A day at the races

Rounding out the end of our weekend away in California, our last day was in Sonoma at the races. We got up VERY early on Sunday - ok, again I got up earlier than everyone cuz my hair has issues (This fact is well established and I don't need to continue to beat it like the dead horse it is.. thank you.). We still got up early and I felt much more rested thanks to the bro, SD, for giving me and AM the futon rather than the slowly flattening air mattress we had the previous night that left our drunk asses lying on the hard-as-hell, minimally-carpeted floor. We hit Starbucks on our way to out and tho it was early and chilly, we'd all become used to wearing multiple layers now so we didn't freeze in SD's travel-in-style-but-with-tornado-like-winds-in-your-face jeep. I hunkered down with my mocha in my hands and my scarf tied tightly 'round my head and imagined how I'd write about this trip on my blog because it was so loud during most of the drive we couldn't hold normal conversations. I sort of sang to myself like I did when I was a wee child - I was pure entertainment, I tell you.. at least in my imagination I was.. Plus, it was too damn early to talk anyway. Needed. Coffee. To. Digest.

We arrived earlier than our last visits to the Sonoma Wine Country Classic and had plenty of time to wander the grounds before the races started around 1pm. All I could think of was food.. all the other kids wanted to do was meander and look at the cars. Um.. hello.. we were at the races.. weren't the cars going to be there like ALL DAY? Ugh..

A few of our other friends arrived soon after and I think they wanted food too. I could see it on their faces and that hungry look in Ann-Marie's eyes, but their words came out completely different and they instead opted to walk the last two loops SD, SD's dad, AM and I just finished so they could see the cars too. Hmph. Why do people lie?

I did have the sun to distract me and it was getting warmer. I'd already changed out of my many layers I'd worn for the drive over so I could absorb as much as possible, and yet, it was still windy. Ok, we were out of the jeep.. and you know, walking.. and not in San Fran so hi, where was the wind coming from? Grrr..

Maybe you can take the tour with me. Here we have the row of Cobras which I love. Very sporty and I wouldn't mind my hair blowing all over if I was driving around in one of these babies. This green Lotus was a funky cool ride and this blue number actually had someone driving around in it, albeit with some really bad hair, but look at how he's actually using the hand brake on the right to stop. People, you know that would never work w/ me.. I'd wear that sucker out so fast..

Then, hallelujah! It was time to head up to the wine tent! Whoo hoo! What?! Don't be shocked.. It was noon. People start drinking at noon on Sunday - I know, I was raised Catholic. And ooh any priest with a drinking problem (and there are many) would've been so thrilled! There was wine galore! And little bits of olives and big hunks of cheese with crackers and ooh the SAUSAGES abounded! This is THE sausage you've been saving yourself for!! Um, I'm not kidding.. see the sign. I mean, it says that's what you've been doing, so uh.. trust me, when you taste it, you'll agree.. Mmmmmm.. And there was goat's milk ice cream and chocolate truffles and I really didn't even barely, well, just one sample, only paid attention cuz we, I mean I, saying I was coming back for 'others', went back for seconds and thirds on the fucking sausage. I'm telling you.. goooooood. In fact I could probably live on Picante's cafe de olla and Saag's sausage..I would even consider moving to California just for those reasons alone. Screw the earthquakes.. they've got sausage!

We ate and drank, drank and ate. SD and Ann-Marie are my documented examples and then, as if slyly trying to get a closer look at SD's share, Ann-Marie leaned in while SD steadied his distance - and, even tho only seconds after my first example, they seem decidedly more drunk here. In their defense (and my own, of which there are no pictures, strategically) there was really no such thing in this wine tasting tent as a tasting. And by that I mean, 1/3 of a glass is so not a taste. Not that I'm complaining about the generosity shown by the lovely and only-getting-lovlier-by-the-glass people in the wine tent, just that this is another reason why I needed more sausage after only having a measly Starbucks scone and mocha at the crack of dawn. Miss D = lightweight, especially on Sunday mornings when I'm usually much more pious and well.. not drunk.

We staggered over to the seats perched right above the first 'S' corner of Sear's Point raceway once the races actually began. This is where the cars come up, just after the starting line and veer a sharp right turn in the last tail of the curve that sometimes leads to spin outs and thus massive ooh's and ahh's by the crowd when the driver skillfully doesn't smash himself to bits. Everyone claps. It's very classy and no one spills their wine while doing so. You should see it. It's impressive. You can see our very exciting and perfect view where we were for the majority of the rest of the afternoon - well, when we were actually there and not back at the wine tent getting more 'tastes'. I think AM ventured back more than anyone. I assume he may have even gotten himself lost a couple of times, wandering around in his tipsy state with his phone glued to his ear as befitted him that weekend, his 'P is for Porn' t-shirt he wore every day and his very gay rockstar sunglasses I helped him pick out. Oh don't get me started.. you should've seen the ones he wanted to buy.. Even for a stark-raving metrosexual, his first pick crossed a line.. I saved him some serious mockery tho he refuses to acknowledge it.

After the races, we headed back to Oakland, to SD's little garage in the ghetto, all bundled up in the jeep, satisfied and sun-kissed - a little more than I wanted, but not nearly as badly burned as I was last year. I wish I had pictures of that. I looked like a Thanksgiving Day turkey just two days after we returned - dark brown, peeling and crispy on the outside and, right underneath, all tender and baby pink on the inside. Ouch! See, I don't burn.. almost never, but I underestimated the power of global warming and that oh, the sun in Seattle is vastly different than the sun in California.. it's like we're on completely different planets. And I might've neglected to use ANY sunscreen. In retrospect, yeah, that was pretty stupid and probably one of the most painful things I think I've ever done to myself. But hey, the tan that evolved has never left.. seriously, still there.

We said our goodbyes to SD and watched him drive off as we dragged our bags and wine boxes, safeguarded by me like a newly-acquired treasure chest, into the airport to check in. I've already mentioned the rest of the evening turned into the perfect illustration of why AM and I don't date anymore as frustrations quickly built up with each other during walks thru security, lines at the Southwest gate, and just simply getting off the plane in a timely manner.. *sigh* but I'm still very happy we took the trip. Mainly cuz I have lots of fodder by which to taunt him relentlessly and the pictures to prove it.. and oh yeah, vacations ROCK!