napa time

i finally downloaded my pictures from napa. i usually left it to the other photographers in the group. so marcel didnt have to snap 7 cameras every time. (where i got those other pics from in my previous post). but I found a few on my camera. surprise!

billy goat
tina llama
robert mondovi winery - my favorite
(maybe its because this was the winery i didnt share a tasting)

good times
(another one for you rach)

haven or heaven

napa trip. my body may be back in missouri. but my head has been in the clouds since my return midweek. the house that we rented for the weekend was named napa haven. with even embroidered robes. for every one. we wore the robes every chance we had. they were apart of the uniform at the haven. or heaven. the rest of the uniform was not determined.

it really was kind of a drag though. toting around to the many wineries. by marcel. our limo driver. then being forced to drink. delicious wines. side by side with my best friends. taking pictures at every stop. and enjoying the fine tunes from the soundtrack of the weekend. all while celebrating when lemonade will be going to the chapel.

little did i know. that napa is quiet the country local. why i didnt think of this. who knows. maybe its more like. i never had to think about it before. and it makes sense now. with roosters crowing at all hours. we were surrounded by cocks. (sorry a little bachlorette humor). we spotted a billy goat on top of a mountain of hay. and then a lot of llamas. they were mean. but this might have been after we yelled 'tina' 'tina eat your food' 'eat the casserole'.

other adventures besides drinking my body weight in wine. grilling on a charcoal grill. i built my pyramid and waited patiently. i did have to call father to make sure i had done it correctly. then i lost track of time. burnt one side of the chicken. but we cut it up and no one knew the better. it turned out to be a perfect dinner. i also climbed the orange tree in lemonades backyard. per stacy's orders. to pick oranges for fresh squeezed juice. took finley to the vet to have her puppy pad wrapped. auntie jamie to the rescue. i also enjoyed tooting around san fran like a local. taking ladies to the airport. grocery shopping. lunching. i did it all. they might find me at their door step soon. with a one way ticket. just sayin'. i could get used to the california lifestyle.

vacation

is all i ever wanted. and i truly feel. is all i ever needed. after a slight delay on my second flight. i made it to san fran on thursday afternoon. it was wonderful seeing lemonade. her new home. the finster (puppy). and b. her fiance. she made me a welcome cake. which was beautiful. and so tasty. it was fun to see an orange tree on one side of their yard. and a redwood smack in the middle. with the constant breeze. a glass of wine on the porch was the perfect start.

on friday we woke up. refreshed and ready for a day in the city. after picking up brother from the airport. we drove to the golden gate bridge. down lombard street. and over to our hotel. it was then time to prepare for the festival. after chasing cabs. we found one and were on our way. as mentioned. there were 60,000 people in attendance. the most people i have ever seen. in one place. it was crazy. but everyone was very mellow. and there for the same reason. the music. food. drink. the experience.

brother left early on saturday. to get back to work. so we lost our photographer. for the saturday city touristy stuff. so here i am solo. we rode the trolleys. and went to the highest point in the city. and were disrupted at the labyrinth by a child. that needed to be reprimanded by his mother. he was old enough to know better. than to run like a mad man inside a cathedral.

the weekend ended too soon. of course. i was sad to leave on sunday. i would have loved to spend one more day. and that would have turned into another day. and another. we ended the trip with dinner out in the suburb where they live. yummy seafood. and then i became the reigning champ of uno.

baby w

friday morning began my adventure back to our college town. i decided to grab breakfast on the way to the airport to pick up stac. mcd's was along the way. and i have wanted to try the one dollar breakfast burritos. i also decided i would try one of their much advertised coffees (including my own endorsement with my handwriting used on a print ad). i had tried a hot, vanilla latte this past winter. and it was way too sweet. so i decided on an iced mocha. again. i felt like i was drinking sugar water. there was no coffee in that thing. highly dont recommend the specialty drinks. so on my sugar high. i raced to the airport with enough time to park. and greet her at the gate. this is something i dont always calculate enough time for. but, when i fly. i know i always love the feeling when you are walking off the plane. of seeing that familiar. smiley face. to greet you.

we loaded up. swung by la pad. as i forgot my present for baby ryan. and we were off. to the land of cheap gas. inexpensive cuisine. and a weekend of baby smells. time flew by. chatting for the 3 hours. as well as there have been major improvements made to the highway. so i think the time has been cut down by atleast 30 mins. if not more. we strolled thru town. slowing down to take pictures of our old college houses. that look even more suspect from the outside. which i can't even imagine what they are like inside. and made our way to the winsteads house.

it was a delightful weekend. stac and i had to fight over who got to hold baby ryan. we got to pick out all his outfit changes. including the cutest space invaders pjs. we dined on springfield style cashew chicken. well some of us. i strayed and ended up with dark cat meat and broccoli. the weekend was also spent playing guitar hero on the largest tv. it was more like a movie screen. i am now hooked. and thinking i might need one for my wii. i also bonded with little rowdy winstead. the big doggie brother. we snuggled. and i took him on walks. and lots of petting. it was so good to see lowa. j-dub and baby ryan. cant wait to see him again. when he doubles in size. thank you winsteads for sharing your weekend with the two crazy aunties.

on stage

this past weekend turned into another version of springbreak. it was a whirlwind. of just what i had predicted. sushi. wine. the life source. sleeping in. shopping. laughing. eating. naps. dancing. celebrity sightings. more dancing. going green. cabs stories. and a lot of eating. basically marvelous.

it was during this past weekend i reflected on the fact. i like to dance a lot. and usually find myself on stages. somehow. someway. i decide it is a good idea.

i like to dance on light boxes.

and more light boxes.

have a dance off. in not appropriate dance areas.


tables.

ledges.

those are my legs.

booths. (taking a break).

so thank you to all that put up with me. and cheer me on. encourage. and most of all for capturing the moments on film. so i can reflect. and relive them over. over. and over.

good to see you LEMonade. until the next time...


GF08: new week. must keep going. pool time is approaching. and quickly i might add. should be nice all week to stay outside.