Happy Birthday Donalyn

Here is a composite photo of us celebrating Donalyn's 39th* birthday at Poggio's in Sausalito on June 25th. Getting together with "Uncle Don" and BJ made it a very special evening. A good time was had by all -especially the "Birthday Girl" (that's her hiding behind the guy in the blue shirt).

For those unfamiliar with Poggio's, it is a very nice Italian restaurant that doesn't serve spaghetti & meat balls (I know that doesn't make sense to the folks from Rome, NY) but the food is excellent! Before Donalyn, Kevin, and I called a cab to return to Greenbrae, we took a tour of Don and BJ's room overlooking the bay and with a panoramic view of Angel Island. A beautiful sight on a most wonderful night.

*give or take

Once a sailor…

…always a sailor.

As an old Prindle 16 catamaran sailor and one-time racer, I remember sitting on the beach in Southern California just praying for wind. In the God-given “perfect” weather of San Diego, a breeze seldom materialized before noon. And, when one did, it was rarely more than 6 – 8 knots. Sometimes our races looked more like a Sunday afternoon social sail. We heard of the great breezes in Northern California and some of us were lucky enough to have experienced the wild rides on the lakes there.

Yesterday, I was invited by a special friend to sail on her Prindle 15. She lives on a small lake in Sacramento County and her boat sits on her beach, raring to go. Life vest in hand and wearing my “squishies,” I had great thoughts of, once again, that old cat thrill: knifing through the water at an exhilarating speed, heeling just off the water; a refreshing spray in the face…

So here we are: Northern California, private lake, two experienced sailors, and a sleek cat ready to go. And, what!? …TOO MUCH WIND!??! As we used to say: “blowin’ like snot!…just blowin’ lids off trash cans! Yee hawwww!!!” To much wind! ‘gusts up to 35 knots. We wouldn’t have stood a chance. So, we sipped wine instead and knew there’d be another day…

By the way, for those of you with a sharp eye and may have wondered: Yes, the cat pictured IS a Prindle 15 –specially rigged with a jib.

Jackson is back...

...for a day.

Jackson spent part of the morning with his owners and big sister Lucy at the Roseville Dog Park. So, by the time he arrived at Loco, he was somewhat "de-energized."

After he took a little nap at my feet, we walked to the pond and around the block. Jackson heeled very well. He is a joy to walk and to be with.

He is again napping at my feet as I type this.