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<\/a>San Franciso. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
We were in town because he was doing a commercial there, (which ran for a long while after that. Yay!)\u00a0 Even though he’s intense when he works, (and, actually, all<\/em> the time\u2014he’s Italian!,) he brought me along.\u00a0 A lot of issues had been getting to me at that time, and, even though I had never before had a good time in that area, I really needed a little break from LA.\u00a0 (I just realized\u2014in all my years here in Los Angeles, the town that I adopted when I was just a teen-ager, I had never before stayed put for a whole year without a trip somewhere, usually New York.\u00a0 At the point of my SF trip, I hadn’t left town for well over fourteen months!\u00a0 Wow. I guess I was experiencing something akin to island fever.)<\/p>\n So, here are our reviews of that week-end.\u00a0 I’ll leave out the part about the hotel and surroundings for now, and will bring you those deets in Part II, which contains\u2014wait for it\u2014a review from Mr. X himself!!!\u00a0 For the first time ever in this e-zine!<\/p>\n And then the following column will be my reviews of the many places we dined at in those few days.<\/p>\n The California State Capitol in Sacramento. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n But here now is my<\/em>\u00a0story of the good<\/em> parts of that week-end! (But, weirdly, most of those were without Mr. X!\u00a0 Read on to see why.):<\/p>\n We had to fly separately because of a glitch in his schedule.\u00a0 But, as stressed as I was about getting there alone, (I’m a wimpy traveler,) it all worked-out.\u00a0 My great friend, Curtis, took me to the airport, which sent me off in the right mood.\u00a0 And even the airport wait was okay because I got to watch Roger Federer’s beautiful semi-final win over Andy Murray, on my iPad.\u00a0 (But please never mention the subsequent Final to me, ever.)\u00a0 I was seated in the first row of the plane, and an adorable teen-ager, Moses, sat in my row, and made the time fly.<\/p>\n Mr. X, who rarely goes out to eat (because he thinks sitting in a restaurant is a waste of time) had to go\u00a0out\u00a0to four meals there with me!\u00a0 I loved it!\u00a0 One was really good and three were pretty weak.\u00a0 (You can read all about them in the upcoming Part III.)<\/p>\n The beautiful sunset at the Zarkas gorgoeus home in Placerville. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n And, even though the bed was half the size of the one we sleep in at home, and the hotel had no AC nor room service, (deets tomorrow,) we laughed the whole time we were together.\u00a0 I don’t think we had even one fight there!\u00a0 (I guess we were just too hot and uncomfortable to argue.\u00a0 And we were united in our anger at others<\/em>, mainly the situation, to be angry with\u00a0each other.)<\/p>\n But this is why I had a beautiful time up north: It was because of Dave and Deb Zarka.<\/p>\n The experience made me think of some show business stupidity I saw many years ago.\u00a0 For some unknown reason, Jerry Lewis was given a talk show.\u00a0 On his very first show, he said this, that’s stuck with me for all these years: ”The best wish I could ever wish you is to have people in show business as friends.\u201d\u00a0 How shallow and weird.\u00a0 But I thought of that statement recently when I realize that I now wish everyone (well, all good, deserving people,) a friend like the Zarkas<\/em>!!!\u00a0 When I tell people what they did for me, they’re all amazed.<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Here’s the quick backstory: I met Dave through mutual pals when neither of us had been in LA very long.\u00a0 But he then moved up north and married Deb (with my major approval,) and, as life goes, we lost touch.\u00a0 And then, just a year ago, Deb, thankfully, put us back in touch.\u00a0 (Most wives I know make their husbands stop<\/em> talking to me!\u00a0 How dumb.\u00a0 Deb is one in a million!)\u00a0 Talking to Dave all the time is like having a wonderful brother.\u00a0 But I couldn’t imagine when we would ever get to see each other again; they don’t come to LA, and I don’t go to San Fran.<\/p>\n But when Mr. X’s talent gave me this wonderful opportunity, I jumped right on it.\u00a0 I called Dave, and asked, \u201cHow far are you guys from San Francisco?\u201d\u00a0 My big plans were crushed when he answered, “Over two hours!\u00a0 I said, \u201cWell, that’s the end of that.\u201d\u00a0 When I explained the situation, Dave said, without skipping a beat, \u201cOf course I’ll go get you!!!\u201d\u00a0 For just a day<\/em>!\u00a0 He even planned to bring me back to their house for dinner, and then return me to the hotel that same night!!!\u00a0 How unbelievably kind is that<\/em>???\u00a0 (I have that friend in New York, Lauren, who’s like that, too.\u00a0 Believe me, I’m always<\/em> a grateful girl.)<\/p>\n Sausalito. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n But Mr. X said I should stay over with them for that Saturday night; he was working on Sunday, anyway, and he didn’t want Dave to drive five hours round-trip in one day for me!\u00a0 (Dave actually drove much more than that\u2014because of the crazy traffic up there, especially on a week-end, it took him three and a half hours<\/em> just to get to me!!!\u00a0 OMG!\u00a0 And people complain about LA<\/em> traffic!)<\/p>\n So, Dave scooped me up in the afternoon, and it was like we had just seen each the week before!!!\u00a0 And, trust me, it had been a couple of decades!\u00a0 He drove me all around San Francisco to show me absolutely everything<\/em>!\u00a0 He even offered for us to get out and explore, which would have made his return trip that much longer, but I really do like to just see everything from a car.<\/p>\n Poolside cocktail hour. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Then, because it had been the first place I had stayed in California all those years ago, he drove me around Sausalito!!!\u00a0 What a trip (mentally) that was!\u00a0 We even stopped at a roadside A&W, (because I hadn’t seen one since I was a teen,) which was a good memory, but awful burgers.<\/p>\n The best part was arriving at the Zarkas’ beautiful home in Placerville.\u00a0 Deb had put out a spread of snacks that would be welcome at the finest resort!\u00a0 We enjoyed them poolside, then took in the sunset from their many different decks.\u00a0 OMG!\u00a0 [Note: They share pix of the sunsets on Facebook many nights, so, to see one in person was special indeed.]<\/p>\n But that wasn’t it for the food!\u00a0 Deb had made a delicious sumptuous dinner for us, as well.\u00a0 We dined al fresco, on the lower deck, in candlelight.<\/p>\n The view out my bedroom window. Notice the sad tennis on my iPad on my bed! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n By the time we were done, it was 11:30PM!\u00a0 Wow.\u00a0 So that meant only thing\u2014hot tub time!\u00a0 We had so much to talk about, and there were so many stars to marvel over, that, by the time we entered the house, it was 2AM!<\/p>\n I took a shower and got into a cozy bed, and reflected on my great day.\u00a0 I had only a few hours sleep when the beautiful sounds of nature wakened me.\u00a0 (I slept with no AC and the window open, which I’ve never done in LA.\u00a0 It was a revelation.)<\/p>\n The cute town of Placerville. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n I got ready, and joined Deb on the party patio while we waited for Dave to return from church.\u00a0 And then, sadly, it was time to leave.<\/p>\n But, of course, not straight back to San Fran.\u00a0 They showed me the adorable city of Placerville; I need a week<\/em> there, not just a few hours!\u00a0 We had breakfast at a cute little country eatery on the edge of town, (I’ll tell you all about it in Part III,) and then back to the car for more touring.<\/p>\n This time, they took me through Sacramento.\u00a0 I had been there only once before, as part of a biker gang, (don’t ask,) in my first months on this coast.\u00a0 Needless to say, this<\/em> time was much more to my liking!<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>