The Gray Eagle Lodge

The Gray Eagle Lodge 2009

We -- the Mather Whitakers, Fair Oaks Whitakers and the Lessers of Novato -- spent 4 days at the Gray Eagle Lodge last week and like any good vacation, I overate, enjoyed adult beverages, and saw a bear.

Wesley caught a nice Rainbow Trout in Salmon Lake using orange powerbait and I pulled one in using green powerbait. We -- my brother and his son, Wesley, and my sister's son Alec -- caught 15 fish that morning and since Wesley and I had no interest in cleaning or eating fish, the one time experience was enough for both of us.

The Lodge's Restaurant had delicious dinners and we took full advantage of them.

Apparently, there is an underground eating contest where everyone wins and loses nightly. We competed nightly and took home medals for speed eating, weight, and team eating. Debbie and I ate the nightly specials -- short ribs, pork loin, and a full Thanksgiving Dinner, swordfish and prime rib. Somehow after a nice bowl soup, salad, an entree with sides, there was always room for a piece of lemon meringue pie -- even after a eating one of the kid's desserts

.

The cabins were small, but comfortable and the Lodge staff was accommodating and anticipated our needs and wants before we knew what they were.

It was nice being with the families and letting the kids run feral for the week. At the end, we had a pile of laundry, tired kids, memories and longings to return.

Lamura Nero D'Avola

This is one of the best wines I've had in a awhile -- the Lamura Nero D'Avola -- it's an approachable, pasta-friendly red which is bursting with vibrant fruit, together with some noticable cherry notes. This is nicely rounded with a bit of plummy bitterness that helps to make it so food friendly, yet it is FINE alone. There’s a subtle roasted, spicy character ithe whole thing is nicely rounded off with a bit of plummy bitterness that helps to make it so food friendly.

Murdoch Merger and the Cosmo Cafe

We had a wonderful lunch at Cosmo Cafe. Our server/bartender, Aaron did an admirable job with both his service and recommendations. We started with a white shrimp and garbanzo bean small plate, which had crisp shrimp, which were delicate in flavor. The garbanzo beans had that familiar garbanzo bean flavor with the a smoky under flavor.

For entrees, we enjoyed an asparagus bread pudding, ahi with crisp sweet potatoes, and corned beef and cabbage. The ahi was done rare to a turn and served on wilted Savoy cabbage. The sweet potato crisps were a pleasant contrast to both the slight saltiness of the ahi and the Savoy cabbage flavor. The asparagus bread pudding was deservedly rich – no butter, cream, or eggs were spared in its creation – and delicate at the same time. The real surprise came with the corned beef and cabbage. The brisket has subtle flavors from the proprietary blended brine and the vegetables were just a tad underdone to keep them flavorful and extraordinary.

For dessert, we split a chocolate pudding – it was baked, warm, and light and was almost like a soufflé. The strawberry rhubarb tart was served with a crème fraise ice cream, which balanced the sweetness, berry flavor, and tartness within the confines of it dish.

The 2006 Murdock “The Merger” wine reminded noted Francophile, Peggy Haskins of a Cotes du Rhone red she enjoyed on one of her many summers in France. Peggy did not enjoy it when an unexpected menu drop (mine) knocked over her glass and showered her sweater with wine. :doh: She was a good sport and finished her meal sweaterless :yikes: wearing a smart looking blank tank. A blend of (60%) cabernet and (40%) shiraz, The merger is a young and fruited wine loaded with fragrant and plummy fruit and a just enough oak to give it some heft. The wine is enjoyable and is drinkable now and I would feel comfortable serving this wine in a wide variety of dining climates. The wine is sealed with a Stelvin closure, which still suffers from the stigma of cheap wine early adoption. I appreciate and value its convenience in serving wine and its ability to protect wine. 89/100.

Tiger Beat

Tiger Beat

Sacramento -- Rob Hollingsworth is retiring as as an educator, where his enthusiastic, down-to-earth, laid-back style made him one of San Juan Unified School District’s most popular employee

for over three decades.

The Hall of Fame Principal spent the last nine years at SJUSD's Rio Americano High School. His final graduation was June 4th.

"You know at some point you have to do this -- I got to that point," Hollingsworth said on his Blog. "The thing that made it hard is not because I'm second-guessing, 'Is it the right decision?' But I enjoyed it so damn much.”

"I enjoyed the school and the students and the staff and the sports and

especially the dances and Rowdy Raiders and everything."

San Juan Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Pat Jaurequi called Hollingsworth "absolutely the best high school principal who ever lived."

Hollingsworth said his health is fine, but at the age of 59, he wanted to spend more time with his Tiger GT. His Tiger GT is worth a bit more than he initially believed and he wanted to restore it before he was physically unable to do the work.

"If you hated part of it or if something was wrong, it'd be easy," Hollingsworth said.

Hollingsworth's blue-collar style and love for in-the-trenches school leadership endeared him to the legions of young administrators who were, at one time, under his tutelage.

"We're excited to see his legacy live on in the 21st century at Rio Americano, and well beyond. It's been a privilege for Rio to have had the strong relationship we've had with Rob for the last nine years and we hope to have one that will continue into the future," Parent Teacher Student Association president Chris Driller said in a statement.

Longtime Rio Americano Vice Principal, Richard “Rob Jr.” Judge said “Hollingsworth will have a unique place in San Juan Unified and Rio Americano history.

"No one has made the school more interesting, more relevant and more enjoyable than Rob," Judge said in a tear-filled statement. "There's never been anyone like him and he's been the gold standard for educators for over three decades."

Hollingsworth began his education career as an Industrial Arts, Economics, and Drivers’ Training Teacher for Mira Loma High School in 1974 and was named a vice principal at a now defunct continuation high school two years later, he returned to Mira Loma as vice- principal and later at the SJUSD Flagship, San Juan High School.

He worked at San Juan High School until 1999, when Rio Americano, an island of excellence, needed a principal.

Hollingsworth said that for the past several years, he waited until two months after the school year to determine whether to continue, not wanting to rush into a decision. He surprised Superintendent Dr. Pat Jaurequi when he told her last April he was retiring.

Jaurequi spent 11 hours with Hollingsworth, trying to persuade him to change his mind. Jaurequi even offered to allow Hollingsworth to be Principal only in September and November and to take October and December off.

"I knew right away there was no way of talking him out of it," Jaurequi l said. "I knew in his voice he really thought about this."

"There is one thing Rio students, parents, and staffs have agreed on for decades: they all love Rob Hollingsworth, Rio Americano Athletics Booster President, Tony Asaro said in a statement. "Rob was a Hall of Fame educator before becoming one of the most-celebrated personalities in San Juan Unified District. He had an incredible talent for explaining educational policies in an unpretentious way that made it more understandable and fun.

"Rob's respect and passion for education always stood out. He was the ultimate teacher who also happened to be an extraordinarily talented high school principal."