BrockLi Soup

Have you ever taken one of those naps where you just blink and an hour goes by? That happened to me just after we pulled away from the gate in Atlanta. When I opened my eyes, we were halfway to DC and they were serving drinks. I didn’t get to sleep at all in the airport, and just passed out before we even taxied to the runway.

I also forgot to mention that I neglected to take off my belt (and more importantly, my belt buckle) at security, and was thus treated to a San Francisco pat-down courtesy of the TSA. Nothing like standing in the middle of a busy airport, crucifixion-style, while some guy prods your crotch.

I got back to the apartment around noon yesterday, took a quick shower, and fell asleep for seven hours. Did some grocery shopping, washed some laundry, then fell asleep again - for another ten hours - at about 4 AM. I’m feeling quite refreshed today.

Atlanta is downright bustling, which seems odd, because as far as I’m concerned, it’s still 3:30 AM. From my perspective, I left Ryan and Sarah’s place after dinner, sat around for a little bit, and now it’s morning.

AirTran oversold business class on my flight here, so I got stuck in coach, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Of course, I couldn’t really sleep at all, and sleep at the gate is out of the question, thanks to InStyle playing loudly on a number of TVs (on the other hand, I’ve learned that a third guy is claiming Anna Nicole Smith’s baby, and that Ugly Betty’s favorite beauty product is water. Riveting stuff.)

And now they’re re-capping the Smith story. I guess it’s been a quiet week.

I can’t decide if I should get some coffee or try to sleep through the TV. Sleeping might just make it worse, but my schedule will be all messed up if my Friday lasts until noon on Saturday.

I can’t even really think straight. I’ll get back to you when I get home.

I don’t want to bore anyone with the details of my day, but I DO want to write this down, lest I forget it. Or need proof that I did it. You know, just in case.

Ryan dropped me off at the train station this morning so I could spend the day up in San Francisco. Unfortunately, it started raining about half an hour after I got up there and didn’t stop till I left. But, I made the best of it.

Nuzz and I had lunch at Asqew, and then I hopped a bus down to Wendy’s place. We caught another bus over to Haight-Ashbury, picked up some CDs at Amoeba Music, had coffee and played Pac Man at a cool little coffee shop, and got a drink and some wings at Magnolia. Then we got on another bus to go back to her place to grab some stuff to catch a cab to catch a train to meet Ryan, Sarah, Jordan and Tristan in Palo Alto for dinner.

It was a fun (albeit tiring) day, despite the rain. I think I kinda like this city.

Tomorrow is for sleeping. There’s a sushi place nearby that Ryan and Sarah swear by, so I think I’m going to grab lunch there, and then it’s off to the airport in the evening. I’m not ready to go back.

PS: You know that song San Francisco (”Be sure to WEEEARRR, some flowers in your hair”)? It’s been stuck in my head all week.

Ya know what? California is pretty great. And this assessment is in no way swayed by the five days that I’ve had nothing to do but hang out with Ryan and Sarah.

San Francisco was pretty neat, but not what I expected (but I honestly don’t even remember what I WAS expecting). We went and saw the Golden Gate Bridge, drove down Lombard St, wandered around the Financial District (give or take), picked up some CDs at Rasputin, walked around Fisherman’s Wharf, and had dinner at Zushi Puzzle (which, despite their website, was a very cool place, and pretty delicious too). We spent the night at Marriott, then drove back to Campbell for the Super Bowl.

I didn’t do much on Monday, and I even felt a little guilty until I remembered, hey, I’m on vacation! Screw it! Yesterday, I ventured out into downtown Campbell and found a nice coffee shop with free wifi, and I might go back there this afternoon if I’m feeling better.

Oh, I didn’t tell you about that part? We went to Chicken University for wings last night, and I can only assume that they’re the reason I have such an upset stomach this morning. I was planning to go back up into the city for the day. Ryan was going to drop me off at the train station on his way into work, but - well, I’ll spare you the details, but I really don’t feel like walking around downtown all day. Unless things take a turn for the worse, I’ll be heading up there tomorrow instead.

So yes, vacation is lovely and relaxing and I suggest you all try it just as soon as you can. I’ve got a few more people to see while I’m here, and then a Friday-night red-eye - with a four hour layover in Atlanta (fun!) - to get back to DC. These things never seem to last long enough.

Remember that time we went dumpster diving? Well, it’s time to cash in reward points, fly out to San Francisco, and spend a week with the wonderful Ryan and Sarah. I leave Thursday evening and come back Sunday morning.

I was talking to Sarah ealier today and realized that I haven’t had a break this long since I was 15. I worked all through high school and college, so school breaks just meant more work. I do long weekends out of town once in a while, but the longest break I’ve had in the past seven years was last November, before I moved to DC - I finished finals Friday morning and had a week and a half before starting my job on a Tuesday. That hardly counts as a break, though: I did a ton of driving - three laps between Rochester and DC - packed up and moved all my stuff, AND spent a weekend partying with the Grillbillies.

Of course, now that I really think about it, I had forgotten the 10-day trip to Las Vegas three years ago. I guess that counts.

Either way, I’m psyched. I could stand to get out of here for a bit, and I’m looking forward to seeing the whole SF crew.

Let’s hear it for four-day weekends! Or, in my case, four and a half - my boss came around this morning and told us that if we didn’t have anything important in the works, to leave around lunch time.

I know this is supposed to be the second biggest party night of the year, but I’m going to put on my pajamas, make a drink, and watch a movie. Just like the Pilgrims.