NYE 2007

If what they say is true, that the way you begin the new year is the way your year will be, then it is going to be another very good year indeed. Dinner was at Beato in West Seattle. We warmed up with some bottles of Torii Mor at my house.

Beethoven's 9th

On the night we returned from Torii Mor, the 29th, Jess, Dawn, Jesse, Malia, Jaime and I went to see Beethoven's 9th Symphony performed at Benaroya Hall.

Torii Mor

Dinner at Bistro Maison, in McMinville, with Don & Margie Olson, Nels, Jaime and Jess. The chef, Jean-Jacques (of course), seated next to Jess, joined us to discuss French politics and have a glass of wine after the restaurant closed.


















Don't stop believin'...
Nels giving us the winery tour.



















The interior of the winery. They have brought Torii Mor from 1,000 cases annually to 15,000, while improving the quality.














The exterior of the winery.

A striking tree and the vineyards seen from the deck of the main house.



















Nels and Jaime in the tasting room.


















Jess and Nels in the main house.
The bonsai garden outside.

Snow on the vineyard.

A few recent pics of the goings-on around Seattle.

Tyler, Sarah and Dahlia - Dinner at Blackbird, West Seattle.

My trip to see Nels in Pacific Beach, San Diego.

Jaime studying hard for finals.
Driving home from Olympia, the day of the floods. If you look closely you can see the car wakes.
A perfect fall morning.

First Look

I took a tour of my new building today. The current closing date for my unit is January 28 and it looks like they will need every day of that to get the building done. Still, I like the building and I like my unit.

View to the south from my deck. The light's not great, but the sculpture park is visible.

From inside the front door.

View from the bedroom out into the living room.

View to the north from my deck.

There Will Be Blood

Looks like I spoke to soon. P.T. Anderson's latest (his first in 5 years) has an announced release date of sometime in December. With Darjeeling Limited getting mixed film-festival reviews, this may in fact be the best film of '07.

Darjeeling Limited

My excitement over the release of this film is overwhelming. I can't imagine this being anything but the year's best.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Let me think about that."