After about three weeks of conditions too slippery and dangerous for a walk by the river, the Shenandoah finally started to thaw.
Frozen Shenandoah
February 14, 2026
who knows home, ice, shenandoah, shenandoah river, snow, thaw Leave a comment
An All-American Superbowl
February 14, 2026
concert, cooking, mixology america, arroz con gandules, bad bunny, mofongo, pernil, puerto rico, racist bastards, super bowl, USofA 1 Comment
The racists bastards running our country at the moment did not understand a word of the Superbowl Halftime show that bad bunny put on.
Watch it here (the NFL piggies will not allow a local copy)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6FuWd4wNd8
Fortunately we were able to snag a viewing when we invited ourselves over for a fabulous Puerto Rican feast hosted by Harold and Jen. I mean, pernil, arroz con gandules, and mofongo?! What’s not to like.
We brought along beer cheese and Generals Orders.
Oh, and those of you sent into a tizzy about the Latino aspects of American culture? You can fuck right off.
The Rania Cocktails are Insane
February 14, 2026
mixology cocktails, cyn, eli, indian, indian food, rania, romey Leave a comment
The National Portrait Gallery
February 14, 2026
art, museum art museum, courtyard, cyn, dc, einstein, eli, grandma moses, national portrait gallery, romey, ulluh, washingtin dc Leave a comment
There is a hidden gem of a musuem in DC that is often overlooked by tourists and locals alike—the national portrait gallery. We recently paid a visit with Cyn and Eli. Eli was in town for a robot shindig of sorts.
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The inner courtyard is amazing (and smells like a jungle).
p.s. grandma moses was a hack
Artichokes and Hollandaise
February 14, 2026
cooking, humor artichokes, gem, hollandaise, pappy 4 Comments
When I was around 3 or 4, my pappy—mom’s dad, who was a flying ace in WWI, started the peruvian air force, and taught us how to mislead mom—died. Well meaning neighbors from all over our East Tennessee suburban neighborhood of Colonial Heights brought endless cassaroles and other dining monstrosities.
At three, I found this insanely not good. So after a few too many days of grean beans soaked in campbell’s mushroom soup topped with dehydrated onions, I went crying to mom and asked her when she would please cook for us again.
Touched, she said. “Oh honey, I will cook you anything you want for dinner. What would you like?” To which she expected a reply suitable to a three year old like “hotdogs” or “hamburgers” or “tacos” (remember, 1971 predated the chicken nugget).
What did I reply? “Artichokes and Hollandaise” of course. This caused some consternation, because finding artichokes in those days at the local A&P was nigh on impossible. Somehow, mom prevailed.
To this day, I love this meal. Thanks mom, for developing my palate properly.
Making Chilli
February 14, 2026
who knows chilli, cooking, dogs, eli, iulie, maybelline, moonshine, the ulluh Leave a comment
Eli style. Iulie implemementation.
Shenandoah Frozen Over = Canadian Tech Up
February 7, 2026
fire, nature farm, frozen river, shenandoah, shenandoah river, wood stove Leave a comment
A rare event. That’s what happens when it hits 4 degrees in Virginia. And no, we did not let Maybe venture out.
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Never fear! We can engage the Canadian tech.
R2 LA: Osteria Vera
February 7, 2026
food, travel, who knows beverly hills, corpse reviver #2, donnie, escuela, LA, lucky tiki, osteria vera, r2, tail o the pup, the roodftop, wine 2 Comments
I had not been to a R2 in LA for a while. 2025 was that kind of year. But things are settling back to normal after a marriage, a death, a birth, a trip to france, and a huge talk in Brazil. 2026 is off to a fabulous start.
We wined and dined at Osteria Vera coordinated by Jay (always a consummate host).
The food was outstanding.
As was the company.
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After lunch (which was by no means rushed), Donnie and David and I busted loose in LA (starting right across the street at Baltaire for a Corpse Reviver #2.
Then it was off to the Rooftop in Beverly Hills to watch the sun go down. It did. Spectacularly,
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Relax? Who us?
Little tiny Hollywood.
Finally we hit Tail of the Pup for a secret tiki or two.
And then it was off to school for family dinner. Escuela was loud enough to be a middle school even without all of the Rivers’.
Just damn fun. We resolved to bring along the wives next go round (if they wanna come).
Art at Gallery 33 – the Georgian (LA): Danny Minnick
February 7, 2026
art, fashion, photography art, art opening, danny minnick, gallery 33, LA, the grorgian hotel 1 Comment
Too many people and not enough art. Paparazzi. People having fun. Buzz.
And all this downstairs from my room at the Georgian.
Maybe you want to buy one of these $50,000 things?
