Working for the Weekend

Sometimes weekends are just breaks from the work week -- hoping to take a breather before you have to wake up on Monday and head back down into the salt mines. But sometimes weekends are something far more than that. And that's how I'd describe this past weekend in California. A bunch of good friends of mine met up with me in San Francisco and we traveled up the coast to wine country for the weekend. It was seriously one of the best weekends I've had in my life. Really. Even with the trip to the emergency room (more on that later...). We ran up the tabs and spared no expense. Ate and drank like kings. We probably bought/drank almost $1,000 in wine alone. In 3 days.

It's way too long to narrate, but it was an amazing trip. 4 days of 75 degrees and sunny bliss. Perfect weather. Constant laughter. If you gave me the choice between living out in California or going home, I'd already be handing you a mailing address telling you where you can ship all my stuff. I can't understand why anyone would ever want to leave. By contrast, DC is currently 95 degrees with stifling humidity. Heat indices in the 100s. Awesome.

Highlights included:

• Busting up our rented SUV with only 4 miles on it.
  
• Eating ridiculous chocolate and tasting olive oils at the gourmet farmer's market in the Ferry Building.
  
• Taking a private tour at Marimar Vineyards.
  
• Playing impromptu bocce at a vineyard estate.
  
• Going to City Lights Bookstore, the epicenter of alternative literary culture.
  
• Getting cheese at Cowgirl Creamery, and oysters at the Hog Island Oyster Company in Marshall, CA (population: 50).
  
• Almost slicing my finger off with an oyster shucker, and having to go to the emergency room because after 5 hours, it wouldn't stop bleeding (apparently wrapping it with a torn piece of someone's T-shirt doesn't always do the trick).
  
• Schmoozing with the ER nurses so we could still make our 9:30 reservation at Gary Danko. Seriously. The food is just that good.
  
• Driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, singing the Violent Femmes at the top of our lungs.
  
• More bocce on the beach in Point Reyes.
  
• Sitting out on the rooftop of my friends' house in San Francisco (complete with views of Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the bay), not worrying about when I have to go home.
  
• Spending time with old friends, and realizing that I'd be a lesser person without them.
  

Pics cominghere...