I’m preoccupied with time, memory, and relationships in a digital world; the augmented self; the struggle between wanderlust and home; and the writing life. Concrete answers don’t exist for these things. There’s a haze I sift through daily: a perpetual fog.
Other obsessions: murals, abandoned buildings, and unearthing memories from the underground dance scene. And I don’t really consider myself a photographer, but rather a writer who always carries her cameraiPhone.
Whether you’ve found this blog via Twitter, the Atlantic, the New York Times, or elsewhere, I welcome you.
If this is your first visit, consider these posts:
- On Everything and Nothing & Reading and Not Writing
- Notes on Home, Life, and Life
- On Eternal Sunshine, Erasing Memories, and Facebook Timeline
- Online Mourning and the Unexpected Refuge of Facebook
- Home, Instagrammed: San Francisco Through an iPhone Lens
As a story wrangler at Automattic, I scour WordPress.com for interestingness and great original content and showcase bloggers doing awesome things. In my free time, I obsess over new drum & bass tracks, watch baseball, and eat as much pho as possible. If it’s hot out, I’m probably drinking a pint outside, so come and find me. I’m a huge fan of squirrels, Bananagrams, and my husband, Nick Rowlands.
If you’d like to contact me about the use of images, or simply to say hello, send a note to cherilucas@gmail.com. Please don’t send WordPress.com or support-related questions to my personal email address. Thank you!















You are too good. God bless you. It’s so good to read you, and learn, always. Thanks for everything you do to make our world a better place. Thanks again.
Inspiring Cheri, nice blog. *sigh* I have to agree, as much as I love photos from my camera…the iPhone has taken over. Revolt!
Your blog is so wonderful. It is very pleasing to the eyes. Your writing is superb.
Hi Cheri, without sounding too creepy, I can’t help feeling that your name is familiar (apart from the Friday Faves, I mean). Anyway, your blog is wonderful, so much to read and look through. Congratulations on such a professional website and I look forward to reading you regularly!
best,
Rebecca.
Hey, I love your blog! Respectfully, I’ve nominated you for this blogging award, Liebster. If you’re interested, join in! Here’s the rules. http://annafrisk.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/liebster-award-thanks/
Cheri, thank you for reading my post at NotebookM about privacy, Chekhov and our exterior untruths. Your site is very interesting. One for the times. Here is a solution to your problem of trying to keep up with all that is being written or left behind on the digital trails: Don’t read anything written after 1936.
Ah — I like your advice.
Thank you very much, Cheri! I consider it a great honor being featured on Freshly Pressed!
Cheri, I just wanted to tell you that I love your blog. The name of your blog is perfect; I wish I’d thought of it! Your thinking comes shining through in your work – keep it up!
You’re kind — thank you for the note, and I’m happy you like my blog name! My blog started as a travel blog, and so the name was fitting because it reflected where I lived (San Francisco). But I’ve shifted gears quite a bit, and yet the name — still — makes sense in a fuzzy way. I also noticed you reblogged my “On Everything and Nothing…” post. I’m actually writing up a (sort of) follow-up to that right now. Will post it soon.
You’re welcome. I “met” you when we were both Twitter guests with Mary Chayko’s class, and was immediately interested in what you were saying, but just finally got the opportunity to really dig into your blog. So, anyway, that’s the reason for re-blogging something you wrote quite a while ago.
I look forward to your follow-up post!
Arrived through Le Clown… and really liking it here
can I stay?
Hi Cheri…you have a fascinating site…thanks for dropping by Good Golly Miss Molly…I’ll be back!
Amazing blog. Just love it. Your photography is so fresh and beautiful. You’re doing great!
I am really enjoying your blog! Thank you so much for writing, as it is such a joy to read!
Beyond stunning blog! I am intrigued!
I have just discovered your blog — I enjoyed reading it and also the photography and writing. I also love your layout — thank you for sharing.
Love the blog! You are a magnificent writer, and it’s always great to find another that spreads the love of the Bay Area to all those missing out on all its splendor. Maybe someday i’ll be lucky enough to run into you in the City!
I have followed a mighty trail to get here begining with Adam over at My Right to Bitch….Passed by a Clown on Fire and waaaa laaa here I am. Hi Cheri. I’m Cheri too. I do not often meet another of the same spelling so howdy howdy and Aloha. I like how you said you are “a writer who always carries her camera”… your images are great and I am really enjoying peeking around here. Words wonderful words everywhere I look!
Hooray — another Cheri! Thanks for saying hello here.
i totally love the blog. great content along with photographs. can’t wait to read and see more from you.
Thanks for liking my recent post! Your blog is amazing…can’t wait to read more.
Thanks for visiting!
Thanks for finding me! *waving from across the Bay*
Really, truly outstanding blog – beautiful to look at and terrific to read. I’m so glad you stumbled across mine so I had the chance to stumble across yours. You have a new fan!
Thanks so much. (And btw, we really enjoyed your hypertext post — I’m glad I found your blog, too
)
Cheri…I think your blog is amazing and beautiful! I nominated you for The One Lovely Blog Award. To learn more go here:
http://lusays.com/2012/11/13/the-one-lovely-blog-award-nomination/
Best wishes to you!
thank you for inspiring at Weekly Photo Challenges!
Aw, you’re welcome. Thanks for the note here on my personal blog.
Thank you for taking some time out for having a look at my post on Vietnam By Food.
Looking forward to reading yours!
I nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger Award. You totally deserve this
Please check it here: http://readstuffwithme.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/beautiful-blogger-award/
Hey Cheri – I stumbled across your blog this morning and absolutely love it! I’ve never been able to take a good picture (fumble-fingers and shaky hands!) and really admire those who can. I’ve only been on wordpress for three months and already I feel like I’ve travelled the world!
Amazing stuff
Thank you so much for sharing your pics
Sorry for the late reply, Dianne. Thanks so much for your note and for poking around here on my blog
Nice blog, Cheri. You’re a great writer and I really enjoy your ruminations on technology and the limitations thereof. Maybe I’ll run into you somewhere in the SF fog! : )
Sven — thanks for the note (and sorry for the delayed response). I’m glad you enjoy my musings on technology — it’s definitely a topic I like exploring. Hoping to sit down and write more soon…
Hi Cheri, your blog is very interesting and eye catching. Looking forward to following and reading your posts.
Found your blog via wordpress and have enjoyed browsing. I like your honesty and vulnerability. PS I’m a bananagram fan, too
Thanks for the kind words, Denise. Bananagrams is the best, isn’t it?!
Pints of beer, drum and bass tracks! Love it! Look forward to reading more….
You have created a beautiful site! I am looking forward to exploring it in the days to come. Peace, z.
Oh, how lovely to meet you and stumble upon your blog! A true pleasure – looking forward to exploring your blog further
anne
This is brilliant…I can so relate to sense of place and recently have been getting lyrical about it. I have generally written, shall we say, satirical cynical stuff (and still do) but recently started a totally different blog…about what makes life great – The Small Things where I am exploring everyday things that lift us all. http://www.itsthesmalljoys.blogspot.com but also memory and intereaction.
All the best
George
Cheri – so excited to meet you. Thanks for following my blog girlfriend! But also, thanks for being out there so honestly writing and taking snapshots of life and trying to soak it all up like spongecake. You are doing so well at it.
Amanda
Oh, how sweet Amanda — thanks for the note!
I have nominated you for the inspiring blog award. I enjoy your insights follow the link for the rules.http://anthropologygallery.wordpress.com/2012/08/18/inspiring-blog-award/
Thanks for the kind nomination.
Cheri,
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I can’t wait to read more of yours….. I have a feeling I’m going to learn a lot from you. p.s. Yay! Streetart!
Thank you so much for stopping by and liking my blog…I’m enjoying my visit to yours!
hi cheri.. nice blog..
Hi Cheri, I have nominated your blog for Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I hope you accept this nomination.
regards Luciana
hi, this is probably nothing compared to your collection of accolades, but, i nominated you for Versatile Blogger award – http://greatgreths.wordpress.com/2012/06/01/blog-awards-it-feels-great-to-be-grateful/
Since I find the design of your blog elegant and find that you have interesting things to blog, I nominated your blog for the One Lovely Blog Award.
http://pnwauthor.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/blog-awards-and-nominations/
Simply saying hello. What a great “About”. I LIKE your writing.
“And I don’t really consider myself a photographer, but rather a writer who always carries her camera.”
~I can relate to this tremendously! I love how you write – straightforward but insightful. Your photos are amazing as well. More power!
Love your blog! Absolutely amazing is all I can say
. Want to take a trip out to San Fran myself, but have had some plane difficulties in doing so. Keep up the awesome work!
Cheri,
Your blog has a very nice layout!
I owe the nice layout to WordPress’ Delicious Magazine theme. It’s shiny and pretty!
Great blog!
Thanks for visiting, Paige!
You have a wonderful voice. Fluid. Upbeat. Inspiring.
http://notesfrompushkinsapprentice.wordpress.com/
Ah — sorry it took me so long to respond — I think I missed this. Thanks for your comment!
I have passed the Versatile Blogger Award on to you.
http://ksnapped.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/do-i-get-a-sparkly-dress/
Very kind of you. Thanks for the shout-out…
Hey, cheri,
what are your memories of school, good or bad.
just started a second blog about ed, please comment on the january 22, if you will. trying to get a consensus from thinking people to begin a base from on a blog. thanks.
https://educationyes.wordpress.com/
from thinkvisual’s blog. thanks.
I just wanted to let you know that I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award, which I hope you’ll accept and enjoy! The rules can be found on my page. Congratulations! (:
I love the blog!
Have a lovely day!
(:
How kind of you! Thanks.
hey Cheri, I forwarded you the versatile blogger award. hope u like it ! Check it out here:
http://portfoliopassionsandpurple.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/awarded-versatile-blogger/
Thank you for the mention — very nice of you.
Hi Cheri!
I enjoyed reading your latest blog: “On Eternal Sunshine, Erasing Memories, and Facebook Timeline” so I looked around your page.
Just curious, how did you format the Archives page to show the Categories and Monthly Archives as lists in two columns?
Hi Adrian,
That’s a default format on my theme (Delicious Magazine). In edit mode, under Page Attributes > Template (on the right side), I’ve set it to “Archives Page.” The archives are automatically formatted this way.
Glad you enjoyed the Eternal Sunshine post!
Thanks for the info, Cheri.
You have an awesome blog here. Keep up the good work and Merry Christmas!
Cheers,
Adrian
hi, nice blog….
Why thank you!
Latin America is a good place to settle with chickens and cats. Just be sure not to mix them.
I like your writing and energy. I would like to explore my own country as you have one day….after, of course, returning from all the chickens and cats here in Latin America.
Boa sorte, que te vaya bien, and keep writing
-MN
Hey Patrick–thanks so much for the note. Definitely pondering exploring/living abroad again for a spell, and Latin America is on my radar. I loved Costa Rica, and would love to visit Panama, Belize, and Nicaragua. And then there’s Buenos Aires, which has been on my list forever.
There are still so many places within the US that I’d like to visit, too.
Cheers,
Cheri
I think the best places I’ve been to so far in Spanish America are Colombia, Chile, and Panama. Brazil is a whole different catagory, and I love it almost unconditionally. I found Buenos Aires to be a bit smarmy, but many people adore it.
If you go to Panama prepare to eat lots of liver.
Good luck on your future. I’ve subscribed.
-MN
Wish I had a blog like yours one day!:D
You’re too kind, Annika. Thanks for the note!
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and looking through your pictures. They’re fantastic! So vibrant. And you have a very fun and succinct writing style. Love it!
I have started a blog as well, if you would like to check it out!
http://travellifecrisis.wordpress.com
Funny enough, I just wrote a little entry about San Francisco. Enjoy.
Take care!
Christine
Whoa.
Seeing yer blog is amazing, its been awhile since i seen good photography. Its all very lovely hunn.
I enjoyed every one.
That sorta motivates me even more to go to school for photography in time.
Wow, I have received some very nice comments this weekend, yours included. As I said to someone else, I post writing and photos here mainly for myself, family, and friends, but when someone I don’t know is motivated and inspired to explore, take photos, or write, it makes me happy. Thanks for the note!
–Cheri
Great blog Cheri! I came across your page via wordpress and am glad i did. I’d love to live in SF sometime. Keep up the great photos and come check my blog sometime…I’d love to hear from you!!
http://www.adified.wordpress.com
Hi there–
Thanks for the note, and glad you like my photos! I’ll take a peek at your blog, too.
Cheers,
Cheri
Hey, really great blog posts… I’ve enjoyed reading through your blog because of the great style and energy. I actually work for the CheapOair travel blog. If you’re interested, we would love to have you on as a guest blogger. Please send me an e-mail: gchristodoulou(at)cheapoair(dot)com, and I can give you more information. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Hey Cheri,
I really liked your post, and getting a look at your latest travel location through your videos. It really makes me want to take a trip somewhere and explore.
You do so much – when it comes to writing. I am trying to make some kind of a career out of writing myself – just not sure what avenues to take. I love fiction, but am taking quite an interest in writing on new experiences and ventures. Good luck and stay motivated! You’re doing great.
Hey! Thanks for the nice words. I generally think when a place is inspiring, the writing follows naturally. I’ll admit I go through dry spells; that usually means it’s time to go exploring again…
Thanks for visiting and saying hello.
Cheers,
Cheri
Agree, agree, agree…love your site!
Trufax, Cheri. I travel as a lifestyle, and I know when it’s time to leave an area: when I don’t feel I’m getting educated anymore. In other words, if a place starts to feel more and more like detention hall, I pull out my map and start looking for a new adventure…
Well said, Nate, and I agree. We innately know when it’s time to move on from a place…
Cheri,
Your bio is very inspiring! Amazing that you traveled solo throughout several Asian and European countries, that is something I’d love to do. And to be able to write about it is such a great gift. I’m new to the world of blogging and reading through some of your travel blogs encourages me to keep it up!