This morning I left San Francisco.  I was back out there for a meeting with the EPA and FDA, which is always an interesting experience.  But it gave me some more time in one of my favorite places.  For this trip I had a client with me, who actually was a friend in grad school, and she had never been to California.  I got to play a little tour guide.

To top it all off, we were staying in the hotel that Jack Johnson was staying in!  I know!  Amazing.  Oh yeah, Barack Obama was there too.  But seriously, Jack Johnson!  If you don’t know who Jack Johnson is, its okay, it took me a minute too.  People were more excited about him than the most impotent powerful man in the world.  That is, the people who weren’ among the seeming thousands in the security detail or the “protestors” outside.  The hotel was locked down for a fundraising lunch with a $7,500 per plate price.  I was hoping that there would be a last minute discount, but it didn’t happen.  In all seroiusness it was pretty neat to see what some place goes through to welcome our President.  

The protestors were a special treat.  It was a combination of the “Wall Street” movement and opposition for “Project XL.”  I will be honest, we had to look up Project XL.  Apparently it is a large oil pipeline proposed to be built from Alaska.  Those of you who know me, know that I have no problem with that.  So we had a seat and watched to protestors, well, protest.  It was very amusing.  Our favorite guy had a sign saying something to the effect of “End Corporate Greed” which he was struggling to balance while enjoying his Marlboro Light, talking on his iPhone, and drinking his Starbucks (likely a soy chai latte).  We laughed out loud.  The phrase “jackass” comes to mind.

After our meting we went to Pier 39 for dinner and sat at a table with a view of the bay, Alcatraz, the Presidio, and the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was great, and the food was good too.  An every so often you could hear the the resident sea lions calling out.  It was more enjoyable than my las ttrip by far.

Of course, still got lost getting to the rental car return area at the airport.  Note to anyone with influence over the road signs on the 101 in San Mateo: find ways to mark the renturn center, it shouldn’t be that difficult.  Thanks!