for my last goodbye to the city I fell in love with at first sight. I watched the bridge to my left, Alcatraz Island to my right and the endless hills growing out of the grey water before me forever...
I cried.
I tried so hard not to, but I knew I would. I'm tearing up just thinking about it again...
Our time at the airport went flawlessly, and I came back here with a hole in my chest. That's the story...
The hole in my chest won't heal because I really, truly, sincerely left my heart in San Francisco. There's only one remedy for it and I swear to god I'll get there.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Aaaand Numbah FOUR!
Do I even need to say it was a good day?
We got up this morning, ate some Denny's downstairs in the lobby and caught a cab, finally, to the Golden Gate.
We reached Fort Point along with the other joyful tourists snapping photos of the orange pillars and cascading cables holding the fog over the bay. I thought, as me and Michelle took our own photos "Hey, I think I'll embrace the fact I'm a tourist today!" and we headed across the bridge and into the misty ocean wind.
I never really thought about how gigantic it was until I was there, shadowed by the gigantic orange pillar seperating the grey of the bay and the grey of the clouds. The city seemed so peaceful and sleepy in the foggy morning, compared to the busy city I was so used to from days past. I was even willing to ignore the tourists stopping directly in the middle of the walking path to take cheesy pictures and the rude foregners with rented bicycles to drink in everything my scences could handle (and to watch the little black ducks dive in the water. So cute!) After my legs finally said "enough" at the halfway point. We headed back, browsed the packed gift shop and found a cab back to the hotel.
We embarked to Pier 39 after a quick stop to Boudin for some sourdough. (Though I was annoyed when I found out that the delicious smells of baking bread outside the building was sprayed out in the form of steam every few minutes. It made me feel frauded.) the further we went, the denser the crouds. I went into a few gift stores for the last purchases for my family, all the while my mood was dissapating from the vast ammounts of children, French sightseers and people obnoxiously (not to mention rudely) stopping the flow of traffic on the packed dock to take a photo of their kids next to something dumb.(the giant noodle, anyone?!)
We finally faught our way to the end of the pier, took in the closest views of Alcatraz we had seen yet, and continued on to the sea lions. There were only two docks full of them there, as migration has already taken place this year for them. They were still cute as they rolled lazily around and slept in the dun. In every way they reminded me if my fat, lazy, lovable beagle, Mickey.
At this point, I was tired. Dead tired and felt sick. We had 4 blocks back to the hotel and all I wanted to do was sleep. I was so sick of tourists and no longer wanted to be considered one of them. It wad then that I decided they could keep Pier 39, I don't want to go back again.
I recovered and we headed out towards the bay again on the advice of San Francisco for Dummies. On the courner of the street a block away from us beside Fisherman's Ghrotto 9, there are lines and lines if stands selling fresh, steamed seafood. I bought a half of a dungeoness crab, freshly steamed and cracked and Michelle opted for the crab chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. We then turned around and found a door hidden in plain sight that read "Passageway to the Boats." We were greeted with an almost completely abandoned dock with nobody else around but pelecans, seagulls and ducks. We watched the cold evening fog lay over the bay and darken the approaching sunset. It was my favorite meal of the entire trip. I will crave fresh crab and miss licking lemon amd crab juice off my freezing fingers. Oh who am I kidding? I'll miss everything this city has given me.
My bags are packed... I don't even want to think about leaving tomorrow...
We got up this morning, ate some Denny's downstairs in the lobby and caught a cab, finally, to the Golden Gate.
We reached Fort Point along with the other joyful tourists snapping photos of the orange pillars and cascading cables holding the fog over the bay. I thought, as me and Michelle took our own photos "Hey, I think I'll embrace the fact I'm a tourist today!" and we headed across the bridge and into the misty ocean wind.
I never really thought about how gigantic it was until I was there, shadowed by the gigantic orange pillar seperating the grey of the bay and the grey of the clouds. The city seemed so peaceful and sleepy in the foggy morning, compared to the busy city I was so used to from days past. I was even willing to ignore the tourists stopping directly in the middle of the walking path to take cheesy pictures and the rude foregners with rented bicycles to drink in everything my scences could handle (and to watch the little black ducks dive in the water. So cute!) After my legs finally said "enough" at the halfway point. We headed back, browsed the packed gift shop and found a cab back to the hotel.
We embarked to Pier 39 after a quick stop to Boudin for some sourdough. (Though I was annoyed when I found out that the delicious smells of baking bread outside the building was sprayed out in the form of steam every few minutes. It made me feel frauded.) the further we went, the denser the crouds. I went into a few gift stores for the last purchases for my family, all the while my mood was dissapating from the vast ammounts of children, French sightseers and people obnoxiously (not to mention rudely) stopping the flow of traffic on the packed dock to take a photo of their kids next to something dumb.(the giant noodle, anyone?!)
We finally faught our way to the end of the pier, took in the closest views of Alcatraz we had seen yet, and continued on to the sea lions. There were only two docks full of them there, as migration has already taken place this year for them. They were still cute as they rolled lazily around and slept in the dun. In every way they reminded me if my fat, lazy, lovable beagle, Mickey.
At this point, I was tired. Dead tired and felt sick. We had 4 blocks back to the hotel and all I wanted to do was sleep. I was so sick of tourists and no longer wanted to be considered one of them. It wad then that I decided they could keep Pier 39, I don't want to go back again.
I recovered and we headed out towards the bay again on the advice of San Francisco for Dummies. On the courner of the street a block away from us beside Fisherman's Ghrotto 9, there are lines and lines if stands selling fresh, steamed seafood. I bought a half of a dungeoness crab, freshly steamed and cracked and Michelle opted for the crab chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. We then turned around and found a door hidden in plain sight that read "Passageway to the Boats." We were greeted with an almost completely abandoned dock with nobody else around but pelecans, seagulls and ducks. We watched the cold evening fog lay over the bay and darken the approaching sunset. It was my favorite meal of the entire trip. I will crave fresh crab and miss licking lemon amd crab juice off my freezing fingers. Oh who am I kidding? I'll miss everything this city has given me.
My bags are packed... I don't even want to think about leaving tomorrow...
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Day Three
Yeah. English. Woa.
But we had another amazing day.
We both started out with a shower and we packed our bags, then headed to the Cup-of-Joe on the corner of our block to buy some breakfast and a newspaper and use some free Wifi. That lasted for a good two hours before we had to head back across the street to the Commadore dorms, check out of our room and wait in the commons area for another few hours until we could check into the Holiday Inn at Fisherman's Wharf. We finally caught a cab with the nicest driver we've had yet (though all our cabbies have all been really friendly) who had fun taking the scenic route to the hotel for us two small town tourists. I love how the locals embrace tourists here. We have been asked where we are from more times than I can count this week.
He drove us right over the top of Russian Hill to our first views of the northern San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz Island. He also drove us past the bottom of Lombard Street (aka the Crooked Street) where he stopped and rolled down the window for me so I could snap a couple pictures. Needless to say, he got a huge tip after he dropped us off at our hotel and unloaded our bags out of the trunk.
Finally we got up to our room and we marveled at the fact we now had a TV, Wifi and PILLOWS. Amazing.
Our relaxation didn't last long. I was itching to get my first views of the bridge. We headed out with the throws of tourists to the wharf. We saw the old ships at Pier 49 and snapped some more awesome pictures of Alcatraz and Berkeley, but still no views of the bridge. We weaved through the crouds in line for Joe's Crab Shack and the arcades, and found Hyde St. Pier. I remembered an old friend of mine telling me it wad her favorite place in all of San Francisco, so I turned onto the pier, looked to the northwest and smiled. More like spazzed and went "Look, Michelle, look!" while running to the edge of the dock.
It was my first view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
It barely looked real out in the hazy distance, more grey than orange between Marin and San Francisco. It was beautiful. We stayed there for almost an hour drinking in the breathtaking bay views and chilly Pacific wind before the lines of tourist traps and our growling stomachs yearned for eachother, and we went on a search for the California fast food staple, In-N-Out. I was pleasantly surprised at the menu. You could order the number 1, 2 or 3. We both opted for the 2 (a cheeseburger, fries and a drink) to save room for Ghirardelli's ice cream afterwards. It was so simple and delicious.
On our way to Ghirardelli Square, we ran into the Powell and Hyde cable car turnaround and the tiny park and beach to the west of Hyde St Pier. We had absolutely perfect views of Angel Island, Marin County and the now orange tinted bridge. We sat forever watching the boats and swimmers in the sparkling water on our spot on the steps leading to the small, soft sanded beach. We were also entertained by a seagull weaffectionatly dubbed Scott who we watched fight over, win, choke on and wash down a huge piece of food he found in the sand. So funny.
Both of us ordered massive ice cream sundaes after we managed to tear ourselves away from the breathtaking bay, and after we were properly sent into sugar-induced comas, we dragged ourselves back to our hotel to enjoy some Stephen Colbert, South Park, Robot Chicken and now Futurama. The views outside our window are amazing too. I can see Coit Tower perfectly out towards the southeast. So pretty.
More San Franciscan adventures tomorrow! Thanks again for reading, guys. It makes me really happy.
But we had another amazing day.
We both started out with a shower and we packed our bags, then headed to the Cup-of-Joe on the corner of our block to buy some breakfast and a newspaper and use some free Wifi. That lasted for a good two hours before we had to head back across the street to the Commadore dorms, check out of our room and wait in the commons area for another few hours until we could check into the Holiday Inn at Fisherman's Wharf. We finally caught a cab with the nicest driver we've had yet (though all our cabbies have all been really friendly) who had fun taking the scenic route to the hotel for us two small town tourists. I love how the locals embrace tourists here. We have been asked where we are from more times than I can count this week.
He drove us right over the top of Russian Hill to our first views of the northern San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz Island. He also drove us past the bottom of Lombard Street (aka the Crooked Street) where he stopped and rolled down the window for me so I could snap a couple pictures. Needless to say, he got a huge tip after he dropped us off at our hotel and unloaded our bags out of the trunk.
Finally we got up to our room and we marveled at the fact we now had a TV, Wifi and PILLOWS. Amazing.
Our relaxation didn't last long. I was itching to get my first views of the bridge. We headed out with the throws of tourists to the wharf. We saw the old ships at Pier 49 and snapped some more awesome pictures of Alcatraz and Berkeley, but still no views of the bridge. We weaved through the crouds in line for Joe's Crab Shack and the arcades, and found Hyde St. Pier. I remembered an old friend of mine telling me it wad her favorite place in all of San Francisco, so I turned onto the pier, looked to the northwest and smiled. More like spazzed and went "Look, Michelle, look!" while running to the edge of the dock.
It was my first view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
It barely looked real out in the hazy distance, more grey than orange between Marin and San Francisco. It was beautiful. We stayed there for almost an hour drinking in the breathtaking bay views and chilly Pacific wind before the lines of tourist traps and our growling stomachs yearned for eachother, and we went on a search for the California fast food staple, In-N-Out. I was pleasantly surprised at the menu. You could order the number 1, 2 or 3. We both opted for the 2 (a cheeseburger, fries and a drink) to save room for Ghirardelli's ice cream afterwards. It was so simple and delicious.
On our way to Ghirardelli Square, we ran into the Powell and Hyde cable car turnaround and the tiny park and beach to the west of Hyde St Pier. We had absolutely perfect views of Angel Island, Marin County and the now orange tinted bridge. We sat forever watching the boats and swimmers in the sparkling water on our spot on the steps leading to the small, soft sanded beach. We were also entertained by a seagull weaffectionatly dubbed Scott who we watched fight over, win, choke on and wash down a huge piece of food he found in the sand. So funny.
Both of us ordered massive ice cream sundaes after we managed to tear ourselves away from the breathtaking bay, and after we were properly sent into sugar-induced comas, we dragged ourselves back to our hotel to enjoy some Stephen Colbert, South Park, Robot Chicken and now Futurama. The views outside our window are amazing too. I can see Coit Tower perfectly out towards the southeast. So pretty.
More San Franciscan adventures tomorrow! Thanks again for reading, guys. It makes me really happy.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Day Numero Dos en San Francisco
Yeah not sure if that title is right, See how much good high school spanish class does?
Much better day today. Turns out we accidentally walked through the heart of the Tenderloin yesterday. Oops. It really gave me a false impression of the city. I shouldn't have doubted it so quickly.
We headed out in the late morning to a brunch at Cafe de la Presse and then we hit Chinatown. So much nicer and less sketchy than Montreal's Chinatown. We shopped at the cute (most of them ripoff) stores and we finally went down the gross, smelly alleyway to where my Dad assigned us to find out how fortune cookies were made. Golden Gate Fortune Cookies was a narrow hole-in-the-wall tourist trap, but that's what gave it it's charm. there was me, Michelle and a family of four and that is all that could fit into the store at once. The manager stood by one of the workers while she pulled hot, flat cookies off of the plates and folded them into the right shape. A cup of quarters stood by him and a sign that said "50 cent if you take pictures"
So I paid my two quarters, took a picture of the lady folding cookies as a souvineer for my dad and we bought our bag of cookies. before we left, the cute old asian man gave us both a smile, a pat on the shoulder and a warm, fresh frotune cookie. It was the best fortune cookie I've ever had. It sure beat those marshmallow tasting ones at the Panda Express I always rave about. My fortune cookie said "Your tallent will proove to be useful this week."
We wouldn't even be here if not for my tallent, as Michelle said. :3
After I got lured into many stores to buy lots of bootlegs of things I could have bought authentically at other tourist stores, we caught the California St Cable Car to take us to Van Ness Ave so we could walk over to Japantown.
I have fallen deeply in love with those adorable, worn, creeky and charming trolley cars.
Me and Michelle jumped on it as it stopped in Chinatown and I held onto the pole next to me for dear life as I stood on it's side and it took off with a jolt up the hill. They say that the California St route is the least scenic route out of all 3 Cable Car lines. I'd love to see what Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason look like, because the scenery speeding up and down Nob Hill was breathtaking. From the top, I could see the downtown skyline to the east and the victorian houses on their hills to the west. The breeze was amazing too as I leaned out of the car to get a better look infront of us (while dodging cars and other Cable Cars to avoid my arm getting taken off) and our gripman was funny and nice too. Even as I sit here in the basement computer room of our dormatory, I can hear the bells of the cable cars a couple of blocks away.
I'm completely in love with this city and I haven't even seen the Golden Gate Bridge yet.
We got off at Van Ness and hiked a hill to get to Japantown then headed over to the Japanese Culture Market after resting our crying hamstrngs by the Peace Pagoda. I satisfied my Otakuness after a shopping spree at Kinokunya (where I bought all Hetalia: Axis Powers stuff. Ahaha.) and then went to a store full of adorable, bug-eyed sibilings, friends and roomates of Hello Kitty and bought a callendar by Tomoko Maruyama from her Colors of San Francisco collection. It's always nice to see local artists being sold in large stores like that. I support them whenever I get the chance.
After taking a cab back to the dorm room for an hour of R&R, we headed to Home at long last. We indulged in sourdough bread, macaroni and cheese that could make you cry, meatloaf, chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes and cornbread with honey butter. No matter how much we wanted to eat every single last crumb on our plates, we finally had to throw in the towel (napkin) for fear we would explode if we didn't.
And so that's where the day leaves me now, back at the Commadore Dorms in the basement computer room with students hopping in and out to use the Macs or the microwave. Or both. Michelle is upstairs and has already been asleep for a few hours, lucky ducky. I snuck out to go buy a copy of the Chronicle but got too chicken to venture out onto Sutter St by myself to find a hard copy so I cane down here and read a few articled for free here on the computer.
Well, it's 9:10 and I'm sleepy, I think. Time to hit "Publish Post" and hit the hay, I think. We need to be checked out of the dorms by noon tomorrow and check in at the hotel on Fisherman's Wharf is at 3. I'll be excited to be in a room where they not only provide towels but PILLOWS too! Hella!
Goodnight, all. If anyone has read this whole thing, I love you dearly.
Much better day today. Turns out we accidentally walked through the heart of the Tenderloin yesterday. Oops. It really gave me a false impression of the city. I shouldn't have doubted it so quickly.
We headed out in the late morning to a brunch at Cafe de la Presse and then we hit Chinatown. So much nicer and less sketchy than Montreal's Chinatown. We shopped at the cute (most of them ripoff) stores and we finally went down the gross, smelly alleyway to where my Dad assigned us to find out how fortune cookies were made. Golden Gate Fortune Cookies was a narrow hole-in-the-wall tourist trap, but that's what gave it it's charm. there was me, Michelle and a family of four and that is all that could fit into the store at once. The manager stood by one of the workers while she pulled hot, flat cookies off of the plates and folded them into the right shape. A cup of quarters stood by him and a sign that said "50 cent if you take pictures"
So I paid my two quarters, took a picture of the lady folding cookies as a souvineer for my dad and we bought our bag of cookies. before we left, the cute old asian man gave us both a smile, a pat on the shoulder and a warm, fresh frotune cookie. It was the best fortune cookie I've ever had. It sure beat those marshmallow tasting ones at the Panda Express I always rave about. My fortune cookie said "Your tallent will proove to be useful this week."
We wouldn't even be here if not for my tallent, as Michelle said. :3
After I got lured into many stores to buy lots of bootlegs of things I could have bought authentically at other tourist stores, we caught the California St Cable Car to take us to Van Ness Ave so we could walk over to Japantown.
I have fallen deeply in love with those adorable, worn, creeky and charming trolley cars.
Me and Michelle jumped on it as it stopped in Chinatown and I held onto the pole next to me for dear life as I stood on it's side and it took off with a jolt up the hill. They say that the California St route is the least scenic route out of all 3 Cable Car lines. I'd love to see what Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason look like, because the scenery speeding up and down Nob Hill was breathtaking. From the top, I could see the downtown skyline to the east and the victorian houses on their hills to the west. The breeze was amazing too as I leaned out of the car to get a better look infront of us (while dodging cars and other Cable Cars to avoid my arm getting taken off) and our gripman was funny and nice too. Even as I sit here in the basement computer room of our dormatory, I can hear the bells of the cable cars a couple of blocks away.
I'm completely in love with this city and I haven't even seen the Golden Gate Bridge yet.
We got off at Van Ness and hiked a hill to get to Japantown then headed over to the Japanese Culture Market after resting our crying hamstrngs by the Peace Pagoda. I satisfied my Otakuness after a shopping spree at Kinokunya (where I bought all Hetalia: Axis Powers stuff. Ahaha.) and then went to a store full of adorable, bug-eyed sibilings, friends and roomates of Hello Kitty and bought a callendar by Tomoko Maruyama from her Colors of San Francisco collection. It's always nice to see local artists being sold in large stores like that. I support them whenever I get the chance.
After taking a cab back to the dorm room for an hour of R&R, we headed to Home at long last. We indulged in sourdough bread, macaroni and cheese that could make you cry, meatloaf, chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes and cornbread with honey butter. No matter how much we wanted to eat every single last crumb on our plates, we finally had to throw in the towel (napkin) for fear we would explode if we didn't.
And so that's where the day leaves me now, back at the Commadore Dorms in the basement computer room with students hopping in and out to use the Macs or the microwave. Or both. Michelle is upstairs and has already been asleep for a few hours, lucky ducky. I snuck out to go buy a copy of the Chronicle but got too chicken to venture out onto Sutter St by myself to find a hard copy so I cane down here and read a few articled for free here on the computer.
Well, it's 9:10 and I'm sleepy, I think. Time to hit "Publish Post" and hit the hay, I think. We need to be checked out of the dorms by noon tomorrow and check in at the hotel on Fisherman's Wharf is at 3. I'll be excited to be in a room where they not only provide towels but PILLOWS too! Hella!
Goodnight, all. If anyone has read this whole thing, I love you dearly.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Day Numero Uno
San Francisco isn't perfect. Nothing is, right? I think that's what's making it more charming to me.
Our flight was delayed 2 hours this morning due to fog at SFO. I laughed. When is San Francisco not foggy? Everything went flawlessly at the airport. Checked in, flew, found our baggage and taxied to the art academy. I talked to my advisor and went on the fine arts tour. Beautiful school. I love it.
And then I found out I'm not good at being a spontaneous person. We were gonna go walk around union square, find a random place to eat and ride a cable car.
None of the above happened.
Instead I accidetally led us into the Tenderloin, in a circle into the sketchy part of Market street, and we found nowhere to eat. We ended up taking a taxi to the Castro to eat at Harvey's instead. BUT I did get to watch the Cable Car turnaround at Powell and Market street. They are without a doubt the cutest means of transportation known to mankind. I will definatly have to ride them tomorrow.
That all being said, I don't think I will be able to live here for another year. I was so ready to move here in February, but now I don't think I can. I hate to say it, but getting lost in a sketchy part of downtown kinda shook me up. I still feel a little wierd about it. I'm a small town girl, even though I hate to admit that, and I get scared of those kinds of feelings being surrounded by people you dont know, not knowing how BART or Muni work... I think we decided that hailing down a taxi is a million times easier.
Next summer when I'm wiser and more ready for the world, I will be ready for San Francisco. I know it will wait for me until then <3
Our flight was delayed 2 hours this morning due to fog at SFO. I laughed. When is San Francisco not foggy? Everything went flawlessly at the airport. Checked in, flew, found our baggage and taxied to the art academy. I talked to my advisor and went on the fine arts tour. Beautiful school. I love it.
And then I found out I'm not good at being a spontaneous person. We were gonna go walk around union square, find a random place to eat and ride a cable car.
None of the above happened.
Instead I accidetally led us into the Tenderloin, in a circle into the sketchy part of Market street, and we found nowhere to eat. We ended up taking a taxi to the Castro to eat at Harvey's instead. BUT I did get to watch the Cable Car turnaround at Powell and Market street. They are without a doubt the cutest means of transportation known to mankind. I will definatly have to ride them tomorrow.
That all being said, I don't think I will be able to live here for another year. I was so ready to move here in February, but now I don't think I can. I hate to say it, but getting lost in a sketchy part of downtown kinda shook me up. I still feel a little wierd about it. I'm a small town girl, even though I hate to admit that, and I get scared of those kinds of feelings being surrounded by people you dont know, not knowing how BART or Muni work... I think we decided that hailing down a taxi is a million times easier.
Next summer when I'm wiser and more ready for the world, I will be ready for San Francisco. I know it will wait for me until then <3
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Last Post Until I'm There!
Okay so. I'm really excited, guys.
I just got my Hospitality Program thing from the Academy like 2 hours ago (nice job) and I guess I'm not staying on New Montgomery. We are staying on Sutter St. All I can say is:
Hell yes.
9 minute walk to Chinatown, 4 minute walk to Union Square. Right between the California and the Powell & Hyde Cable Car route. I'm making Michelle get up in the morning so we can watch fortune cookies being made in Chinatown (I don't really want to stay long there. I saw the Chinatown in Montreal. You seen one, you seen 'em all, right?) And we are gonna take the California Cable Car to Japantown.
My inner Otaku is SCREAMING IN DELIGHT, GUYS.
Two words: Kinokuniya Bookstore. Manga, doujinshi, magazines, omfg.
Anyway. That's happening on Tuesday. After Japantown, we are heading to Home in the Castro to get some delicious food and explore the Castro. Maybe even visit the hippies in Haight-Ashbury if we have time. I'd feel like a hypocrite if we didn't. I named my damn blog after those cross streets.
Wednesday, we are heading to Fisherman's Wharf. Ghirardelli Ice cream and crab on the pier for sure. Thursday I'm thinking we will take a long hike up the bay and cross the bridge. Gotta work off those calories somehow, right? When we get back, we will destroy it with In 'N Out Burger.
Friday, we leave but are supposed to be meeting up with new San Francisco native Lindsay so we can leave our bags at her place after our 12 noon checkout from the hotel for a few hours so we can hang out in the city a little bit more. We will see how that goes, I haven't heard from her. I don't want to hang out at the airport for 6 and a half hours.
I have to finish packing! I will try to update here and on facebook. If you guys care xD
Bai until then <3
I just got my Hospitality Program thing from the Academy like 2 hours ago (nice job) and I guess I'm not staying on New Montgomery. We are staying on Sutter St. All I can say is:
Hell yes.
9 minute walk to Chinatown, 4 minute walk to Union Square. Right between the California and the Powell & Hyde Cable Car route. I'm making Michelle get up in the morning so we can watch fortune cookies being made in Chinatown (I don't really want to stay long there. I saw the Chinatown in Montreal. You seen one, you seen 'em all, right?) And we are gonna take the California Cable Car to Japantown.
My inner Otaku is SCREAMING IN DELIGHT, GUYS.
Two words: Kinokuniya Bookstore. Manga, doujinshi, magazines, omfg.
Anyway. That's happening on Tuesday. After Japantown, we are heading to Home in the Castro to get some delicious food and explore the Castro. Maybe even visit the hippies in Haight-Ashbury if we have time. I'd feel like a hypocrite if we didn't. I named my damn blog after those cross streets.
Wednesday, we are heading to Fisherman's Wharf. Ghirardelli Ice cream and crab on the pier for sure. Thursday I'm thinking we will take a long hike up the bay and cross the bridge. Gotta work off those calories somehow, right? When we get back, we will destroy it with In 'N Out Burger.
Friday, we leave but are supposed to be meeting up with new San Francisco native Lindsay so we can leave our bags at her place after our 12 noon checkout from the hotel for a few hours so we can hang out in the city a little bit more. We will see how that goes, I haven't heard from her. I don't want to hang out at the airport for 6 and a half hours.
I have to finish packing! I will try to update here and on facebook. If you guys care xD
Bai until then <3
Friday, July 23, 2010
Omfg Packing
FINALLY! WOOOO!
After a small panic attack over the news that Academy of Art University NEVER received my reservation papers, everything is getting squared away again and I am slowly getting my paperwork and tour confirmations from them.
Check out my schedule for Monday so far:
3:30 am: Wake up.
5:00 am: Leave Sterling (YES!!)
7:00 am: Arrive at DIA
9:00 am: Find flight and get the hell out of Colorado
10:45 am (PST now): Land in SFO
11:15 am: Hopefully have obtained bags and find Super Shuttle to take us to the cross streets of New Montgomery and Mission
11:50 am (I PRAY): Get checked in at the school and find our room
12:00 pm: 1st tour- 2D Animation and Illustration Department
1:00 pm: 2nd tour- Fine Arts Department
2:00 pm: 3rd tour- Housing
3:00 pm: Official time of death
I'm feeling a little anxious. Excited, but really nervous too. I still feel like I need to do a lot of things. Figure out the Muni schedule, make reservations at restaurants... things like that.
When I am there, everything will feel a whole lot better.
After a small panic attack over the news that Academy of Art University NEVER received my reservation papers, everything is getting squared away again and I am slowly getting my paperwork and tour confirmations from them.
Check out my schedule for Monday so far:
3:30 am: Wake up.
5:00 am: Leave Sterling (YES!!)
7:00 am: Arrive at DIA
9:00 am: Find flight and get the hell out of Colorado
10:45 am (PST now): Land in SFO
11:15 am: Hopefully have obtained bags and find Super Shuttle to take us to the cross streets of New Montgomery and Mission
11:50 am (I PRAY): Get checked in at the school and find our room
12:00 pm: 1st tour- 2D Animation and Illustration Department
1:00 pm: 2nd tour- Fine Arts Department
2:00 pm: 3rd tour- Housing
3:00 pm: Official time of death
I'm feeling a little anxious. Excited, but really nervous too. I still feel like I need to do a lot of things. Figure out the Muni schedule, make reservations at restaurants... things like that.
When I am there, everything will feel a whole lot better.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
For My Mom- Things Invented in San Francisco
Because I'm bored:
Denim jeans
Fortune cookies
Mission-style burritos (think Big City Burrito or Qudoba)
Television
Slot Machines
Martinis
Mai Tais
Irish Coffee
Cobb salad
Sourdough bread (sort of. Was invented in ancient Egypt but SF made it spiffy. Like everything)
French dip sandwiches
Cable cars (duh. but they were used in a lot of US cities in the day.)
Popsicles
Mimosas
Chicken Tetrazzini (BAHAHA)
Folgers coffee
Chinese take-out
Green Goddess dressing
Ghirardelli chocolate (duh)
Rice-a-Roni (do I even need to list this one? sure.)
Chop suey
Lemon drops
Jelly bellys (Los Angeles is fighting for this title too. Haha.)
I want a french dip and chocolate now. UGH.
Denim jeans
Fortune cookies
Mission-style burritos (think Big City Burrito or Qudoba)
Television
Slot Machines
Martinis
Mai Tais
Irish Coffee
Cobb salad
Sourdough bread (sort of. Was invented in ancient Egypt but SF made it spiffy. Like everything)
French dip sandwiches
Cable cars (duh. but they were used in a lot of US cities in the day.)
Popsicles
Mimosas
Chicken Tetrazzini (BAHAHA)
Folgers coffee
Chinese take-out
Green Goddess dressing
Ghirardelli chocolate (duh)
Rice-a-Roni (do I even need to list this one? sure.)
Chop suey
Lemon drops
Jelly bellys (Los Angeles is fighting for this title too. Haha.)
I want a french dip and chocolate now. UGH.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Nerdery
I came home from getting my itinerary for the upcoming trip from the travel agency and I find this in my mailbox:
621 pages of Academy of Art University goodness. Transfer info, campus maps, housing, tuition prices... Everything, basically.
I was flipping through the pages and I happened upon the Animation courses. I kinda laughed to myself, remembering how I wanted an internship at Pixar and I go "I bet they don't teach Renderman..." If you arent as big of a Pixar nerd as I am, Renderman is Pixar's hella awesome, extremely exclusive and powerful animation program. If the price tag (nearly $4,000 for the program) doesn't throw you off, it's how extremely hard it is to get ahold of.
Anyway, I kinda chuckle to myself as I flip through all the (awesome) animation courses and... they teach Renderman. I am now a nerd for my future school.
Can it be next summer now? Please? Or at least 2 weeks in the future?
621 pages of Academy of Art University goodness. Transfer info, campus maps, housing, tuition prices... Everything, basically.
I was flipping through the pages and I happened upon the Animation courses. I kinda laughed to myself, remembering how I wanted an internship at Pixar and I go "I bet they don't teach Renderman..." If you arent as big of a Pixar nerd as I am, Renderman is Pixar's hella awesome, extremely exclusive and powerful animation program. If the price tag (nearly $4,000 for the program) doesn't throw you off, it's how extremely hard it is to get ahold of.
Anyway, I kinda chuckle to myself as I flip through all the (awesome) animation courses and... they teach Renderman. I am now a nerd for my future school.
Can it be next summer now? Please? Or at least 2 weeks in the future?
Sunday, July 4, 2010
For Dummies
Best $17.99 (+7.82% tax) I've ever spent. Sticky notes and a free afternoon at the ready!
EDIT:
Dear Michelle,
If you survive this, I promise I'll take you to cute wedding boutiques in Union Square and I'll write you an extra giggle-worthy, tear jerking speech for your wedding reception. If you don't survive, I promise we won't bury you until after Chris' birthday so it won't be completely ruined.
Love,
-Me
Note to self: Do everything at Fisherman's Wharf the week of the trip so you wont be caught dead there when you are struggling to become a local.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Ta-da!
Introducing my brand spankin' new blog for anyone to read about my up and coming life and adventures in San Francisco and the rest of the bay area, complete with cheesy title. My old blog will still be up and running for those of you who read that one, so no worries. (If you were even worried about never reading my young person angst and ramblings again.)So alright. Bloggin time.
My name is Jennifer, I'm a 20 year old Fine Arts Major (soon to obtain my AA but going for my MFA) and I currently live in the ass crack of Colorado. The northeast part. I've heard people from the Rockies or from Denver say that they should just chop off this part of Colorado and donate it to Nebraska because we aren't cool enough to be apart of the gorgeous, snowy, (mostly) open-minded, fun part of Colorado. Sad thing is, I have no argument against that. We look just like western Nebraska in every way. Dry, desolate prairies. Every once in a while, There will be canyons or wind energy towers that dot the horizon. That's it.
I live in a town full of fast food for passers-through on the interstate between Denver and Omaha, Nebraska. Cheyenne, Wyoming is moderately sized and so is Ft. Collins, Colorado but they really don't count for anything, honestly. Just remember: We have a Walmart, a couple tiny shopping centers (with dollar stores included!) and a McDonald's. People drive an hour or so from surrounding tiny towns to come here for a day of fun. Chew on that and swallow.
My graduating class had about 100 kids in it and it is literally across the street from my house. My middle school was next to a cornfield. Everything is next to a cornfield. It constantly smells like cow shit here. I decided quite some time ago that I've outgrown this place. I wanted to move to Tokyo when I was 10, for god's sake.
10 years later, as Herb Caen would say, I've found myself in a love-affair with the City by the Bay. I dream of San Francisco living.
It seems absolutely perfect for me. The music scene, the culture, the THINGS TO DO, the climate, the people, the art, the opened minds and THE SIZE. The more I heard about my bay-dwelling friends talking about it, the more I wanted to be there too. I found the perfect school there too; The Academy of Art University. It has EVERYTHING I want in a school.
So to my point, I'm heading out on a week long excursion July 26th with my best pal Michelle to San Francisco to stay for two nights in the Academy's dorms and check out the school, go on class tours and talk to advisors, then we will stay a couple of days close to Fisherman's Wharf just because. Clearly, I cannot wait.
Stick around, people. I will be blogging about my preparations for my trip, my trip itself, my missing San Francisco BADLY when I come back, me getting ready for the transfer and finally the SPARKLY NEW CHAPTER OF MY LIFE! In a year, I plan on blogging about my new discoveries in the city, my experiences in the art scene, my favorite spots, etc... It will be a good time. So please stick with me until next summer. I promise things will get interesting.
My name is Jennifer, I'm a 20 year old Fine Arts Major (soon to obtain my AA but going for my MFA) and I currently live in the ass crack of Colorado. The northeast part. I've heard people from the Rockies or from Denver say that they should just chop off this part of Colorado and donate it to Nebraska because we aren't cool enough to be apart of the gorgeous, snowy, (mostly) open-minded, fun part of Colorado. Sad thing is, I have no argument against that. We look just like western Nebraska in every way. Dry, desolate prairies. Every once in a while, There will be canyons or wind energy towers that dot the horizon. That's it.
I live in a town full of fast food for passers-through on the interstate between Denver and Omaha, Nebraska. Cheyenne, Wyoming is moderately sized and so is Ft. Collins, Colorado but they really don't count for anything, honestly. Just remember: We have a Walmart, a couple tiny shopping centers (with dollar stores included!) and a McDonald's. People drive an hour or so from surrounding tiny towns to come here for a day of fun. Chew on that and swallow.
My graduating class had about 100 kids in it and it is literally across the street from my house. My middle school was next to a cornfield. Everything is next to a cornfield. It constantly smells like cow shit here. I decided quite some time ago that I've outgrown this place. I wanted to move to Tokyo when I was 10, for god's sake.
10 years later, as Herb Caen would say, I've found myself in a love-affair with the City by the Bay. I dream of San Francisco living.
It seems absolutely perfect for me. The music scene, the culture, the THINGS TO DO, the climate, the people, the art, the opened minds and THE SIZE. The more I heard about my bay-dwelling friends talking about it, the more I wanted to be there too. I found the perfect school there too; The Academy of Art University. It has EVERYTHING I want in a school.
So to my point, I'm heading out on a week long excursion July 26th with my best pal Michelle to San Francisco to stay for two nights in the Academy's dorms and check out the school, go on class tours and talk to advisors, then we will stay a couple of days close to Fisherman's Wharf just because. Clearly, I cannot wait.
Stick around, people. I will be blogging about my preparations for my trip, my trip itself, my missing San Francisco BADLY when I come back, me getting ready for the transfer and finally the SPARKLY NEW CHAPTER OF MY LIFE! In a year, I plan on blogging about my new discoveries in the city, my experiences in the art scene, my favorite spots, etc... It will be a good time. So please stick with me until next summer. I promise things will get interesting.
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