fishing for words

Nothing like four hours sleep in a 40-hour period to make one feel closer to 43 years old. But that’s what an angry appendix can do. One would think that a pinkie-sized organ wouldn’t be so much trouble, but there’s no rhyme or reason behind appendicitis. My son was the unlucky soul in this case. It was a sharp pain in the so-called “lower right quadrant” that hinted at something not quite right. The resulting recommendation from a call to an advice nurse at about 2330 hours pushed us out the door. We arrived at the E.R. just about midnight. (A visit complete with some mope handcuffed to a gurney.) After blood tests, some poking by the doctor, half an IV of “Lactate’s Ringers,” a UA, a visit from a surgical resident, and three and half hours the diagnosis was made. Another three hours later Chris was wheeled into the O.R. A night to remember. And oh, I did lose two pounds between Saturday morning and Sunday noon.

Now that I’m closing in on 43 years old, I can proclaim that when I grow up I want to be Alton Brown (aka A.B.).  He is my hero.  When not creating and playing with “Good Eats,” A.B. had the time and resources to tool around our great nation last spring on a 2005 BMW 1200 LT (motorcycle) in an often hilarious month-long search of food found off the beaten path on a show called “Feasting on Asphalt” (F.O.A.).

F.O.A. offers an enthusiastic and skewed look at the burger joints, diners, drive-throughs, pizza parlors, pharmacies — yes pharmacies — and sandwich shops that fueled American’s travels during the ‘30s, ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s.  The rules are simple for Mr. Brown and his four companions: (1) there will be no travel on major interstates, (2) there will be no eating at major chain restaurants, (3) if they can’t locate food or lodging, they will fend for themselves via camping, and most importantly, (4) there will be no whining.

His F.O.A. compañeros include Tom Munroe (Producer, Security, Omnivore; 2001 BMW 1150GS), Jean Claude Dhien (Photographer, Motorcyclist Extraordinaire, Role Model; 2006 Triumph Speed Triple), and Michael Clark (Motorcycle Maintenance, Recon, Intelligence, 2001 BMW 1150GS).  They are all culled from the staff of Be Square Productions, the team that I think that A.B. might agree elevates “Good Eats” in every measure.  They are supported by a truck manned by Mike Clark (Sound Recordist, Mixer, Navigator), Ramon Engle (Cameraman, Protocol, Dairy Enthusiast), and Lamar Owen (Cameraman, Lighting, Wheel Man).  One of the most unique, although fleeting, aspects of this show is a sharing of the latitude and longitude of the group’s various stops, ostensibly for us GPS fiends.  Very cool.  Very A.B.

After all, how can one not like a guy who calls MacGyver his patron saint and gets “…very uptight paying more than $100 for a meal — and that’s two people — because I expect so much of it that it makes me uptight.”  Another A.B. witticism: “There are only two kinds of food: good and bad. Also, all of life’s big problems include the words ‘indictment’ or ‘inoperable.’ Everything else is small stuff.”

Almost cool.  Somewhat nerdy.  My hero.

Leadership at the Point of the Bayonet
Ten Principles for Success

1. Strive to be a leader of character, competence, and courage.
2. Lead from the front. Say, “Follow me!” and then lead the way.
3. Stay in top physical shape — physical stamina is the root of mental toughness.
4. Develop your team. If you know your people, are fair in setting realistic goals and expectations, and lead by example, you will develop teamwork.
5. Delegate responsibility to your subordinates and let them do their jobs. You can’t do a good job if you don’t have a chance to use your imagination or your creativity.
6. Anticipate problems and prepare to overcome obstacles. Don’t wait until you get to the top of the ridge and then make up your mind.
7. Remain humble. Don’t worry about who receives the credit. Never let power or authority go to your head.
8. Take a moment of self-reflection. Look at yourself in the mirror every night and ask yourself if you did your best.
9. True satisfaction comes from getting the job done. The key to a successful leader is to earn respect-not because of rank or position, but because you are a leader of character.
10. Hang Tough! — Never, ever, give up.

MAJOR DICK WINTERS
EASY COMPANY, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT
101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION
BAND OF BROTHERS

Our noble quest to sample “The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before You Die” (according to GQ columnist Alan Richman and featured on Oprah) moved ahead today with a trip to Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa.  Bistro Don Giovanni’s Grilled Bistro Burger, ranked No. 11 on the list, is quite the char-grilled burger.  The thick patty, squeezed between two fantastic buns (this writer believe that “custom” buns can push any great or even good burger into the awesome category), presented a grilled outer crust encasing a wonderfully lean but juicy interior.  Karen loved the fact that the meat is ground in the restaurant and the Grilled Bistro Burger can be served so raw that the wait staff almost needs to herd it to the table.  Karen topped hers with lightly grilled red onions while I opted — surprise — for bleu cheese.  Onion rings rounded out Karen’s lunch; fries completed mine.  (According to our superb waiter, the fries were made from potatoes grown in the garden about five feet from our window seat.)

This topped off a very nice day in the Napa Valley, where we hit Summers Winery & Vineyards, Conn Creek Winery, Domain Chandon, and The Hess Collection Winery.  They all had some good wines, but we ended up picking up Summers Winery’s 2005 Rosé (Definitely not your father’s rosé!), Conn Creek’s 2003 Grand Reserve Villa Mt. Eden Cabernet Sauvignon (a very drinkable cab) and Hess’ 2004 Artezin (a zinfandel with grapes from Mendocino, Sonoma and Amador counties, and very fruity).  It was a great day off!

Oh…didn’t write about it before, but our first sampling from “The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before You Die” took place a few months ago with a trip to The Burger Joint in San Francisco.  Again, if you like burgers, this is a great place to visit when in The City.  This is your basic 1950’s retro burger place.  The menu only offers hamburgers, cheeseburgers, mini cheeseburgers, Gardenburgers, chicken breast sandwiches and hot dogs.  All come with fries or onion rings.  The beverage list is just as simple.  The Burger Joint’s burgers are made with pure beef (Niman Ranch beef – no chemicals, no hormones, no antibiotics).  They are GOOD.  We visited the Valencia Street restaurant, and once you get past the neighborhood’s run down appearance, The Burger Joint is one of the cleanest (even the bathrooms were among the cleanest I’ve seen) and “best-est” burger places around.

Once we’ve recovered from eating these red meat marvels, I’m thinking that our next stops will be at Seattle’s Red Mill Burgers (for the Double Bacon Deluxe with Cheese), then to Santa Monica for a stop at The Counter (to experience its Build Your Own Burger) and Houston’s (for it’s California Burger), even if Houston’s is part of a larger chain.

Just finished reading “Biggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, the Man Who Led the Band of Brothers” and recommend it to all who enjoyed the Band of Brothers miniseries. While the focus is on his war years, it also brings into play much of his opinion and insight regarding the military of World War II and life in general. Some excerpts that I found interesting:

“The war in Europe ended officially the next day, May 8. While the fighting had ended, there were still objectives to be taken. …Winters got orders to pack up 2nd Battalion… The orders also stated that all captured German staff cars were to be left behind. Every man knew what that meant. Rear echelon staff officers were going to claim them as souvenirs. So Winters turned a blind eye as his men got careless. Cars were accidentally driven off cliffs or engines were allowed to run without oil. Sergeant Talbert heard that one car, supposedly used by Hitler himself, had bulletproof windows.

“They really are bulletproof, sir,” Talbert told Winters. “Unless you use an armor piercing round,” he added with a smile.¹

Winters established his headquarters in the Hotel Kaprun in the center of town [Berchtesgaden]. … Shortly after he had set up his HQ, Winters sent a message to the local German military commander, a colonel, to report to his headquarters. The officer…dutifully showed up in full uniform, decorations in full display, pistol in a holster on his right hip.“Major,” the German said through his English-speaking staff officer. “I wish to surrender my command.”

He laid his pistol, a thoroughly cleaned Luger, on the table Winters was using for a desk.

“Very well, Colonel,” Winters said. “What I want you to do is spread the word through the valley that all weapons are to be turned in. You can deposit them at either the airport, the school or the church.” He picked the Luger up from the table and handed it to the colonel. “Officers may keep their sidearms, and so may any military police.”

Winters felt silly in his disheveled uniform giving orders to this fancily dressed, bemedaled officer twenty years his senior, but he continued.

“Tomorrow I will come out to inspect your camps, you kitchen and your men.”

“It will be done,” the colonel said. The two men exchanged saluted and the German left.

The colonel was better than his word. Next day when Winters and [Lewis] Nixon toured the areas where the weapons were to be collected, they found heaps of military rifles, pistols and knives. But also lying amid the piles were civilian hunting rifles, pistols, hunting knives, and even antique firearms. Winters’ order merely referred to military goods, but German efficiency took care of the rest.²

In order to on-site research, [Stephen] Ambrose and Winters traveled to Europe in 1989 and walked the old battlefields. … After a stop in Holland, where Winters posed outside the former 2nd Battalion HQ by the distinctive Schoonderlogt arch, duplicating a photo taken of him in full combat gear in October 1944, the tour continued into Belgium. In the Bois Jacques outside Foy, on a day when the warm, summer weather was considerably more agreeable than it had been forty-four years later, Ambrose began talking about Easy’s deployment for the attack on Foy.

“You take if from here, Dick,” Ambrose said.

He did. Although the tree line was now further from the town than it had been in 1945, Winters accurately pointed out his defensive positions.

“I had machine guns set up to provide suppressing fire there and there,” he said, pointing, “and there where Moria is standing.”

As if it had been staged, at the mention of her name, Ambrose’s wife began pawing at the cultivated field with her shoe. After a bit she stopped to pick up several objects. They were .30 caliber shell casing. Ambrose gaped in disbelief.³

¹Larry Alexander, Biggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, the Man Who Led the Band of Brothers (New York: New American Library, 2005): p. 193
²Larry Alexander, Biggest Brother, 196
³Larry Alexander, Biggest Brother, 246