The Brookston Family Blog
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These are all photos of Dave with his wife Kara.

Hmm.

At our wedding, showing us the lovely food we served.

Bemused at a Sarcasm Central party.

This was taken and Chris and Catherine’s wedding. I love this picture of Dave, he just looks so satisfied.

Last night was Beer Chef Bruce Paton’s latest beer dinner, dubbed the Tion Dinner, because it featured Damnation, Temptation, Supplication, Salvation and Redemption from Russian River Brewing. The food was delicious, as were the beers, of course. Friends, food and beer: what more could you ask for of an ideal evening?

Bruce welcomes the diners holding a big bottle of Russian River’s Damnation.

Very tasty hors d’oeuvres. On the left is crab gazpacho soup and the right is melon wrapped in prosciuto and cheese.

Natalie Cilurzo arriving, arms laden down with promotinal materials.

The suffering women (from left): Tom Dalldorf’s wife Arlene, my wife Sarah and Natalie Cilurzo after putting promotional literature at every place setting.

While we mingled and drank Temptation. From left: Dave Suurballe, Peter Bouckaert (head brewer at New Blegium Brewing), Bruce Paton and Tom Dalldorf.

Jennifer from the Toronado with my wife Sarah.

Then Vinnie and Bruce went up on stage to introduce the first course. Each in turn talked about the beer and then the dish to be paired with it.

The next to last course, duck breast with Humboldt Fog flan, paired with Supplication. That red rose is actually a single tomato peel.

Our table. Clockwise from left: Natalie and Vinnie Cilurzo, Chris and Peter (from New Belgium), John Mallet (from Bell’s), Dave Keene and Jennifer (from the Toronado) and my wife Sarah.

A kind soul at the next table insisted I get in at least one of the pictures.

Dessert was a delicious chocolate bread pudding paired with Salvation.

All of the brewers who attended the beer dinner.

Bruce with Russian River co-owner Natalle Cilurzo.

Chef Bruce Paton and Brewer Vinnie Cilurzo, our host for a wonderful evening. Thanks guys!

Today is our friend Dave H.’s birthday, who we met originally through our other friend Chris. M. Dave married our friend Kara and they now live in Seattle with their daughter Audrey.

Showing off the mushroom thermometer Dave discovered in the backyard of Sarcasm Central.

Enjoying a beer.

Planning to do some drinking.

At the inaugural MLS soccer game in San Jose.

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Just a few parting shots that I found funny. Happt birthday Mike.

Late night by the hot tub at Mike and Mark Leonard’s old place.

On a camping trip, posing with a garbage can.

At our wedding; Chris M., Mike S., and John Smith.

Mike accepting his award at the now-defunct “J” Awards.

Trying to fit in the chalk outline we came across during my bachelor party.

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These were all taken outdoors and after college.

Down at Sally’s parents’ place along the ocean near San Luis Obispo. Sally, her friend Beth(?) and Karen.

Sally shaved her head before leaving for Africa. This was taken at a last hurrah she had at her folks’ cabin. We spent most if the day making sand sculptures.

Sally and me at Karen and Mike’s wdding.

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At an old party, Karen and Mike before they were dating, with Nikki and Pat.

Another pre-dating Karen and Mike.

Camping at Yosemite.

Mike and Karen at a Day at the Races for Michelle’s birthday, or as it will be forever known, “The Day of the Dead Horse.”

Karen nd Mike at John and Michell’s wedding.

Sometimes I feel like I’m biting off more than I can chew. Take this year, for example …

Today is also our friend Sally’s birthday. I also first met Sally when she was in college and she was one of the few people I could get to visit art galleries with me. She painted a great oil painting for me that still hangs in our home. After college, she spent two years in Mali in the Peace Corps and sadly we don’t get to see her much now that she’s back in the states.

Sally in front of one of her creations.

A punk for Halloween.

Watching the grass grow.

“Okay, maybe I had one too many.“

Today is our friend Mike S.’s birthday. He has the unfortunate distinction of being married to our other friend Karen, for which he has our undying sympathy. We’ve known Mike since his college days when his roommate Pat began dating our friend Christi. Happy birthday Mike.

Quiet at the ‘Stick.

Mike with John Smith tailgating.

Using a fisheye lens at an old party.

Mike at our wedding.

Making pancakes.

Mark Leonard, John Smith, Mike and me.

Who thought you could have so much fun from an empty box and a sink? Alice delighted in filling the empty popsicle box with water.

Alice says. “If it’s water, it’s fun!“

Three days after Porter’s birthday, Sarah had her birthday, as well. Porter was most insistent that we get her a chocolate cake. So he picked it out and we had the cake, some flowers and presents waiting for her as a surprise when she got home from work. I think both the kids liked the idea of having another birthday party right after we’d just had one.

Alice snuggles up to Sarah as she’s about to blow out her candles.

Alice is dazzled by the sheer number of candles and all the light they give off.

Sarah tries to look at her gifts while Alice tries to climb onto her head.

Our friend John has a lot of brothers and sisters. His older sister Glenna was often in attendance at parties and is a terrific person. It’s a shame we don’t really see her these days.

Nikki, Glenna and Christi.

Glenna and Suzanne at the ‘Stick.

A bit of leg from the gals at Chris and Katherine’s wedding, including Sarah, whose birthday was Wednesday, and Suzanne, whose birthday I tragically missed on the 2nd but will be making up for shortly.

From left: Michelle, Beth, Shmare (is she unzipping her dress?), Sarah and Suzanne.

I took Porter to see an ear specialist this afternoon to get the remaining rock removed from his ear. It took a few tries but he had all the special tools and got the job done relatively quickly. The second stone, which was the one lodged closest to Porter’s eardrum was almost as large as the first. I’m keeping them. I think they’ll make dandy souvenirs one day.

The rock on the left is the first one out and the one on the right is the stone the specialist got out this afternoon.

Today is our friend Mike B.’s birthday. I thik he’s 38 today, but I’m not entirely certain. Mike used to be one of the Finch House residents, where there were weekly soccer games and a potluck meal once a week. He married another firned of ours, Jill, and they have two kids now, too, Cole and Page.

Christi and Mike.

At Christi and Pat’s wedding. Sean, me and Mike.

In the backyard of Sarcasm Central. Pat, Keith, Dave H. and Mike.