Friday, April 29, 2005
Surf's Up!
A nearly perfect day: a run along the beach this morning, a mid-day 15 mile bike ride on my newly referbished mountain bike, and then I noticed the surf was breaking big, so off to the Cayuco pier for some boogie board action. Nearly 10 foot waves, breaking cleanly. Thought for a moment I had gotten too fat to fit into my wet suit, but then I realized I was trying to put my leg through the arm hole, which is pretty stupid.
Rotisserie chicken on the menu this evening. Still lots of wine in inventory, so it may be a late night.
Rotisserie chicken on the menu this evening. Still lots of wine in inventory, so it may be a late night.
Alert Monty Brown
The lupins are blooming.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Now THAT Was A Show
Watched the Pope's funeral during cocktail hour and through dinner. Great stuff. A hush came over the room during Panzer-Cardinal Ratzinger's homily, and also during the Litany of the Saints. We watched the Fox News broadcast: Is Shephard Smith the dumbest-ass anchor of all the cable nets?
Now, maybe it was the wine--the several very good wines of course--but we have concluded that the reason we can't understand anything Jeffrey V.S. says is that he speaks in Esperanto. All this time we thought it was his diction.
But one thing we did decipher: Jeff just bought a five-litre (5L!!) bottle of 2001 Pride reserve cabernet sauvignon. That size bottle may require a Men's Convention rather than a Men's Retreat to consume.
Now, maybe it was the wine--the several very good wines of course--but we have concluded that the reason we can't understand anything Jeffrey V.S. says is that he speaks in Esperanto. All this time we thought it was his diction.
But one thing we did decipher: Jeff just bought a five-litre (5L!!) bottle of 2001 Pride reserve cabernet sauvignon. That size bottle may require a Men's Convention rather than a Men's Retreat to consume.
Whales Beaching
Now THAT would be us, after one of our monster meals.
Actually, there are pods of elephant seals just up the road about 10 miles from us, giving rise to the question: what's the difference between an elephant seal and the Men's Retreat? Answer: Only about 20 pounds, except the Men's Retreat snorts louder.
Actually, there are pods of elephant seals just up the road about 10 miles from us, giving rise to the question: what's the difference between an elephant seal and the Men's Retreat? Answer: Only about 20 pounds, except the Men's Retreat snorts louder.
Whales Breaching!
Not, not us. Real whales, breaching in the ocean, close in, right out in front of us. Big time!, as Dick Cheney would say.
Thursday Morning Update
Sorry for the lull in fresh postings. Not that we're hungover or anything. I'm actually getting some work-work done this morning, while the rest of the gang heads up the Big Sur coast for weekday Mass at the New Camaldoli monastery in Lucia, followed by lunch at the famous Nepethe. I didn't want to slum it with those Roman schismatics, so I stayed behind to write nasty things about the UN.
Preview: Tonight's grill menu, already marinating, consists of tri-tip and pork ribs.
Preview: Tonight's grill menu, already marinating, consists of tri-tip and pork ribs.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Wednesday Night Update
Barrel tasting with the winemaker at Adelaida Cellars was a huge success--great pinot and syrahs on the way in a few weeks--as was dinner afterward with the owners at a fancy French restaurant in Paso Robles (where we ordered--what else??--Adelaida pinot from the wine list).
But we're still up for a round of single-malt back at the house, which is what we're going now.
But we're still up for a round of single-malt back at the house, which is what we're going now.
Wednesday Morning
It wasn't until this morning that we realized that last might's dinner amounts to 1.2 lbs of beef per person (a 6.1 lb roast divided five ways, and we DID eat the whole thing), and one bottle of wine per person, on top of cocktail hour drinks. No wonder we're moving s l o w l y this morning.
But we have just the thing: barrel tasting at Adelaida Cellars this afternoon.
But we have just the thing: barrel tasting at Adelaida Cellars this afternoon.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Tuesday Evening Report
The golf scores are too embarrassing to post in cyberspace.
I attempted to go for a run along the cliffside trail overlooking the ocean, but it felt like I had a bowling ball in my stomach, so I mostly walked.
Speaking of bowling balls in my stomach, tonight's entree was a beef tenderloin, 6.1 lbs. We ate the whole thing. Along with baked potatoes, ceaser salad, and the double-magnum of Chateau Montelena 1996 cabernet, and the single bottle of Dunn 1986 cabernet.
And still speaking of bowling, tonight is "Big Lebowski" night. Heh.
I attempted to go for a run along the cliffside trail overlooking the ocean, but it felt like I had a bowling ball in my stomach, so I mostly walked.
Speaking of bowling balls in my stomach, tonight's entree was a beef tenderloin, 6.1 lbs. We ate the whole thing. Along with baked potatoes, ceaser salad, and the double-magnum of Chateau Montelena 1996 cabernet, and the single bottle of Dunn 1986 cabernet.
And still speaking of bowling, tonight is "Big Lebowski" night. Heh.
UN Humor
The UN's new Millennium Ecosystem Assessment has the following analysis of the "cultural services" of ecosystems: "There has been a decline in the numbers of sacred groves and other such protected places. The loss of particular ecosystem attributes (sacred species or sacred forests), combined with social economic changes, can sometimes weaken the spiritual benefits people can obtain from ecosystems. On the other hand, under some circumstances (e.g., where ecosyetem attributes are causing significant threats to people), the loss of some attributes may enhance spiritual appreciation for what remains."
Who knew the UN could do satirical writing at such a high level?
Who knew the UN could do satirical writing at such a high level?
Today. . .
. . . is golf day. Nuf said.
Heh.
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
"Few of Benedict's journalist critics ever darken the doorsteps of churches themselves, or plan to do so in the future. But they say making the church more "modern" will enhance its appeal."
"Perhaps they have in mind the explosive growth of the Episcopal church in the United States."
"Explosive growth of the Episcopal Church." That's a great line.
As Glenn Reynolds would say: "Heh."
"Few of Benedict's journalist critics ever darken the doorsteps of churches themselves, or plan to do so in the future. But they say making the church more "modern" will enhance its appeal."
"Perhaps they have in mind the explosive growth of the Episcopal church in the United States."
"Explosive growth of the Episcopal Church." That's a great line.
As Glenn Reynolds would say: "Heh."
Rumsfeld to the Rescue
In his usual style Dr. Bob noted the anomalies in the redone kitchen, whereupon a paraphrase of Rumsfeld the Great came in handy: "You go to the Men's Retreat with the kitchen you have, rather than the kitchen you might like to have."
Monday, April 25, 2005
It Was Inevitable
We screened "Sideways" tonight, and once again gave thanks that they didn't film it over the hill from us in Paso Robles, and ruin the neighborhood.
The grilled salmon was beyond perfect, for the record. We added pinot to the Kistler chardonnay. What is it with us and pinot anyway?
The grilled salmon was beyond perfect, for the record. We added pinot to the Kistler chardonnay. What is it with us and pinot anyway?
Crash!
Jeff Van Schaick's laptop computer seems to have crashed irretrievably, which only serves him right fcor screwing up the blog yesterday, and not using a Mac.
Monday's Dinner Menu
Salmon, grilled on cedar plank, accompanied by hearts of romaine lettuce salad, and--if we can talk Jeff Patten into it (as Director of Risotto)--mushroom risotto, all washed down with some Kistler 1999 Russian River chardonnary, which rates very high on the very high kind of wine rating scales. Might watch the tape of the Pope's funeral tonight.
Reinforcements Have Arrived
Father Rich and Dr. Bob have arrived, delayed by the bishop's visit to Rich's parish yesterday. The bishop expressed interest in joining the Men's Retreat, but Rich refrained from the obvious temptation of saying heretics were not allowed.
So what is the TMR reading? Steve us reading Victor Navasky's memoirs in galley form (for a review, of course), finding it to be a surprising good book from such a plainly bad man. Jeff Van Schaick is reading Weigel's "The Cathedral and the Cube" (but also thoughtfully brought Weigel's biography of Pope JPII along); Jeff Patten is reading The Wilson Quarterly, Rich is reading the new philoso-thriller, "On Bullshit," and Dr. Bob is reading the health warning label on his cigarettes.
So what is the TMR reading? Steve us reading Victor Navasky's memoirs in galley form (for a review, of course), finding it to be a surprising good book from such a plainly bad man. Jeff Van Schaick is reading Weigel's "The Cathedral and the Cube" (but also thoughtfully brought Weigel's biography of Pope JPII along); Jeff Patten is reading The Wilson Quarterly, Rich is reading the new philoso-thriller, "On Bullshit," and Dr. Bob is reading the health warning label on his cigarettes.
Popover Update
The popovers popped HUGE, by the way. In case you were wondering. . .
Right now we are deliberating: Where should we go for today's cheeseburgers? (Yesterday's venue was the Village Grill.)
Right now we are deliberating: Where should we go for today's cheeseburgers? (Yesterday's venue was the Village Grill.)
John Dryden, TMR's Bard
The Men's Retreat is of course a cross between self-satire and farce (satire when the drinks are being mixed, farce after they have been consumed. . .), so John Dryden's verse seems appropriate for an inscription:
Satire is always shown among the rest,
And is the boldest way, if not the best,
To tell men freely of their foulest faults,
To laugh at their vain deeds and vainer thoughts.
Satire is always shown among the rest,
And is the boldest way, if not the best,
To tell men freely of their foulest faults,
To laugh at their vain deeds and vainer thoughts.
News You May Need to Use
We observed the news that the American toilet seat industry is making wider seats because, well, isn't the reason obvious? It certainly is in our case.
Meanwhile, Governor Arnold wants kids to exercise more in school. It's all part of his "No Child Left With a Big Behind Act."
Meanwhile, Governor Arnold wants kids to exercise more in school. It's all part of his "No Child Left With a Big Behind Act."
Now Baking in the Over at TMR:
Giant popovers.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Make It Stop!!
Jeff Patten, this music is intolerable!
The First Night Menu
Marinated rack of lamb, grilled to a perfect medium-medium rare pink, romaine lettuce salad, and the magnum of Etude pinot noir, and, when that runs out, Adelaida pinot noir. Brett Van Steenwyk dropped by for an afternoon bike ride (15 miles up Santa Rosa Creek road), and thoughtfully brought a half case of reserve wines from the family winery. I know, I know, that sounds like taking coals to Newcastle, but it is much appreciated, and will be much consumed.
Fixed!
The Pendragon of Logres is back in business.
But for the record for those of tender ears, "Goddamnityouguys" is the official slogan of the Men's Retreat.
But for the record for those of tender ears, "Goddamnityouguys" is the official slogan of the Men's Retreat.
