ASNN

news-y stuff that you don't care about

Life is SO good right now. I've got a great relationship with my (sometimes psycho) kids, I've got a wonderful girl, I've got a terrific job (in SPITE of my own at-times pitiful offerings), I've got an unbelievably cool family support structure, I'm part of a great men's group (both on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday evenings)... and heck, I've got my health, right? To top it all off, I'm sipping some wonderful single-malt scotch, talking to you, my loyal readers, and watching SNL reruns on the E! Channel.

Some highlights from days past and days future:

• I spent a few fun-filled days in San Diego with great friends from DonorWare. Bruce and I ended up slumming around the area, spending most of our time split between Shell Beach and the Gaslamp District in downtown SD. The weather complied nicely, breaking into the clouds and drizzle only after I was heading home. Much was consumed; various beer, whiskey, red meat, and seafood was had in spades.


• Vanessa and I saw Jane Monheit at the Catalina Bar and Grill on Sunday night. It was Ms. Monheit's closing night at the Catalina, after which she was slated to escape California. So it was perfect timing to see her before she went... and what a treat it was! Ms. Monheit's silky, sultry voice was every bit as yummy as it is on her albums, and was more-than-adequately supported by her band. The band tended a little toward fusion jazz, at least in their solos, which isn't my favorite; however, the overall melting of the band's talents with the vocals was near-perfect. If you ever get a chance to hear her in concert, it's worth it just to hear the frenetic, be-bopping, vocals-and-bass-only "Honeysuckle Rose".


• In addition to tasty music, I got to hang out with the beautiful Vanessa, dressed in a tasty blue dress and great heels, wearing Hugo for Women. If there was anything more beautiful than the inspiring music on the stage, it was my darling, looking ever so lovely.


• This Saturday, we trek to the world famous Spazio for a(nother) night of jazz and fine food. Not really sure what to expect there, though Spazio has GREAT food and Andrea Baker, the act for the evening, has been written up as "one of the top Los Angeles based jazz singers". Kinda hard to imagine that would be a "miss", eh?


• We're looking at heading to Solvang for a nice mellow day of shopping and exploring the lesser-known bits of California.


• Later in May, we head to Disney World with the kids. A longtime family friend won a trip to Disney World for eight people - five days and four nights in total. The kids and I will head out on Thursday, May 19, and Vanessa will join us after school on Friday. The thought of completely disengaging and just going on rides with my kids is VERY alluring to me, as is hanging out with our wonderful hosts, Brad and Brandynn, who have both been so encouraging through everything.

I think that's it. Pretty crazy...

(BTW, this was finished this morning after my network went down last night. Just don't want you to think I'm sipping Scapa before 9AM...)

Posted by pcg at April 26, 2005 8:43 AM