Flashback Friday

I told you a part of this story ages ago, but recently SuperFan, Diddy, and I were enjoying a bottle of wine and the rest of the story came up.

I'll fill in a few details here.

Let's start with the Wednesday night of karaoke...

That was probably the first time that I had ever spent any real amount of time with DVL. At the end of the night, Diddy, DVL, and I walked back to our hotel together and then stood outside the hotel where I proceeded to have a conversation with DVL about a guy I went to high school and he went to college with that neither of us thought very nice things about. 

For like an hour or something.

The wine tour the next day was organized by DVL, and to be honest with you, he's lucky we are still friends after that.

When I tell you it was the worst hangover I ever had - I am not kidding. 

I literally thought that I was going to die on the bus on the way to wine tasting.

For some reason, Diddy and I ended up towards the back of the bus, next to the ice chest. So every time someone cracked open a beer, I nearly barfed. It was bad news bears!

At the first stop, Diddy needed to use the restroom, so he goes outside to the restroom and closes and locks the door, where there is a sign that reads, "Please be aware. There are snakes on the property."

He said at that point he thought to himself, If a snake gets in here, I'm effed. There is no way I'll move fast enough to get away.

Getting Ready...

Ohmigosh, you guys, a week from tomorrow I leave for my 8-day bus trip with Granny B.

I know that it is going to be fun.

I know that there are going to be memories I will cherish forever.

I know that I will be so happy that I went when it is over.

But seriously, people, this is stressful.

I got my final packet for the trip. At the back of the itinerary book is a place where I can record the names, numbers, and addresses of the new friends that I meet.

How old school is that?

And we have to rotate seats twice a day so that everyone gets a chance to sit in the good seats.

What?!?!

I'm not even sure I'm ready to pack for this adventure. 

I think I'm going to need more wine...

She Knows How to Party

On Friday I had lunch with Granny B.

In an ideal world, this would happen more frequently than it does, but right now I try to get together with her once a month.

I always know that she will probably need to run errands after lunch so I set aside a majority of the afternoon to hang with her and get things done.

On Friday, she told me that she just needed to drop some extra hangers off at the alterations place and run to Bashas'.

Easy peasy.

While we were eating our soup and salad at Olive Garden I asked her what she needed at Bashas'. She said that she needed an ingredient for a cake she was going to make.

We get to the store and she tells me that she needs Calvados, which Match has told her, is a liqueur. So we head to the liquor section and search high and low. I finally google it on my phone and discover that it is a brandy and they do not carry it at this store.

So we decide to head across the street to BevMo!

But, first... Granny B asks me to see if they have the gallon of wine that she likes.

Ummm, excuse me?

Yes, do they have that gallon of Italian wine that she likes? 

So I find the large jugs of wine and ask her if she is looking for a Chianti. She says no.

I read another bottle to her and she says, "That's it!"

I double check to make sure she wants this gigantic jug of wine that I'm certain she couldn't even lift to pour and she says, "Yeah. It will last a while. I just like to have a glass before I go to bed, it helps me sleep."

Clearly I get my very expensive wine taste from her!

Keep on Instagrammin'

58/365

yum

Match made some beef shanks and sent Dirty and I home with leftovers.

Delicious!

Seriously - make this recipe! (Though I believe she subs beef broth for red wine.)

59/365

paleo treat

I was craving cake and found the easiest recipe on the planet! Then I ate one piece and packed the rest up to go to the office so I didn't eat the entire thing!

Next time I will try it with peanut butter chips!

60/365

how does your garden grow?

Went out for dinner with Glinda and Fiero last week at a totally adorable restaurant that I didn't even know existed.

How cute is this garden box as you walk in?

61/365

12.2

You already saw this picture. But it is safe to say that I am dealing with some serious anxiety about the workout that will be released this evening.

I just know it is going to include double-unders or pull-ups and I'm going to die.

62/365

tall, dark columbian

Ok, he's not Columbian. But he is adorable!

Dirty, Tiger, and I spent our Friday night at Wicked.

I still love that play!

63/365

for love of the game

Tiny and I were enjoying a moment at Biggie's t-ball game. Then it was off to the playground.

"Just two more seconds, Aunt Airplane?"

64/365

nah, nah, nah, nah

Hey, hey - goodbye! My last glass of wine before starting the Paleo Breaking Barriers Challenge at the gym.

30 Days of STRICT Paleo eating - with another 30 days that can include the occasional wine/sugar/dairy. So far, so good.

Baseline workout is on Friday so we can measure our results at the end of the challenge.

65/365

boys of spring

It is hard to have a bad day at work when it starts at the baseball stadium.

We announced that we signed 20 year extensions with both the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners for our baseball stadium! Very exciting stuff!

Picture This...

Still catching up on Instagram pictures...

52/365

boy scouts

A local boy scout troop is earning their citizenship badges and I helped them out by setting them up to present the Colors and say the Pledge of Allegiance at a Council meeting.

53/365

patience is a virtue

I had a plan to make some delicious shrimp for Ash Wednesday's dinner, but I rushed myself and only made a so-so dish. I need to remember that patience is the key when cooking.

54/365

crazy!

You all already saw this and the results. 

Woot woot!

55/365

most important meal

Friday's post WOD breakfast - so DELISH!

56/365

carrots

Another repeat

57/365

snacking

A little popcorn and red wine to get me through the Oscars Red Carpet show!

Pictures...

38/365

sound of freedom

I have mentioned my intense love for our Country and the military before.

I won't lie to you - FCP isn't my favorite organization for a variety of reasons I will not share, but I do love the sound of jets flying overhead!

39/365

take me out to the ballgame

I attended a baseball-themed dinner for work in preparation for Spring Training in our City.

I thought this centerpiece was adorable! Peanuts, sunflower seeds, and caramel corn - the only way to make it more baseball is to fill it with beer after.

40/365

hot pink heels

It is a very rare day that I wear pants to work - I can't help it, I'm a skirt and dress kind of girl.

But sometimes you just have to end your work week in your favorite shoes. And when they are neon pink it is best to dilute the look with a long pair of black pants. Unless your job includes "street sales."

41/365

afternoon delight

Janiac was in town for one night and one night only last week! She was apparently starving when she arrived at my house so I gave her some cheese, crackers, and vodka and I enjoyed a glass of wine.

She told me that drinking wine in the afternoon makes me an old drunk. I think it just makes me a good Italian.

42/365

louv

I spent some time on Saturday with two of the loves of my life! 

Biggie wrote me a special message on the whiteboard that I bought him for V Day. How cute is that??

43/365 

why-o, why-o, why-o?

I don't know why I look up the wod the night before Crossfit.

Let me tell you, getting out of bed at 4:09am knowing that five rounds of walking lunges are ahead of you is not an easy task.

Miscellany Monday

I was scolded by JP for not blogging this weekend, and the truth is, I started the Denver post, and then it seemed boring so I abandoned it.

My life is seeming a little boring these days - I'll try to spice it up for you all in the coming weeks.

Until then...

18/365

wine and cocoa

I am back on strict Paleo. For eight weeks - no wine, no chocolate, no sugar, no dairy. So far it hasn't been horrible, but I do miss the chocolate.

But dammit - I have to get to the top of that rope!

19/365

beef, it's what's for dinner

Dirty's parents were in town last week celebrating their 42nd Wedding Anniversary - how cool is that?

So we got the crew together for some delicious dinner! I will tell you though, Warm Bacon Spinach Salad just isn't the same without the bacon grease dressing. Damn gluten!

20/365

nephew fun

On Friday, Match and I headed to Maricopa to pick up Biggie and Tiny so that they could stay the night at Match and Papa's Friday night. After we picked them up we had lunch and then went to Costco - lawsy mercy, mamas - I don't know how you do it. I'm pretty sure we were in Costco for two hours to get like 10 things and I was flat exhausted by the time we left!

While Tiny was sleeping, Biggie and I played some basketball, had some treats, and then had way too much fun with the iPad. In the picture on the bottom right, he kept saying, "My head looks like a peanut." I couldn't stop laughing!

21/365

hairs cut

On Saturday, Papa and I took them to get their hairs cut! You've never seen two little kids sit so nice for haircuts as these two do. It is crazy! 

But how handsome are they now??

22/365

P Dinner

Dirty and I had Diddy over for Sunday Family Dinner. I made Paleo pulled pork, purple cabbage slaw, peppers stuffed with cream cheese, and roasted veggies out of my garden.

For dessert, I made the two of them cinnamon tortilla crispies. They were pleased!

My domestic skills are now being wasted on them... :)

As an aside, since I can not have dairy currently, I stuffed some of the peppers with roasted almond butter and wrapped them in bacon - I was a fan!


Now head on over and link up with Carissa - or at least read a blog you've never read before.

Come Along on Our Fantastic Voyage...

The following story is true.

Last Friday, Dirty and I left San Francisco around lunchtime, headed to the Russian River Valley. First stop, Korbel Champagne Cellars.

Dirty was driving and I was riding shotgun, navigating, dj-ing, and sending text messages.

Dirty handed me her phone and asked me to text her race car friend.

(Let me give you a little background here: Dirty and her dad are racers. They take part in road races, and have lots of racing friends all over the US. At one of her races, she met a man who has a son. She never met the son - Chaca*. They were friends on Facebook and a couple of weeks back it came out that we were going to be in Northern CA where he lives. So they made some plans to hang out on Friday night and left it at that.)

I begin texting him and he tells us that he will "gather his buds and come up with something to do."

We finish tasting champagne, get some food at the original Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and are trying to decide between more wine and checking in to the hotel. So we text our new friend and ask where he wants us to meet him. He provides us with an address.

A little confused, I pull out my trusty Droid and rub a little google on the address. We determine it is in a residential area and assume it is his home address.

After checking in to the hotel and freshening up, we set the GPS for our destination and settle in for the hour-long ride. As we get closer, I start to get nervous.

You see, I'm a control freak. I don't really like the unknown.

Almost to our destination we miss the turn because there was no street sign and we have to circle around the block. About that time, I mention to Dirty that I'm uneasy. She says that she feels the same.

We're driving slow down the road, looking for the house number, when all of the sudden we see a guy with dreads riding a unicycle, then we realize that he is in front of the house we are supposed to be going to. And there is a guy, not the one we are coming to meet, sitting on the front porch drinking wine.

We are now laughing so hard we are crying. And sitting in our car on the curb.

We get up our courage to get out of the car and the adventure continues. 

Turns out the man on the porch, RickyBobby* lives in the house. He informs us that Chaca is in the shower and pours us a glass of wine. Then he takes us on a tour of the house and introduces us to his ducks.

Once we get inside, Dirty notices some cookies on the stove. She mentioned them and RickyBobby freaked out, "Don't eat them! Don't eat them! Remember we have hippies living here."

Turns out when Chaca told us he would gather up his buds, he wasn't referring to his friends...

So we're all standing in the kitchen trying to decide where to go for dinner when RickyBobby picks up my wine glass and takes a drink.

What?? We just met each other like ten minutes ago...

Everyone finally agrees on a dinner location and Chaca, Dirty and I get into the Black Tie Taxi Cab to head to downtown Napa. About two blocks down the road, the taxi pulls out in front of another car and we all gasp. Then the driver says, "You all have to help me out. My eyes aren't so good."

Excuse me?

Luckily we made it to the restaurant and were informed that we had 45 minutes to sit down, order, get our food, and eat. Otherwise we have to wait a full hour before we even get a table. We opt for option number one and begin our speed dating event.

At dinner, Dirty and I order a bottle of wine and we eached poured ourselves a glass. I take a drink of mine; and even though he was closer to Dirty, RickyBobby reaches across the table and asks for a taste of my wine again.

I'm so confused.

Though, we did enjoy a great dinner!

After dinner we begin our tour of the drinking establishments in downtown Napa. I am not kidding when I tell you that we visited at least eight different bars throughout the night.

Somewhere down the line we stumbled into an open-mic night at a coffee shop. We left RickyBobby there to watch his nephew perform while we went to an ice cream shop down the street. Where I ate the BEST.ice.cream.EVER! I'm not kidding - just typing that made me salivate.

Chaca went ahead and got RickyBobby some ice cream and we took it back to him at the coffee shop. He ate it while we were all standing there. And at one point he looked over at me and I started to say something and then he fed me a spoonful of his ice cream.

I'm just going to stop here for a moment to ask: What is it about me that makes men want to feed me? Seriously, this is not the first time that has happened.

After the night, things got a little blurry as we made our way through Napa.

Though I do remember two seeing Morimoto and Dirty arguing with some girls about SB1070.

I would say all in all it was a successful night!

Childlike

I am profusely sorry for my lack of posts lately.

I have been traveling a lot and that hasn't lent itself to me sitting down with internet access and my computer (and a fully charged battery).

It has really made me realize my need for an iPad.

I am currently sitting in the bar of my hotel in DC.

Granny B and I arrived into town yesterday for a whirlwind tour of the Capitol City.

I love Granny B! I really do! And I am so thankful that I get to spend this time with her.

However, we have a slight age gap and we travel VERY differently!

This is a lesson in patience for me.

Who knew that moving so slow could wear you out so much?!?

Today we did the bus tour thing. I know that Granny B likes to hear the history of things and it is tiring for her to walk around much, so a bus tour sounded like our best option.

In the beginning I tried to help her follow the tour guide, but it became clear about ten minutes into the ride that she was just going to be four steps behind the entire time.

The bus driver is telling us to look right, she is looking left.

As we pass something, he's telling us about it and ten minutes later she is asking me where it is.

I kind of gave up.

Yesterday, when we were in a cab on our way to the hotel, I pointed out the Lincoln Memorial to her. Later on our way to dinner, IT drove us past it again and we pointed it out.

Today, as our tour bus was coming up on that very memorial, Granny B said, "Oh, that's the building I see on TV all of the time."

Help me, Rhonda!

When we flew in yesterday it was sunny and beautiful! This morning, it was raining. So the hotel has this rack by the door with "umbrella bags" hanging on it. They are long skinny plastic bags to put your wet umbrella in when you come in from the rain. Great invention, right?

As we were waiting for the tour bus today, Granny B took close to 100 of them...

...We don't even have an umbrella.

I'm just going to take a deep breath and chug this glass of wine.

Red, Red Wine

I LOVE red wine!

A lot!

Pretty much all red wine makes me happy!

And I'm sure there is a story to go along with it, but I can't remember it.

I've had too much red wine.