Day 3 & 4

So after a day at Yosemite, a 28 dollar 8-slice pizza, and then attempting to find a hotel. 

We took about a 4 hour drive towards the wine valley of Sonoma.

To the Korbel Winery!

We made it just in time for the final tour of the day, I wanted to do this in Canada but they were not as common as one would think in a high wine source area.

We found out a little about the beginning of the company, 3 Korbel Brothers, how the process works and the tradition that we see on our grocery shelves.

These are the larger barrels, they sat side by side throughout the cellar.

Ah... the Best box to see.

These take 6-half turns on each bottle to keep the cork in place until you are ready for the pure enjoyment of their bubbly.  6-half turns is actually standard in the industry.

After some tasting, 4 different types from their collection.  After a quick photo we went in to browse and make our purchase.  Unfortunately we could not have any shipped home thanks to the wonderful law of Indiana that prohibits shipment into the state.  Something about the no name wine industry here which does not allow outside company's to distribute to us.  I do not drink Indiana wine, so BOO!

This sign had all sorts of vineyards and the direction to go and peruse.

Day 4 at the Race, we had our bubbly then headed towards the track for some light shopping and walking around.

This is the first time I have seen these of all the races we have been to, I would have sat in it but these bratty little kids were in them and asking too many questions.

Here he is, at least some of Justin Wilson's equipment for car 22.

Darren had scruff, did not pack his electric shaver due to flying.  Its nice to see scruff every once in awhile.

It was a top ten finish for Justin Wilson and team.  I was having a rough time shortly after this point.

Concrete seats with no backs are not my choice that's for sure.

Then we headed out for a last dinner, pizza for about the 3rd time this trip, then onto the San Francisco airport for our Red eye home.

Darren got sick after Yosemite, but arriving home on Monday at 10am was so nice.  Went home, showered, fed Darren and we crashed for about 3hours (Darren was out much longer).  It was a great trip. 

A whole new adventure.

Our summer has ended

Alright, so Summer in the sense of weekend getaway's and having a more carefree life has ended.  Life, at least for just over a month has began its craziness.  So for our last HOorah; before the fresh weather comes in, football season, classes and more planning, we went to California.  This trip has been in the works for awhile obviously as we had to fly there and take time off from both of our jobs.  On this trip I got to spend some time with Dana, a former roommate from Barton, hiked Vernal falls at Yosemite, toured Korbel Champagne Cellars- its my fave, and of course an Indy Car race.

So here are some photos, from Day 1 in San Francisco with Dana & Day 2 Yosemite with Darren...

Some Seals, many are MIA for the Pier.

Mirror Maze, does not accept Visa but does make you feel very odd afterwards

Ghirardelli Square, AMAzing ice cream!

Crossing to Vista Point before walking the Golden Gate Bridge

Goofing off.

Beginning the way too long hike in Yosemite up to Vernal Falls.

Only 1 Mile up, I do not think so.  It had to be much more.

The only time Nature and I like each other, when I am running or even better posing.

Going back down.

This should go in our house, not sure of where though.

Heading out for some food and a bed.

These need to become a triptych,

I took them while Darren was pumping fuel that cost way too much.

More to come on Day 3 from our tour at Korbel & the Race.

Trip to Ohio

Well, the summer is nearly over but of course we had the mid-Ohio race to attend which meant that I got to hang out with Malissa while Darren did things at the track, autographs of course.  The drive went well, and since this trip have come to realize that I sleep quite great in cars usually in 2 hour increments.  This is helpful when the trips are longer ones and of course Darren would rather talk than let me read.  Or his talk radio becomes too loud to enjoy my movie during the drive.

Malissa took me to Mansfield Reformatory, it was awesome!  We were about a half hour late for the tour so they just caught us up with the group.  Malissa had been to a tour previously, it was slightly different as they have 3 different tours but she filled me in on certain things considering that we were slightly behind the group getting images as the rooms emptied out.  The group was probably about 30 people if not more, nice size, and the guides were very helpful.  The architect had many decorative designs in the Prison which was great to see & how it was incorporated.

The Reformatory became a maximum security prison before it was closed in 1990.  It was slowly becoming demolished in the sense of the government took out a building and were taking things out, a fund is in place to keep it in its original form thanks to the Historical Society.  There have been movies filmed here, including Top Gun- the Russian prison, The Shawshank Redemption.  Signs of the films and music videos are noticeable throughout the tour.  Lil' Wayne used a cell and "pimped it out" for a music video and unfortunately left it that way.  Malissa also let me know that person whom was a prisoner at one time went back to his cell and had it set up the way it was while he spent his years there- unfortunately that was not on our tour.  A prison & maximum security prison are behind this one, we were able to go up to the roof above the Library but were not allowed to take photos of course.  Prisoners who died there were plotted not too far behind their stone only has their prisoner number and nothing else, how sad, to be remembered as a number.

They also do ghost hunts, public & private overnight tours, were more free reign of the prison is allowed.  People rent it for weddings, a school uses it for prom and more.  We hope to do an overnight tour sometime. 

It was a great tour, great trip, relaxing and a nice race to round out the weekend.

Sunday

Last week, it was a tough one.  Especially considering that at the end of the weekend would be the day I had been dreading- My birthday.  And not because I am now a year older but because I would be spending yet another birthday in Indy without my family.  I grew up believing that birthdays are a big deal, with plenty of food and celebration.  Since moving out on my own its changed, not as easy when needing to plan who needs to be where and making sure everything is in order with a schedule put in place.  This year it was just Darren & myself.  Considering that I had been home the weekend before and our house is still under construction having guests would not be the best idea. 
So it went like this on Sunday:

Woke up at 7am then went back to bed for almost another 2 hours.  Woke up to Darren saying up its almost 9am, guess we are going to late church.  Then I asked Darren if he wanted chocolate chip pancakes, his response "you are going to cook? But its your birthday."  My comment was: "who else is going to feed us?!" Darren: " oh, yeah."
But before I could get out of bed my phone rang with the familiar tone of my parents ring.  And on the other line my parents, Edina and baby were singing happy birthday.  It started to bring me to tears, just missing out on sharing MY day with them as I had for so many years.  At the end baby let me know that I was getting old, Thanks Eze and then daddy came on and said "he's mean, Happy 21st." 
After making breakfast and enjoying it with Darren I opened my cards from him and one from his parents.  Cards that make me think, wow, I am truly blessed and loved.  I opened my gift from his parents, a new bracelet, lotion and the best-Lindor chocolate.
Cleaned up, started laundry then got ready for church.  Lunch at Olive Garden then back home for a nap & finishing up laundry.  I do run a tight ship around here, and my Sunday house routine could not be messed with.    Waking up from my nap to an empty home got me to move around and get things organized.  Darren arrived home from his run with a rose and also prepared to take a walk out on the canal downtown. 
It was a better day than I had imagined.