Christmas Day

I'd meant to post this on Christmas Day but was having too much fun to remember to write anything.

Christmas Eve, my father and stepmom and brother-in-law came over and we drank and ate. I'd made my late mother's "world famous" manicotti recipe. She'd made it for years and years, and we make it at special times. It takes time to make. If you're interested, let me know and I'll post it.

I'd bought the ingredients at Lundardi's. What a GREAT place. Salvatore is my favorite checker. He teased me to no end at my bad Italian accent. It's "manicotti" not "manicatti." I said it was because my mother was from "joisey" that my accent was so bad.

I'd bought 2001 Mount Edan Vinyards Merlot, and it was perfect. It had the UMPH required for the strong flavor of the slow cooked tomato base. My brother in law brought a bottle of Sterling Cabernet & it was nice, but it would have been better with a roasted chicken. It was a calmer wine.

But why did I bring up Christmas? Oh, for memories of course. I remember how much fun I had marching in the Christmas parade when I was a Girl Scout. And once I became a teen, all the joy went out of my life :-) I had to take the SAT the same day as the parade, and I forgot, and was trying to get back home after the SAT (and you remember how DRAINED you felt???) and couldn't get back because E. Main Street was still closed. Now mind you, back then, not many Los Gatos Teens had cars (I was borrowing my Dad's '78 Buick station wagon) and no one had credit cards & few had cash. So I had maybe a few bucks. Maybe. And I can't go home, and so I went to Oak Meadow & walked around until I knew I could go back home. Boy was I pissed :-)

My favorite memory was when my brother & I would go for a walk in the afternoon. We'd go down to the 7-11, get junk food, and then toss a football around on the lawn of the library. One year, we walked all the way down to the 7-11 where Blossom Hill hits N. Santa Cruz! We could walk forever and talk about anything and everything. 7-11 was the only thing open on Christmas Day, I should mention.

My brother hasn't been home for Christmas in about 10 years. When he'd come home, we'd go to Mervyn's and I'd buy him a new wardrobe. I miss him so much. I'm glad he's happy and doing what he wants to do, and I'm so proud of him. Doesn't make me miss him any less.

Main Street Burgers

So the other month, we met my parents at Main Street Burgers in Lyndon Plaza. They'd fetched our daughter from school, and so my husband & I went "whoohoo, we get a date hour!!" We parked behind Mountain Charleys (so we obviously got there early), and walked down to C. B. Hannigans where my husband tried two single malt scotches. Good thing we were walking since he hadn't eaten anything in 5 hours and they both went to his head. It was cute & endearing since he rarely does anything like that. We promised ourselves that we'd find a date time to go there & let him try the cask strength. He read somewhere that this one guy drank cask strength and woke up 2 days later face down in the backyard. We might be able to do that today since our daughter is going over to her grandparents to make cookies.

So, Main Street Burgers got two big thumbs up. My daughter got a hot dog and ate it all up which is unusual. I got the regular burger & it was fabulous, perfectly cooked, etc. The fries and onion rings weren't greasy. Husband got the blue cheese burger & swore we're going back since he couldn't get enough of it.

It was a nice evening and we sat outside watching cars & letting our daughter run around while we finished up. My parents had been there before a few weeks prior & were hesitant...the food was good, but they hadn't had the outdoor seating, and there was no one else there, and the staff all sat there staring at them to see if they wanted or needed anything. I can't see that as happening any more since every time I walk past, I see people in there.

So give it a try!

Bridge to lunch memories

My daughter was taking tap/ballet classes through the recreation department and since it was only an hour, I'd go for a walk around. Earlier this summer, I was surprised to see that the bridge between Forbes Mill and Old Town was locked off. So when I went down to poke around, I was delighted that the bridge is open again. There were a lot of lovely paintings done by the local Girl Scout troops.

During high school, my friends & I would run to Old Town using that bridge because of B. J. Bull pasties. My favorite was the beef and mushroom. I can't remember what Sean and Brent got. But we'd grab them and run back and eat lunch in some classroom before having to get to the next class.

I was so bummed when B. J. Bull's closed down. I imagine the rent at Old Town was outrageous even then. So, when I worked at Adobe in the mid 90s, I was tickled pink to see them at the San Jose Farmer's Market, and the beef and mushroom pasty tasted just as good as I'd remembered, which doesn't happen very often!

Kuletto's is Gone

I was down at the rec building waiting for my daughter's beginning tap/ballet class to end when I realized that Kulettos is no longer at the new hotel. I forgot to write down the name of the new one.

Still, how does this bode? I wonder why Kuletto's didn't make it. There's a wedding at the hotel every weekend. They wouldn't be hurting for clientele. I had one friend go there for her husband's 40th and they spent $200 for 4 people including wine, which isn't unreasonable considering that they did a full meal.

I never went there because, well, you know me. I love Viva.

It's August Already in Los Gatos

Well, it's finally the dog days of summer. I hope you all snuck out last Friday the 9th to see the Perseids as it was the best day for it. We walked over to the school around 9pm so it wasn't the best viewing, and we saw 4 in 15 minutes. By then, my daughter was "bored beyond belief" and insisted it was time to go home and put her to bed.
So, we did and she had the nerve to protest that she was no longer tired. Can you imagine.

Domus is a Happy Place

My daughter wanted to make vegetable soup yesterday. We don't really have any small soup cups, and dear hubby likes to have a small amount of soup before dinner, and frankly it looks silly have a small amount in our regular sized cereal bowls.

So, to Domus we go. Their tagline is that they're "Your Lifestyle Shop" and I'd have to agree. Considering I've been buying stuff there since it was called Habitat, it's grown with my lifestyle.

So, we ended up buying some beautiful Japanese style tea cups with a blue glaze to use as our soup bowls. And it was just the right size.

An Anniversary Made in Viva and C.B. Hannigans

Ok, so that's virtually heaven.

For our 12 year anniversary, we had dinner at Viva. We started with clam chowder, and were really impressed at how "clammy" it tasted. They used real salt pork instead of cheating with bacon. And it was served HOT. I love my soup hot. I have viognier and hubby had an 18 year maccallan. I had the most delicious spit roasted lamb with red potatoes and green beans. I had a glass of Syrah with this and it matched perfectly.

Hubby had a delightful beef chop that was served over prime rib hash, mixed veggies (they called it a ragout), and blue cheese mashed potoates. The special was with garlic, but he requested the blue cheese ones, and they're always happy to accomodate.

We skipped dessert, and found a parking spot behind Sur La Table. I was shocked. It was like 630pm. There were PARKING SPOTS. It was a Saturday!! And Smith & Hawken was even closed. Very odd.

So we walked up one side window shopping & then crossed & popped into C.B. Hannigans where hubby could try expensive single malt scotches with impunity. We tried Oban and Bruichladdich 10 year which was clear as a bell. I confess, I'm not that hot on hard alcohol, and I'm really particular about what I kiss on his breath, and I loved both of these. The next day we went to BevMo and bought the Oban 14 year.

The weather was warm, and the evening was delightful.

Gotta love the Los Gatos Library

So, I took a mini-vacation and went ... to Los Gatos! Wait, I am already in Los Gatos. It's true, sometimes there is no place like home.

I went to the Los Gatos Public Library website to see about some events since it's fun to go hang out there. And there's going to be a local author on the 18th.

The book is called The Bad Man from Bodie: The Life and Violent Death of John Franklin Showers. I went to Borders to find out if they had any, being a local author and all, and they didn't. However, they snagged the flyer from me, and intend upon ordering them. Hoorah!

So if you're interested in meeting the author and getting a book and getting it signed, go to the Los Gatos Council Lobby on the 18th at 7pm. The flyer is here but be warned, it's a pdf doc.

Diving the strip and what do i see?

So, I had to go into downtown to Sur La Table and get a Lodge Chicken Fryer....yes, I have been watching too much foodnetwork thanks for asking...and so I'm parked behind in that center parking area.
And I flash back when there used to be a rug shop on the bottom and a French restaurant on the top. I can't remember the names for the life of me, but you accessed them through the parking lot. Anyway, the French restaurant used to have a Sunday buffet. When Ma was out of town once, Daddy took us there for brunch. I flirted with the matre d and he brought me a special dessert. Fresh strawberries with brown sugar and triple sec. To this DAY that's my absolute favorite dessert.

Ok, so after I get out of Sur La Table (you don't want to know the final bill...I needed a meat tenderizer too, and my daughter needed a treat), I'm driving down N. Santa Cruz and where Ford's Cleaners & Crown Books used to be is GUTTED. They're remodeling or something. I hope there wasn't a fire or anything.

Ford's Cleaners was there forever and a day. I remember walking past that day after day seeing their advertisments for preserving your wedding gown, and it filled my head with flowers and dreams.

Of course, I eloped so that's another story.

Are the clouds usual

Well, yes, actually the cloudy weather is usual. When it gets really hot inland, it sucks the marine layer in from the coast and keeps us at moderate temperatures.
I'm honestly not complaining because my last PG&E bill was over $300.

Remember what Samuel Clemens once said...about the coldest summer of his life was spent in San Francisco....darn, I wish I could find the exactly quote. If you know it, post it in the comments.

Town Counsel or Console Me

Ok, I'm an idiot, I admit it. I really don't know who is on the Town Council let alone mayor of Los Gatos. Sure I voted, and at the time, I read all the biographies. But the truth is, my head is in the sand about all of this. I really don't know what the issues are, what their goals are, or even who they are.
And I consider myself politically active.
I'm so ashamed. Time to start acting locally and get my head up & looking again.

What's with all the type A personalities?

So, I was complaining about trying to ride my bicycle with all the insane drivers. And of course, I had nothing but good experiences the rest of the week. People were giving me wide berth. I do appreciate that.

It got me to thinking, though. What are we all in such a hurry for?

Think about this for a second. You're in a rush to get ahead. But who are you getting ahead of, and why? Where are you going? Some of the best times are spent in the moment. The ability to look at someone & genuinely understand them. The moment when the rollercoaster is just about to go down that first drop.

The end of the race is death, and I'm not in any hurry to get there.

Hot hot hot hot hot...ouch

Ok, so I made the mistake of walking around outside barefoot the other evening. Well, my daughter had learned to ride wtihout training wheels as I may have mentioned (is it obvious that I'm a proud parent?) and every night after dinner without fail for the last 4 weeks, we have gone outside so she could ride her bike around. Ok, so it's 98, and I go outside and I'm running around with her until such a point as I realize "Ok, this was not one of my brighter moments." I had her do her loop around the school while I watched, and then we went back home so I could put on my Tevas.
Then the three of us bicycled around the school in the oppressive heat and by the time I got home, my brain was more melted then a soft serve cone in direct sunlight.
It's cooling down a bit...I think we were only 93 instead of 98.
The corn isn't doing well not because I don't water it daily (sometimes twice a day) but because when I let my cat out (15 years old and a spitfire), she goes over & chews on it. Today, she pulled one of the better ones out entirely & it's sitting there with its little roots exposed. Oh I was not happy. She got no table scraps tonight.

Happy Solstice

I hope you're all having the best time today, the longest amount of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere.

I'm hiding in the house working but hope to get outside and go for a walk or a bike ride later.

Bicycling Along Los Gatos

So, you'd think that Los Gatos would be a perfect town for bicycling in, right? Wrong. The streets are narrow, and there are so few bicycle lanes. You can't imagine the number of times I almost got creamed by a psycho in his Porsche on his way to Starbucks.

Thankfully, the Los Gatos Creek Trail cuts through the center of town if you really just need to go from one side to the other.

But if I wanted to bicycle down to Borders, it's not worth the stress of the narrow roads and insanely rude and self-absorbed drives.

But don't get me wrong. There's a lot of insanely rude & self-absorbed bicyclists out there too. (they're probably the same drivers who nearly mow down the commuting bicyclists.) On College Avenue, it's 1.5 lanes wide, and certain times of the day, the sun hits just right to be completely blinding. And there's a blind corner after the first big uphill segment.

Imagine the fun & excitement when you go around the blind curve and 4 bicyclists are coming around that blind corner...4 abreast.

Or you're driving up the hill and get stuck behind them 4 abreast & they're screaming to share the road with bicyclists. Yes, SHARE, not have the bicyclists HOG the road any more then the car should HOG the road.

The problem is the person, not that they're walking, bicycling, motorcycling, or driving. Get a grip people. Courtesy goes a long way.

Gardens

We started corn seeds in an egg carton back in April, and I planted them in the ground in May. They're probably 3-5" tall at the moment, which isn't going to give me fresh corn for the 4th of July, and I don't even want to extrapolate when it will be as high as an elephant's eye.

I've heard that it is possible to grow corn around here, and I'm watering them daily. I think it's just not gotten hot enough for the plants to really sprout.

Yesterday, we planted some flower seeds (four o'clocks and California poppies) in some flower pots. Hopefully those will sprout soon. It's definitely fun to get your hands dirty.

Growing up, we were always successful at growing cherry tomatos. I'd get such a prolific crop of them. We'd also grow lemon cucumbers, and that's about it. Where our strip of dirt was didn't get that much direct sun. It was on the West side of the house, but there was a large hill that would block most of it, and it was below the level of a retaining wall. Still, a garden is a garden, and it teaches you marvelous real life lessons.

You can't cram it all in at the last minute and expect a bumper crop, and sometimes you can do everything right, and it still doesn't work out.

More thoughts on Bookstores

It's funny...when Barnes & Noble and Borders started getting really big, people thought it would be the death knell of independent bookstores. Funny to look back and reflect. We still have some independent bookstores that are niche (i.e. Hicklebees), and we lost the mid-sized chains like Waldenbooks, B. Dalton, and Crown.

Of course, Amazon had a huge impact as well since you can get whatever book you want within a few days.

The interesting thing about Amazon is that they weren't the first online bookstore. bookstacks.com was the first, and you got in by telnet'ing. So for all of you out there with a good idea that you think has been done, don't sweat it. Just do it in a bigger way and become ubiquitous.

what's with the weather?

Ok, you're probably tired of me ranting about the weather, but dammit, what's with the weather? It didn't get over 67F today, and it's JUNE for the love of pete. I am so not used to a mild June like this. I want to wear miniskirts and tanktops. Enough with my jeans and sweatshirts already!!!

And what do you call the rays of the sun that stream down from a broken cloud cover?

Burger Pit

There used to be a Burger Pit between the Wherehouse Records & Tapes and Oldsmobile dealership. It's now PetFood Express and Moore GMC, and the old Burger Pit is an abandoned building. The parking lot is used to store new GMC cars and trucks. It's sad really. I asked someone once why he didn't open his restaurant there, and he said that the person who owed Moore wouldn't allow it. So then I have to wonder why they don't just raze the darn building & turn it into more showroom parking lots...The council had their knickers in such a knot about Swanson Ford closing....

Premium Coffee At McDonalds

Ok, so the latest is that McDonalds now had "premium coffee." I was totally skeptical since they changed from regular coffee to expensive coffee years ago, and it was undrinkable. They fell under the Peets/Starbucks idiotic mantra that stronger coffee tastes better. No, it doesn't. Thanks. Give me a flavorful properly roasted coffee any day.

Well color me surprised that it was actually pretty tasty. Do I think it's worth the price? Enh. But it's better thne it was.

I remember buying large cups of coffee from McD's drive through for cheap when I'd go on long car rides, and it was surprisingly mellow and suited the purpose. Some day, maybe we'll get back to regular tasting coffee.