So much happening!

I've been doing really fun things lately, reinforcing my decision to stay put in Oakland.

I did end up selling my car to Carmax, an easy and stress-free process.  It took me two and a half hours to get home on public transportation, but it was well worth it!  I don't miss the car, as this decision is making me plan more and be more active.

In a field, waiting for the bus

I did a 65 mile bike ride with several friends up through wine country and along the Sonoma coast. It was beautiful!  I'm still trying to get the group picture, but these give you an idea of what we saw along the way.  We stayed in an AirBNB house right outside of town, which was so creepy but also really fun.  You can read about the ride here: http://www.levisgranfondo.com/

This Thursday I had the opportunity to go to see The Windsbach Boys Choir (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsbacher_Knabenchor) at Grace Cathedral for a free concert.  The boys were so talented and had obviously worked incredibly hard to produce the beautiful music they were offering.  

After, I ate dim sum, went to the Trolley Car Museum (http://www.cablecarmuseum.org/), and then went to City Lights (http://www.citylights.com/), which is a famous indie book store.  Then I came home and took a walk around the lake and had dinner with a friend.  What a great day!

Now to get ready for my move in two weeks; so exciting!

xoxo

Style consultant

This is Never, my hair stylist's dachshund (she said she would "Never" get another dog). She always gets final say with my haircuts.

Xoxo

Fingers crossed!

I'm at Carmax to hopefully sell my car today! My new apartment is two blocks from work and I'm looking forward to embracing life in the city 100%!
Xoxo

Early morning

In the "cool, gray city of love"

Helpful

Oakland has goodwill ambassadors who patrol neighborhoods cleaning, offering directions, and the like. Today I saw two help this man with his groceries for four blocks (!). I love Oakland
Xoxo

Moon Festival

I now work at an Adult Day Care in Chinatown in Oakland.  On Wednesday, we celebrated Moon Festival with dancing, singing, and afternoon tea.  It was so neat, and they assured me that I will be taught dances and songs before next year!

xoxo

In the Bay

Two weekends ago, I got to go on a bike ride around San Francisco with a friend who will be moving to New York.  We saw so many neat things I would never have known about!

Like the Golden Gate from the other side...

And then I rented a kayak on Sunday and tooled around a little in Oakland Harbor...

Being on the water gives you a very different perspective!

Last weekend, I wandered around SF again and found the Columbus Tower (aka Sentinel building, aka where Francis Ford Coppola has his studios).  Neat!

This place is amazing! xoxo

Vernal Falls, Yosemite

 Okay, so here are more pictures of Yosemite.  I pinch myself every time I think that it is only 3 hours away!

People swim at the bottom of the waterfall!

I have my eye on a few longer hikes...

Yosemite!

My friend Zareen and I went to Yosemite yesterday... More to come!

Cycling

i apologize for the onslaught of photos: I keep forgetting to post!

A few weekends ago I did a 100 mile bike ride! In true Halasz-girl fashion, I got lost a few times, which made the ride closer to 110.  Not shocking, then, that I forgot to take a "finish line" photo!  So...here is the jersey and my number, proving I was there!

xoxo

Active weekends

are the best weekends!  Especially when they end at the ocean!  I went back to my favorite close hike this weekend, the Matt Davis to Steep Ravine trails.  It begins and ends at the ocean, with redwood forest and amber waves of grain in between.  I'm so blessed to have this!

ocean selfie!

ride back over the Golden Gate and through the city

cold ocean + tired feet = ahhhhhh...

It really is the best!

xoxo

Date Night

"I found a spot in your calendar to spend some time together"...

xoxo

Choir!

An excuse to sing Christmas music in August? I'll take it!

Xoxo

Happiness is....

grilling at home with good friends!

Yep

This place is my kind of weird

Xoxo

Yosemite!

A few weekends ago I went to Yosemite for the day with a few friends. It took us longer to get there than expected, so we didn't do much exploring, but we did get to relax along the river.  I'll definitely be back for more hiking and climbing!

Getting close to the natives

 It is hard to capture the enormity of the valley!

xoxo

Double Rainbow!

My trip to DC was so much fun: we relaxed, moved a lot of boxes, and laughed a lot!  One standout moment was the double rainbow we got to see from Emmy and Zach's back door: so neat!

xoxo

Home Safe

For real this time: 

I officially became a California resident on Friday!

My Oakland

xoxo

Vacation!

In true "Americans on vacation" style, I give you the poncho picture.

Vacation...

I'm being shipped to Hawaii!