3:22p

didn't quite find what i was looking for
but I found something even better:
walked around 4th street in Berkeley and it was soo alive with people
and music and food and everything!
it was Berkeley at its best.

My first stop was to the market to get some lunch.
There were loads of people in there crowded around the cooked food section.
And when i got there, i couldn't blame them.
WOWOWOWOW!!!!
They had soooo much food just sitting there waiting to be eaten: homemade sandwiches,
pasta salads, green salads, fried chicken, lasagna
....I swear i almost fainted in my excitement.
I chose the grilled vegetable sandwich since I didn't have much cash,
but I supplemented it with a bottle of juice AND the gazillions of samples
they had lying around the store: i.e. chips, salsa, cheeses, bread with olive oil...

ate my lunch outside the market where everyone else was.
found a spot where I had a nice view of the live band that was playing.
It was a young group of folks and the music they were playing kinda
sounded like "elevator music", but they were good.
I was able to take a break from my sandwich to give them an applause
at the end of their number.

I walked through the crepe and ice cream shop and Peet's coffee,
just to see what i could have for desert later.
There were so many selections, that I decided to
think about it later.

Next, I walked into the newly remodeled
Crate and Barrel outlet.
Let me just say that i was shaking the whole time I was in there.
They had so much more merchandise AND they added a section in the
back for discounted furniture.
WOW! I was in heaven. :)

I went to my favorite part of the store: the fabrics.
There were definitely some hip looking stuff and lots of it,
but I didn't quite find the pattern I was looking for.
Nevertheless, I got some great ideas for the rest of my house.

After drooling my way around Crate and Barrel,
I went next door to one of my favorite spots: Z Gallerie.
Only thing is, everything is so damned over-priced that
all I can really do in there is LOOK.
It's quite the tease.

I remembered that they have art in there, too.
Too bad it's quite expensive.
But was once again inspired by their displays and things.

Afterwards, I decided to walk into this place called : The Art Gym.
I had never seen or heard of it before.
And when I walked in, I was instantly inspired. WOW!
It's this awesome place where you can rent out studio space to paint.
And people can just walk in and watch the painters do their thing as well
as look at the paintings on the wall.
YOu can also purchase the painters' art work.
It's this totally organic, cultural, community-oriented space.
It's TOTALLY and COMPLETELY Berkeley.
I miss being a part of that kind of "community".

Anyhow, I ended my short stint at 4th street with
a blended iced coffee from Peet's.
And on my drive home along the waters of the bay, with the Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge and
SFO city scape in the distance, listening to the John Mayer Live album,
sipping on my drink,
I felt totally in my element - thankful that I am able to enjoy days like this.

...and my day's not even over. still got the John Mayer concert in a few hours
yipppeeee!!!