pogoism

• I moved to the US.
• I discovered I can’t say no to anything.
• I left some people I love very much behind.
• I’m terrible at replying to e-mails.
• Guardian.co.uk became my most visited website.
• Had a few crappy relationships, and had to end a very good one.
• I saw Barack Obama. Twice.
• I got an iPhone, and now I’m not sure how I’d cope without it. 
• I started blogging.
• I failed my first module at Queen’s. Along with more than half the class.
• I saw Madonna live. And for free.
• Felt truly happy for the first time.

And many, many more :)

Happy New Year!

Christmas in Reno was certainly interesting. It was strange not being surrounded by family and doing all the usual things. 

I met Sean at San Francisco Int’l last Thursday, not really being sure what to expect. I’d dated, and was dating other guys, but I promised myself and him that it wouldn’t be awkward. Turned out, that problem got solved fairly quickly, which in a way I’m glad about, because it meant that the next week or so was a lot of fun.

I wrote about what we got up to San Francisco and snowboarding in my previous posts, so I guess I’ll just fill this post with the other stuff we got up to…

One of the things I absolutely love Reno for is it’s eating out. It’s pubs, bars and clubs may be dire, but Reno does dining well. One of my favourite places to eat in Reno is Pneumatic Diner, on 1st and Ralston. It’s fairly difficult to find, it located upstairs in what seems to be a standard apartment block. It’s worth the effort though. Everything on the menu is organic, and the main reason I like it, everything is also vegetarian – a hard thing to find in Reno. The staff are usually very friendly and helpful, and the menu is varied. The food is freshly cooked, and is generally healthy. I had the super burrito, or whatever it’s called. It was lovely, though not really a burrito… Anyway, if you fancy a change, go try Pneumatic Diner. Oh, and I forgot the mention, the decor is really funky.

I also introduced Sean to one of the wonders of Reno – all-you-can-eat sushi. I’ve tried a few places in the past few months – Sushi Plus, Sushi Pier, but for me, Sushi Lover on W 5th is by far the best. For $25 (the standard price around Reno it seems), you can have all you can eat sushi. The service in the place is excellent, and if you go, make sure you get the renee chips and the peanut roll – they’re amazing. I’m still a little unsure of why Reno is so big on sushi though…

I took Sean on a tour of downtown. It’s interesting taking people around Reno, I don’t think visitors are sure what to make of it. You take them along Virginia to the casinos and the arch, and they don’t say anything, probably because it’s so tacky. Certainly for visitors from the UK, it’s likely they’ve never actually been anywhere quite as horrid as downtown Reno. But then you go along 1st, to the newly developed area, and it’s like a totally different city – with coffee shops like Dreamer’s and Java Jungle and shops like La Bussola and Dharma Books, all against the backdrop of the Truckee River, it feels like an entirely different world. And, let’s not forget the Bruka Theater, and the Pioneer Events Center for a bit of culture…

Other than this, Christmas was generally chilled. I needed that, just to hang out with someone from back home – I was going crazy knowing that there wasn’t anyone physically near me that I could trust, so it was nice to have that, if only for 10 days.

Yesterday, Sean and I decided to go snowboarding. What a fantastic way to spend Christmas Eve.

We began the day bright and early to catch the shuttle bus to Mt. Rose. We arrived after about an hours journey to the Mt. Rose base, and sorted out our equipment. The package we got was an absolute bargain – $59 for snowboard and boots rental, a 1 1/2 hour lesson, and a pass for the 2 green lifts. Fantastic value! Sean and I began the lesson with a few other people, and tried to get the hang of turning and stopping on the flat, before venturing up “Little Jenny” and having a go going down the hill. It was difficult, but we soon began to get to grips with it (all be it, Sean better than I).

We went up and down the smallest slope (I wary about calling it a hill, because it wasn’t), and then got cold because we weren’t particularly well kitted out. We went inside, got a hot chocolate and had a good chat. After about an hour, we looked outside the window to see a snowstorm, and no-one outside skiing or snowboarding.

I’ll defiantly be coming back and having another go at snowboarding, it’s something I want to try and get good at, seeing as I have the chance of living so near so many resorts. I’ll be a pro in no time ;)

San Francisco was interesting to say the least.

Got the Greyhound bus from Reno to San Francisco, which was surprisingly comfortable. And the scenery was as always, stunning. Wish I’d taken some pictures, but I was too lazy :P

Went to SFO (after getting on the wrong BART train and getting thoroughly confused), and met Sean. It was an awkward wait, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I knew it could be awkward – we only broke up because I was coming to Reno, and I’d been seeing other guys since then. But anyway, it turned out to be anything but awkward – we got on just as well as we did before. It’s fun. I’m very much enjoying seeing him again :) Even though it’s going to be tough saying goodbye again…

Saturday came, and Sean and I went to Alcatraz. I’d booked the earliest slot possible, so we could get some great photos without thousands of tourists in them. It was well worth getting up early to do this, we got a tour that very few people get around the island, seeing some parts that are usually closed off to the public with a very informed tour guide. Fantastic. One of the best tourist activities I’ve ever done, and I’ve done a fair few in my years.

Spent the rest of Saturday walking around San Francisco. It felt good to be back in a cosmopolitan, vibrant city after being stuck in the cultural wasteland that is Reno. And no flashing lights for 3 whole days. It was bliss.

Just chilled out on Saturday night, hung out with Sean and caught up with what had been happening since August. Then some crappy stuff happened… But bleh.

That bummed me out for the rest of the trip to be honest. Sean and I trudged around San Francisco in search of something to do, but both of us were tired, I was zapped and we couldn’t really be bothered. We headed back to Reno, and arrived at Circus Circus at 9pm. I was very glad to be back in familiar surroundings.

And that was that. A bittersweet start to Christmas. I’m over it now, and planning some fun stuff for the next few months. They’re going to be good… :)

I haven’t posted in a while, I’m sorry. Things have been a little hectic. I’m working on some new posts, but for now, here’s a great LOLcat I saw the other day…

This is hilarious! And it’s got Allison Janney (C.J. from The West Wing), Margaret Cho and Jack Black. Watch!

• Wetherspoons Curry Club
• Having money.
• Walking in the rain in Belfast.
• Being able to walk places.
• Decent bars/clubs/pubs. Having a bar in the Student’s Union.
• Non-Starbucks coffee shops. Clements how I miss thee.
• Listening to the radio without commercials.
• Gigs.
• Family. Of course :)
• And friends. Of course :)
• Being able to fly places for £5, instead of $400.
• Accents. In particular Belfast accents. Yeo.
• Maggie May’s fry.
• That weird sense of pride every time I walk past the Lanyon building.
• Pasta bake. Nom. And marmite. And edible fish I know how to cook. 

Photo by Flickr user _SID_