So I just got back from a week in Northern California.
Why do I live in Iowa?
Allow me to explain a little about the trip, what we did and where we chose to spend out time....
Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005: Nate, Martine & I board a plane heading west. First stop, Denver. Brief layover, fly onto San Jose, CA.
Get the rental car -- the car that would become affectionately known as the "CoRo" -- as in Toyota Corolla. And head north to Napa.
Get to Napa -- check into the B&B.
AMAZING!!!
Seriously, check this place out:
The Daughter's Inn
I stayed in the Lord & Ladies room. I was alone -- long story, will get to that later.
But this room is off the hook.
So we grab some dinner, decide to make it an early night so we can get a fresh start in the morning.
Thursday, Jan 27, 2005: After spending a glorious evening in my personal Jacuzzi hot tub, fireplace in the room and a HUGE down filled king size bed, woke up to a great breakfast and a map of the Napa valley.
Perry (the innkeeper) was armed with a few suggestions and highlighters -- which it turns out, was a lethal combination. So after a hearty breakfast, a few cups of coffee and armed with our freshly highlighted map -- we were off.
For the record, it was overcast, but warm and that part of the country is so scenic... really. So we were off to the vineyard races as it were.
And here they are, in order:
Peju -- pretty grounds, wine um-impressive.
Rombauer -- nice zinfandel if you like a big, jamy zin.
V. Sattui -- nice table red. Madeira was pretty tasty. Got some freebies to other vineyards for tasting
Del Dotto -- AMAZING. Worth every freakin' penny. Soooo educational. Loved it. Can't say enough. oh yeah -- not cheap wine.
We had planned on a big dinner for Martines' birthday, but alas Del Dotto -- which summarily became "El Blotto" -- kicked her butt. So she yakked, we chilled out and got some food from the local taqueria. Yum.
Friday, Jan 28, 2005: Same routine at breakfast. Perry wished us well -- great place, can't say enough good things about it. And we jumped right back into our wine tasting habits... this time with a sunny day on our side.
Mum Cuvee -- Sparkling wine. Don't know enough about sparkling wine. but nate's reserve tasting was MUCH better than mine. Also VERY cool photo exhibit of Ansel Adams work and a local photographer -- Art Woods, i believe his name was. Great, great stuff to see.
Niebaum-Coppola -- Great grounds, wine sucks -- didn't even try it. But have a "Movie Museum" all of Coppola's stuff -- Oscars, movie props, etc. Pretty neat to see.
Costentino -- Great little winery. Good Zin & table red. One of the better cab's we tried.
Folie A Deux -- Another great little winery. Good jammy zin and some nice table reds. Very laid back group -- lots of fun.
Then we drove to San Francisco. But we took the long way -- through Sonoma and came in on the north side of SF to cross the Golden Gate.
Dinner in North Beach and an early night.
Saturday, Jan 29, 2005: ZAP -- not sure i need to say more. Breakfast at the little Irish place with the great soda bread and by 11 AM we were tasting Zin. LOTS AND LOTS OF ZIN.
Good crowd, Dave, Erin, Ingrid, Nate, Martine, myself, Bonnie & Rob. Good, good times.
Dinner, more wine, more drinking at the bar. stumbled home late and pretty intoxicated.
Sunday, Jan 30, 2005: Greasy recovery breakfast in the Castro -- beautiful men there. And they will NEVER find me attractive :). Quick stop at Dave & Erin's house up on Telegraph Hill and we were on our way to Santa Cruz. Where we proceeded to stop by two more vineyards on the way ...
Grabbed some sushi on Sunday night, walked around a bit and headed back to the hotel. Right on the beach. I mean, you could hear the sea lions barking the whole time. pretty impressive view.
Monday, Jan 31, 2005: Two words: BIG BASIN. Holy crap. State park with all the redwoods you could ever imagine. Redwoods, for the record, are unbelievable. We walked and walked and walked and walked and did I mention, walked???
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 miles (5 hours) which at some points were practically straight up the canyon wall. Calves and ass HURT at the end of the day.
Did some shopping that night and went to a local bar.
Tuesday -- flight home.
Wednesday -- back to reality. Too many emails to talk about. Gray, brown, snowy and cold when I woke up on Wednesday morning. WHY? why do i live in Iowa??
Ugh -- so good trip. Very wine filled. All in all goodness.
I will get into the whole solo aspect of the trip later -- too much typing for one day.
So there it is. Meghan's vacation for the year. Pretty happy with it.
Now -- just need to pay the credit card bills :)
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Monday, January 17, 2005
Local Inspiration
So I am reading the local alt-paper this weekend, and stumble across a fantastic editorial that really hit home.
Point Blank Editorial
Some of the stuff that is called out in this thing makes me laugh -- but with a bitter, caustic laugh. I mean really, he is right. I rather enjoyed the whole thing. But while reading it, felt there was a key topic missing from the list. So I have added one more that drives me freakin' batty.
Wearing Your Cause On Your Car. We have all seen them. The new metallic “ribbons” that have become as commonplace as the “My Kid is an Honor Roll Student at …” bumper stickers. Telling us at every stop sign and intersection that the driver “Supports Our Troops” or “United We Stand”. Of course all of these are decorated with the appropriate colors of the American Flag and the intertwined yellow ribbon.
I have to wonder, does the cause ribbon really mean anything any more? Everyone has one. Lest we forget the origins of the Red Ribbon – to support AIDS awareness. How many people are aware that AIDS is still pandemic in the world? Or how the yellow ribbon came to symbolize support for our troops? The song these ribbons were based on was about a convict returning from jail.
But I suppose in this day and age of conservative patriotism, I am viewed with a certain disdain for my lack of metallic decoration on my car.
Then again, even the scourge of the metallic ribbon has reached an all time low. I have now seen several in black and gold with “Iowa” on them. Funny, having just watched Iowa win their bowl game and finish in grand style, I was unaware that the university had fallen to the same depths of those battling fatal illnesses or young men and women fighting a war no one seems to really understand, except for a few people at 1600 Pennsylvania.
Gosh. I feel better.
My alternate theory is that in order to be a good red-stater you are obligated to have one on your car. It is just a matter of time before I am either ticketed for not having one or kicked out of the state. Hm. Is Canada still accepting American ex-pats??
Point Blank Editorial
Some of the stuff that is called out in this thing makes me laugh -- but with a bitter, caustic laugh. I mean really, he is right. I rather enjoyed the whole thing. But while reading it, felt there was a key topic missing from the list. So I have added one more that drives me freakin' batty.
Wearing Your Cause On Your Car. We have all seen them. The new metallic “ribbons” that have become as commonplace as the “My Kid is an Honor Roll Student at …” bumper stickers. Telling us at every stop sign and intersection that the driver “Supports Our Troops” or “United We Stand”. Of course all of these are decorated with the appropriate colors of the American Flag and the intertwined yellow ribbon.
I have to wonder, does the cause ribbon really mean anything any more? Everyone has one. Lest we forget the origins of the Red Ribbon – to support AIDS awareness. How many people are aware that AIDS is still pandemic in the world? Or how the yellow ribbon came to symbolize support for our troops? The song these ribbons were based on was about a convict returning from jail.
But I suppose in this day and age of conservative patriotism, I am viewed with a certain disdain for my lack of metallic decoration on my car.
Then again, even the scourge of the metallic ribbon has reached an all time low. I have now seen several in black and gold with “Iowa” on them. Funny, having just watched Iowa win their bowl game and finish in grand style, I was unaware that the university had fallen to the same depths of those battling fatal illnesses or young men and women fighting a war no one seems to really understand, except for a few people at 1600 Pennsylvania.
Gosh. I feel better.
My alternate theory is that in order to be a good red-stater you are obligated to have one on your car. It is just a matter of time before I am either ticketed for not having one or kicked out of the state. Hm. Is Canada still accepting American ex-pats??
Friday, January 14, 2005
Mission Accomplished???
So I have seen two stories in the news over the last two days that have caused me a great deal of consternation.
actually, they pissed me off.
1) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6434-2005Jan13.html
This is the one that gets me. After all the posturing, PR work and tons of media clips about how WMD's were a "immediate threat" and the fear-mongering of our government to convince us that we were mere minutes away from biological disaster, the search for anything ended quietly and with a resounding thud -- there was nothing there to start with.
Where was the landing on the aircraft carrier to announce this one?
2) http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/14/bush.regrets.ap/index.html
I think this might be my favorite, "sometimes words have consequences" um, hello? of COURSE they have consequences, and they are even higher when you are the president of the united states of america. i mean come on. what really gets me -- is 3 months after the election and all the posturing that this man did for months on end about how he had no regrets about his actions (or his words for that matter) he comes out and finally says --
**slow, texas drawl**
yep, i mighta made a mistake or two.
Gosh you think? But he held the line long enough to get elected before admitting to any wrongdoing or lack of judgment.
And the machine is in full spin again. Already before the "election" in Iraq, we are now being told that the numbers won't mean much -- and we should not put that much emphasis on them. After being told for months at a time that democracy is the saving grace of the people in Iraq -- (don't forget: 10 MILLION people voted in Afghanistan -- including women, see democracy works -- now pass the hookah). And now the administration is faced with a total 180 degree flip.
No it is not the election results, it is what we will do AFTER the election. Really? We? after the election? so more of our men and women can face daily danger in a war that the administration has finally had to admit had no BASIS IN FACT???
Unreal.
I have started reading the news every day with just this total numbness -- a complete resignation that the next four years are going to be a continuing downward spiral into more deception, aggressive posturing & lunacy.
Dumbfounding really. How this man managed to get elected just boggles the brain.
At least mine.
And I now live in a RED state.
Go figure.
actually, they pissed me off.
1) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6434-2005Jan13.html
This is the one that gets me. After all the posturing, PR work and tons of media clips about how WMD's were a "immediate threat" and the fear-mongering of our government to convince us that we were mere minutes away from biological disaster, the search for anything ended quietly and with a resounding thud -- there was nothing there to start with.
Where was the landing on the aircraft carrier to announce this one?
2) http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/14/bush.regrets.ap/index.html
I think this might be my favorite, "sometimes words have consequences" um, hello? of COURSE they have consequences, and they are even higher when you are the president of the united states of america. i mean come on. what really gets me -- is 3 months after the election and all the posturing that this man did for months on end about how he had no regrets about his actions (or his words for that matter) he comes out and finally says --
**slow, texas drawl**
yep, i mighta made a mistake or two.
Gosh you think? But he held the line long enough to get elected before admitting to any wrongdoing or lack of judgment.
And the machine is in full spin again. Already before the "election" in Iraq, we are now being told that the numbers won't mean much -- and we should not put that much emphasis on them. After being told for months at a time that democracy is the saving grace of the people in Iraq -- (don't forget: 10 MILLION people voted in Afghanistan -- including women, see democracy works -- now pass the hookah). And now the administration is faced with a total 180 degree flip.
No it is not the election results, it is what we will do AFTER the election. Really? We? after the election? so more of our men and women can face daily danger in a war that the administration has finally had to admit had no BASIS IN FACT???
Unreal.
I have started reading the news every day with just this total numbness -- a complete resignation that the next four years are going to be a continuing downward spiral into more deception, aggressive posturing & lunacy.
Dumbfounding really. How this man managed to get elected just boggles the brain.
At least mine.
And I now live in a RED state.
Go figure.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Humblest Apologies
**Timidly Peeks Head from Around Corner**
Hello??
Anyone there??
Yeah - that is what I thought.
I wish that I could give you all a good reason for being gone this long. And frankly, nothing as dramatic as:
"taking a sabbatical to work on a kibbutz in Israel"
"donating time to assist in the massive natural disasters"
"temporarily moved to canada after the election to get over it."
Although in all fairness, each of those would have been good.
Nope, I have been wandering in the real world through the muck and mire of work, family crisis, travel & the holidays.
Surprised myself by making it thus far unscathed...at least noticeably unscathed.
So here is a high level break down (by month for your convenience) of things that have been going on:
October:
Meghan continues to talk to David (aka St. Louis) quite a bit. Gets to know each other quite well.
Mom decides on treatment for cancer that includes experimental program that will avoid -- at least for right now -- any chemo, radiation etc.
Tons O' Birthdays this month. Lots of little get togethers to attend to wish everyone well.
November:
Meghan gets the job of telling grandma about mom's cancer. dreads visit, and she takes it like a champ. People totally underestimate you (myself included) when you are 88 years old.
Spend a few days in total shock that a un-popular president, still fighting a war that fewer and fewer people are supporting manages to win an election because people were more afraid of two men being able to legally marry than any concern for the state of their country, the safety of its people and the perception of the US worldwide.
Nate and Martine get married on St. Lucia -- I did not go to the wedding. Tropical paradise is NOT kind to single people.
Patrick gets a surprise 10 day R&R pass to come home. Spend a few days back home hanging out with him and getting the scoop about life in Iraq. Turns out -- as most of you would guess, -- you really don't WANT to know about the day to day life in Iraq. Or hear your little brother discuss the number of confirmed kills he has had. Or hear about the day he got his Purple Heart. Just gets a little , really A LOT, disturbing.
Have the first actual date with the boy from Saint Louis. Goes very well -- he came to DSM for the record.
Thanksgiving with the family. Ate too much, drank too much and saw just enough of the aforementioned family to get me through the next 6 months or so.
December:
Go to Saint Louis for a visit.
Franklin comes back to DSM for a visit. Tells us all he is engaged -- Beth is with him. Good times.
Holiday parties ensue.
Christmas shopping -- need I say more.
Julie & Scott bought a condo in DC.
Heather moved to Chicago officially.
David comes up here for a brief visit just before Christmas.
Spend Christmas with 20 of my family members on my mom's side. Ate too much, drank too much and saw enough of them to get me through the next 12 months. Or so it would seem.
Go to Saint Louis for New Years.
And that should bring us somewhat up to speed.
Work is totally insane. I am going to California in two weeks for a little wine vacation. I was totally excited about it, as David was going to be coming with. But due to work schedules being unbendable, he will not be going with. So, I will be -- per the usual -- the like 13th wheel for this whole she-bang. I mean, it will still be a blast. But we had rooms at a B&B in Napa -- that i am going to feel slightly foolish in with just myself. Not to mention that my budget has now just doubled. Woot.
Which I love. For the record.
I am sure there are other things. But that should give you the highlights.
I should return to work. MUCH to do. Although, motivation is a little lacking. I have been doing some work at home every night and get more done in an hour there -- than like 4 hours here.
Narf.
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