Pre game nap.

#24 in progress. Made yet another downtown L.A. restaurant discovery last night.  This time we joined friends at O bar for a tapas style dinner.  Loved it.

Back to soccer weekends. We win 7-0 in game one. Brit scored 4.

I finally saw a real doctor for the first time in ten years.  Nothing has changed since the last time I saw one.  You still have to wait forever to see the guy.  However, when I finally got in I was told that my blood pressure was absolutely normal which was a huge relief as I could not have given up food and cheer if it wasn’t.

#24 in Progress. After living in the Valley for eleven years (not to mention the same apartment) we finally ate at Pinot Bistro. The food and wine was excellent.

#98 in progress.

1. Kiss Sonia at Midnight on January 1st
2. Attend Sundance Film Festival
3. Grow our Business
4. Visit Gustavus, Alaska
5. Write at Least Five Entries on My Grandfather’s Office

I like it.  My managers rep the writer which proves that they can shepherd a small, character driven movie to the big screen.  So maybe I’m the problem.

Thinking about #3.  Mexico and Canada are too easy. Only a few months left.

#24 in progress. Takimi is an impressive place on the 21st floor of a downtown L.A. skyscraper.  Although nothing can touch our Kiwami sushi,  the food at Takimi was very good.

#24 in progress. Had dinner at Chateau Marmont on Sunset. Most famous for being the place John Belushi overdosed and died, the place oozes with Hollywood history. Saw a couple of celebs, had horrible service, above average food and a great date with Sonia.

24 in progress. Tried Le Petite Four on Sunset. Not Great.

#24 in progress. Ate at The Lobster in Santa Monica.  Sonia brought me there to see the sun set in the west, but a hill got in the way. Nevertheless, the food was excellent.

July recap. The list finally took a beating in July when Sonia and I managed to knock eleven goals (#4, #9, #17, #32, #35, #45, #68, #78, #81, #87, #92, #93) off of the list.  After excellent trips to Vegas, New York, San Diego and Chicago, we’re staying put for the next couple of weeks until we take Devin to school in San Francisco.

What’s done…

#4.  Took the Surfliner from Los Angeles to San Diego for a weekend in the Gas Light District.

#9. Stood on the top floor of the Empire State Building.  Hard to understand just how large the concrete jungle is until you’ve seen it from above.

#17. Took a game in at Citi Field between the Mets and Dodgers.

#32. We saw The Phantom of the Opera in Vegas.  It’s the Broadway version on steroids.

#35. Sun rises in the East.

#45. Our first stop in Vegas was the roulette table where we dumped a bunch of money on one spin.  One of the five numbers we bet on hit.  Left Las Vegas in the black.

#68. Spent a couple of night’s in Hollywood at the Roosevelt Hotel where we spent our days lounging by the pool.

#78. Nothing like a dawg from a New York street vendor.

#81. Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

#87. If our number didn’t hit on the roulette table, these shoes would’ve been from Payless.

#93. Peter Luger’s burger lived up to the hype.

In Progress…

#10. Began a push up routine. Haven’t missed a set in three weeks. Adding a cardio routine soon.

#11 & #12. Down to the wire. Lots to do.

#19. Still going.

#22. Reading the third now (Slaughterhouse Five)

#24. Tried Spago, Penazzi and Tao in Vegas, Oyster Bar, Adrienne’s and Sazon in New York, Matt’s Steakhouse in Greenwich, Connecticut, Dakota in Hollywood, Quarter Kitchen in San Diego and Tavern on Rush in Chicago.

#25. Not happening yet. See above.

That’s it for now. Back to work for me.

Sunday at Dads

We had our first employer/employee evaluation today.  If us being gone half of the month wasn’t an indication to her that we were pleased with her work, our lunch confirmed it.  Still, it’s a bit strange to be on the employer side of the ball, especially since I’m still learning how to properly take Ambien.  Sonia and I have both questioned whether we have what it takes to hold someone else’s well being in our hands, but then I’m reminded of one of my former college roommates, Dave Bezos.  He couldn’t set his alarm or figure out how to pass a class, yet somehow he managed to learn how to fly a plane.  Even more impressive, he was able to convince me to get into the passenger seat of a Cesna two seater so we could buzz the Milwaukee skyline.  Bottom line, we’ve figured out that we can lead and succeed despite our various faults.

Operation Brewster’s Millions officially comes to an end tonight when the kids return from their one month Chicago vacation.  Now it’s time to focus on #11 and #12.

Great movie.  Definitely not for everyone though.  It’s a realistic, character driven war movie with little plot.  Lives up to the tag line, “War is a Drug”.

The aftermath.  It’s been a great month, but my body has paid for it.  When I started this list in January, I needed to lose about ten pounds to accomplish goal #28.  Now it’s twenty five pounds.  I am however a couple of weeks into an exercise program, so keep in mind muscle weighs more than fat. Yeah, that’s it.

One more Chicago meal for the road.

Happy Birthday to my brother, Sean. Dance the night away.

On the rooftops in Chicago,

#81 Done. It was a perfect day at Wrigley Field. A full house.  No rain. Plenty of Old Styles. And the Cubs won.  Baseball is alive and well on the North side of Chicago.

Al Fresco in Chicago with Sean & Kim

#25 on hold.  Exercise and Weight Loss will have to wait until Monday as we are off to Chicago in the morning to drink beer and eat hot dogs, burritos, burgers and pizza.

Finally Netflixed Frost/Nixon. Well done.

Happy Birthday to my Sonia.  Although it seems we’ve been celebrating all month, today is the day.  Amazing what a difference a year can make, huh?

#24 in Progress. Ate at the Quarter Kitchen at the Ivy hotel in San Diego. It bills itself as a five star experience. Out of how many stars I’m not sure. I’m guessing ten.  Great physical space. Ok food. Priced as if there were no equals.

At Pacific Beach in San Diego in search of a good burrito.

More pool time at the Ivy roof deck in San Diego. Sun detox starting tomorrow.

Having a mini vacation in Hollywood.

#24 in progress. Tried Dakota Chop House in Hollywood. Good steak.  Mastros is still the best so far.

#68 Done. Spending a couple of days poolside at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Call it a pre birthday celebration.

So uncomfortable, but funny.

Happy 14th Birthday to my beautiful little girl. You are always the best part of my day.

#24 in progress. Got our Puerto Rican on at Sazon in Tribecca on Saturday night.  A hip and happening place with huge portions.  We both ordered the Pernil (pork), rice and plantains.  Slept well that night.

#78 Done. The street vendors are on every corner in the city and I always risk the consequences at least once a trip for a good dog. One dollar bought me a boiled dog with red onions. Healthy? No. Tasty? Absolutely.

#93 Devoured. Whenever someone compiles a top ten burger list, Peter Luger’s in Brooklyn is almost always high on the list.  Happy to say it lived up to the hype.

Enjoying the views of the Long Island Sound in Connecticut.

Sonia with Addie Lucey in Greenwich, CT