Whew.

Travelin’ with da rich and famous now. Carla’s buddy Linda has just come back from Hong Kong with her hubby Bill, flying first class. Can you imagine how much that lightened their bank account? I’m thinking normal air fare times ten.

Bill’s ex-Special Forces. Just done a business deal over there. They’re back and celebrating and had us come with them to prime-rib night at Grumpy Dan’s Grill (at the municipal golf course, 2000 Visalia Row, Coronado, 619-435-1740) N

Linda, Bill

Turns out Grumpy Dan only has this on Thursday and Sunday nights.

We got there about six. Dammit, we shoulda made it an hour earlier, to catch the sunset on the downtown buildings and the bridge. But muy romantica, all the same.

We all had prime rib. And, yes, Carla and I got the smallest size, which goes for $15.95 (larger slabs are $17.95 and $19.95). But you sure get a lot. Buns and butter, Caesar salad, steamed asparagus and baked potato, plus the real nose-snort-strong horseradish sauce for the meat, if you ask for it. Plus the gentler creamy variety, the au jus, and butter and sour cream for the spud.

So-oo delish. Tender and tasty in a soy, au jus sorta way.

Here's the thing, though: Best reserve your prime rib ahead, by phone. They usually run out, and you could be stuck with the crowd of malcontents who had to eat mahi mahi.

Something else I’d like to try, if I had the guts: breakfast. They open at 5.30 in the morning.

Why would a sane man even go there, at that hour?

Just to find out how whacky you have to be to give up everything to whack that ball.

Including sleep.

Is nothing sacred?