One No Keith Hill

Yesterday we came down to San Diego with no particular objective other than a simple, little weekend get-away. Since the trip is so frivolity-driven, there isn't *too* much to report in terms of productivity. However, frivolity does tend to yield better photos than productivity (at least in most instances, but as with everything else, I suppose exceptions to the rule are not hard to come by). Ergo, this photo-laden entry.

The nature of our trip lent itself basically to three major activities: eating, shopping, and board games (which for our purposes consisted of a vicious game Settlers and an equally vicious series of team Sequence). One of the stops for shopping was Fashion Valley, a pleasant outdoor mall with some unusual kiosks, the wares of which are shown in the first three photos of this blog.

(My favorite is the first. Exactly what sin or faux pas did Auggie commit to warrant an expression of such embarrassment? Maybe it's the embarrassment of having posed for such a photo with full knowledge that it might eventually make its way onto the Internet?) In the second picture, you can see Brina in the background readying herself to get in on the action; I guess something about Auggie in latex head accessories proved irresistible, and Brina was compelled to follow suit (see third photo).

We visited a church of a friend-of-a-friend...I'm actually not sure exactly whom we know who attends this particular congregation, but the music was simply divine (ok, what a lame pun, I know, but my brain is really tired from such a fun weekend). There was an amazing string quartet: two guitars, a violin and a cello. I know, it sounds like an unlikely and potentially unbalanced and cacophonous combination, but really the instruments blended remarkably well. So well, in fact, that I resolved that the next instrument I take up will be the cello. I'm not claiming that I will be the next Yoyo Ma or anything, but it does seem fairly easy to play simple songs. In the pieces we heard, the cello bowed very slowly, mostly just providing a rich, beautiful baritone bottom notes for the chords. Another wonderful part of the musical experience at the church was finding three "secret" verses to Amazing Grace. I suppose they're not really "secret" since the song is actually the most widely recorded song of all time, and the lyrics are available from a kajillion websites on the 'Net; nonetheless, my hymnal does not contain these verses, not have I ever sung them in all the many places I have sung this song:

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun refuse to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Shall be forever mine.

Aside from the musical delights, the most enjoyable part of the service was the preaching. The speaker was a gifted expositor, although perhaps he lacked the ability to season the message with a dash of humor (not a necessary trait to be a good preacher, but I have certainly never faulted a sermon for being too amusing).

What visit to San Diego would be complete without an indulgent Sunday brunch after church at Trattoria Aqua? (Not a chain restaurant, so the mountain's not coming to Mohammed for this one.) Come early, or try to get a window seat with a view of the ocean. If at all possible, bring a friend so you can swap dishes; I recommend the Benedetto di granchio (Aqua's version of Eggs Benedict: poached eggs on crab cakes with a lemon herb Hollandaise; served with house potatoes and fresh fruit) and Abbrustolito di frutta di bosca (French toast with berry mascarpone filling). If you're some sort of freak and don't enjoy mascarpone, the Abbrustolito con frangelico (orange-Frangelico French toast with Seville orange-butter) is also a good substitue. Both French toast dishes are served with either bacon or sausage. If you're eating alone, go with the Eggs Benedict—you will not be disappointed.

(Click on the photo at left for a close up of my handsome mug and the good eats.) As alluded to earlier, our Settlers game was even more "spirited" than usual. One player (I will withold his name to spare him the opprobrium, but he knows who he is,) denied a first-time player of the only spot she could build in, thus rendering her completely incapable of winning the rest of that game. In all fairness, the ruthless rapscallion did not break a single rule in his acquisition of the property in question; all other players at the table had to conceed that his move was entirely "legal" according to accepted rules of play. Nonetheless, the "cheated" player was an FT (first-timer) in what can be a fairly intimidating game; she had only that spot to build upon, whereas RR (Ruthless Rapscallion) had his choice, and knew full-well that he was condemning FT to 10-20 minutes of sitting at the table as a spectator rather than a full participant in the game. Moreover, even if she had built on the "stolen" spot, it was highly unlikely that she posed the threat of beating anyone. Needless to say, RR's girlfriend was very embarrassed by her boyfriend's behavior.

Also as alluded to earlier, we did alot of shopping in during our trip (making two trips to Fashion Valley, one to UTC, and one to Mission Valley). I bought nothing, but did take a particular liking to a Ryan Confrido-style hat at BR that, oddly enough, made me look rather Filipino. Maybe that's Ryan's secret too: all his Pinoy panache eminates from those cool hats. (And yes, I am very proud of the "Pinoy panache" conceit.)

We ate at Extraordinary Desserts, again, not a franchise-type place. There are only two dessert boutiques, both of which are located in San Diego (so it's the same deal: you're going to have to go to the restaurant, because it's not coming to you any time soon). Karen Krasne, the chef and founder of Extraordinary Desserts, graduated from the Cordon Blue in Paris, and won't let you forget it; her curriculum vitae is rather unescapable in the restaurant. Your stomach will find her confectionary creations enjoyable—if you can stomach the smug atmosphere she has created. I enjoy a nice little bourgeois hang out as much as the next person, but something about this place seemed a little too much, even for me. There's a time and a place for arrogance (believe me, I'm no stranger to superiority), but there is something unpalatably pretencious about a place that only serves desserts and treats itself like a 5-star restaurant for the elite. Yes, the desserts are good, but I wasn't doing the backflips I expected based on the cake descriptions and fancy all-in-French menu. Solution: the Truffe Framoise ("raspberry and kirch soaked chocolate cake layers are surrounded by bittersweet Vlarbona chocolate mousse, with fresh raspberries bursting inside and out. The quintessential marriage of chocolate and raspberries!") in a to-go box.


Finally (just for fun), Shui and Auggie tried on each other's pants. (Again, click on photo to enlarge.)