zip line: November 2009

I don't get to make it home much anymore. It's a 4 1/2 hour drive from San Diego and Jeff and I just don't seem to have enough weekends to fit all the fun things in anymore. I was home in May, but I was playing nurse and Jeff wasn't with me so it was nice to get up there and be a tourist with Jeff . After being gone for 10 years I sometimes forget what a beautiful area I grew up in. We started off in Solvang. Amanda, Peter and Crystal met up with us and we had breakfast and walked around the Danish village. There are a lot of tasting rooms in Solvang so we went with Amanda to Lion's Peak, one of our favorites and because Amanda works in the industry we all got to taste for free. The manager became our new best friend and Jeff and I stocked up on our favorite cab. We then drove to Amanda's winery, Bridlewood, where we met up with cousin Rich and did some more free tasting. Amanda arranged for a private tour of the winery which was amazing. One of the things I love about wine, more than just the taste, is the complexity of how it is made. After Bridlewood I took Rich to Neverland. I grew up just down the road and have been there a few times but Rich had never been. If you know us, you know about our love for MJ. As a kid Rich would make me watch Moonwalker and Thriller over and over and a fan was born. Neverland gates have become a shrine with people leaving pictures and messages and flowers and wine tours now make it a stop so people can take pictures. We paid our respects and took a few pics as well. It's both a beautiful and tragic place. Then, it was out to good old Sisquoc to visit with the moms and enjoy the fresh country air. Both evening involved the Tap Room at the SM Inn so that we could karaoke. I abstained this time, but Rich (as usual) was a hit. Saturday was the big party at the SM Brewery for Peter. I can't even begin to describe how good it was to have real SM Style BBQ (and some really good beer). All the girls came out and we really had a fun time. It was hard to leave on Sunday because coming home is just so relaxing. The pace is slower, the people are all recognizable and I just really enjoyed all the cousin time.