UMTravels

Good bye Tucson. Good bye lounging by the pool reading The New Yorker. Good by El Corral that I didn’t get to eat at this time: This steakhouse is popular with the Tucson Gem Show folks in late January/early February, including my buddy Leo Starfucker Sunshine. Joe was back at the house at 12:30 for [...]

I think this picture says it all about my quick visit to Tucson: You’d think after losing 20 pounds since January that damn gut would be shrinking, but apparently just the love handles have gone. And this would be the view from the helicopter: Luckily I’m covered by the little push pin. Did a little [...]

With all the wine that was consumed last night (and the scotch), I thought this might be a nice chart to send you from The New York Times: I’ve made it clickable if you want to see the chart full size. One of the things I like is that all the wines are in the [...]

When I checked in I actually managed to get my favorite bulkhead aisle seat: 1C. And the sun is out. Looks to be a nice day for flying. Update #1: So, TSA asked me today for another form of ID when I tried to use my Nexus card. It seems that soon they are going [...]

More sawdust today. Goal? A cabinet to hold the dishwasher I ordered the other day, and the warming drawer that Jimmy is putting up with. The completed base�— from patched pieces of MDF (medium density fiberboard): We need it to be a “portable” unit, but also NSF (National Sanitation Foundation?) certified, which a couple of [...]

Good news on the travel front. Got upgraded to First Class for the Tucson flight on Saturday. Not bulkhead aisle, but one can’t complain about a free upgrade. Somehow the day just got away from me. Seems like I spent it all in front of the computer contemplating carrier route specific direct mail pieces for [...]

Work, work, work today, and tonight, play, play play which includes a Rhone Tasting/Steak Feast up in the north end of town. As you can see from the photo… ten bottles to try. Seven people, and yes, there was some spittin’ goin’ on. We DO have to drive home. A fun evening. [216.8]

Where did the day go. With work on the database, logos, other stuff. Below is a sample of what will most likely be our display cards for each of the wines though this text is from “tasting notes” rather than the short pithy wine descriptions we are known for: We plan on highlighting the many [...]

Got Joe to the airport at 10:30 with breakfast in our stomachs. Thanks for the visit! At 10:45 headed out to the first of FOUR Trade Tastings today. The first stop was Vinum�— after struggling to find a place to park. Imagine 20 stations (tables), each with a dozen or so open bottles from Champagne [...]

Four people spent the night in the condo… Joe, CaddyDaddy, SurfBetty, and, of course, me. SurfBetty was up and out early, and the three of us packed up all the remaining food and booze and were out the door at 11:30. With no cooktop, that meant breakfast as back at the house rather than in [...]

Doesn’t that say it all. Having to slum it making Old Fashions in coffee mugs in one of the penthouse units of The Camlin in Seattle. Ten to fifteen people for cocktails and heavy appetizers to celebrate my recent Double Nickels (55) birthday. [215.1]