Yesterday was my dad’s 83rd birthday. For you hipsters who wear a cardigan and fedora you can thank my dad for the style. He has a closet full of hats and sweaters in various cuts and styles that he’s collected over the years. His 50 year crusade to bring the style back has finally succeeded. He wants to thank all of you for following his lead because he no longer has to go to specialty stores to get his hats.  He tells me he found this one in the teenage girl section at Macy’s. Happy Birthday Dad!!!  We love you.

The wife and I have been in Napa Valley and Sonoma this week so rather than talk about the stock market I’ll share something with you that you might like better…a travel tip.  If you ever take a trip to Northern California one of the places you should visit is Napa Valley if only for a day.  It’s only an hour away from San Fransisco and barely more than that from Silicon Valley or Sacramento. When we visit we often make Domaine Carneros Winery our first stop.  It offers a more relaxed atmosphere than other wineries.  Instead of elbowing your way up to a crowded bar to try tiny pours of a variety of wines, you can sit on a patio overlooking the vineyards and enjoy a full glass of Champagne or Pinot Noir.  A perfect way to start a vacation day.  I’ll leave the rest of the vacation planning to you…because that one stop will make your entire trip.