West Meets East

This is kind of interesting. Photo is taken from Asia looking at Europe, or vice versa. The bridge connects the cultures and the continents.

Yeah, it's the Bosporus, or Bosphorus, whatever, or simply, the Istanbul Straits.

We live in a complicated, but always interesting, world.

Big Brown Eggs

On Hwy 4 heading East from Stockton, between Hwy 99 and Jack Tone Road, stands the Brown Egg stand, a typically 1950's Central Valley food outlet, prior to the advent of Farmers' Markets.

We like the Brown Egg place, because the proprietress goes to the barn, lifts the eggs from beneath the pullets, washes them (without candling, I noticed) and presents them to us. How fresh can you get?

There's also a bunch of in-season fruits and vegetables. If they're not from the owners' fields, then they're from the neighbors'.

Not a bed place to re-provision for a vacation, or for a weekend.

Good California living!

Memories

We enjoyed a sandwich just under the left-most arch pictured. Good food.

This is Cortona, the Hill Town.

(We met no Godfather there, more's the shame. Just a tour guide in a wi-fi-enabled Chrysler van who introduced us to his cousin, the wineseller, who shipped for us a case of chianti, marked (for duty purposes) as library books. We have a few left to read.)

MetroLafayette

Interesting, and needed, venue in Lafayette. The Metro Lafayette is a noisy, trendy, edgy, shopping-center celebrity.

The style is spare, the space is noisy, the service is slow, the only color is brown and black on the servers' outfits, the smiles are genuine, and the food is divine.

(I was in this building about a year ago, when it was a Mexican-Spanish dark doomy failure, with food that fitted that style.)

We dined on the patio, which was only half as noisy, and it was okay. Outdoor space heaters are scheduled for two weeks from now. This place has only been open for a week.

Oyster bar was tasty and very fresh, charcuterie was delicious, and Misoyaki codfish was to die for. These menu items are truly of San Francisco class. (And, the prices are almost so. Oh, well. No Bridge toll.)

I'll be back.

Neighbors

Our neighbors over the backyard lot line have started construction of their new house. Most of it will be behind the oak tree on the right in the view above. That's okay.

However, they've added a property line fence, which closes the patio side of our backyard. We're resigned to, and accepting of, the thing although it certainly changes things spatially. We're thinking either bougainvillea or rose trees to screen the fence.

Opinions are invited. (click to enlarge the photo)

Poignant

Today is Flag Day

British Idol? American Idol?

At least 50% of the populace at HiltonHouse are big fans of the "Idol" TV show. This is 4 minutes of great, classical fun. Please enjoy.

Paris Hilton Rules!

I have checked carefully, and, as far as I can see, her roots are not dark. So, that isn't the medical problem.

If You Want To Tell Someone. . .

that you're truly sorry, try looking like this:

It Seems Like Just Yesterday

But it was 40 years ago today that the world first heard "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."

Just go here:

http://www.thebeatles.com/sgtpepper/