San Francisco trip
I never did post about my trip to San Francisco. It came about as the result of M stumbling across an amazing airfare through Virgin America. I've only been meaning to go to SF for about 15 years or so. I haven't been since I was... eight, I think. Sadly, this trip didn't include any real sight-seeing. I had about 48 hours to visit with 6 people. Fortunately, almost all of them knew each other. Between that and the assistance with transportation, there were a number of overlapping visits.
I also got to fly with my bass for the first time. The hard case and locking luggage strap worked nicely, and Virgin America's luggage handlers seemed to take the "Fragile" sticker seriously.
I got to visit with my friend J. He was kind enough to meet me near the airport and help me with my first time on BART. He even carried my bass - I can haz roadie! Equally awesome was the fact that my hotel was maybe 50 feet away from the exit of a BART station. And across the street from a place he recommended for lunch.
Then dinner with Patti. I had a bit of an impromptu tour of some of the exotic parts of SF on our way to dinner and then again afterwards. We got held up in traffic by President Obama's block party, had a lovely dinner and surprise jazz band (you know the trombone player is good when he can adjust the notes and rhythm to avoid hitting the people crowding around him), made a stop at a place I'll never reveal because it might damage both our reps, made a stop at Good Vibrations (whereupon I felt impossibly old with how clean and well-lit the store was, waxing almost nostalgic for cheesy, vague packaging, and watching the cute young couples frankly and openly discussing their vibrator options), and ended our night at Wicked Grounds. Whereupon I felt even older watching the oh-so-ridiculously-cute female couple, both wearing plush tails, one leading the other by a leash, talking and giggling together until *pounce!* they started tussling on the floor right next to the front door. Oh, and bridge lights! So cool!
Morning brought breakfast with Tia. Holy cow, was that place good! Lots of talking and catching up.
Sweetheart that she is, she drove me out to the wilds to visit with K and her kids. I'd only met the older girl when she was a baby. Now there's two big preschool-aged girls! I got to watch them play their guitars, watch them string up the living room like a spider web, have tea with them, and see all of K's hard work where she fixed up her garage into an awesome play-and-get-away space. I'm sorry I missed your garden! I did, however, spot a turkey wandering the neighborhood on my way out...
I got to play a little bit with a Lynn's band. I wish I'd spent more time on their set list. I'd kinda hoped they might know some of the songs I already knew too, but that was a long shot. They've got an awesome practice space. It reminded me a lot of a friend's dorm room back in college. I really wish I'd gotten a picture of it.
After dinner we went to Lynn's house and I got to play with the doggies. Three big doggies all quite fierce until they realized I had cracker bits to share with them. Then they decided I was okay. I even made a new best friend when I discovered just the right ear skritching spot.
Breakfast on my own, then Lynn graciously drove me out to the airport. No second BART ride for me! Actually, I'm not at all disappointed that I didn't have to drag the suitcase and bass onto BART and haul it up and down the staircase again.
Next time hopefully M will be with me. And hopefully there will be a bit more time for sight-seeing. And maybe more band practice!
I also got to fly with my bass for the first time. The hard case and locking luggage strap worked nicely, and Virgin America's luggage handlers seemed to take the "Fragile" sticker seriously.
I got to visit with my friend J. He was kind enough to meet me near the airport and help me with my first time on BART. He even carried my bass - I can haz roadie! Equally awesome was the fact that my hotel was maybe 50 feet away from the exit of a BART station. And across the street from a place he recommended for lunch.
Then dinner with Patti. I had a bit of an impromptu tour of some of the exotic parts of SF on our way to dinner and then again afterwards. We got held up in traffic by President Obama's block party, had a lovely dinner and surprise jazz band (you know the trombone player is good when he can adjust the notes and rhythm to avoid hitting the people crowding around him), made a stop at a place I'll never reveal because it might damage both our reps, made a stop at Good Vibrations (whereupon I felt impossibly old with how clean and well-lit the store was, waxing almost nostalgic for cheesy, vague packaging, and watching the cute young couples frankly and openly discussing their vibrator options), and ended our night at Wicked Grounds. Whereupon I felt even older watching the oh-so-ridiculously-cute female couple, both wearing plush tails, one leading the other by a leash, talking and giggling together until *pounce!* they started tussling on the floor right next to the front door. Oh, and bridge lights! So cool!
Morning brought breakfast with Tia. Holy cow, was that place good! Lots of talking and catching up.
Sweetheart that she is, she drove me out to the wilds to visit with K and her kids. I'd only met the older girl when she was a baby. Now there's two big preschool-aged girls! I got to watch them play their guitars, watch them string up the living room like a spider web, have tea with them, and see all of K's hard work where she fixed up her garage into an awesome play-and-get-away space. I'm sorry I missed your garden! I did, however, spot a turkey wandering the neighborhood on my way out...
I got to play a little bit with a Lynn's band. I wish I'd spent more time on their set list. I'd kinda hoped they might know some of the songs I already knew too, but that was a long shot. They've got an awesome practice space. It reminded me a lot of a friend's dorm room back in college. I really wish I'd gotten a picture of it.
After dinner we went to Lynn's house and I got to play with the doggies. Three big doggies all quite fierce until they realized I had cracker bits to share with them. Then they decided I was okay. I even made a new best friend when I discovered just the right ear skritching spot.
Breakfast on my own, then Lynn graciously drove me out to the airport. No second BART ride for me! Actually, I'm not at all disappointed that I didn't have to drag the suitcase and bass onto BART and haul it up and down the staircase again.
Next time hopefully M will be with me. And hopefully there will be a bit more time for sight-seeing. And maybe more band practice!