'Tis The Season

We had a good Christmas and hope you did as well. My in-laws were up from Carlsbad and #1 and family came over to celebrate the day with us. I’ve drawn ever closer to #1 as my relationship with The Exec has deteriorated. We had a huge roast for dinner. I was tasked with carving. As I got to the middle of it, I thought I heard a muffled moo. I don’t expect to be going vegan anytime soon, but I’m not a major fan of the prime rib.

I think we all received what we wanted for Christmas. I got some clothes that I needed. Now I have jeans in four different colors. I’ll be a hit at work. If you wear a shirt with a collar at my office, you’re dressed up. I’ll be off for the next week as mandatory vacation kicks in. I’m OK with that, as long as 2009 does not bring any layoffs. I’m too old to look for a job. I also got a decanter cleaner. As I opened it, I thought to myself that such a device would come in very handy if I owned a decanter. Of course my next gift was a decanter, courtesy of my very generous brother-in-law and his charming wife. We used it right away to aerate the Thunderbird that #1 brought. My older son gave my daughter the complete set of Gilmore Girls DVDs. She was in heaven. She only had a couple seasons worth saved on the DVR

It’s good to have my sunny boy home from college. He’s been staying up until all hours of the night with #1’s kid and some of the other hoodlums from his high school days. He declined to attend his sister’s hoops game yesterday so we branded him “not a good family citizen”. I explained that he’ll be joining us for the next game. I know he’s looking forward to it. Regardless of this minor fracas, it’s good not to be the only one here that doesn’t sit down when they pee, however temporary.

After all the beef for Christmas, and Friday, and Saturday, I decided to put the family on a healthy regimen for the next week. I headed out to Safeway this morning before anybody but my younger son got up. He and I are the early birds. I set him up with an episode of the Wiggles, the space heater on medium, and a plate of tasty toaster waffles. I wanted to ensure that the others got to sleep in as late as they wanted. Maybe they’ll clean the damn kitchen once in a while if they get enough rest.

My shopping excursion was pretty mundane. I picked up goodies for a frittata, a Chicken Caesar and quesadillas. I’m sure I’m in for some complaints but let them whine. The rest of beef will go into a pot pie. OK. You’re not reading my blog for our weekly menu. As I heading out of Safeway, I saw The Exec’s wife. I shouted howdy before I went on my way. I decided that I didn’t want to let my feelings about The Exec color my relations with the rest of his family. Right before I pulled out of the parking lot, one of those new Smart cars pulled in. As I checked it out, ten clowns disembarked.

Exec Overcompensation

It started out innocently enough. The #1s were over last week for a cocktail. My wife had invited them, over my objections, for a mid-week soiree. As we sat in our living room, #1 noticed something on my sock. It was a mailing label with The Exec’s name on it. I had just sent out our Christmas letter, so I checked in to see if The Exec got it, since I was pretty sure it was a duplicate. He had received it but that set off a chain of events that I’ve come to deeply regret. Soon The Exec was sending noisome emails, in which he accused me of stepping on his good name. This may in part have been fueled by his jealousy for not being invited. I responded by mentioning my opposition to the U.S. corporate pay structure, citing a recent Washington Post article that $1.6 billion of TARP money had already gone to executive compensation. That only fanned the flames. This weekend I received a harrowing voice mail from The Exec, in which he threatened me with bodily harm. I’ve saved the message for an inevitable evidentiary hearing. He signed off by saying “FYI as@#$&e, I just got a $10 million slice of that sweet bailout pie, so piss off”. I’ve already contacted my attorney.

Blogging Blagojevich

The media has focused, rightly so, on the efforts of the Illinois governor to sell Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat. But there’s also a state budget scandal about to break, involving overruns and an elaborate kickback scheme in relation to Blagojevich’s hair product. Rod, you are the weakest link. Goodbye.

In other political news, we found out this week that eminent economist Joe the Plumber was deeply disappointed in McCain’s vote on the banking bailout. I’m sure the Senator took that one hard. Joe, you’re well into minute sixteen.

Meanwhile, W's waiting for the other shoe to drop.

DJ Magazine

I’m up to 217 pounds and I’m mad at myself. I may have to shut down the blog.

Anybody interested in a Senate seat from Illinois? I thought about it but I decided to go for the car czar job instead.

Our man Obama has been busy. I heard some lefties were not too happy with his appointments but I ain’t complaining. I was curious how folks in the music industry felt on the topic so I had a conversation with a hologram of Will I. Am.

It’s been another hard day in the corporate salt mines. My wife cracked open a bottle of 2006 Andrew Murray "Tous les Jours" Central Coast Syrah last night so I’m quaffing a glass of that. Here’s the description from the KL Wines web site:

“Offering up notes of black olives, sweet berry fruit, spice box, earth, and new saddle leather, it is a long, ripe, soft, delicious red”

You ever tasted new saddle leather? Or old saddle leather for that matter. Nah! They’re just making stuff up now.

Did I ever tell you chuckleheads about the letter I got from MCI, where I was employed when my first kid was born? Of course not, or I wouldn’t ask you. I scour my blog archive before a print anything. MCI was kind enough to give me a savings bond for my son’s birth. The accompanying letter stated “Congratulations on your anniversary or the birth of a child”. It was the personal touch that set that company apart.

As the Bush era winds down, I’ve pondered what the biggest perk of being an ex-president is. I’ve decided it’s the speeches at $100k a pop. But a close second is franking privileges.

I’m thinking of printing up some “DJ’s Detritus” t-shirts. Who wants one? Before you answer, consider the mark up.

When we were kids, we pointed, but we didn’t click.

In Search of a Theme

Hi Folks

I’m home from my first day back at work after a week’s respite, relaxing with a fine glass of Sobon Estate Zin. I haven’t really had a coherent thought for quite a while but, luckily for you, I still get the itch to put something out here every once in a while.

Since I last wrote, we had The Banker and his lovely missus over for dinner. I made a chicken piccata. I sensed some concern about a chicken sushi redux, which proved to be unfounded. They brought a deluxe dessert from Copenhagen. By the way, if you’re looking for a good kaiser roll, Copenhagen is the place.

A week ago yesterday, I flew off to Vegas with The UK and 4M for our annual boy’s weekend warm up for turkey day. We sought sustenance at Lotus of Siam and Bouchon. I found my blackjack spot at El Cortez downtown. After not losing, 4M and I wandered east to take in the local color there. That evening The UK upgraded me to a ticket to Cirque du Soleil’s O, which was quite a spectacle.

Speaking of Bouchon, my buddy The Wig is enjoying a meal at Thomas Keller’s NYC hotspot, Per Se, as I write. There was some intermittent static on our call yesterday but I think he said he’d take me there the next time I’m on the other coast

Our Thanksgiving was spent with #1 and family. Their older son was home from DC and joined in on the fun. We had a conference call with my older son, who stayed back at my brother in laws. When I say conference call, I mean my wife put the phone on speaker and we all shouted stuff at him. I’ve been eating turkey ever since. Tonight’s menu includes turkey soup.

Ever hear that Killers song “Human”? I’d say probably since they’re playing the hell out of it. In any case, what is that all about? “Are we human or are we dancer?” I hope somebody has an explanation for me but shouldn’t it be “dancers”? And are they mutually exclusive? I think not. Maybe they’re The Killers because they’re butchering the language.

People Magazine is making noises about the sexiest vampire. I should go to work for them because I can come up with stupid shit like that. Apparently, Twilight’s Robert Pattinson is in the running along with fellow twits Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. Have these morons ever seen Bela Lugosi? Now that’s a vampire!

Since we are now into December, I have to start my highly anticipated Xmas letter. Part of the process is reading last year’s and making sure I don’t repeat myself too many times. Since I have some time off in late December, I also plan to start my masterwork. By masterwork, I mean something with more than three paragraphs.

Wolv, glad to see you’re still checking the blog. Sorry there haven’t been too many pictures for you to look at.

Hey JB, you wanna comment on any of this? I might even publish it.