I Left my Heart in San Francisco

 

Fun Times in SF. Did I actually leave my heart in SF? Nope. Darla and I both said it is a nice getaway, but we couldn't stand the cold dreary Summer weather. It was nice during the day, but the fog would roll in about 2 AM and not burn off until noon. It was COLD in the morning as we set out for breakfast.

 

We left Roseville at 6:20 AM on Friday and I had told the guys that we would meet them at the hotel at 8:30. None of them said anything to me, but they all thought we'd be lucky to get there by 9 AM. Pete said the same thing. It is about 100 miles door to door to SF from Roseville and generally would take about 2.5 to 3 hours in normal rush hour traffic. Darla and I could not use the HOV lane because it is for three passengers or more in the Bay Area (two here). I have a Fast Trak machine that automatically bills my bridge tolls, so I can use the Fast Trak lanes and not have to stop to pay the toll. That saves a good twenty minutes at the bridge. Also, Fridays are light in the city as many jobs allow a 4 day week and many employees take three day weekends. We arrived at the hotel at 8:10 and they were all at breakfast. They forgot the fact that I told them that we would all eat together at the course. Boneheads! We finally found everyone and set off to Presidio, the golf course in the hills of San Francisco in a National Park. John was my sidekick and navigator and we had a wild ride through the city as he was late telling me turns from Howard to third street and then left on Geary. We were swerving in and out of traffic like a local. We got to the course and they all headed to the practice range. I headed to the restaurant and a nice plate of eggs and bacon.

 

Neil had his game with him on the front side and had a birdie en route to a nice 41. I struggled with my short game and shot 44. Steve shot 43 and John grumped his way to a 52. The back nine was all good news for me as I shot a 40 for 84. Neil cooled down with a 47, and Steve and John picked up on several holes on their way to a 51 and 49 respectively. I took my friends' money for the second straight game. John and I took a selfie at one point (see above) and I also took a picture of one of the par threes on the course.

 

Steve and I play in an NCGA qualifier at Elkhorn on Wednesday. We went out Tuesday for a  practice round  at the course. Jerry Tuel joined me. I haven't seen Jerry in a couple of years after a falling out we had over the sale of Darla's parents home in Linden. It is water under the bridge as far as I'm concerned and it was GREAT to see him and get caught up on things. Jerry and I rode together. I shot a 41+43=84 and took $15 from my friends. Jerry has two married kids now. Jared and Natalie are married and their other son, Matt, lives in Sacramento, has hair down to his mid back and a beard that puts David's former Duck Dynasty beard to shame. Natalie has two daughters and Jared has two sons. They still live in the same house that they bought next to the Spanos' compound in Stockton and have both slowed down a lot. They lost their second house in Lake Tahoe when Tami's real estate partner filed for bankruptcy a few years ago. They were partners in the home. We will get together again.

 

Friday night we had a nice wine and beer reception at the hotel (Anchor Steam for me and a white sangria for Darla). From there we caught a large SUV to Tomasso's in North Beach for dinner. We had a great margherita pizza with thin sliced prosciutto and saw Paul Rudd, the actor at the table next to us. Brenda thought it was him and he looked a little too small for me. I wasn't convinced and Googled "Paul Rudd/ San Francisco" and it came up that he was filming Ant Man, a feature film for Marvel Entertainment in North Beach. The owner of the restaurant confirmed that it was him after we told her we wouldn't bother him. We did leave him alone, but Brenda had to take a picture of him while pretending to take a picture of Darla and I. We had a great dinner and I highly recommend Tomasso's. It is a great restaurant, but unfortunately for them they are located straight across the street from Larry Flynt's Hustler Club. It just feels a little sleazy on the street.

 

After dinner, we walked about four blocks north to the theater district and watched the 8 o'clock performance of "Beach Blanket Babylon". The show has been on for 25 years in San Francisco and was hilarious. They spoofed everyone from Obama to Palin to Pelosi to Madonna and Elvis. It was a musical and very entertaining. We took a picture outside of the theater. We had some stranger take the shot for us. We were supposed to meet the owner of the SUV for a ride back to the hotel, but he was in Oakland when we called, so we grabbed two cabs and headed back for the hot cookies and milk provided by the Harbor court Hotel from 9 -10 PM.

 

Saturday Darla and I went rogue as we are wont to do and left the gang for a walk in the city ourselves and then breakfast. Neil and Lil and Steve and Brenda met downstairs at 8 AM, while we slept in and so did John and Camille. We walked the Ferry Building and looked at a couple of restaurants. The problem with the city is everything is organic and a la cart. I like my breakfast with eggs, toast and a breakfast meet with potatoes. No one had that. We walked over tot he Hyatt and were willing to drop $40 on a decent breakfast, when Ziggy's, a popular Bay Area burger joint caught my eye. They offered three egg omelets with potatoes and toast and I was sold. We just sat down to eat when John texted me. They were at the Walgreen's two doors down stocking up with snacks for the Giant's game that afternoon. They came over and joined us for breakfast and we had a ball talking and catching up.

 

We went back to the room and relaxed until 11, when we all met in the lobby and started off for the 1 o'clock game at AT&T park on the water in SF. Our hotel is on the Embarcadero across from the Ferry Building and about a mile and a half to the park. We walked over, stopping to look at the marina and the yachts parked there. One of the yachts had the unfortunate name ISIS on the back of it. I'd be down there painting it over right now. We toured the park a bit looking at the new additions and then headed in. The game was good, we started out behind 5-1 and came back to win 6-5. It was a great time and a lot of laughs. You can see our view from the seats behind home plate. We were in the third deck, but what a view of the Bay Bridge, Oakland and the Bay itself. It is amazing to me how the seagulls know that the game is close to ending as they begin swooping in. One of them set up shop in the rafters above us and pooped on Neil's head. He took a direct hit on his cap and then moved three seats over only to have the sea gull follow him and poop on the chair next to him. Brenda gave him a "wipe" to clean his hat and I told him he should offer it to the sea gull, he needed it more than Neil.

 

We took the thirty minute walk back to the hotel. As we were walking out of the hotel, a man with an older lady in a wheelchair walked past us and he didn't see the drop off on the curb and dumped her right out into the street. She was laying there rolling around when we left and one of the ambulances headed over to pick her up. Darla and I relaxed in the room and napped a bit, before meeting up with the gang for dinner. We walked three doors down to Perry's. They seated us inside, but next to a large open set of double doors. I was freezing and they finally closed the doors after serving the last of the guests on the sidewalk, who must have been Eskimos. I had the waitress get a picture of the gang at dinner which is the fifth picture above.

We got back to the hotel and Steve brought down a bottle of port and some chocolates for dessert and John and I sat and played chess. I was goofing around with the chess set and John challenged me. We were both rusty and I lost my queen early on and was playing defense most of the night. I conceded when I lost my last castle and was down to my King and one pawn. John still had a bishop and a knight and five pawns. It was fun.

This morning we were up and out of the hotel by nine. The problem was the garage didn't open until 9:15. We got over there early and had to wait until a lady came out at 9:20 to open the door. I was watching behind the gate when she got out of her car, took two steps and fell over a parking curb. I couldn't do anything to help her, so I just contemplated the existence of KARMA as she was late to open the doors. John and Camille stayed on in SF to have lunch together while, Neil and Lil and Steve and Brenda drove back to Roseville with a stop in Vacaville for breakfast at the Black Bear Diner. We got home a little after noon and spent a few hours on the pool, about an hour of which was spent sleeping for me.

It was a great trip and becoming an annual tradition for us. It's a bit expensive. The weekend cost us about $1000 with golf, gas, dinners, drinks, hotel, theater, baseball game and the garage cost, but it was worth it. A great time as always with very good friends.

Dad called us on Thursday night and shared his information about breaking his leg. Shirley seems quite concerned about not being able to help him, especially if he ends up in a cast. They have had to cancel their August trip and have a cruise coming up in November that is in jeopardy.

Well, that is it. Happy Birthday to my little brother, Randy. I look forward to seeing you and Darryl and your lovely wives in two weeks. I hope you are all hale and hearty. Ciao.