Kevin Standlee: Fandom Is My Way of Life

Lisa took me to the Reno Amtrak station this morning to catch the Amtrak California Zephyr, which was running around 30-45 minutes late. I know that train's schedule, however, which has a significant amount of "recovery time" built in to it. That's why the stops from Sacramento onward have a D by their schedule with a footnote of "stops to discharge passengers only; may leave before scheduled time."

( Through the Sierra to Sacramento, Emeryville, and Fremont )

As usual, I enjoyed my train trip. I'd do it more often if I could, but it isn't practical for the trips home. Coming down from Reno works, but the trips home do not, because the Zephyr leaves Emeryville at 9 AM. Also, even if I left the Rolling Stone at Fremont station (possible), the early morning Capitol Corridor train has an "illegal" (under ten minute) connection at Emeryville with the CZ, and that's cutting things too fine. In a pinch, I could book a Capitol-plus-bus trip to Reno, but I don't like booking a "train" trip that is mostly a ride on a bus.

Being close to needing a haircut, and knowing that I'm going to be too busy for the next few weekends to get one, I decided to go up to my regular barber in Fremont this morning. Having gotten moving early enough, after getting my ears lowered I decided to walk from there to Dino's, near my old apartment, where I had a hearty breakfast. After all that food, I needed more of a walk, so with the San Francisco Giants-Chicago Cubs game on my radio, I set out for a walk around Quarry Lakes Park. I often walked around Quarry Lakes when I lived at Meadowbrook Common, and I missed the place.

The Quarry Lakes are looking less like lakes and more like the quarry they used to be. (Much of the ballast for the Western Pacific Railroad was apparently from the quarry that became Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area (link is to map of park). I took pictures.

( A Walk in the Park )

Leaving the park, my path took me by Meadowbrook Common, where I used to live. A car came along and triggered the gate, and I walked in behind it, making a show of taking out my keys as if I was heading for my apartment, which I was, in a way.

( Old Home Week )

Having walked more than 10 km at this point, my legs informed me that a break was in order, so I stopped at Suju's coffee for a mocha and a croissant. I also took the opportunity to pick up a pound of their whole bean coffee. I've been buying my coffee from them for years. This will be the first bag of beans to go to Fernley with me.

( Last photo )

I wasn't completely done, as it was another 1.5 km back to the shopping center where my van was parked.

I can't do this every day — I clocked over 17K steps today — but I need to put in more road-work than I have been doing. My weight is up and my blood sugar with it.

Going back to the apartment, I spent the remainder of the afternoon filling up my van with more things, including my microwave oven. I asked the apartment manager to give me back the one that came with the unit and that they stored away, and they actually brought it back this afternoon, which I didn't expect. The maintenance man also found for me a hex wrench — I seem to have left my tool kit in Fernley — to disassemble a shelf in the bathroom that belongs to me and is heading home tomorrow.

Normally I would have gone home yesterday afternoon, but there is a Westercon 66 staff meeting in Sacramento tomorrow morning, so the logistics make sense for me to have stayed here Friday and today, head up to Sacramento in the morning, and continue on to Fernley after the meeting.

As I was walking away from the barbershop yesterday, I spotted this sign in the dilapidated shopping center's parking lot.

( Larger version of my newest userpic )

Maybe the sign maker was offering a "sale" on "free quotation mark's" the day they ordered this sign.

Thanks to cynthia1960, I have had it brought to attention that the city where I live, Fremont, California, celebrates its 50th anniversary today.

Fremont consists of four smaller towns that incorporated together. Apparently it was planned to be five, but one of the members of the party opted out, and that is why Newark, California is an enclave completely surrounded by the city of Fremont.