January 16, 2000

dining with friends

It's one of my favorite things. Especially when there are a few people you are mixing in that you met and then brought together which is fun to think about, you know.

Anne, Les, LG, Pam and SuRu joined us at Ella's. SuRu and I had a hurry up walk in the neighborhood on the other side of the creek first. On Strass, SuRu pointed out that an acquaintance of ours lived on the street and 'wonder where she works now?' she asked. Because this gal was at Granite Cafe which became The Granite and has now, we'd heard, closed.

When we walked in to the restaurant, just SuRu and I since Forrest was waiting for Anne and Les at the house, there was Cindy, the person who lives on Strass, but I spaced and looked right passed her to see LG and Pam. Then SuRu is saying, "Didn't you see that woman I was asking you about?" Coincidence and the space cadet. (She said she was delighted to see our name on the book at her new job.) So, anyway the meal, the conversation.

Anne talked about her children's book she made by hand and had gotten publisher rejection for (which Pam needs to make her chocoloate book research trips deductible) and she talked about her flamingo book (see outtake) and Pam talked about dark chocolate and Les talked about ferns and he and Anne talked about Mendocino and LA and Pam and LG chimed in on California. We agreed that when Pam was visiting again we would have a chocolate tasting. Pam only does dark chocolate. I'm not adverse to chocolate but not much of a fan. But it's great when someone is passionate about something, anything. I need something like that. Anyway, we just kept talking about orchids (Les) and investments and life in general. (LG asserted her desire to have a business taking trips for busy people.)

Came home to work on the WEB page and to watch IFC. First some great student documentaries and then 'Great Day in Harlem' which is a very unusual documentary about jazz which focuses on a single extraordinary photograph. And Dizzy was still alive when it was made and is in it. Gee, I came very close to ordering the DVD just now. Hmmm...it's only $19.99.

This afternoon we are going to see 'Magnolia.' It's long so we are going to the 5PM show (Forrest, SuRu and I) so we won't be out all night. I need to rehearse a presentation I'm going to try out on my colleagues tomorrow.

Hey..I put the navigation at the top and bottom. Now if I can just keep them updated in both places.

"One song leads to another, One friend to another friend, So I'll travel along, With a friend and a song."

William Wilson Gibson, The Empty Purse