Arbitrary, Incidental, and Accidental Musings...: September 2009

Would you like to play a game?

Head over Heels

Random thoughts on the last 24 hours...

Giants rule, although we wouldn’t have had to worry about a last second win if Tynes had hit the 29-yarder like he was supposed to. Good win though. Hope Tuck is okay.

Did I just see a commercial with Peyton Manning speaking Chinese, Justin Timberlake playing ping pong, and the naked chick from ESPN? I think I did.

Going into the playoffs with Burnett and Joba scares me to death. Just saying.

I suck at football pick ‘em.

The evil dude on the new season of Survivor is awesome. I think he is going to lose really early because he will be found out, but still awesome.

I've been saying this all along...

Too soon?

Couple of update notes...

Semi-pro... Not a great movie.

Had great sushi, dim sum, and crab chowder sourdough bread bowl. Hard to get a bad meal in this town. However, Scoma's in Sausalito managed to accomplish that. New rule... If I walk into a seafood restaurant and it smells like fish, I turn around and walk out. Good? Good.

Back to dim sum... Not my thing. Way too rushed and crowded. Way too much food as well. Chinatown may as well be a different planet to me. Just wild.

Sourdough bread is awesome. I also like how the world famous Boudin bakers will make it into a lobster, alligator, or Teddy bear.

Cable cars are just weird. Cool, but weird. I like how you can walk anywhere in this city... As long as you are good with hills.

I ate breakfast in the same restaurant Sean Connery did in The Rock. It's in my hotel. This is the original Fairmont and the hotel used in the TV series "Hotel". Yeah, that's a little before my time.

Fisherman's Wharf has gotten way too touristy. Then again, it may have always been too touristy and I was too young to notice. I like how the beggars are very honest in this town. There's also a fair amount of crazies as well.

GHiardelli Square was smaller than I thought it would be. People really love their recycling here and this place is packed every day of the week which shocks me. Even the transamerica tower looks small to me compared to NY buildings.

Okay, I think I'm done free form ranting for now. More to come...

I see the good hands in this area ended with jerry rice...

What?! What did I say?

I'm sorry...

Some people just don't look good in orange and black. They look like jack o lanterns.

Aaron rowand...

Is a poor man's nick swisher.

We are now the espn game...

Get some! National league fever! Catch it!

End 4

Giants blow it big time. Ugly double play. You know, Matt Cain might look good in pinstripes.

Mid 4

Hr by troy "you ruined my fantasy season three years ago" tulowitski.

Followed by Clint "you also screwed me in fantasy" barmes with an RBI double. I think I'm a giants fan tonight all of a sudden.

Completely economical game. Wish the Yankees played this fast.

End 3

Nothing interesting happened. Such is national league baseball when the pitcher bats.

Mid 3

Ny giants fan next to me now. Actually, he's a seat jumper and had to leave. Ha ha. Yanks won. Nice. Matt cain bails out some shoddy defense. Good strike to ball ratio.

End 2

You don,t are broken bat double plays often. Ouch.

Mid 2

Scoreboard is cool. Smell of garlic is intense. Matt cain good. I think Robert loggia has throat cancer. Wait, not him. They have Dyson air blades in the bathroom. Awesome!

End 1

Pablo sandoval is fat. The Giants have a Molina brother batting cleanup. That is all.

Mid 1

Matt cain works out of an error and a bunt single from the clean up hitter. Foul ball almost hit us. Good seats.

The seal

Has a bike. Garlic is in the air. They play new Metallica. I could grow to like this place.

And btw

No one is here for first pitch. That's the west coast for you...

The mascot

Rachel just said the seal is a little phallic. Yep. Long night.

I can hit Barry zito with my beer

I'm that close. You know what? Never mind. The Giants have suffered enough under his reign.

First pitch guy threw a strike. Not bad.

National anthem

Sung by the "fabulous bud e luv". That's not a mistype on my blackberry.

My hot dog vendor...

Looks like Wesley snipes circa "the fan". This is going to be a long night.

Might as well go for the live blog

They put down the chalk lines in stencils. Weird.

Speaking of weird, we're being serondaded by opera right about now. Billy Martin is spinning in his grave.

And seriously?

They ran a joke ad to tell fans how to root at this park. It was then followed up by some Russian folk dancing.

What Twilight zone episode am I in?

The garlic fry verdict

The garlic fries at AT&T Park are not better or worse than those at Yankee Stadium, just different. The Yankee Stadium fries are more of a Sharpe, uncooked pesto taste (which I think I actually prefer) while the Giants fries have a cooked garlic that is much more subtle. The Giants fries include a large amount of parsley which not only helps the flavor, but also freshens the breath. However, the issue with the Giants fries is that they tend to get very soft from the oil which is something the Yankees fries don't suffer from.

Bottom line, much like in n out vs. Five guys burgers and fries, I can't choose among my children. While I may prefer the sharpness of the Yankees fries, the Giants fries have a subtlety and well put together taste that I also enjoy.

Wow

I went to five wineries today and sampled some amazing wine and cuisine (updates pending). However, the thing that will stick in my mind from today is the dinner I just had at La Haye in Sonoma. Simply amazing and one of the best five meals I have ever had in my life. Take that, David Burke! I mean…

Anyway, it was really good. I’ll explain more later.

Jack in the Box

This morning was my first Jack in the Box experience. I was a little surprised and somewhat impressed. The chipotle and chorizo breakfast burrito was quite good and they made everything fresh when I got there. Not quite Duchess quality, but it was fresher than most fast foods.

…and that’s what I’m really loving about this trip. It’s the freshness of the food. Everything tastes like they just grew it next door before it reached your plate; which they probably did in most cases. Even the little stuff.

Last night I had the largest potsticker in my life and some solid ahi tuna at the Glen Ellen Inn. The chicken and dumplings were probably the best I have ever had.

While yesterday’s spa wasn’t quite as relaxing as I would have hoped, the rest of the vacation has been so far. …except for that damn rooster.

The wine, is of course, excellent as well. Today is our first wine tour. That should be… interesting. At least, it might be if I live blog from my Blackberry. We shall see…

Movies I saw on the plane...

The hangover - 4 stars
The illusionist - 4 stars
American Gangster - 3 stars
Commando - 1 star

Yes, it was a long flight. And really?! Commando?! I've never seen this movie before, but it was so bad it was almost good. It was every terrible cliché about an 80s action movie. You know, I'm going to stop here. I can't rationally discuss this.

And also, what's up with ESPN showing you who won the game you are watching delayed on the ticker in this time zone? Yeah, people want to know who won, but that's why they're watching it! Way to go World Wide Leader.

I am definitely in the country...

I was woken up by a rooster today. For those of you who never have had the distinct pleasure, they don't seem to want to shut up. I don't suppose it matters though because the walls are so thin here that I can hear everything from flushes to showering in the other room.

The Mission Inn and Spa is beautiful though and we get a free wine tasting every day. Last night's dinner at Harvest Moon was awesome. It was like a fresher, better version of Market in Stamford. The short rib stew with buckwheat polenta made me want to lick the plate clean. And the wine isn't too shabby either.

Today is the spa and getting to know Sonoma.

Golden gate bridge

Almost forgot... The golden gate bridge was pretty darned cool for some reason. As was the ferry terminal. The farmers market was packed and I got to try some great food and stonehouse oils.

The scenery is really cool, so I'm going to put this down and pay attention to the road.

In n out

Love in n out. Tremendous burgers for a cheap price. It's the west coast five guys burgers and fries. I can't choose which is better. I'm just going to have to love both like my children.

We are currently driving north to sonoma in our rented Mercedes. Yes, we somehow ended up with our new car for the price of a mazda 6. How weird is that?

Stopped by Muir woods (not named after American patriot Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies fame) and saw the redwoods. Interestingly enough, I did not have the reaction I thought I would have. Instead of thinking how impressive it was, I felt that it looked so fake. It was almost as if I was at the Jurassic Park set at Universal Studios. Who knew nature could make things look like a movie set? Anyway, it was cool, but only something I need to do once. Knock that one off the Jon Sheldon Across America list of things to do.

Now it's on to wine country while listening to the 49er game and how awesome my week 1 picks have fared. Go giants and good for you Osi!

Oh, and finally, I don't think I hate Anchor Steam Ale anymore. I might have just had a bad one in Vegas that one time.

I know, I know...

San Francisco has great food, but I am truly shocked by how good it has been. There hasn't been one misstep yet. Even a regular coffee house croissant was excellent. Speaking of which, I'm switching to Illy coffee. It's awesome. Doesn't even need sugar. Loving the dungeoness crab. It's sweet and so different from what I'm used to.

On an unrelated note, another NFL season starts today. I think Brett favre starts great with the Vikings early easy schedule and then fades as the season goes on. I also think the giants will disappoint with their no name receiving corps. Too bad I will miss all the games today as I will be driving and visiting the redwood forests. Oh well. Guess I'll have to have a life experience or something instead. Pictures and updates to come...

Football in PST

I'm not sure I'm going to get used to this. Way too early for me.

Excellent breakfast. Meyer lemon pancakes with creme fraiche and blueberry compote. Dungeoness crab eggs Benedict. Something tells me they know how to cook in this city.

And oh yes...

I'm live blogging my romp through wine country!

Should I have written "romp"?

Probably not.

Doesn't matter. Off to SFO it is!

Love terminal 5

They have a shoe shine man with a pink tie and 30s hat. This is how travel should be.

This truly is the greatest fight scene of all time…

I know this is a sequel that shouldn’t be made…

But I’m going to watch it in the theater anyway.

Arbitrary, Incidental, and Accidental Musings...

Friday, September 25, 2009