Saturday, June 28, 2003
Oatmeal for breakfast. Car wash at Divisidaro. Lunch in Berkeley at Barney's gourmet burgers: Patrick had a cheese lover's burger. I had a chicken breast burger. Mixed vegetables basket (mushrooms, onions, and zucchini) deep-fried in vegetable oil so hot that we had to wait until after eating half our burgers for them to be cool enough to eat. I decided that I'd never go back because the woman at the register gave me only 8 cents back from a 20 dollar bill on an $18.92 lunch check. Bought cookies at Virginia Bakery: $12 for a small plate. Walked to the home of Amy, David, and George. Met some cats that live in the neighborhood. Walked Walnut Street to the original Peet's Coffee then visited a nearby park and other local establishments. Went to Andronico's where Amy and David picked up stuff for today's barbecue. Drove a mile or so to the home of their friend Mariko who lives on nearby Short Street. In addition to Mariko, we met Libby, Lee, Alex, and Kristen. The barbecue was held in the backyard and everyone brought something delicious. We had salmon, hot dogs, chicken sausage, tri-tip steak, veggie burgers, tortilla chips and salsa, shrimp and rice noodle vermicelli salad, orzo and dill and feta salad (no olives!), ratatouille and corn salad, sangria with brandy, artichoke dip, cherries, Virginia Bakery cookies. After eating, Libby, Lee, and Alex departed. David removed a hornet's nest (!) from the peephole in Mariko's front door. We played Pictionary: me, Amy, and David lost to Patrick, Kristen, and Mariko. Dropped Amy and David off at home. Got caught in traffic in the Castro because Market Street was blocked off to traffic for Gay Pride. Took an hour to get home—still half as much time as taking BART and MUNI.