Dr. Joe Texts!!

My old pal Dr. Joe sent me a text and said he is patiently waiting for a new blog.  I thought only #1 did that.  In any case, I’m sure Dr. Joe is trying to work me.  Maybe he needs a loan. I don’t think being a professor of medicine at a major university pays very well.

He said he’ll be doing a little traveling to see family for the holiday.  He’ll make a stop in Richmond to see our bud Wig. I asked him which of Wig’s several Richmond mansions he’ll be visiting. Dr. Joe will be out here on February 1 for some work with Gilead. I’m hoping he sticks around a day so we can celebrate Groundhog’s Day like we used to in Binghamton.

By now many of you have received the Xmas letter and are overjoyed that it is quickly followed up by a blog post. There are still a few to go out, but I've never heard of some of these people, so I’ll let my wife finish up. The Belgian’s wife sends theirs out via email, so I think we need to emulate them starting in 2024.

We had a big fun weekend in Sonoma this past week.  The Exec turned 70, and he looks every bit of it. I kid. Actually, he looks fit as a fiddle, due to his pickleball obsession. I was, however, thrown by the cowboy boots he was wearing. A pair of Gucci loafers would have been more in line with his fashion sense.

We were treated to a fine meal at Piacere in Cloverdale. The Exec got a little misty during his speech, but that’s what happens when you are in the embrace of friends and family. We went to his house for dessert, and the FC gang was the last to leave. TCG made the 10-minute drive back to the hotel in 20 minutes, where we got a wakeup call the next morning thanks to Katie setting off the car alarm. After a solid breakfast at Zini’s we headed back to the peninsula. 

TCG and the numbers will be working on installing a large chandelier today that #1 designed and built, which is just in time for the village Christmas Eve celebration.  The numbers hijacked my ladder for the job.  This is the ladder that #2 gave me, so I ain’t complainin’. They specifically told me to stay the hell away from #1’s house today.  I not only lack any semblance of construction skills, but I can also cast a pall on any sort of gathering.

Speaking of TCG, he’s flying solo this week, so I felt a little sorry for him and invited him over for dinner last night.  Though he overstayed his welcome, we had a fine time. I cooked up this recipe, which is super simple. If you can chop, measure and throw things in a pot, you can pull it off.

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021696-slow-cooker-chicken-cacciatore-with-mushrooms-and-bacon

As I mentioned in my Xmas letter, we had a memorial plaque for SB2 installed on a bench at the new levee. My wife was walking there Friday and noticed it was gone. We were fuming, wondering what reprobate would consider taking it. Fortunately, we found out Monday that they had replaced the bench and missed the plaque. How the hell they did that, I don’t know. In any case they found it, and it was back in place when the numbers and I walked up there on Monday. We have a big get together planned there next week.

Tommy Cutlets did not come through for me last week, so I tried to be a tad more judicious in my week 16 picks. I remain in 7th place and hope to move up this weekend. The whole family, including SB1’s in-laws, will be watching the Niners vs. Ravens here on Christmas day. Here’s the week 16 picks. Happy Festivus to all.

LAR Cin Buf Ind GB Cle Det NYJ Sea TB AZ Dal Den KC Phi SF

A Beast Does What?

Steam rose from the posh club's outdoor pool at the 8am hour. The temperature was bone-chilling, in the mid-40s. A brave DJ strode forth and dove in. Nothing can stop him.

Okay, the pool is heated, but getting out is no picnic. I got there early Monday and today.  Yesterday it was balmy by 11:30, but I’m still getting it done. Sometimes my workouts approach 15 minutes.

My brother is back on the West coast for the time being. We plan to get together for lunch, probably at Tadich, since we’re traditionalists.  I may suggest we get together on Festivus so we can do an airing of the grievances. We both have plenty, not necessarily with each other.

The Xmas letter is ready to go. I sent it to the kids for approval, which I got. I gave a shout out to TCG and Katie since they put up with me for three weeks in Italy. The wife wanted me to add walking with #1, but that was in last year’s edition.

Things went my way in the football pool this week. I went 10-5 and moved up from 12th to 7th place. I am now in the money hunt. I asked my sister for advice this week. She told me to go with Tommy Cutlets and team, which I did. Here’s this week’s picks. Take them to the bank.

LV Cin Ind Det Atl Cle TB Mia NYG Ten KC SF LAR Dal Bal Phi

My wife and I had a date night last night. We stopped at John’s Grill for a martini.  I pointed out the Maltese Falcon replica behind the bar. We ate dinner at Le Central, which was a hot spot back in Herb Caen’s day. The food is still good. We also made a stop in Union Square to see the Christmas lights.  I took this picture of the ice-skating pavilion there. Once around the rink is referred to as a “doom loop”.

Is That Momoa?

People at the posh club were taken aback at the elderly man blazing through his laps this morning. Some asked if they were filming a scene from Aquaman 2. It’s been my burden to attract attention all my life.

The wife was there as well.  She was an actual high school swimmer, so she starts before I do and finishes after. Remember, I’m old.

I made this fantastic dish Friday night.

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021328-chicken-zucchini-meatballs-with-feta

I’m making this fantastic dish tonight. I ought to be in the kitchen now doing my prep work, but you people are more important.

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021160-one-pot-smoky-fish-with-tomato-olives-and-couscous

I put these up here with reservations, as much of my readership would be flummoxed taking on a recipe that has more than three steps.

The Niners play the Eagles soon in the game of the week. 28 folks in my pool went with the Niners and 20 with the Eagles, including 6 people ahead of me, so the Niners need to avenge last year’s loss and get me out of a tie for 14th place.  If they lose this one, I may be so down you might not get another post for months. Nobody wants that.

I invited my wife to watch the game with me.  She occasionally mentions that I need to come up with things we can do together, so I’m taking that to heart.  She also says she has some ideas for the Xmas letter, so I’ll have to start cranking on that soon.

I saw this headline and had to ask myself “Is it because they are idiots?”

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/kourtney-kardashian-barker-says-she-221127615.html

In other news, I’m hoping my Massachusetts buddy makes this list.