On Friday, March 14, my pal from Uncle Charlie's Physical and Biological Sciences division was in Portland visiting family. As a special treat, we got together for lunch on Friday. Little did I know Friday was a very, very special holiday for science geeks.
It was pi day. As most of us know, "pi" is a number that equals 3.14. So on March 14, science weirdos celebrate by eating pie. Isn't that cute?
I thought so. My science guy took me to lunch at Ten-01 in the Pearl District, a fancy cafe for beautiful people (like us), where we enjoyed a major manga-fest of fancy bebe hamburgers served with french fries in truffle oil and mustard aioli (if you ever can, do). We each had a glass of Oregon wine, which was a special treat because science guy and his partner own their own wine shop in Santa Cruz (recently written up in the Wall Street Journal, thank you very much), so they know what wine's supposed to taste like. When dessert time came, our perfect server gave us a fabulous list of options, but there, my pal put his foot down.
"No pie?" He asked. "No." She said, having exhausted a list that caused me to go all Homer Simpson on her impeccable apron. Instead, with the check, she brought us little chocolate candies on a perfect plate, and I ate both of our servings, since neither of the chocolates were pie. Apparently, pie on March 14 is something of a religious value for our science geeks.
Oh! And, here's a fun fact about March 14, the highest of science holidays. In addition to being "pi" day, it's also the birthday of Albert Einstein. Now, you will always remember that and never forget to send him a card again.
It was a great lunch. Afterward, we walked over to his favorite chichi chachki store, Canoe, and did a quick run through Anthropologie, where I continued my epic search for a belt I like. As I walked my pal back to his car, we passed by a woman wearing a t-shirt with pi on it. "See!" He said. It was as though a parallel universe had been unveiled for me. How sciency!
Lest you think my pals are all about the academics, I'd like to direct your attention to my science guy's homepage for his part in the AIDS Ride. He's doing an insane bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles with a bunch of other insane people, who really want to fight a disease that has taken so many of our friends and family in the past 30+ years. If you feel motivated, please donate on his page. If not, that's okay. Never hurts to ask.
Anyhoo.
At lunch, I realized how much I missed my UC team members. Though the politics of a large public university can be frustrating (tree sitters anyone?), my friends are smart, funny, and have quirks like obsessing about pie on March 14 and interests like saving the world and spreading good wine to the masses. In short, they are my kind of wackos. I can't wait to see everyone next week.
Remind me of that, will you?
I was just wondering when you were going to be here. Looking forward to seeing the skinny you!
Oh, and that science guy, yeah, he is insane but aren't all insane nuts the most fun to have around?
Posted by: Tree | March 18, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Not only the birthday of Albert Einstein, but also the birthday of our resident genius Mr. Mike. Who also happens to love pie.
Coincindence?
Posted by: VA | March 18, 2008 at 01:58 PM