Escape from SF - Hitchcock style

The Master of Suspense: Alfred Hitchcock. I am a long-time fan of his films. Whenever there is a Hitchcock festival, I am there. If there is a single showing at any of the local theaters, it's a guarantee that I will be in attendance. (In fact, Stanford will be showing a double feature of a Hitchcock and the late Joan Fontaine collaboration next week. Yes I will be watching.)

This weekend I went on a brief excursion to Bodega Bay; famed for providing the setting for The Birds. The local community embraces its contribution to Hitchcock's film with somewhat of a mini-museum (or maybe even a shrine). The old schoolhouse and church still stand today. The schoolhouse, though, is now a private residence. Below are a few pictures taken from my excursion. I hope you enjoy.

Looking across Bodega Bay

A sea lion enjoying a swim.

BIRDS!!!

The Hitchcock Mini-Museum

On Location

My re-enactment 50 years later.

Since Hitchcock shot many films at a number of Bay Area locations, I'm going to make it a goal to visit as many areas as I can this coming new year. Stay tuned...

2013: A Year in Review

As another calendar year comes to a close, it is only fitting to reflect on the events over the past 12 months. Overall, it was a pretty decent year. There were some peaks and valleys; of course nothing is ever 100% positive or negative. I can truly say that despite the few hardships, I have the strength to overcome them and I know that what ever comes at me in 2014, I will thrive. The list below consists of the good, bad and ugly of 2013. In some of the entries you will find hyperlinks that will connect you to the original post.

The Good

• Earning my Masters Degree in English - TESOL. It took me 3 years to get through what is typically a two year program. I ended up getting a full-time teaching position, and that cut down my class schedule to part time status. I was okay with the delay considering that I could use my teaching position as my own personal laboratory for my final "Culminating Experience" project. It was a success, and my conference presentation received much positive feedback. What's next? Yes, I will be pursuing my Ph.D. in Literature. I want to stay local so my only options are Stanford, UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz. Why does the Bay Area have to be home to the nation's top universities? I'm giving myself two years to adequately prepare for the program.

• Joining a dance troupe. Swing dancing has been my saving grace. I'm always my happiest when I'm on the dance floor. When a friend of mine approached me about a new chorus girl troupe in San Francisco, I immediately signed up. It took me a while to adjust to the thought of wearing skimpier clothing. I'm known for wearing dresses that fall below my knees, so when it came to wearing costumes that exposed my legs, I was nervous. Then I started getting compliments not only for my performance but for my hourglass physique. I've trimmed down some and have developed more strength in that I no longer wear myself out. But most importantly, I've developed new friendships with my fellow chorus girls, and I've learned to be more comfortable in my own skin. This new self-acceptance has led to modeling gigs with local photographers and building my portfolio.

• My promotion. The director at my campus promoted me to Coordinator of Staff and Curriculum. So in addition to teaching my classes, I am in charge of hiring and training new teachers as well as developing new curricula. My primary focus was promoting reading and literacy through American literature. I was given the green light to use this curriculum in my class (which I subsequently used for my MA degree project). My students enjoyed reading unabridged American novels, and now I have more students signing up for my class next quarter.

• Home loan approval. I am in the market to buy a house. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I was approved for a loan. The next step is to find the right house. I'm looking to buy in San Mateo County, but it is no easy feat. Many sellers are greedy and the buyers are just plain nuts. I can't comprehend people paying $100K over the asking price. Seriously? Did they not learn from the last housing bubble that burst? I'm not in any sort of rush. The right house is out there, and I will find one to call home.

• Vindication. It was really tough having to sit before a lie detector test to determine the truth of what happened that fateful 2007 evening. I've made no secret of the fact that I am a rape survivor and that justice was never served. But it's now documented that I was not only a victim of rape but a victim of Orange County's miscarriage of justice. To finally have it confirmed was a tremendous weight off my shoulders.

• Vintage galore! Although I'd been vintage shopping for several years, I've pretty much topped off this year. Not only did I expand my vintage wardrobe, I also expanded my vintage collection of furniture. My most prized purchase is my 1912 Victrola. And it works! 

• Being at peace. I made it a point to take mini-excursions throughout the year. Sometimes, you need to get away from the daily grind and surround yourself in serene environments. I found that in the following places: Half Moon Bay, Port Costa, Santa Cruz, and Pescadero.

The Bad

• The SuperBowl. After 18 long years, my 49ers finally made it back to the SuperBowl...and they...they...I'm still stunned and in disbelief. Lets move on.

• The Family Crisis. My family was dealt a a major blow this summer. I was the one who had to step up and be the strong one. I dealt with a range of emotions from sadness and despair to outright anger, yet I managed to keep myself from falling apart. I am definitely a much stronger person to have been able to handle that stress, and my mother was pleasantly surprised to see that strength. Eventually, crisis was averted. There's always something to be learned. No one is perfect and you can't expect others to be either. You have to accept that everyone has their vulnerabilities and no one can get through them alone. I learned that my dad isn't Superman. He's more like Batman; he has his flaws and his demons, but he's still a hero.

• Be careful who you trust. When I was going through the aforementioned crisis, I turned to my cousin who had gone through a similar experience. I confided in her and told her that I felt that I could count on her the most to not disclose my feelings to certain members of our family. Well, she did exactly that. When I found out about her act of betrayal, I wasn't really upset. I wasn't even hurt. I never even confronted her. I guess I just didn't care anymore. Not for the situation and certainly not for her. I just know now that she isn't a person to be trusted. It's sad that you have to come to that realization with blood relations.

• Raccoons are vile creatures. Quite possibly the biggest scare of the year was waking up to my dog, Daisy, fighting with a raccoon. When I ran out to the backyard, I was aghast to see a huge raccoon wrapped around Daisy. Luckily, she sustained only minor cuts to her back side. She may be a little poodle, but she's a tough girl. I think I'm more afraid of her going outside at night than she is.

The Ugly 

• Gia. The herpes outbreak. It lies dormant only to pop up from time to time. That is what this individual is. One of my friends knew her personally and he started off saying, "She's got a mouth on her. She doesn't know when to shut up. That girl..." And without hesitation, I blurted out, "she's a cunt." (Now I rarely use profanity...RARELY, but when I use it, people know I mean it.) I thought I had encountered some vile people in my past, but this girl takes the cake (and eats it, too). Over the past year, she had harassed, threatened and stalked me (and even some of my friends). She still does. Admittedly so, she was a nightmare, but having my strong support network really helped. Now, I could care less; she's just an insecure little girl who lacks self-esteem. I hope Demian has finally seen her for what she truly is; a total psychopath.

And that is pretty much 2013 in a nutshell. Yes there were some challenging times, but overall, I can truly say that it has been a good year. I know 2014 will be even better. 

Port Costa

There's this tiny little town nestled in the hills overlooking the Carquinez Strait. It is a community where everyone knows everybody; people graciously smile and say hello when passing. Storefronts double as private residences because the main town is that small. The big businesses are The Warehouse Cafe, Bull Valley Restaurant and The Burlington Hotel and Cafe.

A friend of mine asked me to join her for some brunch at the Burlington known for its Victorian opulence. It was their "Vintage Vinyl" Sunday where the sitting room features swingin' tunes on the record player. The kitchen in the next room is a throwback to 1930s Americana. It features fully functional vintage appliances. I was in awe of the stove, and now I'm seriously considering looking for an old (yet working) 1920s-30s stove. I already own a 1940s Wedgewood stove, but I'm willing to part with it if I acquire an older one. We'll see.

During our brunch, there was a rush of bikers stopping for some home-brewed coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice. It was definitely an amusing sight that I had to take a candid photo.

There's bikers, and then there's bikers.

Afterward, my friend and I took a nice walk along the strait's edge. We shot the breeze as we admired the scenic views beyond. It's very peaceful. A person can spend hours gazing across the strait while having a bit of introspection.

We returned to main street for a cocktail at Bull Valley Restaurant. We were hoping to have a serving of their brussels sprouts, but it was only available during dinner hours. We were too early. So we sat engaged in conversation and toasting to the coming Christmas holiday.

What is great about Port Costa is that it has allowed time to pass on by. The town is exactly how it looks when it was first founded in 1879; that is if you don't look at the automobiles parked nearby. When another of my friends texted asking how our day was going in Port Costa, I could only respond with a single word: Peaceful. It's nice that there are still places where you can be at total peace free from the daily grind. I now have two communities to run away to for complete serenity: Half Moon Bay and now Port Costa.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I love the Christmas season (and sometimes I hate it). I love those chilly days made warm by a nice cup of hot chocolate while listening to classic Christmas tunes; the only source of entertainment beyond the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree. But when my grandmother passed away on December 17, 2011, I knew then that my future Christmases would be much different than what I'd grown up with.

Old Traditions

Every Christmas vacation was spent at my grandma's quaint little house in Earlimart, CA; a tiny farm town in the Central Valley. I still remember her Christmas tree's flashing lights from her living room. The smell of tamales from her kitchen. Shrieking children running around the backyard. Conversing adults sitting around the dining table munching on whatever homemade treats available on the table.  I miss those days.

2010 was the last Christmas with my grandma. We had a bonfire in her backyard and my uncle came dressed as Santa Claus with toys for the kids. I still remember my grandma's hearty laugh; a great big ha ha ha.

Grandma scolding Santa Claus

On the day she passed away, I drove down to Earlimart to be with the family. When I got to her house, my tía and a few of my cousins were already there. Yet the house felt really empty. I walked into her kitchen and opened her freezer. It was filled with food. Grandma had cooked. It was as if she knew that the family would be there, and she provided one last home cooked meal for the family to enjoy. I really miss her refried beans...and the SOPITA! Oh man, I'll miss having her sopita. We all gathered like our previous Christmas gatherings; laughing, telling stories. Only this time those stories were happy memories of grandma. All of us had expected her to walk from the kitchen to join us in the dining room. Only it didn't happen. And it wouldn't ever happen again. When I drove away from that little house in Earlimart, tears streamed down my cheeks because my grandma wasn't standing at the porch to wave goodbye. I just can't bring myself to drive through Earlimart anymore.

I don't really see my extended family very much. That's to be expected when the family matriarch passes away. I still keep in contact with some relatives whom I adore. Others, I don't really feel very comfortable seeing again. After a short family crisis, I got to see the true faces of some of my relatives. The usual cases of betrayal. You put your trust in people only to learn that they did the very thing they were asked not to do. I wasn't angry. I wasn't even hurt. It was just an eyeopener. Now I know these few people are never to be trusted, and I'm okay with the possibility that I may not see them again. 

New Traditions

I've pretty much been a Christmas orphan since my grandma's passing. Since 2011, I've started my own Christmas routine. I go to the Embarcadero Center with friends to watch the lighting ceremony. I drive around the city to see the decorations (with a mandatory stop at 21st street for that Christmas house). I attend the Noir City Christmas at the Castro Theatre. I dance at the Stompy Jones Sleigh Ride (and this year I'll be performing with my dance troupe). I spend Christmas Eve at my friend's house (who always hosts a Christmas gathering among friends), we drive down to Stanford Theater to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" and end the evening attending midnight mass at the nearest Catholic church. It's a new Christmas tradition for me. 

It had been a long time since buying a Christmas tree. When I lived in SoCal, my family and I always drove to a Christmas tree farm. We never went to the local store or temporary tree lots. This year, I made it a plan to buy a tree. I drove down to Half Moon Bay to Santa's Tree Farm off 92 and Pilarcitos. It's a cute place with acres of trees. On the property you will find a little village complete with a Christmas train. Mrs. Claus was there to greet customers and Santa Claus was at his chair available for pictures. What I loved most were the antique appliances in the country store. 

I picked out a small tree and bought some ornaments to decorate it. I call it my Charlie Brown tree.

I feel good about starting new traditions. I'm in a period of transition at the moment having completed my master's degree. I've been asked, "what's next?" I kind of want to take a break from school. I'm happy with my current teaching position. But enrollment in a Ph.D. in Literature program is definitely a possibility. Just not now. Perhaps some enrichment courses in the interim. Then there's my current hunt for a new house. So far, I've put offers on 2 houses; neither of which were accepted. Someone always bids higher. I was hoping to have a house by Christmas, but that's not likely. Perhaps a house before next Christmas.

I'm done!

I'll get the real document in January. This is just from the English Dept.

After 3 years, I've finally completed my degree requirements. Thank goodness. Now I can focus full time on my job, my dancing and continuing this blog. That is all. Time for a much needed rest.