I'm in the middle of my well needed vacation for 2008. Under the guise of meeting new and catching up with old friends, I drove up the west coast with close friends and a guest visiting from Taiwan.

Fortunately the nice Jaguar V8 engine took us through the hills of San Francisco and the Siskew mountains with ease. The sporty car was also great navigating through the contours of the Oregon Pacific coast.

We had Argentinian lunch in Santa Barbara. Cuban and Italian food in San Francisco. And fresh seafood in Newport. And that's just the highlights -- there were so many small quaint townships that we drove through it was hard to keep track of. I suppose I can look back at the 300 pictures I took, but it's late and I feel a need to write.

FOOD
The spectacular wedding lobster/filet entree was shadowed by the exquisite lunch in Napa Valley at the Culinary Institute of America. The 4 course dinner at Lucier transcended all of that and earned it's place on the top 5 meals I've ever had in my life.

Who would have thought that a gem of a restaurant could lurk on the dreary shores of downtown Portland? The restaurant is barely 3 days old and took the careful crafting of a local socialite to get even a table in the $4 million French restaurant. The maitre'd, sommelier, and dining room captain took turns charming us with the fare and drinks. Everthing from rose-flavored martini (complete with a rose ice cube) to the perfectly grilled duck breast were more than just fodder for my blog. They were an experience to be savored and reminisced upon. We even got a 20 minute lecture on exotic cheeses followed by sampling - accompanied by delicate local Pinot Noir.

COMPANY
I think someone once wrote that life experience is nothing without the people. This trip has been extremely encouraging for me. I saw friends I have not seen for decades. I got to spend quality time with people who have impacted my life professionally and spritually. I even got to spend time with a new friend to deepen relationships.

At this point, the only company I am contemplating about are the people around me. Work is barely on my mind and the familiar blackberry hip buzzing seem a distant memory as the device is spending more and more time in the dark recesses of my new "Man Purse"...(more on that later).

FORTUITOUS
We spent a good portion of our trip looking for Exxon gas stations. It seems we have these gift gas cards and we wanted to use them before they expire. We had already given up when we came across a non-Exxon station that was selling gas for $4.01. Being from California, I was shocked at the low price and we decided to get gas. As we looked for a spot to turn the car around, I casually mentioned the only thing better would be an Exxon gas station selling gas for $4.01. Or course that's what we found 1/2 a block later.

MAN PURSE
While walking the streets of San Francisco, I noticed more and more men using what is termed "Man Purse." Maybe it was the SF air, or the time spending with our female companions parading through the Gucci and Burberry stores - but I was inspired. Eventually I broke down and purchased a deeply discounted "Murse" to see if this is something I can use. If so, I will go buy one.