Tuesday, August 27, 2002
Left for work today at 8:05 AM. The 8:08 AM bus never showed up. Then the 8:30 AM bus didn't show up. At about 8:42 AM the 8:50 AM bus appeared, and I was able to get my ass off of the cold sidewalk corner where I had been sitting and reading Fixer Chao by Han Ong. While I waited and read, I met Sharon, another employee of UCSF who said she worked in the Ambulatory Care Center in Epilepsy. She was the one I saw a few months ago on her cellphone one other time the 66 bus didn't show up. She explained that she has complained so often that she has about 30 apology letters from MUNI. After we got on the bus, two other women told us they had been waiting since 7:45 AM for a bus. Met with Marie Parfitt Patty, who is the Director of Development for the School of Pharmacy. She needed an outline of how to hire Web people for a project they plan to undertake for the Center for Consumer Self Care. We talked for about an hour, and I mapped out a site-level picture as well as a page-level picture for her.—Today at work it's staff appreciation day. This time it's lunch at LuLu and bowling at a place near the Sony Metreon. In attendance: Cindy, Ena, Debrah, Joel, Kristina, James, and me. Lunch: the table shared a plate of antipasti which consisted of (a) olives with garlic, rosemary, and lemon, (b) roasted beets with walnuts and ricotta salata, (c) melon and prosciutto with cherry balsamic vinegar ($13.50). Ena had wood oven roasted whole portobello mushrooms with soft polenta and mascarpone ($9.75). I had the summer vegetable soup (carrots, peas, lima beans, onion, cherry tomatoes, basil) with parmesan and basil chiffonade ($7.25). Kristina had the roasted portobello sandwich with aioli, roasted peppers, mozzarella, and arugula on levain ($8.25). She also ordered a side of spinach, which was cooked with garlic, olive oil, and lemon ($4.25). Cindy had the heirloom tomato BLT with apple wood-smoked bacon, arugula, and aioli on levain ($8.50). James and Joel each ordered the fennel-scented pork loin with olive oil mashed potatoes ($15.95). Debrah had the platter of seasonal vegetables ($14.95). I had the grilled salmon sandwich with chopped egg, capers, and watercress on ciabatta ($8.95). For dessert, Joel and Debrah both had the peach tarte tatin with peach ice cream ($8.00). James had the trio of strawberry, nectarine, and blueberry sorbets ($7.25). I had the profiteroles with almond-espresso ice cream and warm Valrhona chocolate sauce ($8.00). [Did someone order the fritto misto of artichokes, fennel, and lemon with aioli and parmesan ($11.95)? I have an X by it on the menu, but I don't remember if someone ordered it.] Dinner at home with Patrick: summer garden rigatoni. Called Glenn Cochran and talked for 2 hours. We hadn't talked in a long time and so we caught up on each other's lives and talked about all kinds of stuff: Malibu Grand Prix, The Club in Fort Lauderdale, California Adventure at Disneyland, Kevin Kahl's new home.