San Francisco in Pictures

After talking to this new guy, Calvin, for a week about all kinds of things, I was hoping he would ask me on a date. I waited Friday night, nothing! I hoped that we would go out on Saturday or Sunday. We talked Friday, but not about the date. Saturday I went shopping, and  found myself a cute bag, then went to my fave supermarket in Hollywood, close to where I used to live with the guy from Hollywood Blvd. Anyway, I got myself a nice piece of grilled pork there and potato wedges. Which, I absolutely enjoyed.

That afternoon, back at my place, I found myself thinking about Calvin more than I cared to. I wondered if I would hear from him that day at all. The entire first week of chatting with him, I would always let him be the one who called. I hadn't called him first yet. I considered doing so that afternoon. But then, I don't really know this guy! I met him on a dating site. It's a Saturday, he could be on a date. OMG, what if he's on a date, and ends up liking her? Noooooo! This is my Calvin! I decided to call. Then, I decided against it! What if he didn't pick up? Would I then text him? Is that weird? Should Just text and hope he gets back to me? What if, what if, what if?

I took a deep breath and sent him a text. Just asking how he was doing. He texted back immediately telling me that he was having Poke for lunch, he had been surfing since 6am. It was around 2pm. He asked if I had had poke before. Whew! Deep breath! I was glad he replied, especially as fast as he did! That he was nice and that he was surfing, it all sounded so cool. I was tempted to ask for a picture, hoping he wears those tight fighting, spandex surfing gems. I didn't. Poke? I thought he meant pork. Of course I have eaten pork before, as a matter of fact, I just had pork for lunch! But first, google poke! It's some Hawaiian salad like, cold meal. My bad. I responded that I hadn't, he told me he would take me to the best spots some day. This guy and his promises! Will he remember them all and deliver? I wonder! Plus, why are we not on a date right now? I should be right there with him, eating poke! I want to watch him surf, let's go already?

We exchanged only a few texts and I had to let him enjoy his poke. I felt so much better after talking with him. Suddenly, I had lots of energy, bouncing off the walls. As if I don't already have a ton of energy haha.

Here are some pictures of my San Francisco vacation:

San Francisco Fire Dept.

Vacation nails

New Cellphone case with tables which would end up being my savior

On the Subway/underground train to the Union station in LA

My First picture in San Fran. As you can see, I was half asleep

In case you were thinking of paying the Imposter

The steep uphill street to the Hostel 

Look how packed it was at the Fisherman's wharf!

My Clam Chowder in a bun

The pigeons are always on standby

New Doc Marten boots

Look at that thick sole!

New Converse/ Chuck Taylors

My bad! I mean bed! First night or two at the hostel

Some of these are really funny

Fisherman's wharf

Ferry to Alcatraz Prison. Not for prisoners, for tourists

Selfie time! 

USA! USA! USA! Chanting

Restrooms are behind that building and fun is to the right

I want that money in this thing

Because, clearly that face goes well with those arms

Inside the museum

At the water massage place. Notice someone is giving me scalp massage while I'm getting oxygen 

Teaching my girl Bey how to nail that pose

My bed for the rest of my time in San Fran. The old lady with an iPad was in the bed above

The View from our dorm 

Freshly showered and Smelling good!

Complimentary pancakes

This was actually the first time I ever made a pancake!

On the way to the Mall

I've been to Vegas and San Francisco, Beijing? Not yet...

Trolley for sightseeing

Cute Jessica Simpson Heels

I really wanted to buy these, they were on sale but the heel is wobbly 

                                                   

Welcome to Treasure Island, Brook!

                       

                                             

Treasure island

                                                                       

View of Downtown San Fran from Treasure Island

Not much going on in Treasure Island that day

                                                           
                                                         

I found a group of random people and asked the guy who was taking their pictures to take mine too

                                               

On the way to the Golden gate Bridge. So cold and windy!

The golden Gate Bridge. 

Coming Full Circle

I never heard from the first Calvin ever again but the second one, texted me as soon as I gave him my number.

I told him the story of the old Calvin when I heard that they were namesakes, his response was something along the lines of, 'how dare that Calvin! I will report him to the society of Calvins!' lol. Anyway, one of the things that caught my attention in talking to Calvin was that when I told him I love the beach but I can't swim. I had also mentioned to him that learning how to surf is in my bucket list. He promised he will teach me how to surf but when I mentioned that I can't swim either, he was like, Maybe we should teach you how to swim first, then surging. haha. Oops! He also said, we should go to the beach on our first date! I never said I was going to go on a date with him but when he said that, I thought, ok, maybe we'll be friends. We seem to have a few things in common. I could use one more friend.

After I gave Calvin my number, he texted me immediately, that way I had his number. We texted back and forth about regular things people text abut. No dick pics or body shots, thankfully! No sexting or sex talk, thank goodness! I was liking this guy more and more! So respectful! We texted all day long. He was at work, I was at home, doing stuff around the house, including laundry. I found myself a nice desk, well, more of a TV stand that  I turned into a desk for my office area because I have an office area in my wish list for my apartment and I had to make that come true! I set the desk up, put my laptop, mouse, two external hard drives, and a few other random things. I later got myself a Hello Kitty mouse pad,speakers, a trash can and tissue box to make it look like a legit office space. I love it! I already had a cute leather office chair that came with my furniture from Hollywood Hills. I must say, I really love my office space and I use it a lot! I set it up by the window in my bedroom. I remember texting a picture of my desk to Calvin asking what he thinks, he told me he likes it. He also has a desk in his bedroom that he uses more often than the actual office that he turned his spare bedroom into.

Ugh, I just looked for the pictures, I can't find it anywhere! One of the days, I will do a few picture blogs because I just found a bunch of pictures of entries that I have already posted that  I didn't find when I looked for them. This blogging process can be easier. Or maybe I need to arrange my photos better. There are so many of them though. Whew! 

Found it! Before, during and after!

My airBnb guest, Brian was still staying at my house. His alarm was till relentless, he was still not hearing it. I tell you that alarm once went off from 4am until just before 10am. No jokes! He never heard it! In between, he took calls, and replied to texts. It's literally a miracle! The alarm went off ever morning at 4 for the entire month of Ramadan. I asked Brian once what the deal was, he told me that he was supposed to get up at 4 and pray and have something to eat as he was fasting the entire day with no food or drink. I was like well, dayum! Why don't you wake up and do that then? He told me he can't hear the alarm but he can hear texts and phone calls. I was like, boo, you might want to change the tune of your alarm then! Use a tune that's annoying, something that will force you to wake up because I can heat it and I now wake up at 4am, without fail, I'm sure the neighbors do too. I don't want to be that person! He apologised and didn't change a thing!

About him sleeping on the floor, I think it had something to do with his religion, I remember working at the Chinese massage place in South Africa.We used to have Muslim clients who would ask to use the prayer room. I learnt then that they need to face east when they pray, or something along those lines. I think that's what Brian was doing, he was aiming for a certain direction. Only, he never really woke up to pray for the entire month of Ramadan. I can tell you that because I was here and I was wake all those mornings at 4. 

One Sunday, my friend and I went to Santa Monica beach, we hung out and took really cool pictures. She looks like a goddess in those, I wish I could show you but I don't like to spread other people's pictures, so I will show you mine

                                              

I miss those warm summer days! My feet are freezing as we speak. It's warmer outside though, but not summer warm. But then again, I don't think I miss the summer we had last year. God forbid!

Spectators watching street performers.

This was before Calvin and I met. A week or so before I joined the dating site. I used one of these pictures on the site. 

You have the right to remain silent!

NYPD

This was  a great Sunday. I met my friend at the beach. She was sitting there, sunbathing and reading. I joined in, we talked and talked. I called her cousin, who's supposedly my soulmate haha. He and I get along. He's very quiet, some people think he doesn't even speak English, but he speaks it fluently and he's witty and funny. One Afternoon, my friend was at my place. We were going to go for a spin around Beverly Hills. We got in my car, I turned on the engine and the radio turned on. I never even listen to the radio but apparently I had previously and it automatically turned on. It was on a Classical music radio station. My friend was shocked that, I listen to the same music as her cousin. It's smart people music. Just kidding, more like geeks. 

Santa Monica Pier

That evening, after my friend's husband was done at work, he picked us both up, dropped me off at mine, then they went home. They live kinda far, more than an hour's drive from me. But my friend works less than two miles from me.

After  a week of talking to Calvin everyday on the phone and via text, which is one of the things I liked about him. Most guys just want to text, and or sext. Especially sext! Calvin called me. He called me for the first time the evening of the day I gave him my number. We talked for about an hour. We literally lost track of time. It was great. He has a nice voice, so soothing, he  sounded cooler than he looked. He also sent me a couple of pictures of himself on top of things; one on top of a tree, the other on top of a building on a hill in LA with a great view of LA. Clearly, someone's not afraid of heights. One of Calvin's hobbies is tree climbing. I thought that was cool. 

My friend's sunglasses

My Vogue Sunglasses

I didn't want to tell anyone about him until we met in person. I did, however send one of my sisters the picture of him on a tree, I thought it was cool, my sister did too. I didn't tell her who was in the picture. She didn't ask either.

Talking to this guy took me all the way back to my roots; growing up in the farm in Uitenhage. He grew up in a cabin in the mountains, so we had that in common. He works with trees and plants and all that, so he knows all there is about stuff like that. I don't, but my dad was a herbalist. He reminded me so much of my father, who hasn't been with us for more than 25 years now. It was a nice feeling to be taken all the way back there! The more I talked to that guy, they more I missed and appreciated my father. I would then talk to my sisters about him and we would all reminisce. My dad was really unique, a magician, a herbalist, a qualified attorney who never practiced, a Christian Scientist, amongst other things. 

Santa Monica Beach

Calvin and I were exchanging stories about foods we have eaten, he told me he had eaten rattle snake more than once. I was like, I need to try it! He told me he knows a place. Have you eaten snake?

What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten?

Swipe Right

After the whole party slash blind date with Chris was a dismal fail, Carly dropped me off at mine. She had asked to borrow one of my shoes, I am not big on swapping clothes like that. My mom was very against it, so I got into that habit. I offered to lend her one pair, she perused through my closet and asked for one of my favorite boots. She has a similar pair in tan, I guess, she thought she's grab her a pair in Black too. I refused. I didn't want her to use wear any of my shoes, now I gotta give her my favorite pair? NO! When we got at mine, she hugged me and was ready to head off. I didn't intend to see her again, so  I asked for my shoes back. She had conveniently forgotten all about them. I let her keep the socks. She was trying to return them anyway, she just took off the shoes and drove off. Whatever, bye Felicia! 

It was the wee hours of the morning already by then. I headed to bed. That morning, I decided to join the dating site Carly's friend recommended. I did so to prove Carly wrong. I told myself, I was going to join in for 24 hours, see what happens, which I already knew what was going to happen. I was going to meet a bunch of dickbags, and then delete my profile. I just wanted to prove her wrong. Even if it was just going to be in my head. That morning, I swiped right whenever I saw really cute guys. Guys who would probably not even date me. What did I care? I was only on there for 24 hours. My feelings weren't going to get hurt! 

After swiping to the right as much as possible and getting a few emails from guys I was not interested in, talking about, "Hey Sexy!" I headed to Malibu. It was the 4th of July. I had never been to Malibu, I decided to spend the day over there. I took the bus because I didn't want to deal with the nightmare of trying to find parking by the beach on the 4th of July weekend. I was on the bus for an hour or so, It was a nice commute along the Pacific Coast Highway. We passed Santa Monica beach, beautiful views on both sides of the road, you don't even know where to look! 

I had my tablet with me but there was no time to read, just sight seeing. I had also taken my headphones and iPod with me,so I listened to music. I saw something endearing on the bus that day, two teenage boys were sitting in the opposite row. An elderly person got on the bus, they got up, offered their seat to the elderly person and helped the person down and up when it was time to get off. It was the nicest thing.  Not even clean cut teenagers you would expect that from. Skater type boys. I loved it! 

I had a nice time in Malibu. I walked around, took pictures of everything. Asked people to take pictures of me, offered unwarranted advice to random strangers about getting the best out natural light: Face the sun, don't let it be behind you. Especially, if you're black, otherwise all people will see are teeth. 

I walked along the sand and wrote random stuff on the sand with rocks. It was past midnight in South Africa,making it the 5th already. My sister and my nephew's birthday. I wrote them a Happy Birthday wish on the sand and took a picture of it. It was a great time. At some point, I sat on the rocks and read a little. Day well spent for sure! 

I had something to eat that evening and took the bus back home. 

When we got to Santa Monica/Venice beach, a tall guy with green eyes and a bicycle got on.  His name was Calvin. He sat in front of me and started a conversation with me. He told me that he had been at work for 24 hours of so, he slept in the office blah blah blah. He's an accountant for a tour company in Santa Monica and lives in Culver City, which is about ten minutes from Beverly Hills. We chatted the entire time and just before he got off, he gave me his phone and asked for my number. That never happens to me, I was flattered! I gave him my number, he shook my hand, told me it was nice to meet me and headed off. 

I did that thing that I would sometimes do, to attract my ideal guy into my life when I got off the bus and sent a text to my old email address as if to send it to my man at home and said I was ten minutes away. Fireworks had already begun. That time last year, I was in Vegas. I remember accidentally locking myself out while out to watch the fireworks. 

That night, I was woken up by my phone ringing. It was midnight. I missed the call but realised the person had sent me a text as well. It was Calvin. He asked what I was up to. I told him I was asleep. He asked if he could come over. Yhm, what? No! We exchanged a few texts, then he called again. I picked up. He told me that he didn't have much time to text back and forth but wanted to find out if he could come hang out with me. I told him that I was asleep, wtf? Then his manager showed up, apparently he had been wanting a meeting with the manager for a while, he didn't want to miss that chance. This is at midnight on a Saturday, what kind of a meeting are we talking about here with your apartment manager? Anyway, he asked what I was doing the following day. I told him I wasn't sure yet. I returned the question, he told me that he was going to be having sex with me. I hung up and texted him to lose my number. He texted back that I lead him on, his feelings were hurt, how could I treat him like that blah blah blah. omg, I couldn't believe it! I told him to get some sleep, he clearly needed it!

It had been a nice and relaxed day, I love being by the ocean, it's so soothing. I sleep very well after being by the beach. I went to bed and checked my emails and stuff on the dating site and found lots of 'so and so would like to meet you's'. I would show interest as well but nothing would come of it. I didn't care, I wasn't invested. 

The following morning, as soon as I logged on, I got a notification, so and so sent you a message. I love messages! They are so much better than someone swiping right on my picture. It was this guy who looked Mexican but he said he was white, he had what looked like dark eyes, but his profile said he has blue. Basically, on paper, he may have been what I go for but in real life, who knows? His first email was a compliment about how unique I am. I thought that was a unique compliment. I didn't want to lead him more but I had to be polite, he didn't come across as a jerk. I think I had mentioned on my profile that I'm Just a girl from Africa. He asked me about South African food looks like, what are the staples etc. I replied. It was a different kind of conversation than any other I have had on a dating site. I wanted to log off but he kept asking questions. He seemed like a nice guy! 

The guy asked me what my interests are, I mentioned travel and exploring, and that I had spent the previous day in Malibu the previous day, it was my first time and that a week prior I was in San Fran. He told me that he loves the beach too, He goes surfing to Malibu a lot. I thought to myself, whoa, surfing! He might me more my kind of guy than I thought. I looked at his profile again, he had listed surfing, camping, bonsai-ing as some of his hobbies. I was like, this guy is interesting! We messaged back and forth for an hour before I really had to go because  I was meeting a friend that afternoon and I needed to go grocery shopping first. I thanked him for the nice chat, asked him what his name was and told him I had to go. His name was Calvin. What? Two Calvins in a space of 12 hours? It must be a sign! I told him mine, his response was, "Like a river, it suits your free flowing personality" UUhhhh! Nicest thing anyone has ever said about my name! I had to take a snapshot of that and send it to my fam's whatsapp group. They liked it to. Brook is my family name after all! 

I headed out, grocery shopping, dropped the car off, took the bus to my meet my friend at The Grove. It's right up the street, I didn't feel like paying for parking. It was nice to see my friend, we had been talking but I hadn't seen her in a very long time. We bought some junk food at KMArt then headed to the mall near my house with bargains, we window shopped there, I think she bought a top/blouse. I talked to her about the two Calvins I had had encountered in the past 24 hours. She is always rooting for me to find love or date her cousin, whichever comes first haha. I showed her pictures of the latest Calvin and was like, isn't this guy Latino, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against any race, I just like white boys, that's all. She told me that he looked white to her. She was like, 'keep an open mind, some people look better in person' Which is true, I believe that too. The guy seemed nice, I was open to talking to him again.

My friend and I headed back to my place, we hung out there and bonded while she was waiting for her husband, who is also a friend, to pick her up after work. He came by, we all hung out. It was nice. Until, we all heard a loud nice as the husband was getting comfortable on the couch. He was like, 'oops!' My friend and I looked at each other. I was hoping he was going to investigate what had happened because it sure sounded like he broke the couch to me. That didn't happen. After they left, I noticed that the couch was slanted. He broke it. I wish that situation had been treated differently. I thought of telling them about it but I didn't have the energy. They are my good friends. I love them, he didn't break the couch intentionally. I just wished he had tried to see what that was because I think if he had, he would have done something about it. He's not a useless guy at all. He probably would have fixed the couch himself. 

That night, I remembered that the dating profile was still there. Before I deleted it, I checked to see if Calvin was online. He wasn't. I messaged him that I was about to delete my profile. He messaged back, asking why. I told him that I wasn't trying to be on a dating site, I just did it to test something for 24 hours that's all. He asked if I was going to give him my number. I told him I would think about it if he asked for it. He then asked for it and I gave it to him. 

Q: Are you sure you want to permanently delete your profile?

A: Yes!

Don't Be Tardy For The Party!

I was an hour early for the bus back home. Which is always nice. Rather early than late. I got a chance to charge my phone which is still able to receive calls and texts, even though I can't see the texts and can't hang up on the calls.

I ended up sitting behind a guy who was on vacation from Kazakhstan, yes, it's a real town, not just from the movie Borat! We had been standing behind each other in line. He told me that he and a friend of his walked 4 miles to the nudist beach, he didn't know it was that kind of beach until they got there haha. Surprise! I couldn't walk that long, I am not a big walker, big, yes, walker, not so much. Plus I get the itches when I walk sometimes. He was also in New York on his trip and the last leg was going to be in Vegas. We chatted a bit until the bus was really moving, after that, nobody wants to chat anymore.

I took out my neck pillow, covered up with my big scarf my mom bought me and went to dream land. I like to shut my eyes and imagine all things good. It's the best way to live. When you can go to you imagination land, and forget about the here and know. I do it often. It feels great. Try it!

After that, I easily drift to sleep anyways.I think it makes for good dreams and good sleep to go to sleep that way than to go to sleep mad or something horrible like that. The trip back to LA seemed short. Or maybe in hindsight, it does now? I got home, used random free wi fi to check the next bus on google maps. I saw that the next one that time of the morning, it was just before 5am, was going to be across the street from Union Station. I went over there and waited. I am not sure if  I was on the right side of the road though. I wasn't sure which direction the bus was going to be going. After waiting a bit and seeing buses going all kinds of directions and none of them were mine, I went back to where there was light. My spot was kinda dodgy and there was a man standing across the street from me staring deep into my soul. I walked carefully towards the station. He was on the side of the station and I was further but it had to be done. I kept telling myself, think positively, you'll be fine. You're ok! As I was thinking that, a truck full of construction workers stopped right next to the guy, they got off and started working. Praise the Lord! The guy didn't move but at least, I felt safer with those guys there.

I only had the one small carry on suitcase and a handbag, I could move fast, which I did. As I crossed the street, I looked him square in the eye, to show him I was onto him. I didn't stick around to see his reaction though. You never know what kind of people are out that time of morning, standing randomly and staring at strangers.

I eventually took the train, it was my safest bet, then the bus, which dropped me on Wilshire Blvd. I walked home from there. Nice walk, the weather was cook, I was back in LA from a nice vacation. What could  be better?

I arrived back at my apartment to find my AirBnB gues, Brian sleeping on the floor. First of all, I could hear his alarm from the street! It got louder the closer I got to my place, next thing, this guy is sleeping across the floor right by the door. I tried to be quiet so not to wake him not knowing if I should or actually wake him up because his alarm was going off. Maybe it was time for him to wake up!

He woke up and asked where I had been as if he were my husband or my dad. I told him ad asked why he was sleeping on the floor. He told me he felt like it, not to worry. Then he wet back to sleep. The alarm was still going off, so I went back to the living room and tried to wake him up.

Life was back to normal. I did what I always do, submit myself for background gigs, work on tv shows, commercials, the works.

One day, I got a call from Carly. She point blank told me she needed some advice. Usually, she would call to say hi and the call would end up being about me giving her advice. Or we would meet up just to hang and it would all end with me giving her advice. Pretty draining, if you ask me. This one time, I had to say yes because she was honest about what she wanted. I thought to myself, ok, I will give her all the advice she needs, then I will block her, because, quite honestly, I'm so done! She told me she wanted to talk to me in person. I was home. It was Friday evening. She dropped by from work. I hadn't seen her in a little bit. She talked to me about an upcoming trip to San Francisco. Barf! After telling her I went to San Fran, she ran to the gods of bookings and booked herself a trip there as well. We stayed together, we had talked about things, she knew about places I want to see. The world is a giant place, I mean, it's a small world and all that, but it's pretty big at the same time. That's what she said haha. There are so many places one can go to without looking like they are mimicking everything I do. Do you know what I mean? Anyway, she had told me that they were going to go to camping in Palm Springs, all of a sudden her ticket was booked, she was definitely going to San Fran. I was like why not drive? If I had a small car like hers that's zero gas consumption, I would have driven. Of course, she wasn't going to drive, she was going to do it exactly the same way I did. Which is take the bus.

Anyway, the advice she wanted was about a friend of her that was too clingy. Hahahahahaha, She had me rolling on the floor in my head with that one. How do I give someone who is clingy to me advice about someone who is cling to them? I literally looked her deep in the eye as she went on about this girl who she had told me over and over again over the phone that was her best friend and they always hung out and she loved it etc, all of a sudden, the girl is a big problem. Anyway, I basically told her to weigh her options, if she still wanted the girl in her life, she had to be careful about how she handled the situation. If she didn't care what happened, then she can approach it whichever way she wanted.

Apparently, there was a party that night in West Hollywood; a birthday party of one of Carly's colleagues. She told me that she was going there but didn't feel like going by herself. She didn't ask me to go along, but it was kinda implied and I didn't want to go to a party of 21 year olds that I didn't even know. Carly got on the phone and asked the annoying, clingy friend to meet her either in Beverly Hill or at the bar where the party was going to be held. I thought to myself, and the friend is the one who's clingy? Mh! Interesting! After all the advice I gave her, she also needed some about a party she was going to go to in San Diego, they were going to stay at a friend's place, the friend has a cute brother, blah blah blah. I told her I found it funny she was asking me for advice on friendship and relationship in general because I have no friends. You would think I would be the last person. A loner like me! peaking of relationship, Carly and I talked about dating as well, she told me that a friend of her was on a dating site and was impressed by the kinds of guys on there. I told her that I had been on that years ago, for years and it was just like, if not worse than Craig's list. Carly said the friend told her that the site had been upgraded. I was like, if you say so! You know I'm done with internet dating, I want to meet someone in person for a change!

After all that, Carly called the bar for whatever reason. I think it was to find out the dress code. She had brought a change of outfits with her. She put the call on speaker. After she asked everything she needed, well, I was the one probing, and she would repeat to the guy on the phone. We always had fun on the phone with guys that way. Towards the end of the call, 'Are you single?' She looked at me like, what? I said, 'ask him!' Which she did. The guy told her that he was. We asked how tall he was, he said 6'2, eye color? Blue, hair color? Blonde. I was like 'you sound cute! What's your type?'Carly repeated to the guy. We could tell the guy was blushing, he told her he didn't have a type. Perfect! I told her, 'I can't wait to see you tonight!' He was like, yeah right, you're just playing with me. I know you won't even come here tonight. Carly assured him she would.I said, 'Are you a good kisser?' She was so embarrassed to ask, I'm like, what do you care, he can't even see you, you can always deny all this! She asked him. He said that he had been told he is. Ok then, lover boy!

We had a good time with him on the phone. We forgot something, so Carly had to call the bar back. A lady picked up. Carly was like, Can  I speak to Chris. That was the guy's name. He came to the phone.She said, 'hey, it's me!' He was like, are you the girl who said you will come meet me tonight? haha. Anyway, later on,Carly called her friends, nobody picked up. Like, none of her friends from work picked up! Eventually, I got too curious to see Chris in Person, we had already found him on Facebook and everything. Yup, I don't play! I could have my own Catfish show! He looked cute but he had a girl on his profile picture that he posed with. People commented things like, you guys look cute together. It was an old picture, so who knows? I was more excited than Carly was.

I got ready, we left together. The bar was going to close at midnight. It was around 11pm, we still had to go to the shop to buy gifts, can you believe it? So tardy! Carly got everything she needed, by the time she was done with her indecisiveness, it was past midnight. We got to the bar and the chairs were on top of the tables. The placed was so closed! Carly was disappointed, even though, she didn't seem that eager before we got there. Talk about wanting what you can't have! For a split second, I was tempted to go there some other time just to see this Chris in person. I was hoping that they could go out even on just one date. Alas!

Terrorist Attack

After being caught sobbing like a little girl by the call taker from my cellphone service provider, he tried to comfort me but I was not only frustrated, I was pissed and humiliated that it turned out my private moment wasn't alone after all. He kept asking me to hang up. I told him I couldn't, the screen was messed up, which was the reason I called after all. Gosh!

I am glad the guy busted me acting foolishly, that made me snap out of it. Who knows how long I would have been wallowing in self pity?After that mess, I covered up my head from the brightness of daylight and tried to take a nap. Not too long thereafter, my Korean roommates came home. I love them. We all had a nice time exchanging sight seeing stories. It was a good time. I had one more day in San Fran before I headed back to the city of angels. I told them what happened to my phone, they tried to lend me one of their older ones, which was sweet but my sim is a micro sim, so it wouldn't fit. I made sure to charge my power bank aka portable charger as I always do and my tablet. I used the tablet to take pictures for the remainder of the trip. Thank goodness for backup plans, right? Come to think of it, that was the first time I traveled without my camera. I did so because my new phone took amazing photos. 

The rest of the roomies came home, we all chatted, it was fun. One of the girls, the German one was going to drive to Death Valley or something.She was also gonna go to Vegas etc. I remember advising her to check out Lake Tahoe. I don't think she did, she was so set on her original plans. Either way, it sounded like a fun time. I would rather take buses though. You know? Than rent a car, pay for all that, insurance, gas etc? For each his own. The Chinese girl left first.Then we had another Chinese girl, I guess to replace her. 

The night after my cellphone debacle, an older lady joined us in our room. She took the bed above me. Bunk beds. She was on the phone the entire time, from the moment she walked into the room. She didn't even say hi. It's ok though, in a hostel, you expect the unexpected because we don't know everyone's cultures and traditions. Before we knew it, the lady was yelling at the top of her voice. What in the world! It was after pm.We didn't understand a word of what she was saying, she was carrying on and on and on. There was nothing we felt we could do because we didn't think she spoke English, plus, she was on the phone. As if the yelling at 11pm wasn't enough, she started banging things, locker doors, stuff on the floor, the works. OMG! Somebody stop her Suddenly my loss of my new cellphone, was nothing compared to that drama! 

After all the banging, she left the room. We were all looking at each other like, did that just happen? Then, the manager or receptionist came to our room. He was male so he was nice enough to ask first if he could come in. We were like yeah, sure, anything to shut this woman up! He came in and told us that the lady said we stole her iPad! WHHHAAATTTTTT??!!?!?!?!?? Are you shting me? When? The woman is the one who took over the room as soon as she got anything. If anything, she stole our peace of mind! The manager looked around for the iPad, couldn't find it and left. He was Indian, so he also didn't speak Chinese. He was liaising with the lady's daughter over the phone, who apparently spoke English. 

It was rather rude of that woman to ruin the energy in the room in the middle of the night and then turn around and accuse US of stealing from her. Who does that? I've stayed in hostels all over the world and have never heard of someone losing something. Thank goodness and knock on wood! I asked if they checked the bed because he had banged on that bed a lot. I know it because mine shook every time she did! One of my Koreans looked on top of the bed and saw the iPad which was laying face down on the bed, the iPad was white and so were the bed sheets, everything blended, that's why she didn't see it. Plus she is like 4ft tall, so she couldn't see that high up anyways. The girl who found it must be 6ft. 

We told the guy that we found the tablet and asked him to tell her to tone it down, we were trying to rest. We had things to do the following day. I mean, come on now! Get a hotel room with soundproof falls! 

She was much nicer when she found the tablet, she was smiling at us and everything. I guess that was her way of making amends.

We all eventually went to bed around midnight. I got up early, we had the new Chinese girl, apparently she had checked in the early hours of the morning. I was like, girl! We needed you last night, where were you? She was so sweet. She had just arrived from LA, I was about to head back to LA.

The following morning, I went online using my tablet and the wifi from the hostel, looking for a new phone. I saw that they had free phones on the site of my service provider, you pay $100, they refund you the $100, $50 at a time for whatever reason. The last time, I fell for something like that, I moved and someone stole my rebate. I asked for a refund, then moved again. I was willing to try again because I knew things are different this time. I signed a lease! I went to their store and waited outside until they opened. The guy who 'helped' me wouldn't even look me in the eye the entire time I was there. It was the worst experience! I couldn't believe someone like that exists in real life. I didn't get the phone. The special was for new customers. I guess I should've lied and said I wasn't with them. But that's not my thing, lying! My thing is, having worked in customer service for years, that if there's a special, anyone can get it if you want them to, you find a code or someone to authorise it and you're good to go. 

After that call, I went to a few other cell shops to see what they had, nothing caught my eye. I went to the last one where they had ridiculously cheap phones and low monthly payments. I told the lady that I wanted one, we had to call my people to get some kind of a number to port my old number. The lady let me use their store phone, she was so nice, that totally made up for the jerk off I started with who probably didn't get his morning wood taken care of that morning. Anyway, while talking to my people, they saw that I had been with them for a while and didn't want to lose my business, they then offered that if I stayed, they would void the following month's payment. That was a decent deal because I was paying $40 per month. That was an equivalent of getting one of those free $50 phones in a way. I thanked her and the lady who went out of her way to help me only for me to end up not buying the phone. 

I used wifi wherever I could get it, and there are lots of free wi fi random areas in San Fran. Thank goodness for that. One point, I didn't know if I was facing north or east. Or should I say North or West as in NorthWest, get it? That couple's kid? A random guy who was begging for money in a street corner, came to me and chatted me up, we ended up just standing in the corner chatting for what could have been 10-15 minutes. He's a nice guy who used to be in the army, has a free apartment in a nice area  - the financial district, free medical insurance, all veterans do and food stamps, and he gets two checks at the end of the month amounting to $2000 or something. Unfortunately he's a drug addict, so, all that isn't enough to sustain him. What a waste!

I checked out after my shower and left my stuff in the storage and went to explore one more day before my departure that night. I took my tablet with me and headed out. It was a nice day, my tablet battery died just after I got on the bus back to the hostel.

One of my favorite things to do in San Fran was going to the crookedest street in the world. That area is really pretty! The street is really very crooked! A car hit the curb while I was walking back down to the bus stop from the top of the crookedest street.

It was a good time though, full of tourist!

When all was said and done, I took one last form of transport that I hadn't taken since being there and headed back to the hostel, charged the tablet, double checked directions back to the bus back to LA and went on my Merry way. I had a nice time in San Francisco and would highly recommend it and the hostel! Plus, they offer free pancakes and coffee in the hostel every morning. Nice way to meet people from other dorms. I used to fill up in the morning and sit outside, chat a little and head out on a full stomach. There were a lot of British people in that hostel that I met while eating pancakes outside. One couple was on a six month world tour. They god engaged during the tour. Cute story.

I hope they could still stand each other when they got back home.

Does The Noise In My Head Bother You?

Happy New Year everyone!

My roommates in the hostel and I got along well. None of us are English Natives, we all spoke English enough to understand each other. One of us was an English teacher (pointing at self), so we were all set.

One of the girls was German. She was 20 or so. It was her first time in The US, the Chinese girl had been just about to all the 50 states but 5 or so. She's my hero! She told me that back in the day, Greyhound used to have a yearly pass. She would buy it in the beginning of the year and travel to as many destinations as she wished. That's what I need! MegaBus can only take you to so many destinations. Greyhound takes you all over the country but they're not as cheap. Sometimes, it's cheaper to fly than take Greyhound. The Korean girls had been to Montana and other parts of the Us but it was their first time in California. We had good times, getting to know each other.

I went to bed early my first night and got up early the following morning. I had a long list of things still to do. I had enough time. It is just one city after all!  I just didn't want to put things off and end up rushing. I checked out Japantown, or whatever they call it. It was on my list. The Korean girls told me about Castro district, it's like the West Hollywood (LA) or the Chelsea (New York) of San Francisco. In other words, it's the gay village of the town. I ain't mad at that! They also told me that they saw a naked man walking the streets over there. I wanted to see Castro and I wanted to sea the naked man. Lo and Behold, I saw both! I even stole a shot of the naked man, he saw me, and turned around to face my tablet as I was snapping away.

I went to Treasure island. It's an island but not much treasurable! I mean, it's a neighborhood, with people living in cookie cutter houses. That's it! Not much sightseeing, I am glad I went, check that off my list! I think there's so much they can do with that space. But what do I know? I'm just a girl from Africa! They have nice views of Downtown SF from treasure island, I'll give them that, and of Alcatraz. I did all that, and posed for more pictures. I took the same bus back downtown.

I checked out other parts of town, went to the malls, window shopped, took more pictures. I also went to the main attraction in San Fran: The Golden Gate Bridge! It was so cold around the bridge! It must have been the breeze from the sea. the bridge is over the ocean, somewhat. I was freezing my hinds off.

Just before I left for San Fran, I got a new phone. I had been getting notifications from my service provider about my phone being due for an upgrade. I didn't have a contract, so I didn't quite understand what they were on about. They also promised me a new cellphone. I didn't get that either, like, what was in it for them?

One day, I finally called them to find out what the deal was. They told me that the phone I was using was outdated, they wanted to recycle my old phone and give me a new one for free. What? I'm in! I took the bus to the phone shop and a nice lady helped me swap. I got a cute phone, A little bigger than the old one I had. I case for the new phone cost almost half as much as the phone. Even though I wasn't paying for the phone,  thought that was ridiculous. I had been having trouble talking on the phone in my house, some network situation. I had two spots where service was kinda flowing. I was fed up of all that. The new phone fixed all that in that it allowed for calls via wi fi. I have wi fi at home, so I was able to talk on the phone freely. That was amazing. Especially from a free phone. I ordered a case on eBay for the new phone as soon as I got home.. I can't get used to using a phone without a case. For me, that's better than insurance. It's cheap and you pay once and for all.

I received my cell case the morning I was heading to San Fran, it was perfect timing. I had already dropped the phone in the bathroom. It fell flat on its face. I was convinced it broke, but I did that whole, It's fine, take a deep breath. I picked it up, looked at it, and it was fine. Whew! I had a cute pink booklet type case for the phone, which wasn't quite the same shade as the case of the tablet, but what are you gonna do?

Back to San Fran, three weeks after I got the new phone, I'm on my bucket list vacation on top of the Golden Gate bridge and boom! The phone falls! I was freezing and trying to take my first picture on the bridge. I wasn't that worried because I had the casing and I try not to go there when something happens. The first thing I try to think is that everything will be OK. Well, not that time! The phone had given in! It had lines all across the screen It still worked but it was looking rather depressing. I took a few pictures and then whacked it, hoping it would snap out of its silliness... it got worse! I tried to whack it again, to make it go back to how it was before I whacked it to get back to normalcy. You got it! It got even worse! Oh well! I took a bit of a walk on the bridge as planned. I didn't want the breaking of my amazing three week phone to steal my shine. I still wanted to enjoy myself. I wasn't going to go back to the bridge. There were other places I still wanted to enjoy in the city. I needed the phone for directions back to the hostel.

After my mini walk, ducking the cyclists and every other person who seemed to be taking videos on the bridge, I headed to the bus stop. At this point, the phone screen was hopeless. Luckily, I had gotten a map from the hostel which I kept in my handbag for just in case. Thanks to my job at The AA (Automobile Association of South Africa. The South African equivalent of AAA/Triple A), I now know how to read maps. We used to joke about black people not being able to read maps. Not this black person! I took two buses back to the hostel feeling rather somber about the phone.

I got back to the dorm and tucked myself in. Just before bed, I decided to call my service providers. I didn't know what I was going to tell them but it was worth a shot. Needless to say, without insurance, there was nothing they could do about it. After that call, I was so sad and so frustrated at the same time. I decided to go there! I was alone in the dorm, thankfully! I got off the call and just sobbed. It was a good cry too! The voices in my head were so loud that, well, they usually are! Like, when I'm deep in thought, then I bump into someone or something, I usually wonder if they heard me think. That loud! Well, I may have actually been talking and crying, who knows, but  in the midst of it all, after about 5-10 minutes, I heard a voice on the other side of the phone, 'Mam! Mam! Are you ok mam?"

Are you fcking kidding me? The call didn't disconnect! That guy was there the whole time I thought I was alone!

Welcome To San Francisco!

I left the house without telling Brian, my new airbnb guest that I was going to be out of town and how long for. He had my number, he could reach me on my cell or via email on airbnb.

It was 03:00, I had just arrived in a city I had never been to in my life before. I didn't know anyone there. It was dark and cold. It was freezing! There was a bunch of people who got off at the station with me. I say station but it was more of on the sidewalk, next to the station because the station was closed. They were going to open hours later. I called my sister and told her where I was. She couldn't believe it! You know me, I never tell a soul what I'm planning until it comes to fruition. It was nice to surprise my sister like that. We talked for more than an hour on the phone about all kinds of stuff. It was nice. It seemed like he was right there with me. It may have been our first Facebook call, actually. It was nice and clear. Thanks Mark Zuckerberg.

The people who had got off the bus with me, took the bus while I was in the middle of a conversation with my sister. I was curious to know where they were going because they had told me they needed to take the train when the station was open. Now where are yall going? Not too long thereafter, they all got off the same bus. They told me that they went around town with the bus, full circle until it came back to the first stop. I thought that was a good idea, but what was going to be a better idea for me, was going to be to go to the hostel and see if someone would let me check in early. Surely, people have landed earlier than their check in time from whichever part of the world they would've come from? I took a chance and called the hostel. Someone picked up, thank goodness! They told me I could always sit in their waiting area until my bed is ready. I truly appreciated that. I hopped on the bus and made my way to Amsterdam Hostel, don't ask! (about the name). I got off the bus, dragged my suitcase up the hill to the hostel, took the stairs and checked myself in!

There was a friendly but quiet guy at reception, who gave me the key to the storage room for my luggage and let me use the shower if need be. That was awesome! Talk about customer service! Some people will make you pay extra for all that before your check in time! I think! I gladly took him up on his offer. It was cold outside, needed to take that shower to thaw out (defrost). I took my time in there too, when I found out that that wasn't the only bathroom. After my shower, I layered up and headed out. I wasn't going to sit in no waiting area and watch time pass me by. I'm on vacation goddamnit! Let's go! I walked around the blocks next to the hostel, took a few pictures, then headed to the bus stop. I met a nice lady at the bus stop and told her I wanted to go to the beach. I hadn't been to the beach since before Las Vegas. I definitely hadn't been to the beach in 2015 yet. It was time! The lady didn't seem quite certain which way to go. There are so many means of transportation in San Fran too, buses, trains, trams, this, that, the other. It's so beautiful out there, if you haven't been and can make it, do yourself the favor! You won't regret it! It somehow reminds me of Cape Town in a way. Chris, the crazy guy from South Africa, had mentioned that a long time ago as well. If you're been to Cape Town and loved it, which, to know Cape Town is to love it, you will love San Francisco.

I got off randomly from the first bus and waited for another one. I was making my way to Fisherman's wharf. I had a list of places I wanted to see while in San Fran. I don't care about eating here and eating there, if you're my Facebook friend (Babalwa Brook) or follow me on Instagram (thelovelybrook), you may not believe that, what will all the exotic food pictures I post; but I am more interested in sightseeing. I want to see all there is to see. I will try a meal or two from that place but most of all, I need to be to as many locations as possible. That's my thing. Next time I talk to someone about a certain area, I want to know that area. If that makes sense. What about you?

I finally made my way to Fisherman's Wharf. By then the sun was coming out. It was still very early, remember? I walked up and down the street malls on the way to the Wharf. There were many very touristy stores with souvenirs, t-shirts with very funny sayings. It was a good time! People ride bicycles a lot in San Francisco! I mean, coming from LA, that shouldn't surprise me,but San Fran takes things to the next level. Everyone has good legs over there. It must be all that cycling! I felt envious. I really need to learn to ride a bicycle, and to swim, and to roller skate, and and and. New year's resolutions anyone?

I finally made it to Fisherman's wharf! I was ready to eat by then. There were lines and lines of people waiting to be served by the stalls. I decided to go into the museum first and walk along the wharf, take pictures and take it all in! I could see Alcatraz island which hosts the notorious Alcatraz Prison from the wharf. When you come from where I come from, Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, South Africa, and you're in such close proximity to such places, it blows you away. You really have to take a moment and catch your breath because you grow up not thinking it will every happen. You didn't even wish for it because it's not in your realm of possibility until you wake up one day and it's 3am and you're in San Francisco. It's quite something, I tell ya! I don't ever want to get used to it. To take the opportunities that have come my way for granted.

After goofing around, taking pictures of things, selfies and having friendly strangers take pictures of me, or posing for a picture for a stranger to take with his camera, (that did happen), I called one of my sisters. I had told her about the prophet, I forgot all about it. She didn't! she is very health conscious, she goes to the gym 9 days a week, that sort of thing! I had to tell her about all the cycling I was seeing around me. That excited her, but really, she wanted to hear about the men! If I thought I was going to meet someone there according to the Prophet. By the way, the prophet didn't even say I was going to meet someone there, he said to consider living there. I think, I can't even remember. When I told my sister, that I have never seen so many tall men with long her and nice bodies in my life in one place, she told me that as soon as I met my man, in San Fran, she was going to take the next flight out. She apologised for not coming to see me in LA, lol, she already knew that that was going to happen. She just wanted to go straight to SFB, get her man and start their happily ever after. I told her they could come see me together afterwards lol. It was fun!

After Firsherman's wharf, I was still walking around, I think I was on my way to little Italy. I got stopped by a lady who worked in a massage type place. She wanted to demonstrate their products to me. I got on the water massage bed, we did that. It was fun, ten minutes of fun, then we did oxygen stuff, head massage and all kinds of things. I wanted everything but I wasn't willing to pay hundreds to thousands for them. They told me they didn't have a website, I had to buy from them, there and then. Uhm, no! I just got here, I'm on vacation, give me a break. I dropped a couple of dollars in their tip jar and headed on my merry way.

I got to pose with the wax statue of Beyonce at Madame Tussauds. That was fun!

By the time the afternoon hit, I was crashing! My energy levels were going down, you could tell I had been up all day.

I saw my favorite store while wandering about and made a pit stop.I got me a pair of animal print Converse Chuck Taylors, ankle boots. I love me some boots! I have one other pair of Chucks, they are also boots with tinsel, glittering every so slightly. I am not a sneaker type of person, but I will get myself a pair or two unique ones, for fun. Why not? I also got a pair of Knew High Doctor Martens. That was a great find!  I had always wanted a pair. This one had a double cherry on top! It was those thick soled ones, that will last you forever. Granted, I have had them for six months and have yet to wear them...bottom line is, I wanted them and now I have them.

I went back to the hostel early, to check in and get settled. Not before, having lunch by the wharf stalls. I had Clam chowder in a bread bowl. That was a lot of deliciousness in a lot of bread! Everyone was chatting and having fun in lines. Fun times! One big happy family! I sat on the benches out there while eating and fed some of my bread to the pigeons. There are so many of them and they demand that you feed them. Like, if you don't hold on to your food tightly, they will grab it off your hand. Be warned!
That lunch lasted me all day, it was very filling.

I met a nice Chinese lady in our room, she lives in Arizona. Beautiful as can be, with personality to boot!  My kind of people! The personality part! As we were chatting, two girls came in, one of them,,, I thought was a boy, but no she wasn't. They were only the nicest two girls who could walk into that room! Both from Korea, but one lives in Japan. We bonded over Traveling, as people in hostels always do, shopping, because everyone wanted my Doc Martens, but it was the only pair they had in the store, and San Francisco.

Now What?

On the first day of Ramadan, my new airbnb guest came by. He arrived within an hour of booking. Fortunately for him, I was home. I did wonder a little if he wasn't hiding from someone. He asked me if he could stay there, as soon as I agreed, he asked if he could be here in 30 minutes, I agreed. 30 minutes later, he called to say he was outside. Boom!

I went out to meet him, he had one big bag and a backpack. Good looking young man! He's from New York but goes to school in Santa Monica and works as a waiter when not in school. We sat in the living room for a bit and got to know each other. I hoped and prayed it wouldn't last 6 hours like it did with our old friend, Jen.Brian seemed like a sweet, respectful guy. He talked to me about his religion, he's Muslim. It was Ramadan, he told me he was about to start fasting.I had no issues with that. It didn't affect me one bit. He also told me about the previous living situation he had just come out of. He lived in a two bedroom apartment with plenty other people. In the main bedroom, was the main couple, then everyone else was in the other bedroom and in the living room. When I gave him the key to the apartment, he suggested we just don't lock like they did in his previous airbnb.I was like, yeah, No!

Brian went on to tell me that he had lived with the previous folks for six months. Things went well, until, they didn't. The man of the house suddenly took a disliking to him and would pick on him. He told me that he didn't know where all that came from. He would still be respectful towards that guy but it wouldn't work. In the end, the guy kicked him out of the apartment. Kicked him so hard that he rolled down the stairs. This is all according to Brian of course. He showed me text messages from that guy, they were still flocking in. The guy was threatening Brian, telling him that he knows where he works, he was going to send his homies there, he was going to post pictures of Brian all over town blah blah blah. It was serious sht. That immediately proved to me that the guy was running away from something. That explained the less than an hour from booking to check in time record!

Brian had bruises on his arm from the physical altercation with the guy. He told me that he didn't fight the guy back, he looks up to that guy as an older brother, he didn't want to fight his older brother. You have to admit he had a good defense situation, if he were to go to court. At the same time, I'm thinking, again, airbnb! What the heck! Brian asked me about my airbnb experiences, I told him a  little about my previous lady, and I use the term lady loosely. I showed Brian around, his closet, his medicine cabinet, etc. He had somewhere to be that evening, he asked if it's ok if he's back home in the middle of the night. He worked in a restaurant, so  it was understandable. At least, he worked, shoot!

I was relieved to have found a tenant but slightly concerned about how he got here. Not the Uber part of it, but the circumstances that led him to moving out of his previous place. I went to bed hopeful that night that his people wouldn't follow him home one night, or his people's homies.

After a few days with Brian as a guest, he would leave first thing in the morning, I wouldn't even see him, and be back in the middle of the night. I practically never saw him. Which was perfect for me. He's good to look at but I wasn't trying to look at any of my tenants that way. It was time for me to head on vacation to San Francisco. I packed my carry on suitcase and headed out. Not before I went to the 99 cents and bought a few snacks for the road and stuff I could still use in the hostel. You know me, I can be frugal!

I took the bus from Wilshire to the purple line (subway) on Wilshire, got on the subway. There were two other people in our carriage. One of them was a nice man, we chatted all the way until he got off. He was originally from the Bay Area, which was a nice coincidence to bump into someone from where I was headed. I got off in Union station and headed to Megabus station. That's my favorite bus because it only cost me $5 (R70) or so to go to San Francisco, this is an 8 hour trip by bus. Cheap in any currency! The ticket back was $10 (R140), still cheap. Normally, it costs way more but I got lucky. It can cost as much as $60. I had the seat to myself. It was kinda cold that night, I had warm clothes handy because I had done some research and had heard that it gets quite in SF. I slept on the bus knowing that I had a busy day ahead of me as soon as we touched base in San Fran.

I woke up once or twice on the way. I remember waking up in Oakland, hoping no one was going to sit next to me. You know how it is on the bus. All you can do is hope! I refuse to pay extra for the special seats too, like the front ones etc. That's just ridiculous! I'm not paying first to be first to fly out the bus in case of emergency! From Oakland, we drove on this amazing, long bridge, that seemed like a dream. not too long thereafter we were in San Francisco. It was 3am!

What am I going to do now?