In Vino Veritas

Today we drove down to the Willamette Valley for wine tastings. Chris set the tone for our day as we were walking into Sokol Blosser at 10:00 am by saying, "You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning." I knew there was a reason I love him.

We used our new 50mm lens today - check out the pictures! The one of the grapes I especially like, but our signature self portrait doesn't really work - hence the big faces. But I LOVE this lens.

I've have also decided that this wine club thing is THE way to go. At Sokol Blosser, our tasting was free, and we had about 9 wines, and there were probably normally 5 that were on the tasting menu. The whites were awesome, so we bought a bunch to bring home. And I was toasted by 10:30 am. You stay classy, Patty.

At Argyle later in the day, I said we were in the wine club and asked how it worked and he said, "You just pick out whatever you want." That was it. Word to the wise - just say you are in the wine club and get free shit. We went to five different wineries, and needless to say, I passed out on the way back to the hotel at 2:30. Chris is quite a trooper for driving.

We are off tonight to an Italian restaurant (Piazza Italia) that we went to last year with K & M. If it is as good as last year, it will be fabulous.

ARGH is right.

Just heard on the news that there was a pirate festival in Portland yesterday. COME ON. Imaging the blogging if we'd attended that.

Struck out!

While we were at the Green Dragon, our awesome waitress Jill from Madison was nice enough to give us suggestions for brewpubs and brew bars. One was right across the street - Cascade Brewing Company who had a bar just for barrel aged sour beers, and they were brand new! So new, in fact, they aren't open yet. DRAG. We were so excited! I don't know when they open but I might just call them today and see if we can't get it.

Took the bus back to the Pearl, then walked over to Rogue for a couple of beers. Finished the night at Whole Foods so we could get some breakfast for this morning.

Day 1 finished a great day, even with the rain.

Off to the vineyards today - SO EXCITED!!

Ferrets? Yes, ferrets.

After Bridgeton we went back to the hotel and took a much needed nap. And what a coincidence, the movie "Dodgeball," was on, starring Steve the pirate! See...it is the circle of life Simba. So Hakuna Matata and all that shit.

Now we are Green Dragon after a bus ride that involved a couple and their two ferrets. I mean honestly, I love this town! Don't get me wrong, ferrets are the spawn of Satan, but where else would that seem like no big deal?

So we got off the bus and I kept thinking, we are probably going to get killed in this neighborhood. We walked over to the Green Dragon and it is in what used to be some weird Quonset hut. But now we are inside and it is really grungy cool. I am drinking a Russian River Blind Pig and quite frankly I could get killed and it would be a fitting tribute to my life. They also have some beer here that is apparently made with hemp. Again...how can you not love this place.

I think we are going to a place called Roots next, I can't really be sure since Chris is in charge today. He just said that whatever he looked at on his phone said it was closed permanently...riiiigggghhhtttt...let's go there. I am practicing letting go...hakuna matata, hakuna matata, hakuna matata. See? Circle if life.

ARGH, MATEYS!!!

How could ye be forgettin? The day upon us is National Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Avast and blimey, the grog in this here place brings a tear to me eye.

Don't be forgettin to talk like a pirate today or I'll make ye walk the plank!

(The preceding blog post was for CK in book club and for the rest of our book club.)

Not even noon, and I'm full and buzzed.

We had a wonderful breakfast with aunt, uncle, cousin, and cousin's hubby. The restaurant was called Meriwether and grow much of the food on their menu at a farm they run. Great food and it was so great to see everyone happy and healthy. Best line of the breakfast? While talking about how long we have been married, Uncle says, "How old are you?" And when I said 39, he said, "Oh my God you're 39??" He had the most disgusted look on his face and said, "You're old you know." Um...yeah. Now even more painfully aware of it. Thanks man.

Chris and I are now at Laurelwood sharing a sampler. I have to figure out how to get these guys to open in Minneapolis. They are on par, or a little better than Town Hall. The Free Range Red and the Workhorse IPA are outstanding. We are going to hand here for a bit and watch the Vikings game (quote from Chris, "they are sucking it right now."), then head (stumble) to Bridgeport.

The funny thing I am learning about Portland is that rain doesn't necessarily mean rain, it might mean misting or blue skies with clouds. So we are talking what we can get and today is right now sunny and patches of blue sky.

More to come. Maybe something funny will happen on our way to Bridgeport. :)

Ah...the Pacific Northwest...

We have arrived! In the pouring rain. Flight was uneventful, just like I like it. The most upsetting thing that happened was they they had "The A Team" on as the movie. And one other thing that bothered me...when did the quality of airline peanuts go from OK to really sucky? Chris got two little bags for me, and they had about 12 nuts a piece in them and they were TERRIBLE. Thanks Delta.

Last night we threw on our rain coats and went out in the rain to a place to the Red Star Tavern. Oh dear...I am not supposed to drink when I take my drugs for flying, but there was a Laurelwood Free Range Red on tap! An Organic beer at that!! How could I refuse. And it was tasty...so tasty. So were the pork sliders, and mac & cheese we had. You know, my drugs are supposed to make me not remember anything, but somehow I can always remember the food and beer.

We got back to the room and I fell asleep with my fingers on my phone keyboard trying to write this. Chris had to come and take it out of my hands. You stay classy, Patty.

Today we are heading to brunch with my cousin, aunt, and uncle, then a pub crawl...in the rain. But we are in the Pacific Northwest for a reason - alcohol. And there is no way a little bit of rain will get in the way. As my mom says, we'll just run between the raindrops, and try not to stumble and spill out beer.