parent visit & moving
wow, can't believe it's been so long since I updated this thing...
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Mom and Dad arrived in SoCal safe and sound on the 22nd. we decided to rent a convertible for our trip up to Paso Robles, so Saturday morning, we got up bright & early, loaded up the car, dropped Dakota at the doggie camp, and headed north. Dad immediately threw his back out while putting a suitcase in the trunk, so his vacation was spent hobbling around like a little old man. :( Thanks to traffic, we didn't pull into Paso until after 1p that afternoon, but we managed to get good and schnockered anyway. First stop was Castoro, where Dad promply decided our wedding will someday be held... I just sat there stunned (but filed it away for future use), Chris looked like he was going to head for the hills, and Mom gently reminded Dad that we're only moving in together & "don't scare him off yet" (that would come later). After tasting some of that Dam Fine Wine, we unloaded the picnic basket and cooler from the back of the car and sat in the sun, enjoying the grounds, some snackies, and a bottle of Pinot Grigio Mom had purchased.
After Castoro, we hit Grey Wolf, Dover Canyon, and Midnight Cellars... of course, I picked up at least one bottle from each of the places, as did Chris, who is turning into quite the wine whore with a penchant for Syrahs and Ports. Good and liquored up, we headed to the hotel for a nap (ahem) and a shower before dinner. Sobered up, we drove into Templeton to McPhee's Grill for dinner. Good stuff, even if it was a bit pricey.
The next day, our first stop was Robert Hall 'cuz I wanted to tour their cavern cellar. The tour wasn't going to start for another 40 mins or so, so we bugged out and headed to Tobin James instead. Then it was off to Chumeia for several bottles of Silver Nectar (YUMMERS!). By that time, we were getting a little wined out, so our last stop (and the highlight of the trip) was Gelfand. We got to barrel taste the Port that will be coming out next year.... whoa damn, that'll be good stuff. Mom, Dad, and Chris all raved about the wine and they ended up joining the Quixotic Club, while Chris & I took home 3 more bottles of their high-class hooch (2 SFR and 1 M-A-B). Len offered to buy back the bottles of Petit Syrah and Syrah that I was sitting on, but oh no! I will NOT be deprived of this nectar of the gods! Can't wait for the '06 stuff to come out, 'cuz I'll definitely be buying additional bottles of whatever I can get my hands on.
After Gelfand, we headed back to Castoro to do some more picnicking (they had music this time) and finish off the bottle we'd opened yesterday. Satiated and tired, we piled into the car and headed home to LA via Morro Bay and Hwy 1.
Monday, we investigated the La Brea Tar Pits, Pink's Hot Dogs (i don't really get the hype behind the dogs), and ethiopian food at Nyala (thanks to
sweetmelliemel,
moremelessyou, and
brisrealm for making it out to Meet the Norquists). Tuesday it was off to California Adventure, which was good times. We managed to get Mom onto all of the rides, where I had a hard time telling Mom's screams from Dad's screams -- both of them scream like little girls. :) And, as Dad hadn't been on a roller coaster since i was in high school, we road California Screamin' twice. I got my mouse ears and then we headed home. (Thanks
brisrealm for the ticket hook-up and
sweetmelliemel for the short-cut directions!!) That night, Chris impressed them with his culinary skills (chicken marsala and peach pie) before we headed to the Magic Castle. Lots of good times. Wednesday, the Parents were on their own as I had to work... they chilled at the house, did some laundry, and came over to BevHills for lunch with moi. After work, we chilled at Chris's place for awhile before heading to Il Capriccio for Mom's birthday dinner. Apparently while I was in the restroom, Chris got a talking to from my parents along the lines of "you hurt her, we hurt you"... gotta love caring Parents! He took it in stride, though, like the good guy that he is. Thursday morning, at the butt crack of dawn, it was up and off to the airport. Some tears were shed as I said goodbye to mom, dad, and dakota... i won't see any of them until x-mas. :( but they called me later that day to assure me that Dakota had made it safely and was happily playing with the Ruby and Char-Char dogs.
i miss my little Tickle Toes (as in the "tick-tick-tick" her toes made across the hardwood floors)... but at least i get to sleep in past 6:30am now without a cold nose in my face telling me it's time to get up 'cuz she has to pee.
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Thursday and Friday were spent packing up the remaining bits and pieces of what I had at the house in preparation for the Move on saturday. whoa dang, it's amazing how much crap I have accumulated since moving down here! Saturday, I picked up the U-Haul van and a couple of illegals to help out, loaded up the van, and made the move. My stuff is split between a storage facility and my new place until chris and i find our own apartment. until then, i'm hoping i didn't store anything i can't live without for the next 4 months... the storage unit is crammed to the ceiling with boxes, beds, and bookshelves. But, i had enough foresight to pack the christmas decorations in the FRONT of the unit, so i won't have to do too much digging to get them out next month.
After unloading the moving van and drop it and the illegals off, it was back to the house to pick up the bits and pieces and do some cleaning. by the time i left, the car was packed tight with remainders and i could only see out the windshield and my driver's side window. good thing i didn't have to go very far or change lanes. note to self, when we move into our own place, hire movers!
********
Saturday officially began the Cohabitation. whoa dang. it's still very surreal (but nice to wake up next to my man every day), and i still have boxes everywhere, but i'm getting there. i put up my artwork on the walls, which did wonders for domesticizing the place. it actually looks like a girl lives there now! :) still have some kitchen and bedroom organizing to do, but i'm quite nearly all settled in. this has to be the fastest settle-in i've ever done... usually i still have stuff in boxes up to 6 mths after i moved.
ok, i'm tired of typing... more later.
******
Mom and Dad arrived in SoCal safe and sound on the 22nd. we decided to rent a convertible for our trip up to Paso Robles, so Saturday morning, we got up bright & early, loaded up the car, dropped Dakota at the doggie camp, and headed north. Dad immediately threw his back out while putting a suitcase in the trunk, so his vacation was spent hobbling around like a little old man. :( Thanks to traffic, we didn't pull into Paso until after 1p that afternoon, but we managed to get good and schnockered anyway. First stop was Castoro, where Dad promply decided our wedding will someday be held... I just sat there stunned (but filed it away for future use), Chris looked like he was going to head for the hills, and Mom gently reminded Dad that we're only moving in together & "don't scare him off yet" (that would come later). After tasting some of that Dam Fine Wine, we unloaded the picnic basket and cooler from the back of the car and sat in the sun, enjoying the grounds, some snackies, and a bottle of Pinot Grigio Mom had purchased.
After Castoro, we hit Grey Wolf, Dover Canyon, and Midnight Cellars... of course, I picked up at least one bottle from each of the places, as did Chris, who is turning into quite the wine whore with a penchant for Syrahs and Ports. Good and liquored up, we headed to the hotel for a nap (ahem) and a shower before dinner. Sobered up, we drove into Templeton to McPhee's Grill for dinner. Good stuff, even if it was a bit pricey.
The next day, our first stop was Robert Hall 'cuz I wanted to tour their cavern cellar. The tour wasn't going to start for another 40 mins or so, so we bugged out and headed to Tobin James instead. Then it was off to Chumeia for several bottles of Silver Nectar (YUMMERS!). By that time, we were getting a little wined out, so our last stop (and the highlight of the trip) was Gelfand. We got to barrel taste the Port that will be coming out next year.... whoa damn, that'll be good stuff. Mom, Dad, and Chris all raved about the wine and they ended up joining the Quixotic Club, while Chris & I took home 3 more bottles of their high-class hooch (2 SFR and 1 M-A-B). Len offered to buy back the bottles of Petit Syrah and Syrah that I was sitting on, but oh no! I will NOT be deprived of this nectar of the gods! Can't wait for the '06 stuff to come out, 'cuz I'll definitely be buying additional bottles of whatever I can get my hands on.
After Gelfand, we headed back to Castoro to do some more picnicking (they had music this time) and finish off the bottle we'd opened yesterday. Satiated and tired, we piled into the car and headed home to LA via Morro Bay and Hwy 1.
Monday, we investigated the La Brea Tar Pits, Pink's Hot Dogs (i don't really get the hype behind the dogs), and ethiopian food at Nyala (thanks to
sweetmelliemel,
moremelessyou, and
brisrealm for making it out to Meet the Norquists). Tuesday it was off to California Adventure, which was good times. We managed to get Mom onto all of the rides, where I had a hard time telling Mom's screams from Dad's screams -- both of them scream like little girls. :) And, as Dad hadn't been on a roller coaster since i was in high school, we road California Screamin' twice. I got my mouse ears and then we headed home. (Thanks
brisrealm for the ticket hook-up and
sweetmelliemel for the short-cut directions!!) That night, Chris impressed them with his culinary skills (chicken marsala and peach pie) before we headed to the Magic Castle. Lots of good times. Wednesday, the Parents were on their own as I had to work... they chilled at the house, did some laundry, and came over to BevHills for lunch with moi. After work, we chilled at Chris's place for awhile before heading to Il Capriccio for Mom's birthday dinner. Apparently while I was in the restroom, Chris got a talking to from my parents along the lines of "you hurt her, we hurt you"... gotta love caring Parents! He took it in stride, though, like the good guy that he is. Thursday morning, at the butt crack of dawn, it was up and off to the airport. Some tears were shed as I said goodbye to mom, dad, and dakota... i won't see any of them until x-mas. :( but they called me later that day to assure me that Dakota had made it safely and was happily playing with the Ruby and Char-Char dogs.
i miss my little Tickle Toes (as in the "tick-tick-tick" her toes made across the hardwood floors)... but at least i get to sleep in past 6:30am now without a cold nose in my face telling me it's time to get up 'cuz she has to pee.
*********
Thursday and Friday were spent packing up the remaining bits and pieces of what I had at the house in preparation for the Move on saturday. whoa dang, it's amazing how much crap I have accumulated since moving down here! Saturday, I picked up the U-Haul van and a couple of illegals to help out, loaded up the van, and made the move. My stuff is split between a storage facility and my new place until chris and i find our own apartment. until then, i'm hoping i didn't store anything i can't live without for the next 4 months... the storage unit is crammed to the ceiling with boxes, beds, and bookshelves. But, i had enough foresight to pack the christmas decorations in the FRONT of the unit, so i won't have to do too much digging to get them out next month.
After unloading the moving van and drop it and the illegals off, it was back to the house to pick up the bits and pieces and do some cleaning. by the time i left, the car was packed tight with remainders and i could only see out the windshield and my driver's side window. good thing i didn't have to go very far or change lanes. note to self, when we move into our own place, hire movers!
********
Saturday officially began the Cohabitation. whoa dang. it's still very surreal (but nice to wake up next to my man every day), and i still have boxes everywhere, but i'm getting there. i put up my artwork on the walls, which did wonders for domesticizing the place. it actually looks like a girl lives there now! :) still have some kitchen and bedroom organizing to do, but i'm quite nearly all settled in. this has to be the fastest settle-in i've ever done... usually i still have stuff in boxes up to 6 mths after i moved.
ok, i'm tired of typing... more later.