Greased Lightning

I ran the 3.5 mile JP Morgan Corporate Challenge last Tuesday in 24 mins. That is roughly a 6:51 mile. No Roger Banister but respectable especially given I ran the first two at a 7 minute clip. I got a text message from Billy right before the race telling me to "CRUSH" it. I couldn't get Phil Hartman's voice out of my head it..."Crush it, yeesss", during the entire race.

There, There

Throwing rocks as a wee boy is as good as it gets. If you have a little bit of country in ya, that’s universally known (so says my Tuesday running group). Until, you smash the neighbors’ glass table, but that is just a blimp in what was otherwise a stellar career.

I miss my five weeks of vacation I had when I was working in Europe. To be honest, I felt like I got just as much done and was never sick during those 5+ years.

More on that…when I was living in Europe, I felt like I could turn up the volume (work, fun, etc) and have the option to turn it down, whenever. Living in the US, I feel like, the volume is turned up and somebody has kicked the knob off…forever stuck in the high position.

Why do I always feel ripped off when I go to the car dealership?

Crying about your ex on the first date is commonly agreed to be a poor 1st (or 20th in my book) date move. If it does happen, however, hope for the end of the entrée and not appetizers/first drink.

I’m not much for white wine but the Mason 2004 Sauvignon Blanc is right up my alley; grass and fruit flavors, no oak, well made, clean finish, and cheap.

Down...set...

I'm impressed with today's Pop Warner football. I've been to a few of John's practices and it is clear sports science has caught up. What I have seen so far, those practices are highly technical and disciplined. And, they play on what appears to be fairway grass. More to do with it being in Marin County than anything else I bet. I hate to sound old, but we were lucky to have a continuous line of grass any where on our practice (or playing) field. I find it hard not to think about my days playing midget for Leon's (the local grocery store that sponsored us) in south LNK. Compared to what I have seen with Pop Warner, we were just playing smear the queer for two hours. I still remember a few pops from Hesse.

"Tackle the man with the football" just doesn't sound as good.

Between men and women there is no friendship possible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship. -Oscar Wilde, writer (1854-1900)

I have passed more people on the right than on the left while driving on the California highway. I hate to say it but it’s a lot of AWD who are the culprits. Camping in the left lane wouldn't fly in Germany!

Last night, I went to see Spoon and Death Cab for Cutie at the Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley. Great outdoor venue and entertaining show! I wasn't expecting much having seen DCFC in a sub par performance on SNL a few months back and was pleasantly surprised. They, along with Spoon, were on top of their game. All the camera phones in the audience looked like a field full of fireflies on a warm Nebraska summer night.

I could be described as rangy (RAYN-jee) adjective.

1 Slim and long-limbed.
2. Inclined to roaming.

[From Middle English range (row), from Old French rangier (to arrange).Ultimately from Indo-European root sker- (to turn or bend), the source of ranch, rank, shrink, circle, crisp, search, ring, curb, ridge, and curve.]

Go 'skers!

What ever happened to “Take your Sons to Work” day?

I’ve been running during my lunch hour on Fridays to the nearby levee. The five mile run is an excellent way to forget about work for 45 minutes and be around nature. What I also enjoy is the constant smell of licorice. Wild fennel grows all along the levee trail and is literally baked in the 90F plus temps. This heady elixir makes me think of Good & Plenty (I’m the only person my age still buying it as told to me by the Long’s Drugs check out clerk) or Stomach Ease Tea from Yogi Tea. Great stuff, both of ‘em.

Wouldn’t a child from one black parent and one white parent also be half white?

Sure glad I didn’t buy anything fancy for my nephews when my sister and her family came recently. The 4 X 4 box my chair came in and the bag of 40 clothes pins (for the chips) were a HUGE hit. Who knew?

I’m looking forward to another season of Hus (and college) football. That is one thing I missed when I was living in Europe. The Blackshirts are going to be tight with the return of Carriker, McKeon, and Moore. Now, if the O line can cowboy up and Taylor rounds the learning curve, we could be in for some fun (especially with Kenny Wilson at I-Back and Terrence Nunn returning punts). And, it looks like I’ll be spending some time at the Final Final, the NE bar in SF, as I won’t be getting a TV anytime soon. I’m blaming the stereo on that one.

No longer a virgin

Earlier this evening, I experienced my first quake. Crazy! I later read the epicenter was up near Santa Rosa (40 miles from the city) with an estimated magnitude of 4.4 to 4.6. I was drinking a beer with an old friend Billy and his son Cole (apple juice for him) at his parents place when it went off. It was quickly followed with laughs and high fives. It was the first quake for the three of us.

Saturday night ramblings

Some work friends and I went to see the Boss on Tuesday in Concord at the Sleep Train Pavilion. Bruce puts on a helluva show and I like his new Pete Seeger stuff. Without fail, every time I hear “Mrs. McGrath” I get goose bumps...hot damn! The one criticism I have of his latest offering is all the extras. Last Tuesday's show had 17 musicians! Pete's songs don't need much dressing up, the words and emotions (chutzpah?) stand for themselves. I also find it hard not to think about 2nd grade music class when I hear "Old Dan Tucker" or "We Shall Overcome".

Earlier today, I went on an 8.3 mile hike in Butano State Park. This park is 16 miles south of Half Moon Bay, in the middle of no where and situated in some of the most fertile land (outside of Beemer, naturally) that I've been in. This hike didn’t offer great views of expansive ocean, sweeping vistas, etc but the diversity and abundance in the flora, fauna and wildlife was amazing. I had a hard time looking at the trail at times because I was busy checking out the surroundings.

After the hike and lunch at Duarte's Tavern in Pescadero (the best cream of red pepper soup), I did a little surf fishing near Santa Cruz. The surf perch weren't bitting but I did learn how to find and catch sand crabs from a local. I'm due for a good day of fishing.

We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is thesame. -Carlos Castenada, mystic and author (1925-1998)

I agree with my friend Drew about the new Dixie Chicks CD. It's also good music.

I'm prepping myself for the Haight Street Fair this Sunday. I like mid-day drinking but usually half way thru it I get this primal hunger. I'd bitch slap my Momma for one of her pork butt sandwiches or a bowl of her tortilla soap. Sorry ma.

What does it take to be a mystic?

Silence s'il vous plait!

The 2006 Men’s French Open final has all the makings. Passing of the touch? Dunno. Nadal owns Federer on clay and I think he’ll prevail again on Sunday. I'll be rooting for Federer, however. Nadal is simply unbeatable on this surface but I don't buy into the hype. I've not seen much of his grass or hard court game. While I'm at it, he could also loose the capris.

Martella 2003 Fiddletown Grenache. I drank it slightly chilled (as recommended) and it was delicious. This bottle had a ton of fruit (strawberry), pepper notes and nice, firm tannins. The juice worked well with my pork chop, cous cous and corn on the cob dinner.

The new Drive By Trucker CD “A Blessing And A Curse” is a good’un. Listening to that or any southern rock nowadays makes me want to go camping. Tarver!?

I’m going to get my friend John to catch a football by summers end.

Bordeaux Night

St. Julien specifically. Clos du Marquis 1995. My old man and I split a case a few years back when I was living in Europe. During the move out west, I took a bottle with me. A medium body, complex wine with smooth edges, depth, ripe plum and cherry notes, great nose, hints of dust and a long, long finish. Well made and fun to drink! This wine has a few years in her for sure.

That's great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes...

I saw the Artic Monkeys last night at the Warfield. What a show! I was impressed with the lads (all around 18 I believe) work ethic and approach to the music. I was expecting (mistakenly) an Oasis Show (of which I've been to two) with the brattiness and swagger of the Liam brothers. Nope, these kids laid it all out-no break, no encore just an hour plus of biting, punk rock. I bought the CD awhile back but I don't listen to it much honestly but I would definitely go to their show again. Fittingly, the boys ended the night with Fake Tales Of San Francisco. Thanks Waller for dragging me to the show.

At the concert, there was a 12 or 13 year old boy standing across the aisle from me. The little skater must have known all the lyrics. He minded me of yours truely at the REM Document Tour at Pershing Auditorium a few years back.

The odometer reads 7867 and I can honestly say I love my car. GM needs to take some lessons from Toyota. I don't believe a $1.99 a gallon cap is going to do it. That's just a fart in a windstorm.

The reverse commute is fantastic over the Golden Gate Bridge. One of my best commutes yet! What kills me, however, is the 30 degree drop in temperature from San Rafael to the City. Almost Africa hot to Baltic in 30 minutes or less!

Good Pickin'

The new Gomez CD, How We Operate, is good. The CD is definitely a departure from their past work of edgy or experimentation rock and more pop and production. I miss that guy with the gravely voice (I don't know his name). It's as if he is singing through saran wrap or something on this disc, like he’s pulling his punches. Good but not great.

I basically hiked and fished all weekend. I was doing more fishing than catching and came up short. We call that a "bagel" in tennis. Anywho, the hiking was tip top! Cataract Trail on Mount Tamalpais was the best of the weekend jaunts. My trip started from the Rock Spring Trail head and was roughly a 6 mile out-and-back trip. I'm not sure what was more attractive, Alpine Lake, the waterfalls, or the view from the hill on the Fairfax-Bolinas junction (the city, GG bridge, Muir woods, Stinson beach, the ocean, etc). That was one of the best hikes I’ve had in a while. I silenced my stomach and liver at the Sand Dollar on Stinson beach. I had two Mirror Pond Pale Ales and a burger with all the fixins while listening to some great country/blue grass from a local band. They covered everybody from Woody Guthrie, Chet Atkins, The Carter Family, etc. Then, I topped that off with an hour nap on Stinson Beach. What a day!

My step brothers would be proud. I recently walked into another women’s bathroom on accident. They have seen me do it a few times at the NE football games. I didn't realize it until mid stream and noticed a nice pair of women’s shoes facing the opposite direction in the adjacent stall. I started to laugh and as did she. I finished up, washed my hands, and b-lined it out of there. I ate at the bar, which was near her table, and over heard her telling her girlfriends what just happened. They laughed for five minutes. My job was done.

Gene, how’s the grammar?

The Sax Was Great!

I was impressed with last night’s attendance for V for Vendetta. Entertaining. I believe the release date was early March? So, it has been some two months after its release and obviously still strikes a cord with many folks. George has few friends nowadays but I wonder if history will be kind to him. I’m not soo sure.

Short hair or not, Natalie Portman is hot. She gets me right in my Lois Lanes.

I'm not sure what's worse, the person (usually short) who reclines his/her chair all the way back (without looking) or the woman who drapes her two feet of hair over the back of the chair. In all likelihood, these folks fly maybe one time a year, if at all, and usually wear their beach attire to/from their destination. In either case, they get a pair of knees in the back for the entire flight. I don’t miss being in a plane twice a week.

1999 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. My last bottle which I picked up for $20 at Gomers in KC four years ago. The wine is finally all together with a lovely garnet hue, mild tannins, and long finish. The beak picked up dried berries, cedar, and soil. This Honig went perfect with my chicken and tater (new potatoes, avocados, clover sprouts, olive oil, sea salt from Jamie Oliver) combo I wiped together. This is a reason to cellar as I tasted the wine a week after I bought it and was not impressed (I managed to drink it, begrudgingly (sigh)) but was told it needed time. "They" were right.

I must be getting old because I look forward to my Sunday mornings with my NYT and coffee. During the same time, I've also enjoyed CBS Sunday Mornings with Charles Osgood. For me, that show makes me want to go out and buy a TV...tonight. They often do a sketch of something in the Heartland. God bless'em.

I can safely say I've recovered from last Sunday's Bay to Breakers. I was part of the Plinko crowd. Good times, good times. I saw too much in the way of naked dudes. I realize I'm living in SF but please. My Scottish friend, Stevie said it best, "For f!#K sakes, what are you walking around proud for man, give it a rub".

I’ve read a number of reviews regarding the new Studs Terkel CD with all his past interviews with musicians is fantastic. I guess I also need to get a stereo.

During the unpack, I recently went thru boxes of old clothes and found all my fraternity tees. Damn, it was a trip down memory lane. I could use a summer of jacking around, drinking canned beer, 5 movies for $5, hanging out on the porch, borrowing Gene’s (and everybody’s for that matter) car, eating Ben & Willa’s food, and wearing nothing but shorts, tees, and flips.

These are a few of my favorite things

I caught my first striper the other night. She was tagged (#262317) and a real beaut, weighing in at just under 8 lbs and 28 inches long. I was using a 4” Storm Wilde Eye Shad Bait in Chartreuse. I’m going to send in the tag and see what I get from CA Fish & Game. I gave the fish to the guy (Tim) who helped haul her in.

I celebrated that momentous occasion with a BLT. The key ingredients in any BLT are smaller ripe tomatoes, real bacon, and mayonnaise. The bread and lettuce (iceberg) are secondary. In fact, cheap white bread is the best. Ever since I got back from Europe, I use mayo on my BLT. There were some years I was on a health kick and avoided it like the plague. I find, however, that mayo ties everything together and keeps it moist. I'm not opposed to a few drops of Tabasco either. Aggressive but tasty!

Finally, I washed that down with a few Anchor Summer Beers. Move over Stella (at least for the summer)! This has all the taste and back bone of a Stella and crispness of my beloved Coors Lite. This is a post mowing or tennis beer, hands down. If you do have the means...

Here we go...

During my travels, I kept a small hard cover book where I logged all things of interest to me. It was dark blue and had 50+ pages of new songs/artists, great restaurants, books I was told I should read, tasting notes, cool spaces, people I met, random thoughts, trails hiked, words/quotes, history bits, countries I needed to visit, foreign flicks, recipes, etc. Much of these morsels were picked up during conversations with friends and random folk. I shared much of this knowledge and felt like I got a lot in return. “Take a penny, leave a penny”.

Anyway, I have since lost the book thru numerous moves (sucks!) and I’ve always thought I should pick it up again. What better time than now! Especially given I have recently shifted gears and settled in a new town with plenty of new adventures. So, the way I see it, these hi-tech vignettes are a modern day extension of my travel chronicles. Now, with a little hope, I won't lose this one. More to come...