Katie's Bachelorette Party

6:00 PM at 6:00 PM

This weekend was so much fun. I have found that I really like wine tasting, it is quite fun...but I like the light wines. It was great that everyone had such a good time- the energy was amazing and it was so cool to finally meet and see how awesome all of Katie's friends were. We started the weekend Wine Tasting and with a picnic at Monticello who had an amazing pinot noir. Then we headed to Elyse winery, who after giving us a hard time about not having a reservation, served us more wine than I have consumed in a long time. After that we were all warm and fuzzy and went to another winery near by...and sigh...I can't remember the name (this is where it starts getting blurry). The 4th stop was Havens Winery where there was a cute bulldog that kept us company. After hitting four wineries we headed to the vacation house which was so comfortable and cute. It had a great backyard and hottub. Ellie and I decided to teach Katie how to play beer pong. Katie proved to be quite the champion beating us. After relaxing a little at the house we headed out to dinner at a vegetarian restaurant. The food was amazing and they gave us about 30 courses and a great dessert. Panchas dive bar in Yountville followed dinner where we continued to drink and play pool. Learning that Katie was a bachelorette we made many friends who quickly became enemies as soon as Katie was sick. We went back to the house and made it into the hottub...finally hitting the sack at 3am. The next morning was rough. My liver and stomach were angry with me.
When we headed out to the next winery at 11:30 am Katie and I bonded on the parkinglot ground wondering if we were going to live through the day. After crackers and medicine I felt a second wind. Katie felt better after more sick time.
The second winery- Reverie was so pretty. We had a tour and some more great wine. Followed by a great deli sandwich in Calistoga. The sandwich really was what helped me. We stopped by Frank Family Winery which was a little freaky. The wine maker was a manager of Walt Disney and it was so crowded since it was a free tasting. Feeling completely rejuvenated we headed to St. Suprey. They had one of the best Sauvignon blanc's I have ever had, so I had to buy a bottle. Then we ended at Castovino...which might be incorrect. Everything seems to blur by the end.
So 9 wineries in two days was quite the bunch. Sunday night we had a relaxing dinner in the house. Ellie and I decided to BBQ. Neither of us have ever done it before, but it was so very yummy.
The weekend was amazing. I really had such a great time with good people, good wine, and good food. I can't wait for the wedding!

Eylse Winery

Best Vegetarian Restaurant Ever


Struggling-Handicapped for sure






Morgan Saved the Day w/ Hang-over Remedies


Friends since Preschool!


Reverie Winery






Otto the Winedog at Havens


Rules of the game...




Ellie and I watch as the ball lands in the cup


Yummy BBQ in the backyard

Smoke Soup

10:01 PM at 10:01 PM

The smoke in California is killing me. It feels like some surreal movie where the world outside has caved in. I have had the worst headache in my life. My ears and sinus' are plugged which throws off my equilibrium making me dizzy and nauseous. I wonder if we'll be able to see stars and moons soon...or if this thick gray sky, that's like smoke soup will become a constant throbbing all over my head. No medication helps...only beer. I've been good all week trying to ride my bike to work, drive the GEM, and not use the car to add to the smog...but my breathing is getting worse.What is our planet coming too?

I've been working full time, meaning less time for writing and updating...but the money is good.

Last weekend I went with family to mendocino. It was so nice to escape the heat into 70 degree weather. It was fun to spend the weekend relaxing with the family. We played some good beer pong and found that my pop's is sure the beer pong champion. I guess you know you're a Chordas if you can play beer pong with the whole family.




Ana made Jaime into a Sand Stegasoras





Chordas Beer Pong Tournament

The Unbeatable Team

This next weekend I am driving into the fires to Napa for my best friend's bachelorette party that I planned. We're doing wine tasting and I rented us a vacation home in Napa with a hottub. I just wish the air would get better...but I am so excited for good times with good people this weekend.

My Summer Reading List

4:53 PM at 4:53 PM

Everyone should have a summer reading list. When I worked full time I never read much. I came home and my brain wasn't all amped up, I was like a zombie...I would just watch TV. But this summer I am very excited about reading. I love reading. I feel like my brain is awake and wants to just sit there and read. Here are the books I plan to read...Any other suggestions?


The Bookseller of Kabul
Sister of my Heart
Locke 1928
Unaccustomed Earth
The Hypocrisy Disco
Costa Rica a Travel Literary Companion

Nineteen Minutes

30/30: Thirty American Stories from the Last Thirty Years

Up from the UnderStory Shots

11:17 AM at 11:17 AM

Pictures from when the kids from Calaveras County came to visit UCDavis for their presentation, lunch, and tour:




Finger point up was the idea that they were growing Up from the forest floor...thus the name: Up from the UnderStory

A Milestone

8:01 AM at 8:01 AM

I have finished my first year of graduate school- barely alive. It flew by. I can't believe I only have one more year left. Just like that...and I will have a Masters Degree.

To reward my year/accomplishments I purchased myself a new ipod nano. It is tiny- like a credit card. I'm liking it, but worried it is soo delicate.

I am excited for the summer. Summer never feels the same like when you are in school. A real break, even if you work, feels so good. I'll be traveling more than usual this summer, but I can't wait.

The kids from Calaveras county came to campus last wednesday. I had lunch with them, a campus tour, and then they presented their documentary to Davis. It was a fun day, tiring, but fun. I made an effort to show/talk to the kids about their individual interests and how it can tie into Davis...motivation. I took one girl down to KDVS since she wants to be a DJ. Things like that. It was an inspirational day. I really hope these kids understand how much they are doing for their community and others.

Here is a list for grad school:

Good Things About Grad School-

+ Learning new things is exciting
+Meeting new people, making friends
+Close connections with professors
+Break feels that much better
+Funding is amazing
+Accomplishments are way more rewarding

Bad Things About Grad School-

+You are more tired than usual
+There's a lot of reading (at least 200 pages per week per class)
+Campus starts to feel like home
+It goes by fast
+Reality of job afterwards seems harder than finding a job after undergrad

UnderStory

4:58 PM at 4:58 PM

I am exhausted
I worked 13 hours yesterday- 10am-11pm. Went to Calaveras County for the community video documentary project. I was so proud of the kids. I got a little teary eyed. 100 people showed up- a discussion was sparked afterwards and the community wants to move forward.

The kids are coming to Davis on Wednesday. The first time for most of them. It seems far away. I have been working so hard to plan this event. I rented a huge tour bus with video screens for them. They can't get over the fact that there is something better than a school bus.

We'll have lunch in the arboretum, a campus tour, and then they will present their documentary to the Davis community.

Yesterday they told me they are excited to come to Davis because they get to spend the whole day with me and I'm cool. I've have worked long and hard on this project. I am so happy for those kids and really hope I can be a positive influence.

If you are in the Davis area on Wednesday come to the MU II (2nd story of the Memorial Union) from 4-7. If you can come the whole time the film will be 4-5, discussion 5-6, and FREE FOOD 6-7. I really recommend coming for the video.

today I also was trained to drive a city GEM car. In the summer I will be driving one and making the rounds to the pools. At first I was nervous as hell and kept breaking with my left foot thinking it is the clutch. But now I sorta like it. It really responds to the gas and not too well to the break. My boss is worried I will flip one. I told her it took me a year to learn the clutch- so not too worry :)