Thursday, August 5th

Today was a busy day. We started off by meeting Derrick's sister Angela and daughter Danielle at Fenton's for lunch, followed by dessert, of course.








We then drove up to 4333 Howe Street and the Hannegan's old house. Nobody called the cops as we peered into the yards. The Tilley house has been freshly landscaped but the Hannegan house still has the evergreen front yard, the walkway Paul built and the persimmon tree.










We then drove up to the cemetery and took in the view. Bud and Michael burned off some energy. The view was phenomenal! SP? You could see Oakland and SF simultaneously.









We then went to Zion and they let us take a peek at things. We met the new pastor and stood in our old Kindergarten room, it was 1/4 the size it used to be or so it seemed.








We then went to Montclaire and rode the stagecoach and walked around the scummy pond. After a Starbucks hit, we came back to the hotel to change.








After a quick stop at Bud's apartment to get Jocelyn, we headed to Garibaldi's to meet Fisher. We had so much fun with good company and good food. Fisher is a blast. Rachael finally apologized from the heart for the bald headed-head comment. We had reservations at 6 and left at 10 PM. Mr. Fisher left and we stopped for a nightcap at Barclay's which had a great variety of beers but smelled like Berkeley sewer. It was a great way to end the night.













We really like Jocelyn. She is a grad student a year ahead of Arthur. She is focusing on 19th and 20th Century Literature. They met a coffee shop but got introduced at a party.





We got an email from Uncle Nick that he will be joining us this weekend! Fantastic! Tomorrow is San Francisco.

I must go because it is 4:55 EST and my mother will be up in an hour to check this blog.

Wednesday, August 4th

Nicole got to the airport only to be told her flight was delayed 2 hours. Uggh. Fortunately, I was there so early, they booked me onto a flight that was going to Chicago in 15 minutes! I was able to get my connecting flight on time. I met Rach in Chicago. We were texting each other while standing 10 ft away and didn't see each other.


The flight to CA was booked solid and we couldn't sit together! Rach was stranded in the back of the plane and Nicole was seated with a baby, a cat, and a man with Tourette's. Good times for a 4 hour ride. Rach made us sandwiches and saved the day. Chelle's first flight was early but her second was delayed 20 minutes. We all ended up in Oakland at almost the exact same time. The rental cars were uneventful and we drove to Berkeley and found Bud amongst the hippies. He gave us a nice Belgian ale and a tour of his apartment and UC Berkeley.









Then we went to Berkeley Bowl (a grocery store) to find some wine for dinner and some mead for Mark, but they didn't have the mead. We will have to try the other location tomorrow. For dinner we had reservations at Trattoria la Sicilliana, delicious very authentic Italian style restaurant. We had a yummy family style dinner with bruscetta, a mozzerella topped salad, mushroom ravioli, and risotto. We split some bottles of wine and a tirumisu for dessert.





Then, Chelle and Cole took Bud to his place while Rach went to get Derrick and Michael at the airport. Then, Cole realized her bag was in Rach's trunk, so she drove BACK to the hotel to give it to her. Thanks, Rach!

It is 3AM EST so I am not responsible for any errors or omissions.

Tomorrow, Fentons for brunch, tour of old childhood haunts, and Fisher for dinner at Garibaldis where we are to meet the illusive Jocelyn!

California 2010 Trip

I will be posting photos here of our trip beginning Wednesday if you wish to follow along.