Fun With Me Frynde

Adrienne visited this weekend - yippee! We had such a fun time, as always. Patrick was in town for work so the four of us met Friday for lunch, then the boys split (Brian to work, Patrick to Vegas) and we were on our own!

On Friday afternoon, we walked along and window shopped a lot. I bought the cutest framed print of what I would have looked like in the 1940's if I had two adorable buff cocker spaniels. I couldn't give the dogs a home, but I did give the print a home in my kitchen.



We had sushi and saw The Secret Life of Bees (I highly recommend it) that evening.

On Saturday, she conducted her Tri Delta training (the reason she got a free ticket out here) while I walked in an American Cancer Society walk to fight breast cancer with my colleagues. That night we ate at Shanghai 1930, a great Chinese restaurant Brian recommended in the Embarcadero area, and had after dinner drinks at Americano.

Perhaps most fun was our trip to Napa yesterday - her first ever! I was sad to see her go but have wonderful memories from her trip. Can't wait to meet up with her and Patrick during the NJ leg of our Christmas vacation.

My own personal scene from There's Something About Mary - Napa Style.

We emailed this photo to Emily from Trefethen. Wish she could have joined us, too!

Angel Island on Fire!

Angel Island, the largest Island in the San Francisco Bay (and fortunately for safety's sake, one that's almost entirely a State Park), went up in flames last night. If you've ever been on our balcony, it's the one that's straight ahead, where there's usually a Christmas tree during the month of December. As soon as we were tipped off by a competitive news station, we ran out to the balcony, where we had a great - yet terrible - view.

Almost immediately Brian Back Seat Producer Neal and his cohort Wilson went into action. Brian called the station (yes, Brian, we know about the massive fire everyone is talking about), while Wilson shot amateur video. Since they hadn't yet seen the chopper up and running, they decided we needed to take photos and email them into the station. Brian was surprised (?!) when our 5MB, 4-year old digital camera couldn't take a better photo of flames at night that are 2-3 miles away. In all reality, I think this photo looks like sparklers on the 4th of July at best. Real photos are available at http://cbs5.com/slideshows/wildfire.angel.island.20.839199.html

Luckily no one was injured and they think even most of the wildlife will be ok, even though about hundreds of acres (about half the island) were scorched. Though tragic, I have to say, the fire was much more entertaining than the Blue Angels.

How many of you?

Jen sent me a link to this website that supposedly knows how many of you (or me) there are in the United States. In other words, how many people share the same first and last name?

According to http://www.howmanyofme.com/...

• There are 305,352,385 people in the United States
• 477,876 people in the U.S. have the first name Katherine
• 172,524 people in the U.S. have the first name Katie
• 119,087 people in the U.S. have the last name Neal
• 186 people in the U.S. are named Katherine Neal
• 67 people in the U.S. are named Katie Neal

Now, this narcissistic exercise had me asking myself "who am I": Katie or Katherine? Chances are likely that I'm Katherine as that's my legal name, but I wonder if somehow people like me are counted twice.

As Jen pointed out (probably in an attempt to make me feel special), I'm probably the only Katie Collins Neal. Too bad they don't let you check middle names! I'm sure "RW Collins" would be really popular. ;)

How many have your name?

Back from Sac

Ok, no...that's not where we've been during the entire month plus of blog abstinence. But it is where we were this weekend. And what better reason to blog than to post photos from our friends' wedding.


What have we been doing in the last month? We've been staying pretty busy.
Here are 10 things we've done since last writing (in no particular order).


1. Went back to Sacramento over Labor Day weekend to hang out with the girls while Brian made is final, final pilgrimage to Yankee's Stadium.



2. Got an iPhone. I seriously love that thing.


3. Lisa Marie and Greg came to stay at Hotel Neal. We had a great time with them, hanging out in Pac Heights and North Beach, and of course, playing Skip Bo!


4. Watched a lot of baseball, including the last home game at Yankee's Stadium. I thought it was pretty cheesy to bring out actors to commemorate the ghosts of Yankee's Stadium. Brian was clearly moved.

5. Went to my first NFL game, the 49ers season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

6. Started a book club with a few friends out here. First book = The Secret Life of Bees. The cast was on Oprah last week, and I can't wait to see the movie later this month, the book was so good!

7. Said goodbye to summer clothes. Even though it is Indian Summer in San Francisco, it's no longer acceptable to wear summery white pants (winter white is a different story, but it's probably too warm for that).

8. Went to Carolyn & Ryan's wedding at a beautiful vineyard in Sacramento. The first rain of the season didn't get anyone down, as you can tell.

9. On Saturday, we went to Apple Hill - a great place to go to feel like fall is here. The leaves actually change there, and you can't beat the apple butter. I do wish they still had the fat free salad dressings at Boa Vista, though.

10. On our trip to Apple Hill we stopped by a place in Placerville called Z-pie, where their specialty is pot pies (clearly it's not customer service). Here's Jen with her pie.

Hopefully now I'm back on the bandwagon. Sorry to keep you waiting. Comments welcome!

Your Youniverse

Usually I don't like forwards (as my Dad has recently been told) unless they have cute pictures of animals or something. My mom shares this same sentiment.

So when she sent me a forward I knew it would probably be worth it. What she sent me was a visual DNA summary. Basically, series of 15 photos appear on your screen and you have to pick one, identifying it as your idea of art, your idea of relaxation, your idea of freedom, etc. Once you've taken the test, it gives you a personality summary.

Here's the test link: Http://DNA.imagini.net/friends

Here's the link to my results in case you want to read them: http://youniverse.com/personality/feedback/7aea2fe3f376398256590e01c2d0da3b

What's right: I love the sea breeze in my hair and sun on my face. I care about my health. Music helps me unwind. I like to be far away from my everyday life. Fun in friendship is essential. All these things sum me up to the core.

What's a little off, IMO: When I think of freedom, the great outdoors come to mind. Getting back to nature is a big draw. I think it got this impression because I selected just about any image with a beach. It also says I am passionate about history. Um, not quite. And in the first sentence, it says I'm a romantic. I suppose perhaps a bit, but I'm not sure I have a taste of the exotic.

Apparently they have a whole list of quizzes: movie personalities, party personalities, love types and many more.

I couldn't resist taking the movie one right away. It hit my movie personality right on the head: escapist. I like to get away from reality. I have a mushy side with a taste for high-calorie comfort zones. I like friends and laughter. Right on.

My results: http://youniverse.com/movies/feedback/7aea2fe3f376398256590e01c2d0da3b

Because I can never get enough quizzes, I'm going to take a few more soon, too. Let me know what your results are!

Muni Rule #102

Muni Rule #102: Do not fight on the bus. Who gets into real fights anyway? Keep it to yourselves - especially with children on the bus!

Neal family photos

As you can see, our weekend trip with Dale and Erin was awesome. More details later. For now, enjoy the photos!

"We don't need no stinkin' mousse to make our hair stand up straight." - Matriarch Momma Neal

"Welcome home, honey." - Brian

"I think I was meant to live in the lap of luxury." - Erin

"I could get used to this!" - Erin

"And I could get used to THIS." - Stalkerazzi

"Katie, you look so San Francisco in this photo!" - Dale

"See how I'm sliding on my wrist here? I really need a wrist guard for the last game of the season." - Brian (begging)

"Could you boys keep it down on the field? We're trying to play Scrabble." - Erin and me

"How fitting that the Neals visited the Marin HEADlands." - me

Muni Rule #82

Muni Rule #82: Do not spit loogies out the window. In fact, please do not spit at all.

Imagine my joy when the humming/groaning passenger sat down across from me on the bus again late last week. I thought my "subtle" hints at bus etiquette might lead to better results this time. No such luck. Within two minutes of sitting down, the same guy who was humming and groaning so loudly earlier in the week got up and spit out of the bus window like it's normal! Sick. I abhor the bus.

Pause

Diva Dale and Erin arrive tomorrow (yippee!). Unlike most resorts, Internet access at Hotel Neal drops significantly when visitors are here.

Look for pictures this weekend or early next week.

Muni Rules #45 and #46

Rule #45. One finger to the mouth followed by a "ssshhhh" sound means be quiet.

Yes, you, the guy who sat down next to me and popped in a rap CD and continued to moan and then sing some rap that I couldn't even understand...please stop doing that.

The fact that I just made the same sound and gesture again means I still want you to stop.

Rule #46. People staring - make that glaring - at you means that you're probably doing something to annoy them.

If they follow the glare with one finger to the mouth followed by a "ssshhhh," please see Rule #45.

Sex, drugs and karaoke...

...that was the theme of Camille's birthday party this weekend. She asked us to dress up a singer and then join her for karaoke. Two of my favorite things: dressing up in costume and singing!

I was a bit of a slacker, though, because I didn't start planning my outfit until the night before. With only an old red wig I bought in college or the afro Brian wore as Richard Simmons, I thought I was destined to be one of the B-52s or Diana Ross. But once I walked into Out of the Closet on Polk street, I knew I had a different destiny.

Hee-hee! Channeling Michael Jackson.

We're not quite sure who Adam was. He looked like some combo between Bret Michaels and Axl Rose, with maybe a little Kurt Cobain flannel thrown in there. Camille was a rockin' Pat Benetar with a zip-up zebra leotard.

With some of the girls from work. Around me are Jen, Camille, Perrin and Lauren.

Props

1. To Fighty Cakes for a) signing in that way in her comments and b) for officially being the first Paris girl to comment on my blog. Tabs, I know you read this thing.

2. To my "MIL" Dale. She filled out the entire survey in the comments section. Kudos! While at work, too...impressive!

Survey says

It's a rare day when a little email survey doesn't get me excited. I'm not always first to reply but I'm a pretty sure thing.

I received this one from numerous Paris girls. Hopefully it will give Tabs something else to do tomorrow at work (though you're always welcome to send more surveys). I thought about doing it all in pictures but I want to sleep tonight.

1. What is your occupation right now? PR. Brian calls me a spin doctor.

2. What color are your socks right now? Don't really care for socks. Barefoot.

3. What are you listening to right now? May and Walsh kicking Norwegian butt in volleyball.

4. What was the last thing that you ate? Salad with grilled chicken and Kashi crackers.

5. Can you drive a stick shift? No. Some might say I can barely drive at all.

6. Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone? Brian.

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes, love her! (Would anyone actually say no to this, by the way? Isn't the point to send it back to your friends, and presumably that would include the person who bothered to send it to you? Just curious...)

8. How old are you today? 27

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? Right now, women's gymnastics, synchronized diving or swimming. In general, U.K. basketball. (Least favorite = baseball or football)

10. What is your favorite drink? Water

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? Am I blonde?

12. Favorite food? Carrots. Apparently Costco sells 5-pound bags. Yeah, I ate the whole thing (not in one sitting, though!)

13. What is the last movie you watched? Step Brothers.

14. Favorite day of the year? Christmas! Fa la la la la...

15. How do you vent anger? Had to think about this one. Came to the conclusion that venting and dealing are different. Good at venting: complaining, pouting, yelling, sometimes making unnecessary noise. Not so good at dealing with it. Hope I have some good qualities - this answer makes me sound like a jerk.

16. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbie, hands down. Also loved My Little Pony and my "My Girl" doll, Jenny.

17. What is your favorite season? We don't have seasons here. In real life, I prefer fall because I like it when the leaves fall and you start wearing jeans and sweaters. It's mid-August and I'm wearing jeans and long sleeves right now. It's just not natural.

18. Cherries or Blueberries? Cherries. I fight pits with a cherry-pitter from Williams-Sonoma. You just have to put on an apron before doing so or you will have a cherry stained shirt.

19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? Actually I would like them to comment on my blog. Take the plunge, come on.

20. Who is the most likely to respond? Well, Emily, the Watts and Brian are frequent commentators. Kristin also throws a shout out in there time and again. Even Momma Neal learned to comment. There are no names on here from Paris :(

22. Living arrangements? Brian & me up 66 steps.

23. When was the last time you cried? I don't really remember. Probably a few weeks ago?

24. What is on the floor of your closet? Just a few bags.

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? Does this apply? I think I've known Lauren forever. Sarah Fight pretty close to that.

26. What did you do last night? Picked up the pieces of my domestic life - unpacking, doing dishes, cleaning up after Brian and our trip. Then proceeded to stay up until after midnight for women's gymnastics.

27. What are you most afraid of? Loss of loved ones, failure.

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? Cheese, please.

29. Favorite dog breed? This one I had to do in photos.

First favorite.

Backup breed. Do you think this is a doggie Glamour Shot?

30. Favorite day of the week? Saturday.

31. How many states have you lived in? 5

Olympic fever

Anyone else as into the Olympics as I am in the evenings?

I wasn't that pumped about it in the weeks leading up to the games. I was more excited about the AT&T commercial with the Phelps phan who couldn't get a signal. Pretty funny. But then, I forgot to DVR the opening ceremonies (still haven't watched; note to self: YouTube), and I've been following pretty closely ever since.

From the moment it stikes 8 p.m. until I force myself to go to bed (ok, that's still only around 11), I am glued to the tube. The cable guide said that the women's team gymnastic finals are tonight and I'm finding myself a little ticked that they're showing men's volleyball right now. Who wants to watch men's volleyball when you could be watching synchronized diving or gymnastics?

Oh sweet, they just showed Shawn Johnson making her way to the gym. But it's already 9:30...am I going to get any sleep tonight?

Maybe I'll do that work I brought home while I watch?

Oh, Canada!

Brian and I really enjoyed our trip to Quebec for Laura and Matt's wedding. Quebec City was absolutely gorgeous and very European in look and feel. The city was actually celebrating its 400th anniversary, so there were tons of people celebrating this as well as the weekend nuptuals.

If you don't know Laura and Matt, you may be wondering why they chose Quebec City. After all, she's from Charlotte, he's from Florida, they live in DC and neither has visited there before. We were wondering for a while, too! But once we arrived, it was clear that this was the perfect destination for their wedding, and it was so exciting to visit somewhere we'd never been before with one of my closest friends, her soon-to-be (and now-)hubby, and their other buds.

Highlights of the trip include: the wedding (obviously!), gorgeous architecture, drinks at Le Chateau Frontenac (the Fairmont there), remarkably clean streets, riding up the Funiculare (big elevator up to the Upper City), the 400th anniversary celebration, remebering to bring my new trench, awesome scenery, the rehearsal dinner in the local pub, playing pool at Linox, three showerheads, beautiful weather on their wedding day, and the fact that everyone spoke English and they were actually friendly about it.

Enjoy the photos!

Walking through the streets of Quebec City before riding up Le Funiculaire. See the giant elevator in the background?

The streets are decorated for the 400th anniversary. How festive (and clean)!

This fountain is in front of the Quebec Parliament building.

The official gates to the city.

This one is for the Watts.

Erin, Laura, Lauren and me out in the rain.

Here we are at the rehearsal dinner.

The beautiful view of the Saint Lawrence River from the balcony of Laura's bridal suite.

Erin, Lauren, Laura and me less than an hour before the wedding!

Such a lovely bride! Her dress was stunning.

Here are the newlyweds!

Brian and me at the reception. What a great end to an awesome trip!

Don't call us, we'll call you...

...when we're back from Oh, Canada, that is!

Tomorrow night we fly to Canada to Laura & Matt's wedding - yippee! They're getting married Saturday in Quebec City, which I'm told is absolutely beautiful.

Who better to consult about Canada than our favorite Canuck, Michael "I like it when you pronounce my name Michelle" Watts?

Some things Mike taught me about Quebec:

- The locals pronounce it KE-bec. I'm sure there's bound to be plenty of confusion about whether Brian Sporty Neal and I are Canadian or American...

- Apparently it's one of the only countries that doesn't have bilingual signage. Meaning, everything is in French. I knew it was predominantly French speaking, but sheesh! How am I supposed to remember everything from Mrs. D's class? Does it count if I can still sing O Champs Elysees?

- Canadian dollars and $2 currency come in coins. It will be like going to a laundromat in another country. Awesome!

- We'll face some serious roaming charges on our cell phones, so please call or text us only if it's urgent (and if that's the case, please do call us). Otherwise, we'll talk to you when we get back on Sunday.

- When all else fails, "Je ne parle francais. Je parle anglais. Por favor." (That's right, isn't it?)

Seriously, we're really excited about the trip and can't wait to post pictures. Plus, Brian's finally getting to put that passport to the test!

Vacancy: Hotel Neal

Late summer = visitors' season in San Francisco. Hotel Neal kicked off this year with a visit from Ashley, followed by my mom's trip this weekend.

For once I took a limited planning approach to my mom's visit. Aside from leaving my camera at home for the trip to Sonoma, I was able to capture some of the highlights:

The loyal fans watching our favorite "Legend" (below). When did I become a blonde carbon copy?

Doesn't he look spiffy? (and serious!)

The jellies at the Monterey Bay Aquarium were awesome...


...as was our walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. One of my favorite touristy activities!

Plus, we finally had the chance to eat at SPQR, the new, hot place on Fillmore that is too cool for reservations. Good thing Mom was still on East Coast time that first night and eating at 5:30 (aka doors opening) was acceptable!

Visitors coming soon: Dale & Erin, LMB & Greg (hopefully), and Adrienne - yippee!