Wine tasting last night. Inexpensive in bottles (Smoking Loon Merlot $6/750 ml.) vs. really inexpensive in vacuum boxes (Black Box Sonoma Cy Merlot $16/4 liters). 3 of each type. Interestingly, at least to traditionalists, both types came out about the same. Also interestingly, they all were drinkable but, to say the least, unremarkable.
Dinner featured cassoulet, a product of two loving, careful days of preparation. May I say "Behold!" one more time?

In the spirit of reconciliation on this cold January Sunday, we present a recent photograph of two candidates for the Office of President of The United States (POTUS). One of them is at the rostrum, speaking; the other, somewhat hidden by a large Texas head covering, appears slightly unhappy. Too bad.

Mieko and her colleague, Francoise, have been quite busy for the last few months, getting something ready for the Spring Selling Season. You'll have to ask her for the details, but here's a hint:

Every four years, on the 20th of January. . .Behold!

Here is a photo from Hilton House recently :)

We've been in the midst of 40 days and nights of rain. It may be prophetic. In any case, when it rains a lot in California, things slide and fall from the top of hills to the bottom. Behold!



Now we're getting thunder and lightning. Blub

Five years it took. Five years of looking, thinking, planning, executing, choosing, guessing, hoping, and sometime praying. But the house is built, we and the cat are esconced therein, and Daruma-san has received his other eyeball.

Behold!

Akemashite omodeto gozaimasu.

On a more serious note, here's a pic from Thailand during the tsunami last weekend. No comment is necessary (unless it's been photoshopped.) Scary.

Update: Turns out it probably is of another event; might even be a Tidal Bore. http://www.newsdesigner.com/archives/000398.php