Day 8: HURRAH! (and a nightmare trip to Oakland)

As the sun shone down on us, we cruised into town.  Top down, hair blazing, and the sweet sound of Elvis singing us home (thanks Elvis!).  We had arrived. 10:15 am, ready for keys and action.

We picked up my keys, signed my life away, and went to see the apartment.  Mom managed to keep the glass half full, not gasping at how small it is (note: half the size of my last one bedroom apartment. It is literally a small room. Welcome to San Francisco!). 

Then the real work began: Ikea on a Saturday. 

We arrived, we looked, we sat down for a few minutes, and we purchased almost all of the furniture needed for an apartment in just a few hours.  Then we went to Ross. Then Marshalls. Then somewhere else that I don't remember because my mind stopped working when my feet went numb.

At 8 pm, we realized we were still in Emeryville CA (just across the bay bridge from SF), and in need of a hotel room.  So, the googling began...

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This was a huge weekend for the Bay area (America's cup! Blue Angels! Bluegrass!) and a billion people were in town.  All of these people were at hotels.  We found no rooms near us, and then ended up calling the Hilton and begging for a room anywhere. Anywhere at all.  And that, friends, is how we ended up in Oakland... the land that time forgot.  The Anacostia of the Bay Area.  The place where our GPS failed us completely, and we ended up at some broken railroad tracks at 9 pm. I think I saw tumbleweed.  And I'm fairly sure scary music played in the background.  Or I was humming it.

Fortunately, I have an iphone! And after our GPS directed us to what appeared to be an empty street corner on the second go round, I called on google maps and life got better quickly. Till we got to the hotel (Homewood Suites by Hilton. Note: What?), where the fold out bed did not fold out, the sheets were not there, and I was honestly worried about leaving my car at night (what hotel needs a security guard who ignores you?).  Also, my clothes were at my apartment...along with my toothbrush, hairbrush, and good humor.  So, it was one of those nights, and my hair this morning can only be described as "awesome."

I know!

Anyway, today was better and featured Walmart, good times, and some random purchases.  Mom and I are spending our last night together before she flies out, and my furniture will arrive tomorrow. I will officially be a real person again!

We will post more photos (all photos were taken by mom!) when she gets them to me, but until then I wanted to thank everyone for their support. Especially the people who we called on to tell us what time zone we were in.  Some of those people we don't even know well! Special thanks to mom and dad for being awesome.  And friends and family for your support and commentary.  You are all pretty amazing.  Now, as it is late and I'm tired, we have here some photos for your viewing pleasure! Many of them were requested by my sister for reasons we do not entirely understand - so, a joshua tree, sunset, pimped out road, and the golden gate just for fun! Karen, we are still working on the donkey.