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Friday, June 26, 2015

We are back!

Yep, after more than a week in California, south and the north, we are ready to roll! Started in San Diego with the Mission Brewery, Monkey Paw Brewery, the Beer Store, the USS Midway (aircraft carrier, not the bar), Petco Park to watch the A's vs. the Padres (which Oakland won!) and roll all up with the Golden State Warriors taking the World Championship. 

Then it was off to LA to visit my old friend Radical Rob and to take Interstate 5 north to visit Piedmont, Oakland, Emeryville and points around the Bay Area. We hit the Russian River Brewing Company for a treat of Pliny the Elder and got talked into an 18 flavor barrage of beer. But did we stop? No! I went to The Trappist for a night cap and found out why that place is as special as it is.

Then is was time for the Class Reunion of 1985 Piedmont High School which was everything I had planned and then some. The next day I took it a bit easy (so I thought) visiting friends in Mill Valley and completely forgetting my hill driving skills! Then is a more sober visit to my parents graves in the VA Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, a visit to the Jelly Belly Candy Company, the Raider Image, and then nice visit with my cousins.  Come Tuesday, I was ready to come home!

So, with all that background, lets get ready to roll!


Friday, June 12, 2015

Jolly Good Fellows: Catching Up: CALIFORNIA!

Jolly Good Fellows: Catching Up: CALIFORNIA!: California. Yep, of all the states, I have to travel to, for a week, is California. The Golden State, the Left Coast, the state that does no...

Catching Up: CALIFORNIA!

California. Yep, of all the states, I have to travel to, for a week, is California. The Golden State, the Left Coast, the state that does not care what anybody thinks because they have managed one of the largest economies in the world. Hell, we even elected the same governor again. That part of California.

And for what reason am I returning, you may inquire? Yep, it is class reunion time. I graduated from high school. The school and the year shall remain a secret, but I also went to university out there as well. Its been a mixed bag the last 10 years and I have not been out there for the last five, so its time I made the pilgrimage again.

Why am I telling you all of this? Its simple. We are going to have a mix of Californian topics to go along with our regular capital city fair. We have had a fair amount of good material for our Nation's Capital to go around and that should not put to the side for any reason. And of course, news from the Left Coast, is going to be interesting if not different.

So, hang on, as we introduce a bit of California (Uber Alles) to the mix. Go Bears!

Brian Smith