Nob Hill, Take Me Away

Hello West-nut residers, my TC approachers and those looking for a little something to distract you on this gloomy Wednesday night.  This is a story of a girl who realized work won again.  Don't worry, it's got a great ending, some cheeky words of advice and a new goal.  

I don't think I could tell you the last time I admitted I needed a break.  As much as I love to think I'm superwoman and tough as nails, I found myself in a place where I was on auto pilot.  No thinking, just doing.  The second I paused, I realized how hard I had been pushing myself without doing much to reward me.  I wasn't inspired.  Every email made me angry (well the Tay version).  Call it unreasonable expectations but when you realize there is nothing else left to give, you know it's time to force yourself to take a break.  And thanks to my perfectionist Virgo nature, I tend to carry a poker face when the self critical part takes over and thinks she's not doing enough.  She fears being vulnerable and showing weakness.  But alas, I knew it was time to get away, even it was just for a night.  To escape in my city, be alone and love it.  ​To get lost, have no agenda and only answer to one person... me.  

Easter weekend brought the perfect opportunity to do just that.  I had been flirting with the idea of hiding away in an of course, instagrammable hotel, where I could have a little self care, indulge in maybe one too many dirty martinis but do something to treat myself. Have an experience instead of investing in another apartment knick-knack or designer dud.  

​I stumbled upon the Scarlet Hotel on Hotels Tonight.  The old bitty in me was too nervous to book on the app.  I'm old school and still have to buy things on a computer but I ended up pulling the trigger 3 days before which is a big deal for any that know me.  Planner to the max.  I happened to mention I needed a room with a view, heck why not ask?  And the Scarlet totally delivered.  I was in a corner room, couldn't tell you what direction I was facing... East and West is hard for this gal but I found myself on the 11th floor overlooking the park and waving to the Fairmont.  It was heaven and the perfect setting.  I checked in around 3 pm, watched a little of the NCAA tourney (I'm trying to expand my reach from Bravo) and then explored Nob Hill for a bit.  Aka visit the Fairmont, find a vanilla latte and admire the Cherry Blossoms.

After lasting about an hour in the chilly SF afternoon wind, it was time to take myself out for some drinks.  Fun fact and maybe a silly one,  I've never sat a bar by myself before.  So I got brave and made my way to the swanky Big 4 bar where I was met by the cutest old man aka my martini maker.  Chanel and I cozied up to the corner of the bar and had ourselves a few.  No blue cheese olives but the best time chatting with him.  He was surprised to see a Marina girl posted up "in these parts" and was so sweet to make sure I ate.  To my right was an older lady living her best life; Savy-B and a crossword puzzle.  She was a regular and goals all around.  A modern day Blanche without the dudes.  After the Martini happiness set in, it was time for a charcoal mask, 24k gold eye patches I am newly obsessed with and Office reruns.  You would have thought I was staying for a week with the little things I brought from home to keep me company but hey, that's the point of a staycation right?  Gang's all here and no accessory left behind. 

And when my 12 pm checkout time arrived on Easter Sunday, I was so sad.  But 24 hours tucked away allowed me to discover a few things about myself.  
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1)  I am super structured and have an internal tug of war with last minute decisions but I felt liberated in doing so.  It wasn't as scary as I thought.  And I get this is just about driving 15 minutes away but give me a little break here.  It's progress.    
2)  Self criticism is all in your head.  DUH.  As I've gotten older, I'm beginning to understand how hard I am on myself.  I am not nice to Tay.  Once I had enough time to let the last year sink in, I had a huge "aha" moment.  Work Tay is a bad ass.  The gal who now will tell you she resides ala West-nut (thanks to the addition of Howell's bar) is still working on it.  
3)  I need more trips in my life.  Whether it's a night away in Healdsburg, a trip to LA or a mid week jaunt to Palm Springs, time away to reset is important to mentally escape.  And for TC, let loose a little and be open to something new. 

And that's the story of TC & CC taking Nob Hill.  Time away is more important than you think and after you walk out of office at the end of the work day, your minutes should be spent plotting the next hideaway, the next photo op or the next moment making sure you take care of you.