Mi Vida Loca

Life has been Crazy as of late....busiest time of year at work, traveling, Thanksgiving, hospital visits, Holiday parties, illness, meetings, and lots and lots of fun stuff. I just haven't had time to blog about New Orleans, Rosa's wedding, my mom's broken femur (*sigh*) or some of the fabulous activities we have to look forward to.....like the private dinner with Chef David Cohen this weekend with the gang! I haven't even unpacked or done laundry or cleaned since we got back from Santa Maria on Saturday. And when I do have a few moments in between all the other stuff, I just want to sleep. Hoping to squeeze in some Christmas decorating this weekend and then maybe I can find some time to update you all!

Just a Taste

New Orleans was amazing!

You can more photos at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=162891&id=563058071&l=158117b1e5

N.O.L.A.

11/5: Arrive in New Orleans. Drive thru Daiquiris!
11/6: New Orleans Original Cocktail Walking Tour, Sunset Cocktails at World Trade Center, Dinner on Bourbon St.
11/7: Cemetary and Gris Gris Walking Tour, Dinner at K Pauls
11/8: Saints vs Panthers at Superdome
11/9: Hurricane Katrina Tour, Crescent City Walking Night Tour
11/10: Cooking School and Lunch, Ghost and Vampire Tour with Chaz
11/11: French Quarter Walking Tour, Dinner at Commander's Palace
11/12: Mid City Lanes Rock and Bowl
11/13: Return to SD
11/14: Maid of Honor at Rosa and Geoff's wedding in Los Angeles.

Busy, busy. Fun, fun!

Road Trippin'

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.

Katrina's in Solvang

Our tour of Bridlewood

Katy and Rich at Neverland

Cousins in the backyard in Sisquoc

Ladies of the Tap Room

Pete-oberfest at SM Brew

You can see all of the pictures from the trip at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=155784&id=563058071&l=b0848a741b

What Are You Doing This Weekend?

I'm heading to Santa Barbara Wine Country!

Arrogant Bastard

One of Pete's requests for while he was in SD was to go to Stone Brewery and Gardens. My brother is a bit of a beer snob and hails Stone as one of his favorite brewers. It's tradition for us to take Peter here while he is in town but since he's been out of the country it's been awhile. We did manage to squeeze in a visit while he was here a year ago for my wedding, but no one should be denied the Stone experience for a year at a time! I expect Peter to be a good brother and visit me often, even if he has an ulterior motive. Here are a few pics from our visit to Stone and our Brewery tour led by none other than Jesus aka Phil. Oh, and Peter was very popular as he has a giant tattoo of the Stone Gargoyle/Demon thingy on his calf. If he lived in SD he could probably get a job here (you get a keg a month and you are allowed to drink 2 beers per shift!).

Arrogant Bastard makes us a happy couple

Crystal doesn't drink, but she still looks good with a beer in her hand!

Jesus showing us where the magic happens

Stone make them a happy couple too!

Check out the magic here:

http://www.stoneworldbistro.com/

Back on US Soil

After a two year stint serving overseas my little brother is back home and will be stationed in Northern California at Travis AFB. On his way back Pete decided to stop in in Massachusetts to visit with our East Coast relatives and Jeff and I decided to crash the party. We made a vacation out of it and flew to Boston, spent a few days touring the city and then drove out to meet up with everyone at my Aunt Margaret's house. I finally got to meet my sister in law which was a bonus. Peter and Crystal have been married for two years but the one time she was in Cali to visit, Jeff and I were in Chicago. To celebrate Peter's return as well as his 26th birthday my Aunt and her husband threw a party and we got to see relatives we hadn't seen in years as well as meet some for the first time. The weather was perfect (except for 1 rainy morning) and I just had so much fun being with family. The only bad thing, the airline lost Jeff's luggage so we are in the process of filing a claim. Who know $1000 worth of stuff could fit in a carry on size bag?!? I'm just glad they didn't lose my giant piece of luggage (some people might know about my designer jean vice).

Jeff and I are heading home to Santa Maria next weekend for Pete's West Coast welcome back party aka Petoberfest. Pete has rented out a whole brewery, will be BBQing and will have a live band for 60 or so of his closest friends. I'm looking forward to it!

You can view pics from our Boston trip here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=150600&id=563058071&l=e9ad918832