Every now and again I’ll cross a girl who’s so narcissistic [you know, the type that gloats about causing accidents by distracting male drivers] it’s just unattractive. Earlier today I dropped by Silicon Valley Auto Group assuming they were a Maserati dealer, turns out they won’t even take Maserati’s as trade in’s. Well since I was in Los Gatos I might as well get some much needed shopping done, the Banana Republic always has my size so I prefer this store over Valley Fair or Stanford. I picked out a few jackets, a selection of shirts and was led to a dressing stall. A slender, maybe mid-twenties girl with desirable features such as voluptuous breasts and loosly curled blonde locks that fell to her shoulders occupied the next stall. I casually smile and greet her hello. She smiles and introduces herself, my gay sales guy is arranging my items in the dressing room, we make quick conversation then I excuse myself to enter my stall. She talks through the wooden dividers and convinces me to step out so she can see how the clothes drape my figure.

I’m wearing a button up white collared shirt and a brown pinstripe wool jacket, her in a white over-sized lapel shirt with a deep v-neck sweater over. Her light brown eyes sparkled and she looked stunning. “So where are you from and what do you do?” she inquires. After a short reply I asked, “…and you?” Those would be my famous last words. She starts by telling me she’s a Los Gatos native, a student, her interests, and goes on and on. The kicker was when she tells me that men usually approach her, and wondered why I haven’t asked her out yet. Without even giving me a second to reply she goes on to tell me about her feats as a attractive female; having guys buy her dinners, drinks, clothes, and causing accidents by distracting male drivers with that oh so bewitching body of hers. That was it, I was standing there barefooted, dressed in paper denim a striped blue shirt and a grey wool coat, her also barefoot in a fitted natural colored wool skirt and light colored wool coat with tangles. We looked as if we just returned home after a winter NYC outing. I had to excuse myself, I gently told her it was a pleasure talking to her but I had errands to do. “So will I see you again?” she pouts, I told her if she sees me again to not be a stranger, and with that I bid her farewell.

Back at the register the cashier and I had a little laugh, he folded my clothes and I was out. Driving back to Cupertino I payed especially close attention to what captured my eyes. It turns out men are visual gourds, collecting anything that was out of norm as well as items that annoyed them to no tomorrow. Los Gatos lacked the usual abundent attractive women this day so my attention was shared between the usual exotic automobiles, a sweet Defender 90, dogs [especially golden retreivers], bright colored items and store front displays. I also had my share of the unsual and plain absurd; obease couples occupying both lanes of the sidewalk, children darting through the main street, cyclists, hyundai’s and snot nosed kids that pressed their faces up against their parent’s window while pointing at either me or my car. All this only leading to one conclusion, males are visual animals that will drop what they’re doing and look at pretty much anything, a pretty young woman or a dog cooling off a fire hydrent. I bet I could cause accidents just standing in the middle of the road in the nude, but then…I might also get my ass beat.

*sigh*

Oh a brighter note, I stopped by TJ’s on the way home and picked up a few bottles of Amaicha. Women melt for Spanish/Argentinean wine for some reason, how is it better then a Napa Cab, or a Oregon Pinot is beyond me. Maybe it just sounds foreign and romantic. Anyways…at $4 a pop and part of the proceeds going to the Amaicha tribe to build housing in Argentina it’s a win win situation. The second win being that I actually like this wine. Pick some up, not a bad deal at all. TJ’s also has frozen chocolate lava cakes (Think Roy’s) and Tiramisu Gelatto.

-Wallace

Not sure what happened last night but my server took a dump. Lost pretty much everything post October 20, 2006. So this is just a condensed version of this past week:

Last Weekend…
Worked with Jill on the Encanto project and sprouted 8 leads of which I’m confident 3 will go through. Jenny dropped by to return my scarf then it was off to Fremont to Thay’s surprise birthday party. Got home early and apparently blew by Stefano on 880S.

Sunday was awesome. A completely problem free 50 mile ride, returning only to find Rose which occupied me until late afternoon. Radford, Jeanie, Pato, Brian and a few others were in Cupertino so I met up with them at Coffee Society then eventually dinner. This is all I remember from the weekend.

Photographic Intuition…

I finally got my camera back and needed to drain the remainder of the battery before I could take it out for a full shoot again. I decided to capture my trek in motion, except I did not think it through. What started out as a simple idea turned into a very complicated task. Let’s just say riding handless and taking pictures is easier said then done. Probably the dumbest thing I’ve done all week.

I also got a chance to shoot Kai’s Nissan 350Z - Fresh out of the body shop and also for sale. I *Heart* JDM.

-Wallace

i’m in ur bed, theiving ur sheets.

It’s Friday night and I’m not out, kind of crazy huh? Besides the beer I had at lunch I don’t even have any alcohol in me. What’s going on? Well I need to wake up early and actually have to work tomorrow. If you’re around visit me at the Encanto development by Santa Clara University, I’ll be pre-approving borrowers from 12pm-5pm then going to get my drink on. Anyways - what’s with the Bombay picture?! o.O

Tuesday night was the Bombay Sapphire event; with some delays and much anticipation Larry, Sunny and I finally make it to the city where we meet up with Tu. From Tu’s place we cab it over to the W. She looked fantastic; open toed shoes, fitted rock republic’s, a snug button top, completed with a blue/green woven scarf and hair in an updo…however we were late and too busy trying to hail a cab. We finally make it to the W and obtained our first round of drinks, along the way I run into Newton and eventually Rich. As the chefs took stage and the burners lit we were entertained. The machinations continued; I’m starving and I guess bitched quite a bit so Tu smuggles a Triscuit from the chef’s table only to have me drop it. oops. As the night rolls along I booknap a copy of The Design Mix by Howard Watson and Larry decides that he wants a copy as well. The night is flowing smoothly and to my surprise no one is flush yet…the event is wrapping up and we decide to grab dinner. One last thing…we take a bottle of gin hostage and disappear down the elevator shafts.

We ended up at Steps of Rome; Rich makes conversation, Sunny argues, Larry pukes, and Tu gets something that looks like meat. After dinner Tu makes a comment, I wasn’t sure what she ment by it but I make a slight…ok a rather big scene and turns out she’s not happy about it. Busted. Not only did I get reamed for my actions she wouldn’t take the book nor the gin(I’m not a gin drinker)! Well…I’ve never had a girl stay that angry at me for that long in quite some time. I was baffled, and defeated but decided to forget about it. Arrived home tired, confused and vanquished there was nothing else I could do but doze off.

So why write about this now? Well…I haven’t had time all week and I really wasn’t going to at first, but a few of you kept saying “I wish I lived your life.” I’m telling you my existence is not exactly problem free…you just don’t know it all and I typically don’t blog about this stuff. I’ve also lost 2 clients this week, told a third is going to a competitor, and have to deal with my underwriter’s mistake which makes me look incredibly unprofessional. On top of this I had lunch with a couple of people I really wanted to asphyxiate. Their constant bitching finally gotten to me. We actually have lunch quite often, but the subject matter never ceases to change, I finally snapped and told them firmly, “Let’s stop talking about if and when, and things that suck, if they suck so much go out there and do something about it. Stop sitting there and waiting, make it happen, because you’re really pissing me off.” Want to be in my shoes now? In my possession is an architectural study book…which is kind of interesting, except my condo won’t ever look like a bar, and a bottle of Bombay Sapphire that I probably won’t drink.

Looking forward to tomorrow, I want to make up for those 3 deals I’ve lost this month and make up for the alcohol I passed up tonight. “ooOopai!”

- Beer Advocate

candied swine, you can’t get more decadent

This past Saturday marked a day that many bay area residents have anticipatedly marked on their calendars, the infamous Margot and Andy’s Chili Cook-Off in Golden Gate Park. It has not only grown, but has evolved every year. A mystical journey into gastronomical delights that never fails to astonish. This year’s noteworthy delicacy had to be something called bacon candy. “Profanation!!!” You must be thinking, but let me assure you it was undoubtfully a unearthly experience.

The recipe is actually very simple, one essentially tops brined swine with a mixture of brown sugar and molasses then proceeds to broil this until the bacon is crisp and the sugar/molasses caramelizes. After you remove the goods from the broiler let it drip and harden, what you will end up with is bits of sweet/savory swine or bacon candy. It’s no stranger then putting maple syrup over your bacon at ihop, I have come to realize that this is only normal for myself and a handful of others but this is as close as I can describe how this confection tastes like. Gastronummy!

A big group made it this year, including; Brooks and Cara, Sia, Lucas, Kam, Oliver, Stefano and Janel, Rich, Paul, Curtis and yours truly, we joined a huge mass on the corner of 30th and JFK. The drinking began early this day and I believe we were the only group that arrived intoxicated, we were able to offend yet entertain everyone on the first muni then just annoy the second bus.

A good time with some great people and the best magic brownies I’ve ever had courtesy of Paul.

Pictures

- stuffed

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area you probably were wondering what all the silver BMW’s with pink sticker jobs were doing. The Susan G. Korman Foundation along with BMW USA has raised a collective $9MM dollars for cancer research through this very successful partnership. It’s the 10th anniversary of BMW’s ‘Ultimate Drive’ Program this year and they are trying to raise another million bringing that total to a collective $10MM.

Participants are able to take out anything from a new 3 series to a fully loaded 7 series, all silver and all decaled out in pink.

More about this partnership here: BMW & Susan G. Korman Foundation’s Ultimate Drive
More about the Susan G. Korman Foundation here: Korman.org

The icing on the cake is that all participants have the option to sign the vehicle they drive. All in good fun and for a great cause. A living monument to what we are able to accomplish as a collective whole.

- six series driver

What a week, I’m so glad tomorrow is Thursday. For those of you that just tuned in I usually don’t work Fridays, therefore I’m looking forward to this weekend. It’s Margot’s now infamous Chili Cook-Off, the 5th year and going. Brooks will bring his Saracha Chili, Sia, Shawn, Lucas, and Oliver will have an entry and as will I. I’ve never made chili from scratch before but seen it done before, it can’t be that difficult. Watch those be my famous last words.

I’m going to begin by slow braising a beef brisket in golden ale, as that is stewing I’ll start working on a base of carmelized white onions and shallots. The brisket will eventually be shredded and the beer incorporated into the chili recipe but you’ll have to wait for the final result, and if you’re there Saturday you might be lucky enough to get a cup full. Sounds good so far? I can barely wait. If all else fails I’m just going to show up with microbrew and cornbread as usual. The burnt butter pasta with mitzhera cheese that Alev and Gary cooked up in Beverly Hills is not a bad idea either. I’m getting hungry.

Grooving to the new Killer’s album and about to go grab dinner with out of state relatives. What a day…

Ciao Bella.

-chez wnut

Nigel Lamb flying through the pylons : SF Copyright Norman Yee 2006

I had a great weekend; it was totally unplanned and completely spontaneous, yet utterly entertaining. I actually forgot what happened earlier Friday, all I remember was rushing around and trying to make it into downtown San Jose before the Green Rice Gallery closed. We ended up meeting Tu down at Green Rice where a southeast human trafficking photo documentary/exhibition was taking place.

Although the subject matter is serious and incredibly depressing, my feelings have been numbed to this type of exhibit. Seeing photographs behind glass and expensive framed mats is very different from being there first hand. It’s the equivalent of watching Apocalypse Now and actually serving in Vietnam. (Horrible analogy given the circumstance but I’m tired right now.) I had to get out of there as I found myself photo critiquing the photographs. The only thing that evoked emotion out of me was a set of photos where skin graft patients/victims were portrayed in a studio setting. In my opinion, the photographer used them as nothing more then a prop. Not the emotion the photographer was trying to evoke, I’m sure. Disappointed, I left expecting more. In fact the current Fan Ho exhibit at Modern Book in Palo Alto evoked more emotion out of me. If you’re around University Ave, check it out. We walked over to Tiki Lounge to melt the night away over mixed drinks and smiles.

Fleetweek in San Francisco began earlier this week and gradually crescendos up to a climax on Saturday. We had some high expectations. Larry, Jenny, Tu and I joined Radford and some of the Bomb-Dingo group at Club Nautique in Alameda. After a short round of introductions we set sail. Things were going well, shutters clicking and beer caps falling. We finally get into the boat matrix and this is where our event takes a turn. To make a long story short we were actually escorted to a temporary dock via the coast guard. No worries…it’s actually a better view! (I had to jack one of Norm’s photos as my camera is still in the city) Although we had men in uniform and guns going through our boat, we made the best out of it. We ended up parting with Bomb-Dingo and retreated into the city, meeting up with Jonathan Laufer and dinner at La Mediterranee on Fillmore. Jonathan was nice enough to shuttle us back into Alameda and I proceeded to drive home. Met up with Rose and we just hung out till Saturday was an X on the calendar.

Pictures

Larry and I tried to go for a ride Sunday morning but Larry’s bike was not in good shape. I ended up taking off and explored a road I kept hearing about. La Honda is rumored to be one of the best rides in the area I set out to find it. Rode through Stevens Canyon and finally found La Honda, it did not disappoint, however as I returned to Cupertino I wasn’t tired so I continued up Foothill Expressway, through Old Page Mill and eventually ended up in the Arastradero Reserve. Wrapped things up around 1:30pm, then met up with Larry and Brian at Park Place to get some work done over a pint of Guinness then Iced Tea. Dinner with Sunny at Southland Taste, I had Taiwanese style pork chop rice and stinky tofu. My weekend ended at Peet’s Coffee and Tea over a large cup of hot chocolate. I would have ended it no other way.

I get to go to court tomorrow. Yay! =/

- Recovering Gnome

currently - 59 degrees F | dark | raining

The Modern Woman…

Yesterday was interesting, I have a title rep named Tru and she used to pop into my office every other week like clockwork, but she has since stopped due to an internal conflict. I ran into her at a Wells Fargo function, we chatted a little and agreed upon lunch as soon as she returned from NYC. We met yesterday afternoon at Lucy’s. She rolls up in a shiny new triple black Mercedes clk500 and proceeds to walk toward me in a fitted black top and skirt ensemble, polished off with black heels, pearls, a Vuitton bag, rockstar sunglasses, and a bright friendly smile. I’m standing outside looking like the typical bicycle messenger(scrub); a Hurley button up, cargo shorts, and Reef flip flops. “You look comfortable,” she says as we embrace and we proceed to enter Lucy’s.

I wasn’t sure how lunch would go; I figured she wanted something out of me, business right? We actually skipped business all together and talked about our personal lives. We bantered on about her past relationships, my past relationships, religion, family, goals, the future, (it’s starting to sound like a date) and what motivated us. From what I concluded and what she realized is that she’s very strong willed and independent person. A winner as well as a born leader. She has what it takes to succeed and a very caring family to support her.

I always thought she had a boyfriend and I was surprised when she disclosed that she was in fact single, however I wasn’t completely wrong. She told me that she was indeed in a relationship, one that spanned an entire 4 years. She was also proposed to and engaged to wed later this year. When it boiled down she realized that they were just comfortable and not really compatible. With the support of her family and the self-realization she has come to she called the wedding off. Her ex-fiancé ended up telling her that she made him feel less then a man. I couldn’t help but scoff at this, my lips fought the sautéed eggplant and steamed rice from flying out of my mouth, she kept on talking.

We wrapped up lunch and parted ways.

Now the saying goes ‘behind every successful man there is a strong woman…’ does this still hold true in today’s society? Given the fact that she is successful due to a clandestine work ethic and hours upon hours of hard work, and I attend the church of dumb luck and short cuts; could you men out there deal with a woman who is more successful in life then you? I joke about being a trophy husband often, but I don’t think I’d enjoy it. A more successful woman would definitely be a challenge to me, I am sure I can deal with it as I’m not the type who gets jealous or feels inferior, it will make me strive harder, work smarter, and more passionate. I essentially want a woman who is my equal, who’s by my side, not behind me. Fun times ahead. I can sense it.

Playing Catch Up…

The past couple of days I ended up doing quite a bit of catching up, after lunch yesterday Melinda calls, for some reason I’m always soothed by her voice. It was especially good timing because I was thinking about all the restaurants we went to in Washington D.C. earlier in the day. Our first dinner at Odeon Cafe and our last lunch where I had to shout my order from across the dining room at Potbelly’s. I also miss the Five Guy’s chain that Chip and his girlfriend brought me to, they have the classic east coast style burger, malt vinegar fries and peanut shell lined floors. Delicious.

Today I had lunch with the old Baynet crew; Zoli, Greg and Leela. We decided upon Thai Delight in Cupertino and within walking distance from Baynet. “Work is off-limits,” declared Leela. Therefore we focused conversation around how we’ve each been doing, current relationships, careers, and eventual goals (wow, sounds like yesterday’s lunch). Zoli now owns Realbird, Greg works for Expedia and Leela is the only one left at Baynet. It’s good to see them, especially since we’re all so busy with our current lives. Good food, Motivating conversation, and Smiles all around makes for a memorable afternoon.

I also was able to sneak in a quick headache-free 30-mile ride in this morning before the sky opened up. Even though it is currently raining and I clearly hate rain, I have to say I’ve had a pretty good day. Looking forward to the weekend. Radford’s skippering a sailboat so we can watch the Redbull Air Races in the San Francisco Bay. I guess it’s a race between Jenny, Larry, Tu and I to see who will get drunk and fall off the boat first.

-gnome

My weekend was pretty lame, I actually worked half of Saturday and then made birthday rounds after. Sunday was the perfect 60 mile ride and then was bored out of my cranium until some friends called to hang out. A few beers, laughs then an expresso later I felt much better. I couldn’t sleep, but that’s because of the post 8pm caffine overdose.

We all are essentially creatures of habit and that’s what we discussed last night. What you see above is probably what someone would call the nicest and most considerate gesture I’ve done for a girl. Most of you know the story behind it, but if you don’t, then ask. (I’m not going to post it) I can’t recall where or what we were doing but we were talking about hot chocolate of all things. Powder or Syrup? Powder. Water or Milk? Milk. Big or Small Marshmallows? Big. Microwave or Stovetop? Microwave. Morning or Late Night? Late Night. It was one of those moments where chemistry mixed and the air was charged with electricity, I guess this has to do with my treasured memories of drinking hot chocolate while freezing with friends along Seattle’s shoreline, however we connected for that moment. I told her about the Jamie Oliver method, where you put everything into a thermos and shake it vigoursly. The end result is a delicious frothy confection-like mug of hot chocolate. Delicious. She did not have a thermos. Truth be told, I fucked up later on and this was the ‘please forgive me’ gesture I proposed. I went out and bought a suede wrapped thermos, Scharffen Berger cocoa mix, extra fluffy marshmallows then boxed and fedex’d it to her office along with directions. I figured if it would be one helluva story even if I went down in flames. …It worked. I rock.

My friends pointed out that everything I appreciate and enjoy costs a fair bit of green. I knew this, but this was not exactly what they were suggesting. What they meant was I seem to be gravitate toward subjects on the higher spectrum of the maintenance charts. German automobiles, Photography, Women, Road Bicycles and my latest obsession Fixed Gear Cycles. I myself required a fair bit of maintenance. (how about that?)

My retort? I really did not have a auspicious response. It’s all true. German engineering is over engineering. A superlative photograph will evokes a legion of emotions. The maintenance free woman? lol…it’s a fable at best, keep dreaming. As for road bicycles, this is something that I’ve dived head in and although I lack an addictive personaltiy I am addicted to cycling. It’s not as great as snowboarding, but almost. Almost.
However…is ‘almost’ translate into ‘good enough’?

-not settling…yet.