Field notes from Baker Beach.

In da club.

I find myself with a few hours to relax here at the glamorous Newark Airport United Club.  I was the last person to snag a $700 travel voucher by switching to a flight to San Francisco later this evening.  So I am celebrating with a gin and tonic and catching up on my Blob.  Let us rewind to last weekend…

The Days of Wine and Mini-Toast

By some happy twist of fate, almost all of my best friends from college also now live in California.  (Merrick, time to make the move!)  So last weekend, Ashley, Becca, and CJ (all former roommates of mine) joined Will and me in San Francisco for a wonderful visit.  Ashley arrived first on Friday, so she and I headed to Pier 39 to catch our ferry to Alcatraz.  In typical Clashley fashion, we missed the ferry we had reserved tickets for, but thankfully the ticket people were very gracious and got us on the next ferry.  Alcatraz was super interesting (also the second prison Ashley and I have toured together.  The first was Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin.  Apparently we <3 prisons.)  I’m really glad we got to experience the Ai Wei-Wei art installation throughout the different prison buildings.  (Nerd alert.)  It is a poignant commentary on freedom and incarceration, particularly of political dissidents.  Through several different media (Chinese paper dragon and kites against the stark concrete walls and pillars of the old work room, recordings of songs and poems played from individual cells, etc), he very artfully poses the question, how can one contain the human spirit?  I thought it was a really effective piece. 

All our time on Alcatraz made us very hungry, so, upon our return to the mainland, Ashley and I had a small feast and soju bombs at one of my favorite places to eat by my office.  We then met up with Becca, CJ, and Will back at home for a night of general debauchery and not allowing Will to express any opinions as “the only man in the room”.  (Is it necessary to say that we finished several bottles of wine?  I probably should explain about the mini-toast.)  I can neither confirm nor deny that there is video evidence of me passed out on the bed while everyone else is dancing around me and singing Dolly Parton’s “Jolene”.  However, I can confirm that “singing” is a generous description of the sounds certain people were making.

Somehow on Saturday, we wanted more wine, so we drove to Napa and wined and dined in style.  It was such a beautiful day.  As we drove from the first winery to the second, singing along to Johnny Cash and the Dixie Chicks with the windows down, I had one of those “I cannot believe I live in California” moments.  I LIVE here.  This is my life.  So weird. 

We took it easy on Sunday, starting with some mimosas in Dolores Park.  We then paid homage to our Gulf Coast roots and got a delicious Louisiana style brunch.  So much yum.  After that, we toured around Golden Gate Park and Baker Beach (where we unwittingly crossed over to the nude side), got Bi-rite ice cream and before we knew it, it was time for Becca to take Ashley and CJ to the airport.  Such a nice weekend with my buddies.  I’m so glad they are not too far away. :)