It’s been so long since we updated that I used that as yet another excuse to avoid the blog. That last post might have been a teaser, if anyone actually read/regularly checked out this little blog.
Since the last real update, a lot has happened to little old me. I quit my job. I used all the money I’d saved up from said job to fly to and then eat my way across (a very small part) of California. It was pretty neat, except that I stupidly went during my last few weeks of classes, so that I had to do a lot of work while I was traveling. Would you like to see what I did?
Well first I got my hair cut, and then I bought a bunch of stuff for my trip to California. This is a picture of me sitting in the airport wearing my new obnoxious pink sunglasses. Note that they are not obnoxious new sunglasses; I only buy obnoxious sunglasses.
I flew from Gainesville, Florida to Charlotte. My flight was pretty nice, and I was able to read a good portion of Remember me? by Sophie Kinsella, which, PS I really enjoyed. Obviously I wasn’t attached to this main character as much as Becky Bloomwood, but that chick has five (and soon to be six) books about her already. Anyway, another solid book from Kinsella.
In Charlotte I bought my usual over-priced praline from that chocolate shop next to the winery between the main concourse and I think concourses C or D? You know what I mean, that section near about a mile of moving walkway. I got my praline, and a chipotle truffle, and I settled myself into Starbucks where I chugged a $12 Fiji water (outrageous) and worked on schoolwork for a bit. The chipotle truffle was meh.
My second flight from Charlotte to San Francisco was wonderful; I had a full row to myself. I was able to finish my book, read for class, and do some personal writing. Arrival in SF was less than stellar; I was supposed to meet my friend Rachel and I very nearly got lost looking for her by the BART. But we did eventually meet up and ride the train all the way into downtown where we dined at a lovely Elephant and Castle. Rachel then proceeded to keep me up late while she packed up her suitcases in preparation for moving into her apartment the next morning.
nicola drinking coffee
The next day was when things got really exciting. After a decadent little snack at Peet’s, we too took the cab from downtown to the Mission, lugged Rachel’s bags up to her new room, and then rode the BART back into downtown where I got a tour of her office in the Pearson Publishing building. It was lovely and made jobless me jealous, but then I got to peace out to go hang out at the Starbucks in the Levi Strauss Plaza across the way.
I am going to take a moment to tell you that if you like Starbucks and you like free wi-fi, make sure you have a registered Starbucks card!!! It doesn’t even have to have any money on it (after the initial activation) and you get two hours of free wi-fi every day from now to, apparently, infinity! It is pretty great, especially since that is about how long my laptop lasts unplugged. So I sat in the Starbucks for two hours doing homework and drinking their new Dark Cherry Mocha. It was meh, but other people have told me they like it. You have probably already tried it, since this was very nearly a month ago.
After that mocha I needed to use the pot STAT, so I wandered over to the main Levi Strauss building, where I used their very clean public restroom, and then I wandered around their little museum for a while. They have a historical clothing exhibit set up, as well as letters from satisfied customers from the archives. It was a neat historical snack.
I also wandered outside, where I played around on the fountain for awhile.
Then I made my way back downtown and peered at the piers for a while, but I had a train to catch. A train to BERKELEY, where I had a two o’clock reservation for one at CHEZ PANISSE (CAFE). I was pretty proud of myself for managing to navigate my way to Berkeley, and thrilled when I took my seat. And then felt immediately awkward. I could see my stern little face in the polished bronze runner around the room, and everyone around me was chatting happily, and there was I, a little sweaty and feeling out of place, watching myself chow down on some delicious bread. It sort of killed my food buzz, even though I told myself not to be silly and focus on the food ( a salty vinegary shaved fennel salad and a semolina garlic soup), and while I tried to enjoy myself I now know to never underestimate how eating alone can ruin a meal. Especially if you think the restaurant will judge you for reading while you eat their famous food.
I bought some cookies to go, and I’m glad I did because the only picture I have to commemorate this milestone moment is a picture I took of the box with my phone, and then I undertook the long, $8 ride back to the Mission in San Francisco. Rachel had been at home painstakingly screwing together her Ikea bed, so I helped her finish that, and she helped me eat the Chez Panisse cookies, and then we very grumpily trekked to Bed Bath and Beyond and snarked at each other while trying to buy Rachel sheets.
Whip it
We finally got them, ate some dinner, and went back to the apartment, where I helped put together a set of drawers while trying to get Rachel to watch Emma. She was less impressed than I was.
Coming soon: Day Two!
