Life 2.1

At least it was three weeks ago when I went there! Three weeks to get a blog post up {shaking my head in disgust}. Yowsers.

Being that September and October are the busiest months for both Dave and me (and with Harvest 2011 being so late, we might as well throw the first couple weeks of November in there too) we made a point to make the most of our intermittent days off.

That said, we took a day trip to the beach on a random Tuesday almost a month ago. We went to Whole Foods in the morning to stock up on picnic-y things like fruit, baguettes, cheeses, marcona almonds and scharffen berger chocolate, because neither of us have any willpower when it comes to chocolate. We picked up a bottle of wine and it was then we realized we forgot wine glasses. Whole Foods didn’t have any disposable ones, so we may or may not have taken plastic cups from the olive bar at Whole Foods to be used as wine glasses. Mostly because we’re classy like that.

Uber Classy Wine Glasses

We drove to Bolinas, bundled up of course, because it is a Northern California beach, after all, and enjoyed our picnic. We threw tennis balls for the handful of dogs whose owners had long since gotten bored of the throw-fetch-repeat routine. Then we realized the dogs were more interested in sniffing around our picnic than fetching so that ended that game.

A gray day at the beach didn’t bother us one bit

We continued our drive until we hit Hog Island Oyster Company, where we stopped on the way home to pick up dinner. (Delicious.)

picking up dinner

It was the best random Tuesday I’ve ever had.

2 Comments | In: Social Adventures | tags: beach. | #

One of the things that I told myself upon moving back to CA was that I needed to take advantage of day trips and the fact that pretty much 2 hours in any which direction will take me to the mountains, the ocean, the forest or the desert. Not that I plan on going to the latter 2 but hey, it’s good to know I have options.

Since my parents were beach-bound Wednesday night, and I had Saturday and Sunday off, I joined them.

A little known fact is, that while I was born and raised in Napa, I actually lived in Santa Cruz (technically Scotts Valley but at the time, it wasn’t even a big enough town to have a high school) for about 18 months. Apparently that is the magical amount of time I can live away from this town.

We moved South when I was half-way through my 4th grade school year. This happened to also be the same year I got glasses. Glasses and braces and a new school. I like to call that the nerd-trifeca.

4th grade wasn’t bad since I got to Scotts Valley in time for softball season and I could at least hold my own on the field so that deflected from the fact that my glasses were the size of saucers and practically took up all of my face. 5th grade was even better because by that time I had made friends and it also happened to be the year that I hit my first (and only) grandslam. I think I also had my first “boyfriend” in 5th grade but all that meant was that he was under obligation to pick me for his team in kickball. But, it also happened that his family was part of the circle of friends my family made while in Santa Cruz. We would plan summer picnics at the beach and we would all pack our boogey boards and lunch and meet at the beach. Summers were good in Santa Cruz. We moved back to Napa right before 6th grade started but went back to visit during the summers for a while after moving.

Then my mom’s college friend offered to let us stay in her beach house down there, which was literally on the beach…we’re talking, ‘good morning ocean’ right-on-the-beach. That became our summer retreat but as we got older, we didn’t frequent Santa Cruz much. Summer baseball took up most of our time. But now as an adult (a term I use loosely, since I’m still under my father’s roof) there is no more summer baseball in which I’m having to play/attend.

Just arrived

So, right. My mini-break. My parents left for the beach house on Wednesday night and I met up with them Saturday afternoon, making the 2-hour drive with my laptop and verizon internet card in the passenger seat so I could listen to the Mets game until the the wheels fell off Johan Santana’s wagon and the Phillies broke it open in the 4th, at which point I went back to the radio to listen to the Giants game and to hear Kuip and Dave Flemming rag on Kruk, a new iPad owner. I LOLed.

I arrived around 3 or so and my mom and her friend were holding down the fort while my dad got a quick round of golf in. We lounged and enjoyed adult beverages while my mom’s friend went totally gourmet and whipped up some snacks. And by snacks I mean homemade potato chips with creme fraîche and caviar. No big deal. Just another day at the beach. I actually had never tried caviar before and I was pleasantly surprised to find out I liked it! The creme fraîche really complements the flavor of the caviar. Doesn’t that last sentence sound so fancy, like I know what I’m talking about? I totally don’t, but it tasted good when I ate it so I will attribute it to the flavor combos.

My first experience with caviar

This was not even dinner

We enjoyed much food and drink and I made a valiant attempt to tan, so score one more for me. We followed the potato chips with homemade bruschetta, ribs, spiced sausages and some type of trout on a cucumber that was really good with a little shot of cayenne pepper on the top.

Our chef for the weekend

I didn’t go hungry on this trip.

We were joined by the brother of our hostess and his wife and we all enjoyed the appetizers on the patio with the beach as our backdrop. After we had eeked out every possibly bit of sunshine from the day, we moved inside and had an amazing dinner of homemade cannelloni with salmon and steaks in a morel mushroom sauce with good wine (always) and homemade mini cheesecakes for dessert. You know, just a little something whipped up while the other stuff was cooking. It was so delicious.

AND I learned how to make a roux, which I am really excited about. I could totally make homemade cannelloni now and I’m not even Italian. Point Colleen.

The dinner crew

It was such a nice, relaxing evening at the beach. And I got to lay out in the sun which finally made an appearance this season.

Sunday wasn’t a bad gig either. While it was a little foggy, it burned off to reveal this:

Hello Sunday morning

Certainly not a bad view, right? After a relaxing morning sipping coffee in our house, we went next door where my mom and her friend set up our “brunch” which was the fanciest spread of leftovers I have ever seen. We had brie with a cherry-port reduction sauce, champagne, fruit, pasta salads, really good deli meats, gourmet olives, sandcastle cake and bruschetta. Delish.

our fancy brunch

Then we soaked up more sun until it was time to leave. I’m also pleased to announce that my legs, while still fair, will no longer offend. And sunglasses, although recommended, are no longer required to combat the glare off of said legs. That right there makes this a successful trip.

It was exactly what I had in mind when I told myself I needed to make more day/weekend trips. Thankfully, we have a someone who is nice enough to offer the use of a beach house to turn a day trip into a weekend getaway.

Now I need to go exercise away all the delicious food I ate.

No Comments | In: Social Adventures | tags: beach, gourmet, Santa Cruz, vacation, weekend. | #

…or two…or eight. Subtitled: The Athletics Staff Goes to Perdido Key

I can’t believe it took me this long to discuss the fact that I (again–yay!) went to Florida for a mini-break. Promptly at 5pm on Friday, some of the girls hit the road to Perdido (CA-readers: think Pensacola) to meet up with the other half of the Perdido Crew, who had the pleasure of departing Thursday night.

Now, before I get into the joy that was Perdido, I think I must do the car ride to Perdido justice. And by justice I mean it’s time to discuss what went down on said car ride. Because I had never been to a Sonic, it was determined that I must try it because, let’s face it, who doesn’t like tots? So, Wendy busted out her iPhone and began searching for the Sonic nearest the *lovely* city of Theodore, Alabama. (You too will call it lovely. Read on.)

We drove a while and according to the iPhone, the Sonic was supposed to be in a building that most closely resembled a bail bonds store. I’m not entirely sure that was the function of the building, but they coulda fooled me.

So we call on Lola (my GPS) and Big Metal found us another Sonic down the road. We pulled in ordered up, sitting outside of the car for a bit, waiting for our food. Whilst waiting for our meal, we notice a dark-colored sedan with rims, idling in the area of the gas station where one might check the air in their tires. Thinking nothing of the sedan, we wait patiently for our food, chit-chatting. Then, an old beater of a truck pulls up and we witness what we can only determine to be a drug deal. Phenomenal.

Fast-forward to the end of the trip when we think we should probably use the restroom before we get back on the road. We promptly discover there is no toilet paper in said restroom. So Wendy goes in search of toilet paper. She returns, one roll in hand, and informs us that we must return the roll to the cashier because she practically had to give them her license in order to obtain TP. Really, people??

Shaking our heads in disbelief, we rotate in an out of the bathroom and return the roll, only partially kidding when we ask if they are going to charge us per square used.

Then we get in the car and continue our journey. We finally arrive around 10:30 and wind up just chattin’ away until finally at 2am we decide we have a big day of nothing but lounging going on so we had better get some sleep!

Three cheers for sleeping in on a Saturday!

After our leisurely Saturday morning, we all loaded up and headed to Publix where all things delicious are housed. I think Publix is my favorite grocery store. It saddens me that they are not in Louisiana. We bought lunch and stuff for dinner because the idea of all of us showering and getting ready to go out sucked the fun out of dining at a restaurant. Then it was straight to the pool. Where this went on:

Bean and me

Syd and Marley

Bean, Wendy and Leeann

Bean and me

Lisa and me

Leeann demonstrates some of the quality reading time we had

The Perdido Crew

Our weekend palace

After the sun went behind the resort building, thus putting our lounges in the shade, we simply packed up and walked 100 yards further until our toes hit white sand. Check this out:

Yea, this wasn’t too shabby

Lisa livin’ it up on the beach

Body surfing in the ocean

Then we had a nice relaxing dinner and movie night with the girls was a solid night!

Sadly, I wish I had more to report for Sunday but Big Metal and I spent a good portion of it on the road back to the boot where I had a meeting at 5pm but it was still a good weekend getaway!

Ladies of Perdido Crew, if I left anything out, feel free to remind me in the comments field below. I know there were a ton of good stories that I probably forgot!

3 Comments | In: Life in the boot-shaped state, Social Adventures | tags: beach, girls weekend, Perdido, vacation. | #

My new fav word is vacay. As in what I just took, that found me in Destin, Florida.

Destin might also be my new favorite place. It was incredibly relaxing and while I have been on some pretty stellar vacations before (Hawaii and my multitude of baseball trips come to mind) this one was probably the most relaxing and most likely served its purpose as time to unwind from the stress of adulthood.

Big Metal, B-Squared and I left Monday morning and made the 4-ish hour drive. We stopped in just outside of Mobile for lunch before we finally arrived in Destin, where I saw this from our room. It made me happy.

Since Monday was pretty much a travel day, we layed by the pool until the sun went behind a building and then we went off to get dinner at a Mexican cantina, where I enjoyed a strawberry daiquiri with my food. Definitely the way to start off a vacay.

Following a brief stint at the grocery store, the three of us watched a chick flick while we ate brownies that we baked in our “kitchen”. They were delicious.

Tuesday was the big day at the beach. The sand was white, the water was warm and clear…definitely not like a NorCal beach.

We even picked up some good karma by reuniting a lost 6-year old with her mom before we called it a day, since I was slowly becoming a dermatology commercial. As I write this four days later, I am reminded of the time my youngest brother had been badly sunburned and had to the put the catcher’s gear on for a game. The thing is, I misjudged the southern sun. I catch a lot more color down here than back home. That’s in part due to the fact that I wear sweatpants and a sweatshirt at the beach at home. So I failed to reapply and I was playing in the ocean for a good portion of the day. Also something that doesn’t happen at home. The water is way too cold to get in. So I’m sitting on the couch and slightly crispy in loose clothing.

Here I am, frolicking:

After Tuesday, we got cleaned up and went to dinner and ended our evening with another movie. Most of which I missed because my shortstop got drafted in the 3rd round so I was working, trying to set up interviews and whatnot. I didn’t mind that so much because, well, it was the third round.

Wednesday was gonna be another “work” day since it was Day 2 of the MLB Draft so we all sat by the pool and I found an umbrella and parked it there while listening to them call everyone’s name. We had four more guys go on Wednesday and I’m only slightly embarassed to admit that I pumped my arms in the air and screamed “yes!” with such enthusiasm that I scared the pool man who was checking the chlorine levels or something when my first baseman got called by the Mets. I have infomed my first baseman of his duty to be my in to David Wright.

After we had soaked up enough sun, we packed it up and it was then that we found out that Big Metal got a job offer (which she accepted) so in order to properly celebrate that, along with the Draft, we went shopping. I am pleased to announce that I got a whole outfit from Banana Republic for $9.00 by usnig my BR rewards. Following the successful shopping trip, we had a quick dinner before picking up the following dessert that also served as part of our celebration. It was delicious. Even on the drive home the next day.

Naturally, we stayed up late watching a movie and chatting while enjoying our cookie cake.

Because we had to return to reality by Friday, Thursday morning we woke up, enjoyed a nice breakfast in the resort community then went poolside before going to pack up and head for home.

It was such a good four days.

1 Comment | In: Social Adventures | tags: beach, Destin, Florida, vacation, vacay. | #