Ready, set... PACK!

Slight change of plans.

Home for the night, switching out some clothes, doing laundry, etc. But this time, packing for two months! Turns out the patent pumps will be kickin it a little longer. Stay tuned for a schedule update in the coming days.

But, if you were ever curious what it looks like when you pack for a 2 month trip, here's a good idea for ya...
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Rewind: San Francisco Mission District's Balmy Alley Murals

"Located a block from the Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitors Center in the San Francisco Mission neighborhood between Treat Avenue and Harrison Street, Balmy Alley has a concentration of more than 30 vibrant and colorful murals painted on fences, building walls and garage doors. In the Mission neighborhood densely packed with murals, Balmy Alley is at the center of it all. Muralists began working in San Francisco's Balmy Alley as early as 1971. Many of the original murals are still there as well as many murals that have been painted over the intervening years.

The Balmy Alley murals are very diverse both stylistically and in the subject matter. Some of the murals feature cartoon-like illustrations that playful and juvenile. Other murals along Balmy Alley grapple with difficult subjects, such as a memorial to people who have died from AIDS or depictions of political strife and war in Latin America. Another mural honors the great muralist Diego Rivera and his wife, the painter Frida Kahlo. And another is a tribute to women muralists of the Mission District. One colorless mural, depicts two men and a woman jumping through a barbed-wire fence lined with keys. The woman has her hand held high, making the peace sign.

One of the best parts of about San Francisco's Balmy Alley and the Mission District murals in general is that the murals are part of a thriving vibrant community that is as colorful and diverse as the murals themselves. On Balmy Alley, take a peak through the knot-hole of a mural-painted fence and you'll see and old car supported on blocks or a latino washing his truck or a patio table and chairs. Along the alley, you'll see signs that warn you to beware of dogs as well as a lettering for the Taqueria Vallarta, which is on 24th Street."

*Article courtesy of ZurdoGo Destinations: http://www.zurdogo.com/

T-Minus 3 Weeks

I only have a handful of visits left before I will be putting my patent pumps away for a little while, and although I’m sad to be ending with The Organization, I smile profusely when I think back on the year I’ve had. The traveling alone has been priceless, and I know for sure that staying put in one place for more than a week is going to be a strange transition for me. Yesterday, as I was traveling to Arizona- where the weather is currently perfect, by the way- I reflected on how I have changed when it comes to the art of traveling itself. The physical act of packing, and getting to the airport, and checking in, and going through security, and waiting for your plane- all that stuff that seems stressful for a lot of people, has become second nature to me.

Saturday, I slept in and casually packed for my next few visits within the hour. Normally, this would have taken at least a few hours, while I tried everything on, and folded it all into small piles, being sure to match shoes with accessories and so on and so forth. Now everything has its place, certain shirts go with particular pants or shoes, and all my stuff packs up, folds up, zips up, rolls up and tucks away neatly into an organized roller bag. OK, there may be two large bags, but I’m on the road for weeks sometimes. A girl needs two bags if she has to look good all the time. And on occasion, shop for a new work shirt, or a pretty dress.

My patience while traveling has improved a lot. Not that I was too cranky to begin with- I love people watching, seeing new things, etc.- but now I just go with the flow if things cramp my style; these would be referred to as nonlethal inconveniences. I find that a large coffee fixes nonlethal inconveniences rather quickly. I don’t mind the lines at the airport anymore because I’ve discovered ways to get around them or talk my way to the front. My favorite is the “frequent traveler” line at most airports, because it is usually empty, and I justify my using it because I have a snazzy briefcase and, let’s face it- travel frequently. Sometimes, I can even get through 10-12 emails while waiting in line thanks to my Blackberry.* (*This would include work and personal e-mails thanks to both oh my phones!) Checking in for flights is a breeze now that United and Southwest airlines have barcode scanners that will interface with my Blackberr(ies). And sitting next to a crying baby or a Chatty Cathy- puuhhlease… I have my noise cancelling headphones. So, I can work productively on my flights, or catch up on some sleep- usually the latter, let’s be honest.

Some people hate traveling, but I love the stress of it all. Not traveling consistently and being on the go is going to be different- I’m sure I will develop cabin fever. But I guess to combat the cabin fever, I gotta develop a new schedule. And that will include, primarily, the gym. Like I said, patent pumps will be stored for a while, and tennis shoes will take the lead.

Enjoyed a lovely week off in San Francisco and the Napa Valley with friends; stay tuned for SF posts- now back to the grind for the last three weeks!

Travel Obsession #8

Southwest Airlines Free Drink Coupons: I like flying southwest for many reasons…
1.) I always check in early and get the perfect seat.
2.) They are witty and sassy and I like that on a flight.
3.) They have tasty snacks.
4.) Lots of flights = free roundtrip ticket!
5.) Lots of trips = free drink coupons, ie. one can enjoy a glass of wine en route to their final destination. Takes the stress out of traveling.

I left my heart in San Francisco. But, I came back to get it.

The Presidio of San Francisco
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Sunset from Mount Soledad

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"It is the Greatest City of All Time"

Quick Cliff Notes update for my two week hiatus! Sorry I’ve been MIA for two weeks- not even a picture update! You’d think I was dead… well, I felt like I was. I had to take a week off from the road last week thanks to a nasty bout of bronchitis, an ear infection and also (yes, there’s an also) laryngitis. No talking for 10 days. 10 DAYS. As one friend put it, “it must’ve been harder not to talk for a whole week than to be stuck at home for a week.” True statement. So, basically, I took a week off to rest, recuperate and get my voice back. Boise, I LOVED you, but you got me sick… well, sort of. Special thanks to the two Doctors I visited, the grape cough medicine with codeine, and my boss, for giving me time to rest up last week.

Thankfully though, I’m back on the road and in San Diego and feeling infinitely better. Ron Burgundy so lovingly proclaims that, “it is a fact, [San Diego] is the greatest city of all time.” I don’t know if I will go that far, but I will say that being here makes it hard to focus on the work at hand thanks to the endless sunshine and ocean breeze. I’m not sure what is better; working with the lovely group here at the University of San Diego, or just being in this wonderful city. Walking across campus or down in Old Town, you get potent wafts of the old eucalyptus and pepper trees that line the streets, sometimes mixing with the smell of fresh corn tortillas if you happen to be walking by a Mexican taqueria, which there are many of in San Diego*. The ocean is never too far from sight, and the sun literally glistens across the surface. The fact that your senses are practically dancing with happiness at the brilliant sights, smells and tastes that San Diego has to offer, only adds to your positive mood during each day.

These next few days I have my evenings free, meaning that I’m going to begin my search for San Diego’s best beach to watch the sunset. As mentioned in earlier posts on this blog, the further west you go, the better the sunset, I think. So clearly, I have some photographic research to create to prove my point to you. Van Morrison on the radio, and windows rolled down, I’m sure to find the best beach this week, or at least one I like very much.

When not beach cruising, I’ll be sitting in the sun, conducting my meetings with members from The Organization, who naturally, are all beautifully tanned after a weeklong Spring Break. Jealous. This trip to USD makes me feel like I’m on Spring Break though because the weather is so great!

Return for best beach update later this week!

*Mexican Food is the BEST in Southern California, especially San Diego.

Land of Potatoes and Blue Turf

Greetings from Boise, Idaho! Never been to Boise before, and all I knew about the great state is that they are famous for their potatoes and Boise State, where I'm working this week, is well known for their bright blue-turfed football field*.

Well, I haven't made it to see the blue turf, that's my next stop, but I have experienced some gourmet potatoes. A dinner meeting at the Boise Fry Company in the capitols downtown was quite the experience for the tastebuds. The concept at this hole in the wall spot is built around the potato itself. You have a variety of potatoes to choose from; yesterday I chose Purple (apparently, they have an earthier taste than your typical Red Lady or Russet potato- I would agree) and you get to decide how you'd like them prepared- regular french fries, curly, shoestring, crisscut, etc. Once you've made that big decision, you pick a burger, as your side. I enjoyed a bison burger, with garlic aioli, roasted tomatoes, pickled onions and cheddar, ie. perfection on a toasted bun.

The whole experience was great, but the best part was the ketchup bar. Yes, you read it correct- ketchup bar (the next best thing to a salsa bar perhaps?). There were about 10 different types you could choose from but I enjoyed the spicy, garlic and blueberry ketchup the best. Blueberry ketchup is apparently one of their most popular ketchups, and although it sounds gross in the beginning, it was just sweet enough to create a really nice savory-sweet combo during your meal. So good.

If you ever find yourself in Boise, head over to Broadway to experience this unique spot. If fries and bugers weren't so bad for you, I'd probably go here everyday during my visit so that I could try something different on their menu- specifically The Bourgeois- fries cooked in duck fat and sprinkled with black truffle salt. Mmm. They also have a fair amonut of local brews on tap, and although I could not imbibe while working this week, definitley pair your meal there with an ice cold beverage. Surely it would take it to the next level.

Thinking a foodie blog is next on the docket for me... obviously, patent pumps will be worn during these adventures as well. Thoughts?

*My darling sister would complain that said turf added to the Ducks loss when they played Boise last year.

I spy with my little eye...

One shoe, two shoes, red shoes, blue shoes.

Look at my amazing packing skills. I've come a long way since July- both in my packing capabilities and my shoe collection.
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It's Worth It

I was talking with a friend last night about how much we were going to miss our jobs when we complete our contracts in mere weeks from now. Working for The Organization has been a priceless experience; worth the delays at airports and lost luggage, worth catching the flu twice this year and living out of a suitcase and on a tight budget, worth the time away from close friends and family. It’s been worth all of this for one thing- watching the development of The Organization. Oh, and the frequent flier points too.

Tonight I met with a handful of women, meeting after meeting after meeting (this is what I do during every visit, just in case you were curious), who all talked to me about finances, or of event planning, of ordering t-shirts or picking the perfect theme for their party. However no meeting was more meaningful to me than the discussion I had with one young woman about The Organization’s Ritual. I know, I know, corny as it sounds, but it was a conversation that I often have at each chapter, that truly means a lot to me. Each time the conversation is different, but the message about what is most important to The Organization remains the same. Obviously, because it is our Ritual I cannot share it with you Reader, but I can tell you one thing; I’m going to miss having this conversation at work on a regular basis.

At what other job would I get this opportunity? The opportunity I’m talking about is the one where I get to engage in a conversation with someone and discuss the importance of our shared values, the meaning of our membership and Ritual, the bonds that we share beyond our mere friendship, the importance of those three special letters. You could argue, I guess, that you could have that same conversation in any workplace whose corporate culture you admired and enjoyed, because really, there are some folks out there who feel just as strongly about their company as I do about The Organization. But I would most likely disagree with you if you argued with me, proclaiming that this job was fabulous, the most meaningful, and the only time I could engage in special conversations, like the ones I’ve been having, with people who appreciate The Organization, just as much as I do.

Anyway, what I was getting to is that me and my friend came to the conclusion that no matter what job you have, there will always be things to gripe about, something that bothers you, that challenges you- but really, we have it pretty good right now working for our respective Organizations. Sure, things on the road may not have been ideal at times, they may have angered or frustrated me, or challenged me on a new level. But really, if life was perfect, what would be the point of it all? I feel thankful that once again, The Organization is helping me to realize these important lessons, especially through our Ritual and through my experiences.