Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes - How do you measure, measure a year?

Wow...well its been a year at Extranomical...what a year! Where'd the time go? It flew in... It feels like I just arrived here yesterday :( I've grown so much as a person, I wouldn't know where to begin describing. This has been a great experience for me and it's sad that it has come to an end. Anyway my last day of work was on Friday ( July 31st)... And its now VACATION! woohooo! I got a week in San Francisco hanging with the homies that haven't left yet, then a East Coast to Philadelphia ... then I hit the heat in Arizona for Chelsea's Birthday(its gonna be HOT) in Phoenix, then Tucson with some friends from camp (hopefully) then to Las Vegas once more (with Chelsea) then last stop is Miami were the beaches are at :) I'll keep you posted if I manage to have some free time at the airports :)

There is a few things I would like to say before I take off gallivanting around San Francisco. I've left the Vantaggio ... I'm not the only one to be checking out this weekend... all of my Family there have left... and the 'next generation' of students have arrived. We had a party on Friday ... super fun drunk times ... like always ... the party at Vantaggio was off the hook ... great food and great drink and great times. The party started great ... Roly made some GREAT pasta... and then Jo had made her famous Sangria ... the Irish in the Vantaggio ... now 4 of us, decided to start singing (like the Irish do after they've had a few) ... then we're greeted with two guys ... in Uniform ... haha yep the cops. There's a saying somewhere that goes something like 'you know the party is good if the cops show up' so yeah... we were too loud apparently ... anyway they left... and it was all good, the party still continued... everyone got happy VERY happy... some even fell asleep because they were so happy! Those who where still awake decided to go to the Temple Bar (which was only a block away) for a karaoke sing song. I hadn't sang at Karaoke since I've been in San Francisco... I love it :) anyway after that it was time to call it a night ... I had to check out of the Vantaggio and go to Alcatraz (that's a post to follow) the next day...

Just a few words now... sob...

Extranomical Adventures - Thanks guys, I had a great year and met a lot of really great people. It was a pleasure working with everyone there and I will miss you all... I hope that my job in the future involves as many cool people as you guys. Your support throughout the year has been great and the opportunities provided I feel are once in a life time. Thanks a lot to everyone at Extranomical.

Vantaggio Suites - My main home throughout my stay... I made lots of friends there to whom are friends for life... I've already mentioned my goodbyes as all my really close friends have already returned to there home countries... First of all, Jo, thank you so much for being a great friend, you're a great person, I will miss you but I will see you you are a friend for life and I'm coming to Venice to see you soon! (you're coming to Belfast too). I love you Jo! Then the staff at the front desk, Megan, one of my chums... a learned a lot from her and times did get tough through the year ... we helped each other out... thanks Megan! Sen, (works the grave yard at Vantaggio) I would come home from a night out on the piss and have serious drunken conversations(he'd be sober of course) with sen... Funny times!

Dave - My roommate for the year. Being totally honest when I say this, I don't think I would've asked for a better roommate. You where extremely understanding and it was great hanging out and talking with you. We'll hang out one last time before I leave San Francisco. Thanks Dave!

So I've checked out of the Vantaggio. My closest friend, Tony, has provided me with a room for a week. So I got somewhere comfortable to sleep for a week. :)

Like I said the next post will be Alcatraz... but below are the pictures from the parteee!

P...P...P...P...Pokerface

I never new how to play poker... I 'played' once before... when I say 'played' I had a few too many drinks, and was relying on my 'team-mates' to help me out... I was put out first round...so, I took it upon myself to play some poker.

There was about six of us here (Vantaggio Family) playing in the kitchen (about 3 of which knew how to play) with my new choice of drink (Bacardi) in one hand and my cards in the other I was ready to hold em, Texas style... I didn't win but I held up pretty good and was feeling a little buzz from the drinking at the end. Check out some of the pictures.

Japanese Sushi Party ...

As most of my frequent blog readers are aware, i've taken a likening to Sushi. My Vantaggio Family took it upon themselves to organise a Japanese Sushi Party. Yummy. Joel, Maiko, Roly and Maia made the sushi and the other Japanese food too... which was off the hook(my new saying), and there was enough sushi to go around... the party was great and plenty of extremely drunken times to be added to the collection.... I have some pictures... Check them out ...

Farewell Karyne

So yesterday my dear friend Karyne had a farewell party. She's going back home to Brazil. She came out for my 21st and I love that she was a part of it. She is the coolest ever...I'm going to miss her so much so Cheers Karyne! I forget the Portuguese word for Cheers so... We were spose to have her party in Golden Gate Park but it was too cold so we went to Vantaggio O'Farrell, (where my crib used to be) it was fun. Diogo was there and Mariana came later. I met loadssa other people too ... it was fun...they made hot dogs...and Brazilians crush crisps (chips for my american readers) over the hot dog? YUMMY t'was good. Then the Brazilian music started...of course they had me up dancing...or making a brave attempt at it! 'Just samba, Just Samba' HAHA good one! Anyway like I said, it was sad to say goodbyes...i'll never forget her...she's a legend :)

Thanks Karyne x

Feeling hot, hot HOT...no really my tongues on fire

Alrite sooooo...as Dave n I are moving to Vantaggio tomorrow but we are working...our belongings needed to be moved today..so right now...its all being stored in Chrissi's(a work colleague)room whos staying in Vantaggio too. Thanks for that Chrissi :) ...and as we were moving our stuff...its roasting outside btw...we see Valerie...walking up...surprised at the shear chance of seeing her...we(Valerie, Ya Ching, Dave and I) go for lunch in a chinese...i get Kungpao Chicken...now i asked Ya Ching wat it was and she said it was a little bit spicy...now i like spicy food...so it comes, all colourful with carrots, zuchini etc and i take a few spoonfuls...and its a little bit spicy and ican handle it...next thing...its SPICY...extremely...like i thought my tongue was on fire...thats what it felt like...and i said to Ya Ching that it was more than a little bit spicy...and i ask her...wat the red things where...'oh we dont eat them'... of course i'd just only gone and eaten a dried chilli...THE WHOLE THING...after numorous gulps of water i could eat again...tho i couldnt really taste it...but i ate anyway...

I split from the others...saying farewells to Valerie and headed for the park...i read and i think my face is a little read...but there was another concert thing on...there always seems to be something...it was a Brazillian concert...was cool chilling and reading and sleeping...i start at 7 tomorrow so its good night from me...