Butterbeer, Burgers, Bliss

A recap of the last couple days, since I tend to use this website as an online diary:

The grandparents came in to town, and we had a lovely day walking through Santa Monica and down along the ocean. And I tell you true, if anything can beat holding my baby in my arms watching the waves break in the Pacific, it's watching the looks on my parents' faces as they truly discover their granddaughter for the first time. Nothing makes me happier, or more proud.

We stopped in an art gallery selling paintings from children's books, and I immediately fell in love with a painting of Harry Potter, Hermione, and Ron Weasley sitting by the window in Hogsmeade Tavern, watching the snow fall and toasting Butterbeers on a cold winter's night. It pretty much summed up friendship to me, and I'll have to own it, sooner or later.

Then the grandparents were gone, and it was back to work, in a grind that's been wearing more and more lately. But I spent my lunch hour this afternoon sitting under a palm tree staring up at the sky while listening to the soundtrack from THE THIN RED LINE, and enjoying the thought that, at that moment, I could have been anywhere, and that made quite a bit of difference.

As did trekking out to Santa Monica this evening with a good friend to Father's Office and having, quite possibly, the best burger I've ever tasted, with some truly excellent beers, in a bar that could well have been created by an architect given the task of designing a drinking establishment for the sole purpose of making me, and me alone, happy as a clam. Warm wood, soft lighting, crowds strictly kept to a minimum, a multitude of the finest ales on tap, and Radiohead playing over the speakers. I haven't felt so comfortable outside of my house since moving out here, and while it doesn't rival McSorleys or the Moosehead for my favorite bar, ever, it makes the top five without breaking a sweat. And, following Lord Nelson's in Sydney, my memory of which is unfortunately hindered by consuming one shout too many of their house ales, Father's Office may indeed make it to the top four.

Anyway, that was the last couple days.