Archives_Jan-Feb 08

This week’s headlines
Posted Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The bad:
Mercury News to reduce staff in third round since Sept. ‘06

The badass:
Miami beats No. 5 Duke for 1st time in 45 years
- tiff

OH-NO
Posted Monday, February 12, 2008
So ...

I wish I had something better to post than this ridiculously non-candid self photo (thanks to Mac Photo Booth and to me forgetting my camera) of me sitting in front of a ridiculously non-descript wall in the ridiculously empty airport in Cleveland, Ohio. Sorry, that’s all I got. It’s been an up-and-down trip out to the armpit state. Tiff’s grandfather passed away last week, and we traveled to Dayton to celebrate his 95 years of life Friday-Sunday. Although not under the best of circumstances, it was great to see everyone (and to finally sample some famed Cincinnati chili). We also trekked up to Cleveland to sneak a peak at the newest member of the Tribble tribe, young Gavin. Very cool to see Tribble (Michael) and Sarah when life with Gavin was still new and unpredictable (maybe the latter never changes). They’re both arguing over who gets to hold the baby, which is something I’ve already vowed to tell Gavin when he’s older and they’re both ready to get rid of him. Snow, ice and utter airport insanity have parked us at Cleveland Hopkins airport for most of the night, but we’re hoping to catch a small jet (the people from United have been adamant to stress the point of the plane being small) to Denver, where we’re hoping to get back to San Jose in the morning. We’ll see. - cmg

Point Reyes
Posted Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Just returned from a “weekend” trip to Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County (north of San Francisco) with our friend and former roommate-for-a-week Ashley. She’s just started at SF Weekly, and, following a week in which she stayed with us in the Jose, she guided us around her old stomping grounds at Point Reyes. Grand vistas, good conversation, fresh oysters and the best damn bread I’ve ever had highlighted the weekend (seriously, the bread at the Station House Cafe cannot be undersold. Yeah, yeah, you’ve had good bread before, and I know saying “this is the best (whatever) ever...” can be an overused superlative phrase, but I’m confident I’ve actually now tasted the best, and I can cross bread off my search list for all things that are perfect.).

(Above) Tiff and Ashley test their shucking skills at the Drakes Bay Oyster Farm. Oysters can be nasty little beasts, but they taste pretty good straight out of the bay (a little hot sauce never hurts either).

Innocent though they may appear, these two spearheaded the world’s longest conversation about a garlic turtle just hours after this photo was taken.

After forcing Tiff (on a broken foot) and Ashley to hike through wind and rain to the Point Reyes Lighthouse in search of migrating whales...

...this skull was the closest thing that we saw.

-Bread (check)
-Garlic turtle conversations (check)
-Migrating whales (incomplete)

-cmg

The Patient
Posted Monday, January 21, 2008
Tiff probably has more to say on this, but it’s amazing how many people talk or seem concerned about you, who don’t normally talk or seem concerned about you, when you have a broken foot. The bouncer at Dive Bar last night started asking her about who she had to kick to get that (pointing). Random people at work, in restaurants, stores...

... in Tiff’s own words “it’s kind of annoying.” - cmg

My 30th birthday
Posted Friday, January 18, 2008
One week later I’m still reeling (or simply still inebriated) from the party continuance that was Charlotte for my 30th birthday. The story in a nutshell: Tiff surprises me with plane tickets to Charlotte just hours before the plane takes off (I thought I was going to work), and craziness ensues. Fried pickles. Penguin. Maker’s Mark. MAL’s kitchen. Laughter. 8 a.m. Hangover. Bucket. Dirty cherry. Singing. Broken foot. 8 a.m. Hangover. Norm’s. Surprise! Family. Friends. WOW! Costumes. Pistons. OT! Beers. Mixed drinks. Laughter. Tigray. Darts. Thieves. Apple-achun. Hangover. Soil the kid’s museum. Nap. Football. Nap. Put the bunny in the box. Doctor. Frankies. Laughter. Later!

Just a snapshot of what I remember. Here’s another:

Thanks to everyone, especially Tiff (who did the legwork and then broke her foot in the execution o’ fun), for making it special milestone and not a debbie downer about me being old. - cmg

One shining moment
Posted Monday, January 7, 2008

Thanks to my coworkers and my husband for sucking wind in the bowl pool. Yes, I’m $100 richer. But more importantly, now we all know who the real man of the house is. Chris, stop knitting and watch the game! Go LSU.
- Tiff

The feast is on...
Posted Tuesday, January 1, 2008

We’ve been eating and drinking to correspond with each bowl game since
8 a.m. (not the easiest thing following New Year’s Eve).

The menu:

Outback Bowl: For the cheeseheads in Wisconsin, and because the game is in Florida, we’re having cheese omelette and mimosas.

Cotton: For the Hogs of Arkansas and the state of Missouri we’re having pigs in a blanket and Bud Light tall boys (not our first choice of beer, but we’re making sacrifices today).

Capital One: Spicy beer brats and Vernor’s ginger ale -- with whiskey (for Meeechigan). Dessert: Tim Tebow on a stick. The Wolverines hand it to the Heisman Trophy winner and Florida 41-35 and I couldn’t be more ecstatic (or full). Lloyd Carr goes out a winner -- playing Lloyd ball to the bitter end -- and sideline reporter Holly Rowe re-introduces gosh golly dang to the American lexicon.

Gator Bowl: In honor of Texas Tech we’re swilling Shiner Bock beer (Sorry Virginia, peanuts just don’t cut it today).

Rose Bowl: Eye of the Hawk beer and some homemade guacamole for the Grand Daddy and the Trojans. No love for the Illini, and it’s showing in their effort on the field.

Sugar Bowl: The feast culminates with Hawaiian baby back ribs and pineapple margaritas. No love for Georgia. Peaches? We don’t need no stinking peaches! Aloha! - cmg