Hello blogging world. I've just moved to San Francisco, home of fog in July, cable cars, the iconic red Bay Bridge, Ghiradelli chocolate, and that carbo-licious mealtime treat, Rice-a-roni.

I guess I'm starting this blog because 1) to record my observations of left coast living and 2) I’m bored. Until I get a job, I have a lot of free time on my hands. I've always wanted to live out West having spent all my life on the East Coast.

So far I like it, except that it's cold. I went to a dinner party on Sunday and learned there are 40 microclimates in the Bay Area. Which means that when we went to Marin County (20 minutes to the north of the city) for the party, we basked in the 80-something degree heat. But as soon as we crossed the Bay Bridge heading back into town, we hit a wall of fog and the temperature dropped 20 degrees. No exaggeration (I'm a former reporter and that's against the rules).

Another observation: people here are very friendly. Random strangers will not hesitate to start conversations on the street or while you're waiting in line for anything. I had a 15 minute conversation with a woman at Jo-Ann Fabrics about the $0.79 star-spangled cellophane bags she had just snagged. Drivers will actually let you into their lane when you signal! Four-way intersections actually become more dangerous because everyone wants the other driver to go first! These are the kinds of things that happen in San Francisco! It’s a topsy turvy world. ;)

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On Sunday, my hubs (SK) and I went to a church we've been trying out -- City Church. It follows the Redeemer formula so it's comfortable for me and so far the sermons have been good. This Sunday, SK ran into some old acquaintances from his med school days. While he was catching up, my eyes panned the room and I saw a guy that looked a lot like a Hollywood superstar (star of Dead Poet's Society, Good Morning Vietnam) in profile. I interrupted an annoyed SK and made him go look. We weren't sure if it was really our beloved teacher from Dead Poet's Society because he looked a lot smaller than we thought he would. But I suppose that's how all movie stars are like when you see them in person -- larger-than-life on screen, regular Joe in person.

Anyway, we dismissed it as a coincidence, until we sat down for service and lo-and-behold! -- the Robin Williams look-a-like sat down next to SK. We were both still skeptical until we heard him read out loud and recognized his distinctive voice. SK kept his cool and didn’t drool all over him, and got to shake his hand during the meet-and-greet-your-neighbors part of the service.

For anyone who is curious, we were surprised to find out that Robin Williams drives this car. A Volvo. Not very Hollywood of him. By the way, we were NOT stalking him. We just happened to bump into him in the parking garage again after service! His California license plate number is ..... just kidding.