7.23.17 - WallBQ

A couple weeks ago Doug changed his FB profile picture to him in front of a big wall, and he said something about how it would make a great wall ball wall. Then Dyl and Jack responded basically saying we should have a WallBQ (wall ball game followed by a barbecue) and bam, it was planned.

So today Jack and I packed up the girls and drove to Berkeley. Jane slept the entire drive, bless her. Clara didn't fall asleep until the very end, but she did a great job just hanging out in the back watching the world go by. I didn't even give her the Kindle for the first hour or so.

It was great to get out of the triple degree weather here and spend a day where the high was 74! Good wall ball and walking around weather.

Sadly, the old wall ball wall is closed. Both entrances to that level of the parking structure were gated and locked.

Long live the wall (pic from spring 2010)

However, everyone adjusted just fine and played against a wall in the parking garage itself. Sunday near campus there were no cars there except our own anyway, and this way everyone was already in the shade, a nice bonus.

Shaded, parking garage wall.

While the wall ball games got underway, Henry, Erin, and I took the girls for a walk in the double stroller. Jane fell asleep, and Clara enjoyed the front seat view of campus. I don't think I've been on Berkeley campus really since I graduated. It was a bit nostalgic.

We stopped in Memorial Glade and Clara explored everywhere, with the very helpful Henry chaperoning her. Meanwhile Erin held the umbrella we brought in place so that Jane could lie in the grass and still be in the shade.

Checking out those polka dots.

Jane chilled like that for the better part of an hour, and we all got a chance to talk a bit more. Clara kept calling Erin "Julie," I guess because they both wear glasses and Clara hasn't spent much time around Julie yet. It was cute. Once Jane started fussing we packed the girls back up and headed back.

Enjoying the grass.

We returned to the parking lot wall in time to watch the final wall ball game, in which Kale beat everyone, of course. It's been years since the last wall ball game and, frankly, most of us have gained weight and moved to a more sedentary lifestyle, but Kale still looks exactly the same.

This is what defeat looks like.

After the game was over we all visited in the parking lot for a while and Kale told us about how he proposed to Fitzy! It was a sweet story about using a board game they love, Twilight Struggle, to sneak a card to her that said "Will you marry me?" They are getting married next July and I fully expect an amazing first dance as they are both very good swing dancers.

Then we all migrated to Doug's for the barbecue potluck. Jack took a long way around so we could drive past some of the places we had most enjoyed when we lived in the East Bay, particularly Zachary's pizza. It was surprisingly nostalgic and I was also surprised at how many different places had memories for us, including some with Neil. Anyway, it was a nice little drive.

This place is in Jack's joy inventory.

Doug's house was charming as ever - more so, actually, because in the years since we've been there he has painted the rooms different cheerful colors and he has a massive bike rack on one wall for 4-5 of his bikes plus several friends' bikes.

When we first got there I was getting frustrated because despite feeding Jane and walking her around, she wouldn't stop fussing and I couldn't really visit with everyone and I felt as if she was probably irritating people. I tried to get her to sleep in one of the back bedrooms as she'd already been awake a couple hours, but she wasn't having it. For a bit, Dylan rocked her and she seemed to chill, but then she got pissy again. Finally I asked Jack to drive her around and try to get her to fall asleep, otherwise we'd need to leave because hanging out with a screaming baby isn't fun for anyone.

So Jack took her for a drive and Henry was very helpful in following Clara around (who wanted to hang out with someone's tiny dog outside), and I did get some time to visit with Kale and Senta and the Odoms. That was pretty nice. I also got a chance to eat some excellent salad and bbq sausage and other potluck delights. I wish I'd taken a picture of that excellent spread in Doug's cheerful sunny kitchen. More pictures! Oh well.

Jack stayed out for a long time, which was generous of him, and when he did get back it was about time to pack up and go anyway. Before we left, Henry, Kale, Doug, and I decided to plan a Tichu visit to our place in August. I hope that happens, I am already looking forward to it.

Jane is ready to leave!

Once we left, at first Jane was pissed off to be in her carseat again but she fell asleep as we hit the highway, and both she and Clara slept the entire way home. Side note: I also appreciate how Jack pretty much always drives unless he is truly exhausted. I dozed a bit myself.

Overall a great day. It's always nice to remember how many friends we do have in the (broad) northern California area.