I'm back on the right coast and back to my old tricks. My excursion to the great state of California was super. Excellent combinations. Business and pleasure. Friends and strangers. Comfort and hardship. I didn't get to do everything on my to do list. That just means I'll have to go back soon. Here's the highlights: Taking in theNara Nothing Ever Happensexhibit at San Jose Museum of Art during a cocktail reception for the SND Conference. Nara rocks! Shopping around the boutiques in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. Especially the store Alabaster , where I bought the book A Convergence of Birds: Original Fiction and Poetry Inspired by Joseph Cornell and was tempted by murano glass lamps, vintage globes, venetian etched mirrors, mercury glass and many more lovely things. After all that browsing, I snacked on belgian fries at frjtz. A paper cone of piping hot frites with your choice of gourmet dipping sauce for three bucks. A Wok Wiz Tour of Chinatown that included a family style meal and stops at a Tao temple and fortune cookie factory. The quiet afternoon spent sipping orchid oolong while writing postcards at Imperial Tea Court. This was one place on my "must return" list after visiting last year. I stocked up on a variety of teas-red envelope, chai, genmai cha and a jasmine tea that blooms in your cup. Having my fortune told by a variety of old fashioned coin operated amusements at Musee Mecanique. Most of the machines cost 50 cents. For about three bucks, I had a great time, shaking off a little bout of blues on the blustery day I dropped in. Making the pilgrimage to Amoeba Music where I happily flipped through the vast selection for hours. I timed my visit to catch a live in-store set by Supergrass. Inhaling the amazing aroma in Buena Vista Park. Meeting a handsome stranger, striking up a conversation,continuing on for drinks that evening and spending the following afternoon wandering around North Beach together. Spending the better part of an evening at the Kabuki Springs and Spa indulging in a soak and confronting my fear of public nudity. This experience has inspired me to start a collection of memoir essays. Working title "How the Leopard Lost Her Spots and Other Whacked Out True Stories." The coolest thing that I did was spend the weekend at Yosemite National Park with ME. Hanging out with ME was what the trip was about in the first place. After considering driving up to Mount St. Helens to check out the seismic activity or to Reno; we decided to wing it and headed to Yosemite. All the heated accomodations were full so we ended up staying in an unheated tent. The 42 degree temperature overnight was of no consequence in relation to the spectacular scenery and company. Good thing I got a little head start walking around San Francisco for five days before going to the park because we hiked about 5 miles a day. The first night I was so tired, I was ready to fall over at 7:30 pm and only made it 9:45 before I was passed out. Shh. don't tell anyone and ruin my insomniac street cred. Taft Point was my favorite spot. The dry Mirror Lake was cool, too. The sand felt great under my feet-very large grains like tapioca. Oh, gosh, I can't forget about the stars. It was like being in a planetarium. We walked out into this meadow and were surrounded by more stars than I could imagine. ME picked out some constellations. I saw a shooting star. This was one of those few instances that I feel my attempts at description or even photography are completely inadequate. You've got to see this place for yourself. Majestic was the only word that kept popping into my mind. Corny but true. If you're lucky when you go, you'll have a guide as fab as ME who can tell you about geology, astronomy, Greek mythology, bear ettiquette, wind farms and lots of other obscure topics while being totally fascinating without making you feel dumb or bored for one instant. Was travelling by myself hard? Absolutely. Was it cool? Affirmative. I found myself doing things I wouldn't normally attempt and those experiences were rewarding. Rode five different public transportation systems and didn't get lost once. I missed my bad girl posse terribly. Felt the need to contact The Editor (whose gift of coffee this evening is fueling this mission) for his opinion on my poem. Nursed a cold and a pinched heart. Ate in restaurants alone. Lost three pounds. Appreciated my comfy bed, goofy dogs, hugs from the bad girls, playing with my nephews more than ever when I got home. Sometimes you have to go away to really appreciate what you left behind.