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Work and Fun

Tuesday, March 28th, 2006

I have a lot of work to do while I’m in the Bay Area, but luckily I’m managing to squeeze in plenty of fun, too, in the form of such treats and acitivities as a tasty mediterranean dinner, Italian movie, burrito, book release party, Italian dinner, workday lunch in downtown Oakland, happy hour with old co-workers, live music at a sushi restaurant in Albany, burrito, movie at “home,” yoga, brunch, Ellis Marsalis in concert, brunch at a Thai temple in Berkeley, a rather lush Sunday evening with a lengthy unofficial happy hour and too much food, Indian dinner, Super Scrabble, mediterranean lunch, and much more to come.

Phase One

Monday, March 20th, 2006

Despite my moments of panic about getting everything done in time, I did just that, and everything came full circle–I was hung over the day I moved into my apartment, and hung over on my last day there as well, thanks to a night on the town for St. Patrick’s Day with my roommate and her friends (yes, I did try the green beer, for the first and last time). Sunday morning I felt much better, and after an early-morning breakfast send-off with my friend Jen at Hill Street Cafe I hit the road. The ride was uneventful, and Rolo performed like a champ, even through the grapevine (the 4,000-foot pass just north of L.A. on I-5–anyone know why it’s called the grapevine?). The snow on the mountains kept me entranced (and patient) as Rolo slowly chugged up the hills. After an obligatory stop at In-N-Out for lunch, and several more bathroom and fuel stops, Rolo and I arrived at my friend Mia’s house just in time to change and head into the city for her concert–she’s part of the San Francisco Concert Chorale, and last night they performed Carmina Burana at Mission Dolores Basilica. A fantastic start to my time in the Bay Area–topped off by a burrito (grilled chicken, super, no rice) at Cancun. I have a feeling there is more good music and plenty of fabulous burritos to be enjoyed before I go.