It has been a very relaxed day, which is nice since I have to go back to work for a three day stretch bright and early tomorrow morning.  I managed to get in a quick run around the park this morning.  Aaron and I met up with his friend from work named Jennifer around two o'clock.  She is from Dallas and actually spent a couple of years as staff at Duke, and now she is here as a traveler.  He met her on his last assignment during the fall, and I had met up with her a couple of times before now.  We met her for lunch at a great burrito joint and then gathered our dogs for a quick trip to the beach.  She has a funny little wiener dog named Piper, and then her roommate has an deaf American bulldog called Leila.  Zuri got along with both of them splendidly, and all three of them ran like crazy on the beach.  It really was good fun.

We then took Zuri home and cleaned her up a bit before heading back out to meet up with Jennifer once again for drinks.  We gathered at one of our favorite pubs on Haight St.  This little bar has an excellent beer list and they make killer Bloody Mary's, so it is definitely high on our list of places to go in the evenings.  Lucky Jennifer will be traveling to Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia in early March, so we loved hearing about her future travel plans.  Of course listening to her itinerary made us itch to get back on the road.  It's been way too long since we have stayed in a hostel!  Anyways, she traveled to several countries in Europe during high school with her choir, but this is her first big international trip free of a tour group.  I can't wait to hear about her travels in southeast Asia!  I have posted a few pictures from our trip last year just to reminisce about the wonderful times we had exploring this part of the world!

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Thailand Market

Looking Rough in Halong Bay, Vietnam

Halong Bay

Halong Bay

Hanoi, Veitnam

Market in Can Tho, Vietnam

Aaron Goes Vegan

For one night only of course.  I prepared this recipe one evening when he was on his way home from work.  He dove right in and then asked, "Where is the shrimp?"  My less than kind response was, "Keep eating and you'll find them.  I think they settled to the bottom of your bowl."  Poor husband, but it is good to challenge his palette every now and then. 

Coconut-Peanut Chickpeas and Vegetables

1 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium red bell pepper, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp hot or mild curry powder

2 tbsp creamy peanut butter

1 (13.5 oz) can unsweetened coconut milk

3 cups cooked or 2 (15.5 oz) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes

3 cups fresh baby spinach

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Crushed unsalted roasted peanuts, for garnish

In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat,  Add the onion and bell pepper, cover, and cook until soft, about 10 minutes.  Add the garlic and curry powder, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add the peanut butter and gradually stir in the coconut milk until well blended.  Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, and spinach, stirring to wilt the spinach, about 5 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Simmer until how and the flavors are well blended, about 7 minutes.  Serve immediately, sprinkled with the peanuts.

I served this over rice, and it really was delicious.  Even though Aaron never did find the shrimp at the bottom, he managed to take the leftovers to work the following couple of days.  

Random Pictures

 Our sweet Z running on the beach

 Happy Dogs

Aaron, Jess, Lindsay, Scott

On the Golden Gate

A favorite building in Chinatown

The lovely coast just down the street 

An amazing evening

Adorable male nurses

Calories

Salt flats in Utah (from our drive back to Cali)

I got up really early this morning and left just after Aaron went to work.  Zuri and I hit the road for a nine mile run.  We stayed on the streets until the sun was shining, and then we hit the park to make our way to the beach.  Now it is only eight thirty, and I am getting ready to head out and meet some girls for the day.  I think we will wander the city and find plenty of scrumptious eats and drinks.  Good times! 

Update and Pics!

Over the past week and a half I have tried to carry my little camera everywhere so that I can snap photos whenever I feel it is appropriate.  There are so many little pockets of San Francisco that are so picturesque, and I just never know when I am going to stumble upon these areas.  It is necessary to always be prepared.

It has been a fine week once again, even though I have been bogged down by work!  Ha, I only spent three days in orientation, so it was really okay.  The hospital provides the very typical nursing orientation, where they encourage new hires to care and to appreciate diversity.  Overall, I think nurses do a fine job of these two things to begin with, but every institution feels the need to talk about these two topics in great detail.  The educator even discussed how to take care of gypsy families, so that should be an interesting nursing experience and a new one for my list when the time comes.  I met some fun fellow travelers, and as usual I got their numbers so that we can meet up in the next couple of weeks.  It is always fun and interesting to hear the stories other travel nurses have to share of their experiences along the way.  Lots of laughter frequently!

This weekend our friends from Duke, Scott and Lindsay, have come to visit from Flagstaff.  We are thrilled to see them and catch up.  It seems hard to believe that we said good-bye to them in Tucson a year and a half ago before leaving for our six month trip.  It is so nice to have a three day weekend (thanks to my super nice manager that I have only met over the phone) to enjoy their company and show them around the city.

Here are some recent pics of the neighborhood and surrounding area.

 Just around the corner where we wait for the Muni

 

 First beer consumed in sparsely decorated living room.

 

 The other side of the living room

 Home Sweet Home!

 

Golden Gate Park

Japanese Garden, Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park

My hospital way in the distance 

Just outside of our front door

Funky colors of Haight-Ashbury

Home in Haight-Ashbury

Haight St.

 Fun and Narrow

SHE is conservative???!  What??? 

 Ha, just for fun!!

A Dog's Life

Zuri, our big and precious lab mix, does very well with all of our travels.  She rides in the car without a peep, and I frequently forget that she is in the backseat.  It usually takes her about a week to get situated in our new home, which is to be expected of a dog.  This is also her first experience living in a big and exciting city.  She hasn't been sure what to make of long walks on pavement instead of the grass that she is used to in the suburbs.  Luckily she got about two hours of quality walking time in Golden Gate Park every day last week.  This is where she goes a bit nuts, and I have to scold her more than I am used to.  She loves to attack the ducks and birds, but her favorite thing is to dig for poor innocent moles.  I laugh so hard as I reprimand her at the park!  Here are some funny pictures that I snapped of her from last week in the park.

And then here are a few of her at Half Moon Bay recently.

We love her so much, even though she tends to be very full of herself!  She is such a wonderful part of our little family!

December Pictures

Here are a few photos from December.  More to come of our place in the city!

  

Zuri on the long journey to Colorado

The very barren landscape of Nevada

Utah!

Wyoming

 

The folks and Aaron in SC

My first ornament still looks lovely on the tree!

Clemson cows.

More Clemson cows looking very fine!

One of Zuri's favorite locations in Colorado.