Jazz at the Rancho Bernardo Inn

April 5, 2011

Left me, won't you lift me above the old routine;
Make it nice, play it clean jazzman.
When the jazzman's testifyin' a faithless man believes
he can sing you into paradise or bring you to your knees.
It's a gospel kind of feelin', a touch of Georgia slide,
a song of pure revival and a style that's sanctified.
Jazzman take my blues away; make my pain
the same as yours with every change you play.
Jazzman, oh jazzman.
                       Carole King

Bridget got us an invitation to 98.1 Smooth Jazz CD release party for Boney James.  It was at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, practically in our back yard.  It is such a great place.  I left work on time and Bridget saved a seat for me.  They have a full bar setup and food too.

Boney James is a saxophonist.  He is a three time Grammy nominee and has several gold
records.  Urban jazz is how they describe his style.  He started out with RandB bands, including Morris Day.  The first thing that Bridget and I thought of when he said that was Denise and Christine dancing in our den to The Bird. This is his 13th album.

RB Inn moved the concert from the Veranda to the Aragon Lawn.  It was a much bigger place (3200 sq ft) and it's where the weddings usually are.  He played some of his new songs, had a Q and A, and then autographed the new CD.

http://www.boneyjames.com/

www.ranchobernardoinn.com/

Here are some pictures but there are more at http://www.kifm.com/photopages/Photos.aspx?AlbumID=112940

Hey that is the back of our heads.   No that is not me on Bridget's left.

Birthday

March 22, 2011

happy birthday, happy birthday
happy birthday, happy birthday
happy birthday, happy birthday
happy, happy birthday in a hot bath
to those nice nice nights
i remember always, always
i got such a fright
seeing them in my dark cupboard
with my great big cake
if they were me
if they were me
and i was you
and i was you
if they were me
if they were me
and i was you
and i was you
if they were me and i was you
would you have liked a present too?
happy birthday, happy birthday
                                  Altered Images



Another year older, oh well.  They threw a potluck for me at work.  All the food was really good.  Bridget told me to make sure I got home on time.  Something was up.  When I got home she told me we were going out to dinner.  She drove about a mile from our house.

Carvers Steakes and Chops.  This is our local steakhouse.  One time when we were there so was David Copperfield and his girlfriend Claudia Schiffer.  David Copperfield's parents live in RB.  I had a huge crush on Claudia.  They have been running some terrific specials.  On Tuesday you get Prime Rib for $12.  And today is Tuesday.  As usual, Bridget has some great ideas.

I had a great day, talked to all the kids, ate like a king, got presents.  Hey it doesn't get any better.

http://carverssteak.com/

Morton's

March 19, 2011

I'd like to take you
to the edge of every morning
On a magic eiderdown
To a window chair
In the Paradise Steakhouse
                     Jethro Tull

My birthday is a few days away and on a week night, so we planned on going out to dinner on the weekend.  We have been wanting to try Morton's, The Steakhouse for the longest time.  The restaurant is downtown so not as close as the others ( Ruth Chris, Donovan's, Flemings).

The service was excellent as we had 2 waiters.  They brought out the steaks and explained the cuts and the lobster on the cart was alive.  The food of course was top notch.  Now we have 4 upscale steakhouses to choose from.  Good thing we are cutting back on red meat.  But seriously, this was a fabulous dinner.  Looking forward to our next trip here.

http://www.mortons.com/sandiego/

Swap Meet

March 6, 2011

They lead a lifetime that is comfortable
They travel far to keep their stomachs full
They make their living off of arts and crafts
The kind with seashells, driftwood and burlap
They make a deal when they come to town
The Sunday swap meet is a battle ground
She loves him more than you will ever know
He loves her more than he will ever show
                                      Nirvana



We haven't been to the swap meet in SD in like forever.  Noah took us to the flea markets in North Carolina, when he was going to school there.  Before that it was probably when the kids were all young.  They say it is the 30th year there at the sports arena.  We walked up and down each aisle.  Now I know why we haven't been in awhile.  Didn't find a thing we needed or wanted.

 http://www.kobeyswap.com/

OC

Feb 26, 2011

The things we think that we need
For our American dream
We're so perfectly Orange County
                             Stefy

We like to shop at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.  It is incredible.  It's only a little more than an hour from our house.  We were going to do some shopping, get some dinner and head back home.  I ended up with a great shirt from Ted Baker and a leather briefcase that was marked down from there as well.  Bridget got a book, The Pioneer Women, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.

http://www.southcoastplaza.com/

For dinner we picked Gulliver's in Irvine right by the airport.  It was an excellent choice and we were seated at John Wayne's favorite table.  It seems that he was a frequent guest there.  The seating was in a part of the restaurant were you could only be seen by some tables in the area or if someone walked past.  Very private.  We of course ordered the Prime Rib.  Yorkshire pudding.  Creamed corn.  It was delicious.  I was so full when we left, that it made it hard to drive home.

http://www.gulliversrestaurant.com/Home_Page.html

San Diego Museum of Art

Feb 20, 2011

I'm painting, I'm painting again.
I'm painting, I'm painting again.
I'm cleaning, I'm cleaning again.
I'm cleaning, I'm cleaning my brain.
Pretty soon now, I will be bitter.
Pretty soon now, Will be a quitter.
Pretty soon now, I will be bitter.
You can't see it 'til it's finished
I don't have to prove...that I am creative!
I don't have to prove...that I am creative!
All my pictures are confused
And now I'm going to take me to you.
                                        Talking Heads


It's Museum Month in San Diego.  Half off admission presented by Macy's.  We ate breakfast and then headed to Balboa Park. http://www.balboapark.org/  It is such a great place with the museums, zoo, park and the Old Globe theatre.  If you have never been there it is well worth a visit.

We walked around trying to decide which one to visit.  We decided to go to the San Diego Museum of Art.  There was an exhibition of 12 paintings by Sir Thomas Gainsborough (1727–1788), that explored the ways that women, art, and fashion came together to contribute to a new sense of women’s roles in society in the mid to late eighteenth century.  Yeah I didn't write that last sentence. 

They also had an exhibtion of Time and Place, the most recent work of Sir Howard Hodgkin (born 1932), one of Great Britain’s most renowned painters of the later 20th century.  Now his paintings were quite interesting.

It was a nice liesurely Sunday.

http://www.sdmart.org/

Restaurant Week in San Diego

Jan 12, 2011


Just eat it, eat it , eat it
Get yourself an egg and beat it
Have some more chicken, have some more pie
It doesn't matter , it's broiled or fried
Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it
eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it, ooh
                         Weird Al



Restaurant week is coming starting 1/16 through 1/21.  We started looking for new places to try.  Bridget got an email from the French Market Grille for a whole lobster for $18.00.  What better way to start the week off with a preveiw dinner.  The restaurant made it easy for us and removed the meat from the shell.  We didn't have to work for our dinner.

http://www.frenchmarketgrille.com/

Jan 16, 2011

Our first official dinner for Restaurant Week was Peohe's in Coronado.  Nestled on the water’s edge in the Coronado Ferry Landing, Peohe’s offers breathtaking views of the downtown skyline and San Diego Bay. Since they are known for their seafood we both decided to try it. 

For those who forgot or are not familiar with Restaurant Week, it is 3 courses for $30 or $40.  I had the Crab-Stuffed Tilapia and Bridget had the Coconut Crunchy Shrimp. The food and service was good and we had a great seat to watch the city light up.

 http://www.peohes.com/

Jan 21, 2011

We picked the next restaurant because it is close to my work.  Randy Jones has been barbquing at Qualcomm and now Petco Park for years.  This is a new restaurant on the scene and we are always up for some barbeque. 

I ordered the Tri-Tip Beef Platter and Bridget ordered the Slo-Pitch BBQ Pork Ribs.  Both were good as we sampled each others dinner.

http://www.rjgrill.com/


GREAT NEWS:  RESTAURANT WEEK IS EXTENDED ANOTHER WEEK

Jan 28, 2011

The next place we usually go there for Sunday Brunch.  It is excellent and well priced.  The great thing about Restaurant Week is we look at the menus to determine where to go.  Steak and Lobster well okay.  It was delicious.  We had another sucessful Restaurant Week.  Looking forward to September.

Their website describes the restaurant better than I can so here goes:

It would be difficult to find another restaurant with as much warmth and charm as the 94th Aero Squadron. Located inside a replica of a World War I French farmhouse, the restaurant sits overlooking Montgomery Field Airport, and is packed full of military memorabilia, antique farm implements, and aviation relics. The interior is cozy and romantic, with huge stone fireplaces, masses of hanging green plants, dark wood paneling, beamed ceilings, and old airplane wings hanging over the dining area. There are even headphones at some of the tables for diners to listen to the FAA control tower.



http://www.94thaerosquadron.signonsandiego.com/index.html

New Year

Dec 31, 2010

We did not have any plans.  Most years we stay home and lately we struggle to stay up until midnight. 

2010 sure went by fast.  The year had tremendous joy (wedding) and sadness (death).  Like most years, you do what you can and that's all there is.

Life is the sum of all your choices.
                          Albert Camus


We made it to midnight and toasted the New Year with some Prosecco.  Asleep 10 minutes later.

Happy New Year.

All is quiet on New Year's Day.
A world in white gets underway.
I want to be with you, be with you night and day.
Nothing changes on New Year's Day.
On New Year's Day.
                            U2

Christmas Vacation

I dedicate this house to the Taylor Family Christmas.

The most enjoying traditions of the season are best enjoyed in the warm embrace of kith and kin. Thith tree is a thymbol of the thpirit of the Griswold family Chrithmath.

A big thank you to Clark for helping me start this blog.  We watch that movie every year.  Good times.

All the kids came home.  Noah was the first to arrive.  He came home late Monday, Dec 20.  Courtney and David were next arriving on Wednesday night, Dec 22.  Jen and Brian arrived late Thursday night, Dec 23.  It was great with everyone home.  We had a fantastic Christmas.  Prime Rib on the menu as always.  Everyone got great presents.

Connie and Russ came down Sunday, Dec 26 to see everyone before they had to leave.  We were missing a few family members, but it was great time for everyone. 

Jen and Brian left that night to head back to LA and work.  Courtney and David left Monday afternoon for Dallas.  Noah left Wednesday, Dec 29 to head back to Louisville.  The house sure got quiet again.

Bridget's Birthday

Dec 17, 2010

You say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too--yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you.
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party
Yes we're going to a party party.
                                 Lennon/McCartney

Today was Bridget's Birthday.  Since it fell on a Friday I had to work.  I did make reservations at one of our favorite restaurants.

Flemings Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar.

http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/locations/ca/la-jolla

The food is excellent, a hugh wine list, great atmosphere.  It was a great way to celebrate the occasion and the rain didn't stop the party.