It might soon be over! Yesterday Darren and I saw two apartments that we were both pleased with and put the wheels in motion to get the second one we saw – a two bedroom two bath in Russian Hill, on the edge of North Beach. The other was a newly renovated place in SOMA that left one longing for a little more space. But on the other hand, it had a kitchen to die for. The reason we are waiting out for the slightly dated Russian Hill place is because of one major factor: the living room window looks out onto an absolutely breath-taking view of the bay. Alcatraz, fisherman’s’ wharf, it couldn't get more San Francisco! The kitchen’s a little dated and the outside smells like old people, but the view and the location make it easy to forget such things. Speaking of location, everybody and their mother would love to live in this area. The North Beach/Russian Hill area is teeming with people just like ourselves, just trying to have a good time in their post-college years. Almost as important for Darren is the variety of great Cafés – a must for any young writer. All fingers and toes are crossed that we can sign on this place on Monday. Just need the landlord Ming to come through.
As a side note: I’m on my way to the office. Luckily it’s ten in the morning, and I was able to get a great night’s sleep, but yes, it is Sunday. So funny, I told everyone that one of the great things about consulting is that we never work weekends; a vast improvement from the banker’s life. But, wouldn’t you know it, my first weekend and I’m heading into the office. Frankly I’m not too peeved or anything. Our team is heading in today so that we don’t have to pull multiple all-nighters this next week. Also, all signs point two a three-day weekend after the work on this case is done. Awesome!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Two days ago...
September 25, 2007, 10:03PM. Going home. On the CalTrain. Heading back to my sister’s place because yes, I am still homeless. And boy, is this one of the worst industries to be in while homeless. All I needs is my own personal bed to come home to, pass out on, get some awesome REM sleep, and wake up refreshed for another short walk back to the office. Instead, I am averaging about 1 hour 30 minutes to get to work or to get back home. For all my wondrous applause of the advanced public transportation system here, I’m not enjoying it particularly much. Or maybe it’s that I’ve pretty much had it with Palo Alto. Not only did it disappoint as a college town, it is now causing me commuting headaches aplenty. A boss on my case suggested that I get a hotel in the city and charge it to the firm. Not a bad idea. If only I could afford SF hotels with the available credit that I have now. When I asked him if he was serious, he said “yeah, that commute is costing me two hours of work every day.” Good to know I’m valued as an employee! But I guess our whole case team is stressed. We’re charged with a particularly tough case with a deadline that borders on absurd. We’re all stressed. The sick part is, I actually kinda love this shit. It’s exhilarating. I’m become a short-term expert in my field and working my ass off to achieve that status. Nice. I asked the same boss if I could have an hour off for lunch tomorrow to take a look at an apartment with my potential roommate. He said that that was valuable time for contacting people on the East Coast so not really. Maybe I could do it Friday, or Saturday, or Sunday, but we might be working Sunday. Haha., gotta love it.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Quick Review
Alright so I’m still technically a vagabond even tough I’ve been living very nice recently. On Sunday night I flew out to LA (I’ve always driven) for my first week of training in the LA office. It was great. They put me up in a “boutique” hotel that was only a couple miles away from the LA office (very important in LA for the purposes of traffic). There were many a handshake, many a power point presentation, and many a meal taken care of by the firm. Nice.
Thursday Night
Since Monday, the orientation people kept referring to Thursday night. Really got up our expectations about it, considering they wouldn’t let us know exactly what was going to happen that night. “Oh, you’ll find out.” ??? Turns out only the associates (the ones that are coming straight out of undergrad) were invited to out Thursday night event. The consultants (the ones with PhDs and MBAs) were doing something else that night, but apparently it wasn’t going to be nearly the same, whatever it in fact was. Slowly but surely more and more information was leaked about Thursday night as the time approached. “limo” and “lots of alcohol” came up multiple times.
Come Thursday day, we were let out at the very generous hour of 3pm and we were told to “go home and come back in a taxi.” Since home for the SF associates was the hotel, we did as we were told and went home. I changed, took a short nap, and returned to the office at 6:30pm. When we got up to the twenty first floor, there were many white plastic bags, and first and second year associates looking pumped. Back down on the first floor we waited around outside as a stretch Ford Expedition pulled up and we climbed in. Must have been a good twenty of us in there. Champagne was passed around and a toast to LEK was given. Then other beverages were promptly consumed. I really don’t have to good of an idea of the rest of the night. But it went something like two amazingly nice cocktail lounges on the beach of Santa Monica, yummy yummy tacos at “Tito’s Taco’s” (I’ve never seen such ravenous consultants), and some swank Hollywood club that I probably wouldn’t have been able to get into otherwise. Nice. I think even our BYU associate appreciated it.
Back and Forth
I might have been hurting a little on Friday, ain’t gonna lie. But the day was short and the food was plentiful (which my stomach greatly appreciated). At 5pm the San Franciscans boarded a flight back to the bay. It was nice to get back to our area of town. I met up with Stan, Aditi, and Fish for the first time after the whole summer and we did some mad Malibu mini-golfing. A well-deserved rest and up bright and early to go meet up with Darren for another Saturday of apartment hunting in the city. The first place I saw in Potrero was going to be a little out of our price range, so Darren didn’t come, but I went my own anyway to see the unit. It was gorgeous. I kind of fell in love with the place. Frankly none of the other three places we saw that day even came close. So I called the manager. Asked to see it again. No answer. Tried again a couple of hours later nothing. Four calls two messages, and two e-mails later I still haven’t heard from this guy. I’m worried the unit is probably gone by now. Damn, it was so nice and spacious. Fingers crossed that something like that can be worked out for us. But for now I still live homeless. Yuck.
Off again
Now I’m half-way through my flight to Boston and I’m remembering how much I hate flying eastward. Tomorrow our first meeting is at 8pm, Boston time. They must hate the west coast over here or something, cause that’s just cruel. I guess I am being flown to Boston and put up in the Hilton and I’m also writing this entry on a 12-inch Dell that actually has more than 20 minutes of battery life (imagine that!). That’s all very kind of them. But couldn’t they push things back an hour or two for us Californians? Suppose not. Here’s to a very early night tonight.
Thursday Night
Since Monday, the orientation people kept referring to Thursday night. Really got up our expectations about it, considering they wouldn’t let us know exactly what was going to happen that night. “Oh, you’ll find out.” ??? Turns out only the associates (the ones that are coming straight out of undergrad) were invited to out Thursday night event. The consultants (the ones with PhDs and MBAs) were doing something else that night, but apparently it wasn’t going to be nearly the same, whatever it in fact was. Slowly but surely more and more information was leaked about Thursday night as the time approached. “limo” and “lots of alcohol” came up multiple times.
Come Thursday day, we were let out at the very generous hour of 3pm and we were told to “go home and come back in a taxi.” Since home for the SF associates was the hotel, we did as we were told and went home. I changed, took a short nap, and returned to the office at 6:30pm. When we got up to the twenty first floor, there were many white plastic bags, and first and second year associates looking pumped. Back down on the first floor we waited around outside as a stretch Ford Expedition pulled up and we climbed in. Must have been a good twenty of us in there. Champagne was passed around and a toast to LEK was given. Then other beverages were promptly consumed. I really don’t have to good of an idea of the rest of the night. But it went something like two amazingly nice cocktail lounges on the beach of Santa Monica, yummy yummy tacos at “Tito’s Taco’s” (I’ve never seen such ravenous consultants), and some swank Hollywood club that I probably wouldn’t have been able to get into otherwise. Nice. I think even our BYU associate appreciated it.
Back and Forth
I might have been hurting a little on Friday, ain’t gonna lie. But the day was short and the food was plentiful (which my stomach greatly appreciated). At 5pm the San Franciscans boarded a flight back to the bay. It was nice to get back to our area of town. I met up with Stan, Aditi, and Fish for the first time after the whole summer and we did some mad Malibu mini-golfing. A well-deserved rest and up bright and early to go meet up with Darren for another Saturday of apartment hunting in the city. The first place I saw in Potrero was going to be a little out of our price range, so Darren didn’t come, but I went my own anyway to see the unit. It was gorgeous. I kind of fell in love with the place. Frankly none of the other three places we saw that day even came close. So I called the manager. Asked to see it again. No answer. Tried again a couple of hours later nothing. Four calls two messages, and two e-mails later I still haven’t heard from this guy. I’m worried the unit is probably gone by now. Damn, it was so nice and spacious. Fingers crossed that something like that can be worked out for us. But for now I still live homeless. Yuck.
Off again
Now I’m half-way through my flight to Boston and I’m remembering how much I hate flying eastward. Tomorrow our first meeting is at 8pm, Boston time. They must hate the west coast over here or something, cause that’s just cruel. I guess I am being flown to Boston and put up in the Hilton and I’m also writing this entry on a 12-inch Dell that actually has more than 20 minutes of battery life (imagine that!). That’s all very kind of them. But couldn’t they push things back an hour or two for us Californians? Suppose not. Here’s to a very early night tonight.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Guess who's apartment hunting tomorrow?
Me! I am! Along with my prospective roomy Mr. Darren Franich. An actual place that Beto can call home? Impossible!
Written on 9-5-07
Hour-long layover between Austin and SFO. I have no idea what to feel right now. I’m not ecstatic at the prospect of starting my new life in
My entire last day was spent finally finishing the most important part of my car-project: the painting. I got up super-early to go to the paint shop that makes custom matching paint and I was ready to apply my first coat in Norma’s garage by 11:00am (a very early hour for me!). I sanded down the primer, washed the leftovers, did eight coats of paint; all like I was supposed to do! But when it came time to apply the clear coat, things just didn’t tie together! The paint maintained its matted quality and never glossed up! Even after six coats of clear coat. If none of this makes any sense to y’all, just know that I was extremely frustrated after such a hard day of labor. At 8pm I tried my last coat of clear coat, but to no avail. The job looked like crap. Now I have to try to sell a less-than-stellar car from a different city (many thanks to Tio David and Tia Gloria for having the car at their house). So annoying! But you know what, it’s only damn appropriate when it comes to that car. Whether it’s the air conditioning, or the inch of dust, or the insufficient funds to renovate, this project car has been the most annoying thing ever! On the other hand, I got a lot of good experience with fixing this and that. I feel a lot more confident that I can sell of Olga and get me something a little nicer to fix up. Thank God I don’t require air conditioning in
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