Like most people who read, I finished The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and really liked it. The writer, Steig Larsson wrote this, his first novel, as part of a trilogy that was published after his death.  His trilogy has sold over 30 million copies and continues to climb.  Ain’t that the pits.

For reasons unknown, I decided to cook some Paella tonight. Despite having no clue how to go about it, both Sonia and Brittany gave me a big thumbs up. 

Another Vegas weekend in the books. When you’re flying in, the place seems so small, but once you’re on the strip, every hotel feels like a mile apart. Everyone has their own Vegas. It’s a place where you can do anything. Well, we pretty much have our Vegas routine down. We stay at a nice enough hotel with a great pool. We do a little guilt inducing shopping during the day and then eat great sushi or steak one night, and a taco from a cart the next.  We play craps at the hole-in-the-wall Avalanche-esque casinos until three in the morning.   Oh, and one of the high points of our trip is always at the outdoor train wreck bar between Harrahs and The Flamingo hotel. I’d need a few days to really figure out how to describe to you just how much fun it is to watch Iowa farmers, mullet rocking hicks from the sticks, grandmas with fanny packs who believe they are 19 year old strippers, drunk gangbangers and moose loving Canadians converge on the same dance floor to rock out to  a rendition of Jungle Boogie by the house band.  

Pre craps dinner

100 degree night

For the kids.

On the strip.

Making the heat work for us.

Not cool

Summer is raging this week as we are expected to hit triple digits through Friday.

We finally had the first beach day of the summer.  

And there he goes. Bought Devin a car and his freedom today. Now, he can complain about gas prices like the rest of us.

I was sweating and wearing a hat. Sonia was fresh from the factory floors. But, we were in the neighborhood, so we had dinner at Crustacean, in Beverly Hills.  They probably thought we were Hollywood types.

Netflixed Kick-Ass. Outside of maybe George, none of you will like this.

Some friends of ours bought an old blues bar that has seen better days.  Last night we gave it a private sendoff before the remodel. 

Netflixed The African Queen.  Dialogue between the two was great at times, but the movie as a whole was just okay in my humble opinion.

My grandfather voted for Senator Ted Stevens in every election beginning in 1968. This is the only letter I currently have, but there were several between them throughout the years. 

We need a bigger office.

After putting herself through Fashion & Design school, I’m not sure our employee Annie thought she’d become a sample model.

Brit’s team lost in the semis 1-0 to a premiere team after an errant pass from our own defender to our goalie. It’s a one mistake game.

Between games at Newport Beach

Showcase tourney in Irvine for college scouts. Brit’s team is the lowest ranked as a silver. They play two silver elite teams, then two premiere teams tomorrow.

July Recap

Said happy birthday to Sonia, Sean, George, Georgeanne & Matt.  I also hit up Vegas a couple of times, set up a downtown office and, along with my brothers, finally took my Dad to a ball game in San Francisco on our own dime. Oh, and Pebble Beach was pretty cool, too.

What’s done…

#1. WIth a healthy buying agency chugging along, we are riding the manufacturing roller coaster and managing not to puke.

#17. Done, but not done.

#50. After a three year hiatus, I played a round of golf at Pebble Beach with my Dad and brothers. Despite my hatred for slicing balls into forests and bodies of water, I loved it.  I told my Dad I would gladly accept any golf invitations as long as the course was rated in the top 20 in the US. 

What’s in progress…

#6. About ten stubborn pounds away. Twelve after dinner.

#18. Writing a children’s book that’s been brewing for thirteen years.

#20. Enjoyed a couple more Vegas pools. One more to go.

#36. I have the concept pretty much nailed down. 

#67. Lots of great conversations around the hottest craps table I’ve ever been a part of.

That’s it. Back to August. I wonder if it will ever get real hot in LA.

Hard to get any work done with this one hogging up my desk space.

Took my girls out for dinner to Cecconi’s in West Hollywood. Great food. Unfortunately Brit has expensive tastes and will bankrupt her future suitors. 

Discussing Devin’s future with Sean at the Fizz.

For the complete photo dump of our round at Pebble, click here.

Lone Cypress.

Our room overlooking the 18th.

Dad and his boys.

Above Carmel Beach

Waiting on 18.

Made Par on this one.

Plate number two.

Plate number one at the buffet. This could get ugly.

On the 18th.

George and Dad

Coming out of retirement to play a round.