Thursday night, before I get into town the belt clip on my phone snaps off at the rivet. Luckily my phone didn't hit the ground, the flight was suprisingly uneventful, especially since I had to fly out of San Francisco instead of San Jose.
Friday it was off to the orthodontist, *darn* don't get my braces off this time, he took more castings so he could "figure it out" while I'm in Cali. Swung by the AT&T store to pick up a new belt clip, and whadda ya know, they just replace it for free -- that's service for sure. Unfortunately when I get out of there, I now have a flat tire (left rear, big screw in the tread) which means I have to cool my heels at Costco while waiting for it to be fixed (good thing I have road hazard). This makes me late for lunch with Patty, but it's still an entertaining time at the Noodle Ranch. That afternoon is mostly errands, buy a tie (forgot mine), fix my dad's computer/printer, and deposit my found savings bonds (I can't believe that my bonds from 1988 still weren't fully matured !!).
Later that night its off to celebrate Barri's birthday at Union Square Grill (Chataubriand for two, yum!) much catching up was done. After that I called Felly (who was in town from Guam) to see about lunch on Sat, but she wanted to catch a late movie instead (lunch would just interfere with shopping ;) On the way to the movie Scot called, and asked why I wasn't at the poker party, well apparently they didn't send the email out until after I'd left for Seattle, and they didn't call/confirm after I'd gotten here, so it was off to see "The 13th Warrior" with Felly instead. It was mildly entertaing, but very gory, and they resisted the temptation to make Antonio the hero which was a good thing.
Saturday it was haircut time, and then a short visit with Ken to drop off the gift and catch up, turns out they needed a video monitor so I volunteered ;). That afternoon it was Spuds & Greenlake volleyball, managed to see part of the gang (Chuck, Marisa, Chris, Joanne, Erin, Shad, T & big Duane !!) turns out there was a 'players' tourny -- much fun, until I had to go change for the wedding.
Dinner was with the other vball gang (My sister Debbie, Betty & Earnie, Miki T, Miyo W, Linda, Helen & Wang, Pat & Tonya, & Judy, good fun (Riki Riki in Kirkland). The wedding was great, I had the best seat in the house (up on the stage to video) and when the pictures get back I'll post them. Interesting people in attendence included Juliet & Will and their plans for a St Thomas wedding, Paul Webber back from Orange County, and both Ian and Doug who were in from Colorado. The reception was a blast, and you had to be there to see Ken's garter dance -- the night ended with a small, purple M&M war then it was bedtime.
Sunday was kind of a dud, Helen's rotational reverse-coed tourny was rained out, so we went to dim sum (Doong Kong Lau? by Oak Tree) which was pretty fun (Helen, Wang, Mike C, Lo, Judy, Ian & Paul) then Helen, Wang and I went to see Bowfinger, and played a bit at Gameworks. I spent the remainder of the afternoon shopping around but didn't actually buy anything. That night it was a nice dinner (Salute' !!) and a movie (The Muse) with Laura, who is always fun. That and I got a tour of her very cute, but still under renovation, house. I wonder what colors the walls will be the next time I visit ;)
It was an uneventful trip home, and luckily there wasn't too much traffic on the way to work.
Friday it was dinner & movies with Kent & Cheryl, found a new Japanese resturant, right around the corner from my apartment, it was pretty good, turns out there is a little street there (Murphy ??) that had other eats that I'll have to try. Went to see Mystery Men and it was decent, very cultish, had plenty of good lines, and I'll probably have to see it again just to see if I got them all ;)
Saturday I was (athletically) ambitious, decided to get my bike (mountain not road) in shape, but it turned out that I was still missing the mounting bracket for seat bag (could've sworn I packed the new one). So I pumped up the tires and decide to ride the 6 miles or so to the bike shop to pick up a new one. Things were going fairly well, even on the busy streets, although I don't think I'd try them during rush hour, but about 2 miles in, the bike got really sluggish -- look down, and of course the rear is flat, so lets just walk it to a gas station and put air in it. Well the air lasted all of 2 minutes, and guess what, normally the patch kit is in the seat bag that I can't attach to the bike. Oh well, it's a long walk back to the apartment, and by the time I get home it's after 5 and all the bike shops are closed. No matter, Sportmart to the rescue, new tubes (I figure they're both old and ready to go) and a bit of work and the tires are as good as new. But, of course, since I have the bike up, I decide to tune the shifters a bit. Never, Never mess with whats working, took me 4 hrs to get it back to satisfactory condition. Oh well, now I'll have to test ride it some evening instead. Note to Sandra -- I've done you one better, instead of just leaving my bike in a bedroom (or the storage closet) I've given it (and the stand) the whole dining room and part of the living room while I work in it.
Sunday it's all about Candice, drive up to meet her and Sam (NAGVA AA rated) and it's out to Dim Sum, oddly they take me to the same place I've been to with Ian & Kat, up on Geary, food was good. Then it was out to the Marina for a little grass (dirt!) volleyball. Candice, being ever popular managed to get us a couple of reverse matches. You should see this place, it's small, about a quarter of the size of greenlake's grass, and yet there were 9 nets up (balls everywhere) they seem friendly enough, and the skill level varied, but in general it was pretty good (some pretty tall men, but not alot of top notch women .. yet). Around 3pm one of the nets went home, and while we were contemplating taking that spot or just waiting for a few matches, up walks Tiffany & her friends Jen & Bill. I'd seen Tiff at a few of the coed tournys (Sacremento w/Joyce and Foothill in April) but don't really know her too well. It didn't matter, Jen was on the same coed team as Sam, and Tiff recognized Candice from around town. So we setup to play reverse and had a ball, they're all open level players, so it was the typical, struggle to side out, work hard on defense type of work out. Much fun, totally exhausted by the end, but well worth the time -- hopefully they'll all keep in touch and maybe I can talk Miki into trundling up there on a weekend.
In the small world, catagory, PattyT has finally joined the 20th century and gotten email (but no web access yet so she can't see this ;) one of her first emails mentioned that she was talking about me to her boyfriend's sister (also a Patty) who now lives in Sacremento -- hah! she mentions me, and PattyY says "wait I used to hang out with him" yes in fact we went to school together from elementry all the way till college .. Don't know why this never came up in the year and half that PattyT has been dating Arthur.
On Thursday it was roadtrip and outlet shopping mania, managed to find some (cheap) B5 toys, and bought some new walking shorts (especially good for CA ;) In Portland it was Nike shoes for (eventually) running and a new shell pullover at Columbia Sportswear which really came in handy.
It rained on Friday at seaside so after a first round loss, team "Happy Birthday Laura" quickly opted for lunch & shopping instead of waiting for a losers round match some time (hours) in the (wet) future. This was the bonus shopping round as there is also a Nike Outlet store in Seaside now, picked up a new set of sunglasses for pretty cheap.
Saturday was breezy but sunny (not real warm though) Betty & Miyo (K not M) showed up and we spent the day spectating and playing a bit of pick-up. Saw Mark & Hiroko take 4th in Coed A, and did the obligitory Men's & Women's Open drooling (and drinking). That night it was the Arcade Challenge with Betty & both Miyos. I managed to not lose to Betty in the wacking games, she however did manage to win the car race amoungst the four of us, even if there were strangers playing head games on the track ("hey, who was that orange car anyway ??") I really miss the "Boomerang of Death" clan.
Sunday it was "12 Great Legs" (coed novice 6's Lee, Carol, Dave, Blanca, Miyo W & I) however the only Blanca & Miyo appeared to be able to serve with any consistancy (even on the hurricane side) after a poor pool showing, we won one match and then was knocked out in the next round. This dispite the support/advice of our most loyal fans Betty & Miyo K ("Lets go eat" ;) Highlight of the day was managing get a block (2 actually) on a Men's net in the sand, unfortunately it was after a game in which, I was blocked 3 times, by a girl (yes she looked that young) not much taller than me .... I was just being nice, yeah, thats the story and I'm sticking with it ;)
All in all, a very dreary, dismal weekend, much gossip material there, but at least its nice to know who your friends are.
Sunday setup outdoors with Miki, Darren, Tina, John & Julie for some rev-coed and then went to see The Thomas Crown Affair, Pierce is smooth as always, but Rene Russo gave a pretty good performance, and the scenes are well done (especially the theft/replacement ones)
Monday I finally caught up with Candice, turns out she had to (quickly) leave her (month old) job, guess that's what happens when you're too good looking and friendly for the boss's wife's liking. She's pretty busy this month trying to start up her own firm, but we're gonna look for a place to play in Sept.
Today we got notice that we're going to move next door at the end of the week, this is an interim move while they revamp our (old) building interiors while we wait for the new buildings to be finished next year (I guess we need the space) this means I get to spend most of tomorrow packing, and I hope nothing gets lost while I'm at Seaside.
Saturday it was shopping, followed by Angel & Ken's shower -- very fun, and Angel was looking especially healthy, almost like her whole outlook on life had been enhanced ;) Most of the gang was there so it was like a mini reunion. That evening I went to Eyes Wide Shut with Ro & and dessert afterwards -- quite the entertaining time.
Sunday was the Yee Family Picnic, put on by the Seattle chapter of the Yee Fung Toy for the first time there was a tennis clinic and it was nice to toss (throw ;) tennis balls at all of the kids. That afternoon it was volleyball at Greenlake, not a large turn out but did meet a new woman (AA/Open no less) who had just moved to the area (Hi Tina !!) will probably try and hook her up with Ed, Diane & Juliet, as she needs to play with a stronger class of people.
Monday it was Kat's birthday, so after lunch with the DECWest clan, and a visit to the orthodontist (braces may be off in Aug !!) it was time for dinner at El Gaucho's -- plenty of good food for sure.
The trip home was horrid, the plane was supposed to leave at 9pm, at 8:50 (after loading part of the plane) they declared a mechanical problem and had us wait in the terminal, at 9:30 they put us back on the plane, at 10pm they said that the were still working on it, at 10:30 they said that San Jose would hold the airport open till 1am which meant we had to depart by 11. They also told us that the problem was a seal on the cargo door. At 11:05 the said we couldn't make San Jose, so we'd have to fly to San Franciso instead, on a plane in the other terminal. Off the plane, through the (empty) terminal only to wait to board the new plane sometime around 11:50. Guess what, they're still fueling it, and then we have to wait for a runway, some time around 12:30am we take off for SF. After a uneventful flight, we land, there was no agent at the gate to meet us (as promised) finally at baggage claim they told us where the vans would be to drive us to San Jose -- they had to cycle about 15 vans through to accomodate all 90 folks -- luckily since I had no checked baggage, I jumped on immediately. By the time we got to San Jose, it was clear to the driver that no one was sure they could get to their cars, let alone get them out of the lots, so he drove everyone directly to their cars. My lot was closed, but they left the gate mechanism unlocked so it was a (slight) monetary benefit. I also gave a ride home to another passanger who lived on the way, since he probably wouldn't have found a taxi. By the time I got home it was around 3:30am, and the kittys aren't very happy, and neither was I since I had to be at a class by 9.