FIRST STEPS November 7, 2005 Written by Jay Jacobson Well, here I am! Today has been very busy. I did not sleep for a single minute last night - I just kept tossing and turning all night. I guess I just had too much going through my head. I got to the airport in Phoenix today at 10AM for my 11AM flight. Checked in my luggage, went to the gate and discovered the flight was delayed 1.5 hours. No problem - I just went to the bar, had a glass of orange juice, and worked for a bit. I went back to the gate around noon and they informed me that the flight was not delayed after all and thus I missed the plane! They put me on a 2PM flight which I caught no problem. Got into SF about 3PM and it was foggy and very lightly raining. Picked up my luggage (that was on the earlier flight), and caught a cab to downtown. I got into the apartment alright. It is VERY small at 450 square feet, for the great price of only $2,650 per month. :) However, it is furnished, includes all utilities, and I am doing a short-term rental (just six weeks), all of which drives up the price. It is a very nice place though, in a good neighborhood, and right in the heart of the city. SF has dozens of distinctly different neighborhoods all crammed onto the peninsula. This temporary apartment is relatively central - about 1.5 miles from Fisherman's Wharf, Haight Ashbury, Union Square, Pacific Heights, and Chinatown - all in different directions. I think this will be a good "home base" from which to explore all the different parts of the city. Even a permanent place will be very expensive. I am expecting that Erik and I will pay about $2,500 per month for a two-bedroom apartment that will probably be around 900 - 1,200 square feet. It may be a bit less, but maybe not. I am trying to keep my expectations in-line. Tomorrow I will hit the town and start looking around. Tonight after I got checked in, I went out in search of something to eat. I just started wandering and figured that I would run into something sooner or later. About three blocks away, I came across a great little Italian restaurant called The Front Room. I knew it would be good when I walked in the door and was greeted by a real Italian mother-type lady, complete with gawdy jewelery, a bit overweight but still pretty, bleached blondish hair, long fake fingernails, and a very heavy accent. My instincts were right - the food was great and everyone was very friendly. They even deliver, so I am sure I will be having more of that. :) After food, I walked over to the grocery store to pick up some bottled water, cookies (I could not resist), and milk. I needed the milk because Mo bottled some Coffee Rush ingredients for me last night to pack on my trip. I got back to the apartment, made myself a Coffee Rush iced mocha (just like home again!) and ate a couple of cookies. I found Stargate on the TV, so that kept me occupied for an hour. Seeing how I did not get a drop of sleep last night, I think I am going to hit the sack pretty early tonight. Maybe that will give me an early start on the day tomorrow too. It has stopped sprinkling and the fog has cleared. Now it is very nice outside - calm and cool. Not freezing though - I have a couple of the windows open in the apartment and it is very comfortable. The smell and taste of the crisp ocean air is very refreshing! More of my Bay Adventures: http://kinetic.org/bay-adventure/ My website: http://kinetic.org/