Off like a prom dress.

I have this song stuck in my head.. I'm gonna see the folks I dig, I'll even kiss a sunset pig, California coming home.. not that California is my home, but after 8 years there, I'm always so happy to visit. And Joni Mitchell always pops into my mind when I land at SFO. My brothers are drawing straws to see who has to pick me up at 6 am tomorrow. Tommy is currently here, but he flies a little earlier than me. Sky enjoyed his visit:

Friday was supposed to be about a little ride/swim and settling into the condo in the Marina that Jeff was kind enough to loan to Katherine and I. Five blocks to the race finish line! But instead, Friday will be about fixing my bike. I had a girl moment and messed up lefty-loosey and righty-tighty, snapping the screw in the wedge that holds my bike seat in place. Oops. Oh well, I thought, I'll call Tristan (Timex manager) and ask him to send me a new screw. He tells me he'll work it out with Trek. Not ten minutes later, Mark Andrews from Trek engineering calls me. That screw? The one that I broke in half? It just ruined the entire frame. A new one is being shipped, and a bike shop was found in SF to get me up and running tomorrow. I am such an ass. And I am so lucky to have Timex and Trek to make up for my assinine behavior.

So back to the trip. First things first - Cake is Friday night in Sonoma. I heart John McCrea.

Then comes Saturday, with all the pre-race jazz, definitely a swim in the bay to attempt to get used to the water.. and then it's on:

I could lie and say I care, but really, if I don't get eaten by a shark the race will be enough of a success for me. I just want to enjoy the ride/run and all the tri people. I think the swim is 30-40 min of cold, then we run a mile (yea! take that, swimmer people!), then we bike for an hour or so, then we run for an hour or so. Or so I've been told.

After the race, I'm Berkeley-bound. I don't know why, sometimes I roll through the bay area without any interest in seeing Berkeley. But lately I miss it. There is a lot going on in life that's too personal for the blog, but makes me sentimental about college days, and the early days of our new family, back in the East Bay. Guinevere and I, who were such besties in high school that we had to go to college together, are going to head over and wander around on Sunday. Things on the list:

• Intermezzo salad
• Cafe Mediterranee
• the bench at the top of the fire trail
• Mather Redwood Grove
• a millet muffin at Rick and Ann's
• Mars for clothes
• a wander through campus
• a cocktail at Henrys
• digging at Amoeba (there's always more Neil Young out there..)
  

I get all day Monday as well to wander around the city, then head home Monday night. No computer time, but I'll bring back lots of photos.. I gave up and bought a new memory card.