All That Glitters Isn't Gold
So, I'll give you the gist of this post right off the bat, but only if you promise to read the whole thing...
I'm not moving to San Francisco.
And, hey, you don't really have to read the whole thing if you don't want to. There was a little bit of drama with the band, and it's not really that interesting. All you need to know is that I discovered that I didn't completely trust one of my bandmates, and well, you kinda need to trust your bandmates. Just ask Lala -- she knows. And she told me IN PERSON. So, no moving across the country for something I don't feel 100% about. But was the trip awesome? TOTALLY.
Knitting on the corner while I wait for my ride.
Read all about it in the photo heavy entry below ...
The best part about my trip to the West Coast was meeting so many incredible bloggers. Seriously. If I could justify moving to San Francisco just to be around these people, I TOTALLY would. (edited to add: here's a photo album of all the rest of my pictures ... it's hosted on a separate site, so someone email me if it starts crashing)
Real quick, I'll show you what is was like in the studio:
Recording vocal tracks. Over. And. Over.
The vocal booth was SOOO quiet ... and the guys would sit on the other side of a glass window and record what I was singing, then make me do it again, and again .. here's what they looked like to me. It's hard work, but it's really fun to record in the studio, especially once we got some good vocal tracks, because then they would start mixing it to music and it's SO FUN to hear to your voice in a song. It just is.
However, the real fun began when I started meeting people. Did you know that the Bay Area apparently has the coolest bloggers EVER? And I got to meet a bunch. I had the pleasure of meeting Loody herself, and she is such an awesome person. We ate some kick ass Chinese food in Berkeley and seriously talked each other's ears off for four hours. (I love how blogs get you past all the uncomfortable first-time-meeting stuff and just get you straight to the help-me-make-life-decisions part of the conversation. It's great!) Loody has the most calming presence -- I felt better just being around her, and she's funny as shit to boot. YAY LOODY!
I also spent a bunch of time with Miss Run On Sentences Elizabeth, who became my unofficial San Francisco tour guide (although we always ended up knitting at her place...it was too fun to stop.) Wait until you see the bad-ass tea cozy she knitted ... and the socks! oh, they are fantastic. Besides being an excellent knitter, Miss Run On Sentences is wise beyond her years and helped me deal with a lot of the band drama that occurred in San Francisco. We also have so much in common that (at the risk of being totally melodramatic) I feel like she is totally my long lost (third) sister. YAY ELIZABETH!
Elizabeth being fabulous in the swanky Starbucks.
On Saturday, me and Miss Run On drove from the city to Oakland to have a little knitting party. And oh how we partied... Rachael is just as cute as you imagined from her blog. No, CUTER. If that's possible. And such a gracious host. And she just exudes happiness, and watching her and Lala together makes a person happy as well. (And maybe a little homesick for your Jacob schmoo.) And the color of her bathroom walls ... well, it's just magnificent. Such a warm, cozy, HOMEY house! And filled with warm, cozy people. Aww, just look at the pictures.
Elizabeth, me, and Joanna(J Strizzy) -- Joanna made persimmon pudding. You must eat some NOW. It is sinfully good.
Knitters DO wear handknit socks! (I think that's Rach, Janine, and J Strizzy's feet.)
Lala and her schmoos (that's Miss Idaho and Harriet, and they told me that they've been wanting to move to Athens. I'll be arranging that soon.)
Proof that I did actually meet Rachael....
Proof that knitters totally get rowdy...
What can I say? It was totally great. I don't want to get all sappy on ya, but there's nothing like making a big decision to help you realize how important great people are, both in the blogosphere, and in person. I feel totally at peace with my decision to stay in Athens. But I SO would love to live in SF. Or Oakland, bay-bee.
Later, this week I'll show you pictures of socks, and half finished sweaters, and scarves and what not. Tonight = too sleepy. I'll also post a photo album of all my pics from the trip -- you didn't even see my pictures of Too Many Scarves Stacey, or Purls Peyond Price Nathania....
Comments (26)
:( I'm sorry it didn't work out... Always listen to your gut though, the gut knows! If you continue to believe in yourself, you will make things happen eventually. You jsut have to stick with it and wait for the right opportunity.
Posted by Lara | December 29, 2004 5:43 PM
you'll know when it's the right situation for you, and if you knew this one wasn't quite right then it's good that you went with that feeling. it's great to see that you had such a nice time, though, like i was sure you would.
take care and have a good holiday.
Posted by karen | December 24, 2004 9:33 PM
Hey, Carrie (wait, isn't that an old 50's song? what am I thinking of? hmmm, sorry to get distracted so quickly...)--
At any rate, I expect that you have a bright bright future, maybe not as Ty's wife but living your own dreams of singing and performing. You were right to trust yourself--I re-read a great Oprah piece on bullies. Any time we are presented with situations like yours, we have a choice to take it, to leave, or to fight. And any one of these choices might be fine--the operative word being choice, not victim.
Merry Christmas! Come visit the Bay Area again soon.
Posted by Janine | December 23, 2004 1:22 PM
Girl, you rock no matter where you live. I love you! Can't wait to see you after christmas!
Posted by Valerie | December 23, 2004 11:18 AM
I'm sorry that it didn't work out for you to move to SF yet. I agree that it's best to go with your instincts. But hey! You look like a star in the recording booth, and you got to meet all those fabulous bloggers. Something very good did come of your visit, and I'm glad that you got to go!
xo,
Becky
Posted by Becky | December 23, 2004 11:13 AM
It looks like you got to meet some wonderful people in San Francisco. I can't believe that all those bloggers hang out together! I'm sure you made the right decision. You'd know in your gut if you were supposed to move. You can always still visit!
Posted by BigLug | December 23, 2004 9:10 AM
Hi Carrie! Oh my god that is crazy stuff!!! The knitting adventures seemed like a lot of fun. So crazy about the band- hey- at least you looked good doin it. Merry Christmas to you and Jacob and the schmoos.
Posted by Camille | December 23, 2004 8:51 AM
Carrie:
Glad you found out about the bandmember now instead of later; have a wonderful Christmas!
Susan
Posted by Susan Grace | December 23, 2004 8:36 AM
Carrie:
Glad you found out about the bandmember now instead of later; have a wonderful Christmas!
Susan
Posted by Susan Grace | December 23, 2004 8:36 AM
Hey Carrie - so proud of how brave you are! You went, you checked it out and gave it your all, you sang in a studio, you met people you only know online, and you made a decision that couldn't have been easy to make. You are one brave girl!! As if we didn't already know that when we see you knitting one amazing thing after another! :-)
Posted by gaile | December 22, 2004 4:19 PM
We believe in you, you can do anything you set your mind to. But YAY you are staying here for the time being. Woo hoo!
Great pics btw. Fun post, it's almost like being there with ya.
Posted by Jenny | December 22, 2004 3:09 PM
Sounds like a great trip! Too bad the stuff with the band didn't work out, but it sounds like you made the right decision and that it was a great experience nonetheless. Wish I could have been there for the rowdy knitter party!
Posted by Mariko | December 22, 2004 1:22 PM
well now I'm sad I didnt see more of you when you were here (damn piece of s*#$ cell phone!!!!) but you are totally making the right decision. Trust is everything.
Glad you made it home safely and hope you will come back!!!
xoxo
Posted by loody | December 22, 2004 12:20 PM
Glad you made a decision you can be happy with. And I'm glad your back and blogging :)
Posted by Vicki | December 22, 2004 11:28 AM
Big decisions like moving cross-country are kind of scary, so thank goodness for early signs that kick the instincts into play! Like everyone else has said, time and place will be right at some point. Yay for meeting all those fabulous bloggy folks! It looks like a right nice time!
Posted by Giao | December 22, 2004 11:25 AM
sounds like trip was both great and tough. glad you were able to tell that at this point without having already gone! merry christmas, ms. carrioke, i'm glad to know ya.
Posted by carolyn | December 22, 2004 11:01 AM
Ok, we won't pout about you not moving to SF, but we can still beg you to visit! Often. Mwah!
Posted by Nathania | December 22, 2004 10:54 AM
After seeing Rachael's pictures of the Knit Night, I couldn't WAIT to see yours! I'm so glad you had a fabulous time. Now: come to New York and party with US!
(I'm sorry that the band thing didn't work out, but it's nice to know you have so many people in Athens who love you and are happy you're staying.)
Posted by Em | December 22, 2004 9:55 AM
Oh sweetie, it does sound like you've made the right decision - if you're not 100% about that move, then not moving is the right choice. You were really missed while you were gone, though! I'm glad that you're back... :)
Posted by Holly | December 22, 2004 9:18 AM
Welcome Home! I so glad you had such a great time in the wonderful part of the trip and I'm sorry to hear about all the weirdness. I know you NEED to have music in your life...so we'll have to figure out a way to keep ya rockin' here in Athens until the time is right to move. AND WE ARE MOVING! Because now we all have it in our mind that we're going to SanFran in 2006. That's right...the hand knit sock pic clinched it for me...I need to meet the knitters and what better way to do it than to move in next door :)
Posted by Anne Marie | December 22, 2004 8:53 AM
So happy to hear that you had a wonderful time...way to go on trusting your instincts, they are usually right.
Can't wait to cruise your photo albums...looks like a wonderful passle of knitters out there in Cali!
Posted by heather | December 22, 2004 8:45 AM
I agree that you made the right choice. You still might end up on the West coast though...this just wasn't the right time or situation. It will happen if you want it to, and all in good time. Also selfishly: YAY you're here!!! xoxo MJ
Posted by mj | December 22, 2004 8:37 AM
I think you made the right decision, schmoo. All those people look really cool, though. Can I go to San Francisco?
Now for the totally selfish YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY! Carrie's not moving!
Now that's out of my system.
Posted by Cathy | December 22, 2004 8:25 AM
It looks like you had an amazing time meeting all the bloggy people! That is so awesome!
I agree that you are making the right decision in staying in Athens if you can't trust one of the guys. Imagine if you found out something later, after you moved. Good not to start something that big with doubts...
We missed you while you were gone though! Can't wait to hear the rest!
Posted by frecklegirl | December 22, 2004 7:58 AM
Oh, honey, it sounds like you made just the right decision. And SF/Oaktown will always be here for you to come visit. I'm so glad I got to squeeze you in person -- thanks for being as phenomenal in person as you are online.
And dude, who looks druuunnkk in her Honolulu Marathon tee-shirt? Sheesh.
Posted by Rachael | December 22, 2004 7:00 AM
It can be so easy to get caught up in the bustle of huge decisions like a big move and not trust your gut- it's so great that you had a network around you helping you listen to yourself. That is key! These posts have made me miss the Bay Area- can't wait to go home for Christmas!
Posted by Mary-Heather | December 22, 2004 6:30 AM