After almost four months of living in Baku, Azerbaijan. I had an opportunity to visit California on a whirlwind vacation of visiting people and participating in weddings. On Thursday, June 8th I traveled the two flights of sixteen total hours in the air and arrived in San Francisco in the afternoon. During one of the flights I decided that flying is like the two hour wait in line for a one minute roller coaster. Long and boring but worth it. My friend, Brady picked me up at the airport and we met Faith, Kevin and Christy for dinner. Kevin and Christy had graciously bought my plane tickets so that I could be in their wedding.
After spending the night at Kevin and Christy’s, Kevin drove me to the train station so I could make the trip to SLO. I sat next to a nice girl who watched the movie Chronicles of Riddick with me. I also had an interesting conversation with a woman who had been drinking and wanted advice on what to do about her boyfriend and best friend (who had also been drinking) and who she thought were interested in each other. So, I didn’t get bored.
Once in SLO, my friend Troy picked me up so I could visit my former and his current work, CustomFlix, now called CreateSpace. Troy was hungry so we went to Baja Fresh where good friend Jeremiah met us to pick me up. We headed to Atascadero and had an awesome dinner with the Buells of barbecued steak, shrimp, garlic bread and some red Wild Horse. It was such a good meal.
Saturday I headed over to my friend Isaac’s place. We hung out for a bit, played around on guitars, went for a walk, got Sylvester’s (really good burgers) and a movie and looked at pictures. It was a good time but I was pretty tired and almost fell asleep during the movie, multiple times…don’t tell Isaac.
On Sunday, I went to a house meeting and got to see a lot of good friends. A group of us went to lunch at this new place called Pizza Fusion. It’s all Organic and actually really good. Sally, Christopher and Ariel all came as well as little Kyle, his roommates, Troy, Travis, and Ashley. It was a lot of fun.
As I was leaving the place, I got around the block and my car died. I couldn’t get it to start so I started pushing it, in a dress and flip flops. Two cars stopped to help me. I love SLO. We pushed it to the side and one of the couples let me use their phone to call Jeremiah, who has been storing my car and knows how to fix them. He came and traded cars with me, so he drove mine and I drove his big truck. I ran a few errands, including going to Boo Boo Records to get some music because I had no CDs in my car. Then I headed over to the 6pm Celebration which was awesome because Aaron was talking about a story that makes so much more sense when you understand eastern culture a little. After Celebration I met the Holguin boys (Jeremiah and his brothers) and some of their friends to celebrate Dingo’s birthday with cheesecake made by Jeremiah, which is the best cheesecake.
Monday morning I made myself workout before I left to run a bunch of errands. While I was out I stopped by the House and visited with P Tom and Natalie who works in the office and is just so sweet and encouraging. Late that day, I had a date with my old roommate Kim at Nautical Bean, where I told her about Baku and she told me about her trip to Oklahoma.
After my date with Kim I headed over to Madonna for some swing dancing. I got in some good dancing in the first hour. Sally had some new students who she pointed out to me and I told her to have them dance with me, which she did. They actually came up to me and asked me to dance and they were quite nice and fun to dance with. And of course after Isaac showed up I danced a bit with him. For those of you who don’t know, Isaac and I have actually taught some lessons together and just really enjoy dancing with each other.
Tuesday morning I was tired from my day of workout, shopping and dancing, but I made myself workout again anyway. And before hitting the road I spent a couple hours with Jessica (good friend and Mary Kay Consultant) and Lincoln (her awesome, adorable, joyful son). I love those two. I showed her pictures, we caught up a bit, and I bought some stuff, then I had to go. I was meeting Faith at work in Cupertino.
On my drive to meet Faith I stopped to get gas and called her from a pay phone to tell her I was running late. Once I got to her building it was locked because it was after hours but I caught a guy on his way out and he let me use his phone to call Faith again. I wanted to make sure I had the right building. She was like, “how do you keep calling me from all these different numbers?” Anyway, we had dinner at this cool pub by her house in the Presidio and chilled at her house after. I stayed with her a couple nights. In those days I exercised, did laundry and tried to help a little with wedding stuff. Thursday afternoon I picked up my parents from the San Jose airport. We ran around a while and then met at Kevin’s place to load up the caravan to head up to Napa. We had dinner at his great Japanese place with an area where you take off your shoes before you sit at the table.
On Friday I started working on the wine charms that were going to be wedding favors. We did a quick rehearsal then headed over to the restaurant for dinner. A lot of family was there. The food was really good, the wine was great and the company couldn’t be beat. On the way back to the hotel, the Buells and I stopped at Target and bought swimsuits so we could go in the hot tub. I’ve missed hot tubs.
Saturday morning I continued my work on the wine charms, trimmed my mom’s hair and got dropped off at the hotel where the girls were to get ready. We had fun doing makeup and hair. Christy’s mom drove us to the winery for pictures. The guys were wearing kilts and looked great. Dad and Uncle Jim also wore kilts. We had lot of fun with pictures, then headed up stairs to hide out until the ceremony. Their friend who officiated did an amazing job explaining marriage and what it’s all about. The ceremony was very nice and a good length. And when Kevin kissed Christy he dipped her which we all thought was great.
The reception was upstairs and we did not have assigned seating but a lot of the wedding party sat at the same table. I visited the Apple table a few times where Brady and Faith introduced me and we all had a good time. I brought my swing shoes and did some dancing on the incredibly slippery floor. Again, the food, wine and cake were amazing. Instead of the traditional cake cutting, they sang happy birthday to Kristen and Grandma. At the end of the night we had a bagpiper and sparklers. And back at the hotel the Buells and I went in the hot tub again. It was glorious.
Sunday morning we had brunch with everyone and after brunch everyone packed up and headed out. I took my parents back to the SJ airport. On my way to the freeway I stopped for gas and there was a Starbucks next door. I didn’t really want to go there but I also didn’t want to get lost or loose too much time so I went. I figured it’s pretty hard to mess up a latte… it wasn’t really bad it just wasn’t really good. It got me through the drive though and that night Jeremiah, the Buells and I made pizza. mmm
Monday I slept in, got up/out of bed at about ten and didn’t workout. I went to Wal-Mart to get a few things that I needed to take back and then had dinner with Chris and Roxie before I went to Madonna. At Madonna I actually got in some good dancing in the first hour. Isaac, his girlfriend Emily and Sarah (who does my hair) all showed up about the same time and then there was less dancing and more hanging out. Emily got asked to dance and so Isaac and I danced and it ended up being the last dance. Possible bummer for them, but kinda cool for me because Isaac is one of my favorite dance partners.
So, Tuesday I worked out before driving down to Orange County. I took a lot of pictures on the drive, California is so beautiful, and then I had dinner with my cousin Lolo and her boyfriend.
Wednesday after a workout I met my mom to go shoe shopping for wedding number two, Kevin and Kristin (not to be confused with Kevin and Christy). We went to Macy’s where I found wedding shoes. Then headed over to Aerosoles (after a yummy lunch) where I bought two more pairs of shoes! One is a pair of boots that will be much better for me to use in Baku than the 4”ers. That night I had dinner with my parents and Brian and Kristen at Cheesecake Factory.
So, Thursday I rode with Kevin, Kristin and Kelli Pearson (Kevin’s sister) to LAX so they could pick up a rental car. Kevin and Kelli P drove that to see family I think and Kristin and I ran a couple errands then hung out at Kristin’s a while before getting ready for the Bachelorette party. There were eight of us, a great group. We all got ready at Kristin’s where we were picked up by a limo which took us to Santa Monica. We had Japanese for dinner and played some games including a scavenger hunt. We ended at a bar with pool tables and played a few games, then went back to the hotel. We played a steeling game with presents in the room and I got a soap bar foot scrub thing, which I’m excited to try out. Friday morning the limo picked us up and took us back to Kristin’s. We had some breakfast and went to our mani/pedi appts. I went home after that and got in a workout and a shower before the rehearsal.
After the rehearsal we went to Newport Rib Company for dinner. Steve and Edie cone were there. Kelli and Jason Kruiz also made it through the traffic and I got to show them pictures and tell a couple stories. Kevin and Kristin introduced everyone and she kept calling me the world traveler.
Saturday morning Dad and I went and got coffee at Peet’s, then I had a quiet time with breakfast, got in a workout and showered. The bridal party met for pictures and everyone looked great. Kristin gave each of us a different necklace by the same designer, so they all coordinated but matched us. She also gave me a book about ninjas! I was so excited.
After all the pictures at the barn we headed over to the chapel. I had Kelli Kruiz with me and we saw some of the groomsmen messing around with their cars on the on ramp. Once on the freeway I got over and passed them. They saw me and got behind me but I lost them a couple times and beat them to the chapel. I think I scared Kelli a little. She said Jason would be proud.
The wedding was great. She had us mixed M/F on both sides which looked really good. My groomsman and I skipped on the way out of the chapel. At the reception they did descriptions for each of us during the grand entrance. Mine included world traveler and ninja warrior. 
The food was great and so was the company. I sat between Kelli and Kristin at the head table and there was a table filled with the old FVBC crowd that I visited with from time to time. I did a little dancing and tried to swing with the groomsman who knows a little. After the farewell I headed home to shower and finish packing for the start of my travels.
Dad helped me wake up at 4:30 Sunday morning. We loaded my car, Mom warmed up my coffee and they saw me off. I made one stop and drove straight to a House meeting in SLO. P Tom introduced two of us and had us both share real briefly. The Buells and Jeremiah came to the 10:30 meeting and to lunch afterwards. We went to Pizza Fusion again where I ran into Lorinda who I used to work with at CustomFlix. Jeremiah drove me up to Kevin’s place (brother Kevin) in Palo Alto. It was so great to have one last day in SLO. Kevin was playing a game networked with his friend Rob which was actually great because it gave me a chance to get organized, shower and start sorting pictures. I chatted with a couple friends from Baku and they were excited that I was coming back which helped me to be more excited too. Anyway Kevin got me up the next morning at 6:30 which then started a million hours of travel. It was a crazy busy, tiring, totally awesome visit. Now I need a vacation.
