The Marriott breakfast was over at 9, which they didn't
tell us beforehand. When we got there shortly after 9,
pretty much everything had been cleared away except for
the cold cereal and a couple sad-looking egg pucks. So
I suggested we pack up early and go out, as those two
really need their breakfast.

The Internet said good things about Otro Cafe, halfway
across town and up 7th. It's what used to be referred
to as a BPO (brick, plants, and oak) joint and now
would be I think referred to as Hipster.

Our waiter was a bearded guy who looked to be one of
those perpetual student types. The booth was I believe
made of oak and not too uncomfortable.

Lilli got quite respectable though not very spicy
huevos rancheros, Swisher some kind of breakfast plate
with chorizo, a large plate of food; he gave me some of
his beans.

I'd ordered a taco de barbacoa and a taco de pork belly.
A while afterward the waiter came back with a long face.
They couldn't make tacos until 11 (it was 10:30). I said
I'd wait. But when the others' food came out at about
10 of, mine did as well. Two smallish tacos, made with
single flour tortillas. I figured they didn't want to
risk a bunch of revenue (they are 3.65 apiece, whereas at
Filiberto's or the other berto'ses in town they are
probably a buck each; so they got someone to make them
before the regular cook came in. The tortillas were
unwarmed and mushy, but at least the proteins were good,
having been cooked days previously as they should be.
The barbacoa was nicely pulled and nicely though mildly
seasoned, not fat enough of course; the pork was naturally
plenty fatty and quite luscious. I had a Negra; at least
they had the good sense to offer beer at breakfast.

Westward ho; we dropped Lilli off at the Home2 Suites
Glendale-Westgate, which is right by Cardinals Stadium,
and proceeded to Maryvale again for the Dodgers at
Brewers, another rollicking slugfest, we left with an
inning to go with the score 11-5 - 5 runs on 9 hits for
the Dodgers, 11 and 11, admirable efficiency, for the
Brewers. One wild pitch, one hit batsman, four each I
think doubles and homers. Apparently it stayed that way,
but by the time the game ended, we were well on our way to
the hotel to fetch Lilli and then to Costco to pick up grub
for dinner, including some very nice-looking well marbled
1+ lb sirloin strips, yay for Arizonal cattle ranching.

Jan and Dave are old friends of mine with whom I've
had a falling out over their kind of libertarianism
but with whom we've patched up more recently. They are
both Microsofties on the border of retirement and are
kind of well to do.

Dave was commissioned to produce medium-rare steaks,
but somehow he was so caught up in his wonderful smoker-
barbecue that, well, I'd have called them medium-well or
above. The marbling came in extra handy, and though the
meat had had most of its juice cooked out, there was
still some juiciness from the fat, and the meat was
tender. Be that as it may, I had about 2 oz of meat and
the fat trimmings from two steaks and called it a day.
There was also a rather nice salad, which I ignored,
and baked potatoes, of which I had a nibble of Lilli's.

Plenty of alcohol assuaged my disappointments.

We chatted for a couple hours, and Dave showed off his
state-of-the art audio system. At length we all started
to fade, so we said our goodbyes and repaired to the
hotel, only about 10 minutes away.

The Home2 is quite unspectaccular, our supposed suite
being a somewhat larger than your standard Hamptonesque
room with a curtain separating the beds. I'm not going
to try to save $200 by booking this kind of "suite" again.

Next day, after a fairly ordinary breakfast, very like
the Hampton except you got to microwave your own
omelets. Also there were leather-skinned berries to
jazz up your porridge, if you so desired.
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