luca

luca

28 May, 2009

Napa and on...

So after Tahoe we moved on to Yountville, CA right in the heart of Thomas Kellerville... Needless to say I stuffed myself with chocolate almond croissants from Bouchon Bakery. WE stayed at the Railway Inn where the rooms are old rail cars. It was very nice except the walk to the bathroom was pretty long from one end of the car to the other.

We started off at Opus One drinking a $30 glass of wine with my winnings from Harvey's Casino. Then we moved on to Turnbull winery before checking in at the hotel. We had an amazing french meal at Bistro Jeanty before taking a small walk around town to try and work off our food coma.

Then next morning we went over to the Sonoma side of town to Ravenswood, B.R. Cohn and Saintsbury where I joined the Pinot wine club. You're welcome Karen. We ended our wine touring at Grgich before heading back to the train for a nap and dinner.

After a little down time we drove up to Calistoga and stumbled across Jolie restaurant that was amazing. It was small plate style so we started off with some foie gras and little neck clams. Then we moved on to sea scallops, duck breast and pork belly before finishing it off with an apricot crisp.

The next morning as I was lying in bed trying to sleep it off I kept hearing this noise that sounded like a gas fire starting. I thought "Is that a hot air balloon"? and low and behold it was. Taking off right from our parking lot. What the? I'm trying to sleep here people.

After Napa we drove up the coast to the Redwood forest where I have such a funny story I can't even do it justice over this blog.

Now we are in Eugene, OR visiting Mike's family before we head up to Seattle. More later!

25 May, 2009

Lake Tahoe

So we finally landed in Lake Tahoe on Saturday. Mike's parents got us a beautiful 3 bedroom condo at a time share in Zephyr Cove on the Nevada side of the lake. We went for a horseback ride up in the mountains. My horse's name was blaze and Mikey's was Ruby. Then we went for a two hour catamaran ride on the lake. It was absolutely gorgeous out there. We just laid around on beanbag chairs soaking up the sun and sipping on some Fat Tire beers. The weather has been great just about every where so far. After a Little nap and some freshening up we went out for some excellent Mexican food at La Cantina on the CA side where I won the clean plate award again. What can I say? I love a good mole sauce! After that we went and checked out some of the casinos where I magically turned $20 into $200 at the roulette table.

Now we are in Yountville in Napa. Our first stop was Opus One where we had a $30 glass of 2005 with my winnings. Now we are just relaxing again, because we're a little tipsy, before we head out for dinner across the street. We are staying at the Railway Inn where the rooms are old railway cars and they are great. We are right in the heart of town with everything just outside our door. Bouchon Bakery is across the street, Napa Style is next door...what else could you ask for?

That's about it for now.

Aim

23 May, 2009

75 means 75

It's kind of a unspoken rule in the east coast. What ever the speed limit is you go 10 over and you are usually safe. Well no one has filled the troopers in Wyoming in about this. Apparently the speed limit there is the speed limit. I was going 86 in a 75 so guess who got pulled over. I did however get $10 off for wearing my seat belt.
Until next time...

21 May, 2009

ROAD TRIP '09

It's that time of year again, Mikey and I are going on a road trip for two weeks. I am flying into Denver where he will pick me up for the first leg of our trip.

Mike and I were roommates in Seattle a long time ago and he is my designated road trip companion. Our last trip was to Tennessee where we went to Nashville, the Jack Daniels distillery, Dollywood and the Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge. I only wish there was a picture of our faces when we rolled into Pigeon Forge, TN. Words cannot explain this small piece of America, I can only suggest you experience it on your own.

So this trip will start in Denver then we will roll on through Utah to Tahoe, then to Napa, up the coast to Seattle and then back down to Denver and where ever else the road takes us in between. I know it sounds like a lot of driving and it is but I love a road trip. I have Yes and No books, Mad Libs, Sudoku, XM radio and a couple Ipods. Mike already took my order of Diet Raspberry Snapple, Diet Coke, pretzels and Sunchips so we are set. We've got a half a tank of gas and a full pack of smokes, we're on a mission from god.

I know what most of you are thinking...two weeks away from her honey, what will she do? And I am referring to Steven, not Dough Boy although I will miss that little smelly dog too. Thank god my auntie MJ got me a really great new phone so I will be able to keep in touch with the boy through out the trip. Poor Mikey will have to put up with me being all ga ga. I love you. No, I love you more...you hang up. no you hang up first blah blah blah...just kidding. I think the conversations home will be more like this. Did the Yankees win and what did Swisher do? Has the dog peed in the house? Hey, he hung up on me, that bastard!

So I am off for now and will try and post along our journey. If you call my house and a guy answers it's Petey C. He is minding the fish for me while I'm gone.

See ya- Aim

19 May, 2009

LET'S GO METS?


When it comes to baseball in our family we are pretty divided between the Yankees and Mets. David and the Fraser family are Mets fans. Karen, me, Thomas and Lynn and the Cavanaugh's are Yankee fans.

MJ got David and Gavin a brick with their names on it that is proudly displayed at the new Citi Field. Not only a great gift but it really gives Citi Field a great look unlike the new Yankee stadium.

Karen and I finally went to a game last Sunday to check out the new home of the Yanks. Although it is an amazing field, the seats are great and the old time facade really looks great the interior of the stadium doesn't, lets say, do it for me. They could of taken some pointers from the Mets and made it a little warmer place to be.

When they were building the new stadium the only thought that came to my mind was mausoleum. I wasn't around really to remember the original stadium before the renovations and I know that was what they were going for but how much gray cement can you look at?

I haven't been out to Citi Field yet either so this post is a little hasty...we'll see Mets, we'll see!

07 May, 2009

Security Blog, really?

As some of you have noticed I put a restriction on who can view my blog. I have thought of doing this in the past but of course never did until now. I don't know if it is really necessary especially since from what I can tell you have to have a Gmail account or your "guest" privileges will expire. Huh? If this is in fact what really happens then I will change it back to the old way. Keep me posted people will ya!

Oh I also got a new cell phone number...why I couldn't keep the old one I'm not too sure. So if anyone has been trying to reach me and I haven't gotten back to you sorry.
Someday I'll update all of my contacts and text everyone the new number.

XO Aim

06 May, 2009

CUPCAKES

Matt Man
The birthday boy, Jack

Jack's big sister Emma

Saturday was Lil' big Jack's 2nd birthday and I brought cupcakes for the kids to decorate. I would say they enjoyed them...