Traveling Man

I started this post yesterday morning at the charming Ocean Palms Beach Resort in Carlsbad. We attended TCG's younger son's (aka Sonny Boy 2 aka SB2) beautiful wedding on Saturday evening.  I admit to tearing up during the ceremony. I regret bringing only one tissue. During the cocktail hour the village crammed into a 1970 VW bus that doubled as a photo booth. After a few near injuries, we decided we would do two separate sessions, boys then girls. This was followed by a delectable dinner and many poignant speeches from the parents and siblings. The desserts were killer, especially the churros. I'd say the evening was flawless except for #1 bugging me about my blog.

Before we departed the Ocean Palms, the wife went out to get us some takeout breakfast. She brings me breakfast every morning. NOT! TCG, Katie and her sister joined us. TCG and Katie had some golf outings lined up, including nearby Aviara, which is a stone's throw from where my mother-in-law lived for many years. Since we were just discussing SNL's The Californians on Saturday evening, we let them know we were taking THE 5 to the airport.

Today will be the only full day we will be home, as we head to DC tomorrow, where I will be starring as D POP as well as a supporting role in Top Chef. We expect to max out their freezer. I'm still scared of infants, but I think I'll be able handle baby holding duties as long as I get settled in a comfy chair.

Of course there is a plethora of political news, celebrity news and football news to discuss, but I am a busy man so you will have to wait for my next post. That means you #1 and JB.

Hugs

Trifecta

It’s 1pm and I haven’t eaten lunch yet. Why? Because I was completing the trifecta, the stretch/walk/swim routine I do to keep this dad bod, or D Pop bod, in optimal shape.

#1 and Barbie came by for dinner Monday night.  I had two NFL games to watch but the wife overruled me.  We whipped up the fantastic recipe below, but I lost both of those MNF games. I currently stand at 60–33, 5 games out of first place. What the hell is going on in the NFL anyway?  The Giants take out a tough Chargers team as well as the reigning Super Bowl champs but can’t beat The Aints! I’ve decided I need to pick at least one upset weekly going forward, which is the Jets first win in week 7.  Jaxon Dart will continue to throw darts this weekend vs. the Broncos.  That’s a tough pick, but I’m going with Denver. This guy is a Denver fan and he’s good for a few chuckles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nctZNMhL_lk&t=1448s

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/chicken-marbella-updated-7609227

Here’s this week’s picks.  It is not safe to count out the Chiefs since they opened a can of whoopass on my boy Wolv’s Lions. That will be one of their few losses this year.  I was tempted to take the Jags over Rams but didn’t.  Will that come back to haunt me? And I’m afraid the home team is just too banged up.

Pit LAR Chi Cle KC Phi NYJ NE Den Ind GB Was Atl Det Sea

Anybody need more cowbell? Your federal government in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-Tus_ch_aA&list=RDE-Tus_ch_aA&start_radio=1

Back in Beautiful Foster City

I’ve not slept well for the past couple nights, ever since JB announced to me that it has been 11 days since my last post. I also saw a hit yesterday from Winslow, AZ, where #1 and Barbie were standing on a corner, so I decided it was time to get in gear.

The big news is that, as of September 27, we are grandparents. LGMG came through it well and has been home for about a week, but the two little ones, a boy and a girl, are still in the hospital.  They are both doing well but need a little more time to develop as they were premature. LGMG’s parents are there now, and D Pop and Grammy will be heading east at the end of the month.

We were on the last leg of our Utah national park tour when the twins arrived, about to set off to Vegas. The Vegas portion went well enough, but it is tough encountering so many desperate people in one place. I made some money playing blackjack at the $10 table at our hotel, The Westgate, only to give it back the next morning. I also put a C note on the Colts over the Ram, which I would have won if not for the foibles of WR Adonai Mitchell. We had two fantastic old school dinners at Piero’s and Top of Binion’s Steakhouse.  Both joints featured the bucket o’ martini. When we got back to SFO, The Hotelier went back to work and the rest of us went back to doing nothing.

We were back for a few days when we were generously invited to dinner at another classic old-time place, The Iron Gate in Belmont, by the parents of The Banker. They are in their 80’s but are moving faster than I can.  They split their time between Florida and New York, with regular visits to the bay to see the kids, grandkids and great grandkids. We had big fun, great food and were among the last to leave.

I see that MAGA is up in arms about the selection of Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl half-time show. Mike Johnson wants someone for a broader audience, like Lee Greenwood, the 82-year-old who’s been making hay with his corny, nationalistic tune for over 40 years. I don’t think Mike has his finger on the pulse of the nation.  How about Zach Bryan? Or maybe Mike should stick with what he’s good at, like taking healthcare and food away from kids.

Everybody has their problems.  Hollywood is pooping their pants over Tilly Norwood, Pam Biondi wants senators to apologize to Trump for trying to impeach him, Kristi Noem got triggered by a guy in a chicken suit and I’m pissed that Hilaria Baldwin got voted off Dancing with the Stars. Hilaria said she is not a “nepo wife” but she might not have a grasp on the definition.

We’re putting on a tapas feast this weekend for the driveway cocktail gang, including gambas al ajillo, marcona almonds, jamon iberico and tortilla española.  I bring this up to point out that I have been making tapas long before it was hip.

There were a lot of upsets in week 5, so I took a bit of a beating along with lots of other folks.  But the week 6 picks below are golden.

Phi Den LAR Dal Ind Jax LAC Pit NE LV TB GB Det Buf Was