November 27th, 2008
"Chaos continue in Bangkok with second airport shut, more explosions..."
Normally this is the type of news that tends to go in one ear and right out the other. However, it is a bit more significant to me this time as I prepare to leave in a few hours to fly to Bangkok.
Well, I'm not sure how this one is going to turn out. Wish me luck!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Tucson
November 11th, 2008
OK, I'll admit it, I am staying at my parent's house. It is the first time I have lived with them in nine years. It has actually been pretty good so far. (And I'm not just saying that because there is a good chance that they will read this.)
It is nice to have a home base for a month before I spend the next three months in South East Asia. It has given me a chance to get caught up with various things in my life, make some money, and do a lot of hiking.
I got a job here as a cashier that I just started on Monday.
It was my third interview. My first was at a call center. It was a group interview that basically consisted of watching a video and making sure that we could read in English. There were about a dozen people there. There was one woman wearing a suit and the rest of the bunch looked as though they were trying not to get hired. One guy had a picture of a naked woman on his hat. Another man smelled as though he had been doing some serious dumpster diving. I think that I was the only person not to stumble through the two paragraph reading, including the woman conducting the interview.
The interviewer told us to call back in a few hours to find out if we were hired. I left feeling that I really didn't want to work there, but that I should because I could start having money come in the next day. I decided I would take the job and I would keep searching for something better.
I called back a few hours later. The woman put me on hold for several minutes. She came back on the line to inform me that the positions had been filled, but to please try back in 90 days.
I could not believe it. Yeah, I was relieved not to have to work there, but come on! How embarrassing. I couldn't even get hired at a two bit call center. That was my safety job. It was a terrible way to set up my self esteem for my three interviews the following day.
The next morning I got up early to go across town to another interview. It was a much better atmosphere than the last place and they hired me on the spot. However, the training doesn't start for a couple of weeks and the actual work doesn't start until after I leave for Asia.
I didn't feel right taking money for a training when I knew that I was never going to do any work. I declined their offer. But, at least it gave me my confidence back.
I rushed out of there to make it to my next interview. This one was at a little market that is really close to where I'm living. The first part of the interview was to take a test that consisted of several problems similar to what a fifth grader might see on a math test.
The manager told me that I was the first person to get 100% in a year and a half. I'm not sure what that has to say about my co-workers. He hired me under the condition that I pass a drug test.
I skipped my last interview of the day and headed over to the clinic to pee in a cup. What a hassle just to get a couple of paychecks.
The next morning I got up well before sunrise to set out for the Catalina Wilderness area. My dad and I had a hike planned that we needed as much daylight as possible for.
The sun rose over the saguaros as we headed up the trail. Our first stop was a few miles in at a little oasis of pools carved into a granite basin. We continued up, struggling to keep track of the non-maintained and rarely used trail. I used my hiking stick to clear paths through the brush, trying in vain to avoid getting scratched. Why must everything in the desert have thorns?
By lunch time we had somehow managed to stick to the trail for the most part and had gained about a mile of elevation. It's really interesting to see how everything changes as the elevation rises. The saguaros were quickly replaced by pines and thankfully the temperature dropped dramatically.
We pushed on, dropping down into little canyons and then climbing back up on the opposite sides. We went on this way for the next several hours, pausing occasionally for picture and snack breaks. We still had a couple of miles to go when the sun shined its last light. We put on our headlamps and kept on walking.
The trail was a lot more defined in this section, but we had some disconcerting moments involving intersections with trails that were not on our map. At this point we were up at about 8,000 feet in the Summerhaven area and it would be a chilly night if we couldn't find our destination.
Needless to say, I was quite relieved when we finally saw my mom's car parked in the dark lot, patiently waiting for us.
OK, I'll admit it, I am staying at my parent's house. It is the first time I have lived with them in nine years. It has actually been pretty good so far. (And I'm not just saying that because there is a good chance that they will read this.)
It is nice to have a home base for a month before I spend the next three months in South East Asia. It has given me a chance to get caught up with various things in my life, make some money, and do a lot of hiking.
I got a job here as a cashier that I just started on Monday.
It was my third interview. My first was at a call center. It was a group interview that basically consisted of watching a video and making sure that we could read in English. There were about a dozen people there. There was one woman wearing a suit and the rest of the bunch looked as though they were trying not to get hired. One guy had a picture of a naked woman on his hat. Another man smelled as though he had been doing some serious dumpster diving. I think that I was the only person not to stumble through the two paragraph reading, including the woman conducting the interview.
The interviewer told us to call back in a few hours to find out if we were hired. I left feeling that I really didn't want to work there, but that I should because I could start having money come in the next day. I decided I would take the job and I would keep searching for something better.
I called back a few hours later. The woman put me on hold for several minutes. She came back on the line to inform me that the positions had been filled, but to please try back in 90 days.
I could not believe it. Yeah, I was relieved not to have to work there, but come on! How embarrassing. I couldn't even get hired at a two bit call center. That was my safety job. It was a terrible way to set up my self esteem for my three interviews the following day.
The next morning I got up early to go across town to another interview. It was a much better atmosphere than the last place and they hired me on the spot. However, the training doesn't start for a couple of weeks and the actual work doesn't start until after I leave for Asia.
I didn't feel right taking money for a training when I knew that I was never going to do any work. I declined their offer. But, at least it gave me my confidence back.
I rushed out of there to make it to my next interview. This one was at a little market that is really close to where I'm living. The first part of the interview was to take a test that consisted of several problems similar to what a fifth grader might see on a math test.
The manager told me that I was the first person to get 100% in a year and a half. I'm not sure what that has to say about my co-workers. He hired me under the condition that I pass a drug test.
I skipped my last interview of the day and headed over to the clinic to pee in a cup. What a hassle just to get a couple of paychecks.
The next morning I got up well before sunrise to set out for the Catalina Wilderness area. My dad and I had a hike planned that we needed as much daylight as possible for.
The sun rose over the saguaros as we headed up the trail. Our first stop was a few miles in at a little oasis of pools carved into a granite basin. We continued up, struggling to keep track of the non-maintained and rarely used trail. I used my hiking stick to clear paths through the brush, trying in vain to avoid getting scratched. Why must everything in the desert have thorns?
By lunch time we had somehow managed to stick to the trail for the most part and had gained about a mile of elevation. It's really interesting to see how everything changes as the elevation rises. The saguaros were quickly replaced by pines and thankfully the temperature dropped dramatically.We pushed on, dropping down into little canyons and then climbing back up on the opposite sides. We went on this way for the next several hours, pausing occasionally for picture and snack breaks. We still had a couple of miles to go when the sun shined its last light. We put on our headlamps and kept on walking.
The trail was a lot more defined in this section, but we had some disconcerting moments involving intersections with trails that were not on our map. At this point we were up at about 8,000 feet in the Summerhaven area and it would be a chilly night if we couldn't find our destination.
Needless to say, I was quite relieved when we finally saw my mom's car parked in the dark lot, patiently waiting for us.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Ocean Beach
October 28th 2008
Oh, Ocean Beach. I love it here! I reunited myself with my favorite beach and called some friends to announce my presence.
Erika came down to meet up with me and we hit up all of our old favorite haunts. I spent the next several days reconnecting with my old community and spending time with good friends.
The morning of the 27th I sat out on Sunset Cliffs reading The Lizard Cage and chatting with a local street kid. We watched the crabs bask in the sun, then scurry back into the tide pools when people walked by.
Aisling ended up coming down to San Diego for a visit and to babysit for a friend of hers. She called me up to hang out and invited me along to collect on her babysitting payment. Free whiskey at Winstons. Oh, how it pays to have friends in low places!
As we were hanging out, I got a call from my co-worker at Outward Bound.
"Hey Kelsi, are you in San Diego at the moment?" Ruth asked.
"Uh, yes... why do you ask?" I paused because this was a strange question coming from a European that I had last talked to in Washington.
"Well, it's a long story, but I have found myself in San Diego. Can I crash on your floor?"
"I don't have a floor, but you can crash in my truck." I responded half-joking.
"Alright then, where shall I meet you?"
She took a bus down to Ocean Beach and before I knew it she was sitting in the pub with us. By this time an amateur poetry reading had started at Winstons.
Now, I'm all about expressing yourself creatively and I generally have a pretty opened mind to these things. And there was some good stuff, but with that being said, I had suddenly found myself after a few drinks witnessing some really bad poetry.
I tried to keep myself composed... but couldn't quite do it.
During a particularly bad piece that involved some even worse singing, I had to excuse myself.
I walked outside and released my giggles. Just then a guy comes up and starts talking to me. I was grateful for a distraction.
He chats me up a bit, then tells me he's the next poet up. "You should come back inside and watch my set!"
Whhyyy!!! I cried to myself. Now, I'm going to feel like a jerk because I can't make myself go back in there.
My friends came outside just as he was getting called onstage.
"Lets get out of here."
"I have to put my stuff in your truck." Ruth reminded me.
We loaded up her two big backpacks and huge box of food into my already overstuffed truck. I had almost escaped when the poet came back out.
"Did you hear my stuff?" he innocently inquired.
I admitted that I had not.
"Don't worry." He told me. "I have my poetry book inside! Wait here." He smashed his cigarette in the ash tray and ran inside.
I contemplated running as well. I cursed to myself. Why have I never learned not to talk to strangers!
I awkwardly stood on the sidewalk as he proceeded to read several entries from his book. My friends threw me a smirk.
"Alright, thank you, I really have to go now." I finally cut in trying to let him down gently.
I grabbed my friends. "Lets go, now!" I was in no state to endure anymore.
Oh, Ocean Beach. I love it here! I reunited myself with my favorite beach and called some friends to announce my presence.Erika came down to meet up with me and we hit up all of our old favorite haunts. I spent the next several days reconnecting with my old community and spending time with good friends.
The morning of the 27th I sat out on Sunset Cliffs reading The Lizard Cage and chatting with a local street kid. We watched the crabs bask in the sun, then scurry back into the tide pools when people walked by.
Aisling ended up coming down to San Diego for a visit and to babysit for a friend of hers. She called me up to hang out and invited me along to collect on her babysitting payment. Free whiskey at Winstons. Oh, how it pays to have friends in low places!
As we were hanging out, I got a call from my co-worker at Outward Bound.
"Hey Kelsi, are you in San Diego at the moment?" Ruth asked.
"Uh, yes... why do you ask?" I paused because this was a strange question coming from a European that I had last talked to in Washington.
"Well, it's a long story, but I have found myself in San Diego. Can I crash on your floor?"
"I don't have a floor, but you can crash in my truck." I responded half-joking.
"Alright then, where shall I meet you?"
She took a bus down to Ocean Beach and before I knew it she was sitting in the pub with us. By this time an amateur poetry reading had started at Winstons.
Now, I'm all about expressing yourself creatively and I generally have a pretty opened mind to these things. And there was some good stuff, but with that being said, I had suddenly found myself after a few drinks witnessing some really bad poetry.
I tried to keep myself composed... but couldn't quite do it.
During a particularly bad piece that involved some even worse singing, I had to excuse myself.
I walked outside and released my giggles. Just then a guy comes up and starts talking to me. I was grateful for a distraction.
He chats me up a bit, then tells me he's the next poet up. "You should come back inside and watch my set!"
Whhyyy!!! I cried to myself. Now, I'm going to feel like a jerk because I can't make myself go back in there.
My friends came outside just as he was getting called onstage.
"Lets get out of here."
"I have to put my stuff in your truck." Ruth reminded me.
We loaded up her two big backpacks and huge box of food into my already overstuffed truck. I had almost escaped when the poet came back out.
"Did you hear my stuff?" he innocently inquired.
I admitted that I had not.
"Don't worry." He told me. "I have my poetry book inside! Wait here." He smashed his cigarette in the ash tray and ran inside.
I contemplated running as well. I cursed to myself. Why have I never learned not to talk to strangers!
I awkwardly stood on the sidewalk as he proceeded to read several entries from his book. My friends threw me a smirk.
"Alright, thank you, I really have to go now." I finally cut in trying to let him down gently.
I grabbed my friends. "Lets go, now!" I was in no state to endure anymore.
Route 1
October 21st, 2008
The next afternoon I finally bid adieu to Half Moon Bay. I drove down the coast until the sun began to set.
I pulled off at a beautiful campsite along the coast, cooked some dinner and crashed out. There was a little fire on the hillside that I watched glow until I fell asleep.
I got up early the next morning to continue down the 101. I was about to climb into the driver seat when I noticed paw prints all over the seat. A raccoon had explored my truck! I slammed the door and inspected from the outside. Luckily he had not taken up residency.
I stopped along the road to see a colony of elephant seals. They are hilarious!
A couple of them would get really wound up and start making a big fuss like they were going to brawl. They would shout barks and begin to charge, make it a few feet towards each other and then.....plop!
They would just lay down mid-charge and apparently forget what they were doing. Occasionally, they would eventually remember that they were upset and repeat the process. Even more rarely, they would actually repeat until they made it to each other and fought for a moment.
Now, I've known some serious stoners in my life, but these guys take the cake.
The rest of the seals would just lay around and cuddle, apparently not phased by the ruckus.
My next stop was an outdoor education school near Santa Barbara. My friend Jess works and lives there.
She gave me the tour and we went into a small town nearby to play the catch up game. There's an Indian casino there that Jess had never been to. There's not a whole lot to do in town so we decided to try it out.
Unfortunately it was not the kind of casino where you get free drinks. It was quite the opposite in fact! You are supposed to buy an expensive appetizer to go with each drink. We each bet one dollar, lost immediately, and went on our way.
Jess had to work early the next morning but she graciously offered to let me stick around and take advantage of her bathtub. Yay, I finally get to shave my legs! I thought. It was amazing.
I got back on the road and continued south along the coast.
I had planned to stop in LA to visit my friend Aisling, however when I got to LA I remembered that I can't stand it there. I slowly worked my way through way too much traffic and continued down to San Diego.
The next afternoon I finally bid adieu to Half Moon Bay. I drove down the coast until the sun began to set.
I pulled off at a beautiful campsite along the coast, cooked some dinner and crashed out. There was a little fire on the hillside that I watched glow until I fell asleep.
I got up early the next morning to continue down the 101. I was about to climb into the driver seat when I noticed paw prints all over the seat. A raccoon had explored my truck! I slammed the door and inspected from the outside. Luckily he had not taken up residency.
I stopped along the road to see a colony of elephant seals. They are hilarious!
A couple of them would get really wound up and start making a big fuss like they were going to brawl. They would shout barks and begin to charge, make it a few feet towards each other and then.....plop!They would just lay down mid-charge and apparently forget what they were doing. Occasionally, they would eventually remember that they were upset and repeat the process. Even more rarely, they would actually repeat until they made it to each other and fought for a moment.
Now, I've known some serious stoners in my life, but these guys take the cake.
The rest of the seals would just lay around and cuddle, apparently not phased by the ruckus.
My next stop was an outdoor education school near Santa Barbara. My friend Jess works and lives there.
She gave me the tour and we went into a small town nearby to play the catch up game. There's an Indian casino there that Jess had never been to. There's not a whole lot to do in town so we decided to try it out.
Unfortunately it was not the kind of casino where you get free drinks. It was quite the opposite in fact! You are supposed to buy an expensive appetizer to go with each drink. We each bet one dollar, lost immediately, and went on our way.
Jess had to work early the next morning but she graciously offered to let me stick around and take advantage of her bathtub. Yay, I finally get to shave my legs! I thought. It was amazing.
I got back on the road and continued south along the coast.
I had planned to stop in LA to visit my friend Aisling, however when I got to LA I remembered that I can't stand it there. I slowly worked my way through way too much traffic and continued down to San Diego.
Half Moon Bay
October 19th, 2008
After I had my tires replaced I drove down to Half Moon Bay. My good friend Adria recently moved there to stay with her dad while she figures out her next step in life. I had not seen Adria in nearly two years. However, after moments together it was as if we had never been apart. We bantered on just as we always do.
Adria had to work that night so I walked down to the harbor to watch the sunset. I saw a kayak outfit down there that made me daydream of living there with Adria and guiding tours. If I did that I would also have the chance to associate myself with some people that had sail boats and maybe work my way onto a crew.
I was pondering that idea as I walked out onto the docks. A replica of Columbus' boat"The Nina"
was in the harbor. It was a lot smaller than I had imagined. I also never pictured it with a giant flat screen TV on deck. The history books always leave out the good stuff.
I sat on a rock jetty and watched the bay turn all sorts of magnificent colors as the pelicans dove for fish and the clams squirted water up from the sand. What a magical place.
Later I went out to dinner with Adria's dad at the restaurant that Adria works in. It was nice catching up with him. Especially because I really had not seen him since I stayed in his house when I was 18. I will always appreciate his generosity and understanding for me during that time.
When Adria got off work we went to one of the two open bars in town. It was a little dive joint in the marina. There was a whole cast of interesting characters there.
Adria and I had a great time swapping stories and being entertained by the bar folk. The two of us always have a good times, especially when whiskey is involved.
I had planned on only spending one night in Half Moon Bay. I was behind from my tire fiasco and I had told my friend Jose that I would meet up with him in San Diego while he was there. However, during the previous night I realized that one night was just not going to cut it. Adria and her dad were pretty convincing on that tip as well.
When Adria got off work we headed to the beach. It was an especially beautiful sunset. What an incredible place to stay!
The next morning I would have had to leave if I was to meet up with Jose. At this point I would have to cut over to I-5 and head straight to San Diego without stopping to see anymore friends. I called Jose and although he gave me some guilt he also said he understood. I was bummed to have missed out on a night out with him and my friends Jessica and Erika. We would have had the whole old crew together. But I was also relieved to not have such a rushed schedule.
So, I was convinced to stay another day. I mean how could I possibly miss the World Famous Half Moon Bay pumpkin festival? I just had to see a 1,524-pound pumpkin for myself.
There was a pretty good band from the festival that was also playing at a local brewpub later that night. Adria's dad dropped us off there after dinner.
We ended up barhopping until the last bar in the area closed for the night. I have such a good time with Adria. We talk about everything. We laugh until my cheeks feel as though they will explode. We discuss theories and share heartbreaks. We cry, then laugh again, then laugh until we cry. Then we usually do something really stupid and narrowly escape trouble. We went on this way until 4 in the morning when I finally fell asleep mid laugh.
After I had my tires replaced I drove down to Half Moon Bay. My good friend Adria recently moved there to stay with her dad while she figures out her next step in life. I had not seen Adria in nearly two years. However, after moments together it was as if we had never been apart. We bantered on just as we always do.
Adria had to work that night so I walked down to the harbor to watch the sunset. I saw a kayak outfit down there that made me daydream of living there with Adria and guiding tours. If I did that I would also have the chance to associate myself with some people that had sail boats and maybe work my way onto a crew.
I was pondering that idea as I walked out onto the docks. A replica of Columbus' boat"The Nina"
was in the harbor. It was a lot smaller than I had imagined. I also never pictured it with a giant flat screen TV on deck. The history books always leave out the good stuff.I sat on a rock jetty and watched the bay turn all sorts of magnificent colors as the pelicans dove for fish and the clams squirted water up from the sand. What a magical place.
Later I went out to dinner with Adria's dad at the restaurant that Adria works in. It was nice catching up with him. Especially because I really had not seen him since I stayed in his house when I was 18. I will always appreciate his generosity and understanding for me during that time.
When Adria got off work we went to one of the two open bars in town. It was a little dive joint in the marina. There was a whole cast of interesting characters there.
Adria and I had a great time swapping stories and being entertained by the bar folk. The two of us always have a good times, especially when whiskey is involved.
I had planned on only spending one night in Half Moon Bay. I was behind from my tire fiasco and I had told my friend Jose that I would meet up with him in San Diego while he was there. However, during the previous night I realized that one night was just not going to cut it. Adria and her dad were pretty convincing on that tip as well.
When Adria got off work we headed to the beach. It was an especially beautiful sunset. What an incredible place to stay!
The next morning I would have had to leave if I was to meet up with Jose. At this point I would have to cut over to I-5 and head straight to San Diego without stopping to see anymore friends. I called Jose and although he gave me some guilt he also said he understood. I was bummed to have missed out on a night out with him and my friends Jessica and Erika. We would have had the whole old crew together. But I was also relieved to not have such a rushed schedule.
So, I was convinced to stay another day. I mean how could I possibly miss the World Famous Half Moon Bay pumpkin festival? I just had to see a 1,524-pound pumpkin for myself.There was a pretty good band from the festival that was also playing at a local brewpub later that night. Adria's dad dropped us off there after dinner.
We ended up barhopping until the last bar in the area closed for the night. I have such a good time with Adria. We talk about everything. We laugh until my cheeks feel as though they will explode. We discuss theories and share heartbreaks. We cry, then laugh again, then laugh until we cry. Then we usually do something really stupid and narrowly escape trouble. We went on this way until 4 in the morning when I finally fell asleep mid laugh.
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