Dina

• 2 bottles Harar beer - Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant
  
• 2 Jim Beam and Cokes - Dina Martina, Rebar
• 1 bottle MHL - Dina Martina, Rebar
  

Long Beach Day IV

• 2 bottles Deschutes Inversion IPA - Akari wine bar, Long Beach, WA
• 1 bottle Hale's Late Autumn Ale - LBH
• 1 glass Hogue Genesis Cabernet - LBH
  

Long Beach Day III

• 1 bottle Red Hook Late Harvest Autumn Ale - Long Beach house
• 2 bottles some crazy-ass named Nut Brown Ale - LBH
  

Long Beach Day II

• 2 glasses Mt. St. Michelle Cab - Long Beach house
  

Long Beach

• 1 glass 14 hands Cabernet Sauvignon - 42nd Street Cafe, Long Beach, Wa
• 1 glass Mt. St. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon - Long Beach house
  

Liquor

• 1 bomber Anderson Valley Winter Solstice - home

Liquor is sold everywhere in California. Everywhere. Grocery stores, Kwik-E-Marts, drug stores, Costco, etc. all sell liquor. My favorite is the old-school stores dedicated solely to selling liquor. They make it seem so naughty, so sensual; bottles among bottles of prettily decorated glass and ceramic containing liquid delicious-ness. Mmmmmmmmm......

Sunday

• 1 bomber Snoqualmie Wildcat IPA - home
• 1 Widmer Brothers Brrr - home

"This is how we roll."

• 1/2 bomber Port Townsend Winter Ale - home

This morning as I strolled London around the neighborhood to search out winter brews at the local grocery stores, I noticed a few guys also pushing their children around in strollers. I have to admit, even though it's not uncommon for me to witness this, it still catches me off guard sometimes. I tried to remain a bit aloof on the outside, but on the inside I was excited as a baby with a toy. As I approached them, however, I acknowledged them with a subtle sly knowing quick up-turn of the head; as if to say, "Hey, I know what it's all about. This is how we roll." The gestures were returned to me in an equally subtle manner and I suddenly felt that I was part of this unspoken dad stroller society and the three of us were all members. It reminds me of my motorcycle riding days when motorcyclists would nod heads or flash a quick finger-wave to each other, just to acknowledge some kinship, as if to say, "I understand."

A friend of mine gave me an article about how dads are becoming a larger part of their child's lives today. It's unfortunate that most American companies do not offer an adequate amount of paternity leave. Most (male) friends I know were very limited in the time they were able to take off to care for their newborn. This puts an enormous amount of stress on the wife who, if never having done it before, is left at home to care for a baby that demands attention most every minute of the day. It seems that the first three months, if not the first six, are the some of the most important months in a child's development. And if not the child's development, the parent's development with their child. I have learned so much about London these four months and I can't imagine what it would have been like if I only had two weeks, or a month, with him when he was first born. I truly hope that paternity leave continues to change and that dads are offered more time off to be with their child/ren.

Two Happy Hours

• 1 pint Schooner Exact IPA - West 5
• 3-4 pints PBR - Poggie Tavern
• 1/2 bomber Port Townsend Winter Ale - home

Thursday

• 1 cadillac margarita - Mission
  

zero

• 0

Big Night.

• 2 pints PBR - Poggie
• 4 pints Widmer Brrrr - Celtic Swell
• 1 pint Guinness - Celtic Swell
• 2 bottles Bud Light - Yen Wor Village

3rd Place: Celtic Swell Trivia.

monday

• 3 bottles Hale's Harvest Ale - home

Seattle

• 2 glasses Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon - home
  

Departure

• 1 Tanqueray & tonic - The Riv
• 1 margarita - The Riv
• 1 Stone IPA - The Riv
• 1 pint Widmer Hefeweizen - Palm Springs airport

I hate leaving California: The Golden State. The land of Sunshine and Dreams. Los Angeles: The City of Angels. I have so many great memories of family and friends. Even looking at the name brings a special feeling to me. Maybe one day I'll write more about this, but for now....

Riv'in it up

• 1 Makers & ginger ale - The Riv
• 1 margarita - The Riv
  
• 2 glasses pinot noir - The Riv

Swank

• 2 margaritas - Bikini Bar, The Riviera, Palm Springs, CA
• 2 bottles Stone IPA - The Riv
• 1 Knob Creek & ginger ale - The Riv
• 1 glass of malbec - Circa 59, The Riv

the Lobby

the Lounge

the Pool

Huntington Library

• 2 bottles Anderson Valley Winter Solstice - Matt & Diemha's, Pasadena, CA

I love the Huntington Library (which isn't in Huntington Beach, but San Marino - near Pasadena); and my mom loved it too. It offers peace, beauty, and sunshine, and it was wonderful to go back.

Being bonsai.

Zen

I've always loved Japanese bridges.

Candid

London (kind of), Susan, and Michelle

This is Matt. He, his wife, and two daughters live in Pasadena. He was my best man, my first college roommate and is a great friend. They had us over for dinner tonight and it was great seeing him and his family.

Turc

• 1 bottle Endless Summer Light - Wahoo's Fish Taco, Long Beach, CA
• 1 pint Bud Light - Belmont Station, Long Beach, CA
• 5 (?) bottles Miller High Life - Turc, Sunset Beach, CA
• 1 pint Deschutes Black Butte Porter - Yard House, Newport Beach, CA

Turc was a bar I had wanted to drink in for a long time. Nautical theme, pool tables, Big Buck Hunter, tabletop video trivia, aquarium behind bar, miller high life, kick-ass juke box, and lots of other surprises. A great night and I loved this place.

Ivy covered facade

twigged ceiling, "Christmas" lights for ambiance, wood benches

fish aquarium behind bar

puffer fish lanterns

firepit provides additional ambiance

beach-pebble wall

open bbq pit in back corner

Harbor House Cafe

• 1 bottle Bud Light - Harbor House Cafe, Sunset Beach, CA

Harbor House is 24 hour restaurant (and you know I lurrvvee these!) along PCH in Sunset Beach. When I lived in Huntington we'd frequently hit this place after a night of having fun. I wasn't old enough to drink at this time, so "having fun" typically meant driving around the barren streets of the OC looking for things to "have fun" at. After I moved to LA and would go home to visit my parents, we'd ride our motorcycles to Harbor House for late night eats. And the food is pretty good! They make the best milk shakes in the world. I'm serious. The very best. Ever. It's not typical bar or 24 hour food either. There really is quite an assortment of every type of food. Susan and I landed here after a day in LA while heading back to our hotel. And next to HHC is a bar that I had always wanted to go into while I lived in the OC, but was never old enough, or never found the time, or just, well, never made it in. But that was about to change. See you tomorrow. :)