Adventure Playground+the Berkeley Marina on August 8.

A mountain lion was found (and killed*) wandering the streets of Berkeleyyesterday in the "Gourmet Ghetto" section for those familiar with the area.

The streets of Berkeley! A few blocks from my kid's school, which is gated. Thank goodness.

It is Lorelai's first day of school today (more on that later)+I was able to hang out at the school for a bit to see her off+catch up with parents from last year+meet new parents. One of the ladies I met brought up the lion:

"What was he doing in Berkeley?? It was probably a socially conscious mountain lion. Going to Cheeseboard or somethin'."

I laughed. Hard.

*Poor mountain lion. The article that I linked quotes, "is the first instance that we've had of this sort of thing in recent memory." And, "authorities said they haven't found any reason why the animal would have wandered this far into the city."

It is obviously an anomoly. It wasn't there on purpose. It shouldn't have been killed, it should have been knocked out by a tranquilizer, treated for injury if it had any+released. Not ok. :(

Today, I had a few hours to myself so I skated down to Beehive Market (it's new, support it! Saturdays at 1701 San Pablo). I'd been wanting to go for a while now. Beforehand, I checked out some of the regular vendors online. I had my heart set on a paella booth being there, but didn't see it so I stopped at my second choice: Boffo Cart.

I ordered a calzone with roasted, sweet tomatos, brie+genovese basil. Oh my goodness. SO good! My mouth still tastes like bbq brie. I'd intended on nibbling on it while listening to the music playing (local band Du Gris)+putting it in my bag to finish later. I even asked for extra foil for the occassion. It didn't make it a mere 10 minutes before it was completely down my face hole.

The owner is a very nice guy with a cool business+he let me buy one of his heirloom tomato that was kinda on display. Organic foods, he does vegan, he shops locally. He's opening a restaurant in Emeryville (I believe) on September 1. It'll be a regular spot, for sure.

Boffo (of Boffo Cart) means sensation. Indeed.

Me: (sitting outside of my favorite lamb spot, waiting for my to-go order to be prepared)

Cool Hand Luke: (sits next to me) Hey. Mind if I sit here?

Me: No. Go ahead.

Cool Hand Luke: Your nail polish are yellow. And your earrings are gold.

Me: Yep. My favorite color is gold. And yellow improves memory.

Cool  Hand Luke: Heh. Not with me. What's your name?

Me: Goldie. What's yours?

Cool Hand Luke: Goldie! What kind of name  is that? My name is Cool Hand Luke.

Me: Cool Hand Luke? What kind of name is that?

Cool Hand Luke: What?? What's so weird about Luke?

Me: Ah. So you're called Luke.

Cool Hand Luke: What's this guy doin? (points at man standing next to a car who is rolling a cigarette)

Cigarette Guy: Where's Peoples Park?

Me: Go up Shattuck+turn left at Dwight.

Cigarette Guy: Is that the place where people were sitting in trees for a few years?

Me: No. That was near the University.

Cool Hand Luke: (saying nothing. staring at the side of my head.)

Cigarette Guy: What was that all about?

Me: They were protesting the tearing down of the trees in order for the University to extend the Sports Facility.

Cool Hand Luke: Wow. You're smart.

Cigarette Guy: Did they end up taking out the trees?

Me: I don't know. I guess I should know that. (as it turns out: they did.)

Cigarette Guy: You guys want some licorice? (produces a jumbo bag of Red Vines.)

Me: Eh. No thanks.

Cool Hand Luke: Nahhhh.

Cigarette Guy: It's hot+fresh.

Me: (thinking: mother f*ck what?!)

Waitress From My Favorite Lamb Spot: Here you go. (hands me my awesome lamb+beef doner sammich.)

Me: Thanks you so much. Hey Cigarette Guy! Are you going to People Park?

Cigarette Guy: Nah. We're going to Walmart. I'm not trying to stare at any trees.

Fin.

Went to a street fair today in Berkeley. There was a face painter. Liv+I saw a kid with the blue forehead arrow from Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender. We loved it+copied it.

Also. Lorelai+my niece were WAY embarassed that we were getting our faces painted. *insert evil parental laugh here.*