UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!

Pride week marked the year when I first visited SF. A year since I made my decision to leave the city where I was born and raised. I know I made the right choice. For the longest time I knew I wanted to get out of there. As much as I love my family, my friends and the city, I needed to escape. I still don't know how long I'll be living here, a year? five? ten?

As much as I love it here I still do feel like living here might not be permanent and going back to Chicago is not what I want to do. Maybe not a major city next time? We'll see...

Soooo whats new.

I interviewed for another store. I passed the interview and was transferred there about a month ago. Its only about a block away from the old one.

I've been riding my bike a lot, those hills are still killer but I feel like I'm getting stronger.

I haven't been to the gym as much as I would like to. Right now I'm trying for at least 3 times a week and running at least once a week. Riding my bike everyday is just not cutting it.

I will be getting out of debt by the end of this year, why it took me so long I don't know. Oh wait, yes I do.

Well it does help that my gf will be moving in with me at the end of Aug. Yesss that lovely lady in the previous post is moving here from Hawaii. Siiiigh.

Ok enough with the loveydovey stuff....

Oh wait....more loveydovey stuff:

I found this little beauty at the thrift store a few days ago. So far from what I can tell it works. It was well taken care of.

I've been looking into darkrooms here but I was only able to find two. One of them only offers monthly memberships. I'll keep looking. I'll get some black and white film in the mean time.

Thats all for now.

I'll just exit out of this with this song I've had on loop for the last couple of weeks. Their concerts were always amazing.

5 months in and still loving it here.

I went to Hawaii to visit my gf Vanessa. Don't have internet at home so it took me a while to upload these

Here are some pics:

I haven't updated in a while so here we go:

I work around here:

I walk around here:

I eat this:

I ride this:

I love living here. I love getting lost and finding my way back.

I don't miss Chicago, I do miss my friends. The friends I do have here are just as great as the ones I have back there. I wanted to say back home but really, home is where you make it.

San Francisco is my home right now.

I'm sitting on Throttlebitch and Vegemite's couch trying to figure out what I want to eat later.

I stepped outside earlier and couldnt believe how nice and sunny it is in the middle of Jan. This was a good move for me. Its in the negatives in the midwest right now. Years of winter had finally got to me last year.

I flew in Jan 4th. As I was walking around Oakland airport trying to get my luggage I felt a cool breeze come in, I turned around and the sight of the mountains, blue skies and the sun took my breath away. I felt a bit of relief.

No more 6 layers of clothing.
No more darkness by 3pm.
No more depression from the dreariness.

I feel a lot less stress here. Not sure if its the lax attitudes and strict labor laws (no more working over 40 hours a week without getting compensated/yelled about it...it's a good kind of yelling). The warmer weather. The change of pace. Or just all of the above.

Whatever it is I'm enjoying it here.

Currently I'm apartment hunting and its a pain. I'm looking for a studio, since thats all I can afford here. I'm getting used to the idea of having my couch and bed in the same room. I've been looking into Treehugger, ReadyMade and Domino to get some idea on utilizing the space I end up with. I'm pretty excited about the challenge.

In early Dec I started a Flickr project called 365 Days. I have to take a self portrait every day for one year. This is one project I've actually been keeping up with.

I finally got my bike in a couple of days ago after three delivery attempts. The last attempt I had to get it shipped to another location because the first two attempts were unsuccessful. There was no way I was going to got to South S.F to pick up my bike. So now I need to figure out how I'm going to get it reassembled. Eh, Ill figure out. I'm not too much in a hurry to bike up these hills.

The last two months have been crazy but it has been worth it.

Today I found out I have a position in S.F.

Yup, I will be moving there Jan. My official start day is Jan 5th.

Woo!

I'll see you guys shortly after New Year's...or maybe sooner.

My transfer requests goes in later this morning. I've never put one in so I don't know what the process looks like. I hope everything goes as planned.

Rediscovered an old love.

I have been in a contemplative state lately, reflecting on the past few months.

Met a lot of interesting people and am looking forward to the next few months.

I have been envisioning this change for years. I am at a point in my life where this change must take effect. If it occurs I don't know, at this moment its still up in the air.

This change has also brought on anxiety. Organizing my thoughts has been a task.

This future that I'm trying to create for myself seems to be on its own time.

Y cadia dia sigue... ¿cuando se cambiara?

Parte Uno


Edit: Translation

Parte Dos


Hasta el fin

¿No?

Heading to Corkers in Indiana with Daven ....woohooo!!!

Here's some pre-party pics to keep you entertained.

I know it entertained us!

If it doesn't rain I will be participating in my first Chicago's Critical Mass on Friday

You might be asking "Aralia, wtf is Critical Mass?"
Here you go honey.

Find one in your city and get out there!

Oh and be safe and don't be a jackass