The new nap inducer, aka couch, arrived today. Looks good against Sonia’s repurposed pallet wood wall creation.

Hemingway was excited to see us until he saw the clippers, but in the end I think they both appreciate the haircut.

  
Finally indulged in the much hyped lunch at Milos.  Well worthy of the praise. 

Started the night off right with Sam Hunt at the Chelsea. Finished it off even better with the dice.

  
View from the Skyfall lounge at the top of the Delano. Unfortunately the new restaurant from the highly acclaimed chef, Alain Ducasse was just ok.

  
I want to see a lot more of the American West.  Putting it on next year’s list.

#59: Complete Budapest,Vienna & Prague album

#53: Read 10 books.

Jeff picked up where his father left off. Great book.

  
Sunday morning leftovers 

Enjoyed watching Brit play around with some of her former club soccer teammates.

IMG_4841 from henry james on Vimeo.

  
#37 Host a Party.

No better way to celebrate Devin’s25 than with tacos, Coronas and lots of friends and family.

I thought for sure Marquette would lose horribly and it would be the silver lining of not being there in person. Nope, the Warriors pulled off the upset against number 22 LSU in Brooklyn. Billy Joel rocked the Garden. Chef Masa created some culinary masterpieces. And New Yorkers were treated to an epic blood red sunset on Sunday night. Woe is me, right?

Joined my brother, George, at the the James White screening followed by a Q & A with the director and actors. A feel good holiday movie…. Not.

Today’s oyster and champagne brunch, along with temps in the high 80’s, make missing our trip to NYC slightly more tolerable.

#53: Read 10 Books

An excellent in depth look at the story that put America on the road to WWI.

Because I am now of the age when arteries apparently rupture for no reason, we’re staying put this week and had time to install the chandelier we picked up in New Orleans.  Here are a few things that won’t be happening because of said artery:

2. Compete in a Spartan Race. (Regardless of Artery Rupture)

8. Pear Jam (On their South America tour)

67. Go to a Marquette Game

84. See a Broadway Show

Headed to NYC on Thursday…. Or not. Turns out you can’t fly with a ruptured anterior ethmoid artery. No Billy Joel at the Garden. No epic 26 course  dinner at Masa. No floor seats at the Marquette game in Brooklyn. All over a friction’ bloody nose. Instead it’s bed rest and a nose stuffed with packing. And if and when the artery is repaired, surgery will follow to repair the broken and deviated septum that I’ve been living with since I was twelve.  See, it’s not all seashells and balloons.

A new spot to watch the world fall apart.

The rain room senses your movements so you can walk through without getting wet.

#38: See ten movies in the theater.

A much more cerebral Bond. Still enjoyed.

Best Sushi in LA. I was wondering why their Michelin Stars were outdated, so Sonia looked it up and found out that Michelin suspended their star system in LA back in 2011.The stars are now dead to us.

#55: Learn how to disassemble & clean my gun

#13: Do not buy a Patek Phillipe Watch

It was a prudent goal. However…. Sonia threw caution to the wind and presented me with the finest “one year” anniversary gift a watch lover like me could ask for, a Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Chronograph.

The agony of defeat. UCR fell in overtime 1-0 to the number one seed, Long Beach State. Despite the heartbreak, Brittany’s breakout season was a thrill to follow and we can’t wait to see what she and her team has in store her senior year.

It’s finally cool enough for a fire. Hemingway’s favorite.

    
A nice day to return.   

  
Last dinner at another warehouse district favorite, Peche. Spent the rest of the evening in our new favorite neighborhood on Frenchmen Street.

We’re getting lucky with the games we’ve seen this year. Sunday’s Saints game was no exception. Drew Brees had his best game as a pro and tied the NFL record with seven TDs.

Dinner at Herbsaint, one of our favorite N’awlins spots, followed by a not so lucky night on the tables.

One year and going strong.

You never know who you’re going to run into.

  
Mark Twain would have loved the view.

  
Good-bye Sunshine. Following the Old Miss to her beginnings.

Women’s Soccer Punches Ticket To Big West Tourney With 1-0 Win Over CSUN

Riverside—The UC Riverside Women’s Soccer Team punched its ticket to the Big West Tournament Thursday evening with a 1-0 victory over visiting CSUN. That secured the number four seed for the Highlanders, and they will take on either UC Santa Barbara of Long Beach State in the 5 pm PT semifinal match on Thursday, November 5.

All three conference tournament matches are being held on the campus of Cal State Fullerton. The Championship game is slated for Sunday, November 8 at 1 pm.

UC Riverside won’t know its opponent until the completion of Sunday’s UC Santa Barbara at CSUN match which kicks off at 2 pm. If the Gauchos win or tie, they are the one seed, and if the Gauchos lose, the 49ers get the top spot. Cal State Fullerton is locked in at the three seed, and will play at 7:30 pm.

The Highlanders dominated play Thursday night, outshooting the Matadors, 17-7. They scored the only goal they would need in the 23rd minute when Brittany Mata headed Blanca Barrio’s corner kick past the CSUN defense.

UC Riverside had two other golden scoring opportunities in the second period, but Matadors’ keeper Cynthia Tafoya smothered a Tyler Cunningham shot, and Barrio’s sliding attempt from straight on at an empty net sailed over the goal.

The win gave the UC Riverside 11 wins on the season which is the second most victories in the history of the program behind the 13 recorded by the 2004 version of the Highlanders. The five conference wins on the year tied a program record set by the 2003 squad.

Instead of dancing, again, heartbroken, “we” have to bring Brittany a pan of lasagna for after tomorrow’s finale. I told her as long as she wasn’t a “Texas Ranger” she’d get it. “Walker, Texas Ranger” was a popular TV show back in the 90s staring Chuck Noris. For the past 15 years, I used this TV title to yell at Brit on the field when I thought she wasn’t running hard enough. I’d leave out the “Walker” and would just yell, let’s go Texas Ranger! Other parents thought I was being encouraging, but Brit knew I was being half encouraging Dad, half asshole. It mostly pissed Brittany off, but she always responded with a burst of energy and rose above the competitiion. I have only referenced “Texas Ranger” once this season, but honestly, I no longer know what I’m talking about. Brittany has become a recognized, high level Division I soccer player that has forgotten more than I know, so I will do my best to sit back, shut up, and enjoy her play.