Monday, November 10, 2003
Went to Vons with Patrick to get him some generic Claritin. Patrick had been having severe allergy symptoms ever since we arrived in San Diego. Domenica suggested that it was perhaps the residual ash from the recent tragic wildfires which had destroyed many homes in the San Diego area. My sore throat was even worse than yesterday, but still barely tolerable. Domenica joined Patrick, Tina, and me for my birthday breakfast made by Tina at home: classic Spanish tortilla (frittata with sausage, mushroom, scallions, bell peppers), fresh red grapes, mimosa, coffee cake, toasted squash bread, chocolate apricot bread. Corey took a break from work to stop by and say hello and happy birthday. Went to Balboa Park with Domenica, Reese, Tina, and Patrick because Patrick had never been. The weather was warm and sunny, and we enjoyed strolling through the green lawns, the tall trees, the arboretum, and the beautiful architecture of the museums. Tina said hello to a palmist who was beginning to set up a table on the lawn. A young boy at the Reuben H. Fleet Space Center went wild over Reese The Happy Chihuahua, eventually picking her up and walking around a bit with a big smile on his face. Went to Hillcrest for coffee at Peet's, a bagel from Einstein's, and some bookstore browsing. Napped. Dinner at the San Diego Chicken Pie Shop with Domenica, Tina, and Patrick. This restaurant is an old-style kitschy dinner restaurant specializing in chicken pie. Lots of fake wood paneling, new-style fluorescent light bulbs plugged into old-style ceiling fans. One wall was lined with different kinds of ceramic statues of roosters. Tina had the chicken pie dinner with peach pie, Patrick had the chicken pie dinner with coconut cream pie, Domenica had a burger and fries, I had fried chicken. The meals were extraordinarily inexpensive. My fried chicken dinner came with a salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, side of vegetables, two big pieces of chicken (one breast, one thigh), dinner roll, and a small dessert pie for about $6. The food was delicious and filling. We love the Chicken Pie Shop! At home we had cherry pie which Tina and I picked up at the store earlier and talked about Tina's favorite subject.