Blog 10 – Brazilian Butt-lift video, Vs the streets of San Francisco!

I love San Fran (2nd time here) but my back simply does not…she's really mad at me; after 5 days of dragging her up & down unforgiving hills & uneven footpaths…she needs a break ..NOW! As we prepare to leave here tomorrow AM & meet up with B1 & Ash in L.A. I have had a few hours alone to nap & dream about how different my SF experience is this time around.
Last time I was here it was with a 30 year old sulky, droopy faced child who cried for the memory of the hair she had just had cut off (no, I mean actually cried every day because she 'missed her hair’, refused to find anything pleasing about our travel experiences AT ALL & never moved her arms when she walked.
 
It was the most traumatic 4 weeks of travel of my entire life. Thanks be to Gawd for Sammy & Gi! – we just seem to fit, we like each other’s company, support/encourage each other (whilst still managing to take the healthy piss!) & understand if one of us needs a rest or a break – like me today.
 
Gianna had arrived in San Fran the day before us & had settled in – our flight from Seattle was seamless & uneventful – perfect really! We are staying at my fave Hostel ever, the USA Hostel at 711 Post, a coupla blocks down the hill to Union Square…it hasn’t let me down this time either; wine & cheese tastings in the basement on Monday night, Karaoke in the theatre room Tuesday nights (yes it has its own little cinema & yes I did a couple of songs) & endless free walking tours, pub crawls & events available – places like this make solo travel easy . We each have our own private room – Sam & I have our own bathroom each too..it is simply fab!
 
We arrived on Monday & spent Tuesday trawling Tiffany’s & Macy’s & riding the Hop on - Hop off bus, settling into the new travel rhythm of 3 instead of 2. Wednesday AM & all of Thursday shopping (and I mean ALL of it! LOL) & today, Friday, our morning was spent in one of my fave places in the whole world ‘Muir Woods’…this arvo I simply collapsed – ate lunch at 4pm, pre-packed for tomorrow’s flight & passed out about 6:30 pm (having not really slept at all in the past week it’s now caught up with me & here I sit at 10:50pm wide awake & typing my blog!) Whilst I dozed the other Girls re-hit the shops! LOL
 
So reading through that you might have asked ‘but what did you do Wednesday afternoon Sandie?’…great question team….well we got to do what is so far my favourite part of the trip….we volunteered with S.O.S - Singers of the Street..a Choir made up of local people affected by homelessness. When I asked my lovely friend Kathleen (former Musical Director of the Choir) what kind of volunteer work I might be able to do whilst in SF she immediately suggested I contact Garry (current Director) to see what we could arrange. 
 
So Wednesday at 3:00pm Sammy, Gi & I trudged up yet another hill & met with Garry, who was at once welcoming & open & allowed us each to be a part of the days’ rehearsal.
Sam quickly went to work in the kitchen preparing a roasted chicken dinner for about 20 peeps, whilst Gi & I helped with practice room & music set-up & then Garry asked me to join rehearsal (OMG I am in heaven – what an honour!) As I take my seat in amongst the other Sops (Sopranos for you non music types!) I try so hard to fight my lower lip as it starts to wobble with happy/grateful tears & refuse to make eye contact with Gi, who like Sam & I, is another ‘sympathetic crier’ LOL . 
 
We sound fantastic! the Choir has a rich & confident sound. At the end of 2 hours of non-stop practice (my first in a while) Garry asks me to stand & give a talk about my musical experiences, the differences in Choir life in Aus, Music for Change & life changing Uganda. For the first time ever when being asked to speak, I feel confident & happy to be at the front of the room, the team asks me some really great questions & we swap ideas.
 
As we drag our tired butts back toward the Hostel which thankfully is mostly a down-hill trip, we stop & buy some groceries, some local wine & settle into a calm quietness. I am internally on such a high – I had waited so long for this day & I am totally satisfied now that it is over. Sam & I both had a chance to speak to Garry about what the Choir needs the most, how we can continue to assist even from afar & the simple answer is ‘money’.
 
The choir is in a real struggle to stay afloat right now & desperately need donations, in fact it is so tight that Garry said he may have to close it down soon . Please consider having a look at the links below & making a donation so that these amazing Ladies & Gents can continue to spread their beautiful cheer - anything will help, if we all give just a little it amounts to a lot 
Please also feel free to share this blog and the links on your page to help xo
Website: http://www.singersofthestreet.org Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/SingersOfTheStreet?ref=hl 
So, that’s San Fran take #2 – not a sulky, stiff armed, sagged faced whiny bitch in sight. Praise be to the Baby Cheeses!!
Love Sandie xo


Okay so I forgot Frisco is a city of honkers! Horns blowing constantly for no particular reason that I can see, they all must be very impatient & the driving is a bit scary when big buses leave barely a breath to get past other vehicles. And not sure of the law here but we still seem to be walking thru happy smoke! Loving the hostel we staying in but have my own room with bathroom so not like I’m in a share dorm or anything but nice to share the big kitchen & eating area with all the other folk from all over the world . It has a real sense of community & caring which I think is greatly missing from everyday life. Have met Gigi who’s 70 & doesn’t have a bucket list but a fuck it list. Her motto now is don’t care what my kids or anyone else thinks (fuck it) I’m doing what I want to do. Her plan is to travel as much as she can, something she’s always wanted to do but only now just getting the chance. She’s absolutely gorgeous & a real inspiration.

Speaking of inspirational, our afternoon with Singers of the Street was awesome. Again a sense of community & caring, they are a support for each other with their daily struggles & you can see this choir is the backbone of their support system. We all have our crap to deal with & never know how or when our life could suddenly change. I felt humbled by their determination to succeed & their voices lifted me to new heights of appreciation for all that I have & all that I am. To assist it cooking probably the only full meal they might get that week was thought provoking in its simplicity. My mother taught me well, not only how to organise any kitchen but also how important kindness & caring for others is.

And she also taught me shopping! Macy’s has proved a winner. Reduced signs everywhere Mum! San Fran is up hill & down dale & the legs and butt getting a fabulous workout which I’m not minding as I’m on holidays & enjoying every second of it . And besides, I know there’s always wine waiting for me at the end of the day like a faithful old friend. The hop on/hop off bus is a fantastic way to see the city & get your bearings, I highly recommend it to everyone wherever they are going even for just one day to suss out the lay of the land.

Our tour to Muir Woods has been one of the highlights so far for me. Iv'e always loved being out in nature especially if there's a tree involved (my fav being the Moreton Bay Fig) & these trees are magnificent. I enjoyed the quiet reflection time of this magical place & left feeling very peaceful & centered again.

So onward we go to La La Land, half way thru now & getting into the rhythm of being a tourist.

Much love, Sammy xxx   

PS - Bag count up to 4!

PPS - Have just about decided what treasure I plan on buying at Tiffany's!