On Friday night I finally had my first date with Hector. It followed another boring day on my new job. I'd spent most of the day in a long meeting, listening to a visiting expert describe how to pitch those software products our company aims at the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) level. Although my job is not a sales job, I will have to get involved, from time to time, on sales meetings, and this was my first introduction to it. It left a somewhat unpleasant taste in my mouth.

I can't really tell you why, but there's something very distasteful to me about sales. Even when, as in the case with our company, I think we're actually selling good products. It's something about pushing something on people when they may neither want nor need it. I listened as the sales rep described how they got into contact with one company's CFO by keep calling back. "We kept asking for Robert Smith, and one time we heard 'Bob has gone for the day.' So next time we called and asked for Bob and BAMM - we got straight through." Well bully for you.

I don't know if my distaste is unusual or whether it's common, but I experience the same feelings when someone tries to push their belief system on me. It's part of the reason I've often written here that I don't want advice sent my way.

Anyway, I'm getting way off the subject I started with! Hector. After that first week at work, I was ready to just have a nice, quiet, relaxing evening. I picked Hector up at his place of work and we drove to the Marina to find somewhere to eat, ending up at Rosti's (went to one of these with Webb in LA a few months ago!)

Really, we hardly knew anything about each other - all we'd exchanged were a few comments when I'd bought my shoes a week earlier, and a few quick telephone conversations. We were both a little shy but I guess we gently probed each other through our dinner to figure out what kind of person the other was. As we talked, I realized with a certain kind of tingling excitement, that Hector was even better looking than I'd thought at first. He had a beautiful smile, and eyes you could dive into and go swimming in. He also seemed kind and considerate - a gentle, soulful guy - the kind of guy I just warm up to immediately.

After dinner, I drove us down to the Marina parking lot, and we walked along the stone banks of the foggy Marina, listening to the waves rush over the boulders, and the deep, booming foghorn somewhere out past the Golden Gate. It was very romantic, if a little chilly. He'd borrowed the U of Penn sweatshirt I'd had in my car and it was too big for him, but he looked so cute in it. Oi veh.

It was getting late, so I drove Hector home and we stopped outside his apartment and said goodnight to each other for quite a few minutes :) I'm looking forward very much to seeing him again - hope he feels the same. I always think the worst, though, when I meet someone I really like (which is very, very rare). I'll think he just wants to have sex, or that I bored him or... well you know! We'll see. I saw enough to know that he's potentially someone I could like, respect and probably fall for,

What is it with me? I've been sleeping in all week, getting up late for work, and now, on Saturday morning, I wake up at seven! So I got up, and, after a quick self-census realized I was still feeling the sickly fatigue I've been feeling for a couple of weeks now. I got a lot done though, squeezed in a chat session with my online buddies, and even made some headway on balancing my check book!

I was determined not to let my fatigue stop my running. I mean I hadn't been running for a couple of weeks now probably, but that was partly due to just being too busy. I drove down, in the misty cool morning, to the Embarcadero and set off running.

Starting point for my runs - under the Bay Bridge

Further along it gets a bit more touristy

I always nod a greeting to the sad but still Gallant Knight

The small marina near the Wharf

Finally the crowds at Fisherman's Wharf - then I head back

I spent the afternoon getting stuff done. I really wish I wasn't going to our headquarters - my heart isn't in it. I'm fairly dreading having to sit in class and fight that awful fatigue. Besides that, I don't even feel like I've settled in from my last trip. Anyway, I did get a fair amount done this afternoon. By five, though, I was looking out the bedroom window trying to figure out how the traffic on the freeway looked for my drive to Berkeley.

The traffic didn't look good - I'd have to head off soon, as I'd promised Brett to be at his place in Berkely by 6.00

Freeway doesn't look too bad from here does it?

Uh oh - I spoke too soon!

Brett was playing with his chickens when I got there. I don't know about you, but I eat chickens.

What is it with you and your chickens, Brett?

We drove over to Jack London Square in Oakland and had dinner at Uno's - such a suburban thing to do.

Dinner at Pizzeria Uno in Oakland

After dinner, we crossed the street to go to the movies. It had been ages since we'd seen an action movie, so we caught "Deep Blue Sea" and you know what, it was actually pretty damn good! And that Thomas Jane hunk - woohoo!

I really lucked out the day I met Brett, several years ago now. I don't know what I'd do without him - he's the one friend I can always depend on. We have such a lot of laughs. And he has such a good heart. After the movie, I dropped him off home and he asked me in for a bit of the home-made plum crisp he'd made. He's much more domesticated than me :)