I needed to get out of the office and get some fresh air. Went outside, my bootheels tapped hollowly on loose stones that make up the smoker’s plaza right outside. I walked north to the waterfront, looking up at the messy grey sky, uneven with dusty cold clouds.

The farmer’s market was winding down. I watched the women tearing down their tents and packing up boxes of fruit and jars of honey and jam. As I walked by I noticed a fat perfect strawberry on the pavement. Some sea bird is going to be so lucky.

Soon the indoor market inside the Ferry Building will be ready. The building reminds me of a large barn, like you would see at a fair, only without any straw or animals. Each big stall will house a local food vendor. Beside each wide doorway is a little mosaic tile depicting something food-related.

I went into the new Peet’s coffee and got a bag of whole beans and a free cup. The coffee is dark and acidic no matter how much cream I add — I like how I make their coffee at home; somehow it ends up tasting smoother.

On the way back I noticed that the low wall along the edge of the bay is fitted with little ridged corners, apparently to serve no structural purpose at all. But they keep skateboarders from using the wall to practice grinds. Brian told me that, and now I notice how many new stone benches and walls in the city feature these little stoppers. Lame. Let’s make public spaces ugly because of the complaints of a few.

I really want to talk about the apartment that my roommate and I are hoping to live in next month, but some superstition inside me puts on the brakes. But we will find out tomorrow. I feel good about our chances; our records and references are so shiny and pretty. This place would be almost perfect in many ways. Waiting is very hard. My tummy feels knotted and I lay awake in bed this morning after Brian went to work, just thinking and thinking about the rooms and details.

Need to go to the gym tonight. It’s been over a week. If we do end up getting this place, the packing/moving process will be suddenly thrust into high gear, so I will soon have little energy to spare for the cardio machine.