Live With The Nerds
Don't Be One
December 2001
Last Saturday we all (Kiz, Elena, Karah and her daughter Savannah) headed up to
the city for a bit of shopping and ice skating. Both the stores and the rink
were pretty empty, but at least it didn't rain too much on us. Savannah seemed
like she had a really fun time (she's 7) but we totally exhausted her and we ended
up carrying her around for the last hour or so, she'd wake up enough just to
look at the trees and then snooze away again.
Sunday was volleyball at the NAGVA gym (free!) then dinner and movie
(Not Another Teen Movie) with Elena that night. Christmas eve was more shopping
still surprisingly thin crowds before I had dinner with Alan & Pam -- at a chinese
seafood resturant (ABC in Milpitas) pretty good, and at 8pm still crowded.
Christmas was a stay at home affair with Elena, warm fire, and lots of movies and cooking
(and baking) as well as gift opening.
I managed a pretty good haul, this time, a crock pot, laval lamp, come nifty pen/pencils
and a new cordless phone (no, not all from elena ;) I still have way too much food and
snacks left.
Today I spent a couple of hours at work handling some lab issues while everything
was shut down. Still got some shopping in, and finally picked up my George Foreman
grill (the one on sale at longs over thanksgiving). Then I got all of my ski gear
ready for my outting tomorrow -- hopefully everything still fits, and I don't
get too worn out.
On the house front it's roof work soon, on saturday Kiz noticed water stains on
the ceiling of my spare room, so the homeowners association contractors will be
out friday to fix the roof, and then see what kind of interior work is needed
(I think just paint, but they'll pay for more if necessary)
Thursday night was the semi's decent matches, but both were short sweeps, but at
least we found that the campus bakery served Krispy Kremes. We had a late
dinner in La Jolla at a pretty good place named The Spot that was recommended by
my cousin Jon. We were up late that night, and Kat was up even later prep'ing for
a morning meeting.
Friday was supposed to be an off day, but I had a conference call in the morning
and Kat had one at lunch, so we spent a couple of hours at her San Diego office,
when we finally got out to shop a bit, it was raining hard so we hid in the
Horton Plaza shopping mall and then finally went to see Vanilla Sky. That
evening we had dinner at Piatti's, again recommended by Jon, and again the food
was excellent. Odd thing was that Ellen had been to Piatti's before, in Seattle
at the U-Village.
Saturday was the finals, it was over too quickly, but there were still Krispy
Kremes to be had. Unfortunately Kat had another engagement so she missed out on
our trip to Dave & Busters. Oh, and while we were there we ran into Paul Weber
who joined us for lunch. Later that night it was decent chinese food at a place
we picked out of the yellow pages.
Sunday Kat and I lunched at Girard Gourmet (highly recommended) before we
managed a "scenic" drive back to the airport. After I got back it was dinner
with Elena and a bit of shopping. Today was back to the grind, but still
managed to catch Kiz and Kara playing soccer (and savanah kicking the ball
around a bit) then dinner with Elena topped off by a marathon shopping
walk around ValleyFair.
Oh and the most memorable time of the weekend? Visiting "The Raths" in their
hotel room and seeing porn on the tv screen. Of course the "remote" finger
was pointed at each other, then again, it could have been a lucid dream....
Next up is the vball outing with the gang in San Diego, unfortunately
Kat has to work friday morning at the SD office, was going to kick around
till she was done, but now I have to call into a meeting that morning too
so it'll be work all around before we head out to play.
Saturday night was movie (Ocean's 11, recommended heist fare) and more
chopstick practice for Elena (Pho). Its very interesting what she sets
as a goal for "adaquate" chopsticks skills, ask her, maybe she'll even
tell you ;)
Sunday was breakfast at the Hick'ry Pit, pretty good food, a bit over priced
but still looks like a pretty good menu. Then we wandered the Campbell farmers
market (the whole block's worth ;). I managed to play volleyball that afternoon
and even tried out the new shoes, but my legs were still kinda burnt out, and even
though my ankle was better with the new shoes (and grippiness) my braces don't
(yet) fit as well in them, so I was getting some hot spots on my ankles, shouldn't
be a problem though just a bit of experimentation/modification to do.
Tonight was dinner (belated bday) with Cheryl & Kent at The Strait Cafe
in Palo Alto, singapore food, bay area style, it was fun catching up, and Cheryl
was in pretty good spirits even though she still has to wait for her appendix
to be removed.
Saturday was shooting with the gang, this time we brought one of the sales
guys from work (Rick) I think he really liked it, cuz now a new gun is on
the top of his list. I'd forgotten how much fun it was to shoot, especially
with everyone around. Linda's glock was odd to shoot since it had a double
trigger safety -- it almost rubbed a hole in my trigger finger. Carey's tricked
out .45 shot like a laser beam, amazing grouping, but it has a serratted trigger
that was annoying. Theres nothing like shooting a gun you fitted for yourself --
even using that cheap (20% misfire/duds) Egyptian ammo (lots of tap/rack/bang practice)
it was so comfortable in my hand. Kinda makes me wish I'd brought it down
here just to go to the range. Oh well, maybe a new .40 next year.
Saturday night Kat and I headed up to Sally and Jack's for the annual white elephant
christmas party -- it was good seeing everyone again. Sunday was vball at
Sound Mind & Body, got to play with Kat, Scot and Kerry, it was a fun time
and with Kerry around I got to even hit some.
That evening was the blind date with Shirley, yeah you read right. Anyway
even though I wandered around the wrong parking lot at Southcenter, in the rain
for about 1/2 hour after we met up it was pretty fun. The Sonics crushed Milwaukee
and then we had dessert at Claim Jumper (giant, just huge, chocolate cakes) It was
the small world thing all over again, since her sister has been around my sisters
(basketball, drill, etc) for about 15 years or so. Even still it was the 20 questions
out of the blue game for her. In any case, she was fun, maybe when I get back
there in Jan/Feb we'll be able to get together again.
Wednesday it was out with Elena for dinner (Ivar's *yum*) then off to do
some shopping since she still had to buy for her giving tree child. For those
of you barely reading between the lines, yes I do spend a lot of time with
Elena, and I suspect that will be continuing for the near future. More dirt
only in person though ;)
Thursday I missed my chiro morning appointment so I had to go in during lunch, good thing
too, cuz I think I had another brush with the famous, or at least the cute. One of the
patients there (Deanna King, Kung?) was very, very, distracting, and it turns out that
she's some kind of news person. I may have to get the whole scoop from the staff the next
time I'm in. That evening was Costco, and I decided to find out if my fireplace actually
works, it does, but I don't have a key for the gas firestarter, good thing
that its easy to light a duraflame.
Tonight I finally got some exercise in, the first bball group only had 3, so I just
shot around for a bit. The second group had 10 so we ran for quite a bit, I was
quite the slug, shot poorly, and winded badly. But on the plus side, my back wasn't
sore, my knees, while a bit tweaky to start, settled down, the only thing that really
hurt was my ankle, and only cuz I don't think I can get my shoes laced up at the
right tension (too much slippage) and my brace at the right tightness. I think the
shoes are beat too, so for sunday vball I think I'll be using my new shoes
(from my previous trip to gilroy).
Wow, so much Christmas shopping that I haven't had time to do any updates. The
week before Christmas I managed 3 dinners with Elena, showed her a bit of shopping
mania and then (still) managed to see LOTR (and dinner) with Kiz and Karah.
Pretty good long weekend in San Diego with the gang (Kat, Kerry, Duane, Ellen and Betty)
to check out the Woman's Volleyball NCAA Final Four. Almost didn't get there on time
as there was some idiot who decided to set down his satchel bag on the chair next
to me, and then run down the hallway of the airport until he disappeared from sight.
Was about ready to turn the bag in, which, of course due to the circumstances I'm sure
would have caused at least a couple hours delay, if not a partial closure. Then to
top it off, dodo-head comes sauntering back with food, walks right past us and into
the check-in line. I finally went up and told him off and made him pick up his
back and keep it with him. Wierd thing was that in this day and age he was totally
clueless about the whole issue. At least the woman sitting next to me was really
happy that we got him to take his bag.
Still cleaning up at work prep'ing for my trip but had time to
watch Kiz, Kara, Grant and Anna stomp their opponents on Monday,
then went to see Behind Enemy Lines with Kiz on Tuesday. Tonight
it was dinner and movie with Elena and I even managed to get her
to play a bit on her new digital piano.
Pretty darn good weekend, even though I'm still sore. Tried to
catch up with Elena Saturday but there was a communications snafu, we both
waited at each others place for about an hour or so before managing to
find lunch (Max's) and do some serious shopping (Storables yeah!) which
when we finally located the Yamaha store, Elena ended up buying a digital
piano -- now to just get her to play something.
Wow, another week before an update, still so busy at work. last friday it
was off to Seattle to see the sonics play very, very, poorly against the
Lakers and get blown out, even with Shaq ejected in the 1st quarter.
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