The hardest business trip to come home from...

I'm still on West Coast time. My body still thinks it is in San Franciscio. I just got back from nine days in the most gorgeous weather I've ever experienced in California. I was there 5 days for a conference, and an extra 4 for a wee bit of rest and relaxation. Jesse flew out to join me on at the tail end of the business of portion.

My green backpack was able to join me for my second foray to the West Coast this year. In July I had a difficult time leaving San Diego, but this was worse. I stayed in the middle of the top ranked walking city in the US. I purchased my weeklong Muni pass on the second day I was there, and I was off riding the Muni underground, the F line streetcar, the cable cars, and the Muni buses. I walked the Embarcadero, up and down the steep hills of Hyde, Mason, and California streets; and paths of Golden Gate Park. I shopped at Zara (first time ever, and loved it!), and had my Jamba Juice. Jesse and I met my cousin for fondue at the Matterhorn, and had fantastic drinks in pineapples at the Tonga Room. We visited Alcatraz, City Lights bookstore, Muir Woods, and Sausalito. I couldn't believe how much of the city's geography I retained. From remembering the location of AT&T Park to Safeway in the Marina district that I bought groceries at seven years earlier, it was an eerie sense deja vu minus my Dad.

My flights worked out well. For years, I shied away from JetBlue in favor of miles and better times on American. I'm coming back to JetBlue on a regular basis. I few them to Seattle three years ago, and it was a good value. This trip was fantastic. I loved the tvs. I watched Samantha Brown and some What Not to Wear on TLC, and I was set. I also loved the free Doritos Munchies.

Oh, it was hard to leave the rainless, perfect temperature weather. And the clean Muni. And the Swedish pancakes at Sears. And of course Zara. A trip back will certainly be sooner than seven years...