adventuring san francisco

driving into the city at night with not clear directions was...interesting. parked and settled we needed food, and how! when we asked the bell hop if it was safe for us to walk to the restaurant we found via urban spoon he quickly responded with a no! and hailed us a cab. we laughed as we walked in knowing neither of us had ever waved down a taxi before nor if many drove down the street were dining. we claimed it adventure. we ate trying to forget we saw 'frog (on bone)' gracing the menu, imagining 5 gallon buckets of live frogs in the kitchen (that's what my mind saw anyway). we hailed our first cab and when i say we, i mostly mean my friend, katie.

what was expected to be a fairly solo city day turned, fun with friends! can't say i was too sad about that one. what would be (one of) my biggest comforts from home (can you guess?)* i forgot in the picnic basket in the transfer of kiddos and stuff to the mister. we started the day with a brisk walk to blue bottle coffee passing a cute little breakfast/lunch spot on the way. i went back for a solo breakfast. it was the best oj i've ever had. best.

i made my way over to union square where a different friend & i spontaneously planned to meet up. she's awesome, we were sitting together on thursday at the park. i shared i was coming up to the city and had all day by.my.self, and "OH! you should come up too!" she did. she's awesome like that. nicole, thank you. we walked around, walked around, walked around, talked, laughed, talked, laughed. later, the three of us met up for lunch. how fun to introduce two of my favorite friends!

we all agreed this place was amazing & would most definitely go back. lunch was a highlight. nicole and i ended our time together in the fillmore thrifting where i couldn't justify buying miniature dutch clogs, though i was smitten, oh yes indeed.

okay, i'll stop droning on and on about this day. it was really fun. early on in the day i couldn't stop sweating. the noise, people, smells were really getting to me. i.couldn't.stop.sweating. it was gross. my husband text me and said, 'have fun today!' i responded with, 'i'll try, the city is stressing me out.' not what he probably wanted to hear sending me away for some refreshing time alone & with a good friend, but his response was this and more perfect than i could ever write: "Let your eyes see the heartbeat of the people. Compassion makes the rhythm of the forest present and calming because it is within you. Let your spirit fill and your nerves will settle. xo" these words with a photo of the redwoods. home.

so to mother nature and all her glory i say this:

and i will go home refreshed. full.

full of gratitude & deeper understanding.

(and really good orange juice.)

*knitting