Claire's adventures in San Francisco

Organised is not the first on the list of adjectives that my friends and associates would use to describe me, in fact it's down there with good sense of direction, suffering fools gladly, and being a rational thinker. 

I have always had this as the first feedback from any employer and friends tend to aassume that for whatever reason there will be a furore involved in doing the simplest thing like meeting for a drink. That said, I wouldn't have it any other way. I will tell you why...

When you lay down careful plans, do dry runs, practice speeches, visualise scenarios- and then it goes to shit, the increase in blood pressure caused by the soaring levels of anger and frustration will surely end your life early. If however you have thrown caution to the wind, opened your mind to dealing with whatever life happens to throw in your way - you a) have more interesting experiences, b) accept that anything that goes wrong was thorugh your choice not to plan it c) live longer.

But... depsite this procactive approach to disorganisation I let my doubters get the better of me. I spent weeks in the  run up to my trip to San Fran planning and preparing for my arrival in terms of accomodation and orientation etc. I arrive at the airport fully expecting to glide to my appartment, flop on my bed and sleep off the horrendous Virgin flight. After all, I deserved it, having done so much careful preparation. 

I arrive - no keys, no one has come to deliver them, no one picks up the phone i the leasing office - it's Saturday, no one can help me get into my appartment. Immediately - the usual "its-all-part- of-lilfe's-rich-tapestry" attitude disappears and I turn into a green monster, a flame breathing dragon, I hiss and spit and stamp my feet. None of which works of course.

I check in to a hotel, red faced and short of breath, a bad tempered  - an early death a little closer. Day one - a disaster. 

But hey - this is a great city. amazing in fact - getting ID'ed the following day, to buy alcohol aged 26, made it all better again!