Welcome to The City

Wow! It's been nearly two months but seems like just yesterday that my wife (Erica) and I learned we'd be moving to San Francisco. And what a trip it's been!

First, we had to get squared away with leaving Aggieland. That included our apartment contents being loaded into a pod storage container for transport. With all of our stuff, there was slight concern the door wouldn't close! But it did, and after saying "Bon Voyage" to Bryan-College Station after eight years, we went on a 10-day "Texas tour" visiting family and friends.

All our Earthly possessions fit in here - barely

Then, on April 22, we finally landed in San Francisco, our new home. As it was more than six years since our last visit, we first saw the sights before settling in. It was a very different experience in getting around without having a car, but thanks to our legs (soon-to-be rock-hard calves) and ride-sharing programs like Lyft, Uber and Sidecar, our four wheels haven't been missed.

Clowning around in front of the Golden Gate Bridge

Soon enough, it was time to tackle my new job as senior public information representative at UCSF and look for a place to live. Many said the search could take weeks, if not months.

Laurel Heights Campus of the University of California, San Francisco

Once again on this journey, God has stepped in and blessed us. We  found a nice 1/1 in less than a week, and it's an 8-minute walk to work. The new place secured, it was time for the boxes to arrive. Erica's obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has now kicked in to unpack and get settled before she takes a hard-earned "vacation," primarily at one of the numerous little movie theaters in the area.

Our new residence in Laurel Heights

All this time, we've really warmed up to The City, especially with food. Surprise for us Texans! We discovered good barbecue at Memphis Minnie's and Mexican at Little Chihuahua, along with brew pubs and breweries like Magnolia Gastropub and Brewery, Social Kitchen and Brewery, Cellarmaker Brewing Company, 21st Amendment Brewery and Thirsty Bear Brewing Co.
 

Memphis Minnie's

The Little Chihuahua

Watermelon Wheat at 21st Amendment

Right now, the biggest adjustments for us are the cooler weather (though the recent record-breaking hot spells have had temps in the 90s) and time zone difference (baseball games at 9 a.m.?). Nonetheless, we've been blessed with this opportunity and would not change our experience for the world.

Well, off to Union Square for some more fun and adventures. Til the next time...

Don't Lose Faith in the Quiet

Noise. It's all around us. Seems the only time we can escape is when we're asleep, and even then, most of us -- including myself -- don't get enough.

Noise is a distraction, including in our walk with God. We need to take time, picture ourselves on a beautiful golf course during a tournament and...

It's hard, I know -- but the results are always rewarding.

I raised the "Quiet Please" sign months ago during my job search. From my last blog post, I've been blessed with the opportunity to work for the University of California, San Francisco.

It didn't happen overnight.

After several weeks, months -- years -- searching and filling out numerous applications online, I landed a handful of interviews all at once in mid-October and early November, followed by more after the new year. They came from California, Baltimore and Boston. I was amped and sure things would move quickly. I knew that within weeks, if not days, we'd be on our way.

I was wrong.

The interviews were done, then the quiet came. No follow ups. No "yeses." No "nos." No second interviews. No cancellations or holds. Just quiet.

I didn't like it. And after a while, I got agitated -- at myself and God. Why would he line things up so quickly, then not have them come to pass? To me, even a rejection was at least better than silence.

But it wasn't the first time I'd needed to wait, and I'm not alone. As a follower of Joyce Meyer, a charismatic Christian author and speaker, I recalled she addressed "When God's Timing is Taking Too Long." In the past and now, I read and re-read that article to find peace and maintain faith.

I also have the support of my wonderful wife, who herself was finding it difficult to wait. That changed in an instant through an intimate moment with God.

Over the past few months, Erica has gotten up in the early morning hours to exercise and research for her developing screenwriting career. But one morning, God told her to put the script down she was reading so he could talk.

He said, "Don't lose faith in the quiet."

At that moment, Erica was at peace. And when I needed support -- something to lean on -- she reminded me of that simple statement.

It worked, and here we are today.

Believe me, this won't be the last time I'm challenged with patience. We all are. The key is, when it looks like nothing is happening in the natural, that's when God really is at work behind the scenes. Just stay in faith.

Til the next time....

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Sometimes, God throws you a fastball. Sometimes, He throws you a curve.

Well, He just threw a curve to my wife and I that is taking us on another "Maier Adventure."

Ever since our first trip to Boston in June 2009 to catch a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, we've loved the city. In fact, six months later, I sent initial feelers out to higher education institutions there to see what opportunities existed for a professional communicator.

There were numerous online applications, email rejections, a few phone interviews. But after more than four years, we were no closer to Boston than to Billings, Mont. So, I started thinking about other cities we loved and would want to call home, and on that short list was San Francisco.

Erica and I visited San Francisco in 2008. And while Boston was the initial focus of my job search, I had been checking out SF for prospects. One institution was the University of California, San Francisco, which is world renowned in health care. In fact, during my time at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, we considered ourselves among the top U.S. health care institutions, along with Harvard Medical School and UCSF.

Just a few weeks ago, I found an opening for a senior public information representative. The primary duties are covering certain medical/health beats and media relations, areas that I'm familiar with and have expertise. So, I applied, interviewed, and now we're on our way to San Francisco!

Yep, instead of the East Coast, we're off to the West Coast.

San Francisco at night

SF also has a great public transit system and is quite walkable, if you don't mind the hills. In fact, it's second to New York and ahead of Boston in not needing a car. There's a lot of preparing, packing and unpacking ahead for our first interstate move, but it should be pretty straightforward, as we don't have a mortgage, children or pets.

I want to thank my wife for her support, allowing me to leave my job at the Texas A&M Health Science Center after more than seven years while she continued to work. It gave me time to clear my head, relax and see what the big wide world has to offer. I admit getting a little bit of cabin fever, but I also had a chance to catch up on Springer (as the father-in-law says, that show's gotten pretty bad).

I'd also like to thank Joel Osteen and Jon Acuff. Joel is a preacher and pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, the largest congregation in the country. Erica and I watch him every week and make it a point to attend Sunday service whenever we're in town. His most recent book, Breakout!, offers five keys to going beyond your barriers and living an extraordinary life: believe bigger; consider God, not circumstances; pray God-sized prayers; keep the right perspective; and don't settle for good enough.

"When God laid out the plan for your life He lined up the right people, the right breaks, and the right opportunities. He already has your yeses planned out...Now here's the key: On the way to yes there will be nos. You have to go through the nos to get to your yeses....You have to go through your closed doors before you reach your open doors. When you come to a no, instead of being discouraged the correct attitude is 'I'm one step closer to my yes.' " (Breakout!, Page 76)

Jon is a Christian author and blogger. Erica read his books and followed his social media accounts, then suggested I go with her to an April 2013 speaking engagement in Austin. It was a life-changer. He was promoting his latest book, Start., which says there are only two paths in life: average and awesome. The average path is easy because all you have to do is nothing. The awesome path is more challenging because things like fear only bother you when you do work that matters. The book gives practical, actionable insights to be more awesome more often.

"We've been told our whole lives that our 20s are when we begin down our career paths. And our 60s are the end of the road. But that timeline is no longer the only valid one. In fact, that timeline is no longer typical. Age is no longer the primary factor that determines where you are on the map. Life is now less about how old you are and more about when you decide to live.... Regardless of your age or station in life, it all comes down to one simple truth: you just have to start." (Start., Pages 24-25)

Start. by Jon Acuff, left, and Breakout! by Joel Osteen

That realization made a big impression, so much so that I submitted my resignation and left the health science center six weeks later in May. Through Joel, Jon, family, friends and other supporters, I am truly blessed. I'd like to give testimony that whatever your dreams, your hopes, your goals, NEVER give up. It may take a week, a month, a year -- more than four years. But run your race, and don't stop 'til you cross the finish line.

Yep. God threw us a curve, and we hit it out of the (AT&T) Park. Til the next time...

Order in the court

When my wife checks the mail, I never ask what we got. Ninety-nine percent of the time, it's political flyers, circulars and general junk mail.

But in late September, we each received an envelope from the county, and with that, it was time again for us to participate in jury duty. For the first time, we were called on the same day, Dec. 18 (mine was actually rescheduled from two days earlier). I was in the county court-at-law, and Erica was in federal district court.

Brazos County Courthouse

Both of us have been called several times. I have never actually served; Erica has served once. To be honest, while I find the judicial process interesting and am honored to fulfill my civic duty, it's not interesting enough to devote time listening to both sides in a court case.

Indeed, as I'm still between jobs, I had a strong feeling I'd be called to serve. Once again, though, I was dismissed -- both cases were settled beforehand. My brief time and service were rewarded with a handsome $6.

For Erica, though, it was a different story. She actually was moved to another room on a different floor for a grand jury selection. And wouldn't you know -- she was picked, requiring service one day each month for the next six months, beginning in January. Have fun with that, honey...;}

Merry Christmas and a blessed 2014. Til the next time... 

Viva Las Vegas

I love Vegas. My wife loves Vegas.

It’s where we honeymooned in 2000 -- at the year-old Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. It’s where she ran the Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon & Half Marathon three years ago (she did the half). And it’s where we were last week for the first time since December 2010.

Erica and I at the Aria Resort and Casino with the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in the background

This time, the highlight was Erica’s parents, whom we’ve traveled with to Sin City and elsewhere across the country. They were married Dec. 8, 1963, and wanted to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. What better place then Vegas, where they’ve been going since 1969 (and were lucky enough to see Frank Sinatra and the original Rat Pack)? None of us had been to church there, so we went to afternoon mass at Guardian Angel Cathedral, where they were recognized.

Erica’s parents at mass, where they were recognized for their 50th wedding anniversary

Of course, even with a full week, the days go by quickly. The great thing is that a lot of it wasn’t spent in lines. Whether it was restaurants, shows, taxis -- even the airport -- early December is a prime time to go. Not as many tourists and events, though the National Finals Rodeo was beginning the day we left.

For me, besides hanging with the family, Vegas is all about gambling, food, beer and more food. I’m not a high roller by any stretch, but as long as we won enough to pay for the cabs, buffets and drinks, life is good. There was craft beer at several locations, including Sin City Brewing Co., Ellis Island Casino and Microbrewery, the Todd English P.U.B. at Aria and The Pub at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. The food was exceptional and extravagant, such as this six-layer carrot cake from Serendipity 3.

Erica ordered it, I had some, and sadly, much went to waste (and waist)

We didn’t take in any shows but did make an appearance at Gold and Silver Pawn, home of “Pawn Stars” on The History Channel. It was a week for filming, though not while we popped in. Mom actually sold a couple silver items, while Dad didn’t have any luck with the items he brought. And, of course, there had to be photos.

Erica’s parents outside Gold and Silver Pawn

Before closing, I have to give a tremendous shout out to Grouchy John’s Coffee. With Erica having become a bit of a coffee snob over the years, I searched for a coffee shop outside of Starbucks and The Strip. Did I hit the jackpot!

Arriving by taxi to the cafe eight miles from our hotel, we spent about an hour at Grouchy John’s taking in the calm away from The Strip and indulging in pumpkin spice and Nutella lattes. During this time, we also got to know the co-owners -- JJ and his wife, Amy (“Grouchy John,” whom I contacted prior to our trip, was already gone for the day).

The couple was incredibly gracious, offering off-the-beaten-path dinner recommendations and even a ride to our restaurant of choice! You’d never get THAT kind of service and attention at Starbucks!! Needless to say, we loved it there and will be back again!

Erica enjoying a big cup of coffee in her new Grouchy John's mug

Well, what happened this time in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas -- fortunately nothing I’ll regret later on Facebook or the Internet. Now, time to catch up on the wash and something else coming up next week for Erica and I -- jury duty (again)!

Til the next time...

Great Expectations

Wow! It's been quite a few weeks since my last blog post, and what better time than during a cold, wet November day in East Texas?

Actually, I was going to post much sooner, but one thing has stopped me -- anticipation.

For starters, it's been six months since I left the Texas A&M Health Science Center. While I've appreciated the break and rest, I'm ready to go back into the "game" of communications and public relations. I've submitted numerous job applications. I've completed job interviews -- some of which I'm still waiting on a potential follow-up. I've been anticipating an announcement, so I haven't posted.

Next week -- the first week of December -- my wife and I are off to Las Vegas for the week to celebrate her parents' 50th wedding anniversary. We've made most of the plans but left room in our schedule for free time. I've anticipated this trip for months, but we haven't touched down in "Sin City," so I haven't posted.

Thanksgiving and the holiday season are just around the corner. I'm anticipating the time with family and friends, along with food and fun. But that's still a few weeks off.

Then, in a few weeks, those activities will be memories, and there will be new things for me to anticipate.

It's part of life. So often we are anxious and impatient, hoping time would hurry so our opportunity or event will come. As Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers sang, "The Waiting" is the hardest part.

It's at these times that I must remember to enjoy the journey. "Looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them," wrote Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, and she's right. While it's our nature to look ahead, we can't be so consumed with the future that we fail to appreciate the ride in the present.

So, instead of waiting to blog about something still to come, I'm posting now. And hey -- maybe you'll be anticipating what I write about next!

Til the next time...

A matter of seconds...

Have you got a sec?

Most people don't. Time is a precious commodity -- perhaps the most precious -- and suffice to say, I've enjoyed stepping out of the "rat race" for a little while and watching the world go on around me.

But sometimes, I like to get back in the world, such as part of the upcoming Austin Beer Week: the Jester King Funk n' Sour Fest. Jester King announced the Oct. 27 event and ticket sale on its website and Facebook page, with sales starting promptly at noon Central Daylight Time on Oct. 7.

My wife and I decided we'd like to get one regular ticket and one VIP ticket that includes some limited quantity bottled beers -- Nocturn Chrysalis and Aurelian Lure. So, with 600 regular tickets and 400 VIP tickets, that shouldn't be a problem, right?

12 o'clock arrived. Erica asked, "Should I get the tickets now?" I replied, "No. We'll wait a couple more minutes. We're not in that big of a rush."

I was wrong. When she signed in at 12:05, all 400 VIP tickets were gone and just a couple hundred regular tickets remained. As I kept hitting the "refresh" button, that number was dwindling rapidly. We did get two regular tickets, and the entire event sold out by mid-afternoon. Even Jester King was shocked at the response, saying such demand was not expected and would be the last time for an Internet "free for all."

Nonetheless, we're looking forward to the fest (as part of our late anniversary gift to each other) and hope to sample the Nocturn Chrysalis and Aurelian Lure, which should be available in bottles in the future.

Jester King Brewery in Austin, Texas

Corresponding with the Jester King staff, I told them the ticket run was similar to an iPhone release, which we've also experienced firsthand. I skipped the initial iPhone launch in June 2007 but went after the iPhone 3G a year later. The phones were not available for advance purchase online, so Erica and I decided to stand in line at our local AT&T store early release morning.

Thankfully, Bryan-College Station is not a major metro area, so the only things we really had to compete with were students, the Sandman, and only one launch store (there's no Apple Store here, and major retailers like Wal-Mart and Target did not carry the early models). The store opened at 8 a.m., and we arrived a full two hours early. I'm glad we did, as there already was a line of about 10 people, and as the sun came up, the line grew significantly.

Unfortunately, when you're in a small town, the number of allocated iPhone units is small, so by the time the sales staff got to us, there were only a handful left. You can imagine the groans and expletives from those in line a few short minutes later when the phones sold out. This time, we lucked out, and the release was still a big enough deal that the local TV station came out to get people's comments for an afternoon news segment.

Since then, we've purchased new iPhones online. I like to be one of the first to get the latest model (as long as it's a whole number, so no "5S" or "5C" for me), so that means going online or on my mobile app at 2 a.m. to buy for expedited shipping instead of waiting til mid-afternoon when shipment times already are pushed back days, if not weeks.

Anyone remember the iPhone 3G?

It's the adrenaline rush of the chase. It's the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat.

That rush also came in getting tickets for the 2011 Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Erica and I knew tickets sold out within minutes, and we wanted to attend TWO sessions! Thank God for high-speed Internet and a full pot of coffee that allowed us to secure tickets at the exact time they became available. Otherwise, it would have been craigslist, a "tickets wanted" beer forum or a disappointing missed opportunity.

But there was little high-speed Internet available as Erica and I planned our one-year anniversary in mid-September 2001 -- a Miami Dolphins home game (my first), followed by a seven-day Bahamas cruise. Then the unthinkable happened: 9/11.

As we watched the tragedy unfold before our eyes, I immediately knew alternate arrangements would need to be made.

I contacted Royal Caribbean, which said the cruise was still on. Check. I then received an NFL alert that the games for that following week would be postponed but games the week after would go on. Miami was at home that week, too, so I contacted the ticket office and was able to switch games. Check. Hotel. Check.

That left airfare, and with all planes grounded, I knew it'd be a mess for some time. I also knew while I had all the other parts of the trip handled, I needed to get the airfare switched or it would be all for not. I called Continental Airlines and got through without a busy signal. Five minutes later, we were processed and ready to go. Once we began to understand the magnitude of the attacks, I called the airlines again in mid-afternoon. The hold time was 3.5 hours, making me extremely glad I took a few seconds to call at the very beginning.

Of course, all of these events -- beer festivals, iPhone purchases, an anniversary trip -- are trivial and not a matter of life and death where every second really counts. I think my wife will second that. Get it? "Second." Ha!

Til the next time...