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