Still holidaying

I am waiting for my background check to come through so haven't started work yet....now each day feels like a special holiday! I might have found a rideshare too. Found a website that connects people and got an email from someone who lives around the corner and commutes to San Jose every day. The joy of a rideshare (apart from not having to use public transport) is that you only need two people in the car to use the car pool lane - very helpful as it is a very busy road!
I went to San Fran (well Walnut Creek.......one date now having turned into several more) for the weekend and had a fab time. Went and watched this movie. It is very very funny in that fab english humour kind of way. We also wandered into the Castro which is the queer centre of San Fran. The streets and bars were packed - mostly with gay men but best of all was the group of guys wearing pink bunny suits just standing on the corner waving and wishing everyone a happy day; no reason, just because they could! Sat in the back of a very funky wineshop and sampled so very good reds as well - had a nice time all up. Ended up in The Haight which is a very lively eclectic mix of shops and restaurants ranging from punk rocker through to good quality (expensive) shoes. All very visually interesting and a bit wacky.
It's been a movie week as Michelle and I also went to see Jodie Fosters new movie The Brave One. Not one of her better ones as it plays the usual formula that she has been running with for a while (you know, nice girl finds her inner badness.......but really she's not so bad even as she goes around killing people......). Certainly didn't prompt any deep reflection by Michelle or I.
I am also wildly excited to report that my new motorcycle boots have arrived - and most likely would have saved me from a foot munching had I worn them some years back. I really am very happy with them. My course starts in mid October and I am simply obssessed by any and all bikes I see on the street (although in the main in Santa Cruz there really do only seem to be Harley's although I do live down the road from the Harley shop so that may account for the numbers I am seeing). The Harley shop recommended the course I am doing - run through the local college. The college provides the bikes and helmets - no idea what size or type of bike. I am hoping they will be bigger bikes (ie 600 versus 250s) just because I am buying a bigger bike. Time will tell I guess.

I have a job

Yes it’s true – I am about to officially re.join the ranks of the gainfully employed……..well paid employment that is! I am contracting to TechProse who have me consulting in a project for CISCO. I am embarrassed to say I didn’t have much of a clue who CISCO were……….but ignoring that detail – honestly I didn’t know much about Treasury before I worked there either – the project is BIG (like 400 people on it), complex, involves systems/processes/culture change. WOW – yes it’s back in communications (I am never ever saying I am giving it up again, my credibility is shot). I had no less than four interviews – two telephone, two face to face and at each turn got more and more excited – I’m as shocked as anyone to have discovered that I might not be done with this comms lark! It just became irresistible. Logistically the commute is a little complicated as I live in Santa Cruz and the job is in San Jose (Silicon Valley) which is about an hour commute north of here and another half hour to CISCO…….but I can most likely get in on a car pool. It’s happening fast………if my background check goes through quickly I start on Monday.....It's initially a three month contract and we go from there (I of course have plans to make myself indispensible).
I am still going to finish the book but it is no longer a full time task and really the time has come to get a job. It has me feel like I am moving onto the next stage of settling in here. I really am feeling very much like this is where I belong.
And on that note I have met a whole new group of very very fun people and launched into "dating" - such a different world. Last weeks mixer was a very fun "eye opener" into queer San Fran. The pool party (which was actually in Walnut Creek about 30mins north of San Fran) was great fun and included a few of the people I had met the night before (and was hosted by the person who took me to the mixer). There was also a very lovely spa pool, reminding me of the Auckland days. Michelle came too which was really nice (it's lovely to have her back and watch her settle into her new little house).
In the interests of expanding my education I also found myself sitting near three guys on the greyhound bus who had recently been released from prison. One was so excited he couldn't sit still in his seat and aspired to nothing more than a $6 hamburger - all three seemed happy to share their excitement with at least half the bus. I did say travelling by greyhound was an adventure didn't I?

That was big

Last week would be classified in my world as "a big week". Not least of which because I sat and passed my practical driving test. I sat the written a few weeks back (no I'm not one to share all of my possible failures in advance so I didn't share that - announcing that I had failed that would have been.......humiliating!). Things of note from both. The written test actually has a lot of driver safety tips in it, rather than the law itself. Each state is different and mostly if you move to a new state you have to re.sit the written test........well actually maybe that's only a rule in California. Because I'm also an international driver I had to do the practical as well. Bloody hell - the thought of it freaked me out for ages then it became clear I couldn't get my bike licence without my drivers licence (well I could but it all amounts to the same thing) and your drivers licence is your primary from of ID for everything here. I booked a two hour lesson with a drivers school (I've not driven since I left the ranch) and wanted some pointers on what the examiner looks for. Glad I did - there are some tricky things to know here. Well not least of which you can turn right on a redlight.......almost always if the road is clear...........pedestrians and bikes are gods (well in theory at least and for the purposes of the drivers licence)........intersections without lights, he or she who arrives first leaves first....you've got to remember who arrives when - tricky. Anyway the test itself takes all of 15mins and involves driving around this complicated set of intersections - they didn't make me drive on the freeway (lucky as I haven't done that at all in California). Now I just need to forget everything I learned and try and keep one step ahead of the crazies on the road.
Went to my job interview. It went really well and they want me to come back next week to meet the next level of managers and the woman whose project I maybe on. BIG BIG scary project..........it was the one I said I wanted. Couldn't help myself, it's only just started and sounds like a really big challenge and that I could learn alot from the woman leading it. Seems most of the project teams have a majority of woman in them. Professionally (to avoid the sniggers), I've never worked with a team where woman are the majority. That should be interesting. Downside of the deal is commuting to San Jose is actually quite a long jaunt if I am relying on public transport. Even with the bike it wouldn't be the best road to commute on. So have been thinking about starting out with getting a "ride share" with someone who commutes from Santa Cruz then if it proves a long term thing will most likely have to move some place closer. Not San Jose - really it is full of these lovely landscaped office towers owned by big tech coys.
Alongside all this I am still doing the book but it will be finished by Xmas and really I can't afford to turn away work that lands in my lap..........well I hope it will!
Been investigating buying motorcycle boots - which might have been a very useful thing to have last time I almost killed myself riding and mashed my ankle. For those that fear - the scars continue to be a reminder that you should wear the right gear and you shouldn't ride when your mind isn't on the game.
Next Sunday I've been invited to a "pool party" in Walnut Creek about 35mins outta SF. It's a good opportunity to meet more people (mixer straight and queer). I've also been invited to a strictly girl mixer in SF on the Saturday. Tricky travelling, will see how it works but at the very least will go to the pool party.
On the quirky side I was walking down the street and this little guy holding a container of the very tiniest origami birds hands me one - not looking for money just sharing the love - that is Santa Cruz for you.

Crashed on take-off

Oh well turns out United don't want newly immigrated 40yr olds with Masters degrees serving coffee, tea and assorted other snacks..............it's fair to say I am not feeling "devastated" and that my bank manager will be somewhat relieved............now have I told you about Yellowstone??? Okay yes, I am still pursueing possibilities in Silicon Valley (I can almost smell the bike oil and hear the engine roar.........).

Labour Day

It is Labour Day here, not that it means much to me as I am not working........and some days I have no idea what day it is. That only becomes complicated on those rare ocassions I have an appointment or I am meeting someone! Anyway I went down to the beach and watched people boogie boarding. There are lots of beaches here but I decided to go down to one that had me wander through the marina - nice.......never let it be said there aren't some very wealthy people in this town. The thing that amazes me at the beach is that the water is freezing and I mean Wellington harbour freezing and the majority of people still aren't wearing wetsuits! No way I am putting my little toshie in that pond - these people are craaaaaaazy. I am not sure but it also looks to me like there is quite a steep drop off once you enter the water so people don't go out that far either. Today's beach had lots of boogie boarders though and I have to say that the boogie boarding crowd were getting their monies worth .......... there were some big dumpers that would be the envy of the Island Bay crowd!!
My flatmate (actually they are called "roomates" here - everyone looks a little blank if I say "flatmate") and her boyfriend call Santa Cruz Santa Crazy - so true! The picture on the right leads to the boardwalk (pictured above) and the sign says "Danger - Live Track, No Trespassing". Note the dude on the track - well what you can't tell is he is the first among a family group wandering across the tracks. Underneath the bridge I am standing on is a hippie/druggie hangout. Mostly harmless - except when they are not. While I frequently walk the railway line between locations (no not this bridge.......but everyone does it - the hippies call it "Walking the Trail" - okay well several hippies saying "hi" to me said I was walking the trail) I avoid the drug hangouts, now that I know where they are.......for obvious reasons.
I took the pictures I've posted here a while back and thought it was time I actually put them up for people to see. There were many more people at the beach today and I was actually on the otherside of the lighthouse you can see in the top left photograph.
The things you can't tell are that at the end of the wharf on the Boardwalk and along the beaches there are "pods, gaggles, schools" or whatever you call groups of seals really close into shore - lovely to watch. Lots of seabirds too (squawking and pooing) and lots of people squealing with delight as they ride the rollar coasters et al - I sometimes go down to the Boardwalk just for the hell of hearing the delight and watching adults and children get beside themselves about being hurtled through time on various rides. It's kinda tacky but fun - I resist the typical fairground food.........and refuse to be too judgemental about those that don't. They are having a good time and I am not the one that has to put their kids to bed full of perservatives and coming off sugar highs.
I've also included a little shot of the entranceway to my humble digs and the cottage itself. There is so much you can't tell about the "collection" of boxes and jumble that stretches way back past the cottage itself. And of course what you see is where you get to once you have wound your way past the villa in front and the driveway - allso full of "hidden treasures". It provides a never ending source of entertainment as different things appear out of the boxes at regular intervals.
To the left is a shot of "Goldfish", who looks a little snotty in this shot but she is a lovely chatty little thing who is.......spoilt. Hates doors being closed, let's you know if you have inadvertantly let your bedroom door closed! Loves to come and sit on top of you in the night.....even if you are lying on your side. We have regular cuddles and she freqently falls asleep curled around my arm - 'tis very sweet.

Oneth again in the USA

It is the first of Sept here so this is the anniversary of my arriving in the USA! It seems like a long time ago that mum and I flew into San Fran, sat in Union Square eating half a panni each and enjoying the combined effects of jetlag and a glass of wine!
Last night we (my flatmate Margaretha and her very lovely boyfriend Zackery) "grilled" - that would be BBQ'ed - then went out and enjoyed serveral very fine cocktails at a local bar..........combined with some hefty debate on politics, academia and life in the USA. 'twas a lovely evening. Today I've been sitting in the sun chatting with someone new I have met (see I am meeting people) and generally having a good time.
Mid last week I got emailed about a job in San Jose (working for a Silicon Valley IT firm) and had a remarkably pleasant telephone interview with the recruiter. All prompted by a job I had applied for in March - they still had my resume and have some comms consulting roles. It's probably the most honest job interview I've ever experienced - the recruiter really wanted to nail down what I could do and how that could fit with what they need and she was happy to talk money.......candidly. Anyway going to meet next week and talk some more. It's a contract role and, yes, it's in comms.
This months been a bit of a tipping point in a whole bunch of ways - really deciding I need to start seriously thinking/looking for work (although I wasn't actively seeking the opportunity that seems to have drifted my way), meeting new and different people (yes I have been doing some "dating" hehehehee - I even surprise myself sometimes) and fixating on how best to fund this bike (well that's what works all about really). For the first time I have really started to see a picture of how my life here could roll out. I feel easier in the world and can feel my mind needing to stretch and expand more..........it's a tragic personality quirk that inevitably leads me to embark on "grand, time consuming, occassionally stressful.........but always entertaining" pathes.
Today I am most happy to be me!