School's out!

Friday was the last day of summer school. Basically it was an all-day party. Therefore, it was only appropriate that I continue the party that evening.

I was supposed to be doing the happy hour scene with Jade and Emerald. Jade ended up being a no show because per usual she had childcare issues. I keep wondering if she's ever heard of a babysitter. So where do you go on a Friday if you are hip and have just gotten off work at Leap Frog, Pixar, or one of those other wonderful companies in Emeryville? Why, Kitty's of course. And Friday evenings Kitty herself mans the turntables.




The view from our booth.

Of course, one of our favorite things about Kitty's is this lovely creation.


Persephone's Bees

Eventually Emerald had to head home to her husband and son. Just as well. It was about time for me to head to Beckett's to meet Grasshopper.

I arrived before Grasshopper did. Nothing new there. I ended up chatting with a group of guys -- two from San Francisco and their friend who was visiting from Boulder. They kept trying to convince me that I should go to San Francisco with them, especially after I did a fairly decent pirate's, "Yar."

Shortly after they left, Grasshopper showed. Then her latest guy showed up. I don't think we'll be seeing him again because I don't think that he can really hang. Well, maybe he could but he just didn't seem to get with the program.


Kinsella -- one of our fave bands.

We lost the new guy sometime after the band started playing. Or maybe it was the four Irish guys who started talking to me and Grasshopper that caused him to suddenly disappear. Yet more men trying to convince us to go to San Francisco. We told them that they'd be back to Berkeley and we'd see them then.

Around this time Grasshopper received a text message. (I may have to keep a scorecard soon to keep up with guys.) I was kind enough to give her a ride. That's when I realized that I was hungry. At 1 a.m. that can only mean one place -- Nation's. Besides I like to torture the cats periodically with the sight and smell of a 3/4 pound cheeseburger. With fries and a shake, of course.

Grasshopper and I agreed that Saturday needed to be mellow. For me that meant lazing around with remote control in hand -- after I woke up at 3 p.m.

Now I'm down to working part-time at the University. And I have money thanks to the school district. I feel some more partying coming on.

Grasshopper-palooza

I can already see that this is going to be a very long weekend. Wednesday night Grasshopper and I headed out to bring a birthday cake to our fave bartender. He appreciated it. Well, I assume he did since he only charged us for a total of two drinks that night.

And then there was yesterday -- Grasshopper's birthday.



I took a photo of this place for the neighborhood post but I decided to get a little closer. Grasshopper is always commenting on the nice smelling stuff I have at my place. I decided that she deserved some nice smelling stuff of her own.

Grasshopper had told the various guys she knows that we would be at the bar 8-ish. We got there around 9. For a change, she looked like Patsy while I looked Eddy. Sorry Gloria and David. No pictures. I did think about it but no one wanted pictures taken. The place is so dark I would have had to use a flash, making it completely obvious.

The guys slowly started trickling in. And then the band showed up. One of our fave bands. The best part is when our fave bartender showed up. He doesn't work on Thursdays but he specifically showed up because it was Grasshopper's birthday. The good part for me was that Travel Writer showed up. He said that he would get in touch with me about going out sometime next week. Woohoo! Oh, and his birthday is next month. I don't think the party is ever going to stop.

Right now I want to slip into a coma. Because yesterday and today? I had to be at work at 8 a.m. With little kids. Do you know how tiring that is? Besides I have to rest up for tonight. First it's happy hour with Emerald and then it's off to the usual place to meet up with Grasshopper. The same band is playing tonight -- and tomorrow as well.

Sometimes I eat crap

This was my lunch today. This is the kind of stuff I have been eating for lunch for the past month. Why? Because I am too lazy to pack a lunch and this stuff is free. I think this explains my binge at Andronico's earlier this week. I have found that I usually do not eat everything on the tray. I do like how the fishsticks are now shaped like fish. Isn't that cute?

Oh, and in case you haven't figured it out, this is a school cafeteria lunch. Mmmmm. Tasty.

Overlapping seasons

I am not ready to declare the end of my birthday season quite yet but there are other birthdays happening now. Why earlier this week I received a giftcard for Macy's from one of my aunts in Virginia. (She is also a strong supporter of the birthday season concept. As her birthday is at the end of November, she typically celebrates up to Christmas Day.) This reminded me that I still had my giftcard for Banana Republic from Jade. I think I will have to go on a shopping excursion into San Francisco soon -- the only place that I can think of in which the two stores are in close proximity of each other.

This past Sunday was my fave bartender's birthday. He doesn't work on Sundays though. Grasshopper and I had meant to go out on Saturday to wish him a happy birthday but the heat was unbearable. Also, Grasshopper was in desperate need to do laundry. Therefore, we're heading out tonight to extend belated greetings. I think I may have to head back to Andronico's as well. We asked him last Friday about his favorite cake flavor. The plan was that we were going to bake one. It's cooler now -- in the 80's -- but baking still is not going to happen. There are perfectly decent cakes in Andronico's bakery.

Tomorrow is the huge day though -- Grasshopper's birthday. She has told all the guys whom she knows that they can meet up with us at our usual spot. We will probably sit at the end of the bar like we usually do. Hmmmm. They really should put nameplates on the bar stools for us at this point. Years ago a family friend had her name on a table at Star's. Just sayin'... Since she is the birthday girl, I figure that she will be the queen and I will be the lady-in-waiting.

The challenge for today is to get a present for Grasshopper. All I know is that it has to be fabulous. Oh! I know now. I'd say but Grasshopper occasionally reads this blog and I don't want to ruin the surprise. (Yes, I trust her enough that I actually let her read this stuff.) Shopping is so much fun.

I'm feeling pretty rested but I'm starting to think that I might just have to take a nap this afternoon. The way I see it, I have three nights of heading out on the ever so close horizon at this point. And Gloria and David, yes, I will take pictures -- if I remember.

Sometimes I should not be allowed to shop

Yesterday I came home for lunch so that I could drop off my car before heading to campus. (The sticker on my car allows me to park for more than two hours in my neighborhood but not near the area of campus to which I was headed.) There was also the bonus of being able to feast on my leftovers from The Dead Fish. (I went there on Sunday for dinner with my dad and his relatives. I made a pig of myself and had the prime rib and crab.) It was unbearably hot in my apartment so I took a peek into one of the cabinets. There was indeed a bottle of rum in there. The plan was that on my way home from work, I would head to Andronico's to pick up some mint, limes, and maybe a little more club soda.

Everything started off according to plan. The club soda was on sale so I picked up a few bottles. One can never have too much club soda. Then I decided to head over to the deli section when I remembered that you can now get prepackaged containers of their curried chicken salad. I almost made it to the checkout with just these items.


The cheese case at Andronico's

Suddenly I remembered that this was one of my favorite comfort foods. I deserved some comfort foods after this past week. I hadn't had the crack cheese in some time so yes, I deserved some of that as well. Next thought? Well there is that fabulous duck liver truffle pate in the deli. I managed to have some willpower in the bakery section by reminding myself that I already had two pints of Haagen Dazs in the freezer. I thought I was done picking up items until I remembered yet another favorite in the cheese section -- Double Devon Cream. That stuff is pure heaven. But what to put it on? Easy. Back to the bakery section to pick up the yummy scones from Sconehenge. With that I was out of the store -- finally.

The chicken salad is gone and I am working my way through the cheese and pate. The scones and cream might actually last through the week. All I know is that I am quite happy now -- and have shut the carry-on.