7.24.11 - fishing and a picnic

This morning we made a Safeway run and then Jack made Neil, himself and me sausage and eggs for breakfast.  I enjoyed a lazy hour or two perusing HP fan art (I'm on a kick again, what can I say?) and then we packed a small picnic and the three of us went to Lake Chabot, where Jack and Neil fished and I mostly fed crushed up Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips to some ducks and a goose.  The boys didn't catch anything but we enjoyed the weather and the change of scenery and each other's company.

Jack and I dropped Neil off in the city and then came back to my place where Jack (finally) was able to show me how to change a tire.  It was pretty simple, and I feel all the more comfortable driving knowing I know how and have the right tools.  I really enjoyed it, actually.  I love learning new things, especially when they are so practical.  Next I plan to have him show me how to check all the fluids and car battery and etc.

7.23.11 - Saturday work and a coastal drive

This morning I worked.  I actually really enjoy working Saturdays.  I live very near my work so my commute is only 10 minutes or so, no real traffic.  I get in early on Saturdays and most other people don't show up till around 11am or so, so for the first 2-3 hours I have no distractions at all.  I can also listen to music without worrying about missing someone talking to me.  The other great thing about Saturdays is that if you come in to work Saturday, the firm buys you lunch.  I always get the chicken Caesar salad.  I work until lunch arrives (around noon) and then I leave with my delicious salad and a very cold diet Coke and I go to my beloved bench by the water and enjoy the food and the weather (which is fantastic, much more often than not) and read more of The Wise Man's Fear, a book I am enjoying intensely.  And it's even more fun to do this on Saturdays because instead of taking a half hour and then going back to work the rest of the day into the evening, I just read until my heart's content and then go home or about other business.  Which is exactly what I did yesterday.

I read until Ellen texted me to let me know she was almost to the Millbrae BART station.  I picked her up and we dropped my car off at my place, than went for a nice walk.  We got frozen yogurt (Cookies'n'cream flavor with heath topping) and walked around Burlingame, stopping briefly at a children's playground.  We had a good visit and caught up.  Later we walked to Walgreen's and then stopped by Panda Express as well.  Then we chilled at my place, Ellen reading me bits from a Discover magazine while I worked on my L'abri scrapbook, until Jack got there.

All three of us went to auto zone to buy me jack stands.  Jack was going to show me how to change a tire, but it was such a nice day we decided to put that off and we went for a long drive up the coast.  It got kind of cloudy but it was still really pretty, all the rolling hills dropping off into the ocean.  We drove through a lot of smaller towns advertising saltwater taffy and roadside inns.  It was a strange blend, making me think of CA and parts of MO and parts of MI at the same time.  Eventually we dropped Ellen at home and went back to East Bay.

7.22.11 - HP 7.2

After work Jack and I went to see HP 7.2 for our second time, but this time in 3D.  The 3D added a little bit in some scenes, but so far I find 3D makes the most difference in animated movies.  I was still glad to see it a 2nd time, first of all because this may be the last time I can watch an HP movie in theaters, and secondly because I caught several things I hadn't caught the first time.  Very enjoyable.  

I would like to note, though, that the first night was overall much more fun, not just because we hadn't seen it before, but because the audience was fantastic.  I figure if people are willing to wait fairly long in line to see the movie, they are the more hardcore fans.  This goes along with the fact that when we saw it the first weekend, the audience was very enthusiastic--laughing harder, applauding at the most epic points.  They were also more respectful.  I saw a lot more phones taken out and texting and distractions the 2nd time Jack and I went than the 1st.

After the movie Jack and I came back to my place and fell asleep watching Sorcerer's Stone.  Haha.