My much too glamorous and clever friend, Carrie Brown, has a new book, The New Christmas Tree. When she told me about it, I thought, that's nice. I'm a little bah humbug about the holidays but this book lit a fire under me. There are all sorts of beautiful and wacky trees to inspire, but there are also very practical instructions on how to make them and the ornaments and you really are a cold fish if you don't find this fun. Of course a new book deserves a book launch party and we had one at our Ferry Building store. It is now the Holiday season and be surrounded by good food, very good Carpenter wine and friends and fans of Rancho Gordo means I'm a happy fellow.