Christmas.

California’s new stay at home order. Screw it, we’re going to work.

Another pandemic silver lining. I just became a HVAC repairman. It was like solving a Rubik’s cube, but now I know what the cave men must have felt when they first made fire.

No restaurants, so it’s time to cook more. Huge Mac and air fries.

I subscribed to a monthly Butcher Box of grass fed meats just in time. The second full lock down has begun.

A little maintenance on what ain’t happening’.

#36: A look back on the last decade. — I don’t have the time, but the 2010’s were great.

#44: Attend a music festival — I miss these.

#67: Aurora Borealis — One of these years.

#79: Garage Sale — We cleaned the garage, but gave it all way.

#80: Landscape the curbside — Maybe next year.

#86: Go to a Bear’s game — Glad we couldn’t.

#2: Don’t Permanently Shutter LA Fashion Insider

As odd it sounds, we had our best year in the last six. Chalk it up to the pandemic and getting into PPE like masks and covid testing kits.

Thankfully, LA waited until today to close down all restaurants so that we could celebrate Devin’s 30th.

Happy 30th, Devin!

Got a head start on one of next year’s goals which is to upgrade our cookware. My first piece is this chef’s knife. Instead of buying one from one of the big brands, I found a 15 year old aspiring knife maker from the UK on instagram and commissioned him to make this. Pretty cool, because he had not yet tackled kitchen knives, but he got a lot of support from the knife making community and the end product turned out great. Got it today and already prepared dinner with it.

Fantastic.

Friendsgiving. H

#96: See Mom this year

Mom brought us together for a wonderful few days in the darkest spot in the USA. Anza Borrego was a hit.

#39: Watch a Sunrise

From the comfort of the RV. Sunrise in Anza Borrego.

#10: See 10 New Movies

I usually enjoy Sophia Coppola’s movies, but this was a bit of a bore.

A small patio makeover. Happy to have added a ceramic tile saw blade to my collection.

Enjoyed.

Updated to the new, more accurate 23 and Me chip. All looks about right compared to my research. Paternal Grandmother was Lithuanian. Paternal Grandfather was Welch/Scottish/English. Maternal Grandmother was German/English. Maternal Grandfather was Irish/Scottish/English. Nice to see a smidgeon of Portuguese as I might live there one day. Probably where I got my sea legs. Still not a Jew, but Jew-ish.

Used our anniversary as an excuse to get together so that Hemingway could return to the field. Hasn’t lost a step.

First hot pot dinner. I like.

Halloween Store at the end of our block is outfitting everyone for their super spreader events.

Spent the day with Sean, Devin and Alex learning how to fly fish. Learned everything from casting to knot tying to Entomology.

#48: See 10 New Movies

As funny and cringe worthy as the first one.

#81: Art for the dining room wall

Hadn’t fallen in love with anything under a grand, so I decided to make something. Had this picture I took in Cuba in the backseat of 55′ Chevy enlarged and stretched onto canvas. I then had a neon sign company make this “Get Lost” sign. Next, I built a floating frame with a brace in the back to mount the sign and hardware, as well as hide the wires. Pretty happy with the results.

#28: Read a Top 50 Book of All Time

Camus was an absurdist philosopher. I should have researched what that meant beforehand, because I hated this book.

#25: Go Vegiterian for two weeks

Not difficult to do in Los Angeles. Blood pressure responded favorably.

hemmers from henry james on Vimeo.

Hemingway likes men who play ball for a living.

He uses the cone to his advantage.

#23: Survive 2020

Hemingway came home high as a mofo, but once the drugs wore off, he defied his doctor’s prediction and ate ravenously. Five tumors were removed, a couple of them more concerning than the others, but the little man is a fighter. My guess is he’ll be back chasing balls in record time.

Had a great dinner and is ready for tomorrow’s surgery.

Three and half weeks in. I planted during a triple digit heat wave, so I lost about forty percent of my crops on day one. The Romaine, Butter and Mix Greens on top are thriving. Green beans, chives, mint, oregano, sage, thyme and rosemary are all in good shape. Strawberries and zucchini are showing signs of life. My mom’s maiden name is Mcdonald, so somewhere on my family tree an old man had a farm.

#46: Three Masterclass.

Finished five this year.

His fourth surgery is set for next Wednesday. He’s ready.

Read this in one sitting and will read again. The stream of consciousness writing style about the ups and significant downs of a marriage was at first jarring, but once I got it, it was an amazing read.

Enjoyed an Alfredo dinner at the newly opened Cara Hotel in Hollywood. Also the first day of going vegan for two weeks. We were already pastaterians, so it shouldn’t be that difficult.

Agatha Christie-esque. Enjoyed.

Warm Summer Fall nights.

Hemingway’s reaction to being told he has four more tumors.

#48: Watch ten new movies

Loved it.

Good enough to finish.