Jeff showed me a couple of lookouts by the highway. My cell phone camera really doesn’t do it justice.
The landscape out here is just unreal.
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The last post made me look exasperated. I found this one in my phone from last year, and feel that it more accurately describes my mood today.
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Mom wanted a picture of me in San Francisco, so I snapped one while waiting for the bus this morning.
I think that you can see up my nose.
Horoscope
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change,” said psychologist Carl Rogers. I suggest you make that your guiding principle in the coming weeks, Taurus. You’re overdue for a purge of bad habits and a surge of fresh approaches, but that won’t happen unless you can conjure up a relaxed acceptance towards those bad habits — as well as a big dose of self-forgiveness.
Distrurbingly apt.
Horoscopes
For 19 September 2007, the day before my flight to California:
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): *Symphonie Fantastique* is widely regarded as one of the most important pieces of music of the 19th century. French composer Hector Berlioz wrote it in 1830 as a response to being rejected by the woman he loved, hoping to seduce her with the power of his artistry. Your assignment in the coming week, Taurus, is to emulate Berlioz: Capitalize on a refusal you’ve had to endure; create a masterpiece in rebellion against a repudiation you’ve experienced; make a thing of beauty to compensate for being shunned or ignored. (P.S. The woman in question, Harriet Smithson, eventually married Berlioz.)
For 26 September 2007, the day before my breakdown:
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Which kind of person are you?” asks editor Paul Somerson. “Are you a spineless lickspittle wage-slave cog toiling away to make someone else wealthy, destined to lead a bleak anonymous Wal-Mart life of relative poverty? Or are you someone with guts and brains who wants to get out from under the thumb of capricious, unappreciative bosses, create something new, and reap financial rewards?” Personally, I think he’s engaging in a bit of hype. There’s lots of fine territory to stake out in-between the extremes he describes. Still, it’s a good idea to push and prod you with his provocative question. You’re in a phase when you have more potential than usual to change your livelihood for the better.
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On the way to Mountain View, I needed to take the Muni subway to the CalTrain station. Well, at certain points, the Muni subway comes above ground. You can see the train doing that here.
The network of wires above provide electricity both to the Muni subway, and their electric buses. This electrical webbing is all over the city.
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Mountain View was gorgeous. It’s got less wind and less clouds than San Francisco, but it can be forgiven for that. It’s less overwhelming, and is a bit more open, and extremely walkable.
I stepped off of the CalTrain, literally, into an awesome farmer’s market. I could have done a whole week’s worth of grocery shopping there, and intend to in the future. CalTrain and VTA (the train to work) are in the same complex, which is awesome. Mountain View also seems to have more shade, and more trees of the kind I’m used to. Apparently, some even turn color and lose their leaves. The city has food, coffee, tea, and food. And also good food. Did I mention the amazing food? Okay.
Food.
The apartment complex I checked out was extremely expensive, even for the local market. I’ve got a recommendation from a co-worker on another place, and it seems full of nifty. I’ll be making an appointment to tour that apartment soon.
It’s not fun to have a blister develop underneath an old blister. Luckily, I was sleeping when it decided to pop. Switching to walking everywhere is earning me some serious foot callouses. :)
Tonight is laundry. I wonder where I could order Chinese delivery from in San Francisco. I’ll have to ask
Oh, and a homesickness update.
Yes, I’m still a bit homesick. I’m going down to Mountain View tomorrow to look at apartments, but I’m still missing Lansing and Michigan in general. It’s not the intense shred-your-heart kind of feeling that it was two nights ago, but it’s still kind of an ache.
I purposefully went out to see a movie last night. I saw 3:10 to Yuma last night at the Sundance Kabuki theater. The entire staff loved movies, and was excited to actually engage me in a conversation about film. Not only that, but they had real butter for their popcorn, all of the previews were movies that I want to see (thoughtful film, what?), and they had REAL BUTTER for their popcorn. When the movie was done (and it was AWESOME), I came outside and waited at the bus stop. Just across the street, an overhead street light popped out.
That helped a lot.
So, on with the moving forward and accomplishing and such things. :)
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This is the San Francisco City Hall. I took this while waiting for the shuttle, as it’s across from the Ballet building. We get dropped off in front of it on the way home from work.
I haven’t yet gone exploring, as my blister has had as much as it will take with going up to the Upper Haight to get my mail and to turn in my change of address card. So, left on the docket today are: Writing letters, sending letters, and Myst Online. :)