Odys and Penelope

New restaurant that cracked the the top ten in LA. We concur.

Today’s Happy Hour at Home

#87 Done

#87: Have dinner on a rooftop Had dinner at the Roof on Wilshire. Great view, mediocre food.

#57 Done

#57: Take the dogs to the beach. Rosie’s Beach in Long Beach is the only dog friendly beach in the area. Despite the fact that Hemingway was afraid of the ocean and Rio got in a fight, it was a good time.

#38 in Progress

Mission Impossible. A good ride.

Sabotaged my weight loss with dinner at the new Broken Spanish in downtown LA.

#14 Done

#14: Weigh 175lbs Down from a season high of 187 lbs.

All set up in Atlanta. It hasn’t been the greatest of years. Hopefully we can begin to turn it around.

We were in the neighborhood after taking advantage of a Restoration Hardware class action coupon to buy a new couch, so we gave EP LP a try. Perhaps the best dressed up oysters I have ever had.

My Virtual Refrigerator

So proud. Now get your nose out of the books and start scoring some goals.

Happy Birthday, Jim

May the fish continue to bite.

I’d rather be traveling, but it ain’t so bad to be home.

Happy Birthday, Georgeanne!

   The presentations were over the top, but you only turn 60 once. Lobster pop tarts. Popcorn Shrimp And a bunch of other stuff at the Miami import, the Barton G.

Leaving Las Vegas

   Despite the fire, Vegas was kind to us.

Happy 39th, Bro

Sonia’s dice game is on fire… No, wait, the hotel is on fire. Got to go.

   A concert and a great roll of the dice from Sonia made for a good night.

Summertime 

  

Paella

   Last time I’m going outside. It’s 103 degrees.

Birthday Dinner. Half work, half pleasure. Lean towards the pleasure.

Ditto for the Best Man

Happy 42nd.

Happy Birthday, Sonia!

You make 45 look marvelous.

Water main break means free car wash.

Finally had brunch at Cliff’s Edge in Silverlake. Two thumbs up.

#39 in Progress

Funny enough.

Cliche, but time flies.

Happy Birthday, Brittany!

And in the blink of an eye you’ve hit your 20’s.

A day early celebration of Brittany’s birthday with family.

#7 Done

#7: Have a Catch. Had a catch with my sports obsessed nephew, Kaden.

Picked up this wax kit in Venice. First attempt went pretty well.

I thought it was an easy workout.

Happy Birthday, Bro.

Scenes From Italy

Thinking about the next departure, but it’s good to be home.

Layover at JFK

   About to shock the system.

Time to Sleep

   Arrivederchi, Italy.

Milan, Last Stand

This is it. Two weeks of eating our way through more of Italy has come to an end. Despite consuming more pasta than I have in the last two years, the 10-20 miles of walking per day has prevented any significant weight gain. But even if that wasn’t the case, this country is worth every pound. A perfect trip.

#26 Done.

#24. Have Lunch Cliffside. Not sure we could’ve found a more picturesque setting as the Belforte in Vernazza, Cinque Terre.

Day trip to Cinque Terre

Venezza Manarola

#35 Done: Paradise Found

#35 Three Beaches. Manarola, Cinque Terre makes three.

More Lucca

Sonia checking out some fabric. And just like that it’s a business trip. Puccini Square Walked around the corner and, lo and behold, Bob Dylan was playing a concert. This was my end of the night spot after a slice of pizza. Nightcap The lobby of our rental.

Lucca

Laundry Day

Lucca, a Future Home Perhaps.

Florence, Day Two

The Duomo Museo delle Cappelle Medicee More truffles with lunch. Santa Croce Machiavelli’s Tomb Michelangelo’s tomb. Galileo’s tomb Back to the hotel to change. Seats in the elevator are welcomed. Out to dinner. Dinner at Buca Lapi for a proper Florentine dinner.

#65 Done

#65: Go to a museum. Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze. Everybody pulls for David, nobody roots for Goliath. ~Wilt Chamberlain

#74 in Progress

#74: Set my watch to six different time zones. Euro time.

#42 Done

#42: Train Ride In Tuscany.

Florence, Day One

Arrived to our Ferragamo owned hotel, the Portrait Firenze, to another upgrade. Loyalty rewards are finally paying off. It’s an unreal suite with a million dollar view of the Ponte Vecchio bridge and Arno river. Our lifestyle specialist (serious, great hotel) alerted us that it is truffle season and the Pitti Cafe has the best of them, so we walked across the bridge…. …and…