I was somewhat distracted by my dizziness problem, but still managed to have a nice weekend.
Saturday morning we were surprised by someone at the door. It was FedEx with a package.
“Probably a birthday present for you,” MB said.
“Doubt it,” I automatically said. Despite all my trying to teach myself to have no expectations – meaning neither high nor low – and being open to surprises, I still have some learning to do.
It was a gift from my brother: a very nice yoga mat and bag. Such a nice surprise. I had told him how I just use the mats at the gym and he was all skeeved.
“You mean you put your face where other people put their feet?” he said.
Well, if you put it that way.
And I totally neglected to include my brother on my Grateful 38 list! I blame the Drammamine. If I were more alert, he’d have gone right after 8, 9, and 10, the ones about my parents: “I’m grateful my brother has always been my partner against the insanity of our parents.”
MB and I went out to lunch, took a nice long walk, and saw Kick-Ass at the AMC Metreon. I was under the impression that people simply don’t talk at the movies in SF, but Sitcomgirl is totally right that at the Metreon they do.
Still, it wasn’t as bad as NYC. People, including us, repeatedly told the noisy girls to STFU, and the woman with the baby (great idea to bring an infant to Kick-Ass) apologized for the baby’s crying. Plus the movie was so noisy, it didn’t matter that the audience wasn’t quiet.
After the movie, we headed over to Border’s, where MB got me a few books plus a gift card. Yay, books! I’m still loving Harry Potter. I just finished number four and bought number two since the library doesn’t seem to have it. Kids do not treat these books well, by the way. Number four was full of ripped pages – like deliberately ripped – and in one section, some idiot had changed the word “pus” to something dirty. Damned kids.
Yesterday MB made huevos rancheros for breakfast, then we took another walk since it was such a gorgeous day. It was actually hot when we started out, probably almost 80. We went to Union Square and hung out for a bit. Then suddenly it was chilly.
We had dinner at Borobudur, our favorite Indonesian restaurant, where we overheard the best conversation.
An Asian couple was sitting behind us. I had seen them walk in – the woman petite and well-dressed, wearing an enormous hat and sunglasses, and the guy kind of schlubby.
WOMAN: Can you recommend something without peppers?
WAITER: Sure, sure. [Rattles off suggestions]
WOMAN: Do they have black pepper? No black pepper either.
WAITER: Uhhh. . .
WOMAN: No black pepper, and no chili pepper.
WAITER: Okay. Honey beef is good.
MAN: No beef.
WAITER: Okay. [Rattles off other suggestions]
MAN: And no salt. Is it salty?
WAITER: Uh, yeah, it’s kind of salty.
MAN: And no oil. Is it oily?
WAITER: Uhhh – How about this? [Kindly makes another suggestion]
MAN: You think that’s good?
WAITER: Yeah, yeah, good.
WOMAN: Is it spicy?
WAITER: No, not spicy.
WOMAN: Um, okay.
By now MB and I are rolling our eyes and staring at each other like, Are they kidding?
A few minutes later:
WAITER: Sorry, that dish is already marinated in salt.
MAN: It is? [Begins to sound desperate] Um, I don’t know, you decide. I don’t know what to do.
WOMAN: It’s okay.
Now MB starts munching like crazy on our tumis buncis, which if you don’t know is string beans sauteed in a very salt, somewhat spicy fermented shrimp paste. It’s really delicious.
“Mmm!” he said unnecessarily loudly. “This is sooo good!”
MAN: That looks good. It’s probably salty though, right?
WOMAN: Yes, very salty.
MAN: [Sigh]
Hearing that conversation was probably the best birthday present ever.
Happy birthday!
I’ve sat through so many dinners with amusing neighbors. I actually had a couple sitting next to us where the girl made the waiter list every ingredient in practically every dish and was using her phone to figure out the fat content. Nightmare for her boyfriend but I thought it was hilarious.
thanks! you know, i left out that they sent back the dish they had finally settled on – something with shrimp – because they thought it wasn’t cooked enough. the waiter was sooo nice about it. i’d have stabbed them with a fork.
People like that just need to stay home.
Also, why was she in a hat and sunglasses at night? Freak.
exactly! they should just not eat in restaurants.
it was still light out at that time, around 6. but she didn’t remove her hat after she sat down, which was strange to me.