So, it's after midnight and I can't sleep. After two weeks of flying around in a million different directions and getting frustrated with my lack of confidence, connections, and ideas to re-start my photography business, I had a long pep talk with Kei.
I feel like I have so much to do and learn and there are 50 things I should be doing right now to make it all happen. I am so frustrated. I did this once, why can't I do it again? I had my own successful photography business in Boston, why not in California? I just need to take it one step at a time and play a little catch up.
The equipment may be newer, there are new post-processing techniques, methods, etc. but I can't keep ignoring the signs either. The last three "corporate" jobs I had (while still doing my photography on the side) had me taking photos for all of their websites and my photography on the walls. Hmmm......I would all of a sudden have a bad day at work and a photographer I used to assist with would call me up and ask if I was still available. A friend of a friend was getting married and would I shoot the wedding? Each of these without any marketing, etc. Something keeps pointing me down this road, why won't I just listen?
It's the ghosts of childhood's past, bad bosses, boyfriends, coworkers, you name it. We've all had them. People who beat the idealism and optimism out of you. Well, no more. To quote Twisted Sister, "We're not gonna take it!" I'm tired of second guessing myself. I know I can do this, mostly because I have before but also because I believe in myself, Finally. Oh, there will still be naysayers but I don't have time to listen to them, I have a lot to do.
Right now, I just had a moment that took me back more than 20 years. In the dark by the light of my computer, I looked at the clock and it is 12:34. I had a friend in Junior High who told me that she very often looked at the clock then, 1, 2, 3, 4. After she told me that, very soon thereafter, I did too and still do to this day, like just now. Thanks Marcia for making me smile. :)
Moments like that that make you stop and think about how silly it is to take life so seriously when it is so fleeting, so temporary; make you re-evaluate. Why am I so worried about this? So what if I crash and burn? At least I tried and then I'll move on to the next thing. At least I tried and now I know. And to quote GI Joe (why not, I've already quoted Twisted Sister, why stop now?) "Knowing is half the battle." The flip side is if I never stop flitting around and don't focus and try, I'll never be the success I know I can be.
I'm lucky that Kei listens and offers helpful, sage advice. He doesn't tell me what to do, he just offers words of wisdom and gentle nudges. A lot of what he said makes sense. Ultimately I am the only one I can blame for my failures or take credit for my successes. Nothing in the past matters, move past it and do what you want, become what you want.
I'm going to bed now. All this philosophizing has tired me out. Tomorrow is another day (bonus points if anyone knows the movie). And I promise to make more of it and every day from now, life is too short. Carpe Diem! Sorry, I just can't seem to stop with the movie quotes...
Friday, September 3, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Palo Alto
Our apartment is only 3 blocks off University Ave., the main drag with all the shops and restaurants you could want, think Newbury St. but on a smaller scale. We're only a five minute walk to the Caltrain which I can take into San Francisco and a 10 minute drive for Kei to get to Stanford.
It's a great neighborhood and the people are all so friendly, maybe it's the weather. Every day is pretty much sunny, between 70-80 degrees with a slight breeze. Just like Boston, yeah, right. But seriously, everyone is super nice, helpful, welcoming and I've met a lot of Boston/New England transplants.
I've been spending my afternoons in a local coffee shop, the University Cafe, coming up with plans for work, how to get work, etc. and am hopefully getting closer to finding some as well as a car. Our apartment is small but since I only see Kei for about two hours a night, it doesn't really matter.
He's up at 5:00 am, which means I am too, and doesn't get home usually until around 9-9:30 pm. Being unemployed, I have the benefit of going back to sleep for a while but those of you who know me and my issues with sleep, know this is not going to be easy when I do get work.
At the moment I'm entertaining two job possibilities. I am returning to photography and am in the process of re-doing my website, but with no connections and no experience in the area, I am also thinking of doing something to supplement my photography until I can get that up and running. Something else I really enjoy doing is event planning. I love working with people, organizing and planning. If anyone knows someone in either field out here, please let me know.
Well, it's time for the daily trek to downtown and to see my new friends (a.k.a. the waiters) at the coffee shop.
It's a great neighborhood and the people are all so friendly, maybe it's the weather. Every day is pretty much sunny, between 70-80 degrees with a slight breeze. Just like Boston, yeah, right. But seriously, everyone is super nice, helpful, welcoming and I've met a lot of Boston/New England transplants.
I've been spending my afternoons in a local coffee shop, the University Cafe, coming up with plans for work, how to get work, etc. and am hopefully getting closer to finding some as well as a car. Our apartment is small but since I only see Kei for about two hours a night, it doesn't really matter.
He's up at 5:00 am, which means I am too, and doesn't get home usually until around 9-9:30 pm. Being unemployed, I have the benefit of going back to sleep for a while but those of you who know me and my issues with sleep, know this is not going to be easy when I do get work.
At the moment I'm entertaining two job possibilities. I am returning to photography and am in the process of re-doing my website, but with no connections and no experience in the area, I am also thinking of doing something to supplement my photography until I can get that up and running. Something else I really enjoy doing is event planning. I love working with people, organizing and planning. If anyone knows someone in either field out here, please let me know.
Well, it's time for the daily trek to downtown and to see my new friends (a.k.a. the waiters) at the coffee shop.
East Meets West
I woke up two weeks ago today and was not only one year older but a California resident. After living my entire life in Massachusetts, I had been feeling for several years that I needed a "big change", something to shake things up.
I tried changing roommates/apartments, switching jobs/careers and relationships versus dating. None of those were big enough. Until, one day I was sitting in a coffee shop and happened to sit next to a man whom I would eventually fall in love with and move across the country for.
One year prior, trying to find this change, I had flown out to visit friends in Portland, OR and Seattle, WA to see if they were places I might want to live. I felt restless. I checked out different areas of town with my friends, restaurants, museums and of course, looked at the available guys.
While Portland was cute, it was too small for me and a bit "crunchy". Seattle was very outdoorsy and had some great restaurants/neighborhoods (and better guy potential). There were actually some high school friends there who I hadn't seen since then that showed me around. I might have moved there but something stopped me. It was probably the lack of cash or a well thought out plan.....or something else entirely. Instead, I ended up changing jobs and industries yet again.
Which brings me back to the coffee shop. I had realized that in order to meet people I actually had to leave the house and realize. No one was going to come knocking on my door. I worked at a bio-tech with 25 other people. Any eligible men were too old or too young. It was near nothing so meeting someone while at lunch was out (that is if I ever left my desk). So, most weekends could find me reading a book or on my laptop at a coffee shop in Harvard Square, Cambridge.
This particular weekend of which I speak was like most others. I was at my favorite coffee shop in Harvard Sq., Crema Cafe. The long table in front of the windows is the only place you can get a wifi signal. It was full so I sat at another table behind it. I saw this guy make a move like he was putting something in his bag so I asked if he was leaving, (he likes to remind me often that those were the first words I said to him), he said no. He must have been getting something out of his bag, my bad.
About 10 minutes later the girl next to him gets up and leaves so I snag her spot. He's cute, I hadn't really noticed before. He's obviously studying something intently. I think to myself, "Great, he's probably still in college, ugh". My friends would laugh at this since I've been called a Puma/Cougar, etc. He looked early to mid-twenties which would be too young (for a serious relationship) since I was in my mid-thirties. So I decide to start a conversation and see if my guess was right.
There was a paperback next to his textbook so I asked about that to start. We would chat for a few minutes then go back to our own work. Then we talked about what he was studying, medicine. I think, "Great, he's still in medical school, Harvard Medical School but still too young." Then he mentions his residency. Whew! He's out of medical school. So I not so subtly ask how long his career path takes and how long he's been doing it. I start to add up the years and figure he should be about 30. Bingo!
We talk on and off for about three hours, longer each time. Finally, I suggest we go get some ice cream, I'm not exactly shy if you haven't figured that one out. It's late July, the 26th to be exact, and we talk and walk around Harvard Sq. for another hour and before saying goodbye, I give him my name and phone number. He friends me on Facebook the next day and asks me out to dinner. The rest is history and I am now living with him in California while he does his Fellowship at Stanford. He's originally from California. I'm not sure if I can ever get him to go back to the East Coast with those long Winters.
I never would have thought that I would follow a boy anywhere, much less across the country. But he's not a boy, he's a man. I am so lucky to have sat next to him that day, I'd follow him anywhere. But don't tell him that.
I tried changing roommates/apartments, switching jobs/careers and relationships versus dating. None of those were big enough. Until, one day I was sitting in a coffee shop and happened to sit next to a man whom I would eventually fall in love with and move across the country for.
One year prior, trying to find this change, I had flown out to visit friends in Portland, OR and Seattle, WA to see if they were places I might want to live. I felt restless. I checked out different areas of town with my friends, restaurants, museums and of course, looked at the available guys.
While Portland was cute, it was too small for me and a bit "crunchy". Seattle was very outdoorsy and had some great restaurants/neighborhoods (and better guy potential). There were actually some high school friends there who I hadn't seen since then that showed me around. I might have moved there but something stopped me. It was probably the lack of cash or a well thought out plan.....or something else entirely. Instead, I ended up changing jobs and industries yet again.
Which brings me back to the coffee shop. I had realized that in order to meet people I actually had to leave the house and realize. No one was going to come knocking on my door. I worked at a bio-tech with 25 other people. Any eligible men were too old or too young. It was near nothing so meeting someone while at lunch was out (that is if I ever left my desk). So, most weekends could find me reading a book or on my laptop at a coffee shop in Harvard Square, Cambridge.
This particular weekend of which I speak was like most others. I was at my favorite coffee shop in Harvard Sq., Crema Cafe. The long table in front of the windows is the only place you can get a wifi signal. It was full so I sat at another table behind it. I saw this guy make a move like he was putting something in his bag so I asked if he was leaving, (he likes to remind me often that those were the first words I said to him), he said no. He must have been getting something out of his bag, my bad.
About 10 minutes later the girl next to him gets up and leaves so I snag her spot. He's cute, I hadn't really noticed before. He's obviously studying something intently. I think to myself, "Great, he's probably still in college, ugh". My friends would laugh at this since I've been called a Puma/Cougar, etc. He looked early to mid-twenties which would be too young (for a serious relationship) since I was in my mid-thirties. So I decide to start a conversation and see if my guess was right.
There was a paperback next to his textbook so I asked about that to start. We would chat for a few minutes then go back to our own work. Then we talked about what he was studying, medicine. I think, "Great, he's still in medical school, Harvard Medical School but still too young." Then he mentions his residency. Whew! He's out of medical school. So I not so subtly ask how long his career path takes and how long he's been doing it. I start to add up the years and figure he should be about 30. Bingo!
We talk on and off for about three hours, longer each time. Finally, I suggest we go get some ice cream, I'm not exactly shy if you haven't figured that one out. It's late July, the 26th to be exact, and we talk and walk around Harvard Sq. for another hour and before saying goodbye, I give him my name and phone number. He friends me on Facebook the next day and asks me out to dinner. The rest is history and I am now living with him in California while he does his Fellowship at Stanford. He's originally from California. I'm not sure if I can ever get him to go back to the East Coast with those long Winters.
I never would have thought that I would follow a boy anywhere, much less across the country. But he's not a boy, he's a man. I am so lucky to have sat next to him that day, I'd follow him anywhere. But don't tell him that.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Italy - Roma (The Eternal City)
We left Florence on Tuesday and got to Rome that afternoon. We are staying in a cute B&B near Piazza Republica called Gulliver's Lodge. The owner, Mary, is very helpful and serves us breakfast on a tray in our room every morning. Each room is decorated with a different color. First we were in a green room but the Wed. morning, some people left and because we're staying 4 nights, she upgraded us to a larger room that is red and orange with a tub (most rooms have shower stalls).After arriving, we visited Santa Mara Maggiore which is only a couple of blocks from our hotel. On of the chapels to the side was closed off by a barred gate we could see through because there was a service going on. Who was giving that service? Boston's own Cardinal Bernard Law! Small world.
Mary, the B&B keeper, had given us a nice walk to follow so we followed it and took pictures and took a few wrong turns and saw some ruins and ended up at the Piazza del Quirinale. I said to Kei, "Why does that guard have a machine gun and why are there so many Carabinieri around?" We found out that it is the presidential palace and we were just walking about the piazza, unaware, snapping photos of a fountain.
We continued on our merry way and stopped to have dinner at a tiny restaurant on a side street near the Quirinale. After dinner we went to the Trevi Fountain to toss a coin in and wish for our return to Rome. Then we took some photos from the top of the Spanish Steps.
Yesterday, we went to the Vatican Museum, St. Peter's Basilica and Castel Sant' Angelo (from Angels & Demons). The Vatican Museum has some amazing art (about 4 miles of it). We had some fun taking photos on the repeating columns outside St. Peter's.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Italy - Firenze (Florence)
Kei and I arrived in Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris for our 4 hour layover, which sounds like a long time but if you've ever been there, you know that it took about half that to find out where to go, get there and wait in line.Once we were ready to leave we realized that we had a puddle jumper and had to walk on the runway to our little plane. A short flight later and we were walking in Florence. We stayed at a cute B&B called Hotel Dei Mori. The owners, Suzanne and Peter were extrememly helpful and not only made museum and dinner reservations for us in Florence but gave us info for Rome. I would recommend staying there.
Our first afternoon we stopped at a little hole in the wall place (literally) called Il Fratelli for a sandwich and a drink. We sat on a nearby ledge to eat when we were approached by a young Gypsy begger. She held out a plastic cup for money but instead, just decided to grab my unopended water and walk away with it for herself. Welcome to Florence! :p
We went to the outdoor markets of San Lorenzo and Mercato Nuovo and Palazzo Vecchio and wandered around. We decided to go back and clean up for dinner and check Kei's board exam results.He was anxious but I knew he'd pass. He is now a board certified radiologist! :)
We went on a recommendation to Baldavino's for dinner where Kei ordered the Florentine specialty of Bistecca. It is a large T-bone steak that is seared for about a minute on each side and served extremely rare. This one was about 40 oz. (1.1 kg). Yes, he ate all of it...I had gnocchi.
Our second day we went to the Uffizi Gallery of art and then to the Boboli Gardens which were amazingly beautiful and we couldn't see them all. On the way out there was a grotto built into the wall with a fountain and statues built from a porous rock, it was a welcome respite from the heat.
We had a snack with a view of the Ponte Vecchio before walking over it and the Arno River. The weather has been great, pretty hot but sunny. We had a nice dinner at Coquinarius, another recommendation.
The third day we went to see David at the Accademia. He is larger than life and it's hard to imagine creating something so perfect from stone. We tried to get into Museum San Marco but it was the fifth Sunday of the month and therefore closed. Many sites in Italy have odd hours and close on random days. We had to switch hotels because we exteneded our stay and our current one didn't have a room for another night so we went to Hotel Dali. We then went to the Duomo and looked around Santa Maria della Fiore but didn't make it in time to climb the Duomo. So we climbed the Giotto's bell tower instead.
We rewarded ourselves with a nice dinner at a mom & pop place on an out of the way street. Iche C'e C'e (Whatever It Is, It Is). This was the best dinner we had in Florence. Food was great, price was right, and the service by the owners/cooks/waitstaff was great. We were ready for a good night's sleep but........Hotl Dali gets two thumbs down. I requested a quiet room but we got one right off the lobby, near the stairs and over a courtyard/parking lot. After finally getting to sleep, I woke up to a constant pounding for about an hour at 8:00 am which was either construction or a 2 year old running amok.
Our last mornging we woke up and decided to just get out of dodge. We made one last stop at Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, an old perfumery that is associated with the church and its monks. We both bought some nice scents and then took the train to Rome.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
To Prague and Back Again - DAY 7:
I'm leavin' on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again...
I was up late last night carefully packing all my souvenirs and didn't get a lot of sleep for fear of missing my flight. I'm on my way back shortly and can't wait to see you all and tell you about Prague and show you my photos.
See you soon! :)
Lisa
I was up late last night carefully packing all my souvenirs and didn't get a lot of sleep for fear of missing my flight. I'm on my way back shortly and can't wait to see you all and tell you about Prague and show you my photos.
See you soon! :)
Lisa
To Prague and Back Again - DAY 6:
So, I decided not to take a side trip and just continue exploring the city. You can't see the entire Czech Republic in a week but you can get a pretty good idea of the city and see a lot of it. My goal today was just to soak it in and set in my mind the places that have become my favorites over the past week. These are the new photos for today.
I wandered around near the Castle Quarter (Malostranske Namesti) and the Lichtenstein Palace, St. Nicholas' Church and stopped in shops. Today was my day to shop for souvenirs and just take in the city, meandering about it's streets which remind me of Boston between the cobblestones but mostly because none of them go very straight.
I walked along the Charles Bridge again easily my favorite sight in Prague and took in the view walking over the Vltava River of the National Theater on one side, Prague Castle on the other. At the gate on the right bank, there were medieval-dressed horn players playing Christmas music and got a little homesick when they played "White Christmas". Continuing onto New Town on the far side exploring the stalls at the Christmas markets, I bargained for gifts (you know how good I am at that...), sipped hot chocolate and tried a great treat of hot bread with cinnamon. Watching as traditional dance, music and Christmas music was performed with the Tryn Church and its twin spires, a 40 foot Christmas tree and the Astronomical Clock for a background; it was a bit overwhelming for my last evening in Prague.
I will miss the beautiful architecture, expansive vistas from the many bridges, sculptures, Mucha's art, classical concerts every night, friendly people, and the challenge of a new language. Someday I'll explore more of the Czech Republic but will definitely return to Prague.
I wandered around near the Castle Quarter (Malostranske Namesti) and the Lichtenstein Palace, St. Nicholas' Church and stopped in shops. Today was my day to shop for souvenirs and just take in the city, meandering about it's streets which remind me of Boston between the cobblestones but mostly because none of them go very straight.
I walked along the Charles Bridge again easily my favorite sight in Prague and took in the view walking over the Vltava River of the National Theater on one side, Prague Castle on the other. At the gate on the right bank, there were medieval-dressed horn players playing Christmas music and got a little homesick when they played "White Christmas". Continuing onto New Town on the far side exploring the stalls at the Christmas markets, I bargained for gifts (you know how good I am at that...), sipped hot chocolate and tried a great treat of hot bread with cinnamon. Watching as traditional dance, music and Christmas music was performed with the Tryn Church and its twin spires, a 40 foot Christmas tree and the Astronomical Clock for a background; it was a bit overwhelming for my last evening in Prague.
I will miss the beautiful architecture, expansive vistas from the many bridges, sculptures, Mucha's art, classical concerts every night, friendly people, and the challenge of a new language. Someday I'll explore more of the Czech Republic but will definitely return to Prague.
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