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Family

Family, Goble Properties, Junkyard Management,

Goble Lane

I love this picture. Take a close look and you’ll see three wrecking yards, with metal buildings mixed among them. You’ll also see a small mobile home park in the midst of construction (about half the trailers are in place).

This is Goble Lane, in San Jose, circa 1960 or so. My Dad built the metal buildings and eventually owned all three wrecking yards plus the mobile home park. It’s all gone now, of course, torn down for retail spaces and condominiums. But it was the anchor of Goble Properties for a couple of decades.

I spent a lot of …

Family, Sabbatical,

Sabbatical Revisited

A year I did something entirely new for me: I took the month of October off work. No email, no facebook, no business phone calls, no meetings, no ministry work, no board meetings, no lots of things. I checked out and focused on God, me, and D’Aun (pretty much in that order, though I admit I’m fallible).

The month was split in three main sections. First came a “chop wood, carry water” time when I helped D’Aun at the D’Oliva Olive Oil grove. Then came some time alone to think, write, and pray. Finally came a vacation to Italy …

Family, Wine Reviews,

French Laundry…the wine

We loved the wine pairing choices that The French Laundry created for us. If you missed it, here’s the link to the dinner menu. If the photo is too difficult to read for you, I posted the wines below.

Gaston Chiquet, Blanc de Blancs d’Ay, Grand Cru, Champagne MV

Rudi Pichler, Grumer-Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau 2009

Francois Raveneau, chablis 1st Cru, “Montee de Tonnerre,” Burgundy 2008

Araujo, Cabernet Sauvignon, “Eisele Vineyard,” Napa Valley 2006

Failla Estate, Syrah, Sonoma Coast 2009

Oremus, Tokaji-Aszu, “5 Puttonyos,” Tokaji 2002…

Family,

French Laundry

Seriously, there are no words….so I’m just going to post this and let it speak for itself. An amazing anniversary dinner!

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Family,

29 years, 364 days…

Tomorrow is our 30th anniversary. As you might expect, no blog update tomorrow! But before we turn 30 as a married couple it seemed appropriate to post an update.

D’Aun and I have had a great time here in the Napa Valley. It’s the perfect place to reflect on what we’ve tried to create in our marriage: peace, trust, rest, honesty … la dolce vita, as the Italians say. Grape growers talk about finding harmony and balance in the grape; D’Aun and I talk about the same thing in our relationship. Corny? Well, maybe. But still true.

D’Aun and …

Family, Wine Reviews,

Napa Journey

D’Aun and I arrived in Napa yesterday and settled into our rental home for a week. I’m calling this our “anniversary week” as we spend time together in this beautiful part of the world. Our kids and a couple of friends will be joining us this weekend, but most our time is by ourselves (as it should be).

The house we rented has a beautiful setting. Like most rentals it has a few flaws, but take a look at this view! See those vineyards in the distance? They are owned by one of our favorite family wineries, Tofanelli Family Vineyard…

Belize, Family, Goble Properties, Westmont,

Don’t Trust Anybody Over Thirty?

This has been a year to celebrate the thirtieth year.

“The thirtieth year of what?”, you might ask.

The answer: several things, but one big thing.

It’s the thirtieth anniversary of my first day at Goble Properties. Not a big deal, but when was the last time you met somebody who had the same job for 30-years?

It’s also the thirtieth anniversary of our college graduation. D’Aun and I both went to Westmont, and we look forward to the October reunion.

I lost thirty pounds this year. Actually, this summer. And actually, I’m not done losing yet. …

Book Reviews, Family,

It Happened in Montana

My mom gave me the book It Happened in Montana by James A. Crutchfield, and it’s an appropriate title for the time I spent in Montana last week. Seems like we did a little of everything to enjoy the beautiful area where my brother and sister-in-law live. Thought I’d pass along a few photos, as well as a quick book review.

If you want to read a book about the history of Montana, Crutchfield has written a good one. Short and simple, it tells the interesting stories of the State from pre-history to Lewis & Clark to the Unabomber. I …