what we bring to the party

For New Year's Eve: A box of Divine Delights petits fours, from the retail outlet right here in Chickenland. (And thus successfully...

a sign

This morning, after I finished my first class (Ashtanga, I love you) at my newly found yoga studio, I came across this truck and...

happy merry christmas

Christmas was just what it was meant to be: Several days of feasting with family.Our big contribution was Christmas Eve dinner (although...

and thus sayeth daft punk

Last night I dreamed the San Francisco Marathon was being run through my parents' house (which is strange since my parents actually...

no remorse

It is completely normal to stop at a Mexican market at 10 a.m. and order a gigantic burrito, especially if said burrito is supposed...

the feline version

If I had all the time in the world -- and actually knew how to edit video -- I would make one of these for Meep and Mari. Only their...

pdx, I love you

Took a break from running, from writing and from California and went to Portland for a long weekend.The night we arrived, we had...

at the finish

Apparently, I looked like a karate-chopping smurf while sprinting toward the finish line yesterday.But the important fact is that...

and away we go

I am in a hotel room in Sacramento, wearing my favorite yummy sushi pajamas, which happen to be very appropriate since I just went...

I am not a cool cat

Unlike Mari, who is perfectly happy to play in the reusable grocery bag and doesn't worry about things like race day weather or GI...

behind the door

When I run, I often see places I'd like to stop at -- buildings I'd like to enter, community gardens I'd like to explore, bizarre...

fetal duck egg

He did it. He ate balut and didn't throw up or run screaming from the room or divorce me. And now my parents love him even more....

pre-feast, pre-race thoughts

Tomorrow the Thanksgiving festivities begin. We're flying to L.A. to spend a few days with my family. Apparently, Todd is going to...

little treat

Checking things off the list.Today's stop: Kara's Cupcakes in Napa's Oxbow Public Market. I waited patiently in line for a passion...

blown out, killed, destroyed, thrashed

To put it bluntly.Yesterday was my last big training run before raceday: 22 miles, the farthest I've ever run in my life.I chose...

fall color

Whoever said California doesn't have seasons obviously never made it out to wine country.This is my favorite time of year in the...

dim sum discovery, etc.

Should've posted this yesterday: Ulysses found dim sum in Santa Rosa, if you can believe that. We went. We overate. It was joyous....

spreadable meat goodness

Sometimes, you sit down to a meal that is so good, it launches you into what can only be described as a food retrospective.You start...

officially ren faire?

I'm not quite sure how this happened, but somehow I got put on a mailing list for this catalog.Apparently, I fit the profile of someone...

displaced burrito

I was planning to write about the absolutely enormous burrito I had for lunch from El Azteca today, but then I started doing more...

focus

... seems to be something I need more of.For example, tonight I went to an amazing event for one of our wineries. Two of the "Top...

on running and toilets (to be blunt)

Ran 18 this morning -- this is only the second time in my life that I've run this distance, and thankfully, today's run was much...

fabulous princess cupcakes

We're celebrating Laura's birthday tomorrow with a wig and fondue party (which hopefully won't become a wig in fondue party), so...

hot dog pizza

If given enough beer, yes, I probably would eat this....

how I met wolfgang puck

Abridged versionI went to Spago and he came out of the kitchen and it was awesome.Unabridged versionI woke up at 4 a.m. to meet the...

the runner's library

Just in case training my body is not enough, I have decided to further prepare for my very first marathon experience ever by checking...

migration

It seems we are getting restless.I had numerous conversations this week with friends from different parts of my life about plans...

here's the beef

For the past two months or so, I have been working on a library wine tour for one of my brands, a Napa Valley pioneer that was part...

in other news: harvest

Oh, that's right -- this blog is also supposed to be about wine.So here is a glimpse of passerillage. This method of making dessert...

feet: a love letter

Dear Feet:I know I test you. There are the flip-flops that completely lack arch support, the heels that put you on tip-toe, the boots...

cute kittens calm nerves

I cannot stop watching this. I probably watched it at least 12 times yesterday, and every time, I would laugh hysterically until...

sometimes, you can't win

Three days left now until Healdsburg.Went for a 3-miler last night after work. (I'm tapering, so mileage is pretty low at the moment.)...

go, turtle, go

I am supposed to be extra-cautious with my diet this week: Lots of complex carbohydrates, no alcohol, minimal fats and pretty much...

on being old

At work, there is a 21-year-old intern who makes it a point to remind everyone that we are "so much older" than he is. During his...

garden state getaway

Recently, I announced: "I am going to New Jersey for vacation."And people stared and said: "Why?"Because New Jersey is where I can...

a cookie in each hand

The first time I ever tried to bake on my own was in high school. My friend Holly and I were at her house, and we decided to make...

close call

In addition to this blog, I'm on the blogroll for the NVV's harvest blog. This is tricky because I don't want things to cross over....

taking the romance out of it

Where to start? This video is so dead-on in so many ways that it is absolutely hilarious.And really freaking sad at the same tim...

overheard

When you wait tables, you hear things. Bits. Pieces. Shards of conversation. Like finding a single, abandoned sock on the side of...

dear feet: I am grateful

Amazing run yesterday at Point Reyes: The trail took us through ferns and redwoods, only to end up on a bluff overlooking the ocean....

better with bacon

Remember the bacon chocolate bar? There's something about that salty-sweet combination that can only be described as downright magical....