Jeff's Happiest Place on Earth

For Christmas I started Jeff a pizza oven fund. I thought it would take a couple years to get it up to budget, however, through a string of generous donations - including family Christmas presents, a spiff from Carrier, a 50-pound bag of flour and a big white-haired Italian rolling a hundo off his cash roll - the fund has become a force to be reckoned with.

Jeff is hoping for a Summer 2010 oven launch. Donations are still being accepted if you'd like an invitation to the inaugural investor's dinner. :)

We may have been inducted into the kingdom of dorkdom now that we've attended a pizza oven convention. You're hearing it. Look forward to one of these beauties coming to Casa Cecchin. Ask for a table with a view of the unlandscaped garden.

In our Monterey pizza oven weekend, we also found time to celebrate Linda's birthday, eat a fabulous Roy's birthday dinner, drink fabulous wines, nosh on local clam chowder, enjoy fabulous views and leave our fabulous short sidekick at home with Grandma and Papa. (Recommendation: Stay here.)

My favorite is the little egg-shaped one on the stand. Jeff wants to build the giant red one atop a wine barrel. (He denys that.) Your vote in the comments.