I have spoken on my cell phone while driving for the last time, until I get bluetooth. But who's got the time?

I've been running around a lot since getting back from Alaska. Santa Rosa, got my case dismissed. Yreka, got 1 of two cases settled. Ah, but Ukiah. Nothing is moving at all in Ukiah. The DA in charge of green cases is in no hurry. Settled a DUI in Willits, but I expect to be in Ukiah often in coming months. I'm back in the Best Western, however, after a disasterous attempt to book a room at the Super 8 collapsed entirely (their desk clerk seems to have forgotten to write the reservation down - or was it a bird in the hand walking up to the counter who got my room?) They got me a room in the Valu Inn or Value Inn - "an easy walk to the airport" but not so easy a walk to the courthouse. If only the Economy Inn would get ethernet internet. Anyway, I'm back in the Best Western tomorrow night and glad of it. Only a few more stays and the 3rd night during our Ashland Shakespeare trip this October will be paid for in "points" instead of dollars.

But what about eating? The Feds raids in Sohum have kept me away from home till all hours, so I was glad to get a chance to have dinner with my sweetheart at the Mateel Cafe in Redway recently. Its summer, the patio is open and a wonderful site for dinner. She had strogonoff, I flirted with bacon salid but ended up with steak. A nice bottle of Syrah, an unhurried dinner as she had people to meet when the bus arrived (late, of course, which gave us an extra half hour to enjoy the good food, nice ambience, and each other). I'm afraid I had the blackberry pie, warmed, with ice cream. Fortunately my sweetie agreed to help me with it.

And tonight? Tonight I'm in Eureka. Just as well. Our weedwhacker sliced through the internet cable to the law office and we are off the web.

So as I walked westward on F street I flipped a coin as I approached 3rd street, to see whether I would eat at the southwest corner (the Ritz) or the north east corner (Mazotti's). Heads was Italian, and that's what I got. Service indifferent, food delicious. I haven't eaten Italian food for a while and I was missing the sheer caloric value of it all. Start with a nice small loaf of oven-warm bread to be slathered with butter and dipped into oil and vinegar, and while awaiting the wine, lo the bread is all gone. Burp.

Another glass of wine and Lasanga al Forno - a half-order- was really good. No dessert. I am on a diet, after all. I got that lone table at the corner of the building. Waved to some girls going by and they waved back, so passers-by, who are very close to you and a little embarassed to be caught looking at you in the restaurant can be friendly - but it is a dangerous table for service since it is totally out of the flow of waiter traffic. Service was slow. It picked up once we got going with dinner - the water glass remained filled - but at the end I was alone at the table with my newspaper waiting for the waiter to notice and bring the bill. Very few Volvo ads in the Chronicle classified. Definitely a 15% night, but the food was delicious.

As I gazed through the windows at the street scene, while waiting for my release from the table - i.e. the check - I realized that there was a photo op across the street, at least if you believe in earthquakes. That structure at the top of the building seems to have no functional use at all, but if it fell down.....



And at G street, Avalon. Why don't I ever eat there? I attended a Gallegoes fund-raiser there way back when he was running or rerunning for office. It was nice. But perhaps the menu prices are a bit higher than everyone elses? Perhaps I just get carried by it with my feet on automatic because my assistant (who is not with me except for trials) is a Ritz fan? I mean to try it out some night.

Reflecting on routing, I realise that i cut cross the parking lots between 4th and 3rd opposite the Avalon door, and so I never actually walk by the restaurant itself, and so I never gaze fleetingly at the menu, and so my attention is never grabbed by some great sounding dish, and so I never eat there. I do walk by on the way back to the Townhouse, but then it's too late. Shall I alter my path deliberately so I can accidently see the Avalon menu while I'm hungry? Seems like cheating fate, but I may do it.