A Beautiful Evening in San Francisco

 

In Love with the Doc

My love for Doc Marten's goes way back to early high school.  I remember several kids at school wore the traditional brown boots, and I thought they were the finest shoes ever.  When my Mom suggested we travel to London for spring break junior year, I couldn't wait to empty my savings account and make a purchase.  I bought a pair of tan chunky Mary Jane's and wore them proudly for many years.  This pair along with the many others that I have accumulated through the years are stored away in my parent's attic, and I look forward to the day we settle down so I can pull them back out and enjoy wearing them again. 

When we moved to San Francisco and I first wandered through the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, I was absolutely thrilled to see a Doc Marten Store.  I drooled over the fine collection of colorful shoes in the front window, and a certain tall lavender boot really caught my eye.  Since this encounter, I have passed by this store many times dreaming of how stylish I would look in such fine purple footwear. 

So this afternoon we decided to wander down Haight Street in search of a pub that serves fine European-style beer.   I spent the morning working out at the gym and then walking Zuri on the beach, so it was most certainly time to visit a local pub.  Aaron came with me and I warned him that we might have to make a quick stop at the Doc Marten Store before visiting the bar.  I just wanted to have a closer look at those adorable lavender boots and luckily he was in agreement with my plan.
As usual, the Doc Marten Store never disappoints and before I knew it, Aaron was asking the sales clerk for assistance.  Yes, he just couldn't resist.  Initially I hadn't planned on actually trying the shoes on, but when I heard Aaron asking for help with sizes I knew it was definitely time. The sales clerk kept urging me to go with the red pair, but my mind had been made up in January.  I put the lavender beauties on and didn't take them off.  I told the salesman that I didn't even need a box.  He assured me that if I wore them out of the store, I could not return them.  Aaron chose a handsome solid black boot, and we left the store sporting our new purchases feeling trendy and retro as we made our way to the pub.  European-style brew was no longer affordable after our purchase, but luckily we stumbled upon happy hour, so we didn't have to settle for cheap beer.  There really is nothing better than wearing new Doc Marten's and drinking Belgian beer while listening to a Willie Nelson cover band.  It was a fine afternoon.

Today I couldn't help but reminisce of my first Doc Marten purchase.  As I mentioned above, Mom and I decided to travel to London for spring break my junior year.  We both worked hard pinching pennies to save up for our long awaited journey overseas.  It was our first time traveling abroad and we had looked so forward to it, but we both had reservations that first night in the city.  We felt so far from home and we were so fatigued from jet lag.  Luckily we slept well and woke the next morning with a different attitude about learning the city.  It took several rides, but Mom tackled the subway system and had us all over London.  We spent the week walking our feet off, learning to 'mind the gap,' filling our bellies with delicious pastries, visiting beautiful cathedrals and museums, and attending musicals.  We also managed to get a little shopping in, and I found the shoe store Shelley's, which had an amazing selection of Doc Marten's.  I was sold.  Working at the retirement center as a waitress provided me with just enough money to purchase those great Mary Jane's.  We had so much fun on that trip that we decided to return the following year for another visit.  The second time around I chose a really fun plaid boot that I loved wearing throughout the years as well. 

So I guess this is why I get a little overly emotional about Doc Marten's.  They take me down memory lane.  They take me back to London with my Mom and remind me of our amazing travels there.  Those were some of my favorite trips abroad, and Mom has always been supportive of my Doc Marten habit.  I wore Doc's all through college and always loved their ability to enhance and funkify any plain outfit.  It has been about ten years since I have purchased a pair, so it was most appropriate to add the beautiful lavender boots to my collection today.  My wallet may be a bit lighter, but my feet are very happy.

A bit blurry, but still beautiful!

A Reminder

Yesterday when I went into work I found a gift addressed to me sitting in the windowsill of the break room. 

 

With this gift there was a note that said:

To: The Friendliest RN I ever met

I wish you the best in your Spanish studies.  The Latin language (Spanish) is quite romantic and expressive.  Remember lose your fear, and just talk...

Thank you for taking all the time to care for our family.

With Love-A

I was speechless and the note just about brought me to tears.  I had told this particular family how much I enjoy trying to teach myself Spanish, and the grandfather went right out and bought me this set of books and CDs.  I can't wait to get started on the discs and then practice my Spanish with them at work.  This was just such a nice gesture, and it helps me to remember how much I love taking care of patients and families during their hospitalizations.  

The past two days off define delightful!  I have had so much fun with friends and the husband.  Yesterday I made my way across the bay on the BART to meet a friend in Berkeley.  It was my first time taking the BART, which is the commuter train, and I actually didn't have any trouble making my way to and from.  Shocking.  I met up with my friend Lindsey, who I worked with at Duke and we have recently gotten re-aquainted since we're both travel nurses here in the bay area.  She is a lovely person, and we have such interesting discussions when we get together!  It is always so good to see her.  We met at the train station and then found a funky vegetarian cafe for lunch.  After a satisfying meat-free meal we made our way towards campus to the Berkeley Art Museum.  The museum is free the first Thursday of every month, which is good we didn't pay because we didn't stay for long.  The art was a bit too modern for my liking.  There was also a small exhibit of Asian art, but after spending five weeks roaming around Asia last year, I have seen my fair share of Buddhas on display.  Oh well, it was still fun, and I can check it off my list of things to do.  Afterwards we leisurely meandered around campus taking occasional pictures and talking.  We then found a quaint little coffee shop near the train station to rehydrate and eat before heading back home.  It was most certainly a fun little day trip, and Berkeley is an interesting town.  I wouldn't mind going back one of these days to wander a little more. 

On a side note, there are two girls in the area that I worked with at Duke.  Lindsey (mentioned above) and Jen.  They're both currently down the road at Stanford, but it is very easy to meet up on our days off.  We have now hung out together several times, and it is always such a good experience.  It is amazing how fulfilling it is to be surrounded by two people who knew me before I embarked on this crazy nomadic lifestyle.  I think they feel similarly.  Most importantly, when we get together we transition from normal dialect to deep southern accents (even though Lindsey is from a more northern state, she talks like a true southern girl!).  People around us must think we're absolutely crazy, but hearing that slow sweet drawl is like music to my southern girl ears!

Last evening Aaron and I made our way to Haight-Ashbury for fried chicken and beer.  After our healthy meal we met up with our friend Jennifer, who is a traveler Aaron met during his previous contract.  She is good fun and we enjoyed catching up over drinks.  She has been spending lots of time at the climbing gym lately, and she managed to talk us into trying it out, so that is what we did today.  This morning I got up early and made my way to the beach with Zuri for a five mile run.  I got home, cleaned up and Jennifer picked us up just before noon to head over to 'Mission Cliffs.'  Any title with the word 'cliff' makes me nervous as I hate heights.  And just as I had thought, I felt ill when we entered the gym and were instantly surrounded by towering climbing walls.  I managed to rent the gear and take the class and even climb a wall or two.  I am so tired tonight that I can't really write about it in detail, so I will post some pictures.  My arms are incredibly sore, but it was a really neat experience and I think we will try to go again next week.  Also, some pics of Berkeley!

Berkeley

 

 

Climbing Gym

LOVE

Sometimes I just can't believe where life has taken me.  Never in my wildest southern girl dreams would I have guessed this outcome.  Traveling the world with a Colorado boy.  My parents were wonderful role models, and they never pushed the idea that I had to get married one day, so I grew up with an indifferent attitude. 

I remember starting nursing school and being a nervous wreck on the very first day.  It was hard to believe that just about every student in the nursing class was in a relationship or already married.  We all made introductions and most classmates talked about their significant others.  I nervously talked about my ability to juggle.  It was a quality moment for sure.  I do remember seeing Aaron during the free breakfast hour.  I didn't dare eat a single bite for fear of stomach cramps, but thought the boy in the corner stuffing his mouth and his bag full of bagels was pretty shady.  How could anyone at Duke University lack such class?  That is what I thought.  Little did I know that I would fall madly in love with this bagel-stealing boy and that together we would journey the world.  Wow! 

We became friends early during the fall semester.  I got to know him through our good pal Amna.  I still thought he was quite shady sitting in the back of the classroom playing video games while I took impeccable notes.  We spent Thursday nights together filling our poor hungry bellies with wings and beer.  He would have us over to his house for dinner and really cheap wine parties.  Oh, he was such a nice guy, and I felt like I could tell him just about anything.   I loved hearing of his travel stories and being amazed that anyone could journey the world with a backpack and stay in hostels for more than a week.  During Christmas break he went to Finland, and I remember telling my Mom how much he meant to me as a friend.  When we met up again for winter semester he brought me the nicest gift of a bird themed wall hanging from Finland.  He didn't even mind that I had bird nerd tendencies.  Amazing!  I didn't know there were such men out there! 

And then Valentine's Day came around, which was always a little tough.  We had decided to get together as friends since everyone already had plans.  He wore his leather coat and I was in my best Mary Jane's, and he took me to a nice restaurant.  We sat down and the waiter explained the menu options.  Due to the special occasion there was a set menu with a price of seventy five dollars per person that included several courses and wine.  Poor Aaron, he just wasn't planning on spending this kind of money as a poor student.  He started thinking about Taco Bell as he gathered his belongings and put his suave leather coat back on.  That's when I immediately told the waiter that I would have the white wine.  Aaron was stuck and paid the bill, and that was the beginning of our relationship.  We discussed our feelings and decided to start dating.  The meal was superb.

Now, almost seven years later we are happily married and going strong.  Since that first date we have done so much together.  We graduated nursing school and struggled as new nurses together.  We journeyed to Kenya to volunteer and he proposed on an amazing evening in the African jungle.  Of course I said yes.  Since marrying we have become travel nurses and have followed each other across the United States.  We journeyed for six months across the world without killing one another, and we actually came home even stronger than before.  We have witnessed some of the most disgusting toilets around the globe, and he always eagerly listens to my horrifying squatting experiences with a smile.  We love to dine together and eat funky foods and drink fine wines as we talk about politics and world issues.  We adore beer.  I can't wait to see him when he comes home from work, and I love to hear about his day.  It breaks my heart to leave him in the mornings when he doesn't have to work and I do.  And at the same time we are fiercely independent.  We both know how important our alone time is to one another.  He loves his days to himself, and he never flinches when I have a girl day planned. 

Now I know that I make my marriage sound absolutely perfect, and it is far from that!  We are both stubborn and have quick tempers, which makes for some interesting times.  We can get awful mad at one another, and we both love to stomp around a bit.  But in the end we usually end up laughing about our disagreements and promising to remain pals.  Not sure why I wrote this post, but it just seems important to jot down.  I can't believe that our four year wedding anniversary will be this month.  Where has the time gone?  I guess that means we're having some wonderful times together!

A Fun Day Off

I have a great schedule this week.  I worked on Saturday and Sunday, and then I go back Thursday and Friday.  My days off this week have been very chill.  Monday was spent relaxing, going for a quick jog, taking Zuri to the beach, and drinking a beer at our favorite neighborhood bar in the evening.  Our favorite pub is called The Blackthorn, and thankfully it is just three blocks away from our apartment.  The afternoon crowd consists of mainly older men, and the evening clientele is more our age.  They welcome dogs with open arms, and there are always plenty of treats for Zuri to snack on while she makes her rounds collecting pets.  These days she really thinks she is something special, and she loves late afternoons at the bar. 

Yesterday I decided to get up early, so I made it out of bed by 5:30 to make Aaron pancakes before he went to work.  After cleaning the kitchen and waiting for the sun to come up, I went for a long jog with Zuri all through the park.  A morning run was what we were both needing, and we both arrived home in happy spirits.  I was in much need of a haircut, so I wandered down the street and found a Chinese hair salon that only charged five dollars for a trim.  Few words were exchanged, but the lady did a fine job and my hair is now a little bit longer than a buzz cut.  Poor Aaron, but he does complain any time I spend more than twenty dollars to get my hair done, so I didn't really have any other options!  He says that I look like a twelve year old boy, so I will be wearing plenty of blush and lipstick during the next few weeks while it grows out.  At least I am happy with it, which is all that really matters.

Following the haircut I caught the Muni and made my way down to Chinatown to wander the streets and find lunch.  Even though the Chinatown in NYC is my very favorite, the one in SF is quite nice as well.   Once you get off the main tourist street the neighborhood becomes much more authentic.  All signs are in mandarin (with no english translation) and there are very few non-Chinese faces in the crowd.  The markets have a wide variety of really interesting fruits and vegetables and some really scary looking meat products (especially the chicken legs that are dyed blue).  Some of the snack items include dried conch halves, conch rinds (similar looking to pork rinds), shellfish crisps and pickled chicken feet.  Wandering in this area is just like being back in China, and I love that feeling of being worlds away when I am only five short miles from home.

While walking around I passed a Catholic church and noticed a sign that advertised 'Tuesday Noontime Concerts.'  It was Tuesday and around 11:45, so I decided to walk for a little bit longer and head back towards the church to attend the concert.  I got to the church around noon and accidentally stumbled into mass.  Expecting to hear the cello, instead I got to hear the priest's homily.  Ha, the concert didn't start until 12:30, so I unexpectedly attended mass which is never a bad thing.  The cathedral was beautiful with high domed ceilings and colorful stained glass windows.  After the service, the concert began and consisted of a cellist and pianist playing pieces by Bach and Schumann.  The music was fantastic, and I especially enjoyed watching the pianist.  She played with such emotion and feeling, head banging and then swaying slowly at times.  The performance lasted for about an hour, and it was most certainly quality time spent.  I hope to make it back for another Tuesday concert in the near future.

Once I left the cathedral I found lunch at one of my favorite little noodle shops.  Then I made my way to the waterfront to check out the view since it was a clear day.  I walked and took a few photos before making my way back towards home.  Zuri was in need of a good walk.  She was very happy to see me when I came through the door and after running around the house with her duck for a good five minutes we left for the park.  I had thought about going to the gym, but it was just too nice outside, so we walked for a long time through the park.  It was such a nice way to wind down the day. 

Model for a Morning

This morning Aaron thought it would be fun to take pictures of me in Golden Gate Park.  He is trying to gain experience in portrait photography, so these days I frequently find myself looking into his camera lens attempting to strike a pose.  This morning I put on some bright pink lipstick and tried to be a good sport about the whole thing.  Our photography experiences are usually quite humorous and we end up arguing along the way most of the time.  We especially don't mesh well in cold and windy weather, so today was a challenge.  Here are a few pics from his photo shoot.

I suppose some of these photos are quite nice.  I did love wearing pink lipstick!  Aaron complained that I acted like a real diva as I grumbled along the way about the cold weather, the wind and my aching hunger.  Oh Aaron, you're a very lucky man! :)