......but before I'm off to San Francisco, there is lots of work to be done, so I was in the office much of the weekend. It occurs to me I've never showed you my office....
It looks very much like - an office, except for the sofa, which has been with me since the beginning, almost 20 years now.
I did take off a few hours on Saturday, picked friend Dierdre from the ferry, had lunch (Shanghai River, again, even better than before), and off to Ladner for a memorial service for colleague Janis, dead at 61 from liver failure, The event took place at the house of friends...
...which was lovely, as you can see, and was well attended. We had a reasonable contingent from the office,and there wre folks from her running group, as well as other friends (some from as far back as law school) and family. We did what you are supposed to do at these things, ate and drank, laughed and cried, and shared the bit of Janis that we each knew.
Back to the office later, and again on Sunday, but with the long days of spring, there was plenty of time for a lovely walk in the sunshine...
And then is was time to pack, for the Monday morning flight to San Francisco.
The flight was, as to be hoped, not exciting. What was exciting was my first Uber call. The genius who thought this concept up deserves his millions. You push a button on your phone, and moments later, there is a picture of a car heading your way, with an eta, a picture of the driver, and a description of the car. Then, the driver calls, and minutes later, you are headed out of the airport - for half the cost of a taxi. It was way cool! So, between boarding passes on the phone and Uber,, I'm being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21rst century!!!
I was no sooner settled in at the B & B (the Grove Inn, newly renovated, convenient and charming, unconditionally two thumbs up already), when friends Hank and Pat picked me up for a movie date. We saw Love & Mercy, the new biopic about Brian Adams and the Beach Boys. It was a very different movie - I didn't know that, for all that early, sunny music, he had had such a dark life, But it all came right in the end. Hank and I had seen Brian Adams and the remains of the Beach Boys here at the Greek Theater a number of years ago. The music, of course, was great, but Brian was a little -skittish is the best way I can describe it - on stage. Hank has seen him since in concert, and says he seems himself, albeit 35 years older!!!
We went to Dinner at a place call Tommy's Joynt - yes, I know, you should never eat at a place with mis-spellings in its name, but it is a particular favourite of Pat's .....
Not a particular favourite of mine, however, buffalo stew or no. Never again....
Tuesday morning, it was friend Peter's turn, We met downtown, and went for a long walk to explore the construction zone that is the booming San Francisco - they call it Crane Spotting!
Then off to one of the reasons for the visit, a "do" at the German Embassy, co-hosted by the Wagner Society of Northern California, of which Peter and I are members
It a lovely home.....
and the music some original, written by the composer (above left), some Wagner, all in aide of raising money for young singers. So, champers in hand, I felt like he sophisticated thing I like to think of myself as.
It had been billed as serving appetizers and desserts. The food was a litle skimpy, though. Luckily, Peter had taken the precaution of making a reservation (Open Table, on his phone - more 21st century) for Amber India, a mutual favourite, by way of Uber (that's when it really shines, from one out-of-the way place to the other. And, after dinner,which was wonderful as always, thank you very much, we went home on public transportation! Ah, to live in a city!!!!!
Wednesday again belonged to Peter. We met, as agreed, at the Asian Museum, where he's a member. After a bite in the cafe, we toured the new exhibit of 28 modern Asian painters......
(that's Peter walking through a sculpture made of 8,000 sheets of calligraphy paper, string and bamboo)
but barely scratched the surface of the permanent collection when we - both, I think - had had enough museum. So,, back to our respective lairs, for a nap, and, for me, a chat with my faithful readers. And now, off to dinner with Peter at The Zuni Cafe, another old favourite. I will report again anon.
It looks very much like - an office, except for the sofa, which has been with me since the beginning, almost 20 years now.
I did take off a few hours on Saturday, picked friend Dierdre from the ferry, had lunch (Shanghai River, again, even better than before), and off to Ladner for a memorial service for colleague Janis, dead at 61 from liver failure, The event took place at the house of friends...
...which was lovely, as you can see, and was well attended. We had a reasonable contingent from the office,and there wre folks from her running group, as well as other friends (some from as far back as law school) and family. We did what you are supposed to do at these things, ate and drank, laughed and cried, and shared the bit of Janis that we each knew.
Back to the office later, and again on Sunday, but with the long days of spring, there was plenty of time for a lovely walk in the sunshine...
And then is was time to pack, for the Monday morning flight to San Francisco.
The flight was, as to be hoped, not exciting. What was exciting was my first Uber call. The genius who thought this concept up deserves his millions. You push a button on your phone, and moments later, there is a picture of a car heading your way, with an eta, a picture of the driver, and a description of the car. Then, the driver calls, and minutes later, you are headed out of the airport - for half the cost of a taxi. It was way cool! So, between boarding passes on the phone and Uber,, I'm being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21rst century!!!
I was no sooner settled in at the B & B (the Grove Inn, newly renovated, convenient and charming, unconditionally two thumbs up already), when friends Hank and Pat picked me up for a movie date. We saw Love & Mercy, the new biopic about Brian Adams and the Beach Boys. It was a very different movie - I didn't know that, for all that early, sunny music, he had had such a dark life, But it all came right in the end. Hank and I had seen Brian Adams and the remains of the Beach Boys here at the Greek Theater a number of years ago. The music, of course, was great, but Brian was a little -skittish is the best way I can describe it - on stage. Hank has seen him since in concert, and says he seems himself, albeit 35 years older!!!
We went to Dinner at a place call Tommy's Joynt - yes, I know, you should never eat at a place with mis-spellings in its name, but it is a particular favourite of Pat's .....
Not a particular favourite of mine, however, buffalo stew or no. Never again....
Tuesday morning, it was friend Peter's turn, We met downtown, and went for a long walk to explore the construction zone that is the booming San Francisco - they call it Crane Spotting!
Then off to one of the reasons for the visit, a "do" at the German Embassy, co-hosted by the Wagner Society of Northern California, of which Peter and I are members
It a lovely home.....
and the music some original, written by the composer (above left), some Wagner, all in aide of raising money for young singers. So, champers in hand, I felt like he sophisticated thing I like to think of myself as.
It had been billed as serving appetizers and desserts. The food was a litle skimpy, though. Luckily, Peter had taken the precaution of making a reservation (Open Table, on his phone - more 21st century) for Amber India, a mutual favourite, by way of Uber (that's when it really shines, from one out-of-the way place to the other. And, after dinner,which was wonderful as always, thank you very much, we went home on public transportation! Ah, to live in a city!!!!!
Wednesday again belonged to Peter. We met, as agreed, at the Asian Museum, where he's a member. After a bite in the cafe, we toured the new exhibit of 28 modern Asian painters......
(that's Peter walking through a sculpture made of 8,000 sheets of calligraphy paper, string and bamboo)
but barely scratched the surface of the permanent collection when we - both, I think - had had enough museum. So,, back to our respective lairs, for a nap, and, for me, a chat with my faithful readers. And now, off to dinner with Peter at The Zuni Cafe, another old favourite. I will report again anon.
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