Sep 18 2009
Champagne Commute
So I ended up taking BART in to the city after all. The mysteries of the new Bay Bridge will have to wait for another occasion. On the train into the City, a clutch of cops collapsed into the seats around me, complaining about how much their feet hurt. I couldn’t help noticing how worn and dented their clubs were. Hmmm.
It’s a good thing I decided to take the train, because the best thing about the software soirée was the open bar. When you signed in, there were two tall gentlemen holding trays full of glasses of champagne. Now, that’s a good way to welcome people! There were also jars of candy and two bars. I think someone called ahead and told them I was coming.
The idea was to sell their various software packages. None of them were exactly what we’d need, but it was interesting to drift around and check them out, glass in hand. I have to wonder if this isn’t a very successful sales ploy: give buyers a few drinks, and they’ll be far more amenable.
On the downside, they did have guards posted to make sure no-one sneaked out to see the Avedon exhibit instead of the software.
After the presentation (and another glass of champagne), I floated out to the BART station, glad that it was still light out. The train was packed, though. In addition to raising fares, BART in its infinite wisdom has also reduced the number of cars on the trains, so instead of having, say, a nine car train, it’s five or six, so everyone’s jammed in there like the LIRR. I can see why so many people prefer to drive, despite the bridge toll and the insane cost of parking and parking tickets in the city.
When I got home, all I wanted to do was get in my PJs and watch the last two episodes* of the latest season of Rescue Me. But someone called about the bookshelves on Craigslist and wanted to come over right away, so I had to deal with that first. Even though I wanted to sell them, along with a few other things, I was perversely sad to see them go. There’s no pleasing me, is there?
*I wait until a season is finished, then download it and watch it. That way, I don’t have to wait a week to see the next show. This habit will probably have to change after I move, since the internet download speed and capacity will be severely reduced. Sigh.