2016-02-19 - Flying to San Francisco
I landed at SFO midday on Friday, February 19. My friend's flight had been delayed and I hadn't eaten for the whole flight from the NYC area so I decided to grab a quick lunch. After slurping down my noodles, it took a while to organize my trash into the proper bins marked recyclables and compost. I had to walk further away to a separate trash can to throw away stuff I felt did not belong in either. I wondered how many people just tossed their own into a random bin and not think about it. I also wondered if anyone ever figured out the optimal thing to do, like track oil prices to calculate the point where its profitable for recycling plants in the area to recycle plastic and decide based on that whether to throw their bottle away into the recyclables bin. Of course, if you ever approached being that scientific about it, might as well just carry a reusable sports bottle with you everywhere you go like me.
I had one checked bag I had to get from the baggage claim downstairs. After not finding it on the carousel it was supposed to be and having the common minor panic attack thinking what if someone took it, I spotted in the office nearby. I saw the employees walk in the back as I approached so I just took my bag and walked out without telling anyone. It just shows how easy it is to steal luggage. My friend's plane landed shortly after so I told her to meet me at the baggage claim. An inkling of suspicion popped into my mind, however. What if she was at a different terminal? Checking my Trip It app revealed that to be indeed the case. She at Terminal 2, headed upstairs to the Air Train while I at Terminal 1 realized I could just walk over to meet her. A short walk later, we hugged in front of Delta signs with me being slightly amused at the fact that taking the Air Train would actually involve more walking than just walking over. Ah, the silliness of modern design.
I had one checked bag I had to get from the baggage claim downstairs. After not finding it on the carousel it was supposed to be and having the common minor panic attack thinking what if someone took it, I spotted in the office nearby. I saw the employees walk in the back as I approached so I just took my bag and walked out without telling anyone. It just shows how easy it is to steal luggage. My friend's plane landed shortly after so I told her to meet me at the baggage claim. An inkling of suspicion popped into my mind, however. What if she was at a different terminal? Checking my Trip It app revealed that to be indeed the case. She at Terminal 2, headed upstairs to the Air Train while I at Terminal 1 realized I could just walk over to meet her. A short walk later, we hugged in front of Delta signs with me being slightly amused at the fact that taking the Air Train would actually involve more walking than just walking over. Ah, the silliness of modern design.
A convenient Lyft ride dropped us off at my brother's place in San Bruno 10 minutes away. He let us in and we dropped off our luggage before heading back out with him. He had to attend a meeting at work while we went for a walk. We headed towards the large "South San Francisco The Industrial City" sign featured on the promising green hills of San Bruno Mountain State Park. Along the way we passed by a cemetery, a mall, a concrete river, a 1-mile bike path, and honestly not much of interest. It had begun to rain and we did not see any appealing place to wait it out so we walked back. I reminded my friend of her hood while regretting not wearing a jacket with one of my own. We arrived back at my brother's place, cold and wet after our 2-hour saunter.
We watched the wonderful animated film, "The Song of the Sea" while waiting for my brother to return home. After the movie, we checked into the Super 8 hotel and my friend was pleasantly surprised after having low expectations. We all went out for dinner at a Japanese joint named "Ichiban Sushi." I had noodles again. My brother did not finish so he took his leftovers back home while my friend and I walked back to the hotel. I was tired due to the time difference so we slept a bit early. She asked me to play one of those podcasts I keep telling her about so I played a recent episode of "Criminal," possibly my favorite podcast. I was surprised at how still and quiet she was before realizing she had fallen asleep. I fell asleep myself shortly after finishing the episode and turning off my phone.
