Attack of the Christmas Tree

I am not sure what happenned overnight in the city (San Francisco) but apparently Santa has come by. There are Christmas trees, bows, gift-wrapping paper everywhere. Even in Starbucks I got my cinnamon dolce latte in a holiday cup, I almost dropped my coffee. I seriously started having an anxiety attack; my breathing got heavy and vision blurry. It is only November 8th, we are still 3 weeks away from Thanksgiving and all this madness is already upon us. Christmas is a great holiday for the kids but for adults, especially those like yours truly whose family is not the desirable bunch to cuddle with and roast marshmallows, it becomes a huge and a very expensive pain in the ass.

It all started dawning on me; the work schedule is insane till end of year, need to get ready for my trip...OMG...my trip is now becoming a stress factor. I don't have everything that I need, no gifts for my friends and I am still not 100% sure where I will be staying at. Oh yeah, and my money is kinda funny.

I will make it, I always do but why is this holiday metamorphosed from a joyous day to a over commercialized, incredibly stressful time of the year. I don't like and don't want Christmas. I am scared of it.

The Story of the Quake

I live in the San Francisco / Bay Area which is a quake country. I moved here in 1999 and experienced many earthquakes, averaging about 4 every year. There is always a story to tell and it is never dramatic for me, just a great water-cooler talk the day after.

Here is my pre-Halloween quake story.

My son and I were on the way back home from the gym. The gym is in Pacifica and we live in South City which is a good 10 minute drive. We were detouring through San Bruno (neighboring city) in order to go to Subway for some quick dinner. Love those tuna sandwiches!!!! Anyway, we were waiting for the light to turn green so we can pull into the parking lot, tummys growling. A good work out will do that to you! :) I felt the car shaking and my first thought was on my trouble-making youngster.

me: "AJ stop shaking the car!" (thinking he is kicking my leather seats like always)
AJ: "I am not shaking the car!"
me: "Is it the wind?"
me: "It doesn't look like it's windy"

hmmm ok whatever

10 minutes later in Subway my phone rings

me: "Hello"
J: "Did you feel it?"
At that moment it clicked in my head and...
me: "AH! That was an earthquake!!!!"
everyone in Subway: "There was an earthquake???"
AJ: "Mom, I told you I wasn't shaking the car!"

Everyone started laughing.

So this is another funny quake story. No one got hurt, no damage (not in my area at least). I am not afraid of earthquakes, you have to get used to them living in the Bay Area, but I am a bit weary about being stuck in an elevator or in a tunnel while on BART. My biggest fear is not knowing if my son is ok, not being able to reach him.

Yesterday's earthquake was not minor but not huge either (5.6), nothing like Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 when the Bay Bridge collapsed and 62 people died. The next "big one" is expected on the Hayward fault. It hits on average once every 140 years, and well it's been 139 since it hit there last. I just hope that me and my loved ones will be ok, that's all I can do.