Easter

People flippantly say "Happy Easter" when they meet you, but Easter is Happy. Why? It's simple:

Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received – that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures... Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 12-22)

Or, as a hymn rarely sung these days recounts:

One day when heaven was filled with his praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin—
Dwelt amongst men, my example is he!

Living, he loved me; dying, he saved me;
Buried, he carried my sins far away;
Rising, he justified freely, for ever:
One day he's coming—O, glorious day!

One day they led him up Calvary's mountain,
One day they nailed him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is he!

One day they left him alone in the garden,
One day he rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down o'er his tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, my Saviour is he!

One day the grave could conceal him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then he arose, over death he had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!

One day the trumpet will sound for his coming,
One day the skies with his glories will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;
Glorious Saviour, this Jesus is mine!


For any who believe how can Easter be anything but happy?

An Interesting Text

Had an interesting text from an acquaintance of mine. This younger guy, after commenting on the attractiveness of someone on a television show, asked me "r (sic) relationships w/goodlooking men possible these days?" Take a moment to let this soak in. I realize this was in a text and it was sent while he was looking at a guy on TV so the scale was skewed, but it seems that this is a rather common question. In hookup circles it is like being asked "Are you goodlooking?" Like many things in life the answer begins with "It depends..." To some people (like Mr. Beau) I am considered goodlooking. However, if you only like twinks or Blacks or Asians or muscle-studs the answer would have to be "No". If your idea of goodlooking is something from "Bear Monthly" then yes, if it is from the now-defunct A&F catalog, it's a resounding no.

Now lets return to the original question. I have to say that I have found EVERY boyfriend/partner goodlooking. Let's face it, we all say looks don't matter but who's kidding whom? Often physical attraction is the first thing to bring two people together (not always, but often). Brains, wit, common viewpoints, mutually enjoyed activities, etc help bring about the second date, but that first is often when you notice someone standing across the room (oops, giving away my age there... I mean, when you first see their nude pic on bootycall.com) and tell yourself "I want to get closer to that guy/gal at least for tonight". So often people you are in a relationship you at least consider them to be goodlooking. But lets go even deeper... a relationship with someone who is goodlooking. It takes TWO to have any type of relationship (even in mathematics you have two or more elements from one or more sets that are needed to be in a relation, even a narcissistic one like the identity function). In all honesty, you would have to know what that "goodlooking guy/gal" is looking for in a relationship and then ask if YOU bring that to the table. I suppose the hidden implication is that goodlooking people do not want relationships or have set such high standards that they will never be fulfilled. Well, as I am in a relationship with someone I consider goodlooking, I can at least say that if those two states are the rule I am lucky to be part of the exception.

Preachers Say Crazy Stuff All The Time

First, the incredibly incendiary crap spewed from the man Obama declared his mentor:



And here we even get a bit of Obama trying to defend the biggot (amazing, he's been there 20 years and claims not to have heard his minister say things like this):



Personally, I like this take...



Ah, those "crazy a**ed preachers". You know though, they are right... it's hard to find a preacher that "ain't a little crazy".

And away we go...

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Book Review: Gods Behaving Badly

I recently finished reading Marie Phillips' book Gods Behaving Badly. Not bad for the first time out of the chute. In this tale Ms. Phillips brings us up to date on what happened to the Greek Pantheon. Seems that after losing the limelight to that young upstart Jesus and the spread of Christianity, Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo and the clan have done a reverse "Beverly Hillbillies" and moved downmarket from Olympus to a tumbledown house in modern day London. It seems that, for reasons only alluded to early in the book, the gods have lost most of their powers, able to barely perform their assigned tasks (or in D&D terms, oversee their portfolio). Apollo can still make the sun rise and set but to work on on television as a TV psychic he has to rely on tricks having lost his ability to prophesy. Poor Demeter can no longer cultivate plants. And Zeus seems to have disappeared completely (you find out where he is later). Mankind is represented by Neil and Alice, two rather ordinary people who go about their lives. Neil is the typical nerdish engineer and Alice works as a cleaner who winds up taking the job of cleaning the townhouse of the gods. Due to squabble between Apollo and Aphrodite the lives of Alice and Neil are turned upside down as they learn what happens when mortals interfere with the gods (or at least those of Greek mythology whose historic exploits are marvelously updated by Ms. Phillips for those who never read Edith Hamilton's works).

Is this a tome for the ages? No, but I did come away with some thoughts particularly in the area of the power of belief (or to "religify" it, faith) and the concept of myth. Let me try to tie the two together without creating too vulgar (in the sense of undeveloped and not that of profanity) an analysis. What Phillips shows her readers (or at least those who care to look) is the consequences of a people who forget the myths and narratives of humanity. Modern man carries on actions without any meaning or context (some of the Christian existentialists like Gabriel Marcel immediately come to mind). In the book Artemis talks about dogs becoming docile and forgetting what it means to be a dog. Sex becomes common to the point where Aphrodite works as a phone-sex operator. Dionysus runs an underground club where he dispenses his special wine. In mythology the gods embody the meaning, the "why" of various human activities. As belief in the gods wane man carries on but there is something lost, the activities become hollow when separated from their raison d'être. For the existentialists this is part of what is referred to as an inauthentic life (for some wonderful analysis I really do recommend Marcel's Man Against Mass Society).

So, is this a "must buy"? No, but if you enjoy anachronism and the figures of myth as I do it does merit consideration for your hard-earned dollars (thanks for giving this to me Eugenia). Ms. Phillip's easy writing styles creates a breezy book that can, if one wants to, make you think and if not you come away not regretting having picked it up. I'm looking forward to seeing what she does for an encore.

Further Tributes to E. Gary Gygax

Thanks for the link Gregg.

How Gary Gygax touched other lives

The following from the theatrical release of "The Fellowship of the Ring" strikes me as poignant:

"The world has changed. I see it in the water. I feel it in the Earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it."
- Galadriel

(Funny, at lunch with Andrew yesterday in which a Callahan's Red was raised to the memory of Gary he mentioned that some artist posted somewhere that he didn't feel much attachment to Gygax, that was his father's time... ah, how soon the young forget that we today stand on the shoulders of giants, where JRRT-EGG provide the foundation).

And sadly, with them both now gone, so does this quote...

"Our list of allies grows thin!"
Elrond (to Gandalf)

And Following Up...

Thanks Gary

Gary Gygax died today. "Gary who?" Gary Gygax, the father of modern gaming, the visionary of what became known as "Dungeons and Dragons". I'm sad for many reasons. The more narcissistic reason is that it means I am getting older. I started playing D&D around 1982 in college and back then Mr. Gygax was still active, still a household name in my burgeoning circle of friends. It's difficult for me to believe that it was 26 years ago that I first "slung dice" with my friends. 26 years ago... I now have friends who weren't even born at that time! The passing of personalities who influenced by life brought on by the passing of time simply reinforces my own feeling of mortality.

I'm sad for other reasons too. Regardless of your views on role playing games, I have to say that some of my most intense and closest friendships were formed over a makeshift table, dice in the form of Platonic solids, pencils, papers, cold pizza and warm soda (later replaced by warm beer). I miss those times, the closeness of those friendships. My college roommate Gregg and I still talk (well, more often the 21st century version of talk) after all this time. I recall quite vividly nights in the dorm room gaming with Gregg, Patrick, and Pete as well as many a Saturday afternoon spent in Brady Commons at Mizzou with the gaming society (and after being kicked out going to The Old Heidelberg to play beer and pretzel games). Through gaming I finally had friends. I had gone the first 18 years of my life without any real friends in it and because of Gary Gygax's desire to expand gaming I finally had friends. And this wasn't the only time either. When I later moved to Kansas City to work on my PhD my first group of friends THERE was created because of gaming. Thomas, Darrin, Van... oh so many Saturday nights spent at Thomas' place gaming, eating pizza, and just having fun. Shoot, gaming even got me a date with someone still special to me. In many ways a connection through gaming brought me my friend Andrew here in San Diego as well. So I owe a lot to gaming and Mr. Gygax because through it I discovered a place where I could fit in and find out what it meant to belong.

On a more academic and philosophical level, D&D opened me up to the realm of fantasy, of myth and legend and what they can mean to a person in modern times. My current love of philosophers who talk about issues of myth and story telling I can trace directly back to D&D. The idea of narrative, the power of story, the search for meaning, the beauty of using your own imagination to create, all of these go back in some manner to playing D&D. It was during D&D games I learned to tell my own stories, to spin tales that others found entertaining, to sharpen my own intellectual tools when questioned, to think quickly and coherently outside of simple college work.

So for all these reasons and many others you will be missed E. Gary Gygax.

Tying Two Books Together

Well, I just finished reading Bruce Bawer's While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam Is Destroying The West From Within. All the while I was reading this I was reminded of a section in David Frum's most recent opus, Comback where he strongly encourages the next Republican president (and I would say, the next president regardless of party affiliation) to strengthen ties with whomever we consider allies in the east (particularly India) because it may soon be the case that we as a people who love freedom of expression and who enjoy a high level of personal liberty to live our lives as we see fit can no longer count on many of the countries of Europe. Why? Because of the massive growth of radical Islamists in those countries. This is happening because of two major trends. First, after World War Two, the birthrate of Europeans has declined to about 1.45 per couple, well below the rate of 2.1 needed simply to sustain a population. Birthrates to Muslims living in Europe tend to be much higher, about three times as high according to The Council on Foreign Relations. The second trend is that of what are called "fetching marriages" where young Muslim women are betrothed to Muslim men in other countries. The marriage will allow not only the husband but his entire family to emigrate to most European countries. These combine to create a situation of high concentrations of Muslims in many European cities. In a 2005 report the Pew Forum On Religion & Public Life:

they make up at least 25 percent of the populations in
Marseille and Rotterdam, 20 percent in Malmo (in Sweden),
15 percent in Brussels and Birmingham, and 10
percent or more in London, Paris and Copenhagen.
Over the next few decades, a number of large European
cities will likely become majority Muslim.

Now Bawer is NOT some ranting ultra-right-xenophobic writer but a pretty liberal gay man with a Ph.D. in English who left the United States in 1997 to live in Europe and currently resides in Norway. The accounts he describes in the book are a mix of both personal (such as his partner being attacked by a small gang of Muslim youths for being gay) to those of how the European press handled the attacks of 9/11, 7/7, 3/11, up to and including the 2006 uproar over the publishing of cartoon images of Islam and Muhammad which lead to the deaths of about 100 people by the "peace loving" radical followers of Islam. The accounts of how European "leaders" and "intellectuals" submitted to the terrorists are tale of legend. I didn't have time to track down all of the quotes (I do have a day job) but those I did find made me ill and seriously question how we can trust them if push really comes to shove. Shades of Neville Chamberlain... the only question is which city will be the modern version of Munich? Interestingly, Bawer, no huge fan of religion, says that one of Europe's problems in dealing with what is happening is due to the fact that the marginalizing of Christianity has left a vacuum in the souls (and apparently heads) of Europe's intelligentsia. Since they have no place for religion in their own lives they simply do not understand the power religion can have in the lives of others.

One of the largest hurdles to any hope of integration is that most European Muslims seem to not view themselves as citizens of the country of residence but to hold primary allegiance to the greater global Muslim community. Why do they get away with this? In large part it is because rather than trying to be a "melting pot" like the United States, European countries approach immigrants like one would a patchwork quilt where you are not only encouraged to keep a separate identity from your new home country, but often though subtle (and not so subtle) societal pressures made to keep yourselves distinct from the true "native born".

Now some of the gutless wonders of Europe are calling for the implementation (or at least allowance) of Sharia legal system. Technically this is supposed to apply only to Muslims, but as one site promoting religious tolerance says "sometimes this is not the case". Two interesting sites to read about what implementing Sharia would mean can be found here and here.

I know that many of you do not have the time to read Bawer's book, but I do urge you to read his commentary 9/11 Five Years Later: A View from Europe.

I wish!

I mean, have you seen this guy?! Love his real accent and that nude scene in the show... wow...

Which Battlestar Galactica Character Are You?

More on Battlestar Galactica. Created by BuddyTV

Another Warrior Passes

William F. Buckley, Jr. died today. I grew up listening to Buckley and even during my liberal phase earlier in life I loved to hear him. The man was brilliant, urbane, eloquent... three traits that seem to be missing in today's Conservative landscape. Buckley met liberal "intellectuals" head on, out in the open in public debate, showing that to be conservative does not mean you are uneducated, unthinking, and backward but that we did have a strong offering in the great marketplace of ideas. Compare how Buckley responded in this debate with Gore Vidal and ask yourself who is more erudite, the more heartfelt, the more realistic of the two:





Ah, Bill... I'm sorry that you're gone, but even more sorry that there seems to be no one at present able to begin to fill your shoes.

Movie Sunday

OK, being on-call sucks on the whole. I have to stick around the house, I can't spend time Mr. Beau, I am forced to actually do some housework since there is little else to do. However, in an act of rebellion against that last bit I decided to spend time watching movies (ok, so I am folding clothes at the same time). One of the movies I decided to watch is For The Bible Tells Me So. Below are two of the trailers for the film (thanks YouTube):





I have to say, to the most ardent of literalists this film will not change your mind about your interpretation of the Bible (and I found a few logical fallacies when they tried to confront literalism), but my hope is that this film will in some small part help change how religious families view their child if he or she comes out to them. Given that gay youths are 3-to-7 times more likely to commit suicide as their straight counterparts any little bit helps. I was particularly proud of that old Missouri congressman Richard Gephardt and his wife when talking about their lesbian daughter. After being told by Chrissy that she was gay Mr. Gephardt, in the best portrayal of family values in the film, said that his first worries about all this was for his daughter, for her safety and fear for her (not him and his wife) of the discrimination that he knew was out there. Now the movie is NOT anti-Christian or anti-religion, but it does show some scenes that are disturbing (like the well know clip of Jimmy Swaggart saying that if any man looked at him "that way" he would kill him and just tell God that the man died), but these five family all have at their core a strong vein of religious belief and faith and they did have struggles. One daughter, after not speaking with her mother for several months after coming out, committed suicide. I can't think of anything more difficult for a mother or father to take. My own parents have had a difficult journey over the years and at various times in the film I could see their faces and even hear their words coming from the mouthes of others. But like most of the parents in the film they concluded that there will just have to be some things that will be resolved between God and me, and as for the rest I am their son and nothing will ever change that. If only others could be that fortunate.

Poor Michelle Obama

For the first time in her life she has felt proud of the United States? What a sad, sad person.

Reading List - 2008

Here is my current reading list for the rest of 2008. A bit late, should have had this up in January since I've finished a few already, but I guess better late than never. I'm leaving off the job-required readings and the course material for my MBA classes since those will be on an "as needed" basis and I can't really plan for what they will be. As with most lists, this will morph over time but at least I have a plan. Finished books will be noted by (x) so this creates a bit of a socialized responsibility as everyone reading this can note my progress (or lack thereof).

Fiction
Clarke, Childhood's End (X)
Dante, The Divine Comedy
Dick, The Man In The high Castle (X)
Dick, Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep (X)
Heinlein, Starship Troopers
Phillips, Gods Behaving Badly(X)
Stephenson, Snow Crash
Tolkien, The Hobbit


Social Science and Current Events
Bawer, While Europe Slept(X)
Frum, Comback: Conservatism That Can Win Again(X)
Goldwater, The Conscience of a Conservative
Postman, Amusing Ourselves To Death (X)
Smick, The World Is Curved
Steyn, American Alone
Sullivan, Same Sex Marriage: Pro and Con(X)

Science and Mathematics
Hester et al, 21st Century Astronomy (X)
Shilov, Elementary Real and Complex Analysis
Shilov, Elementary Functional Analysis

Philosophy and Religion
The Book of The Acts of the Apostles (with Commentary)
Blackburn, Truth, A Guide (X)
Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane
Frankl, Man's Search For Meaning (X)
Montaigne, Complete Essays

Outer orbit

Just to throw out a question... how in California does one change "friend orbits"? For some reason I feel like, after knowing people for years, that I remain on the fringe of what could be called "friend orbits". It seems like no matter what I do I cannot move from "slightly better than an acquaintance, rarely thought of" to "actual friend"? To be honest I am at a loss as to what to do. Any suggestions?

Truth From A Cartoon

My friend Andrew sent me this clip today. It really does ask an interesting question... how do you offer a tax rebate to people who don't pay taxes? Good start, but it doesn't go far enough so I will do it one better... why don't those who pay the majority of the taxes get a part of the rebate? Here I am, not poor but not uber-rich either, the perfect mugging victim, er, tax payer in the eyes of government (single, renter, no children, 6-figure income) and yet my current economic situation precludes me from participating in something that I am paying for! I mean, I have about 47% of my income withheld for some type of tax (and let's not go into consumption taxes, I am talking just withholdings). Personally, I think the rebate is a joke and one of the worse panderings of the political season, but what really sticks in my craw is that those of us paying in get absolutely no benefit. Zip. Zero rebate. The rebates are phased out for higher-paid people, starting at an adjusted gross income of $75,000 for a single person or $150,000 for a couple. There are no rebates for people with no children who make more than $87,000 each or $174,000 per couple. So lets go back to the cartoon... given that the noun rebate literally means to give back part of a payment, how do you give a rebate to someone who made no payment?

Ideology v Politics

Well, "Super Tuesday" has come and gone and the race for both the Republican and the Democrat parties has narrows to two people each (and that is a stretch for the Republican side where McCain holds a daunting delegate lead over Huckabee). I haven't said much about the election thus far mainly because of my disappointment in the available candidates. In a matter of public confession, I am 0/2 in my choices on the Republican side. I was initially leaning towards Giuliani who proved that when it comes to political tactics he is no Bill Clinton, then decided to mildly support Romney who after being sandbagged by the McCain-Huckabee team bowed out. Am I cursed? If so, I should throw my support to Obama just so he will lose (it is sad that my instincts tell me to fear the least experienced, the challenged, the least thoughtful of the bunch but I do... tells you about my faith in the American electorate).

But that isn't the purpose for the post. The main purpose came from an online article I read about a few days ago regarding McCain. It said that many Republicans consider him to be "a liberal and not a Republican." I thought to my self "Surely this is not right." I read it again and yep, that is what they said. Did you spot the problem? If not I'll tell you. Liberalism, like conservatism, is an ideology. Republican, like Democrat, is a political party. It is entirely possible to be liberal AND a Republican just as it is possible to be a conservative and a Democrat. Being a conservative or a liberal applies to how one views the world while being Republican or Democrat defines political policies. A more accurate assessment in the article would have been that Republicans consider McCain a "liberal and not a conservative" or even "more like a Democrat than a Republican". One statement defining his ideology and the other his politics.

Given this then, just what IS a conservative? It kinda depends on who you ask. There are economic conservatives, social conservatives, foreign policy conservatives. In the marketplace of ideas there is a vast, rich offering of conservative ideas to choose from. But if this is so, what is the issue with McCain? Is he conservative or is he not? To help examine this I turned an old "friend", one of the fathers of modern conservative intellectual thought, Russell Kirk. In his monumental The Conservative Mind, Krik provides six key canons of conservative thought which I will summarize as the following:

Belief in a transcendent order, or natural law governing both the individual as well as society

Belief in human plurality and natural diversity and a resistance to arbitrary systems of leveling and false equality

Ultimate equality is in the judgment of God and should exist before our courts, but again creating an artificial equality of condition means equality in servitude and boredom

Freedom and property are closely linked. Economic leveling is not the same as economic progress

Distrust of people who would remake society strictly on some abstract design. Custom and tradition can be a useful guide.

Change does not equal reform. "Society must alter, for prudent change is the means of social preservation; but a statesman must take Providence into his calculation, and a statesman's chief virtual... is prudence."

This, according to Kirk, is the kerygma of conservatism. Conservatism isn't policy on school choice, abortion, tax reduction, illegal immigration and a host of other policies that form planks in a political party's platform. Conservatism is a world view. It's a true belief in diversity, that people are different, have different goals, dreams, talents and should be allowed to pursue them with the understanding that the outcomes will be different for different people. It's an idea that change for the sake of change is not the same as progress. It's a very firm belief in the law of unintended consequences. of understanding that while sometimes you have to take certain leaps it is wise to look before you jump. It's acknowledging that while not everything that happened has been good, not all of it has been bad and that the past can guide us to a better future if we are wise enough to examine it. Can you be a Republican and not hold some of these beliefs? Sure, but on the flip side it is possible to be a Democrat and believe them too. So is John McCain a conservative? Taking this view he possibly is. Is he a Republican? Well, that requires another post.

Time To Flush The Turds From Sacramento

Vote NO on Proposition 93! What a load of crap masterminded by Fabián Núñez and his cronies who are holding Sacramento hostage. If Núñez and his supporters win, 42 elected officials (parasites) would hold on to power, including Núñez and his partner in crime Don Perata. Both will be able to stay in power as head of the two branches of our state legislature. Oh but they are fighting to hold on. They try to spin it to make you think you are really shortening their terms in office from a total of 14 years to a total of 12 years. What they AREN'T saying is that it's not a reduction but an actual EXTENSION of their existing terms for another 6 years. If Prop 93 fails they cannot run again for the same office! If it does pass they can run again (and the way people tend to vote in California, will be elected again). They claim that experience is needed, but neither is a novice when it comes to politics and look where we as a state are now.

Remember, vote NO on 93. Push the level and flush the poop from the state capitol.

Where Oh Where Is Ron?

If Ronald Reagan were elected in the 2008 election he could use this portion of his first inaugural address almost verbatim... which is sad considering he would be a Republican president following a Republican president. But I guess that is the difference between being Republican and being Conservative:



For many reasons I really miss Ron. In recalling what Lady Thatcher said in her 1997 address to the Heritage Foundation about President Reagan I remember why:

Right from the beginning, Ronald Reagan set out to challenge everything that the liberal political elite of America accepted and sought to propagate. They believed that America was doomed to decline: He believed it was destined for further greatness. They imagined that sooner or later there would be convergence between the free Western system and the socialist Eastern system, and that some kind of social democratic outcome was inevitable. He, by contrast, considered that socialism was a patent failure which should be cast onto the trash heap of history. They thought that the problem with America was the American people, though they didn’t quite put it like that. He thought that the problem with America was the American government, and he did put it just like that.

The political elite were prepared to kowtow to the counterculture that grew up on American campuses, fed by a mixture of high-brow dogma and low-brow self-indulgence. Governor Reagan would have none of it...

Silly Democrats

I was shocked, amazed, stunned... the party of compassion and openness (as the Democrats like to pompously trumpet to the world) could be done in by that old bugaboo, race. Imagine my surprise when I read this article about the spat between those two paragons of "change" who claim to represent "new ways of thinking", Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. First of all, Obama's rejoinder to Clinton's remarks about Obama raising false hope doesn't really address what she was saying. Now don't get me wrong, I am not a Hillary supporter at all, but I clearly think that she was attacked out of context because what she said about Senator Obama has at least some ring of truth to it. And I am sure that her response about LBJ was not intended to diminish the work of MLK. The whole reaction stunned me until my sensible conservative mind took over and reminded me that this is what happens when you turn politics into pandering to special interest groups. And let's face it, the Republicans have their own problems with interest groups (look at the extreme religious right trying to bully the others in the old fusionist coalition), but what happened between Hil and Barack looks down right silly in comparison to what could be taken on the Republican side as actual ideological differences. The scary part is, if the Democrats control everything are we all going to have to watch what we say about or to anyone with whom we disagree? Are we witnessing the death of free speech?

What Would Hillary's Response Look Like?

Giuliani Girls v Obama Girls v Clinton ?????

Hey, if it gets people interested at all...

Jackie Mason's Political Statement

I don't know where Mr. Mason's political predilection lies but this is interesting. Yeah, it's not terribly deep, but then again most of the candidates aren't either...

Once More, With Feeling

Another year gone, another year come. It's already 2008. When I was much, much younger it seemed so far into the future. Now here I am, soon to be 45, near the end of the first decade of the 21st century. From my early "vibes" this will be an interesting year. I am approaching a "record" age (I'll write more on that when I turn 45). There is an old superstition that how things are at midnight on New Year's Day, that is how they will be for the year. So taking inventory on how things were at that time:

My bills were up to date and I had money left over

My house and yard were (relatively) clean (thanks to Mr. Beau)

I had friends who either called or texted me "Happy New Year"

Romeo was healthy and purring

My family was doing well

I had a job

I was healthy

I was happy

I was with someone who loves me

Not a bad start... and if that is the pattern for this year it looks like a good one.

Old Fashioned Kinda Guy

For the first time in my life someone proposed to me. And it wasn't a throw away "Hey, how about we get hitched?" line either. I'm talking about a guy getting down on one knee, taking your hand, telling you right from the heart how he feels about you, producing a ring box from nowhere, pulling out a ring, slipping it onto your finger and asking "Will you marry me?"

That happened.

I said "Yes".

Christmas Eve, 2007

The Family You Would Choose

There is an old saying that friends are the family you would choose. This year that point was really driven home for me. It was about 52 weeks ago (that's one year for those of you who went to school in California) that Aleks and I separated. As recently as this summer I was not looking forward to the Christmas season and the specters it would raise, but something happened along the way. This Christmas season found me surrounded by friends all weekend and upto and including Christmas Day. On Sunday I had friends both old and new in attendance as well as someone who is insane enough to say he loves me filling my home with warmth (those of you who could not make it I hope know that even with a full house you were missed). The next day I was given a wonderful gift from the insane one (will blog on that later), then on Christmas Day Mr. Beau and I went to Disney to enjoy the hospitality of the "House of Mouse" with our friend Sarah, ruling queen of "Astro Blaster". So while my biological family (whom I love with all my heart) is 2000 miles away they need not worry about me, because I did spend Christmas with "my family".

My '80s Toy Personality

What childhood toy from the 80s are you?

You're a Speak & Spell!! You nerd, you. Just because you were disguised as a toy doesn't mean you weren't educational, you sneaky bastard. Take this quiz! Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Company Christmas Party

No Gifts, Please

Well, it's that time of year when the following conversation occurs in millions of households:

"What do you want for Christmas?"

"I dunno, what do you want for Christmas?"

"No, I asked you first. What do you want for Christmas?"

Mr. Beau and I had this conversation over the weekend. We both admitted that we really have too much stuff as it is, that we often buy what we want for ourselves, and we both enjoy to give more than to get. Then Mr. Beau made a great suggestion. He does work with charities in town, many dealing with homeless children and orphans. Instead of giving each other more "stuff", why don't we take the money and go shopping for as many of the kids as we could. My heart melted and I quickly agreed. So now I open it up for anyone wanting to give me something this year... please, no gifts. I would rather you come to my house and spend time with me (or invite me to spend time with you) than to have more things around the house. My parents and my sister had already sent me my present, so I am taking the money and putting it into the mix for the children (thanks Mom, Dad, and Missy). If you really want to give me something I would rather you take the money and donate it to a charity. If you really, really want to give me something, you can pop the receipt in a Christmas card and send it to me. That would make for the perfect gift.

My Nerd Type

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Science/Math Nerd   (Absolute Insane Laughter as you pour toxic chemicals into a foaming tub of death!) Well, maybe you aren't this extreme, but you're in league with the crazy scientists/mathmeticians of today. Very few people have the talent of math and science is something takes a lot of brains as well. Thank whosever God you worship, or don't worship, so thank no deity whatsoever in your case, for you people! Most of us would have died off without your help.
Literature Nerd
Social Nerd
Drama Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Artistic Nerd
Anime Nerd
Musician
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

Not Even Tempting

You know, I thought the days of the crude phishing scheme were over. Boy was I wrong. Today I got the following email:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salam alaikum,

I am pleased to introduce a business opportunity to transfer to your overseas account the sum of($8.4USD) United States Dollars from one of the Prime Banks here in Dakar Senegal.

I am Mr Ousman Diop(Bsc,Msc)the Auditor General of one of the prime banks here in Dakar Senegal,during the course of our auditing,I discovered a dormant account opened in our bank since 1999 and till date no body has operated on the account and after going through old files in the records,I discovered that the owner of the account died long ago in a plane crash along with his family without leaving a[His/WILL],hence the account remain dormant and if fund is not transfered urgently, it will be confisticated and return to the bank's or government treasury.

Therefore,with a personal conviction of trust and confidence,I wish to contact you as a foreigner,to stand as a relative because you share the same surname with the decease's,thus I can work out the release of the funds.No other person in the office knows about the account, please be assured of the risk free,I'm the one that will work it out,all I need is your cooperation because the account content can not be approved to an indigen here as his next of kin.

At the conclusion of this project, I propose a joint investment of an equal partnership to you or we may share it in a ratio of 45% for you and 55% for myself.One more thing please, don't consider this against moral justification,there are many other aspects of life we may contribute with this funds to help the less privileged and the needy in a society than having it shared as an unclaimed bill among Government PLEASE.

I look forward to your earliest response.

Yours Truly,

Mr Ousman Diop.

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Now you know, the biggest problem I have with this is that this Mr Ousman Diop didn't even read his phishing letter. I mean, if he offered say, $10,000,000 USD it would provide SOME incentive, but does he really think that $8.4USD would tempt me to do something immoral as to claim money that wasn't mine?! And given the cut it would mean I would be selling out for $3.78! The nerve! :-)

Writer's Block

Sorry, been quiet for a while. Lots of things have been happening but I can't quite yet see the pattern. Hopefully a little down time tomorrow will unblock the stream of consciousness that tends to fuel my muse.

Putting My Life Back Together

Saturday was a big event for me. Not in terms of an earthshaking activity but something of great importance. It was the first time since the separation that I have had people to the house without Aleks by my side. It wasn't huge or elaborate, but it was something I did all my own. On Saturday I had guests over for a home cooked meal. Mr. Beau, Elbert and his partner Cory came to my house and we spent several hours eating, talking, drinking and just socializing. It felt good to finally get back into the kitchen. The menu, as prepared with my own little hands, was:

Beef tenderloin steaks with a balsamic Vinaigrette reduction

Roasted potatoes with bleu cheese and chives

Green beans lightly salted and sauteed with gralic

Sauteed mushrooms

French bread (the only thing I didn't make)

Pumpkin cheese cake on a gingersnap crust

The main wine was Penfold's Bin 389 followed by Curtis Heritage Cuvée. The cheese cake was served with a nice Guwerztraminer. We also opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate good news from both Mr. Beau and Elbert.

It was fun, from staying up until almost 1am the night before making the cheese cake after a software release to even doing the dishes on Sunday. Do I still miss Aleks? Absolutely. The difference between six months ago and now is that I can see my life continuing.

It Obviously Runs In The Family

My youngest nephew is smart, polite, a great young man, and devilishly handsome just like his old Uncle Mike. Now he shares the same honor I did of winning the spot of Prince at the school's yearbook coronation:

Renfaire

Last Saturday Mr. Beau and I went to what is affectionately known as Fall Escondido. For some of you who read this blog these pictures may be too nerdy, but for the rest of you just relax and enjoy the show.

The faire had been moved back a week due to the fires. When Mr. Beau and I arrived there are a good crowd who had gathered to see men in tights and ladies in dresses running around acting as if they had come from another era (me, I go for the food and the shopping and a few of the shows). After a quick surveillance of the merchant stalls (and my purchase of a leather wrist band) Mr. Beau and I hit the beer tent, then back out again to look around. Soon we were greeted by a "walking billboard" for an act called "The Bawdy Juggler":



As the stage was near the beer tent we decided we would go back and await the arrival of my friend Sarah (you can find a link to her Livejournal site on the right of the main page):



The juggler was pretty good and his schtick was fun. Not terribly bawdy but just enough without being gross:



Next up was a great musical act, The Merry Wives of Windsor. Very talented young ladies, if you get the chance and you like folk and Celtic music you should give them a listening to:



Of course, the big show is court. When I was "doing faire" I was a member... first as household and then as Dr. Dee, the Queen's advisor. Court at Escondido is done by St. Elizabeth's Guild. Here's a quick shot of court during the Queen's prayer for the people of Escondido after the fires



After court it was more wandering and shopping. What else did I buy? Well, with some prompting from Sarah and Mr. Beau here is what I wound up looking like:

I didn't select a hat but the coat did come home with me.

Hard to believe that THIS was a date. He didn't run off screaming... that's definitely a good sign.

Three New Additions To The Family

Just arrived today...

Taking Stock

Well, it seems that the SoCal conflagration has taken a turn. Between a pretty still night and a cooling trend along with moisture many are thinking the worst part is over. I was fortunate... well, blessed actually. Other than dry eyes and a cough I was physically and economically untouched (emotionally is another story). It is times like these that make people do deep soul searching, asking themselves/God/the universe "Why?". There are theological responses to the question but most are not emotionally satisfying (not to say they are illogical but to those who have not been through the mental gymnastics of a good philosophy of religion or apologetics course they can seem rather harsh). The one that comes to mind today is what is often called the "Soul Making Theodicy". I think of this one because of what I have seen in San Diego as the response to this terrible tragedy, that because of this evil great good comes forth. An enormous outpouring of compassion to those in need. All week I have found this a personal challenge that I gladly take up. Long, long ago my parents taught me the Biblical principle of stewardship, that the things in this life I am given I am to use to further "The Kingdom" (or if you prefer, to do good with, not to hoard). Luke 12:48 sits constantly in my mind ("For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more" to which my parents taught me that "much" is relative. We were poor, but there were always people who had less and it was those we helped). Every day I was in my local Vons "my" checker Dolores asked "How much do you want to give to the fire victims today?" and I would give her an amount. After discussing things with Romeo we cleared out the checking account for the Red Cross (Romeo said it was ok if he had to eat dry kibble for while... unlike some poor kitties he has something to eat). At lunch yesterday Mr Beau said something extremely profound... that everyone can do a little something, and no one knows how great a good that little something can do. So please, do a little something.

Late October in Southern California

This was taken around 12:30pm today...

I'm Pathetic

I am so sad this morning. Perhaps part of it is because I have pager duty and was called several times last night so my "psychic defenses" are down. I saw Aleks today. He had called me with some news regarding his rental car and I took his mail over to him. We had coffee, chatted... it really started to feel like old times when we would just sit around and talk. The day is sunny and it made me feel like it was the time of year when we would just enjoy being around each other, maybe sitting outside or walking along the beach, just talking. But it had to come to an end. I came upstairs to logon to get some addresses, forgot the on-call pager and bounded back downstairs and for some reason I expected to see him there.

He wasn't.

I started crying. The house suddenly felt empty. He had told me something that happened to him that was upsetting and I just wanted to throw my arms around him and hold him close but I couldn't. That's not my place any more. I know that, but it doesn't make the pain any less real.

The Vine Anniversary

I'll pick up the wine tab if anyone wants to go with me...

Trek To Temecula

A couple of weeks ago my friend Elbert and I make the long ol' trek to Temecula. OK, not that long... Temecula is about 60 miles north of San Diego along the I-15 but to someone who has become somewhat acclimated to the "city" of San Diego Temecula might as well be in another country. I had been wine tasting in Temecula once before and was not terribly impressed so this was the region's second chance. I have to say that while the overall impression is still far below that of the other California viticultural areas some places are showing real promise, enough that I wound up buy about a case of wine from various places.

Our first stop was Falkner Winery and it was a pretty good place to start. High on a hilltop with a nice view of the area I was impressed. The tasting room as nice and the staff knowledgeable and willing to discuss not only their own offerings but those of other wineries (we took their advice on another place that I will talk about later). One of their more interesting taste offerings was a 2003 Merlot and a 2004 Merlot. The 2004 was, to general consensus, a little young (give it another 6 months or so to smooth out a bit) but their 2003 was very nice, traditional flavors of black cherry and a hint of vanilla with good structure and nice smooth tannins. Their 2003 Syrah was also quite nice... again somewhat traditional but well made. I liked it well enough to grab a one along with their 2003 Merlot. Their most popular red, "Luscious Lips", didn't do anything for me... a bit too sweet but both Elbert and I could see why a lot of people would like it. Here's Elbert at the tasting room (I don't think he really thought I would post this pic... HA!):



Our second stop was just up the road from Falkner, a little boutique winery named Alex's Red Barn Winery. They're open for tasting only on weekends but I think they would be worth the trip. I think they had the best overall offering... one of the few places that makes whites I really enjoy drinking! Both their Johannisberg Riesling and Viognier were delicious... very simple but textbook in how they should look and taste. Crisp, clean, not overly sweet, all I could think of was how I wished I was doing Thanksgiving dinner because they would DEFINITELY be on the list. One of their most interesting offerings was a Solera-type triple-cream Sherry made in the traditional manner. Unlike most ports and Sherries in California this does not come from the Zinfandel but from the Palomino grape. Absolutely delicious. I brought home a bottle of their Viognier and their old-vine Cab and plan to go back for more. As you can see, they believe in truth in advertising because the tasting room really is a red barn:



Lunch was taken at Baily's winery:



We didn't do a tasting there (this time) but their lunch offerings were quite nice and the outdoor seating was right next to the grapes. Elbert took FOREVER deciding (it's my blog Elbert, I can write what I want * grin *):



The most disappointing place was the one that I had come to Temecula with the highest hopes... Palumbo. I had heard a lot about this place but I have to say, everything on the list disagreed with me. To be fair, they admit that they taste their wines early, so perhaps given time I would enjoy them but everything I tried seemed out-of-balance, either too much tannin or too tart. Elbert used the word "sour" and afterwards he tummy bothered him. On my next trip I may pick up a bottle and lay it down for a year to see what happens.

We went to Wilson Creek. Almond "champagne"... next.

The award for the most impressive tasting room went to Ponte Winery. Absolutely stunning for area. Ponte is also doing things with traditional Italian offerings such as a Barbera, Sangiovese (both not bad but could use a little work), and a "Super Tuscan" (Sangiovese and Cab). I enjoyed their Petite Syrah enough to pick up a bottle. I wanted to try their Nebbiolo but it wasn't on the tasting list :-( Hopefully next time.

Our last stop was suggested to us by the people at Falkner. Frangipani Estate Winery. You have to know where it is to find it, but it is definitely worth the stop. I have actually been there before but in the intervening years they have "grown up" and are producing some very nice wines. Their whites were pretty crisp and clean. The Sauvignon Blanc was quite tasty, full of tropical fruits but not sugary. I also enjoyed their reds, especially their nice, soft Grenache and Cab Franc (nice little hints of herbs there). Somehow these wines found their way into my car!

So overall I was happy. Not only did I get to spend time with a good friend but discovered that the neighborhood DOES produce some good wines. Granted you have to search for them but the adventure is well worth it.

Crib Building

Well, I finally made like a good daddy and got my "children" a new crib... that is, I bought a bar. As it is officially fall and the beginning of hibernation season I spent most of the weekend indoors. I had bought a large amount of fresh vegetables and spent a couple of hours preparing home-made stew (love the smell of it as it permeates the whole house). Then after dinner last night I poured a glass of Iron Horse Merlot (nothing exciting... middle of the road Merlot) and went to work building the crib. You know, it's funny, but it was one of the most enjoyable things I have done in quite a while. I actually built something. Granted, it wasn't complicated, but it was something I did on my own from beginning to end. And you know what, it doesn't look bad at all.



That frame you see laying on the top in the center is my first certificate towards being a sommelier! I passed the class with a perfect score. Next class is more difficult though, have to analyze 10 different pairings of wines. Oh, such difficult labors! * grin *

Anyway, the crib is a hit with the family. Here are some of my "kiddies" all nestled in their new beds (the other 50 will have to wait where they are for now):

Final Exam

Well, I just finished the final exam for my first wine tasting course. Such gruelling work... how ever will I continue with these studies? :-)

Sunday

A typical Ocean Beach Sunday morning. It's sunny and warm. From my balcony I can see the deep blue of the ocean. I hear birds chirping in the trees. Kinda the way my weekend has been thus far. Friday night I went out with Mr. Beau and had a blast. We went to Dave and Busters and played games! I beat him at the shoot 'em up games (he'd probably complain the sights were off *grin*) but he kicked my sorry white-boy butt in basketball. Unfortunately the pool tables were not available so we couldn't go for the tie breaker. We thought about eating there but when they announced a 90 minute wait we bolted for The Vine which was terribly crowded but they were able to seat us immediately. We then came back to my place where I popped open the champagne he had sent me at work and spent a nice couple of hours together (but I did NOT share the chocolate... It's MINE! hehehehe).

Yesterday my friend Elbert and I went wine tasting in Temecula. I'll do the analysis for you in another post, but for now I can say that there are a few that are showing potential (a quick note... the overall winner in my opinion was Alex's Red Barn Wine. One of the few places outside of Brander that had me liking white wines).

So today is back to "real life"... or at least the maintenance mode of real life. Gotta mow the yard, iron, do some light dusting and then relax.

Better Than I Thought I Was

Second wine tasting test score came back... another 100%

Nice!

More About What I Love

I posted a few days back about being a romantic and loving characters like Doctor Who, Gandalf, Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, etc. To this I add two characters, but the best part is that one of them is a real human being. The first is a character named Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden of Jim Butcher's "The Dresden Files". Harry Dresden is "Chicago's only practicing professional wizard". While Harry doesn't quite see himself as actually good (he usually describes himself as pragmatic), things that really push his buttons are women and children in distress and people who are being abused by those against whom they cannot fight back. Harry's enemies can see this. One of them, a vampire lord, bought a grave for Harry and set up a tomb stone which reads "Harry Dresden... He died doing what is right". Wow. To have your worst enemy say this about you is really something. So Harry gets added to the list.

What made me really happy was I know someone kinda like that. Someone I have gotten to know recently wrote to me the following in an email:

I swore to defend freedom and democracy around the world, and I swore to fight for the weak. and that is why I'm doing what I'm doing.

And you know what... he really does believe it. When you talk to him about that he gets very serious and the emotion become palpable. I feel go glad to know that there really are people like this in the world (besides my own parents). Even more so when they like me.

Oh My!

HappyHappyHappyHappyHappyHappyHappyHappyHappy
HappyHappyHappyHappyHappyHappyHappyHappyHappy

Sorry, got a little carried away. Someone sent me a fantastic gift today
to my office address. Some thoughtful gentleman sent me champagne and chocolates. I was shocked when the delivery man stopped and made me sign for the box and even more so after reading the note and opening the gift.

* sigh *

* smile *

I needed this.

And On A Happier Note...

I got back the results of my first test in my wine tasting course (prepping for the sommelier exam). I got a perfect score! Yippee!

Pre-Exam Prep

It's not what you think. For the last few weeks I have been experiencing incredible headaches and usually at the most inopportune times. So, even though my yearly physical is a scant two weeks away I got in to see my internist. He's a great doctor, very thorough, but it seems like most times I see him needles get involved. Though I think this time I did myself in. After a pretty damned rigorous gross physical (including basic neurological tests) he said "Didn't you tell me your grandfather had coronary blockage?" and I just HAD to be honest... I told him yes. Well, that did it. Above my protestations he immediately started filling out forms for lab work. They drew four vials of blood and I have to have a cranial MRI.

* sigh * Needles AND my mild claustrophobia, what a combination.

Feeling a bit down I decided to do what any other red-blooded American (and I know my blood is red when it hits oxygen, I saw it in the tubes), I drove home, grabbed a book and walked to The Vine. It's Tuesday night so I know that my favorite waitress in OB, Tutu, is there. To help (1) dull my anxiety and (2) improve blood circulation I decided to take this opportunity to work on my tasting for my sommelier exam and did a comparison of two Zinfandels, the 2005 Di Arie (Amador county) and the 2005 Roshambo Zinfandel (Sonoma). Of the two I prefer the Di Arie. I found it less "hot" (the legs on the Roshambo were pretty danged thick) and I found the tannins of the Di Aria more "chewy" and full. I also found the Roshambo to have a bit of weak finish. The nose on Di Arie seemed to be more "traditional" Zin with a bit of "jam" and just a hint of chocolate. So between the Vine burger and the two glasses of Zin I am feeling better... still apprehensive, but better.

Some Weekends Are Just Better Than Others

It's Monday and back to work. Kinda hard as I had a really nice weekend. It started Friday evening when I went with my friend Vince to a lovely newish restaurant in San Diego, Cafe Chloe. Great food! We had their cheese plate, oops, plat de fromage, and I had rabbit for the main course. We paired dinner with a Pouilly-Fuissé (a white medium-bodied Burgundy) and it was excellent. I highly recommend it (both the wine and the restaurant).

Saturday I spent a huge chunk of time with Mr. Beau. One of the last real gentlemen in San Diego. We've gone out a few times and every time I have been made to feel quite special. We had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. I think we're both hooked on the Hefe Weizen. After eating and talking we walked around the Gaslamp area and I took him to Cesar's Cigar Bar where my gentleman friend purchased two very nice cigars and we spent some time in the outdoor area where I taught him the finer points of how to handle a well-made cigar.

Sunday I had breakfast with Aleks (it was nice but a little distant... I still miss him), did a little cleaning, and then went to The Third Corner where I spent time with a couple of other "cork dorks" sampling a couple styles of Mourvèdre. I've decided to work on my certified sommelier award so I need a lot of practice (now if THAT isn't an excuse to drink wine I don't know what is). I found the 2005 Holly's Hill quite a nice little wine.

I wound up with maître blanc napping on the couch with the fourth disk of Heroes playing. About 11pm he work me up for his end of the evening kibble and I waddled upstairs and into bed.

Exciting? For the most part no. One of my better weekends? Absolutely!

My Babies Are Here!

The "stork" brought three lovely little additions to my household today.











Well, by "stork" I mean UPS...


I was so excited. The agency even named them for me, such cute little native appellations:



And look... they're asleep in their crib. Aren't they so cute?



Here's a close up of the "big brother". Ssshhhhhh... he's asleep. Isn't he a little angel?

Silliness Interlude

The Adventures of Erwin and Michael: Part Four

Sorry about the break folks, this pesky thing called "work" got in the way. But life is settling back down to normal so it's time to pick up the adventure. When we last left them, our intrepid adventurers were sleeping soundly in Buellton after a couple of day of wine tasting and weight gaining. So let's join in on Tuesday morning...

Rise and shine. We sadly left the central coast and its yummy fermented grapes and headed to Los Angeles, or more accurately, Hollywood! We had tickets to see the LA production of Wicked. I had booked us a room at a cute little motel just off of Hollywood Boulevard and we arrived just before noon. After a quick clean check in we walked the two blocks to Hollywood Blvd to encounter:



An interesting sight. At the other other end of the block we found out why a semi was embedded in the street:



So who knows... this could be the start of a midlife change of career for me! LOL

We did the typical tourist "Walk of Fame" and looking at the hand prints outside of Grauman's Theatre:





Try as he might, Erwin couldn't get his feet into Judy's shoe prints.

We spent a good part of the afternoon just walking around Hollywood and into the adjoining neighborhoods. It was nice, peaceful, relaxing... things you don't normally think of when you think Los Angeles. It must have been the company.
So back to the motel to rest and clean up before the play.

We decided to take a cab to Kabuki in Hollywood which was only a block from the beautiful Pantages Theatre. The cab ran late but we made it there with just enough time to spare to take our seats and enjoy a wonderful evening. I felt like we were in the song from Wicked titled "One Short Day in The Emerald City":

one short day in the emerald city.
one short day, to have a life time of fun!
one short day,
and we're warning the city,
now that we're in here, you'll know we've been here,
before we are done!
...

we're just 2 friends,
2 good friends.
2 best friends.
sharing a wonderful one short...(day)

The next morning, as we were in no hurry to get back to San Diego, we went to Rodeo Drive (just to look, no shopping) and then on to one of my favorite parts of LaLa Land, Santa Monica. As luck would have it, they were having the farmer's market on the Promenade:





As the afternoon was moving towards evening we were getting hungry so I suggested we hit one one great little place to eat, The Border Grill, home of The Food Network's "Two Hot Tamales" Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken! The meal was awesome (and the attractive waiter VERY attentive... I tell ya, it pays to travel with Erwin). So, sufficiently stuffed it was back down the 5 to San Diego... but more about that in the next installment.