ERdocfan Meets Evsterbear and Mother's Day

Eight years and a couple of weeks ago, I was searching AOL for single women in San Diego who were then online. I came across Robin’s AOL profile (this was before internet dating became a cultural mainstay). Robin was a junior at UCSD at the time and sounded intelligent, so I sent her an instant message about her interests in science and medicine. Robin checked my profile before responding to me, as often times instant messages weren’t worth a response. Robin thought my profile made me sound smart and polite – smart, yes, polite, um, not so sure. Lucky for me, Robin decided to respond to my instant message.

Robin went by the handle "ERdocfan" as the TV drama ER was and remains her favorite program. I went by the handle "Evsterbear" as my name is Evan and some have been known to call me Evster and I am a Golden Bear. For a few weeks, we both sat at our computers hacking away. Onward our fingers moved, e-mails and instant messages bounced back and forth and each of us worked our way into the thoughts of the other. We both looked forward to the unique ding and computerized voice of "you've got mail." Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan have nothing on us! Every day we would "chat" and learn more about each other. After a few weeks of communicating over the computer, as I didn’t want to talk on the phone prior to meeting, we set out to meet in person.

On Wednesday, May 13, 1998, I emailed Robin (who kept the email) with the subject line “Meet me” and asked her to meet me “tonight at 10:30 at Café Crema.” I told her “I can’t wait any longer. It is in Pacific Beach. I will come direct from work.” I was living in PB at the time and Robin was living just down the road in Clairemont (maybe five miles away). I had not seen a picture of Robin. I only knew that she was taller than me and that she had long red hair. She had seen my mug shot from my law firm's website. For whatever reason, she agreed to meet. I told her “a giant hug will be waiting for [her].”

That night, I arrived at Café Crema before Robin. I ordered up a glass of milk (that was before we had kids - now it would be a triple mocha) and sat down, read the newspaper and waited. I'd been to this café numerous times to write in my journal, read a book or just relax. It was just six blocks from my apartment. Robin had never been. When Robin walked in, she was nervously looking around for me, so she says. To this day, Robin claims she felt as if every eye in the place was on her. The truth is that I was the only one looking for her. And I'll never forget that long red hair attached to that beautiful face coming across the room to my table. Robin got that “giant hug” I had promised. We talked that night until closing time. We saw each other the next day and the next day.... The rest is history.

ER is still on and I still love the California Golden Bears. And now we love each other lots more than those things....

Two years ago, we tried going back down to PB to visit Café Crema. CLOSED. That corner will still always mean something. So if you are ever passing by the intersection of Garnet and Cass in PB, now you know where this all started.

When people ask us where we met, we always say Café Crema in Pacific Beach, which is technically true, even though we owe our relationship to AOL. Sorry to those of you who have received an incomplete story to date.

On May 13, 2006, we enjoyed a fine (kid free) meal at the Fish Market -- the same place we went for our first "real" date. After dinner we went to see Akeelah and the Bee. If you have free time and want a feel good movie, go see it. It is not a heavy movie -- unless you are a weirdo and try to spell all the words thrown at these middle school kids. But, the acting is solid and the story is fun.

***********************
For Mother's Day, Andrew and Noah ordered their Mommy a beautiful new apron with a picture of them on the front. Here is a picture of Robin in her cool new apron. I almost got Robin a vacuum, but since I know what's good for me....

The boys decided to take Mommy out to brunch at the Prado in Balboa Park. The food was magnificent. The boys behaved pretty well and we all really enjoyed the wide variety of foods. Andrew's favorite was the chocolate covered strawberries. Noah's favorite was strawberries and blackberries (which found their way all over his pretty pants). After brunch we headed out to the fountain (near the Museum of Art) and let the boys play around for a little bit. Pictures from the adventure are below.

Mommy and Her Two Boys on Mother's Day

Andrew Showing Noah How to Touch the Water in the Fountain

Andrew Getting an up Close View of a Ladybug!

Last year for Mother’s Day, we took an Amtrak train ride up to San Juan Capistrano. This year, after playing in the fountain, we headed over to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. Notice a theme? Mommy was just dying for some model trains. Both boys had a great time -- Andrew watching the trains and Noah going up and down the little stairs.

On our drive home, we talked to Nana (my Mom) and wished her a happy Mother’s Day. We really look forward to seeing her and the rest of the Sorem side of the family over Memorial Day weekend in San Francisco. Brett Richard Sorem, my Uncle Alan and Aunt Francie’s eldest son, is graduating from San Francisco State University (the same college where his Aunt Charmy (my Mom) graduated from). It will be great to see everyone.

Happy Belated Mother’s Day to all of the Mothers out there.

Colbert Report

The blogosphere is evidently awash in reports and notes regarding Steven Colbert's speech at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner last weekend. I just got a copy of it from a friend of mine the other day. I don't think I've laughed that hard in months.

Basically Colbert gives a stinging comic speech about Bush, Truthiness (a term he coined which means what your gut tells you is the truth, without regard to the actual facts) and the press. It's evidently more funny to my Democratic friends. But if you can't find humor in this; perhaps humor doesn't exist for you.

Check out the video clips at Thank You Steven Colbert.

Check out a transcript at The Daily Kos.

My favorite part is where he "greets" Justice Antonin Scalia. I've had friends tell me that their favorite parts were his hello to the Reverend Jesse Jackson and his metaphor for Washington DC (as compared to New Orleans). It is unfair for me to give away the beauty of his efforts. See or hear for yourself on the links above.

Let me know what you think.

I'm told that his show, The Colbert Report, is even better than this speech. I'll have to see. Robin has kindly set it on TIVO for us. And if you don't know what TIVO is, I can't help you.