12/31 - Bring it on, 2015.

Happily counted down till midnight amongst people I love. Also, watching the season one finale of The Borgais, and curling up with Matt for Dumb & Dumber. Bring it, new year.

12/30 - In the Hoodies

A bit of walking around in the city, and shopping for a hoodie for Matt. Somehow, I also have a new one too. For what it's worth, my current hoodie is faded like crazy from riding in the sun...

12/29 - Spare Helmet

Lots of freeway scooting today, including by Vespa SF where I picked up a loaner helmet for my visitor, Matt!

12/28 - End Of Loaf

We finally killed the homemade Dutch holiday bread that Roger's sister in law baked. It was a most delicious ending. I love the heels of loaves, and this one in particular had that slight crunchy resistance that can only be created by the specific structure of sugar.

That is all.

12/27 - Family is Family

When unexpectedly whisked away to a wedding, I really appreciate someone like my sister in my life. So grateful to have a sister like Moni.

Aliens, Canyons, and Campmates. Sept 29 - Oct 4, 2014.

In just a few short weeks of San Jose, I was already restless for the open road. Being semi-settled allowed me some mental space to process memories of the beautiful land and amazing, kind people I've met on this trip to so far (truly mind blowing), but was also sanitized just enough that I forgot the kind of misadventures one can get into when scooter-camping across the country. This particular loop has been a doozy – personal to share, and lots of photos.

12/26 - Relaxing with Attenborough

After the cooking and baking marathon the day before, the four of us wiled away the day with such TV series as The Borgais, Planet Earth, and No Game No Life. Ahhhh.

12/25 - Pipette Dreams

I like to brag that my sister is the fastest pipette hand in the Midwest. The entirety of today was spent cooking, baking, and cocktail making. And then eating all our delicious creations. I feel fortunate for my wonderful family and friends today.

12/24 - Christmas Tea and Sugar Rush

A quick morning baking session and it's off to San Francisco for 'Christmas tea' with Kendall's mom's side of the family. So many sweets! I think I've had enough sugar until at least 2015.

12/23 - Gather the Raw Ingredients

Christmas in Bay Area with Kendall means a ravioli pilgrimage to Molinari Delicatessen. Also, some handmade fettuccine and salami for meals and snacking surrounding the main event. Also also, a 17 pound turkey, enough cooking supplies for the family sauce and sides, and supplies for three kinds of cookies, not to mention pie, and... well, let's just say the shopping cart was well loaded.

We forgot shopping bags, but not to worry; a fireman chain efficiently ferried everything to the kitchen.

12/22 - Hatoful Boyfriend

Just another day at Kendall's family home.

Depending on how you look at it, there are either few places in the world I feel at home, or many places. The Palo Alto home of Kendall's family is one of them. I have happy memories of Christmas in the past, and feel extraordinarily lucky to be able to spend the holidays with them again. Videogames, TV series, epic cooking, and Roger's unbeatable taste in wine, all under one roof with some of the most interesting people I know. I cannot be grateful enough.

12/21 - Dimsum Fugue

It's good to have friends who know how to eat, especially six of them together. Joy Luck Palace is inevitable.

Also, another year at the Dickens Fair!

12/20 - Dressing Up for the Nutcracker

It's Kendall's family tradition to attend the Nutcracker for Christmas. Formal wear doesn't pack well, thankfully I have a stylin' sister and friend to borrow from. I feel like a chameleon lately.

12/19 - Holidays Begin with a Storm

I don't know if I'm a badass or an idiot, but I left Pete and SF in blinding rain and rode to Sunnyvale to go climbing with Dmitry one more time before he went home for the holidays. Half an hour late, I was soaked down to my underwear and it was several climbs in before I could feel my fingers again. Definitely tackled those walls with a little extra adrenaline.

Still in climbing clothes, I hurried after to Palo Alto to meet up with my sister and Kendall, and was immediately whisked to Pampas for a Brazilian BBQ reservation. After eating an entire barnyard on skewers, we mixed cocktails with Kendall's dad into the evening.

The holidays are well under way.

12/18 - Dapper Do

A much needed hair trimming in Oakland with the talented KC of Manifesta, and trying on Pete's 'motorcycle dandy' look for the night. Happy happy to be in San Francisco.

12/17 - Apple Gifts

Kevin's very kind neighbors shared her extra apples. I ended up passing some along to my climbing partner when I headed over for apartment walkthrough (future housesitting gig). Also, learning about self-rescue and knots. Something as simple as rope can keep me entertained for hours, apparently.

12/16 - Canine Welcome

Addy surprised me with extra affectionate welcoming back from my weekend in San Francisco.

12/15 - Like New

Pete from Vespa SF helped me address the battery issues from previous winterizing attempts, and hooked me up with new accessories! Plus, scooter finally got a much needed bath – only a few thousand miles of bugs and road dirt were blasted off. She's so shiny now I don't recognize her. Huge and heartfelt thanks, I cannot say thank you enough!

12/14 - Festive Scooters Night Ride

43 mile loop with the fine folks from Vespa SF.

We decorated our bikes with lights, antlers, and gift wrapping, and crossed the Golden Gate (a first for me!). When I could take my eyes off the dark twisty road, I'd catch a glimpse of other scooters, lit up and floating between the shapes of trees.

12/13 - Birthday for Lisa!

I love an excuse to visit Lisa, Erik, and all their cool friends in Oakland. Also, I discovered I can tolerate Bailey's, which is exceptionally fragrant in coffee.

12/12 - Post Climbing

Jeep ride and BBQ with climbing partner today!

12/11 - Indoor Life

It's cookie season, and my favorite part is squeezing the dough with my hand.

There's been a pleasant, steady thrum of raindrops on the roof all day. It's no nor'easter, but I'll stay indoors anyway.

12/10 - Rain is Coming

A California storm is forecasted tomorrow. Some gusts blew me around a bit after climbing today (ahh, good to be back, I didn't forget as much as I feared), but I'm prepared.

12/9 - Nevermind, Winterize

Yeaaah, so the plug for the heated gloves seems to be causing battery problems, even without anything plugged in. Darn, I was hoping to have toasty hands for the evening aerials class, and also to leave the cable there in case I find myself in Colorado in March...

Will investigate further tomorrow.

12/8 - Project: Winterize (hah!)

I'm back from vacation! I thought I'd be productive and put some of cold weather gear on the scoot. This is, of course, slightly hilarious in California, but maybe there will be a couple chilly nights.

Let's Get Reacquainted, Bay Area. Sept 8-28, 2014.

Just to clear up any confusion: Fear not! This is not the end of my trip. The Bay Area is a convenient place to pause to finish leftover illustration work for a chapter book (ah, remember that?) and maybe rest up a bit. Much of my extended family on both sides calls the Bay Area home, and I have disjointed childhood memories of shivering at Fisherman's Wharf and driving through the dry hills of Fremont. Actually, most of my memories of the Bay are of being ferried around in family cars, often heading to or coming from Costco.

I'm pretty sure there's more to the Bay than Costco, so let's check it out.