Many thanks to easy-going buddies Rand and Ed for helping me move my boxes send them up to Washington. The pile included six banker’s boxes full of books and magazines and a pair of 70-pound behemoth bins packed with my junk. Considering how selfish I can be with my own time, I really appreciate Ed and Rand devoting a bit of their lives to my grunt work.
After moving, Rand and I enjoyed noodles and poodi at Burma Super Star on Clement Street. Always excellent.
Later in the afternoon, nephew Chris, his friend Kelly and my cousin Paolo got a quick “Rick’s Tour” of Haight-Ashbury – basically a walk up Haight street to Amoeba records and a brief stop at the new Giant Robot shop. Unfortunately I couldn’t spend more time with them and share more local flavor. But it’s your city now, Paolo!
Over dinner, essential conversation about life’s big matters with Ann. We ate at Rotee, the new Indian/Pakistani place on Haight and Webster. The restaurant that was there before, Bloo, was friendly but a little anemic, like the soothing baby blue they painted on the walls. Rotee has redone the place in energizing orange and red and movie posters from 70’s Pakistani flicks. Service was attentive, friendly and quick. The chicken tikka masala was addictively creamy. The nan was fluffy and light, the prices reasonable. Ann and I traded insights on relationships and when to have children, and my mind felt clearer afterwards.
While the other housemates slept, I had a few minutes to say goodbye to Salli before she moves to Italy, then Australia. One of those, “it was good knowing you… have a nice life!” moments where it’s hard to grasp that you might not see the person again, and nothing you can say seems adequate. Best wishes, Salli!
Finally, little Monchichi (shown here tolerating a hug from Lisa) hung out with me while I packed for Seattle, then slept on my legs all night and kept them warm. I woke up really early to catch my flight, so Monchichi was the only housemate conscious when I left the house. Back in SF in about a week…