Happy so far 2004

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. I'm having a lovely season instead of just a day. Thursday night was Derek's bachelor party and we had great tacky tiki fun and and a phenomenal dinner at Shi Mo. Last night I went to bed early and slept well in preparation for all the other socializing this weekend.

This morning started, a bit earlier than my usual lazy Saturday, with a trip to the San Francisco Flower Mart with Judith. It was great fun. I like spending time with Judith and the Mart is beautiful. I'd never been before and I really enjoyed myself. She loaded me down with all sorts of lovely flowers and foliage and then when we'd checked off the shopping list we headed over to Janice & Jason & Evan Fraser's in Noe Valley. They have a really nice house and I am experiencing serious kitchen prep space envy.

I played "line cook" and trimmed things to soak and prepped decorative leaves while the talented Judith and Janice made pretty bouquets and corsages. To ensure utter fabulousness of the results, we all wore tiaras during the proceedings. Jason played guitar for us for a while and Evan went fishing (best results in hallway, according to his papa). It was all quite delightful and I was astounded by Janice's ability to bounce back from cancelled-flight-travel-trauma.

Around noon-something I took off and was given a birthday wrist corsage on my way out which I wore proudly with my jeans & t-shirt all the way home.

I stopped off at Friendly Spirits to buy myself some birthday presents for my growing collection of single-malts. (These join the Genmorangie Port Wood Finish 12 year, Dalwhinnie 15 year, and Balvenie Doublewood 12 year). From my mum (thanks, Mum!) a bottle of 10-year-old Edradour, "Scotland's Smallest Distillery". Edradour is the name of a cat I used to have and I've always wanted to sample the stuff. So, since I can do whatever I damn well please today, I had a tasting at 2pm. Okay, so it was half an ounce, but still, 86 proof! I'm a hooligan! Anyhow, lovely lovely nose on it. Very odd main flavor which I can't put a description to yet, nice long finish. I think this one wants a bigger longer tasting and a bit of water to open it up. Great for smelling, though, when you don't actually want to drink anything and you just want to give your senses something complicated to enjoy.

Aside: I concluded after the bachelor party that though the sake at dinner was excellent (must consult the name on that gigantic bottle which Derek ended up with...) and my two tacky mai tai's were fun, I prefer quality over quantity. I'd rather have one glass of good scotch whisky than 3 of any other drink. And, since I almost never drink more than three drinks, that makes entertaining myself very cost-effective.

The big present, though, was something I've wanted to add to the collection for a while: the 18-year Macallan. This is one of the best, referred to by the folks over at single-malt.com as "The Wet Dream of Malts" and/or "the Special Occasion Malt". I've had it before and it is damn good. This one is for special occasions and discerning friends. Not sure how long I'll be able to resist at least opening it to smell, though.

Now it's time to relax for a while before showering and dolling myself up for early dinner at Buca di Beppo to wish my former co-worker Matt and his sweetie John good fortune as they move on to new adventures. After dinner my friend Fil is taking me to see Movin' On (Billy Joel music, Twyla Tharp dance thang). Should be a very fun evening. I have a suspicion some sort of drinks & or dessert may be on the plan for afterwards.

Tomorrow is Heather & Derek's wedding, so I'll be busy helping that special day go smooth as silk. Hope you all are having a lovely weekend and finding your happiness all the places you can.

Comments

Happy so far

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. I'm having a lovely season instead of just a day. Thursday night was Derek's bachelor party and we had great tacky tiki fun and and a phenomenal dinner at Shi Mo. Last night I went to bed early and slept well in preparation for all the other socializing this weekend.

This morning started, a bit earlier than my usual lazy Saturday, with a trip to the San Francisco Flower Mart with Judith. It was great fun. I like spending time with Judith and the Mart is beautiful. I'd never been before and I really enjoyed myself. She loaded me down with all sorts of lovely flowers and foliage and then when we'd checked off the shopping list we headed over to Janice & Jason & Evan Fraser's in Noe Valley. They have a really nice house and I am experiencing serious kitchen prep space envy.

I played "line cook" and trimmed things to soak and prepped decorative leaves while the talented Judith and Janice made pretty bouquets and corsages. To ensure utter fabulousness of the results, we all wore tiaras during the proceedings. Jason played guitar for us for a while and Evan went fishing (best results in hallway, according to his papa). It was all quite delightful and I was astounded by Janice's ability to bounce back from cancelled-flight-travel-trauma.

Around noon-something I took off and was given a birthday wrist corsage on my way out which I wore proudly with my jeans & t-shirt all the way home.

I stopped off at Friendly Spirits to buy myself some birthday presents for my growing collection of single-malts. (These join the Genmorangie Port Wood Finish 12 year, Dalwhinnie 15 year, and Balvenie Doublewood 12 year). From my mum (thanks, Mum!) a bottle of 10-year-old Edradour, "Scotland's Smallest Distillery". Edradour is the name of a cat I used to have and I've always wanted to sample the stuff. So, since I can do whatever I damn well please today, I had a tasting at 2pm. Okay, so it was half an ounce, but still, 86 proof! I'm a hooligan! Anyhow, lovely lovely nose on it. Very odd main flavor which I can't put a description to yet, nice long finish. I think this one wants a bigger longer tasting and a bit of water to open it up. Great for smelling, though, when you don't actually want to drink anything and you just want to give your senses something complicated to enjoy.

Aside: I concluded after the bachelor party that though the sake at dinner was excellent (must consult the name on that gigantic bottle which Derek ended up with...) and my two tacky mai tai's were fun, I prefer quality over quantity. I'd rather have one glass of good scotch whisky than 3 of any other drink. And, since I almost never drink more than three drinks, that makes entertaining myself very cost-effective.

The big present, though, was something I've wanted to add to the collection for a while: the 18-year Macallan. This is one of the best, referred to by the folks over at single-malt.com as "The Wet Dream of Malts" and/or "the Special Occasion Malt". I've had it before and it is damn good. This one is for special occasions and discerning friends. Not sure how long I'll be able to resist at least opening it to smell, though.

Now it's time to relax for a while before showering and dolling myself up for early dinner at Buca di Beppo to wish my former co-worker Matt and his sweetie John good fortune as they move on to new adventures. After dinner my friend Fil is taking me to see Movin' On (Billy Joel music, Twyla Tharp dance thang). Should be a very fun evening. I have a suspicion some sort of drinks & or dessert may be on the plan for afterwards.

Tomorrow is Heather & Derek's wedding, so I'll be busy helping that special day go smooth as silk. Hope you all are having a lovely weekend and finding your happiness all the places you can.

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