Kyle’s European Adventure

Well, I embraced my laziness fully during my first week of not working, and as part of that, never DID seem to get around to writing about the start of my sabbatical. So, this is a bit of a round up – covering the events leading up to my departure from SF.

Friday, the 23rd of May was my last day of work. I’ve been working on a film called The Spirit, and it was a blessed relief from the intensity that was Ironman. Much of it was beauty work, and everything went smoothly. I wrapped up my last shots, enjoyed a glass of scotch with my supervisor, and bid everyone farewell. I left early to catch my flight to Vegas, where I was meeting my friends from college for our yearly get-together.

I learned an important lesson that night – if you show up 40 minutes before the flight is supposed to leave, they will have already given your seat away. So, sadly, I didn’t end up in Vegas that night, and instead went back into SF to meet up with my boys and watch Crank. It was terrible.

The next morning found me at SFO again, bright and early, very much on time for my flight. Virgin America may be the greatest airline, ever. Their planes are basically flying gay bars, with drink service. It’s heavenly. I quickly met my friends at the Planet Hollywood casino, and spent the rest of the day strolling around the strip, playing the occasional slot machine, enjoying cocktails, and people watching.

That night, Mayumi and I went to see O. I’ve seen a fair number of Cirque shows, and this one was without a doubt the MOST incredible, technically.  don’t know how she managed it, but Mayumi got us front row tickets, so we spent most of the show wet. It was absolutely mind-blowing, to be that close to the performers.

I flew back to SF the following evening, so that I could be in town for Memorial Day monday, which I spent with friends. The rest of the week was filled with lazy days of packing my bags, moving out of my room, and catching up with friends to say farewell.

Saturday, the 30th, was the day that my friend Kevin came out from New York for his friend’s wedding in Modesto. I played the role of “Plus One”. We drove out to the orchard, where the wedding was happening, and stayed until the wee hours of the morning, enjoying the free booze, food and entertainment. We made it back to my house with enough time for him to sleep for two hours, before heading to the airport to catch his flight home.

Sunday was my last day in San Francisco, and I spent it with my boys. My packing and preparing was finished, so I was able to sit by the pool, in the sun, and just soak in my last day at home. That evening, we all went for dinner, and then to see the Sex and the City movie. My three closest friends in San Francisco and I constantly joke that we’re the girls from that movie, so it was a fitting send-off. Afterwards, I hugged them goodbye, and headed home.

Monday morning, I got up, grabbed my bags, and hit the road. I managed to keep my emotions in check up until the end. My roomate walked me to my car, and in that last goodbye it all hit me – I was really leaving my family in SF for the whole summer. (Thanks a LOT Franck, you totally made me cry. ) I drove up to Oregon (10.5 hours!), to spend some quality time with my parents, and to take advantage of 4 months of free parking at their house for my car. I listened to a combination of  Tyler Perry’s Don’t Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earings, and Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman. Both were entertaining enough to combine with a constant stream of coffee to keep me awake.

Now I’m here, at my parent’s house, and finally starting to unwind. It’s real – I’m really on this vacation. It’s finally starting to sink in.