Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Flu Shot
I got a flu shot today. I was hesitant to get it, because the last time I got a shot (over 10 years ago) I got the flu. Before that I never got the flu, so I was convinced that I got it due to the shot. Now after a lot of research, I see that I was wrong and that is virtually impossible to get the flu from the shot. So hopefully I will flu free this year and the pain I am feeling in my arm right now will be worth it.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Muirfield. Home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers
One of the highlights of my trip to Scotland last month was getting to play golf at Muirfiled for the first time. Muirfield is one of the five oldest golf clubs in Scotland, founded in 1744 in Leith, and probably one of the most exclusive. It is home to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and lays claim to having written the original 13 rules of golf before turning over governance of the game to the R&A in St. Andrews.
Located just outside of Edinburgh in East Lothian, Muirfield runs along the same coast line as the great Gullane and Luffness Golf Courses. It has been home to the Open Championship fifteen times (and will host it again in 2013), as well as many amateur championships and the 1973 Ryder Cup. The course was originally laid out by Tom Morris in 1891. In 1923, 50 acres were purchased north of the course and course designer Harry Colt introduced 14 new holes. His design included two loops of nine holes, one played within the other in the opposite direction, so the direction of the wind changes on nearly every hole. Most of the changes since then have been to extend the tees back to account for the improvements in equipment to keep Muirfield on the Open rota. One recent change, that is very evident, is the lengthening of the tee on number nine. They actually had to knock down the wall that surrounds the course to move the tee 25-30 yards further back. They also added a new bunker to catch the pros, but all the members are hitting into it off their forward tees.
The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers prefer to play two-ball match play, or what we refer to as alternate shot here in the U.S. A morning round is easily completed in two or two and a half hours, followed by a large lunch and cocktails, then a second round of golf in the afternoon. As visitors we were allowed to play our own ball, which was a treat. You never know when you'll get to play there again, so it was great to get to see and play the entire course. And it is a great course. It is a classic links layout running along the coast with amazing views of Fife across the Firth of Fourth. The rough is very high and can make it very hard to find wayward shots. There are also a lot of bunkers that are extremely steep and almost always result in a stroke added to the scorecard. Good players are well rewarded for being long and straight off the tee.
Contrary to popular belief, women are allowed to play Muirfield as guests, but there are no lady members and no mixed facilities in the clubhouse. Dogs are also allowed on the course. Above is a picture of our playing companion Rocket.
After you play, you change into a jacket and tie and enjoy a large lunch. We had a two hour drive back to St. Andrews, so there was no drinking for us, but there is one famous story I can't resist repeating. Supposedly one of the members was pulled over on his way home one evening after being at the club and administered a breathalyzer. Much to his surprise he passed. He was surprised because he had just finished off several large drinks before getting in the car and by rights, knew he should be on his way to jail. He immediately headed back to the club and accused the bartender of watering down the drinks, which he indeed was doing, and was fired on the spot.
If you are a golf lover, you should make plans to play Muirfield on your next Scottish golf adventure. Luckily I played with a member, so it didn't cost me anything, but the course is open to visitors on Tuesdays and Thursdays for £190 ($315) for one round and £240 ($400) for two rounds on the day.
Located just outside of Edinburgh in East Lothian, Muirfield runs along the same coast line as the great Gullane and Luffness Golf Courses. It has been home to the Open Championship fifteen times (and will host it again in 2013), as well as many amateur championships and the 1973 Ryder Cup. The course was originally laid out by Tom Morris in 1891. In 1923, 50 acres were purchased north of the course and course designer Harry Colt introduced 14 new holes. His design included two loops of nine holes, one played within the other in the opposite direction, so the direction of the wind changes on nearly every hole. Most of the changes since then have been to extend the tees back to account for the improvements in equipment to keep Muirfield on the Open rota. One recent change, that is very evident, is the lengthening of the tee on number nine. They actually had to knock down the wall that surrounds the course to move the tee 25-30 yards further back. They also added a new bunker to catch the pros, but all the members are hitting into it off their forward tees.
The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers prefer to play two-ball match play, or what we refer to as alternate shot here in the U.S. A morning round is easily completed in two or two and a half hours, followed by a large lunch and cocktails, then a second round of golf in the afternoon. As visitors we were allowed to play our own ball, which was a treat. You never know when you'll get to play there again, so it was great to get to see and play the entire course. And it is a great course. It is a classic links layout running along the coast with amazing views of Fife across the Firth of Fourth. The rough is very high and can make it very hard to find wayward shots. There are also a lot of bunkers that are extremely steep and almost always result in a stroke added to the scorecard. Good players are well rewarded for being long and straight off the tee.
Contrary to popular belief, women are allowed to play Muirfield as guests, but there are no lady members and no mixed facilities in the clubhouse. Dogs are also allowed on the course. Above is a picture of our playing companion Rocket.After you play, you change into a jacket and tie and enjoy a large lunch. We had a two hour drive back to St. Andrews, so there was no drinking for us, but there is one famous story I can't resist repeating. Supposedly one of the members was pulled over on his way home one evening after being at the club and administered a breathalyzer. Much to his surprise he passed. He was surprised because he had just finished off several large drinks before getting in the car and by rights, knew he should be on his way to jail. He immediately headed back to the club and accused the bartender of watering down the drinks, which he indeed was doing, and was fired on the spot.
If you are a golf lover, you should make plans to play Muirfield on your next Scottish golf adventure. Luckily I played with a member, so it didn't cost me anything, but the course is open to visitors on Tuesdays and Thursdays for £190 ($315) for one round and £240 ($400) for two rounds on the day.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Metrovino
Last week I got an e-mail from Genoa, one of my favorite restaurants, and they suggested I vote for them for restaurant of the year. When I got to the choices, I was embarrassed to see that I had not been to a few of the other choices. This weekend, we started to rectify that.
Metrovino is a hot new place in the Pearl District, that is dedicated to pairing great wine with great food. They use an Enomatic wine system and a Perlage sparkling system, to keep over 80 wines and champagnes fresh for 30 days so they can serve them all by the taste, glass or bottle. We started with a great glass of champagne, the Dama del Rovere, which was very reasonably priced. I had the salmon tare tare to begin with, which was great, but strangely it was served with onion rings, which did not go together, but were great separately. Barbara had the escargot, which was good, but had a strange almond crust. We both opted for the rib eye for our entree which was a mistake. Both steaks were very fatty and a little chewy. The only savior was the amazing potato fingers in horse radish and the chantrelle mushrooms.
We paired the entree with "The Heavyweight" wine flight, tastes of an '04 Eyrie, DDO Laurene, and a Beaux Freres for $28. I have to say they were all amazing, but when we went to order a glass they were all over $30 a glass, so we opted for a less expensive Bordeaux, the Chateau Croix Mouton at $12.
Metrovino is a very nice space, the service is great, but I am sad to say it is way too expensive for the quality of food we had. If I were to go there again, I would try the bar menu, which is not served in the main restaurant.
Dinner 5:30 PM nightly.
Metrovino
1139 Northwest 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209-3469
(503) 517-7778
Metrovino is a hot new place in the Pearl District, that is dedicated to pairing great wine with great food. They use an Enomatic wine system and a Perlage sparkling system, to keep over 80 wines and champagnes fresh for 30 days so they can serve them all by the taste, glass or bottle. We started with a great glass of champagne, the Dama del Rovere, which was very reasonably priced. I had the salmon tare tare to begin with, which was great, but strangely it was served with onion rings, which did not go together, but were great separately. Barbara had the escargot, which was good, but had a strange almond crust. We both opted for the rib eye for our entree which was a mistake. Both steaks were very fatty and a little chewy. The only savior was the amazing potato fingers in horse radish and the chantrelle mushrooms.
We paired the entree with "The Heavyweight" wine flight, tastes of an '04 Eyrie, DDO Laurene, and a Beaux Freres for $28. I have to say they were all amazing, but when we went to order a glass they were all over $30 a glass, so we opted for a less expensive Bordeaux, the Chateau Croix Mouton at $12.
Metrovino is a very nice space, the service is great, but I am sad to say it is way too expensive for the quality of food we had. If I were to go there again, I would try the bar menu, which is not served in the main restaurant.
Dinner 5:30 PM nightly.
Metrovino
1139 Northwest 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209-3469
(503) 517-7778
Saturday, November 6, 2010
I'm Back
Since we last talked I took a little vacation to Scotland, played a lot of golf and now that I've been back at work for a week, it's time to start blabbing again.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Tiger Woos hits the camera again
You may remember that we had Tiger Woods hit the camera in a TV commercial we made a few years back. It was an amazing feat in that he was easily 100 yards away from the camera and the lens was maybe 6" x 12". This time he did not do it on purpose. At the Ryder Cup last week he shanked a shot directly at a camera man, who got this great picture just before it hit the camera.
My favorite part of this picture is the guy on the right hand side with the big mustache and cigar. He has become a minor Internet celebrity.
My favorite part of this picture is the guy on the right hand side with the big mustache and cigar. He has become a minor Internet celebrity.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The Social Network
I just got back from seeing The Social Network, the new David Fincher movie about Facebook and the first thing I want to do is get off Facebook. It is an understatement to say that this movie does not paint any of the participants in a good light, and founder Mark Zuckerberg comes across as the biggest a-hole of them all. The story is pretty simple. A young hacker named Mark Zuckerberg comes up with the idea of connecting people through a social network, basically linking college facebook pages to more and more people so you can share information and become friends. The problem is, it may not have been his idea and he may have screwed a few people along the way. The story is told in retrospect as Zuckerberg gives testimony in two lawsuits that have been filed against him. He is portrayed as a know-it-all jerk, who ironically can not maintain a friendship in real life, but there is no doubt he is a genius. Justin Timberlake takes a great turn as a-hole number two, or Sean Parker the inventor of Napster, who shows up as the slightly older guy who has been through it all before and wants to help Zuckerman succeed, or make sure Parker makes some money this time around.
If you are at all dialed into the 21st century this is a must see film. It is very well written by Aaron Sorkin and beautifully directed by David Fincher. It is much more than the facebook story, it is a great film.
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