Have been staying with my friend Rebecca for a few days, relaxing and wandering around Berkeley.
Met my friend John Clements on Friday afternoon, hadn’t seen him in several years, but was reminded from the Webb Reunion chatter that he was up here. He’s now doing Flash animation and programming, which despite my other technical skills I can’t seem to grasp – also what Amy’s husband does. But it seems to keep him both employed and entrenched in the technical world, which is good.
On Friday evening we went out with her friend Craig (and Evvie and Ann) sailing, from Emeryville to Berkeley marina, then out towards San Francisco and back. Adult beverages were consumed, which of course led to getting to pee over the side of the boat – unfortunately the biolumes weren’t out. Also some fine takeout sushi. I got to sail – steer, mostly – from Berkeley back to Emeryville. Had a marvelous time, and made it the entire way from dock to dock under sail – which unfortunately resulted in spending some time mired both at the entrance and in the middle of the Emeryville marina, when the wind had died down and the bottom was especially shallow at low tide in the middle of the night; Craig, as any good sailor should, refrains from using the motor unless absolutely necessary; but then when we went to start the motor for the final two hundred yards or so, the battery was dead. We made it to a dock around 2:30 in the morning. Still and all, was a fantastic time.
(Click picture for more)
A fair amount of time Saturday was spent recovering from the sailing trip, tho we did manage to visit the new Fry’s in Concord. What a rip-off – the store has no theme! Of course one of the major points of a Fry’s visit, especially to a new store, is checking out all the decor – San Marcos has a Jules Verne theme with fishtanks and jacob’s ladders and such – so the ones that don’t are just big boring electronics stores. Yawn, tho I did pick up some supplies to connect the solar panel, which I worked on later in the afternoon, following a nap. I’ve used velcro to attach the panel to the roof, tho I have a feeling this won’t be sufficient to hold it on at speed, and I’ll be forced to drill holes in the roof.
Today, I’m planning on heading out to see Alcatraz, which I’ve never visited before despite living here as well as visiting more times than I can count. Then perhaps a visit to Burning Man headquarters for Greeter training, then dinner with my Uncle Alan, Aunt Carol and cousin Stephanie. On Monday, back on the road and up the cold north coast to Ft. Bragg or so.