From 6,700 feet

Well, I have officially moved back to Albuquerque, so I guess that means I will have to change the name of this blog. I hope to update more than I have been, especially if I want to be one of those fancy freelance writer people. Anyway, I thought I'd check in on that whole "California To-Do List" I made for myself.


(01) Attend a Warrior's basketball game
Done! No picture of this. We were up in the nosebleeds, but I am sure Stephen Curry could still hear me cheering for him. We beat up on the NY Knicks.

(02) See a show at the Fillmore in San Francisco
Whoops, missed this one. This is something I thought I would do regularly before I moved to the Bay. There were always so many shows playing every where, I started to get overwhelmed. I couldn't choose where to spend my money! This is a crap excuse. I have to go there on my next visit, I don't care if I have to catch a Justin Beiber show there (right!!).

(03) See a show at the Fox in Oakland

Done! Saw Zac Brown Band. (Photo via KR)

(04) Go for a hike in Yosemite
Nope. sigh.

(05) Spend a night in Lake Tahoe
Nope again. sigh.


(06) Take a road trip up North to Oregon, Washington, and Vancouver

Crater Lake, OR

Seattle, WA

Done! Went on a 5 day, 2,522 mile (round trip) road trip, and it was absolutely beautiful.

(07) Take Highway 1 to Southern California
I took two trips to SoCal, but stuck to I-5. =/

(08) Surf. Again.
Nope! Considering this summer was one of the foggiest/coldest SF has seen in years, I never stopped to think about getting on a surfboard.


(09) Spend a day at the SFMOMA
Nope. Ok, like the Fillmore, no real excuse for this one either.


(10) Pitch at least one story to KQED
Well, I filled in as director for the California Report... does that count?

(11) Go camping in Big Sur
Nope.


(12) Visit Sacramento
Sort of! Floated down the American River with a big group of 15 people. Didn't see much of Sacramento, though.

(13) Visit the "Mystery Spot" in Santa Cruz
Nope. But DID see Blue Oyster Cult perform a free concert on the beach!

(14) Go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium
Nope. No real good excuse for this one, either.


(15) Take 4 new dance classes
I took one new one! And it kicked my ass. A good way to get your heart pumping after sitting down for breakfast and stuffing yourself full of eggs and bacon is to do a fusion rythm class at ODC!


(16) See Wicked or a production of SF Ballet (other than the Nutcracker)
Nope.

Turns out that in order to check things off your to-do list, you should probably actually look at it every once and a while. With all my "half" attempts at crossing things off, I got 5 out of 16. That's pretty pathetic. Looks like I'll have to plan on a return visit!

My California To-Do List

Ever since my revelation last week that all I really wanna do is go home, I have been thinking how much I will miss this place. And how much I still want to do while I live here. Inspired by Jess' 101 things in 1001 days, I thought I'd make a list of things I want to do while I'm still in California. I am not nearly ambitious enough to make a list of 101, not to mention the fact that my life is in complete limbo, making it very difficult to make such plans. That said, if I fail in completing all tasks on my list (I only have about 5-6 months if I do end up going to UNM), I will just take that as a sign that I will either have to move back one day, or visit very regularly to make sure I cross them all off. So... drumroll please...

(01) Attend a Warrior's basketball game
(02) See a show at the Fillmore in San Francisco
(03) See a show at the Fox in Oakland
(04) Go for a hike in Yosemite
(05) Spend a night in Lake Tahoe
(06) Take a road trip up North to Oregon, Washington, and Vancouver
(07) Take Highway 1 to Southern California
(08) Surf. Again.
(09) Spend a day at the SFMOMA
(10) Pitch at least one story to KQED
(11) Go camping in Big Sur
(12) Visit Sacramento
(13) Visit the "Mystery Spot" in Santa Cruz
(14) Go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium
(15) Take 4 new dance classes
(0/4)
(16) See Wicked or a production of SF Ballet (other than the Nutcracker)

Ok, so as I wrote this, I realized that I have actually done a number of "California" things. I actually had to think hard of things I want to do that I haven't already done.

I've been on a "cruise" on the bay.

Had dinner with close friends overlooking Union Square.

Been to Giants and A's baseball games.

Been to plenty of concerts in Golden Gate Park. Have also been to the California Academy of Sciences and the King Tut exhibit at the De Young Museum.

Hiked the Marin Headlands.

Felt small in Muir Woods.

Felt small in Big Sur.

Watched the RAIDERS upset the Eagles.

Watched the sunset before listening to live music on a boat in the San Diego bay.

Gone wine tasting in Napa (many times!)

... and these are just a sample of some of the things I've gotten to do over the past 3 years. Not only that, but I've been lucky enough to have some of my  good friends back home here with me. It's been one hell of a ride, and I wouldn't take back a single moment of my time here.