Wanderlust

I can feel it in my veins. There is a time for staying home and taking comfort in the things that are familiar. Then, there is also a time for venturing out and having an adventure. 

I'm looking forward to two grand adventures that loom on the horizon. 

First, the husband turns the big 3-0 this September and in honor of that auspicious occasion we have decided to take a trip. We're going to go to California. We'll fly into LA, rent a car, drive up the coast stopping at various locales and fly back from San Francisco. We've got a few ideas in mind for things to do (Big Sur, San Francisco, Napa Valley). We booked our flight and car rental tonight. We've still got a lot of planning yet to do, but I'm looking forward to it!

Second, in August I earn my 5-year sabbatical at work. What would you do with a paid vacation anywhere in the world? 

I was thinking about taking it next summer, but after talking to my friend JR, I may be leaning towards next May. I haven't finalized a location yet, but right now I'm thinking possibly Prague. I want to go somewhere that has plenty of history so I know there will be plenty for me to do for 3 weeks. Then, all the other European countries are just a train ride away. 

I think I'm going to put in my request at work pretty soon. 

Half the fun of these things is working out the possibilities and planning what you are going to do. Things are looking up. 

Food Goodness

I had some amazing, amazing food in San Francisco. There is such bliss in eating truly excellent food. It's a good thing I'm not around it all the time or I don't know if I could maintain a decent level of self control, but having it is just so lovely.

One of the places I went with JR was Nolas, a New Orleans themed restaurant. We both got excited for an appetizer that had fried okra in it. 

Sometimes I feel so thoroughly "Wisconsin-ized" that I forget there are these parts of me, locked away, that belong to someplace else. 

Fried okra and corn bread stuffing (both of which were available at this restaurant) belong there. 

So, for the day when I go back to San Francisco...

The Catch

Where I had a warm arugula salad with white corn, bacon, goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. 

And the seared mahi-mahi with white corn risotto. 

Nolas

There we had NO L.A. 'Frites' which was basically fries, sweet potato fries and fried okra. 

I had Andouille & Cornbread stuffed pork chops. 

I Left My Heart...

Seriously, this town is beautiful. I can see why so many people are willing to put up with insanely expensive real estate, high sales tax and income tax in order to live here. Every where you look it is just so gorgeous and scenic. 

I went sight seeing today with my friend JR and another guy from work that he knows.

We went to lunch at a restaurant called "Chows" in the Castro. Then, we went down that hill that curves a lot. And on over to the Golden Gate bridge. Lovely, lovely, lovely.

There is something kind of perfect about spending the day sight-seeing in San Francisco with two gay guys.