I'm a pig, I don't have to smile.

Socks and Tear Gas

The next time you find yourself in San Francisco, and you have an urge to purchase socks and tear gas.. Go directly to Alex's Gift Shop. They'll hook you up.

This is Napa.

I took this picture last November. We were driving around the Napa area, taking in the sites. I rolled down the window and randomly took a shot. This is the nicest pic of the area I have ever taken.

I love Napa in November. The tourists are gone, most of the vines are turning a delicious mustard color or a dark ruby red. The air is cool but not cold. The skies are mostly blue. The people who work and live there are very relaxed because the crowds are gone. The wine and food are spectacular. You do take a risk that a particular cellar might not be tasting in November, but it is a risk I have taken before and will take again and again.

But not this November. This November I am going to Florida. I suppose I will have a nice time. I suppose I will be glad to get away from this cold rain and the grey skies. I looked at weather.com and the Tampa area is calling for 81 and partly cloudy. Sounds nice. But I am pining for Napa/Sonoma.

Grandpa Cart, T.J., and me.

Dad

My dad died in the fall.

It doesn't make me sad. He was ready to go. He was so sick and so miserable. When he passed, I was sad because I would miss him, but I wasn't sad that he wasn't suffering. He lived longer than any of us thought he would. Every holiday, I would thank God for giving him to us for one more Christmas, Easter, birthday, etc... I do miss him a lot. But his passing doesn't make me sad. It makes me sad that he suffered for so long. It makes me sad that he is not here now. But I know that he loved me. I know that he was proud of me. I know he is not suffering anymore. I know that he loved my little one and would have loved the new little one.

He was a good dude, not perfect, but who is? He would have loved my littlest one. I miss him.

My Dad's favorite color was red. He didn't like to wear wool. He loved White Castle hamburgers and french fries. He loved milkshakes. He enjoyed watching Star Trek and Star Wars. He loved to watch NOVA and the Frugal Gourmet. My Dad kept nail clippers in his desk and we weren't allowed to touch them. My Dad loved the Everly Brothers and The Platters. He danced funny. My Dad was crabby sometimes. My dad enjoyed organzing his workshop and desk. He always tried to balance his checkbook.... to the penny. My Dad loved Christmas. He would play his 8-track "I'll Be Home For Christmas" while we put ornaments on the tree. My Dad loved chocolate pudding. My Dad would fill a glass to the rim with Coke, no ice. My Dad mixed ketchup with his fried eggs. My Dad was strong. He had brown skin with thick callused fingers. When he cut himself, he would pour rubbing alcohol on the wound before putting a bandaid on it. My Dad bought generic soap, took the wrappers off, put them in a plastic tub in the linen closet, and would dole them out as needed. My Dad had a soldering iron. I remember that smell. He had a band sander in the garage. My Dad taught me how to wrap presents and how to make a paper bag. My Dad taught me that nail polish remover is flamable by igniting some of it in an ashtray. My Dad noticed that my knee hurt by pointing out that I limp a little. My Dad supervised cleaning the room projects with a paper grocery bag between his legs. My Dad could eat a LOT of cookies at one time. He loved Oreos. My Dad loved noodles with gravy, or really anything with gravy. My Dad planted tomatos, carrots and swiss chard. My Dad took my little bro to baseball games in other cities. My Dad taught me how to multiply and taught me the trick about the nines. My Dad liked to wear flannel shirts in the winter and white t-shirts in the summer. He always wore a belt. My Dad wore a warm hat when it was really cold. My Dad kept nickle plated plastic bags in his desk to store various things. He had an electric meter. My Dad liked to watch Jeopardy. He liked People's Court too. My Dad wore short sleeved dress shirts with ties. My Dad wore Brut cologne. He wore a lot of it. My Dad had some grey hairs in his mustache, but not so much in his hair. My Dad had an overbite. He had brown eyes. My Dad would take his glasses off to read, he would bring what he wanted to read up real close to his face. He taught me how to make spaghetti sauce. My Dad taught me how to make pancakes, waffles, and fried eggs. My Dad liked white milk and chocolate milk. My Dad poured chocolate syrup on orange sherbet. My Dad worked hard. I miss my Dad.

My boys

I'm posting a few pics of the boys.