The Kindness of Strangers

Michele says I need a car. Obviously she has never lived in a truly urban city. Public transportation, zip car, and taxis, "Oh My!". Having a car in SF is highly overrated. If I had a car I would never have had the opportunity to see SF kindness displayed first hand tonight.

Preparation for tomorrow night's dinner required me to buy a crockpot. That required me to go to BB&B. Wanting to kill two birds with one stone, I decided to leave the celly cell at home and make like Gump and run run run.

Crockpot in hand (and a few other things for Red) I asked the clerk, "Can you please call me a cab?". The clerk responds, "You're a cab!". Ok, funny guy. 30 minutes later and still no cab. I proceed to ask again (third attempt) for a cab. This time, a woman in line says, "I'll take you.".

My initial reaction was STRANGER Will Robinson! Then I thought about it some more and decided that it was way too cold, I had waited way too long, and hell... she didn't look "too" threatening.

Casual conversation, short ride home, she winds up finally saying that she is actually driving in the opposite direction she needs to go. But, she wanted to show kindness to a recent transplant to SF and that I should just pay the kindness forward. I offered to pay her $20. She enthusiastically declined.

Now, I can't say with a 100% C.I. that this would never have happened in LA or NY. But, yeah...these San Franciscans are a very different breed. Point goes to SF. Thanks Issa (sp).

Francois

I had brunch today with some friends, from NY, and was invited to go to Thailand next November 6th for their wedding. Excellente! One less vacation I have to plan myself.

While at brunch, I heard a very disturbing story from another couple. Turns out that the new neighborhood they moved into is full of racists. To top it off, these racists are sorta color blind. So... their dog is a medium-sized dog, good natured, loving, and wouldn't hurt a fly (ok maybe a squirrel). While in their new neighborhood, they have had multiple instances of people yelling at them while walking their dog, running away from them, and flat out refusing to have anything to do with them. After a few weeks of this insane abuse, they decide to work up the courage and find out what the hell is going on.

Enter Francois. The old tenants of the house (that my friends moved into) had a black rott-mastiff mix. Yep, you guessed it, he was a Terror. He was often unattended and off a leash biting the neighborhood dogs and causing a general ruckus. Turns out the neighborhood dogs were genuinely scared of all black dogs now. Who would have known! To date, my friends have no intention of leaving and making the neighborhood any "safer"!

The Great Rabbit Cook-off

Last night, I was taken to a restaurant called Tasca. Delicioso! What more do you need? A great Spanish red, tapas, and great conversation. "Red" even did all the driving. I was spoiled with great restaurants in NY, average in SF, and can honestly say that I place LA ahead of SF in their culinary delights.

Anyone that knows me will say that I am not in the least bit competitive nor sarcastic. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to Red that when you doubt my rabbit cooking abilities; you should expect nothing else come November. I'll admit to never having cooked the little hopper before. But, as was discussed in the car, the competitive fire runs a little deep in us. Perhaps it should be kept to the "professionals". However as the young one's say, you wanted it brung! So I will have to bring it...

Red, thanks again for a great dinner, introducing me to princess, and I look forward to seeing you at least in November.

The Garment Bag

A friend of mine recently posted a status update that said "I'm too young to feel this old." My thought at reading that was I'm too old to think I'm this young!

Last week, I got back from a business trip to Dallas. While sitting at a bar in DFW I proceeded to have a rather adult conversation about the intricansies and functionality of various styles of garment bags. For about 15 minutes, another gentlemen and I discussed hard cases vs soft, having to check vs carrying on, and wide vs narrow (so as to best fit a suit).

At my employer now, I travel more than I ever have before. So the conversation was bound to occur at some point. But I disntictly remember thinking as he left to board his plane, I am so old.

Time to renew

It's been a long time since my last post. Interestingly enough I really have no idea why I stopped. It's definitely not as if the past 10-11 months have been boring. In fact, I have done more traveling than ever before. I have had the opportunity to go to Hawaii and see part of a traditional Korean wedding, eat steaks in Omaha, and visit Canada multiple times. I have broken a bone. I even had an epidural. Just another wacky year in the life of Salinas. Yep, time to start sharing again. I credit my friend Annie for giving me the itch.

Cooking Bob aka Thanksgiving '08

Thanksgiving 2008 will forever be remembered as one of the most delicious ever. Of course, it may have a little to do with the fact that I cooked the bird, it equally may be because of the delicious applie pie we had for dessert, and without a doubt it was because wine makes everything taste better. If you ever make mashed cauliflower don't forget to be extra liberal with the addition of wine.

Note for future Thanksgiving dinners, remember to remove both "internal packages" before cooking.

2nd note, the plastic tops of roasting pans are not oven safe... why they are included with a roasting pan still boggles my mind.

Special shout-outs to Jim for baking the best apple pie ever & displaying a great knack for carving, but not for removing the wing. Many many many thanks to Michelle for supplying the house, mimosas, stuffing, swedish meatballs sans the gravy, movie, green beans, and sour cream infused mashed potatoes. Laila is welcome to all future events! Bringing 4 bottles of liquor is a great way to get on my good side, quickly!

If a knife doesn't work, use the hands.

Wakeboarding

Few things in life are certain. I have been alive long enough to know a few though: Palin is going to get rocked tomorrow during the VP debates, death, Obama will always mention "change" way too many times, taxes, I'm going to come in dead last in my FF league, and I'm a one trick pony.

Yup, you heard right. I'm a one trick pony. Growing up I had some speed and learned how to turn left. Thus the natural progression was to run track. Any other sport that needed more than one instruction was a non-starter. When I have tried other sports and been given more than just one direction it has proven to be disastrous. Anyone remember the Rugby incident?
Moving to SF, I temporarily forgot my "one trick" status and agreed to try Wakeboarding. The instructions were one too many, "Follow the boat" said Vanessa. This was followed by "When you fall, let go of the rope". Two instructions...OY VEY! Next came a lot of falling, never successfully standing up on the board, and breaking the kevlar rope. Yep...I broke the Kevlar rope...
Lessons learned/remembered... when you fall, let go of the rope... and I am a one trick pony.