LG's Weekend in Northern California

LG spent last weekend in Northern California.  He was invited to speak at a major American law firm's annual partners retreat.  Yes, it's true.  

About 140 people were on hand to hear a number of speakers, including LG, who talked about an insurance book he wrote and, also, 9/11.

This law firm shall remain nameless.  Law firms and other respectable businesses generally do not appreciate being mentioned on The LG Report.  Go figure. Apparently, they want to keep their clients.

But before we get to that, LG must tell you about his new favorite restaurant in San Francisco (where LG lived for two years, a long time ago...)  It's called Gamine (click on the name to get to the website), and every single dish was exquisite.  From the appetizers (escargot, calamari, an unnamed melted cheese dip) to the main course (rabbit with mashed potatoes), everything caused a taste riot.  The Palate Police were even called in.

The owner of Gamine, Stefan, is a very cool dude who has an interesting back story (Can people have "back stories?" On The LG Report they can, although they're more likely to have back hair...)  

Stefan was born and raised in the South of France.  We don't know if the word "South" should be capitalized there, but it probably makes the French happy and it's the least we can do since they gave us their particular variety of fries, toast and kisses.

Here's a most interesting fact: At age 13, Stefan won some big-time, national-or-thereabouts, wine-tasting contest in France.  A scholarship to a culinary school was the prize.  And we don't mean McDonald's Hamburger U.  Again, at age 13 he won this uber-big-time wine-tasting contest.  Yes, really.  At thirteen you might have won a Mad Dog- or Colt 45-tasting contest.

So anyway, if you're ever in San Francisco, you must stop in at Gamine or you'll only be cheating yourself, as your third grade teacher used to say.  Don't cheat yourself, plenty of other people are out there willing to cheat you as it is.  And maybe mug you.  So try the rabbit first before you're cheated in any other way.  Then e-mail us and we'll tell you about the fortune you're about to inherit in West Africa. 

Back to the law firm conference.

LG was the last to speak on Saturday.  He made it through the insurance part quite easily.  But then he became somewhat choked up at the 9/11 part. 

It was the first time that LG had ever spoken to a large group of people about 9/11.  He did not actually cry (honest injun), but his voice quivered and he welled up a bit.  Most of the audience members were from the West Coast and had no direct connection to 9/11 casualties, so they were very interested and attentive.  Especially on the eve of the tenth anniversary. 

When it was over, LG stepped down off the stage and a big fellow, about 6' 3" inches and a lot of pounds, zoomed right up to LG and gave him a bear hug.  He said that he always has to hug people who are obviously upset.  This almost made LG even more upset, but not quite. 

It was a magnanimous act by a total stranger.  A total stranger to LG anyway; LG assumes that other people, such as the man's family, knew him and wouldn't consider him to be a total stranger. 

Anyway, that's how it went down.  Extremely surreal day 10 years ago, semi-surreal day on September 10, 2011.  No comparison, of course.  

No pictures to post this time out, a rarity for The LG Report.  Did you even notice?   If so, we'll get that guy to give you a hug.

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LG must include the following note in today's post: 

Carol, of Facing 50 With Humour, recently published her first book, Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines.   LG just started reading it, he's about 70 pages in, and it's a total hoot. 

Anyone will fall right into this book, man or woman.  It's a very easy read (that's not an insult on Carol's intellect by the way...) and VERY funny.  Great plot too.  So it has The LG Report's highest star rating, a 10.  Check it out if you get a chance, you won't regret it.  And we'll soon have an exclusive interview with Carol right here in this space, so stay tuned.

Now go give someone a hug, would you?

The LG Report's Interview Series Sits Down With...LG!

Things have been a little hectic lately (moving into a new house, planning a wedding, getting married, etc.) and LG hasn't had as much time to devote to The LG Report as he would like.  So, for this installment of The LG Report's Interview Series, LG decided to stick close to home and merely interview himself.  Brilliant idea, no? 

What's that, you said "no?"  Oh well, we're going with it anyway, so strap yourself in while LG checks himself out in the mirror..
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The public has spoken.

The LG Report:  We must start off by noting that you look particularly handsome today LG.

LG: Thank you LG, you look very fetching as well. 

The LG Report: We have to start off by asking you the obvious: What's it like being confused for George Clooney and Brad Pitt in public all the time?

Actually, not LG

LG: Interesting, LG was going to ask you the same question. 

The LG Report:  OK, let's move on from this topic, we can hear the readers yawning already.  What has been your greatest thrill in writing The LG Report since it debuted in December of 2009? 

LG: Probably when Sarah Palin told Katie Couric in that now-famous interview that The LG Report was one of her daily trusted news sources.  Every other highlight since then has been "palin" in comparison.  [insert groan here]

The LG Report:  But wait, didn't she also say that Africa was a country?

LG:  It's not?

The LG Report:  You recently got married, how's that going.

Still not LG, but good guess!

LG: (Looks around)  Great.  Great.  Ixnay marriage-skay questions.  No, seriously, it's awesome, LG wishes he had done it days earlier.  No, really, LG's wife is truly awesome and that's sincere.  LG has to say one true thing in here.  She rocks.

The LG Report: And you moved from New York F'ing City to The Sticks of Pennsylvania.  How's that? 

LG: Great.  In New York LG had to tip his doormen, the taxi drivers, the garage attendant and many others; in The Sticks we only tip the cows.  [Editor's note: No actual cows were harmed in the asking of this question, so back off Mr. Audubon or whoever protects cows.]

The LG Report: Are you convinced that President Obama was born in the United States?

LG didn't expect an umbilical cord to be this gross. But he  posted the photo anyway.

LG: LG knows that the President produced his long-form birth certificate, but LG would still like to see the umbilical cord.

The LG Report:  You're somewhat weird. 

LG:  Takes one to know one.

The LG Report: You have some very childish responses to my intelligent and probing questions.

LG: LG is rubber and you're glue, whatever you say bounces off of him and sticks to you.

The LG Report: Why did it take so long for you to get around to this obviously narcissistic act of interviewing yourself?  One would have thought you would've done this long ago.  You have one of the biggest egos since...me. 

LG: LG was too intimidated to approach a great person like himself; he was afraid of being rejected. 

The LG Report: Who has been your favorite interviewee in The LG Report's Interview Series so far? 

LG: Good question, LG wishes that he had asked that.  Oh, wait, he did.  LG would have to narrow it down to Eva, Kate, Pearl, Liz, Patty, Lee, Dannie, Kelley, Linda, Sandra, Abe, Rodney, Carol, Dion, Becky, Bossy Betty, Chris, Ben... let's see, who is LG missing...

The LG Report: Seriously, we need one.  Stop kissing everyone's butt to get more shout-outs on other blogs.

LG:  OK........Sandra, because she showed skin in her photo.  Not that LG noticed.

The LG Report:  Abe showed skin too. 

LG: He's #2.

The LG Report:  What's your position on the budget crisis?

LG: Vertical.

The LG Report:  You're not making much sense, would you like to run for President? 

Kevin Turkey Bacon

LG: Yes, thank you.  LG is health conscious, he'll head the Green Tea Party ticket.  His favorite actor is Kevin Turkey Bacon.  

The LG Report:  Not really funny.  Got anything better?

LG:  Wow, you're a harsh critic considering that you're me.  LG would punch you in the face right now if it wouldn't hurt both his hand and his face. 

The LG Report: OK, like a recently-caught sea bass, we're going to wrap this up right now.  Any last thoughts for our audience?

LG: Yes, thanks for stopping by, we love the blogs of all the bloggers mentioned above, as well as all the other good sports who have volunteered to be interviewed; they are truly cool (the links to many of the blogs written by the bloggers above are in the column on the right, check them out!)  We hope you keep stopping by, there's some good stuff coming up soon, including an interview with Carol, who just wrote this most excellent book, "Miniskirts and Laughter Lines," which can be ordered by clicking HERE!   LG hasn't actually read the book yet (it will be out in paperback soon, but is available as an e-book now), but he will before he interviews her.  Authors can always tell when you haven't read their book before you interview them.  LG has had the unpleasant experience of being called out by an author for not having read their book in a number of countries, such as France, Germany, Bolivia and Africa.

Hope to see you back here again soon!