Its weird living up north..in an apartment..without a backyard…with no friends who have pools..and where its so foggy that we cant ever see fireworks anyway.

Its one of the main things I miss about southern california. If YOU didn’t have a pool, you knew someone who did. Someone was always BBQing, there were parties growing up at friends of families houses, there were parties on the (sunny) beaches when I was in school in SD. Since I moved to the bay almost 7 years ago…the 4th of July has kind of fallen by the wayside, and not been as important to people up here. It’s never been about the actual holiday for me…I just heart BBQ’s, eating outside, fireworks, and warmth.

I have tried to go and see fireworks  2 times since I moved here…it was always too foggy, and couldn’t see anything. A few years I have gone to High Sierra Music Festival, which is where I’m heading this holiday for a few days as well. Last year we went to Austin.

Its funny though because I think mentally, I’m always preparing for a day where I can have the BBQs, pools, and fireworks again. Even in our registry, we registered for outdoor silverware and condiment caddies. We initially registered for outdoor acrylic plates as well, but Crate & Barrel stopped carrying the ones we wanted. I don’t even have a patio, much less a backyard…but I think I’m preparing for the 4th. For a 4th of July in the future.

I want lemonade in a pitcher of ice. I want cupcakes frosted to look like the American Flag. I want kids running around and swimming. I want families of friends coming over to eat ribs that we have been cooking all day. I want to eat a burger, hot dog AND a rib…just because its all there, and thats what people do at BBQs. I remember when it was all about the party, and that stuff didnt really matter. I’m ready for it now. I guess first things first…and I need to get out of this apartment.

image by Heather Kennedy

I hate laundry day. We are lucky enough to have a washer/dryer in our building that has broken coin slots, so its free, but I HATE not knowing if its occupied or not. I HATE not having it conveniently located in my apartment. I HATE laundry day. I just think that my life would be easier with a washer/dryer in my apartment. If I want to wear a pair of jeans that are dirty..I can wash them when I want to. If we need to clean towels, I don’t need to worry about if I can.

These pretty red ones match the KitchenAid Mixer in my kitchen…I love this color.

And…these are energy efficient. Another sign of me getting older. I want my own. Right now, in my rented apartment living however…I don’t see that happening.

The last day of 2009 is here…and its the last day of the decade as well.

Its interesting to think about where my life has gone in the last 10 years, and how a few choices changed the direction of my life so much.

1.  in 2000 I got my teaching credential.

2.  in 2001 I started substituting, and was still living in San Diego

3.  in 2002 I had a full time teaching gig in the first half of the year, moved to Prague to teach English in September, thereby ending a 4 year long relationship.

4.  in 2003 I moved to San Francisco in July, and started waiting tables because serving unfortunately paid more than teaching.

5.  in 2004 I moved in with and broke up with a boyfriend, and started my time at The Cheesecake Factory (albeit hellish, made a lot of good friends there)

6.  in 2004 I also moved into the Big Blue House, which gave me some of my best friends, and shaped my life in San Francisco to what it is today.

7. in 2006 I started as a receptionist at Schwartz Communications, where I am still working, changing my direction into PR, 3 promotions later, and making it one of the longest held jobs in my working life.

8.  in 2007 I met Mick. That changed everything.

9.  in 2008 I made my first Wunzee!

10.  in 2009 I moved out of the Big Blue house,  to Oakland with Mick…putting the slightest distance between my life in San Francisco, started my domestic life, but still found a balance.

This decade has been amazing…it has brought me to where I am now. Ready to start a life, ready to start a future, ready to start a family.  I can only hope that 2010 and beyond are equally as awesome (in a different way of course…I mean, I’m not in my 20′s anymore.)

Happy New Year everyone. I hope next year, and the next decade  is awesome for everyone…and you are successful in your resolutions, whatever they may be. I hope that everyone can find their happiness that this decade has brought me.

you are excited that you just purchased a Dirt Devil hand held vacuum, and are even more excited for it to arrive so you can clean up 6+ months of pet hair.

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