Long Weekend, Part II

[Dinner last Friday night was with Mom at this pretentiously named new-ish restaurant a couple of blocks from where I went to high school. (In my world, applying "x-location at x-location" names would be immediate cause for execution by firing squad. What's wrong with "Joe's"?) Anyway, she was paying; the wine list was impressive (the wine country restaurants take their clientele seriously); and the food was lovely and Californian. Thumbs up.]

[We weren't shy on the wine (after two preprandials in the bar): I had a flight of three Syrahs, since I was having halibut (what it with this fish craving lately?) but have an anti-Pinot Noir prejudice, while Mom did three Zins to go with her lamb. By the end of the meal I was flirting with the waiter, and Mom and I were discussing all kinds of probably inappropriate topics thru that viniferous haze that dissolves all boundaries. I insisted on a rather long walk up Broadway through the warm night air before getting us home.]

[The next day (and yes: ow, my head), Mom went to go get Dad, who upon arrival at home took his battered heart to bed. Mom and I ran errands in downtown Sonoma (me: haircut; a bagel sandwich from a childhood favorite; card for Sunday's wedding; new black shoes because I brought one member of each of the two older pairs I own), went home to check on Dad, and then went on an enjoyable walk up in the foothills. First we found my great-grandfather and step-great-grandmother's graves, right across the path from where General and Mrs. Vallejo are buried at Mountain Cemetery. (I take inordinate pleasure in having something resembling roots in Sonoma Valley going back to the '30s.) Then we hiked the Overlook Trail to one of the top of one of the lower Mayacamas Mountains for a clear, gorgeous view of the whole valley and a good wedge of San Pablo Bay.]

[Next: the sauce Bearnaise, the wedding, and the bad news...]

[But first, two things more current: saw the amazing Fay Grim last night at the Embarcadero Cinema with Sean. I haven't seen any other Hal Hartley stuff (not even Henry Fool, of which Fay Grim is the sequel), and now I want to rent all of his movies and have 10,000 of his babies and name all of them Hal. (Or Parker.) Really, really good.]

[And...just now, Violet called to tell me she had an extra ticket to see Christopher Hitchens speak at City Arts & Lectures, and did I want to go? "Hitch" is a mass of alcoholic English contradictions, political subset...what could be better for me?]

Previously Next

[Oh, and this, from him (we finally match!):]

You Are a Ham Sandwich

You are quiet, understated, and a great comfort to all of your friends. Over time, you have proven yourself as loyal and steadfast. And you are by no means boring. You do well in any situation - from fancy to laid back. Your best friend: The Turkey Sandwich Your mortal enemy: The Grilled Cheese Sandwich