Following Brit’s game on the way to the airport. She just got into the game!

We finally ate at a restaurant ranked in the top 100 in world. The French Laundry did not disappoint. Happy we could do so with my Mom and Jim.

The day started out a bit sketchy weather wise, but the clouds soon parted and paradise again revealed itself.

Lunch at Redd with Mom and Jim.

Enjoyed Thomas Keller’s “other” Yountville restaurant, Ad Hoc.

An in room massage and soak to get us ready for dinner. This really is adult Disneyland.

Too much wine on an empty stomach. Gott’s hit the spot.

Our favorite merlot until today. Although Pride takes the cake, Duckhorn’s Atlas Peak was phenomenal.

We hit the jackpot with our visit to Pride Mountain Winery. The Cab was great, but the Merlot was the best I ever had.

It’s official. Brittany is in the NCAA Division I books. Brittany made her UCR debut in the 63rd minute of the game against Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah. So proud.

Going on a culinary vacation during a diet may not be conventional, but that’s how we roll. First stop, Tomales and Hogs Island Oyster Farm in Point Reyes, CA.

Brittany logged a full week of practice and was impressive enough to make the traveling team at UCR. First stop, Utah. Being one of twenty one players to make the traveling team means the odds are against her to play, but it’s a huge step forward for my little girl.

A farewell lunch for one of our younger employees. She gave us three good years, do no complaints.

Going to dial it back to the beginning.

Hit close to home. Makes me think about #39.

“Now he would never write the things that he had saved to write until he knew enough to write them well. Well, he would not have to fail at trying to write them either. Maybe you could never write them, and that was why you put them off and delayed the starting. Well he would never know, now.”

Decent fight, but Mayweather getting 47 million is ridiculous. At least the bar serves Alaskan Amber.

A great night at Chavez Ravine with my Dad and Georgeanne. Giants are awful this year, but beating the Dodgers in LA makes it hurt less.

Hemingway developed a limp yesterday, so he’s not allowed to play ball. Instead he just follows me around the house and makes me feel guilty.

A good overlooked movie.

Escaped the 100+ temperatures in the valley and lunched in Malibu with the kids.

9 days into a diet change and still going strong. Instead of cutting my carbs to zero as I did years ago, I’ve cut my intake to about 80%, so the pounds will be slow to come off.

Test drove the Tesla Model S today. It’s such a superior car to anything I’ve ever experienced, but it’s priced as such, so I will have to pass.

Just sealed my DNA sample and will ship off in the morning to see what’s in them genes.

23 and me

A great documentary that follows a few sommeliers attempting to become master sommeliers.

Visited Brittany on a rare day off from soccer.

I’m sure it sounds strange to some of you, but preparing 12 meals in a year is really hard for us. We’re going to have to step it up to complete this one.

A hot Saturday night at Chavez Ravine.

Slowing it down for Labor Day weekend.

Re-shooting some older styles to include on our new website that will hopefully launch within a week or two.

A perfect day at the park with my Dad. We escaped our 95 degree seats in sun for the shade of the stadium club.

Baseball game on a diet. May have cheated a bit with the horseradish sauce.

Ten years ago I hit 195 pounds and decided enough was enough. I ended up losing 60 pounds (way too much) and vowed I would never be that heavy again. Well, I’m just a few burritos away. Hopefully this is rock bottom and I can start moving in the opposite direction. Although my medium shirts look ridiculous on me, I will not buy a large, so cheeseburgers need to take a vacation for awhile. Also of note, I have a blood pocket on my second toe. This happened when I stubbed my toe in the bathroom of the first tented camp in Africa. Even a toe stubbing has become a good memory, so I will be sad to see it go. It used to be at the bottom of my nail, so it’s probably a month away from disappearing.

Malibu last Sunday. Downtown LA today. Two places we never hang out.

Enjoyed dinner at Scarpetta at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills. The food and ambiance was top notch. The service was not so great.

The banana tree that was 80% destroyed by the wind over a year ago has made a comeback.

Dog days of summer.

Brittany has been at UCR for over two weeks now. Unfortunately she was diagnosed with an IT-Band injury on day one and has been kept out of day to day practice. Her first game is this Friday. Her coach told her that she will probably be on the DL for the first four games. Considering she is one of 32, I figured she be held out for her freshman year, but her coaches seem keen on getting her back.

Back home trying to figure out how to live in an empty nest. Less meat for one.

Over the hills and headed home.

We extended our stay in Vegas when we found out Chef Pierre Gagnaire would be at his restaurant, Twist, on Monday night. We enjoyed a great three course meal and, of course, Sonia was bold enough to ask for a picture.

Our boxes didn’t show up until late last night which meant we’d have to set up early this morning before the show opened. But I went on an epic roll last night on the craps table and rolled for over 45 minutes. I made a thousandaire out of every person at the table. When Sonia tried to wake me up in the morning to set up, I declined because i’m a jerk. But sometimes the jerk sleeps well.

Brittany has been at UCR for soccer for the last two weeks. Today was her last two-a-day practice. This is a picture taken at the Chula Vista Olympic training center where they have been training the last four days. Brit is second row, three from the right. Unfortunately, the trainers identified her as injured on day one so she hasn’t really been able to practice as she would’ve liked. Apparently she has a weak T-band, so she has mostly been in rehab. I never really anticipated that she would play her freshman year, but her assistant coach has already intimated otherwise. We’ll see.

A very manageable 100 degree morning at the Cosmopolitan pool.