Thanskgiving Dinner - 2008

We started the day with the traditional freeing of Sigrid's birthday balloons. A tradition much like the annual ballyhooed presidential pardon of a turkey. We have followed this tradition for one year in a row now.

We were invited for Thanksgiving Dinner with friends in Sonoma. It was quite a spread.

As always this time of year, there are a lot of stories about American overeating on Turkey day. A typical story reports that the average consumption is 4,500 calories and half of if from fat. That is average - as in - you need a lot of people to eat more than that to maintain the average. I am proud to say that I am among those who are pulling up the curve. I am guessing that I was somewhere north of 6000 calories just during the dinner proper.

Sigrid's wild rice and mushroom soup was our contribution to the feast. With a cream and butter base, it is probably good for 1,000 calories all by itself. I had two helpings.

Main course. Stuffing, mashed potatoes (with onions - yum), gravy, creamed corn, spinach, biscuit, and yes - I grabbed a drumstick. Unseen - yams and cranberries that were added for seconds.

Lee's bourbon pecan pie with homemade whipped cream. My job is done. The average is safe for another year.

A bit of excitement off the terrace...

Power went out and the building is surrounded by fire trucks (ok - there are two).

Time passes...

Fire trucks are gone, but still no power. Cell phone camera still works though.

UPDATE: False alarm. When the power goes out in the building, it trips the fire alarm. Seems like a bug that needs fixing. Power back. Uploaded better pics.

Looking for a little advice...

I am thinking about doing a little fly fishing on Battle Creek near Red Bluff. Apparently, this is what I can expect up there. Anyone have any suggestions on what kind of fly I should use?

San Fran Zeppelin

Today's show from the terrace. To promote the first new airship to fly in the US in generations, Airship Ventures is selling very expensive rides over The City in their prototype the fourth ship off their production line (see comments).

Moonrise over San Francisco Bay

My little Olympus camera does not do this scene justice, as we watched a big orange basketball of a moon rising on the horizon. I know it is an illusion that it is bigger on the horizon, but it is a convincing one.

Sharp Park R.I.P?

I have no idea if this writer has any particular insight into the direction The City eventually takes with our golf courses. But if he is right, Sharp Park is done. That would be disappointing.  I only hope that, as he speculates, Lincoln Park lives on and is improved.

Sharp Park Golf Course seems set to close
Greg Quiroga-S.F. Golf Examiner
"Now that the election is over we may finally see some movement on this issue. Here's my call: San Francisco will keep Lincoln as an 18-hole course, but with the goal of making it actually profitable. There is no place to readily convert Lincoln to a usable 9-hole course, and build soccer fields. The place is too hilly, and any layout that would make for a good 9 would include the flatest fairways. Sharp Park will be sacrificed to the naturalists and soccer fields. There are lots of flat fairways to choose from to create soccer fields while still leaving plenty of space to create a large buffer zone around the wetlands habitat.I could be wrong. Either way, you should get out and play Sharp Park course while you can. Winter is on the way, and those wetlands are only going to get wetter this year."

Done deal.

A vote for divided government, high speed trains, gay marriage,the GWB Sewage Plant, and hookers. About 25 people in line and a 30 minute wait. There was a shorter line when I left.

UPDATE: It appears that the only thing I voted for that passed was the train. So it goes. Congratulations to Obama and the Obamites! We all have high hopes.

I think I was at this election night party. Or at least one that was remarkably similar. I make a cameo appearance in this video - I am the McCain supporter sitting on the bench near the end of the clip.

Heading home

A bit of Provence in La Jolla

Phillipe and Nora hosts a Halloween reunion of new and old friends, most of whom we first met at Wes and Susan's party in Provence earlier this summer.

A perfect table and...

a warm night with a great setting.

A toast from the host among friends.

Squash soup starter, then...

foie gras (of course) and...

steak au poivre.

What more could a Frenchman ask?
Note: This is a Charlie Chaplin mustache, not - you know - that other guy.

Halloween Party at Phillipe & Nora's

A reunion of the Provence party participants.

Justice League of America? Simultaneous smoking and dancing (don't try this at home) .

Susan, Carolin Gigi having too much fun.

Sigrid and Victor

Typical Frenchman

On Wes & Susan rooftop terrace

Overlooking Mission Bay

Checking out Torrey Pines

No time to play today

Rolling in La Jolla