December Photo Diary

Some snapshots from December and in no particular order. I hope your Holiday was fun, filled with laughs, food and drama-free.

As much as I'd like to say during December I took a "holiday" like one of those people who go to St. Barthes or the French Alps-- you know one of those places where everyone is rich and hot, I spent mine shopping, eating, cooking, baking and hanging out with friends and family which I enjoyed. I love the holiday season but this time of year makes me a little bi-polar. I'm happy about all the festivities, then sad about those who are no longer with us to celebrate, happy about the food and goodies, then sad about all the weight I've gained, happy I've made it another year then sad about not accomplishing some of the things I hoped to accomplish.

See you next year!

but his heart drank wine: amador county wine tasting photo diary

Every now and then I put down a pint of beer and I like to tap my inner housewife and drink wine. Here are some "iPhonetography" from a quick wine tasting trip with some friends just 40 minutes east of home. Amador County around the Shenandoah Valley is one of my favorite places to wine taste because there's good wine, great scenery, friendly people and free!.

Bray Vineyards

Driven Winery

And here are some people I like to call my first and second wheel. I met Jen and Justin in college and even then before they were husband and wife, they were my first and second wheels (I their third) and we have had boat loads of spontaneous adventures.

The spoils

Other wineries we visited but not photographed were Sobon Winery, which is the oldest winery in the Amador County/Shenandoah Valley area and Drytown Cellar, which is where I go the wine on the left called Vino de Mocca. That Vino de Mocca is chocolate, orange, vanilla, coffee beans, grapes... nectar of the gods (or at least the ones who love dessert wine).

Salud!

san francisco beer tour

A few weeks ago I visited two breweries and one pub in San Francisco. Brewery tours have become one of my favorite ways to spend the day.

21st Amendment
21st Amendment is a brew-pub located in the South Beach area. I love the names of their beers. They have this watermelon beer that's quite popular with the ladies. Also, as a bonus if you visit this brew-pub, The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen is just right across the street (!) if you aren't into the food at 21st Amendment, but the food at the pub is pretty good.

Toronado Pub
Over in the Haight-Ashbury is Toronado Pub. This place does not serve food, it's small, has a dive vibe but has excellent beer selection with a range from Russian River on tap to Dog Fish Head. The restrooms are covered in graffiti/art? (including the toilet seat). Also at this place you may run into more than one old man with dreadlocks that go to the floor and instead of the stench of cigarettes permeating from the outside, you will smell weed.

Speakeasy Brewery
If you head a little south is Speakeasy Brewery. They only have a tap room which happened to be filled with "Punks" the day we visited. Yes boys and girls, the punk scene is still alive. I stuck out like a sore thumb.

Now officially on the search for an opportunity for another beer tour somewhere!

how to take a "mental day off"

You wake up one morning tired of whatever and you would rather have cigarette butts put out on your eyes than go to work, but the alternative of staying home sounds just as awful. If that's you, follow these steps:

Step 1
Ensure that no one will be looking for you unless it is an absolute emergency.
That means you call in sick to work-- not working from home-- sick as in you're in bed all day. You then tell your family members, children, spouse, partner or anyone who might look for you that you are heading out of town for a meeting so you will be unavailable most of the time. If you tell them you're out of town they will unlikely ask you to do something for them.

Step 2
Travel Somewhere
Whether by car, train, bike, etc., go to one of your favorite places that is at least one hour away from where you live.

Step 3
Music
This is essential for a mental day-off. The long distance travel will give you plenty of time for music. I highly recommend a playlist that will trigger a variety of emotions; anger, sadness, joy, nostalgia, etc. You are alone so this is the only chance you get to go through all of these emotions and get it out of your system without judgement from anyone around you and distractions from a t.v, phone or internet. This is also why mental days off should be done solo. Also, sing every song at the top of your lungs.

Step 4
Arrive at your destination and do your favorite things

Step 5
Go home just in time
Make sure you get home about around the time you would normally get home from work so it's like you've had a full day of work but you were really out doing some of your favorite things.

Here's some photos from my mental day off, which I spent in San Francisco.

Playing tourist and taking in the action

Having lunch outside with a view of stores you can't afford

Take your own self-portraits because it seems more awkward to ask the dude next to you smoking a bowl to take a photo of you. 

Maybe a mental day off is just what you need. Do it.

NorCal Mini Brew Tour

Northern California has some great craft breweries, some of the most popular in the country. Here's three I visited on Saturday... not a bad way to spend a hot day.

Bear Republic Brewing, Healdsburg
The Bear Republic brewpub is located in downtown Healdsburg which is very wine-centric since it is located in the Napa Valley. The place is filled with fancy shops (french bakeries, cheese shops and wine stores galore!!) and boutiques.

If you're ever in Healdsburg, and I highly recommend visiting the city, stop by Bear Republic, have a pint or two if you want a break from the wine.

Russian River Brewing Co., Santa Rosa
Russian River Brewing is about 20 minutes south of Healdsburg. Russian River Brewing is not a very large brewery, compared to some other craft brewers but has won countless awards and they produce one of the most coveted beers in the nation, Pliny the Elder. The brewpub is located in downtown Santa Rosa and it is always packed with beer enthusiasts. The food is also very good.

If you ever visit, grab yourself a growler because their beers are not often available at your local pub.

Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma
Lagunitas is about 20 or 30 minutes south of Santa Rosa and is located in an office park. Lagunitas has a great outdoor patio with a mini amphitheater and another mini stage for live bands. I think this is where all of Petaluma comes to party.

At Lagunitas, I met this lady waiting for her date she met on match.com. She introduced her date as her "match.com" date to my friends and I as if the situation between the two of them was not awkward enough. When he briefly walked away, she told me that Lagunitas was a great place because if your match date doesn't work out you can usually find someone else in the crowd. I wonder how the rest of their date went?

Brew tours are fun as long as you're not the designated driver. Cheers!