Rebirth Of The Red Lantern: Volume 2, Chapter 11

 

WHAT’S ON MY MIND

Happy returns… sorta. I normally feel a 3-day/2-night stay anywhere is a sweet spot for my monthly trips, but this time I wish I could’ve stayed an extra day. I had way too much fun at the winery, so now I’ll give my liver a short break before I open this week’s bottle.

I won't miss the winery since I'll be back in ten days for a special wine club event. I’ve also booked dinner reservations at Meritage to try out the new menu afterward, and I have a suite at SpringHill Suites to crash in once the fun is over. Ara ara!

WHAT ELSE IS ON MY MIND

Car maintenance. This was Artoria’s first trip since I got her spark plugs replaced and if it weren’t for the hill I climb to arrive at Le Crash Pad she would’ve done 40 MPG on the way home. That’s pretty impressive when you consider the AC was on (wine transport), her engine is turbocharged, and she was driven in Sport Mode until I exited the freeway. I can’t think of better proof that it pays to get maintenance done on schedule.

WHAT BOTTLE I OPENED THIS WEEK

2021 Callaway Wild Yeast Cabernet Sauvignon ($65, Callaway Winery) I really loved this one, especially with an unexpected pairing from Sprouts. Check out the 2025 Wines page for the deets.

WHAT I BOUGHT

On the drive home I changed my tune. I decided to continue reading comics, and boy did I spend a bundle on this Red Lantern Corps hardcover omnibus volume plus the comics I missed out on during my nearly three month absence. I believe this is the first time I've spent over $200 at a comics shop and didn’t come home with a statue.

WHAT SACRED TEXTS I READ

I finished the final volume of Call of the Night on Monday night and I’m still a little sad. This is one of those mangas that I didn’t want to end, so now I eagerly await the anime adaptation of the full series. 

Here’s what I’m reading or have read:

• The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Dubois (in progress)
• Date A Live (light novel), Volume 14 (in progress)
• I Have A Crush At Work, Volume 10
• Call of the Night, Volume 20 (final volume)

Also from J-Novel Club:

• The Poison King: Now That I’ve Gained Ultimate Power, The Bewitching Beauties In My Harem Can’t Get Enough Of Me, Volume 5
• My Tiny Senpai (manga)(Awaiting Volume 2)
• An Introvert’s Hookup Hiccups: This Gyaru Is Head Over Heels For Me! (Awaiting Volume 11)
• The Villainess Is Dead! Long Live The Empress! Redoing The Story After A Poisonous End, Volume 2
• Notorious No More: The Villainess Enjoys Feigning Incompetence, Volume 1
• Blade Skill Online: Crushing The Competition With My Abysmal Stats, Useless Class and Garbage Weapon! (manga), Volume 1
• Make It Stop! I’m Not Strong… It’s Just My Sword! (manga), Volume 1

WHAT I WATCHED

The Downtown Los Angeles immigration protests on YouTube Monday night. Or was it Doyers fans celebrating their extra inning win against the Padres? I couldn’t tell once the Mexican flags were flying and parked cars went en fuego.

THE TOMMY MILNER SALUTE GOES TO…

Windows. The latest security updates for Windows 11 will not install on my Surface Pro 11 and there’s no fix unless I do the following: Take it to The Geek Squad or pray the next updates are good. I’ll roll the dice and choose the latter.

Dishonorable mention: FIA WEC for not broadcasting this weekend's 24 Hours of Le Mans on a sports channel that doesn't require a subscription. Now that I think about it, it's fitting since Tommy, Corvette Racing and I are all missing this year's race. Moving on...

A FIST BUMP GOES TO…

Newsweek rated Callaway’s Tasting Room as the best of the best last September, and they’re not wrong. Why do you think I go there about once a month? The wine, the food and the service are excellent, and I also love how it’s easily accessible for all. You can have someone wearing a polo shirt inside out sitting at the next table over at Meritage, and in the Tasting Room you can sip samples next to a guy in a tank top, shorts and sneakers.

WHAT’S UP WITH MY WRITING

I managed to edit two chapters of my manuscript during my trip, but I’ll likely take tomorrow off so I can rest up and get a couple of chapters done on Saturday. Unless I have other plans, of course.