The wilds of California

This trip has been amazing so far. California has so many variations--remote and wild to packed with people and concrete.

After we landed, we rented a car and headed in the direction of Yosemite. I have to give HUGE propps to Garmen. The navigation system made it so much easier and efficient to get around. I highly recommned them.

The drive to Yosemite was beautiful. It was full of rolling hills, huge mountains and winding roads. One road was even covered by a rock slide, so we had to share a one-way road. Once we got into the park, it lived up to every expectation we had. Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and El Capitan were all easily visible or hikable. But the park is so huge (it's the size of Rhode Island) that we feel we barely scratched the surface.



The day after Yosemite was rainy, so we decided to drive to Pointe Reyes National Seashore in the hopes that we would drive out of the storm. It worked! The seashore is tucked miles back from the main gate.



We drove through (literally, through) ranches that had been in business since the mid 1800s. Seriously, cow crossing! Oh, and I'm pretty sure I had the best cokie I've ever had in my life near Olema at a bakery called Bovine Bakery. Double chocolate cherry. Yum!

We're in San Francisco today. I'm heading out in a little bit to explore. I'm torn between Chinatown and Fisherman's Warf. I have a feeling Fisherman's Warf will win because it's near Gheridelli.

Show me the gold

Dear NBC,

By now you’ve heard all the complaints about your coverage of the Olympics. Not enough of this sport. Too much of that. Too much commentary. Too many commercials.

But not from me.

What you’ll hear from me is simple: I want to see the medal ceremonies. I do.

We watch the Olympics, rooting on our favorite athletes or the under dogs because we want the to have That Moment. Up on the podium, medals heavy around their necks arms raised in victory, when the national anthem starts playing and the flag ascends that pole. And for a moment, That Moment, those athletes have the very distinct satisfaction of knowing they achieved what they had been working for all those years.

The emotions play across their faces jumping for elation, to joy to tears and back to elation again. And you robbed us of that. The Moment we share with those athletes after all our cheering with them when they are victorious, hearts pounding when they falter.

We deserve to share That Moment with them.

The medal ceremonies aren’t a sidebar of the games. It’s the reason athletes from around the world do nothing but practice for years and travel thousands of miles: For the chance at Olympic gold.

In the last century, many of the great moments of sports culminated on the Olympic podium: Nadia Comaneci being awarded for her perfect 10s; Wilma Rudolph as the first American woman to win three gold medals in a year; and of course, Michael Phelps.

Those were just a few of the amazing feats at past Olympic games. Why weren’t we there to see Apollo collect his prize? Or Bode collect his? What about Lindsay?

How disappointing to make the journey with these athletes only to be put off at the last minute for extra commentary or a re-play of an event that happened earlier in the day.

Why cheat the athletes of That Moment? Why cheat us?

Chocolate Stout Cake

Yesterday, Tim got all Hubert Keller and decided to make a chocolate stout cake. The sifting, rising and baking was yesterday. Today was the cream filling and chocolate ganache topping.

This morning he beat the heavy cream with Dutch process cocoa for the beautiful, fluffy filling.






And I thought I'd document it thoroughly, in case you don't believe me.

Summer's best

We went to Eastern Market this morning in search of heirloom tomatoes. We found the tomatoes and so much more.

Since times are tough, I highly recommend a trip to Eastern Market. We got all the produce, bread and cheese you see here for just about $20. The added bonus is that most of it is organic and all of it came from Michigan farmers.

So--good for me, my budget, the environment and the economy! Bonus!

Fashion catastrophe averted

Yesterday, Tim and I decided to take a walk. Just after he went to change his shoes, I followed him into the same room and this is what I saw:



Internet, you will have to look past the yellow pants. He loves those pants and they are not up for debate. It's the pants and the shoes together that I took issue with. Once I calmly explained that not I or anyone else would be seen in public with that fashion faux pas, he changed his shoes. Just to shut me up.

I'm pretty sure he still thinks this is a good fashion choice.

A great weekend getaway

I don't know about you, but I'm such an Eastsider that traveling west of the Lodge is a real experience for me. I actually feel like I'm in another state.

So, to travel to the west side of the state this weekend for a wedding was quite an experience for me. And it was one I'd gladly do again. Although it was a bit tricky for me to navigate. I'm used to a lake being east. Having a lake mark west really threw me off.

If you ever have a chance, you should check it out. There's great wine tasting. St. Joseph has a charming little downtown area on Lake Michigan. And, perhaps the best part, there was excellent CHOCOLATE TASTING! Have mercy! The Chocolate Garden, Tabor Hill and the Chocolate Cafe were little bits of heaven on earth.



This was one of the wineries we visited that didn't have chocolate. But it had vodka and a dog named Dudley, so it was pretty cool anyway.

Some people have pyro tendencies

Me: I was thinking. When we take down the privacy fence in the backyard, we could put in a line of bushes to hide the ugly fence.

Tim: By "ugly fence" you mean the cyclone fence?

Me: Yes.

Tim: Huh.

Me: And we can burn the privacy fence, since we're not sure how to get rid of it.

Tim: Sure, but we'll have to make sure we don't burn down the neighbor's garage.

Me: ...

Me: I meant burn it in the fire pit. Not while it's still standing.

Tim: Oh.