The View From Pier 23

Just for you, SCJ.

Today was a foggy, damp day in San Francisco -- quite a change from the warm, sunny Thursday we got here. After an informative and enjoyable tour of AT&T Park, HatterMom and I strolled down the Embarcadro to Pier 23. We were there to have a mini-FulhAmerican gathering with three Bay Area Fulham and the roving ambassador from the Peoples Republic of South Texas.

We went to the Pier 23 bar -- a suggestion by Nevzter -- and had a nice lunch with some good beer and conversation. It was HatterMom, Nevzter, Misfitkid, RidgeRider, and 45 or 50 people from the Cal Bears marching band. Evidently, they always have a rally at this bar the day before "the big game" with Stanford. The band formed a V with our table at the nadir. I've been playing in a rock 'n roll band for more than 7 years and I was nearly deaf after they finished. They do after all, play in huge open stadia in which they make themselves heard well. This day they played in an area about the size of a pointy-football end zone. We're talking LOUD people. Of course, as The Memsahib pointed out, they weren't quite as loud as King Pelican -- a 3-piece surf-rock band in San Antonio.

Once the "concert" ended and we could hear again, we had a wonderful time. Although I've "known" these guys for years, this was the first time either of us met RidgeRider --Jack. Nevin, Ken, and I met several years ago when we had a FulhamUSA.com gathering at the Kezar Pub. I couldn't remember any time reference except that it was when Sanchez was our manager, but HatterMom remembered that it was November 07. We had a lot of catching up to do, and we did our best.

These are great guys and we had a ball. There were several "small world" moments. Ken the MisfitKid grew up in the city where HatterMom was born. Jack was an undergraduate at the same university where Nevin went to law school. We devoteD a good portion of the afternoon discussing locations that, at one time, were brothels. We even managed to talk a little Fulham. It was a strange, wonderful, and very long lunch. I could not have been happier.

After everyone else left, the two of us continued up the Embarcadero to Ghirardelli Square. Then we found a great restaurant and had wonderful meal and a couple of excellent Martinis. More walking around one of our favorite cities and the the BART back to our hotel in Oakland. In the morning we're off to Napa for the wedding of my band partner's daughter. Tuesday, we turn into pumpkins and go back home.

A great day made extra wonderful by a gathering of FulAmericans!

HatterDon's Man of the Match -- Nevzter, who found the venue and picked up the check. Please, please, PLEASE you guys, get together with each other whenever possible.

COYW

 

Well, the already brilliant vacation got much better this morning when we went to breakfast. Oakland is celebrating 50 years of the Raiders this weekend, and we discovered that our hotel was the choice of residence for the Oakland Raiderette Alumni Association. We only saw about 25 or so at breakfast, but many of them could still be working the sidelines. One, who I mentioned to HatterMom couldn't have put on more than 5 lbs since she "retired" was wearing an official jacket that said she was "active duty" from 1983-1990. She looked about 30. Sigh.

Up in Napa now; warm, sunny, and welcoming. Wine reception at TWO B&Bs and then a rehearsal dinner. Life's good.

By the way, when we get back to SA, the Memsahib is going to post a picture or two from the trip on FB, and I'll see if I can figure out how to get them up on the site. Sorry, guys, there were no shots of the Raiderette Alumna. :banana-guitar:

 

And I had the Fulham wallet they gave away to international members a couple of summers ago. Not to mention the black and white nail polish on my toes.