A digital travel diary. · WP v1.08 · Updated
On Friday, March 6, I started to feel flu symptoms, with an intense headache persisting through Saturday, March 7, and Sunday, Mach 8. I had trouble sleeping and a persistent dry cough. I decided to work from home to avoid infecting anyone at work. I had the usual flu symptoms, which decreased after about a week of home rest (I also had a runny nose)..…
Read More: Coronovirus Chonicles
For Inna's Birthday dinner, I made reservations at Evvia - one of our favorite Palo Alto restaurants.. . . . Our dinner started with two glasses of sparkling wine and "Tzatziki & Pita.". . . . We also ordered some freshly picked crimini mushrooms.. . . . The mushrooms were incredibly delicious and one of our all-time favorites. Being conservative, I ordered "Moussaka" as my…
Read More: Inna’s Birthday Dinner at Evvia
Since Alex, a junior in high school, will be graduating from Bellarmine College Prep next year, we decided to tour well-respected colleges and universities in Southern California that he is considering applying to.. . Our plan was as follows:. . Date . College / Activity Tour Time Hotel Location . Feb 15 Saturday Cal Poly (on the drive to LA) Kimpton Hotel, LA . Feb…
Read More: Southern California College Tour
For pre-Valentine's Day, I reserved an 8:00pm dinner at The Plumed Horse - a 1-star Michelin-rated restaurant in Saratoga.. . We have always enjoyed eating at The Plumed Horse - even more than at the 3 Michelin Star-rated Manresa in downtown Los Gatos.. . . . The Chef's Tasting Menu consisted of the following delicacies:. Roasted Brussel Sprouts - parsnip, grapes, lemon verbena streusel .…
Read More: Dinner at Plumed Horse
The World Premiere of Pride & Prejudice Musical . Book, music, and lyrics by Paul Gordon . Based on the novel by Jane Austen . Directed by Robert Kelley. Musical Director William Liberatore . . For the New Year 2020, Inna and I decided to attend the Pride & Prejudice musical performance. Although we are both familiar with the famous book by Jane Austen, we…
Read More: Review: Pride & Prejudice Musical
With the New Year 2020 and relatively mild January weather upon us, Alex requested to surf at his usual spot - The Hook in Capitola.. . We woke up relatively early and arrived at The Hook around 9:10am. The waves consistently reached 3-5 feet high, with the tide ebbing.. . . . Alex wore his Ripcurl Dawn Patrol 4/3mm wetsuit with booties, gloves, and hood…
Read More: Surfing at the Hook
I originally planned to leave San Jose by 13:00 for the December return trip to Mammoth Mountain, arriving in Mammoth Lakes around 19:00.. . . . However, due to Bay Area traffic and road closures on 89 South (which Google Maps did not initially anticipate), we had to drive farther on 89 East, then follow 395 South to Mammoth. Fortunately, the roads were reasonably clean,…
Read More: Back to Mammoth Mountain
Excited to see Holiday Lights at Filoli Gardens, Inna and I decided to visit Filoli on Sunday, December 15. Luckily, unlike the previous day, it was not raining, and we enjoyed strolling through the winter gardens festively decorated with ornaments and lights.. . . . At first, we strolled through the beautifully decorated mansion, marveling at the Christmas decorations.. . . . There were 22+…
Read More: Filoli Gardens Holiday Lights
Since I've been ill, I haven't been able to ride my Specialized FSR S-Works mountain bike at Almaden Quicksilver County Park.. . . . I decided to try a few rides on Sunday, November 17, Saturday, November 23, and Sunday, November 24. My overall time improved from 86 minutes to 69 minutes. However, I am uncertain about the accuracy since Strava keeps lowering my distance.…
Read More: Back to Almaden Quicksilver Park
On our last visit to London, England, Inna and I ran into a theater playing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Part I and II. We tried to purchase tickets but learned that the play was sold out a year in advance! . . We decided to see it the next time we visit London. Fortunately, J.K Rowling decided to also run the play in…
Read More: Review: Harry Potter & The Cursed Child
While I have heard much about the famous Miss Saigon musical, I had not seen it before yesterday's performance at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. Loosely based on the famous opera "Madame Butterfly" by Giacomo Puccini, I had some premonition of the plot.. . Red Concepcion, playing the part of "The Engineer" (inappropriately titled, as he should be called "The Hustler" instead),…
Read More: Review: Miss Saigon
A grand opera brings out inherent emotions - overwhelming joy or profound sadness.. . The Marriage of Figaro, based on a French comedy that takes place in Spain but is sung in Italian, does not bring out either. However, I felt sympathy for its main characters in several instances.. . The Marriage of Figaro tells the story of Count Almaviva, his wife, Countess Almaviva, and…
Read More: Review: The Marriage of Figaro
With the sudden and unexpected flare-up of my Ulcerative Colitis, I was unable to do most of the sport-related activities that I usually favor. However, despite fatigue, I realized I may be good enough to see a movie. Noticing that "Downton Abbey" was playing in the Los Gatos Theatre, I decided to see it with Inna.. . . Both Inna and I were big fans…
Read More: Review: Downton Abbey
Inna has been a long-time fan of Lara Fabian, a Canadian singer with a beautiful voice. Lara decided to visit San Jose on her 50 World Tour (a celebration of her 50th birthday). . . . . . The Laura Fabian Setlist was as follows:. 1. Adagio @Info[Italian version]. 2. Alleluia @Set[Acte 1 - Passion]. 3. Croire @Info[Extrait]. 4. J'ai zappé / Leila. 5. Tu…
Read More: Review: Lara Fabian 50
On a spur-of-the-moment decision, I purchased two tickets to see Wicked at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. Inna was always interested in seeing Wicked, though I was more ambivalent.. . . . Summary:. . With exceptional costumes, unique sets, and spectacular special effects, Wicked was entertaining despite the weak musical score and easily forgettable lyrics. The plot is quite simple: Elphaba -…
Read More: Review: Wicked at San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
With a heavy wind forecast for Sherman Island by iWindsurf.com, I was eager to experience the strong summer winds (primarily absent this summer season).. . iWindsurf.com predicted 20-25 knots of westerly wind throughout the day. It was already quite windy when I arrived, but only kiteboarders were blasting in the water. I rigged my Fanatic 105 FreeWave Stubby and my Ezzy Elite 4.5 sail (after…
Read More: Blasting at Sherman Island
I arrived at Sherman Island at around 14:05, with light traffic. At first, I parked by the power lines, but then I re-parked in Sherman Island County Park to make it easier to access the playpen area with the foil.. . Initially, I rigged my Ezzy Elite 5.7m sail, intending to use it with my Exocet RF81 foil with the Slingshot Infinity 76 wing.. .…
Read More: Foiling at Sherman Island
Winning multiple Tony Awards, Hamilton has been one of the most talked-about musicals of the early 21st century. I had wanted to see it, but I could not usually afford the exorbitant prices charged on Broadway in New York City. However, I decided to see it for myself when reasonable tickets became available in San Francisco's Orpheum Theater.. . . . . Characters. Alexander Hamilton:…
Read More: Review: Hamilton at Orpheum
Last year (2018), I took my first windsurfing lesson with Andy Brandt of the ABK Windsurfing Clinic at Sherman Island. I have been primarily self-taught in windsurfing (and had picked up many bad habits along the way). Andy significantly improved my sailing technique, and I was eager to become more proficient, especially in planing jibes, duck jibes, and tacking. . . . Day 1 -…
Read More: ABK Windsurfing Clinic at Sherman Island
On the spur of the moment, Inna informed me that she could get tickets to see Leslie Odom Jr (the lead in Broadway's Hamilton) with the San Francisco Symphony in concert at Davies Symphony Hall.. . . . Although the program was not known beforehand, it might surprise me with unexpected popular songs.. . . . The concert began with the San Francisco Symphony playing…
Read More: Review: San Francisco Symphony – Leslie Odom