Category: Fourre-tout

Yesterday I rode SMART (Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit) for the first time and I am totally sold on it. I might even go back to work (just kidding) merely for the pleasure of riding this train.

If you are a regular commuter (or if you use any form of mass transit in the Bay Area), acquiring a Clipper card is a must. With this pass, you will never have to search for coins, bills or credit cards. You just swipe this magic wand in front of a small screen and you are validated. You do this at the departing station and again at the arriving station. This is by far the easiest way of paying for your fare.

So again, yesterday we departed from the Novato Hamilton station at 10:11 am and were in downtown Santa Rosa at 10:54 am. The 43 minutes ride was very smooth and there was absolutely no comparison with the noisy trains of yesteryear. The wagons appeared to ride on rubber tires and there was very little shaking.
At this time of the day, the train was not crowded and we easily found some seats. We indulged in some coffee while watching the scenery going by. You can also use your phone thanks to an excellent Wi-Fi network.

For the time being, this train goes from downtown San Rafael to the Sonoma County Airport. Later on, it will extend to the Larkspur Ferry and all the way to Cloverdale. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that if I had to commute daily to San Francisco (especially when the Larkspur station will be open) I would ride the SMART train. I guaranty that this mode of locomotion will significantly lower your blood pressure.

In Santa Rosa, after some “lèche-vitrines” (window shopping) we stopped at the Omelette Express café for sustenance. It was crowded but we easily found a table. The portions were copious and the waitresses appetizing.

Santa Rosa reminds you everywhere that it was the home of Charles Schultz, the creator of Peanuts. There are statues and pictures of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and the whole gang everywhere. We wanted to visit the Charles Schultz museum, but it was too far from the train station. We discovered too late that Santa Rosa offers a complimentary shuttle (ParkSMART) from the SMART station to the Old Courthouse Square.

The ride back was equally smooth and we were back in Hamilton at 1:44 pm.

SMART, a truly smart way to commute!

Alain

To look at photos of this event, click on the “My Photos” link located on the right side of this page. For best viewing, go Full Screen.

Yesterday, devoted members of La Pétanque Marinière met at the Left Bank brasserie in Larkspur, to celebrate the club’s annual holiday lunch/meeting.

This event took place in the restaurant’s private dining room located in the back of the main dining room. It was small and cozy, but the acoustics left a little something to be desired.

Your correspondent (kitted out with his sneaky little camera) was there naturellement to share with you the details of this affair.

The guests arrived between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m. and chose where and with whom they wanted to sit. They had a choice of Salmon salade niçoise, Cheeseburger, Croque- monsieur, Salade de poulet and Jacques Pepin’s mixed greens salad.

Shortly thereafter the waiters brought the dishes (plus white and red wine) that the guests had previously ordered. The service was good and the atmosphere was convivial.

Toward the end of the meal, after the “crème brulée” and the coffee, Brigitte Moran presented a few token of appreciation to some deserving volunteers. Henry Wessel and Calvert Barron, Mark and Sandra Shirkey and Charlie Davantes where among those recognized for services rendered.

Then Christine Cragg (our president) gave us the state of the Union address and what’s forthcoming in 2018.

Everything was over by 1:00 p.m. and half of the guests headed for the field for a few rounds of pétanque.

It was a nice, good-humored affair and I believe that a good time was had by all.

“Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, and receipts for all major purchases.”– Bridger Winegar

Merry Christmas to… nearly everybody!

Alain

PS: it is extremely difficult to take well-contrasted pictures in a room flooded with artificial lights; please excuse the quality of some of the accompanying photos.

Life is a habit. Or rather life is a succession of habits. Samuel Beckett

Most of us are creatures of habit. We don’t like changes; we like things to stay the way they are. Changes, in general, are not popular, especially with the middle-aged crowd. These people are set in their ways and feel more comfortable with the familiar, the tried and true routines.

But life does not stand still; it does not care about your habits and it has a sneaky way of hurling curveballs at you.
A few days ago I received a letter from my general practitioner notifying me that he was leaving at the end of the year; he was telling me in essence “nice to have met you, find another guy.”

This is not welcome news. Over the years I have been through a bunch of doctors before settling for one. Finding the right physician is like finding the right girlfriend; you have to take them on a road test before initiating a serious relationship, and many fail that test.

I have been with my doctor for the last 10 years and I felt comfortable with him. He was more than a doctor, he was almost a friend. He probably knew me better than my wife and took the time to listen to me. Losing him is a blow. It is a little bit like breaking up with a girlfriend. It is very upsetting. Now I have to go on an Internet dating site and find another compatible soul; and as you know, you have to kiss a lot of frogs before finding your medical prince.

Then I got word that my dentist retired. Another defection! What is this? A conspiracy? Fake news? Another blow. My dentist was not perfect, but I was used to him especially his teeth cleaning associate. Now I have to find another dental maestro… what a drag…

In life, you need to have in your Rolodex a list of people that you can count on. You need to know a reliable plumber, an electrician, a contractor, a roofer, a dentist, a doctor, a car mechanic, a shrink, a lawyer, a barber, a computer geek, an escort… a mafia Don?
If one of those defects, it throws a monkey wrench into your mechanic. You have to audition new candidates and it can be a frustrating and costly experience.

So here we are, two weeks before Christmas, with no health specialists to call my own… what is a guy to do?

Santa, if it is not too late, drop a decent doctor and a dependable dentist in my chimney. I believe in you and I promise to be good in 2018.

Your friend, Alain