OCD Madness

Recently I procured a labeling machine. Watch out America - this could get ugly. I am sooooooo excited about organizing and labeling things...but I am afraid to open the box.

Local Celebrity Sighting

Yesterday I went to lunch at the Tibco cafeteria. Tibco Software is across the street from the building I work work and we also have some engineers in another neighboring building to Tibco in the same campus. Regardless, it's the nearest corporate cafeteria and it's not half bad - they use organic and sustainably farmed produce and meats.

Anyhoo - back to the sighting....I hear a voice behind me of a man saying "man, what do I want to eat for lunch today? hmmmmmmmmmm" I turn around and OH MY GOD! IT'S ROGER CRAIG!! I had read an article about Roger in Runner's World Mag awhile back talking about how he is now running marathons and he compares the training programs for marathons to football practices - very interesting article and he comes across as a really cool guy as well.

Back to my story: So I keep staring at Roger Craig in the cafeteria - THEN I get self councious that I may be confusing any large african american man with a football player so I try to see if he is wearing a company ID badge. He has one attached to his belt loop so as I stood in like to chicken tamales, I basically stared at Roger Craig's crotch in an attempt to read is employee badge...confirmed it was Roger Craig - super duper exciting for my friday lunch experience.

Gemini Drinking Style

things my brother sends me while he's at "work"

GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 21)
Drinking style: Gemini's can drink without changing their behavior much-- they're so naturally chatty and short-attention-spanned that it's just hard to tell sometimes. They can amaze you by conversing with finesse and allusion, then doing something unbelievable in an extremely advanced state of intoxication, like puking in your shoe. Gemini's possess the magic ability to flirt successfully (and uninfuriatingly, which is very tricky) with several people at once. They like to order different cocktails every round -- repetition is boring -- and may create a theme (like yellow drinks: beer, sauvignon blanc and limoncello) for their own
amusement.

Congratulations Hollis!!!

Circled in pink is Hollis crossing the finish line at the NYC Marathon a few weekends ago. AND if you look above....you will notice the time...meaning Hollis just qualified for Boston! YAY

Fanatical geeks with temporary tattoos

Show floor getting ready

Shrimp anyone?

Went to the Partner Day Party on Monday night at our conference held at "Hollywood and Highland" on the corner of...you guessed it, Hollywood and Highland in LA. I don't particularly care for Los Angeles, but when it comes to going to bars or clubbing, it can be a fun town.

Back to the shrimp - after a few hours of milling about and socializing with the work crew, a small group of us headed over to the Grill for a bite to eat. I wasn't that hungry so I settled for a shrimp cocktail and soup. So my shrimp comes served in a dry ice smoke goblet -- nice effect.

That's a "virtual man" figure with the head cut out for photo ops. Dude, check out my "package."

Culinary Surprise in Downtown LA

Above is the super fabu end to my super fabu dinner at Patina which will most likely be rejected on my expense report. I was surprised to find this little gem in downtown los angeles of all places. It has a Regis and something rating...similar to a Michelin star but Regis is used to rank hotels and spa properties. Patina is one of 2 restaurants in Los Angleles that hold this distinction.

My love of beets is insane...it could be considered an obsession.. but marinated beets...even better.

Seared foie gras anyone? Yes please....served on top of a slice of poached pear you way - bring it on... oh and what else? some random ice cream thing with nuts? sure sure. I've never had it served with this set of flavors before...but it's YUMMO-LICIOUS!

Apparently it is white truffle season. Yes my precious white truffles - yummy earthly goodness. What you see here is a serving of risotto with white truffles shaved on top tableside by the chef.

I think this was called Seafood Sampler or Gift of the sea or whatever - regardless it was an appetizer that served seafood 4 ways. There is a hamachi with grapefruit and fresh grated ginger, a monkfish liver, a tuna and something else. It was good - but I should have gotten something else because I basically had really expensive sushi.