our day

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New House on Haight

Thursday December 15, 2011 I moved to a new apartment. That marks the date of my official staying in San Francisco, the closest place to a European city that I can get in America.

Like many people I found this apartment on Craiglist. I went to the open house. Left a bit skeptical but was getting desperate because I needed to move out of my original place in less than a week. So I told them I was interested and they offered me the room. This was on Thursday, they told me on Friday and we arranged a hang out at the house on Sunday. We all had a great hang out sesh and my skeptisism was gone, they are a great bunch of people and friends.

The roommates:

Brett

Mike

Arvell

Sara

Lilly

Sara and Arvell are a couple and share a room. We have two living rooms, one with a big table for dinner parties and one with couches, a projector screen, a RECORD PLAYER, and one hell of a view of Haight St. Oh, and both living rooms have working fire places. We have an amazing rooftop that looks over the city. The longest people have lived here is 5 years and they really put their souls into the house. There is art all over the house, books all over the shelves and records in abundance.

The room was white when I looked at it and the walls were dirty. I painted it blue. I am in shock that I did it but it was so worth it. Now my room has a dash of color that I picked out and I painted and I can have pride in it. I have slowly started decorating and getting pieces.

So now I have 2 jobs, a wonderful apartment, some cool friends, and amazing San Francisco to keep me busy.

moving, changing

I have been working for a couple weeks now. I didn’t want to write about my jobs when I first got them because in some way I thought by writing about them and publishing it on a blog would somehow jinx the good luck that I have been having. But it’s been two weeks and I must tell.

I have been applying for jobs online, making calls, sending hard copies of my resume and cover letters all around, researching, and craigslisting non stop ever since I came To San Francisco at the very end of September. Well, actually I gave myself a week to make an imprint in San Francisco a little. It was a feverish and frustrating process. I even began volunteering. It was a work exchange program at this great dance studio called ODC Dance in the mission. I started helping out at the dance companies events and donor events and for every hour I helped out I received a free dance class in return. I banked up quite a few and enjoy a free ballet class every so often, and I’m learning how to salsa at that studio as well.

So I finally got two amazing jobs!

The first one is a fitness instructor for a new fitness regime called ballet barre. The studio and brand is called Pop Physique. Jennifer is the owner. She used to be a professional ballet dancer, a Pilates instructor, and now she is a mom and wife who has created her own type of work out. Its made to shape your muscles like a dancers. The same muscles and exercises they do in a ballet class, Jennifer has tried to mimic and re work for this non-impact, one hour, work out class to high energy up to date music. She already has seven studios in southern California and is building one in San Francisco. It will open in January and for now we have been training in the space with the builders building around us, and no heat.

She picked about eight girls and one guy to start training to become teachers. For a week we trained four and a half hours. We were given a booklet with all the exercises and how to teach them, basically a manual of pop physique. The girls are great, all in their 20’s, all dancers of some sort and fun.

http://www.popphysique.com/

My second job is at an online marketing company. I found the add on craigslist, responded to it and had a phone interview that week. I had an in person interview the week after that. It was tough, I could tell they were serious about picking the right person. I found out that the guy interviewing me also went to Burning Man and he has become my mentor. The third part of the interview process was an assignment. They told me to write a newsletter and email it back to them in a day or two. The next day they called me up and offered me the job. Its 20 hours a week, so it’s great for my other job. It’s a 6-month internship program, paid internship program, “At the end of 6 months there is the possibility of a hire.” So for now it’s great. The office is amazing, right next to Union Square on the fourth floor of a great building with beautiful windows all over the office and a fully stocked kitchen with very nice people.

I don’t know how I got so lucky. Things keep changing and I like it.

Lounging with a purpose

I went back to Long Beach for Thanksgiving. It was great. I spent time with best friends and danced and had a great time with friends and family. One extra special thing I did was pose for an artist.

Greg is an abstract, surrealist, awesome painter. He painted a picture at my friend Yan’s festival, Unravelyoumind (unravelyourmind.com), that’s basically how I met him. He wanted a ballerina to be his muse or what have you so we made plans to do some sketch’s when I returned back to Long Beach, this was in August. He wanted to practice his drawing and I am happy to help people that are using their creativity and imagination. So I went to his brand new bought warehouse that he is turning into his home. It was bare, bare walls, dusty floor, it did not look like a living space, no kitchen even. But after he was telling me what he was going to do with it I could see how it could be very nice and liveable.

We did a few standing poses, nothing intense, just very natural looking. Then he brought out a leather chair and we did a few on the chair. 4 hours of posing then I went to have dinner with my family. The next day I came back to get paid and he whipped out his record collection. He is early 40’s and he has 3 boxes of silent striking records. Some I haven’t heard of like Chicago but some I have like the Police, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. His record player was not hooked up yet thought so all I could do was imagine.

I need to learn how to date.

Again, the dilemma presents itself. What I want to get out are the things that have been happening in my life recently, and some of them are pretty embarrassing.

I want to discuss the fact that I don’t know how to date. I just got out of college where “dating” for real does not exist. Going for dinners, and walks, and jazz shows, and lounges does not exist. I also got out of a relationship with someone who fell for me pretty fast and I didn’t really have any dating to do before the feelings came. So now I'm in San Francisco, ready and free to do the dating thing. I want to do the dating thing.

There have been a few guys here and there but the two that I am going to talk about are the two that I liked most.

Guy/story #1

Remy.

I met him on the bus, the 71 going up Haight and to Golden Gate Park. It was sunny and warm and I was going to set up my hammock and read in the park. Remy got on the bus because he was heading to Amoeba, the record store. The reason we started talking was the bus got crowded so he stood next to me, I thought he was cute so I asked him where he was going, boom, ice broken. After a short bus ride we found our costume destinies in each other. It was a few days before Halloween, I was going to be a cow and he was going to be a milk man. After that coincidence, he got my number and met me in the park a couple hours later.

I was hooked after that.

Our first real date was awesome. We listened to records and danced for hours then went for a late desert and jointed up on Alamo Square Park at about 1 am. It might sound cliché, and I feel cliché saying it but our first kiss left me weak in the knees. The second date was great. Third date was great, so I thought.

Let me back up. Before the third date we were at his house lying on his bed just talking. He asked me tons of questions about my family and what they did. He inquired about my ex boyfriend and how long we have been broken up. Generally taking an interest in me more than normal.

Ok. Our third date was dinner. I was totally smitten by him and his charming ways. After dinner we kissed and parted ways and then I didn’t hear from him for 4 days, and I only did because I texted him on the 4^th day. I felt very pathetic. A guy not calling is the ultimate hint, he’s not that into you or he would call you. I know this, I have learned to accept it and love it and sadly use it myself. But this drove me a little crazy. I thought he was interested and out of nowhere after a nice date his actions are telling me the opposite.

On the 5^th day he invited me over to his house to listen to records. Before I went I had to find out if he was on the same page as me, otherwise I would end up getting hurt. So I said

“Before I come over I have to tell you…”

I stumbled over my words so badly. I couldn’t find the right words to say. It was clear that I was nervous. Finally I said

“I like you Remy. I have grown feelings for you. And I know that if I come over and we keep spending time together, those feelings will grow. So I guess what I want to know is if you like me too.”

I was shaking, it took guts to have that conversation with a 29 year old, charming guy that I just started seeing, but I had to express that. I couldn’t put my self in a position where I would like him way more that was returned and expect things and be very let down.

After a while of talking this is what was said, I think.

He thought that I was coming on “a little too strong.” He asked me if I wanted him to tell me that he likes me and he doesn’t want to date anyone else, he joked that I wanted him to say that I was the girl for him, and that we are serious. I told him no, that is not what I want. I told him that I didn’t want to get hurt and I feel like I like him more than he likes me and I just wanted him to know where I was. I feel like he freaked out.

The reason he didn’t call me after our date was to give us space to focus on ourselves because he felt that I liked him too much. I knew it, I know why guys don’t call. They get scared that you like them and they don’t like you. It’s very simple.

After a couple days of contemplation I realized that he is simply not the guy for me. I am looking for feelings; I am looking for a guy not to be scared away by me simply saying I like him after a couple weeks.

I felt like a desperate girl, a girl that wants to be in a relationship or nothing. But all I wanted was to keep dating and see where it all went. Apparently saying, “I like you” is more serious that I thought.

I guess I learned to never say anything about how I’m feeling unless asked or unless liking is expressed first.

Guy/story # 2

Richard

I met Richard at a bar. Moment for rolling eyes, or laughter.

He was way more interested in me than I was but I still let him get my number because I did act somewhat interested. He called me a couple days later and asked me to drinks. He picked me up at my door and we walked down the street to a cute little area called Hayes Valley. We got a beer at a cute outdoor café. Within 10 minutes I felt comfortable with him. He was cute, very nice, smart, nice family, just a nice guy to talk to. As the evening progressed so did our level of comfort, and perhaps intoxication. After a couple hours of walking around and sitting in places we kissed and walked back to my house where my roommate Kelly was hanging out, drinking wine with her new boyfriend. So essentially we came home to a party where we all hung out. After making out on the couch for a little bit he went home and contacted me the next day and we made plans for a date on Sunday. I am writing this on Saturday, so some thing happened last night.

Last night I went over to my good friend Amy’s place in North Beach because that’s where we were going out. Her roommate Lauren was with us as was her guy friend Calvin. We had a glass of wine together at Amy’s place and ventured off to the bars of North Beach. We walk into one and Calvin buys us drinks. After a while I notice Calvin flirting with me but try to not get too into it. Lauren, Calvin, and I were sitting at a table when I see Richard at the bar and he clearly sees me as we walk up to each other and hug.

The night goes like this,

I am looking out for Richard and occasionally talking to him while

Calvin won’t leave my side and Richard notices.

Amy, Calvin, and I leave the bar, Richard gives me a passionate kiss before we leave.

Around the corner the two are waiting for me. Amy goes inside to sleep and Calvin kisses me. While we are kissing Richard walks by and sees us. Needless to say that I felt horrible. I felt like a big slut, which I am not. I couldn’t stop thinking of how much it would suck to be in his shoes and how bad it makes me look and how awful I feel about the whole thing.

So this morning at 11:40 am I call him and apologize.

“I just wanted to say that I’m so sorry for last night. It all happened so fast and I’m sorry if I made you feel bad. I know we are not dating but I feel like I cheated on you, and I’m sorry.”

He told me to use more discretion next time but that’s he has been there and done that, I told him I have never been there or done that. I ended with saying that I understand if he doesn’t want to hang out with me anymore but I would like to hang out with him. He just said ok. So now I wonder if we have a date tomorrow or if he is ever going to call me again. Even if he does I feel like I broke some trust already, like he might not be able to forget this.

I don’t know what I learned here. Bad Bad coincidence.

Paint me as a leopard for the best figure drawing session ever

The Cultivation Collective is a group of artists that have come together for their love of art. Each month at Public Works in the Mission they put together a figure drawing event in order to raise money for their collective. The theme last Thursday night was Undressed in the Jungle. After some research I found an add that Jason Cohen had posted expressing his need for some models, he told me one would be painted like a predator and he told me I could be that one if I dared. He also told me that two other models were going to be there but they would be in costume, little did I know it was a underwear and bra and twigs, leaves, and bushes from Golden Gate Park. It didn’t feel odd or strange to me at all. No sirens went off and it all seemed cool.

It was awesome and I am so glad I did it. I got there prepared with all kinds of underwear and bras to choose from. The girl that painted me was Iris Alden. She was about my age with long brown hair and she went to town painting me like a leopard, pinning me a tail and giving me ears, and painting my hands and feet. She works for the art commission and also works at Public Works occasionally. The other models were supposed to be Adam and Eve. Then walks in Heather, our Eve for the evening. She had long, blonde, wavy hair and had a big comfortable smile on her face. She got dressed in black underwear and a brown sports top and tons of vines, leaves, and parky things they found in Golden Gate Park that day. Then comes in Alex, the Adam. We all met and it felt fine. First up was Eve, then Adam, then Adam and Eve. Break. Then me, the leopard.

There was a short runway with a little stage at the end where we posed. There were video projections on the two walls next to me and the one behind me for a more visual effect. There was a DJ so music was playing. Good, not too fast, grooving music and I appreciated that since I had to hold poses for 10, 20, even 30 minutes at a time.

So I went out there in front of an audience of artists who had big white sheets of paper and pencils, charcoal, markers, and brushes. I felt totally comfortable. It’s been so long since I have performed and I love it, this was performing. I sat on the floor for 5 minutes while they drew. There was a live MC giving me and the artist’s instructions. Then I got up and did another pose for 10 minutes. It was fun making up poses that fit the character. The stage had live vines, branches, and flowers around it go with the Jungle theme. We continued taking breaks and coming back. After the break it was Adam and I. He posed on his knees and I was laying down with my arms on his legs, like I was attached him. The next pose was all three of us. I was on my knees as Eves pet and Adam was lying down on his back as if Eve had made him fall and her foot was on his stomach. We held that for 20 minutes. Break then just Eve and I posed together. We had help coming up with the pose with all three of us but the others we came up with on our own and I must congratulate us. We did a fabulous job, we took it like a job and did our jobs professionally and we also were creative with it and had fun meeting the artists after. The drawings were amazing and 1 person even gave me a sketch to take home. I hope to be apart of their figure drawing events in the future because I appreciated how important they made the models feel and how classy and professional the event was.

All in all a very good experience.

a bit of San Francisco through a canon