November Wrap Up

November was a mix of new and old: I went to my first-ever NFL game and also did a 5K fun-run with friends from the office (okay, I've run races before BUT this one was different). I also went bowling with friends (before they dropped me off at the airport!) and hung out in Dolores Park for the first time in a couple months... gotta love the warm temps in mid-November... and visited home for almost a week.


Now I am not a big football fan (I watch the Super Bowl for the commercials) but when some friends suggested going as a group to a 49ers game, I figured it would be fun. We made our way down to Levi's Stadium, tailgated (possibly my favorite part of any sporting event) and watched the game from way up in section 420. I had actually toured the stadium a couple years ago when it was partially built (stadium light > my head), and it was cool to finally see the finished project.

Night Nation Run from Youtube

The fun-run was the 5K Night Nation Run and benefited Stand Up To Cancer. Again a group of us figured it would be fun to do; however my other friends have already been steady runners and I had not run in months, therefore I had oh, four weeks to get ready. I only did 1-2 mile runs around my neighborhood but it turned out this run, with its DJ's and lasers and glow sticks and beer tents, wasn't that serious. There were so many distractions, and people, that we did a mix of walking, dancing and lighthearted jogging for the 3-ish miles of the "race". It was super fun though and my goal for next year is to get even more people to do it with us. And the bright side is now I'm into running again.

Also this month I got to attend a couple weddings of dear friends. As I've said in my last post, I'm grateful that I can hop on a plane to witness such special events. Both weddings had funny and loving toasts and personal touches that reflected on the couples. The first wedding was a quick weekend trip involving a not-so-fun red eye flight (hence friends dropping me off at SFO after a night of bowling). The second one was just last weekend, so my husband and I were able to combine it with seeing family for Thanksgiving.

While back in the northeast for Thanksgiving week, we went to see George Takei's first Broadway show, Allegiance. It's inspired by his family's story of living in the internment camps during World War II (not a bright spot in our country's history) and is actually the reason he got on social media a while back. My parents became interested in it because Lea Salonga is in it. It's not exactly the happiest story, but there are a lot of uplifting parts, the performers are fantastic and I'm really glad it was made. 

Other things going on in November:

Eats:

• (San Francisco) u-sushi - got a lunch bowl... the fish was great and at a really good price point (damn my dinnertime sushi cravings)
• (New Jersey) When we were back visiting, we got delicious sandwiches (as usual) from Pascarella Bros Deli - they are opening a new location in Morristown for anyone in that area!
• (San Francisco) Chapeau! - had a special dinner at this French bistro in the Inner Richmond. The food and service were both fantastic. The chef came out to greet us, and we played around on Google maps talking about where to visit in France. When they heard it was our anniversary they treated us to dessert (with candles, we could make anniversary wishes!). You could tell all the diners were just comfortable hanging out in this gem.

TV Shows:

• How to Get Away with Murder - I wanted to check this out since I enjoy Scandal and Viola Davis... it was fairly entertaining and easy to binge watch, but once I finished the first season, I didn't feel a need to continue. 

• Jane the Virgin - thoroughly entertaining. A couple friends mentioned this and I'd been hearing about it in commercials and online. As one friend said, describing the plot lines out loud sounds ludicrous, but the show really is great.

And that was November. My holiday season is now officially on.