Visit

Thursday - Started the day with a walk around most of Lake Merritt in Oakland. A beautiful oasis in the center of much chaos. Geese, pigeons, ducks, herons, and other birds call this place home. A lone, large white pelican stood sentry at his post on the lake. Many people congregate here to get their daily dose of fresh air and exercise. Only one very inebriated man approached us but he was so far gone we just side stepped him and kept going. Sad to see.

I notice no one here smiles. My morning walks at home are filled with good morning greetings and smiles. Here no one even makes eye contact.

A beautiful early spring day with trees budding and flowers blooming. Went off to do some more of that retail therapy in Berkeley. Driving through the old neighborhoods I noticed the great architecture. My favorite style of homes are from the Arts and Craft era. I love the Mission Style homes with columns and inviting porches. Berkeley has a different feel from Oakland. Cleaner more hip, just a bit safer and Erin tells me much more expensive.

We hit some more great shops looking for a birthday gift for one of Erin's good friends. Lunch time found us at P.F. Chang's for an incredible meal of lemon scallops, seared ahi tuna and coconut curry vegetables. Later some gourmet desert a pistachio rose ice . . . amazing!

Erin is off for more of her new Cuban Style of Salsa dancing. Gives me time to blog and catch up with my emails. Home . . . always fun to get away but even better to get back to your own surroundings.