Back Home Again

Well, I had a nice trip to Oakland. Stayed near a movie theater and saw "Traitor" with Don Cheadle. I went into the movie with very few expectations, so I was kind of ready for anything. The movie was quite good. I won't spoil it here, but it was worth seeing. Don Cheadle is such an underrated actor. I loved him in "Hotel Rwanda", too.

Then came the homecoming...I was scheduled to fly out of Oakland on Friday at 3:15pm - I thought it would be less busy at that time of the day. WRONG. It was a totally packed zoo, so when they asked for volunteers to delay their flight, I was first in line. I got a $200 flight voucher plus the price of my ticket returned and was booked on the 9:50pm flight - only to be delayed until 10:25pm...Um. I could have stayed at work, or gone to the Farmer's Market...or something... Oh well. I read an entire book. And worked on Act One of "Phantom". I guess that is something.

So, I am home. I was not able to get a copy of "Life is a Verb" in Oakland - the Barnes and Noble didn't have it yet. Disappointing. But I got it yesterday!! at Borders in Beaverton. Go figure. I would think that Oakland rated before BEAVERTON, but whatever. I'm happy because I have my book.

Oakland Images

Ferry from Oakland to SF - the Ferry Building



Ferry Building in SF - exterior



Ferry Building in SF - interior



Everett and Jones BBQ - Jack London Square



Everett and Jones BBQ - Jack London Square

Oakland trip

Well, I definitely stayed in a place closer to all the stuff. I haven't seen anything though, because one of the people from work invited me to dinner with her family, so I didn't have to scrounge for food. Haha. This time, there is all kinds of stuff around me.

On Sunday, we rode the ferry across to San Francisco and went to the Ferry Building. We didn't know it was going to be closing at 5pm or we might have planned better. We got a little shopping done and then waited for the Ferry to come back. It was a good chance to talk. Then a bit of dinner and then off for home.

I will post some pictures if I get a chance.

Going to Oakland again

Yes, I am on my way out of town again. This time, I actually had some warning. I will be down there for a week. This time, I decided to stay a little further away from the office I am working in so that I could have some entertainment and food. Turns out I picked a perfect place (assuming that the hotel isn't run down and horrible)...right near Jack London Square - shopping, farmer's market, cinema, Indian and other restaurants all nearby - and a Barnes and Noble.



I will be going in to see if I can purchase the book "Life is a Verb" by Patti Digh. I am VERY excited to get it and I might, in fact, buy it for my friends who will be meeting me tomorrow.



My good friends from California, whom I haven't seen in a LONG time, are driving up from the Sacramento area to visit with me tomorrow. I wish it was a longer stay, but alas, it is just for the day. Shari, Barbara and Carol will be meeting me at my hotel at around noon-ish. I can't wait to see them.


Barbara and Shari (Reno Christmas party)

Who knows if I will be able to use the business center in this place to keep you all updated. The first hotel I stayed in down there had a little computer in the lobby, but the @ key didn't work, so I couldn't post because I couldn't even log into my account. Sigh. The second place had a business center that was busy EVERY TIME I checked, so I finally gave up. Suffice to say, I may or may not be able to update my adventures before I come home next Friday.

I have a wicked schedule here for a couple of weeks...1 week in Oakland, signed performance "Phantom of the Opera" on Sept. 4, teaching a workshop Sept. 12, 13,14 (I think those are the right dates) and Region V Interpreting Conference in Sacramento September 24-28. I'm also supposed to start teaching that week. YIKES!!

Missing my lemons

I love lemons - bright, fresh flavor. On salads, just plain...doesn't matter. That's what I have been missing on my trip. Weird, huh?

All Thai food is not created equal

Well, as I have already said, I am in Oakland this week.  I'm staying downtown and it is so odd to find that there aren't really any restaurants to note that are open past 7pm.  The last time I was here, I walked about a mile down to Jack London Square and had BBQ when I was looking for an Indian place.  There was an Indian restaurant right by my hotel last time, but when I went there, after 5pm mind you, the employees were there and sitting around eating and talking and when I tried to open the door, it was locked.  So, I looked for hours of operation and it said that they opened at 5:00pm, but it was 5:30pm and finally one of the guys came over, tapped his watch and shrugged.  I left.  I wasn't going to stand around and wait for them to open up whenever they felt like it.   Anyway, last night, I wandered in a different direction round about 7pm (the hotel I'm in only has a "breakfast restaurant"...I've never heard of that in a hotel, really. ) and I passed tons of little Chinese restaurants but all closed. Tons of little stores, all closed.  Finally, I went back to my hotel and ordered delivery Chinese.  It was totally random, out of the phone book.  Food was not bad, but not great.  What I was really missing, though was a beverage.  Everywhere I go, they have coke and pepsi and dr. pepper, but nothing without caffeine..   Anyway, I digress.  Tonight, after not having lunch, I decided that I would eat dinner at 5:30pm and come back to work afterwards.  One of the people where I work said there was a good Thai place about 3 blocks away.  I walked down there and had yellow curry chicken (they didn't have mussaman chicken...my favorite.  They had mussaman beef, but I didn't like that the last time I tried it.)  The sauce was tasty, but like soup and not very spicy.  The chicken was a mix of meat - not all breast.  The servers were very attentive and nice and the atmosphere and the decor was very nice.  I didn't love the food, though.   My first Thai love is in Vancouver, WA of all places.  It is the first place I ever had Thai food and LIKED it.  The first place I had Thai was a chain restaurant and the food was awful.  This little place in Vancouver is really good.  It is family owned by a great couple who are very kind and attentive.  The restaurant is simple but beautifully colored.  They know me by name and voice on the phone as we often order takeout from work.  This little gem is called Thai Terrace (when I get back on Blogger official, I will link them up).   There are a couple of other great Thai restaurants around Portland - my other favorite is in Downtown, near the MAX tracks on like 3rd and something..The first Thai food restaurant in Oregon, The House of Lapthong is pretty good, too, although, nothing can beat Thai Terrace's Massmun Curry with Chicken or their fabulous fried wontons.   Anyway, I am obviously missing home and my standby Thai place.  Will be back in Oregon on Thursday (very late). Looking forward to being home again.