Vamping...

(I'm onto something interesting, but I have to do homework on it.)

A Funny Gift for a Boater - It's a life vest cover for a bottle of wine. Bright orange with a snap-buckle close -- all you need to do is attach a cord to the collar so that if goes overboard, you can just pull it back in. Ask your sommelier for one ... whatonearthcatalog.com $12.95

Going International Was Never Easier - In preparation for a trip to France, we went into our local AAA offices and got international driving licenses. I don't think they're needed there, but they are an additional form of identification.

Talk about one-stop shoping! AAA handed us a form to fill out, looked at our California drivers' licenses, took passport photos of us -- and issued the licenses (a little grey cardboard book, wider than a passport) then and there! The photo was $8; the Permit was $15. These are linked to your state driver's license. When mine expies on 4/25/10, so does my new international license.

Finally! A Taste of Ireland - In 2006, we toured Ireland. In Dublin, we ate at The Gin Palace, O'Connell and Middle Abbey Street, and had their signature dish of Gambas Pil Pil which were prawns served in a sizzling garlic and chili oil sauce with fresh baguette slices to sop up the sauce. Damn! they were good! Because the restaurant's pocket menu is on my desk, I got to thinking about them ... bought a half pound of fresh shrimp (you don't want pre-cooked) and put about 1/4 cup olive oil in pan. I added equal parts Chipotle chili powder and garlic powder and let it all sit for a couple of hours. For dinner, I got the oil going good, popped the shrimp in and cooked them. Served on slices of toasted baguette, it was close to the original. Close enough for horsehoes and hand grenades at any rate.