Day 93: How I Spent My Summer

Well, folks, today is Labor Day or, the official end of summer. I can't believe how fast my three months until real life rushed by. And now Real Life is hitting me square in the face: I start my full time job tomorrow. I'm ready and I'm excited. But I will, of course, miss the leisurely life I've led this summer, sleeping in as late as I like, watching all the Bravo and TLC shows I could stomach, taking long walks with Ginger in the middle of the day and spending as much time as possible in Westhampton.

To wrap up the summer, I thought I would take stock of what I did this summer. Here is what I did, in order by how many days this summer I spent doing each activity:

• Spent time with Shawn
• Spent time with Ginger
• Drank wine
• Cooked a lot of meals
• Spent time at the Westhampton share house
• Played Cards Against Humanity
• Lunch and brunch and dinner and drinks with friends, catching up
• Went to the beach
• Went to wineries (in California and Long Island)
• Went to John Scott's Surf Shack (our favorite restaurant in Westhampton)
• Ate ice cream
• Visited California
• Celebrated our first anniversary
• Traveled to Florida to visit with the in-laws
• Learned how to golf
• Traveled to Newport
• Took long walks with Lauren around the city
• Visited Jennifer in Rhode Island
• Visited Erin in San Francisco
• Visited Bri and my family in Pennsylvania

I am so grateful and happy that I had the opportunity to spend so much time with so many friends and family members and that I was able to travel literally around the country to see so many people and do so many fun and new things. Sonoma and Napa were incredible, and Shawn and I have definitely decided to return someday soon. Newport was quaint and lovely, exactly what we wanted for our official anniversary celebration, though many other unofficial celebrations followed after on the actual date of our anniversary and beyond.

So, the summer is over which means I'm signing off for now. Maybe I'll find some other way to re-purpose this blog in some way soon.

xo

Amanda

Day 90: Take Ginger to the Beach

We couldn't spend an entire summer in the Hamptons without at least attempting to bring our dog to the beach once. Dogs are not allowed on most public beaches, but since we started parking at a friend's rental house and using their basically private beach last week, today seemed like the perfect day to bring Ginger to the shore.

We set up a little umbrella tent so she could lay in the shade and made sure that she had plenty of water to drink. Not surprisingly, she didn't go within 50 feet of the ocean...she wouldn't even walk over to the edge where you could see the waves crashing. Despite the fact that she tried on several occassions to eat sand, I think she had a good time.

We only stayed a couple hours, but it was a fun experiment. Maybe next year Ginger can spend a few more days with us on the beach.

Day 89: An Amazing Night of Food and Wine

"You should write about this," Shawn said, gesturing around the restaurant's outdoor patio.

I bristled -- in the way that a writer who has heard that same directive from too many people who have no business offering that advice would.

"This is what I want to remember from this summer," he continued. "This is what I want you to remember. I will forget, so you have to remember for the both of us."

And I agreed, because I knew he was right. I am the record keeper in our relationship. I keep journals and make photo albums to remember our travels and adventures. If I wanted to remember tonight exactly as it was, I was going to have to be the one to write it down.

Tonight was a surprising experience filled with delicious food and incredible wine that neither one of us was expecting when we strolled into Westhampton's fanciest and most in-demand restaurant without a reservation. We managed to effortlessly find two seats at the outdoor bar, probably because it was 7:30 on a Thursday night (though since its Labor Day, the place was still packed and there was no way to get table). We planned to order a bottle of wine, some appetizers and fresh fish entrees, and possibly (most likely) dessert, then head home to our dog where we'd likely open another bottle of wine and fall asleep drunk, full and happy.

But what ended up happening was a seemingly endless parade of delicious, fresh food and surprising wine pairings that were hand delivered to us by the restaurant's manager for no real reason at all. He took a liking to us. We were just a young couple who love food and wine and appreciated the delicacies and flavors he was offering up. It transported us back to our honeymoon in Europe a year ago, and we vowed that no matter the real timing, we would always remember the night as a celebration of our first anniversary. It was that special and unique.

It all started when Shawn wanted to order a bottle of wine. The bartender who was serving us brought over the manager/sommelier. He introduced himself to us and I think he got excited as Shawn described what he likes in a wine, then started telling him about our recent trip to Sonoma (a favorite anecdote of Shawn's when he's talking to people about wine). He brought us our pinot and decanted it for us, then brought us another glass of red, a Bourdeax style from Mt. Etna in Sicily, as our scallops appetizer and cheese plate arrived.

Later, he brought us an effervescent, crisp white and then an extra course -- house made fettuccine in a butter sauce with truffles grated right there in front of us.

Next, we were treated to fresh caught local black sea bass with a delectable kick of lemon zest, accompanied by a light Italian rose.

Eventually, the entrees we had originally ordered arrived and we found some room to eat them -- a big, meaty piece of baked swordfish for Shawn and cod with lobster sauce and mashed potatoes for me.

We polished off our bottle of pinot and ordered poached peach for dessert. It came on top of pound cake and ice cream, topped with tart raspberry sauce. We ate it all in seconds. Then our manager friend appeared with pieces of dark chocolate and dessert wine. We were drunk and giddy; flush with that special feeling of being pampered and treated to the best for no reason at all.

It was a one of a kind evening that we can never hope to replicate. But we were grateful to experience it and to be in the right place at the right time to take advantage of a stranger's gifts and willingness to surprise and delight us. We felt so special and happy, which is exactly what you want from a night out.

This was the first night in Westhampton that we went out for dinner instead of staying home, grilling and drinking wine. I'm not sure another night out can ever top this one, so it's a good thing that we'll probably just stop here.

Day 85: Never Forget

Today I was standing in the kitchen of our share house in Westhampton, cleaning up from breakfast and the weekend and getting ready to go to the beach. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and it was otherwise a normal, beautiful day.

I was alone with Ginger, and Shawn had left his computer on the table, playing a random playlist of songs on Spotify. A song started to play and it made me stop what I was doing. It was a song I have only heard a few times in my life; a song that was popular when my mom was young, which I last heard played as part of a slideshow at my aunt's memorial service two years ago. I don't believe in coincidences, but I do believe in messages from "the other side." Stop reading now if you just rolled your eyes -- I'm about to take this post into Long Island Medium territory.

I believe that the song was a message from my aunt. She picked a quiet time, when I was alone and in a contemplative mood, to send me a little sign that only I would recognize as her saying hello. I don't know why she chose to reach out to me today in that way, but it made me feel her presence with me. It reminded me that she is by my side always, caring for me and my loved ones, watching over us. And, of course, I started crying hysterically. I don't know how to process these memories. I wish they made me feel happy and loved, which is how I think my deceased loved ones intend them, but the pain of their loss is still too fresh. I am instantly filled with an immediate and deep feeling of loss and sadness. I don't know when this will go away. I don't think it ever will. Today, in the middle of a beautiful day in a beautiful house, I cried and cried until it felt like I could never stop.The crying didn't make me feel better, I just kept feeling worse and worse.

I don't go searching from messages from the beyond, but I'm certain they are everywhere. On September 11 every year in NYC, to me the air feels heavy with them. When I was planning my wedding last year, I felt the love and support from my late grandmothers and my aunt all around me, in ways I could not express, but felt comforted by. These feelings make me miss the people who I have lost more, but it helps me to never forget them.

Beach day with my mom, aunt and cousin 20+ years ago

The last time I got a message from my aunt, loud and clear, was at my wedding. That was exactly one year and one week ago today, so maybe that explains why she chose today to send me another message. At my wedding, just a few minutes after Shawn and I exchanged vows, I tripped over the train of my dress and went tumbling down a steep stone staircase. I landed in soft grass with just a couple scrapes and bruises -- I didn't even have grass stains on my dress. It was a miracle that I wasn't more badly injured. I was shaken, but I managed to regroup and I tried to act like nothing had happened. Minutes later, my entire extended family gathered nearby because we were going to take photos together. I looked into the crowd, where all my cousins and aunts and uncles were gathered. Without thinking, I looked quickly for my aunt. Before I could self-correct and remind myself that she is no longer with us, I swear I saw her. Maybe it was the sunset that clouded my vision. Or maybe my adrenaline was pumping and I wasn't thinking clearly. Maybe I saw one of her daughters and thought, for a split second, that it was her.

I was hesitant to share these experiences here, in this public forum. But the truth is, I don't care if you believe me or not. I know what I saw and I know what I feel. I still often feel the presence of my loved ones who are no longer here in the physical world. The next time you find yourself in a quiet moment, take a deep breath and listen closely to the world around you -- and you might feel a message from your departed loved ones, too.

Day 81: Embrace The Sweat Stains of Life

I'm hard on myself. I expect nothing less than perfection -- I always want myself to be happy, fulfilled, loved and skinny; to look chic and put together; to live up to my potential; and to make the most of the gifts that have been given to me. It's exhausting. And the standards I set for myself are impossible. So if I expect the impossible of myself, then I am setting myself up for failure. Every. Day.

So, now that I've diagnosed the problem, I'm halfway to finding a solution, right? No, I think that is yet another lie I tell myself. Changing my thinking and outlook on life has been a long process and is something I will probably be working on forever. I am an imperfect being; now I have to accept that about myself and cut myself some slack.

If I could stick to my goal of meditating daily (there I go again, beating myself up again for not following through with something) I would use the mantra that my therapist gave me four years ago: I am good. But since I don't repeat this mantra as often as I should, sometimes I need something to remind me to be nicer to myself.

Today, that reminder came in the form of a sweat stain.

I was en route to meet a friend for happy hour drinks. Once again, I had been hard on myself while getting dressed -- nothing fit me right, I felt fat and dumpy -- but I had tried to lighten my mood by wearing a favorite new shirt. As I got off the subway -- feeling slightly sticky in the early evening heat and humidity -- I spotted a woman walking in front of me. She looked impossibly put together in a royal blue shift dress, cork pumps and a big leather purse. I saw her and instantly kicked myself -- she was obviously still dressed up from a day at the office, but on my best days at the office I never look that good. Especially after sitting at a desk all day, my clothes and hair are rumpled and I'm most likely ditching the heels for flats before walking out the door. Why wasn't I brave enough to traverse the cobblestones of Soho in three inch cork heels?

Somehow -- probably because I was in flats and she was teetering along on the cobblestones of Soho in heels -- I managed to catch up to my style icon as we waited to cross Houston. As I approached her, I saw a flaw in her perfect dress. Right around the zipper on her lower back, I saw a sweat stain that was in various stages of drying and leaving a nice salty ring on the back of her dress. Suddenly, the image of my perfect day-to-night office girl came crashing down. This woman wasn't perfect. She may look more dressed up than me, and braver to wear heels, but she was human, too. She was sweating, or had been at some point during the day, just like me.

The message from the universe came through loud and clear: accept yourself as imperfectly human. And when life throws you sweat stains, just put on a pair of heels to distract everyone.

Day 79: Hit the Snooze Button

Rough morning

Day 69: Celebrate One Year of Marriage - Day 2

Today was so jam-packed, it really felt like two days in one.

First, Shawn and I woke up early to enjoy the breakfast buffet at our hotel. Then we did some exploring, walking down to the Bowen's Wharf to get our tickets for our 10 a.m. harbor sail. When we arrived to check in to our cruise, Shawn was surprised to learn I had purchased $30 tickets on a cruise with 20 other people instead of a $200 solo cruise, which is what he would have booked if he had been in charge. I can't think of something that better illustrates the differences between Shawn and me and how we view the world (and our bank accounts). A solo trip around the harbor would have been lovely, but it was totally unnecessary. We were perfectly content sitting on a boat with other people, drinking mimosa and snapping photos of the views. Shawn would have blown $200 more than me just for a personalized trip. When he realized what had happened, he admitted that this was why I was in charge of booking these sorts of things from now on. Enough said.

We were a little early for our sail, so we wandered around the wharf for a little bit. It was just opening up and there wasn't much activity, but we did find a small coffee shop tucked away at the end of one of the docks. Turns out, one of Shawn's friends knows the owner, and she made us two ridiculously amazing lattes, which we drank while sitting on Adirondack chairs on the dock, admiring the yachts in port.

Our sail was fun and beautiful. We had some wind, but the boat had to rely on its engines to get us back into port in time for the next cruise to leave. We drank mimosas and learned about some of the fascinating history of the area, including the waterside farm Jackie Kennedy's family used to own, the unique house owned by Joseph Wharton in Jamestown and a very cool self-sufficient house on an island with a three-year waiting list to rent.

It was about noon when we made it back to land, the perfect time for lunch! We ordered two lobster rolls (one hot, one cold) and giant drinks from the lobster place right at the end of the wharf, Aquidneck Lobster Co. The restaurant had been recommended to us by several people, and it was no surprise! The lobster was yummy, but we both agreed we liked the cold lobster more. And for some reason, Newport restaurants put dill on everything! I'm not a huge dill fan, so I'm not sure if I can deal with this this weekend.

After lunch, we walked back up the hill to our hotel. We had a lot of alcohol and lobster rolling around in our stomachs, so we decided to take a nap. When we woke up a few hours later, it felt like a brand new day!

Despite the fact that it was really hot outside, we decided to walk to the Cliff Walk. Well, Shawn decided that we would walk and somehow I thought maybe we would take a cab. But, after walking a few blocks, I realized we were really walking...and I sucked it up and walked the rest of the way with no few complaints. We started the Cliff Walk at the end, the Chanler Hotel. The Cliff Walk was beautiful, but we both agreed that we didn't really get it. From where we walking, we couldn't see any of the big houses. We just saw the waterfront and the town across the way. We walked as far as the 40 Steps and then headed for home -- another super long, sweaty walk.

We got back to the hotel, showered, and got ready for dinner. We trekked back down to Bowen's Wharf, this time I was in heels, which was the worst idea, ever. Actually, second worst. The first was wearing Toms with almost no support on our epic walk of Newport. But, more on that later....

We managed to snag seats at a busy bar at a waterside restaurant near where our sailing excursion had departed in the morning. It felt like so long ago! We ordered drinks and a cheese plate -- ensuring that by the time we got to dinner we were already well on our way to being full!

For dinner, we walked down America's Cup Ave to The Mooring, one of Newport's premiere restaurants. We sat out back on a porch overlooking the dock as the sun set. We ordered oysters, lobster from the raw bar, chowder and salad to start, then I ordered scallops and Shawn got surf and turf. We were basically full by the time our entrees arrived (the amazing bread didn't help, either) but we managed to force it down. There was no room for dessert though. We had to go home!

On our way home, through the dark and busy streets of Newport, I took off my shoes -- my feet were too beat up from the day of walking around Newport. I've also been battling a crazy cramp in my calf. I woke up on Thursday morning with it and it's still bothering me. I think it's happening because I've been walking around in my Toms, and today didn't help!

Despite the leg cramps and blisters, I'm enjoying our time in Newport so far. It's been peaceful and romantic and sweet to spend a little one on one time with my hubby. A girl could get used to this.

Day 68: Celebrate One Year of Marriage

Our one year anniversary is fast approaching. I wanted to celebrate in style and go somewhere fancy. I suggested a Caribbean island -- somewhere with a short flight and all-inclusive food and booze (Shawn loves a buffet). Since both Shawn and I are pragmatic and practical people, we decided to go away the weekend before our anniversary, since we knew we would not have access to our Hamptons share that weekend. Why waste a weekend in the Hamptons we have already paid for when we will just be sitting around New York the week before anyway? And since we are both practical people, we decided not to go to the Caribbean during hurricane season and save what we would have spent on our flight by going somewhere close by that we could get to by car.

That's how we landed on Newport, R.I. and I made my second trip to the country's second-smallest state in two weeks. We started our journey around 3 p.m. this afternoon which, it turns out, is possibly the worst time ever to leave the city and drive across Connecticut. First, we drove up to my parents' house to drop off the dog, then we hit the road to Newport. After several hours of practically stand-still traffic, we arrived in Newport around 8 p.m.

We spotted a rainbow during our long drive

Our hotel, Hotel Viking, is beautiful and stately with Adirondack chairs on its porch and outdoor seating at the restaurant. We were starving and ate dinner at the hotel's restaurant, but it was not the best. Still, we told the waitress it was our anniversary and we got a free dessert! That certainly did not disappoint.

We ate it up!

After dinner, we took a quick walk around our hotel to explore a little. Though it was dark and late, we did notice a few of the houses in the surrounding neighborhood are really, really old. We also realized that our hotel is a good 10 minute or so walk from the bustling downtown/harborside area of Newport, which should make getting around a little more difficult than expected. Tomorrow morning we're going sailing and we have many more adventures in food ahead this weekend.

Day 64: Weekend in the City

This weekend was the last summer weekend we'll have at home in New York, and we really tried to live it up. On Friday night, Shawn went to the farmer's market and cooked dinner. We enjoyed brunch, we took Ginger on a long walk over to Chelsea Piers, had dinner with Shawn's brother and even got to catch up with friends of mine from business school over drinks on Saturday night.

Ginger is Queen of the Mountain at the dog park

All in all, a successful, relaxing, low-stress summer weekend in the city, just the way I like them.

Even Ginger is pooped

Day 62: Drinks and Dessert on a Friday Afternoon

Just another summer Friday in the city with Anne.

Day 61: Ginger, Hanging Out

 I received this email from Ginger's day care D is for Doggy today, with this photo attached:

 One of our handlers (anik) took the cutest picture of Ginger and we wanted to share it with you. We hope you enjoy it.

Enjoy it!?! I love it to pieces. And I love that we have a day care that sends us adorable photos of Ginger during the day!

Day 59: Visit Old Friends and New Babies

Brianne Rose, not quite 2 months old

Just call this the summer babies!

Today I'm in lovely Cumberland, Rhode Island visiting my very dear friend and former college roommate, Jennifer, and her sweet brand new baby girl, Brianne. I'm happy I picked this week to visit the girls because Jennifer's husband Mike is on a business trip and a new mom can use some back up sometimes! That means I get some special one on one time with Miss Brianne, but I'm not complaining. As long as she's happy and not crying, like she is in the photo!

Day 58: Hanging with Ginger

I'm seeing a theme in my photos -- Ginger and my feet...

Day 57: Don't Forget Your Priorities

Ginger and me enjoying a sunny Sunday on the porch

When I say that having a dog is like having a kid, some mothers roll their eyes at me. But what I mean is that having my dog -- my high strung, high maintenance, easily sickened, demanding dog -- means, more often than not, putting this creature who can't feed or take care of herself before myself and my needs and desires. 

For example: today, I wanted to go to the beach with Shawn and our friends. It was a gorgeous, warm summer day, totally making up for yesterday's grim sky and sprinkling showers. But a couple people were staying behind to clean up the house. Not wanting to leave the dog home alone without one of her owners being here, I decided to stay home and hang out with the Ginger.

I'm sure the dog would have been fine if left alone with our friends. But just in case I wanted to be there, to protect my baby and keep an eye on her so she didn't run into the road and get hit by a car (worst case scenario). Sure, I missed a glorious day at the beach, but there will be more later this summer. There never can be another Ginger. 

What's more, I take pleasure in spending as much time as I can with Ginger while I have this time off from work. I'm going to miss the little girl when I'm sitting at my desk each day.

Ginger spies a bunny

On the way home again

Day 56: Sometimes You Just Have to Order the Rice Krispie Pie

Rice Krispie Pie at John Scott's Surf Shack

Our friends are spending the weekend with us in the Hamptons this weekend. Last night we had an amazing home-cooked lobster roll feast and today we went to the beach. It was rainy and cold and miserable, definitely not an ideal beach day. But after the beach, we went to our favorite food spot by the beach, John Scott's Surf Shack. And, nothing brightens up a rainy day like ice cream! So we ordered a giant slice of John Scott's Rice Krispie Pie -- a Rice Krispie treats crust filled with mint chocolate chip ice cream, topped with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Yum!

Day 55: Travel With Ginger

We missed Ginger while we were in California. Even though she's not the biggest fan of the car trip, she loves being out in the big backyard of our share house. And Ginger has never met a bag she doesn't love to jump into.

Earlier this week, post-haircut

Ginger has loved climbing into this bag since she was a puppy

Today we headed back out to the Hamptons after two weeks away, and boy were we happy to have Ginger along for the ride. She loves the beach house more than any of the humans in it; between big backyard, the huge house to run around in and lots of new people, dogs and wildlife to interact with, Ginger is one happy bitch in Westhampton. Plus, we don't have to miss her or -- even worse -- pay someone else to take care of her when she's right there with us!

Waiting for our ride to the Hamptons

Seriously, could this dog be any cuter?

Day 49: Let Yourself Recover

This whole summer, so far, has felt like a lot of work. Vacation shouldn't feel like work! But with all the travel and juggling work and taking care of Ginger and Shawn and myself...this summer has already worn me out!

We got back from the West Coast LATE on Wednesday night/Thursday morning. Our flight, which was scheduled to land close to midnight, was delayed. And after waiting for what seemed like forever for our luggage, we realized that the international terminal at JFK was super busy. There was a traffic jam outside the terminal at 2 a.m.! So, our car was late meeting us at the gate and we didn't get home and to bed until 3 a.m. I think -- I lost track of the time. I was thoroughly exhausted from head to toe, which is not really the way you want to feel when you come home from vacation!

Thursday I traveled up to Stamford to pick up Ginger from my parents/dog sitters and then came straight home to meet a friend for dinner. If it was any other week,  Shawn and I would have packed up and headed out to the beach on Friday. But it was just too much. We were both wrecked from a week on the West Coast, complete with endless wine and mounds of Mexican food. And between the long drives to and from the wineries and staying in a house with seven other people -- including three children between the ages of 2 and 6 -- our trip to wine country was not especially relaxing. The thought of packing up the dog and going to another house full of strangers for a weekend seemed even more daunting. So, for the first weekend this summer, we decided to forego the Hamptons and just stay home in New York City for the weekend.

Our decision to stay home and recoop ended up being the best decision ever. Today we slept in and had a leisurely brunch. Later in the day we meet our friends for afternoon drinks in the West Village and I realized how much I don't want to even look at wine right now! We ended up at the Spotted Pig where Shawn and I split the epic burger and chicken liver toast. Yum! We went back home, picked up Ginger, and brought her to our friends' apartment uptown where we ate pizza, drank beer and played Head's Up until everyone's iPhone batteries ran out.

I am fully aware that I am the lamest person alive. All summer, Shawn and I have spent our weekends grilling and drinking wine at a house near the beach with our dog and friends. We haven't been out late drinking at bars and clubs and we don't explore the trendy new restaurants of the city or Hamptons. But even our lame Hamptons life was too much for us to take this weekend, and I'm glad we decided to stay home and recharge. Everyone needs that every once in a while.

Day 48: Catch Up With Old Friends

This summer has already been a whirlwind of travel to Westhampton, Florida and California. But the summer's half over, and I have to remember to catch up with people I love in NYC, too.

So, today Ginger and I took a long walk with Lauren, who just got back from her own travels in Portugal. There was lots to catch up on, and I hope to have more long walks in the summer weeks ahead.

Ginger enjoys her favorite part -- Madison Square Park -- during our walk with Lauren today

Day 46: Become Educated About Wine

Today I am feeling very full of wine. We've been drinking pretty much nonstop since Shawn and I drove from San Francisco to Sonoma to meet up with our friends Scott and Miko. Luckily, we hired a driver, so all four of us could partake in the wine tasting and copious consumption. Even now, as we sit on a place en route back to NYC (we're on Virgin America so I'm watching So You Think You Can Dance, too) Shawn and I are sharing an overpriced bottle of wine we purchased at SFO as we waited to board. It's a twist off top and they gave us paper cups at the shop where we bought it with sandwiches for our dinner. Only in Wine Country.

After today, I think I will detox a little from wine. Between our summer share house, Long Island wineries and this trip, I've drank more wine this summer than I ever have before -- I'm pretty sure -- in my whole entire life. But, this trip has been so educational, too. Because Scott is a member of the wine clubs of the various wineries we visited, we were able to take part in some of the best, interactive, behind the scenes wine tours out there. 

The tour at Inglenook began in the vineyards

On Monday we went to Napa and visited a few wineries, starting with Inglenook, a beautiful French chateau property owned by the Coppola family. We got a special tour of the vineyards, tank room and barrel caves and ended with a special wine blending experience with cheese and snacks.

Shawn among the Inglenook barrels

On Tuesday, we started the day in Sonoma at a winery called Repris, where we went up the side of mountain overlooking the vineyards in the valley.

Shawn and me at the top of the hilltop at Repris

A panorama of the valley

Tasting in the caves

So what did I learn? I learned how grapes are harvested and when, how they are hand picked, how
 they are crushed, how the wine is fermented and aged, how the barrels are toasted, how wine is preserved and how each step and choice a winemaker makes can effect the taste and quality of a wine. I learned that no two wines are the same -- barrel to barrel, year to year. You might like a pinot from 2011 but hate it in 2012. I learned how long it takes from when you first plant a winery to when you can drink that first bottle -- close to a decade. I also learned that each winery has a different technique and different things they hold sacred. Each one firmly believes that they do it best and their wine is the best. But, it all comes down to taste and personal preference.

And I learned, about myself, that I love wine. I am not discerning. I like all kinds and flavors. I know what I like when I taste it, but I my palette is not refined enough to care to drink one or two things all the time. I like variety. And what I like one day in one situation will change for the next. I'm okay with not being a wine aficionado. I know what I like when I taste it, and that's all that matters to me. I had fun learning about wine, drinking wine and exploring the vineyards and caves of so many wineries on this trip. I want to come back to Napa and enjoy some of the restaurants and resorts here as well. Some day.

But for now, maybe I'll lay off the wine for a little bit...

Day 43: Visit Wine Country

Shawn and I are in Sonoma County and Napa with friends visiting wineries for the next few days. Shawn's friend Scott is a member of a number wine clubs, so we have gotten some very cool, exclusive experiences so far -- with more to come. Here's some photos from our first day of adventures:

Wine tasting and lunch at Hartford Family Winery

Exclusive tasting at Chateau Montelena

Fish at Chateau Montelena 

Chateau Montelena winery tour

Drunk and happy

Wine and cheese at Freemark Abbey to end the day of tastings

I suggested that Shawn buy this wine because my grandmother was Josephine

Day 42: Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge

Day 41: Visit Old Friends

Me and Erin at brunch in San Francisco

One of the main goals I've had this summer is to catch up with people who I have lost touch with over the past two years. Business school can be hell on your friendships.

Erin is one of my closest and oldest friends, despite the fact that she lives on the opposite coast. When we met, she was living in Brookly and we were coworkers. A few short months after our friendship started to grow, she decided to move back to San Francisco, where she settled with her now-husband Ben, way back in 2007. For a few years, our employer (my former employer) would fly her back twice a year for meetings and holiday parties, but recently I've been trying to see her once a year or so. Two years ago, a group of us girls went to Santa Fe together. Last year, I saw her briefly on a business trip, then she flew out to New York to come to my wedding -- without her hubby and 8 months pregnant! If that's not friendship, I don't know what is.

When Shawn found out he had a business meeting in LA this month and we decided to spend a few days in Northern California wine country afterward, I decided to fold a visit with Erin into the start of my trip. So while Shawn went to LA for a few days, then spent a night with friends in Newport Beach, I flew to San Francisco on Thursday and spent two days with Erin, Ben and their baby Paxten.

I was so. much. fun. I loved spending time with my old friend, laughing, crying, catching up, cooking lemon spaghetti and agreeing that it was good but not like our favorite spot in the city, Supper. One night we went to a nice girl's dinner at a lovely San Fran hot spot called Flour + Water, where we drank wine and ate pizza and ordered two desserts. What could be bad?

I also loved meeting little Pax and getting to know her sweet little personality. I was thrilled to witness her first assisted steps with a little alligator push toy that she didn't seem to have any interest in before today. The more of my friends' babies I am meeting, the more surprised I am to see their husband's heads on a little baby's body. Pax is pure Ben as a baby girl. She has red hair and fair skin and is already pretty good at giving you a withering stare. That girl is going to be trouble!

Though I only got to see Erin and her family for a short visit, I'm so happy I got to do it. It's one of the highlights of my summer so far! I wish I could see them more often.

Day 39: When in Doubt, Take the Dog to the Emergency Vet

Ginger's trip to the emergency vet

My dog is very intuitive, and very spoiled. Tomorrow, I'm heading to the West Coast to meet up with Shawn (who left Tuesday) and we're spending a few days in Napa and Sonoma County with friends. Yesterday, I brought Ginger up to my parents' house, where she'll stay for the week while we're away. 

As soon as I let her into my parents' backyard, Ginger started having what sounded like a coughing attack. She would cough for a little bit, and then it would sound like she was having trouble breathing. This went on most of last night, but when she fell asleep she seemed okay. This morning and afternoon she coughed again periodically, but it wasn't too alarming.

She has done this before. Sometimes we think she is choking on the grass she eats up hungrily every time she's in my parents backyard. Sometimes she does it at home or in the Hamptons, and we've diagnosed it as reverse sneezing. It's scary to witness but it is ultimately not detrimental for the dog.

However, as the day progressed and her episodes got more prolonged and intense, I started to Google "dog cough." If you're a pet owner, never Google "dog cough." Turns out, a dog coughing can indicate everything from kennel cough (which she is vaccinated against, though that still might not prevent infection) to a heart condition. Sometime after dinner, Ginger started sneezing/coughing and didn't stop for what felt like hours (it was probably 10-15 minutes). She was still doing it when I called the emergency vet in Stamford that my dad had brought Ginger to the morning of my wedding (another long story). I tried to let the tech there hear her. I tried to record her doing it on my iPad. She didn't stop, even as I loaded her into her travel bag and my mom drove through pouring rain and thunder and lightning to get to the vet. Once we arrived at the vet, though, she seemed fine.

After a few minutes of waiting, a very nice vet examined Ginger. I showed her my video. She tried to induce Ginger into sneezing, coughing or something. No luck. $150 later...Ginger is fine, it was just reverse sneezing as I had suspected all along.

But, I'm leaving tomorrow. And now my parents and I have the peace of mind that, if she does this again while I'm away, it's not something fatal. Hopefully, she won't need any more vet visits before I get back next week!

Day 36: Get Ginger to Do Better in the Car

Ginger slept all the way home in the car today

Okay, this wasn't something I had thought was possible one month ago when I started this blog. Somehow, our carsick, anxious dog has transformed in the past few weeks. Ginger still drools like crazy at the mere sight of a car, but she's getting much better at riding in a car for a few hours without vomiting all over whatever lap she happens to be sitting in.

After countless trips back and forth to the Hamptons, we finally have a dog we feel comfortable bringing on trips in the car. She doesn't really enjoy it, but I think she's started to understand it's the price she has to pay to spend time in the fun place with the grass and the bunnies and her parents. She even enjoys sticking her head out the window now! She's a dog transformed.

Day 34: Don't Let the Rain Get You Down

I hate the rain. I especially hate the rain when it ruins a holiday and keeps us from spending time at the beach.

We knew the rain was coming. All the weather forecasts said it would. But, when we woke up this morning we were not also expecting a power outage. Since yesterday was a gorgeous, sunshiny day, I instantly regretted spending the day at wineries instead of at the beach. There's only a handful of things to do at the beach when its raining and going to wineries is one of the few things -- like outlet shopping -- that you can't do in the city. I was in a bad mood. The rain was bumming me out and the idea of even more people filling up the house when we couldn't even flush the toilets was really bumming me out.

The rain bums Ginger out, too

As the rain lifted and the power in the house restored, Shawn and I ventured into town to take advantage of the better cell service there. He needed to send some work emails; I needed to get out of the house. Sunshine and coffee proved to lighten my mood. By the time we got home, I was feeling better.

It rained on and off all day, but I stopped feeling bad about it. Instead of wallowing, we went to our favorite place near the beach for lunch and tried to avert our eyes as the Coney Island hot dog eating contest played while we ate. I drank Corona and ate coconut shrimp. We stopped at the butcher on the way home for hot dogs and hamburgers for a good old fashioned Fourth of July BBQ. At dinner, eight of us crowded around the big dining room table. Then we all walked down to the bay and tried to light lanterns that were supposed to drift into space. They plummeted swiftly into the water instead.

Our group in the house this weekend included three dogs aka the Westhampton Wolfpack