this time.. it is because I need a job. After so many months of hunting ... I am more than stress and anxious and and and ... and there seems to be more opportunities in the Bay Area. I have applying for them for a few months now. I believe I hurt my chance last time when I was not there in person when in the second round. This time, to stack the odds with me ... ( and to feel like I've done everything possible ) I headed to the Bay Area for a few days. I also took advantage of the solo trip to do the things that G dislike - driving all over the place, yarn store ... (flickr set)

I left on Sunday and spent the day with parents. (After a fun side show with a Prius rental car that stalled twice. I refused another Prius ) She bought me all the good snacks (nummy!). We ran some errands. Then unexpectedly Will called and he was up for going to have ramen. He had a nap on his flight back from Blizzcon. I like ramen, like most noodle (or carb latent food). I was so excited! Will detoured us to Sweet Breams chibi taiyaki. Their weekly special is lemon poppy seed. oooh... I thought tai yaki is delicious, this lemon poppy seed ones were heavenly. After a school of those, we headed to Santa Ramen. There was a line, but it moved pretty fast. The waitress took our order when we were standing at the head of the line. Will: "She must be wondering why two of us ordered food for four.". ahem.

I took it easy on Monday and head in the City early. I visited Shannon at his office and we sat down for a nice latte. FOUR plus hours later I emerged from the interview, parched and tired and headache! The iphone at this point, went on strike ... and data refused to work. I used the remnant directions and headed to San Jose to visit N, S, and 3.5 year old Asher. N planted an awesome garden (and I am jealous of San Jose for this reason!) She made an awesome dinner :D Thanks S! Since the iphone refused to work ... I fumbled through this old neighborhood of mine (I haven't lived there in over 10 years!) and was surprised to find my way on to the highway.

I called at&t on the drive home and .... they surmised that the phone is stuck on a cell tower. The terrible att, but nice CSR, Brandon Hall was his name, located in the North Eastern Ohio, who likes buckeye candy, asked me to power down phone, re-registered the phone, then power up phone. He is a very chatty and pleasant CSR. While he was doing this and that .. he asked me where I was going. BH "California is a big state. I talk to people from California all the time. I always ask about the weather and where they are going ... and it can be hot, cold, rain, misty...etc" I then gave him a new phrase 'micro-climate in the bay area'. After much fiddling ... the silly phone started working again that night. Phew.

With the interview out of the way... I felt a lot lighter the next day. And I was going to see one of my good friend from high school. I crossed another bridge to Palo Alto this time. We met for a short lunch. It is amazing. The last time I saw him was 1998!

I had a few hours to wander around before I head to The Sherman to have dinner with da chef. So I went to Uncommon Threads in Los Altos and Yarn Dogs in Los Gatos ... to pet some yarn. The Sherman is a work in progress, but I am bias and loves the food my bff chef creates. It was a perfect ending to my trip and evening - a good meal, spectacular view, and time to catch with another long time friend.

I am always torn. I love the Bay Area and wish I could make a home there... and here.

Posted by E at 6:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A couple of weeks ago, we took a drive to the Bay Area to visit my parents and attend W+J's wedding. (photos set on Flickr). I have not made this drive in over ten years. (Oh, the bright side of time vs money) We left on a triple digit hot day in the Seattle area, enjoyed a few days of cool Bay Area, and returned to the comfort of a normal high 60s/low 70s summer here. The best things in life - Family, Friends, and Food.

On our way, we made a stop at one of my fav breakfast place, Morning Glory in Ashland. And I had their Lemon Ricotta French Toast (photo on flickr). I am four for four for making a stop at this yummy place Seattle <-> Bay Area drive.

Mom and dad made dinner on Thursday night - Chilean Seabass, stir fry bokchoy, (take out) fried fish, and (take out) tofu. Ah. Homecooked meal :)

Mom took the day off on Friday. I wanted to see King Tut at de Young Museum. We spent a few hours there and then walked across the way to the California Academy of Science. On our way back home, we made a stop in Chinatown for snacks (mmm giant sesame ball!) and some goodies (that are more difficult to find here). Later that night, our friends (Hi S and Vy!) took us to a fine dinner at Nibblers in Pleasant Hill. The food kept coming ... G was smitten with Cowgirl Creamery's Redhawk cheese.

Saturday began with a flat tire on G's car. He found a shop that had it in stock in SF so we plot the route to the tire shop via The Sherman where we had coffee with a long-time-no-see friend. We got a tour of this eccentric place, watched planes land at SFO, and enjoyed a fine Bay Area morning. We then head on into downtown SF to replace the tire and walked to Boudin's for the institution of Clam Chowder in a Sourdough breadbowl. Back across the bay for a little time out and off we went to met my family at Daimo for dinner, where my family are regulars.

W (the groom) found time to come visit us that night at my parents and brought us preview of their favors - Sweet Corn and Raspberry Caramel, and a whole box from Chocolatier Blue. The chocolates are out of this world delicious! And I think he was nervous since he was talking a mile a minute and I had to remind him of a task J gave him :)

About twelve hours after dinner at Daimo, my family were all back together, gathering around dim sum. My delightful cousins joined us and G finally had someone to talk to :) At 2pm, we arrived at Hacienda de las Flores for J + W's wedding. I've known J since 1987, and W since they started dating... We had a couple of hours before the reception so we stopped at Whole Foods to look for ... the... special... cheese. then stopped at one of my happy spot Emeryville Marina. Typical Bay Area climate meant hot (in the low 80s in Moraga, to windy and 70s in the Marina, then chilly high 60s in the evening in Oakland Chinatown).

We found our place at Table 1 at Silver Dragon, with J's elementary school friend (and her family), matron of honor, her grad school friend from southern california. Although we sat at the same table with the bride and groom, we didn't really spend time with them until the next day when we met for lunch at Zabu Zabu for some great Japanese food and Tortoise & Hare for yummy ice cream.

I am always sad to leave the Bay Area, but we managed to get on the road after these few amazing days. It was our luck to catch the most amazing sunset - fog rolling in the coast range at the western end of Highway 299 (near Eureka) We saw some amazing Coastal Redwoods and Sequoias and made our way to visit P and S at their new place in Battleground. They were gracious and waited for us for dinner. Their new house is awesome and we look forward to visit them again soon.

Posted by E at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)