happy new year...

Wishing everyone a great 2011! Hopefully I'll write more...

mike singletary...

A great linebacker and probably a good man, but that doesn't translate to head coaching success in the NFL...

merry christmas...

Just had Christmas dinner with my nephew and his girlfriend- it was fantastic!

merry christmas eve...

Need to write more and more consistently on my blog...

1 california bus...

It's nearly 11:30pm and I'm surprised how many riders are still going outbound from the Financial District to Chinatown to Nob Hill and beyond...

a cool rainy evening in the city...

We need the rain and most everything looks clean and fresh...

Therefore, I like this kind of night with light rain...

rn74...

Marko Sotto who used to be the bartender extraordinaire @ Aqua is the GM @ Michael Mina's RN74...

The beignets are very good @ the joint...

25 lusk...

Probably the hottest place in the City @ this moment in time...

I want to thank Sonia Molodetskaya for recommending this place to me a month or so ago...

It's simply a phenomenal place...

blue valentine...

I saw the film @ Sundance last January and I see that it will open @ the end of the year.

Stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams are nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor and an Actress in a Motion Picture- Drama. Williams was also nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.

The film can be difficult to watch, but the acting is sensational. I believe Ryan Gosling is one the best young actors around today...

hospice...

To me, when I hear someone is in a hospice, it saddens me because I know their death is imminent. Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller was put in a hospice recently and a few days later, he passed away...

in 1996, my Uncle Henry was put in a hospice and he died a day or so later. Just last April, my Aunt Eloise was put under hospice care and she succumbed few days later...

I hate to hear the word hospice...

a friend who slept with a movie star...

I went out with a buddy last night and I was surprised that he told me he slept with Karen Allen. One of my favorite films is ANIMAL HOUSE(1978) and Allen was one of the stars. Her career peaked in the 80's with starring roles in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK(1981), STARMAN(1984), and SCROOGED(1988).

To be more correct, I'd have to say that Karen Allen is a former movie star who still acts in Hallmark Hall of Fame type of movies.

Good for him...

koshihikari echigo...

An excellent Japanese beer!

hideki matsui...

Hopefully, he signs with the A's in the next day or so...

citizen cake...

Their chocolate chip cookies are very good, as is their coffee, in which we had in a french press. Citizen Cake serves still and sparkling water from their own filtering system.

This is a table service joint. Located on Fillmore between Sacramento and California.

an ego boost...

Before heading home, I stopped off @ the Big 4 to have a bite to eat. I made small talk with an attractive 22 year old brunette who was with her 46 year old boyfriend/lover/father figure, etc... He kept leaving the bar to do something. I'm guessing something that starts with a "c" and ends with an "e"?

I don't know if she was bullshitting me, but she said I looked about 17 years younger than my real age. One hell of a compliment! But, I'm realistic. I'll take 10 years younger. Okay, 7 sounds good...

Then, as I was leaving, Madison(that's her name) said, "goodnight handsome" and rubbed her ample breasts against my arm...

Man, Madison was such an ego boost to an old fart like me...

5a5 steakhouse...

They have an excellent happy hour from 5 to 7:30 weekdays. I especially like when they have $5 french dip with au jus on thursday and friday. You can get a glass of bubbles for $5.

specialty's cafe & bakery...

Est. 1987.

Great turkey n swiss croissant! Made from sctratch and they use real turkey breast as opposed to that turkey roll bullshit...

But you have to come early or they'll sell out...

Early is before 9am. They open @ 6am on weekdays. I'm partial to the original Pine near Montgomery location.

train from san jose to the city...

It takes about 100 minutes.

One can drink alcohol on the ride.

And you can eat on the train.

I'm riding on it now and it's boring as hell...

Fuck, I wish I had my headphones on me...

resort charges @ vegas hotels...

Just stayed @ Mandalay Bay and their resort charge was $16.80. Which includes wifi in room wifi, cardio room access, daily weekday USA Today which can be picked up @ Rangoon, the Store, and The Lobby store by showing your room key, local and 800 number calls(big fucking deal, and outgoing faxes and boarding passes in the Business Center.

So when you get a good rate @ Mandalay Bay, remember to factor in the resort fee. Some of the hotel/casinos don't charge a resort fee. And the Las Vegas hotel tax is 12%.

josh duhamel...

The cat was kicked off a plane for refusing to turn off his Crackberry...

I met him @ Sundance last January and seemed like a nice kid...

However, people need to get over themselves and turn their fucking cellphones off before takeoff...

By the way, Fergie didn't look very good in person...

leaving las vegas...

Most of the time, I can't wait to blow Dodge... But this trip, I wouldn't mind sticking around another couple of days...

mandalay bay...

Definitely one of my favorite places to stay in LV...

pat burrell...

I'm surprised the Giants are bringing Burrell back for another season, but I'm happy they did...

miguel tejada...

He's past his prime, but the Giants needed a shortstop after Juan Uribe signed with the Dodgers and World Series MVP Edgar Renteria's option wasn't picked up.

It's a stop gap and we'll see if Miggie can hit in AT&T Park.