Off to the zoo in a few minutes, to be followed by three days of food and parties and blowing stuff up, but first wanted to give a little shoutout to the San Diego Symphony Summer Pops for a great concert last night on the Embarcadero.  The trouble with any outdoor concert is a lack of control over outside influences, and at the end of the night I was seriously wishing the fireworks would take out a certain obnoxious party boat rather than just explode harmlessly in the sky, but the concert was great.  Their Independence Day show repeats tonight and tomorrow for those locals who missed it last night.

Yes, today is Bike to Work Day.  Unless it’s not in your neighborhood.  I guess some places Bike to Work Day is next Friday.  I suspect the scheduling is a lot like Pride – random days here and there so that the truly hardcore can participate in several official “days” during the greater Bike to Work season.

No, I didn’t ride my bike to work today.  I walked.  The bicycle’s over at the storage unit and I just couldn’t see driving over to the storage unit and bringing the bike home for a day just to feel a bit greener.

I did participate a few years ago though.  I’ve even got proof.

I’ll be wearing green whenever I get around to getting dressed, except when I go out for my swim because I don’t have a green speedo anymore, and I’m not going to run out and buy one just for the holiday.  I love the holiday and all things Irish, but some things are overkill.

Nothing really new here for the holiday in terms of content either, so please enjoy this YouTube rerun from last year.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day everyone.

Not my mysterious final words, but a nice gesture from the hostess at Paradise Grille last night.  Our choice for a Valentine’s Day dinner included a rose bud “for each couple” with their prix fixe holiday menu.  The hostess seemed to be handing them to the female halves of the other couples seated nearby and we’d talked a bit about which of us she was going to offer the special flower to.  Smart woman – she avoided the issue (and made any bets moot) by offering us each a rose.

Dinner was fabulous in their outside patio under the stars.  Nice browsing through The Book Works afterward too.  Simply a beautiful night with the man who’s been my Valentine for five of these special days now.

A bit surprised and disappointed that the restaurant wasn’t full though.  Restaurants have been closing left and right here for the last couple of years now, but even with the weaker competitors culled from the herd things are still very tough here in North County.  We even got a last minute e-mail from a place we’ve frequented in the past on the afternoon of Valentine’s Day announcing special deals and openings for reservations that night.  Admittedly we’d most enjoyed the place under it’s prior chef, but it’s still a decent restaurant and I’m surprised they aren’t doing better.

Using Paperless Post for the office holiday greetings this year.  I’ve dabbled with it since seeing a review of the site a while back (in the N.Y. Times?) and used it for a couple of small invitations, but this was the first large “mailing.”  So far so good, and certainly more affordable than snail mail.  I know I love getting paper cards, and love the collections on the walls and shelves of other people’s offices, but I think with this site e-cards are finally crossing over into the “classy” range.

Resting and relaxing.  Picnicking on the Fourth with the in-laws, then catching the local fireworks in the evening.  While we’re out and about, some photographic repeats of recent Independence Days past.

2008:

(more…)

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!  Spent Saturday morning browsing the vendors for the festivities at Balboa Park and Sunday evening with friends eating corned beef, cabbage and Guinness.

This morning is just the wearing of the green and the drinking of the coffee (no-Irish, at least until I get some work done).  I was going to leave it at that, but KipEsquire had us rolling on the floor laughing by sharing this on Facebook, so I’m passing it on here.

Thanks Kip!

Sure, Spinner celebrated last Monday, and you get another party next Monday with your co-workers, but the local courtworkers are taking a day with pay to celebrate today (in addition to the big party next Monday), and who am I to argue?  With Cal Rugby in town tomorrow and some decent weather being forecast I might even make it a five day weekend in your honor.  Happy Birthday President Lincoln.

Some ideas look good in the planning stage but utterly fail when the essential personalities become involved. Similarly, some things look good in the store, then never get worn again in the real world.

Cutting to the chase, puppies are puppies and reindeer are reindeer. We’ve learned our lesson and promise to never try this again.

Spent a big chunk of the afternoon watching Spinner and the rest of the San Diego Men’s Chorus perform some numbers from tomorrow’s Christmas concert. For the second year in a row they were combining the concert with an outreach effort for San Diego students interested in the performing arts. This year the event was at the Balboa Theater in the Gaslamp, as is Saturday’s concert.

While the school kids definitely seemed to be enjoying SDMC’s music, the big cheering was definitely for American Idol finalist Paris Bennett, who is guest starring with the Chorus this season. No, I don’t watch American Idol, and have to admit I couldn’t have picked her out of a crowd before today, but she definitely knew how to work the crowd and was a blast to watch. And yes, we met her after the show, and she and her Mom are just as wonderful in person. I just threw that last one in there for Micky, my favorite American Idol fan. There are benefits from being married to America’s favorite second tenor.