Random Train exit Friday

Sometimes it us fun to just pick out a random train stop and get off
and check out the neighborhood. Today is a place called Glen Park.
Eclectic ethnic neighborhood. My late lunch is a killer chile relleno
and carnitas (pork) taco. Very tasty.

Friday night in Lawrence Kansas with youngest nephew Aidan.

Blue ice cream. Banana ice cream. Which would you choose?

Summer is Here!

What better way to celebrate than to eat big chocolate icecream bars,
hand dipped in icecream and tossed heavily in coursely chopped roasted
almonds. Oh baby! It will spoil my dinner of an 8 hour slow roasted
leg of lamb with mint jam. That's ok. I can eat at 10 pm. Because I am
going to play with my newly arrived toy - my new 3G Ipad- just arrived
today! A very happy boy on a Friday!

Pizza afternoon.

It's Friday. Friday in the city. Great weather. Eating gourmet pizza
with my friend Narelle in San Jose. Life is great. Happy Friday

SPRING or OLD BLOSSOMS

I was / felt a bit / under the weather today - literally - and soulfully.  This morning, my neighbor knocked on my door to say goodbye. She and her dog Harry had packed up, and were heading off to Colorado to begin a new personal life. This has been one of those rare neighbors that you actually find interesting - and want to do things with. And oh how convenient. Like some old sitcom out of the 50s, and along with another neighbor, we would assemble at of our houses, and watch the sun set while contemplating on the week that had just come to an end. Or we would be invited to a party, and just seem to want to take the neighbors with us. I am sure people talked - including the other neighbors. Last night had they peered out the window, they would have seen me scooting across the dark from my house to doors down, with a Moroccan tagine in my hand, and disappearing through the gates of a neighbor. And then, at some point around midnight, two of us quietly exited one door, and both went our ways to other front doors in the neighborhood.

I have usually been the one to pack up and go. Others have had to mourn  my departure, knowing our little village of friends had ended and things would never be the same. But this time, it was my neighbor that packed up, and moved to Colorado. She is in a new phase of her life, and was ready to be near family - to start anew - and to go to a place seemed to be calling her. I support her choice and celebrate her boldness.

But it is still sad.

Today, the weather was gray. I didn't feel like going into the city. The lights next door have never been so black.

And then tonight, I came across an ad for Ace Hardware, that somehow, spoke of what I might be feeling. And I wondered if there is secret truth here…

Happy to be at home, chilling, and watching the sun set in my back yard.

It has been a busy week of travel. Out to Washington DC and back. And
today, a busy coaching day with executives at Stanford. But the day is
done. And I am chillig at home. The smoker has ribs on it. Chilled
California wine. A beautiful yellow sunset. And a chance to sleep in
tomorrow, finally, on a Saturday morning. Life at the end of the week
can be good! How about for you?

Blustery New York City

Friday and Saturday here in new York city. Squalling rains destroy
umbrellas instantly. People walking around with their slickers. Heads
down. Trying to stay underground in the subways. Surfacing and getting
soaked. It is a great day to find a restaurant in Chinatown to find
some hot comforting laksa - a coconut curry broth soup with mixed bits
of seafood. The plane take off today is going to be bumpy!