A good time not had at the movies

Instead of the movies, I went walkabout today.

I went into the Oikland Hills to recon the layout in case I get lost on Christmas Night. Cant be too careful.

Yep. Way hilly.

I loudly wondered (to myself and others within earshot) if anyone in those parts ever walked anywhere.

Eventually I found a Secret Way Back that made me less fearful of the Montclair Hills.

Still, lets make sure I have Plan B cab money.

Once Im in Walkabout Mode, I wander.
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Wandered the Montclair Hills Village area.

No Barnes and Nobles, but many cute little shoppes of the bourgeois type.

According to Montclair Village guide I studied (Got it from the Montclair Malt Shop, great Vanilla malted: $4.75 tho) ... they have 10 psychiatrists IN A 3 BLOCK SQUARE AREA.

Money (or wanting it) will make you mad I think.
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Got off the bus.

Found myself in Oakland's Chinatown.

Bliss.

By my reckoning, although far smaller than San Francisco's Chinatown.. way better.

Ahhhhh, the joy of getting lost amongst crowds of people.

Heh. In a 3 square block area.

I swear to gawd, I did.

I got lost.

Cool. :-)

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Me to cute chica under an umbrella..

"Do you know where Maria's Bakery is? I thought it was around here somewhere..."

Her responding in California Valley Girl-type speak*: (*trust me guys, y'all DO sound like that. I dont giggle when I hear it now.)

"Oh no! I think it's closed down now!"

"Any other place that you know of?"

"Like, a place that has the fancy pastries like Maria's? There are a couple of places around here, but not like Maria's."

"Ok, thank you - I'll go look."

"I'm sorry! Good luck!"

I smiled back, and jaywalked across the middle of Franklin Street (Californians act like Jaywalking is a capital offense..) to find a pastry shop.

I found several.

The first:

Reading from EXTENSIVE pastry bun menu..

"Can I get a shitake chicken bun, two hot dog buns and..."

"No no.. only Pineapple bun."

"Ok, then I'll get a ham and cheese.."

"Pineapple bun, we only have Pineapple bun."

I stop, regeared, smiled at the idiocy of a pastry shop only having one item out of 42 listed, wheeled and went back out into the rain.

*munch*.. number two (Sun Sing Pastry) had everything. Tummy full now.

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NOT cool however, is when people apply an age-old insult.. spitting forcefully as you walk by or they go by you.

An age-old expression of insult.

Shit, they dont spit that much even in NY.

And this has happened every time Ive been through Oakland's chinatown.

This time, I only remember two loud and forceful spitters behind me.

An old woman and a young man.

Usually, I dont notice until after the fact, and Ive had the time to analyze.. or I ignore it.

Now, Im pissed.

Next time that crap happens, I may turn around and return the favor or express another age-old insult.

Again, most folk are cool, but it does happen every time I roll through there.

Not cool at all.
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After a mild shopping spree (Yeo's Soymilk and a vietnamese sesame cookie), I stopped and treated to myself to a Horlicks Tapioca drink.

*chew*

Now I know I see alla da time, tapioca drinks sitting out in the open with a good 1/3'rd left of balls and juice.

No one actually EATS alla the chewy tapioca balls I find.

At first it brought peace, but the prospect of chewing all those tapioca balls.. eh no.

The trick to finishing your drink: Abandon the straw, open the lid and suck the last of the juice out leaving the balls.

*nod*
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Goin' walkabout. Better than the movies.