Well earned weekend

Now retired TOMS with a beer, on the grass at Outside Lands a few weeks ago.  Hoping the weather keeps up and there is more outdoor goodness to soak up over this weekend.

Happy happy long weekend to all the US folks!  This week just gone has felt like one of the longest where I've just been totally exhausted - to the point where I've even slept through the early shuttle a couple of times and completely missed a workout date with a buddy (oops) - definitely my bodys way of crying out for some rest.

Enjoy the two or three days you have, y'all!

Tennis Theory

Crediting this to a guy I used to work with - 'the tennis theory' is the idea that if you want to get better at anything, you need to work at it with people who are better at it than you - i.e. the only way to improve your game of tennis is make sure the guy on the other side of the net is superior to you.  He came up with it while actually playing a game of tennis, but it became something we referenced throughout the time we worked together when talking about about our various career decisions, in our over-cube-wall conversations.

I use it all the time whenever I'm pepping someone into a project or role they feel out of their depth in, but I've recently also had to apply it to myself, impressing it over my feelings of being not-the-greatest tennis player.  It's a heartening thing to bring to mind when you feel like you're just hitting missed swings.  You'll come back to the court tomorrow stronger for it.

p.s. On a vaguely related note, a fan's touching story that will make Roger Federer your favourite athlete.  The sweetest!

On fortune

A fellow paraglider over a lake in Pokhara, Nepal last year.

"Fortune favours the bold."

- Stolen off a colleague's chat status, but is originally a Latin proverb apparently.

Burgers of SF

One thing that 'Merica really does right is the burger - I've written before about my addiction and they are they are a whole different beast over here.  While I'd love to order the ones I've sampled into an empirical 'best of' list, it just wouldn't seem fair to all the other burgers out there that I am yet to sample *I'm-a comin' for youuu my pretties*.  Also, I sadly don't even have a picture of one that currently tops my list (over at Spruce - order it off the bar menu), so I can tell you now that this tour of beef patties in pictures is already incomplete.  Until part two, here's five spectacular sandwiches, objectively ordered by accessibility - don't make me pick favourites yet!

In-N-Out: enough said.  When is this a bad idea?  The answer is never.  I resisted on the double-double here, but if you're a first timer that's a must - you could even go 'protein style' if you want to skip the bun, but that sort of defeats the purpose really.

This is the 'French and Fries' over at Roam - not going to lie, I thought the fries were an addition on the side but when this arrived I got this pleasant surprise.  Gruyere really makes this one - but in reality that cheese is the cause of and solution to all of life's problems.

Truffle again.  This compact little package comes to us from Umami Burger - I love this place, but hear mixed reviews from guys, maybe based on the fact that the portions edge on the small side.  Personally, this is a favourite of mine - order it with their smushed potatoes and a plate of their huge golden onion rings.

A favourite pastime of mine: going to swish restaurants and ordering the burger.  I added bacon to this fancy, glorious pile of happy from Mission Beach Cafe.  Yes that's truffle parmesan fries.  Yes a side salad was an option.  No I haven't been to the gym a week.  Thank goodness for like-minded friends to dine with.

Glazed doughnuts instead of a bun you say?  Why yes, yes I think I will.  'The Ringmaster' from Straw was a beast I shared with a buddy as part of an early celebration.  True to our waiter's words, the savory of the beef cuts through the sweet of the doughnut and actually makes this a surprisingly moreish parcel.

This is definitely only 'Part 1'.

Gettin' pretty

For those who are regulars you'll notice that le blog has been getting a progressive makeover of late - thank you little bro for your DIY code hacking and endless help and patience with me!  ("Can I make this pink?  What about <some-random-idea-I-saw-on-another-blog>?  How hard would it be to get confetti coming down the sides?").  Of note within the changes to date, the upside down city view in the banner is the view from my apartment window, at the golden hour I love best which greets me when I walk in my door from work.

It's a work in progress, please excuse the quibbles while we get it right - like images getting a little snipped here and there - in the interim  :)