The Color Run

Busted clown tranny. This is really the best way that I can describe how we, Team Jock (and all others who participated in the color run) looked by the time we got to the finish line. It was so much fun, and if you've never participated, I couldn't recommend it more. Long story short, you go wearing all white. Everyone gets a packet full of colored powder which everyone throws in the air at the end of the race making a rainbow cloud covering all participants. That's after you run through the colored checkpoints where race volunteers throw the corresponding color on all the runners passing through.

So imagine me looking like this and of course not changing as I ran my errands. Friends know that I'm not one to change out of my running shorts (with 1/2 inch inseams) or pants (aka tights) after running before heading to to do whatever-I'm-doing around town. Before heading to the bars to meet the rest of Team Jock for a few beers, I had to stop by the post office to ship a few boxes. The bus driver that got me there, all passengers, everyone I passed in the streets, and everyone in the post office was thinking (and some saying) OMG WTF. It's one thing to be in a group looking like this. People ten to assume its for something. Alone, people tend to a) stare b) cover their children's eyes and run c) hand me some change saying, "Don't worry. It gets better".

Super Bowl Sunday/Jeri's Birthday

#1: Happy Birthday yesterday to my beautiful, wonderful, loving, and caring mom, Jeri. I love you more than words can explain!

#2: So I'm a little annoyed with myself for not taking more pictures from the Beyonce concert Super Bowl yesterday. A bunch of friends and I went to our friend, Sarah's who basically has to most ridiculous three story SF apartment with a view that I would literally (probably) kill for. We had a great time watching the game, eating, drinking, and enjoying the beautiful afternoon. As I predicted, Beyonce won the Super Bowl (no surprise there) but I did think it was a little rude for NOLA to turn the lights out as soon as she left. I mean...just saying.

Oh - the flowers. Kat picked these up to bring to Sarah,  the host of the party, as a thank you for having her. What a great idea, right??

Alamere Falls

One of the many benefits to living in San Francisco is being in such close proximity to so many great (and totally different) weekend activities. You're basically one hour from...anything: the beach, skiing, wine county, hiking, so on and so forth. (And that's if you even want to leave the city) The only hiccup people run into is a lack of car, but even then there's the option to Zip Car it...or have friends with cars.

This past weekend, my three closest friends in the city as well as some other good SF friends drove the winding (like winding to the point to where I almost thew up from being car sick) roads up to Alamere Falls to go hiking for the afternoon. Literally, I was freaking out because of all the photo opportunities; I could barely even handle it. We all had a great time laughing and telling stories the entire way. On the way back we were especially funny...but I think that was the delirium and not so much us actually being funny. We were out there for like a million hours and by the time we got back to the car we were starving. Our car (Mike, Adam, Andy, and I) stopped by this little restaurant in town where I shoveled down garlic fries, clam chowder, mac n cheese, a burger, and a baked potato. As much as you'd think I would be wishing I had ordered a sensible salad, I don't at all. It was the perfect meal to wrap up a perfect day.

This is a portion of the wall outside of the apartment that I'm hoping to move into soon. Yes, I had something lined up, but of course that didn't work out after the person moving to DC decided to stay "a few more months". So as I was scrambling on Craigslist, I came across this rent-controlled gem. In unit washer and dryer (unheard of - especially for the price) hardwood floors, huge bay windows, new beautiful kitchen. I'm crossing everything hoping that they'll pick me. So until I've secured the apartment, enjoy the picture of the wall outside.

Happy Friday!

Sit and Spin

I thought that I was going to really hate not having a washer and dryer in my apartment. I've always had growing up like most people in Louisiana as well as in my own house, and there were two of each in the apartment I lived in in NYC. Those were the best. Like -there were options for every type of fabric, you could set the humidity level for softness, and you even had the option to collate, staple, and fold. You get the point.

Similar to most apartments in NYC, washers and dryers in unit is a rarity and I was not looking forward to spending an hour and a half at some random/stabby laundromat. Then I discovered how ridiculously cheap it was to have it washed, dried, and folded for you. Like...$10 for a load of laundry. I'd happily pay double that just so I didn't have to move clothes from the washer to the dryer (I HATE doing that!) not to mention folding. SO, this is where I go. The Sit and Spin in Castro is so, so great and the name is kind of everything to me. Right?!

Happy Tuesday!

Jean Shirt

Love.

I've always had an obsession with a good jean shirt. Not one you would get from your company with their logo on it - a cute fitting, Americana-esque vintage jean shirt. I've been wearing mine kind of a lot recently - bordering on too much, but I can't help it! It's just so easy to dress up or down that it's become my go-to shirt for basically all occasions.

PS - no I do not smoke #dramaticeffect

*Follow me on Instagram @matthewcara

Skivvies Run 2012

Oh my.

I remember thinking when I first moved here that I was never going to like SF, how I wasn't going to be happy unless I was in NYC, and how there are no cute guys anywhere. Well, that has all changed, my friends. It only took me running around the city half-naked for the deal to be sealed: I love SF.

Supporting the SF AIDS Foundation, "the route of the Santa Skivvies Run begins and ends at Lookout (16th and Market) in San Francisco. The route is a spontaneous romp through the Castro district of San Francisco consisting of unplanned twists, turns, stops and hijinks".

#TheBest,thx

#IloveSF

#whatismylife
#MistleHOs

Street Car

What is SanFran most know for? The Golden Gate Bridge. And then...? The Painted Ladies! Ugh - okay the THIRD thing that come to mind when they think of SanFran is the streetcar.

To be honest, I've never actually ridden one; I've never had a need. I take the less glamorous Muni, BART, or Caltrain. However, when I visit my friend, Adam, in Castro I like to get a coffee in the morning and watch the streetcars turn around at Castro and Market. I usually don't stay too, too long because a lot of nudists and homeless people (or worse - a combination) like to park it there ("it" meaning their bare asses and shopping carts)

It's pretty cool because SF uses incorporates "Wheels of the World" so you get a glimpse of all different variations of the streetcar. Check it out.

...and don't even with the pants. I was about to go running.

Hunter Boots

Hunter boots are a must if you A) work on a farm/orchard on the upper east coast (most probably Massachusetts) B) attend a lot of dirty music festivals and are Kate Moss or C) live in NYC. Clearly I fit the bill for exactly none of those - I just like them.

Hunter boots are the perfect shoe option for those who walk/bike to work on rainy/snowy days. There's nothing more frustrating than going an entire work day having to endure wet shoes, socks, and pant legs from walking to work in the rain. (And yes, I understand umbrellas help, but not so much around the feet). They're easy to put on (no laces involved), can endure all weather conditions, and clean up is 100% effortless. 

Today was the first day that I rode my bike to work in the rain, and it wasn't bad at all. My Northface resisted the water up top and my Hunter boots kept my jeans dry. Perfecto!

Jacket: The Northface

Sweater: Levi's

Shirt: J.Crew Factory

Jeans: J.Crew

Boots: Hunter

I'm Sorry - Who the What?

This face says it all.

Over Thanksgiving, I was going to write a little post about how my dad went out and bought the-world's-best donuts from a local donut shoppery in my hometown of Covington, LA. I was excited because I had this excellent photo of all the fresh, warm, glazed donuts sitting there waiting to be devoured by me my family. Why that was exciting I'm not exactly sure. After writing (what I thought to be) a funny little post about how I'm a fat ass and I need to run blah blah, I went to upload the picture, but Blogger wouldn't let me. It displayed a message - something about how my Piscada album was full. Well, without giving it a second thought, I logged in and deleted the whole album.

I went about my business not thinking anything of it until I went to look up a recipe I had previously posted about. When I logged in, I found it a little odd that things like..say...the banner, buttons, and every single effing picture I had ever uploaded was a black box with a white "Mind the Gap" looking symbol (I don't know how else to describe it). Being the idiot...(no "idiot" is appropriate) that I am, I figured it had something to do with the fact that I was looking on my iPhone. When I got home and inspected the damage, there is no exaggeration that the picture above is a PERFECT representation of how I looked and felt at that moment. Similar to the feeling of getting punched in the ovaries right after taking a Jager-bomb while riding a roller coaster doing flips in a G6...and then crapping your pants. Or so I can imagine.

Not only was I furious at myself, but I was devastated to see the pictures from hundreds of posts simply vanish. Yes, I have the pictures stored on my computer, but having them on TMN (matched with the writing portion) basically told my life story. Vacations, DIY projects, Duke and Cooper, endless events, friends and family, recipes...and of course the filler posts. This obviously is a huge disappointment for me, but I'm trying to stay positive (or my medication is working) and I'm letting it roll off my sleeve. I can add the pictures back individually, so one long afternoon it'll be me, my computer, a decent WiFi connection, a vyvanse, 4 cups of coffee, and no human interaction for at least 8 hours. How exciting.

"The New Manhattan" Bridge

In SanFran it's The Wiggle (I know, right? - those hippie Californians) and in NYC it's the Brooklyn Bridge. It's that place where (if you're a runner) you have to check out at least once just to say you did it. I put off running the Brooklyn Bridge because I assumed that I was going to have more time in the city and running along the Hudson River was much more convenient. Plus - there are just too many damn tourists on the Brooklyn Bridge (cue eye roll). As soon as I decided I was going to move to SF, I got my sassy please-take-them-off running pants/tights and hit the pavement towards "The New Manhattan".

I didn't get as much out of it in terms of exercise because I kept stopping to take pictures. Regardless, it was a beautiful day to enjoy this NY landmark.

I live in LA

Until I can find something permanent in the city (SF), I'm staying with some family friends down in the Los Altos/Mountain View area (where Google is). My 70ish year old roommates (as I refer to them), Joan and Ernie are quite possible the nicest people I've ever met and I kind of love them. Since the weather's been so bad and because my main mode of transportation is a bike, I was a little limited in terms of things-to-do so I decided this would be a perfect time for a little roommate bonding time! It's also why sometimes I get dropped off and picked up from the Caltrain station #amIin10thgrade?

We did all sorts of fun things this weekend: we went to the library, we walked downtown Los Altos, and we went to a coffee shop. Please don't think for one second that I didn't love it. No offense, but who doesn't want roommates that cook delicious home-cooked meals every night? Like...EVERY night.

I really did enjoy my time at Peet's in downtown LA (Los Altos). I got to sit, RELAX, and enjoy a lazy rainy afternoon over two lattes and Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns). Seriously - best book ever. I've never laughed so hard (or cried from laughing so hard) from a book.

On top of all of this, I got a chance to catch up with some of my best friends. Facetiming with Ryan, gossiping with Michael (something that was LONG overdue - omg the stories) and conference calling with Johnny and Patrick (even though it made me forget my helmet on the train so now I ride illegally) really made me miss home. Life is great here, and I'm really enjoying my time with my roommates, but you know how it goes. It's hard to not look back sometimes.

Cycle City

One of the things I'm excited about since moving here is riding bikes everywhere. I ride to the Caltrain and take that from San Francisco to Redwood Shores where I work. At that stop, I ride a mile or so to the campus. Truth be told, it's also a little intoxicating for me to be able to go out and spend a bunch of "justified" money. You know, when you explain to your friends and family: "I mean, y'all. I just needed it. Like - EVERYone here has one/does it/needs it/wears it/spends that much".

Last night, after 2 hours of deliberating and listening to Noelle's, the very helpful worker at Sports Basement, advice (I feel like we're on a first name basis after all the time we spent together) I finally chose an urban friendly (but versatile) bike: the Jamis' Coda Comp. I knew I didn't want anything obnoxious and flashy, I didn't need to go 100 mph, I'm not taking it up mountains, I'm not carrying cargo, and I'm not doing flips off of ramps. Just simple. It was a little pricey (especially when you factor in helmet, lights, and lock - all necessary) but I mean, y'all. I just needed it. It's basically how everyone gets around in the city.

Quick story - I bought it last night and was SUPER excited to ride it home. Slight situation - my Google map wasn't working so I was relying on HopStop and the iPhone map to guide me there. Both less than ideal. So please try to picture me lost in the city with my duffle bag (unzipped so it would fit around my shoulders so I could wear it like a back pack) at 11:00pm. I got off at the wrong train stop so I was super turned around and confused. Being flustered, I dropped my phone twice with luckily no damage, the wind was almost blowing me over, and I ripped the pocket of my favorite J. Crew vest! All of this...in the rain. Like..heavy rain. This is why I drink. Well - add to the reasons why I drink.

Back to Work

 

Not too shabby, right?

Starting today, I'm the newest Client Services Coordinator for PRO Unlimited onsite at Electronic Arts. To explain, I'm employed by PRO, a global contingent workforce management/HR consulting firm based out of the Bay area. We have clients all over the world including Blackrock, Goldman Sachs, Nike, E&Y, and my client: Electronic Arts (as in - "It's in the Game") Long story short, I was the CSC onsite in Baton Rouge for about three years until I submitted my resignation to move to NYC. Well...through unusual circumstances and over a very short period of time, I've found my way back to PRO @ EA. However, the facility where I now work in CA is a slight upgrade from the campus in Baton Rouge. (and by "slight upgrade" I mean the difference between Chicago winter temperature...and the surface of the sun)