UMTravels

More progress on the deck today� took a break from working on it at this point� To run off to Bamboo Hardwoods because their bamboo cane fencing is on sale for 50% off, and I need two 6×8′ rolls (that will get cut down into 3′x4′ panels). I still need to figure out the design [...]

Working on the deck extension: Baking a couple of loaves of bread: Relaxing in the hot tub after a dinner at Swandas: That’s it. [223.8 � apparently Berkeley is slimming, left town 5 pounds heavier]

With the girls gone from the house, calm returned and all was well. More leftovers for breakfast as I packed to the return trip home. And I’m leaving behind leftovers, chicken stock for chicken-barley soup, lamb, hunks of chicken� it’s a good thing they have guest arriving later today to help them eat all the [...]

Didn’t leave the house today. Didn’t come out of the bowels of the basement (OK � it’s really a daylight basement with tons of light) until 10:30 � luckily coffee was delivered. Breakfast: Leftover chicken drumsticks from last night and leftover omelet from the first morning. Lunch: Leftover slices of lamb from the second night. [...]

Woke up � had fried eggs over lamb hash. Yum. Worked for awhile � went and took a nap. Went on an errand run for lumber for planter box project � returned home with no lumber, but tonic water, pajama bottoms and shot glasses. Prepped dinner � put it in the oven. Had a cocktail, [...]

An early day for this household � we are due out the door at 9:45 for breakfast with Mouse at the Mama’s Royal Caf� in Oakland. Food was good, service getting my mimosa wasn’t so good. An exterior shot from their website: Nap time for me after the Eggs Canadian (like a Benedict, but with [...]

I got the upgrade to First on Virgin America � or shall I say, I paid for an upgrade. $70, which is a bit steep considering that I only paid $78.60 for the whole round-trip ticket � but it is 55 inches of seat pitch, and the seats are damn comfortable. Notice the mood lighting? [...]

Up at 7am � what’s with that! Wake up Jameson at 9:30am Leave for the train station at 10am after a little coffee and chatting Early lunch downtown (not satisfying, but filling) Train at 12:15 Bored on the train at 2:30, have a hot dog and a gin and tonic Train running late Arrive at [...]

It’s fairly amusing (to me) to pack a huge carry-on for an overnight trip to Portland. But when it includes three bottles of wine, a bottle of whiskey, a four-pack of Absolute minis as a thank you for a bed, two loaves of bread, one stick of butter, two packs of coleslaw, six Idaho russets, [...]

Time to get back into the swing of things and get some bread baking done. Jeff was over in the late morning to drop off some high-gluten bread flour for me to try � and a loaf of his plain baguette that he made using a pan he borrowed from me. A nice discussion about [...]