How to Turn 50

Last Friday, I turned 50.  Now, for a lot of people that’s a bit of a scary prospect but not so much for me.  Why not?   You see I don’t think I look 50 and I definitely don’t feel it.  In my mind, I’m still this youngish dude in my early 40’s.  Anyway, that’s how old I feel so I’m sticking with it.

Still, turning 50 is a considered a milestone so I took the day off to play.  The next question was what should I do?  As usual, I got up early, made a cappuccino and starting goofing off on the computer.  As dawn broke it was decision time.  Should I ride?  Should I go for a run?  I know, I’ll get another cup of coffee and think about it some more.  An hour and a half later, I was still sitting in my chair and drinking coffee when it hit me. I always ride or run on my days off, so doing neither would be the real birthday treat. 

After deciding what not to do, Sherry (who also had the day off) and I went down to The Flying Goat, our favorite indie coffee house.  There, we sipped our cappuccinos, ate pastries and simply enjoyed the morning and each other’s company.  After a little stroll through Old Railroad Square it was time to head to my birthday lunch. 

Sherry made reservations at Auberge du Soleil.  After being seated on the terrace, we started with glasses of Champagne, which were followed by very delicious salads, soups, lobster risotto and pork dishes.  Of course, all of this needed to be paired with wine so we selected a German Riesling that was extraordinary.  All of this was thoroughly enjoyed while checking out the stunning views of the Napa Valley. 

After our late lunch we drove to the historic town of Sonoma for another relaxing stroll.  From there, it was on to dinner with friends where we once again dined on great food and wine.  The dinner was also accompanied by lots and lots of laughter as well as the occasional old man joke.

The next day I chose to sleep in, which is very unusual for me.  When I finally got up, I managed to kick out a 7.5 mile run (my longest in a very long time) in Annadel State Park. 

The time spent with Sherry, lunches in Napa, dinner with friends, and long runs or rides all work harmoniously to ensure I continue to feel young.  And with all that working in my favor, I would can’t wait to see what the next 50 years brings my way.

Au revoir!

A curb-side lunch

Yesterday, was our national holiday to celebrate and remember the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  It also happened to be Munch Monday!

Munch Monday is a new concept in lunching for downtown Santa Rosa.  On a trial basis, the city is closing off 17 parking spaces in a large parking lot downtown and allowing lunch trucks to roll up and feed the masses.  Currently, there are six different lunch trucks offering everything from Chicago style hot dogs to crab sandwiches to dim sum with lots of choices in between. 

I learned about Munch Monday, as did a lot of other friends in my cycling world, from our friend Sarah who posted a link about it on FB.  So, after a short, and social cycling adventure (a rare treat for me on a Monday), six of us headed to a downtown parking lot, across from the post office, for lunch.

When I arrived I was surprised to see well over 100 people milling about and ordering food from the different lunch trucks.  As I surveyed my choices, I finally decided on a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and french fries.  It was really the fries that got my attention because they looked great (and they were).

After we got our food, we all walked over to one of the curbs to sit, eat, and chat.  This quickly turned into one of the best lunches I’ve had with friends in a long time.  There was something about the setting, eating on a curb and laughing with friends, that was special.  This was definitely one of those instances where the total experience was greater then the sum of its parts.  After about an hour of good food and great conversation, we all recycled our containers and headed home.

As of right now, this is still a trial and Munch Monday will only continue through the end of February.  But if yesterday was any indication, it is going to be successful so who knows how long the city will let it run.  I can tell you that I am already looking forward to my next curb-side lunch and chat.

Au revoir!

The Dinner

Each year, just after the holidays, Sherry and I host a dinner.  We look forward to this night all year.  It’s a quaint affair with no more then 8 guests.  However, the good food, vintage wines, and great friends always makes for a magical night and this year was no exception.

Let’s start with the menu.  Here are the food and wine pairings chosen for last Saturday’s dinner.  In case you were wondering, it was as good as it sounds.

• Hors-d'oeuvres - Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs NV Grand Cru Champagne (from the Rare Wine Company)
• Roasted pears with blue cheese salad - 2008 Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris (from Alsace)
• Cassoulet a la Bistro 29 - 2005 Chateau Les Hauts d'Aglan Cahors & 2005 Clos la Coutale Cahors
• Assortment of Artisan cheeses - 2005 Chateau Plaisance Bordeaux
• Pear and Stilton Tart - 2007 Chateau de Myrat Sauternes

The night lived up to its promise.  We ate.  We drank.  And, we laughed, told stories, and then laughed some more.  It was a perfect evening of food, wine and friends.

This year, Sherry and I had some help with the cooking.  Traditionally, I make my version of cassoulet for this dinner but since we are all traveling together to France later this year, I wanted something more authentic.  So, it was Bistro 29 to the rescue.  The chef there makes an awesome cassoulet so that’s what we served this year.

Another partner for the evening was Traverso’s.  After finalizing the menu I knew I needed the perfect white wine to pair with the salad.  So, up the hill to talk to Michael and he suggested the Pinot Gris from Alsace.  I will be going back up the hill to buy more.  It was a delightfully refreshing wine that I can see myself sipping in the back yard later this summer.  Traverso’s is also where I discovered the Clos la Coutale Cahors many years ago.

There you have it!  Another successful dinner with a little help from others.  Normally, I would already be looking forward to next year’s dinner but right now we have to finish planning for our trip to France. 

Au revoir!

Milestones

As you go through life, you will definitely pass a few milestones along the way.  Some of them are quite significant such as turning 21, getting married, or having your first child.  Others are more ceremonial like turning 30 or 40 where we tend to make a bigger deal out of these then we should.  This year, I will have one of each.

Let’s start with the more ceremonial milestone.  In April, I will turn 50.  For me, that’s really hard to believe because on the inside I don’t think I ever left my 30’s.  But time marches on and birthdays pass whether you want them to or not.  Since I still feel young at heart and mind, turning 50 doesn’t really concern me and I am looking forward to all of the celebration that comes with it.

The second 2011 milestone is much more significant.  In August, Sherry and I will reach our 25th wedding anniversary.  That means we have been married to each for half of our lives since she just turned 50 as well.  We are very proud of this achievement particularly given the today’s current divorce rates.

However, it’s not the number that’s significant.  It’s the fact that after 25 years we still prefer each other’s company to anyone else.  Sure, I love my bike rides with friends but given the option of a long ride with friends or a long leisurely lunch with Sherry, she wins every time.

The secret is not just love.  Lot of couples love each other.  No, I think it’s the pleasure we get for being together and the fact that as we’ve grown as individuals, we’ve also grown as a couple.  We are not the same 25 year olds who got married but the people we are today are even closer in many ways.

So there you have it.  There’s a lot of great things to celebrate in 2011.  You can bet there will be a big party in August at our house.  I hope each you have your own celebrations to look forward to as well.

Au revoir!

Taking a break

As the craziness of the holiday season kicks into full gear, I have decided to take a short break from writing.  However, I fully intend to return next month with fresh new stories of the little things that make life great.

Happy holidays and I’ll see you next year.

Au revoir!

Where’s the Damn “M” Key

Sherry and I just returned from a wonderful Paris vacation.  While we were there I intended to write at least three or so posts for this blog.  What happened?  Well, while the apartment we rented did have a laptop, the laptop had a French keyboard.  It is just different enough to drive you a bit insane.  Take a look for yourself!

Here were some of the harder things for me to overcome.  The commonly used M, A, and W keys are in different places.  You have to hold the shift key for periods and numbers (yes, numbers).  And finally, you have this third option, as highlighted in the photo, of the Alt Gr key.  This is used for any key with three options.  For example, to type the @ symbol you needed to press Alt Gr – 0.

While I did manage to write one post while I was in Paris, it was very challenging since I do type by touch.  So, I am just typing away and then I realize what I am typing looks like gobbely-gook (that’s a technical writing term).  Here is an example of a sentence I eventually got correct and how it was typed originally.

Correct version:  “So, most of us Americans should be able to make our way through a French menu without too much difficulty.”

Original version:  “So, ;ost of us Q;ericqns should be qble to ;qke our zqy through q French ;enu zithout too ;uch difficulty.”

Finally, I gave up and limited my typing to emails and Facebook posts.  However, I did some old fashion writing by hand as I sat in cafes sipping coffee or wine so look for these stories, in no particular order, in the very near future.

• Shopping for Dinner
• Le petite Chaperon Rouge
• Riding the 69 Bus
• Lunch at Le Voltaire
• The Monet Exhibit at the Grand Palais

There may be a few more as well but that should get me started.

Until then . . .

Au revoir!

No English Menus for Us

If there is one thing Sherry and I both dislike when we are in France, it's when a restaurant automatically gives us menus in English. This mostly occurs in Paris. We come to France to enjoy the people, sights and sounds of another country. If we wanted to read menus in English, we would have stayed in the States. Frequently, when this occurs we will send the menus back and ask for French ones.

Here's the deal. Many of the words we use in cooking and eating come from French terms. So, most of us Americans should be able to make our way through a French menu without too much difficulty. Sure, there will be things you don't recognize but what the hell, you're in France so try new things. Plus, the simple act of taking a French menu will open doors that you did not know existed.

Last night we ate at Chez Fernand. We have been there before and were smart enough to make reservations when we happened to walk by the day before. On arrival, we were seated at a very nice table and asked "English menus?" My response? "Non, non! Les menus en Francais; s'il vous plait." His response? "Excellent!" And then, he offered us 2 glasses of champagne.

The next day, we happened upon the bistro, Le Grand Colbert, during our stroll through Paris. As it was just past noon, and we planned on eating there any way, we stopped in for lunch. Once again the English menu option was offered and refused. This brought a sly look of respect and acceptance from our host.

Now, I'm not saying that choosing a French menu will get you treated like a true Parisien. (BTW - I've seen the way some Parisiens are treated and this is not a bad thing!) However, it will go a long way in showing and gaining respect. And, in the end, you will have even more wonderful memories and isn't that what vacations are all about?

Au revoir!