I finally had a chance to get away for a weekend.  I went with about 5 other people camping in the Northern Neck area of Virginia.  We actually camped right beside a vineyard at the Heritage Park Resort.  It was an absolutely gorgeous weekend weather wises too.  We had maybe 10 minutes where it sprinkled Friday night, but nothing significant.  It got pretty cool though both nights, great campfire nights.  During the day though, just absolutely beautiful, sunny, in the 70s, low humidity.

Unfortunately, it started out horribly, as I didn’t actually leave Reston until approximately 3pm on Friday.  It took me an hour alone to go the 25 miles to the Springfield Interchange, and then another 3 hours to get to Fredericksburg (approximately 40 miles further).  Friday traffic in Northern VA is SPECIAL.   It was then another 50 miles of back roads to the campground/vineyard from there.  Thankfully there was no traffic on the back roads beyond Fredericksburg.  So, 5 hours later, I made it the 115 miles to the campground.  It felt so good to just get out of the vehicle at that point.

But it was great.  One of the guys that was there (I think I’ve been on 3 camping trips with him now, he’s a really nice guy, really funny too), had gotten there much earlier and had found a grocery store and picked up a TON of food to cook dinner for everyone both nights.   So, Friday night was a full german meal: brats cooked in beer and other spices, then roasted over the fire, german potato salad, candied red cabbage (I actually tried this and LIKED it), and then an awesome salad (greens/balsamic vinegar/feta cheese).  We stayed up late drinking by the campfire and joking around massively.

Saturday, a shuttle arrived at the campsite to pick us up and take us to some of the vineyards in the area for wine tasting.  We stopped in "town" briefly for some lunch beforehand and then  proceeded to the first vineyard for drinking!  I mean….wine tasting!  I had actually never been wine tasting before, and I am a complete neophyte when it comes to wine (as the one guy referred to me at one point).  I learned quite a bit, found quite a range of wines that I actually really liked (and of course ones I definitely didn’t like).

We started out going to Oak Crest Winery in Oak Grove, VA.  We got to try 9 different wines I believe: Symphony (Dry), Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sunset Serenade (new one not on their site), Symphony (Sweet), Summer Rose and Summer Medley.  I really liked the Symphony (Dry), Cabernet Sauvignon, Sunset Serenade and Summer Medley there.  The latter two were sweeter wines.  The merlot was very notable there as they apparently use dill in it as well.  It definitely gave it a distinctive taste.  I didn’t really like it, but might have liked it better with the right dish.  I have to say that this one was the prettiest of the three.  It was very picturesque with a romantic flare to the landscaping and decor.

The second vineyard on the list was Ingleside Vineyards also in Oak Grove, VA.  This is a much much larger vineyard that has definitely been in operation for much longer than the rest of these vineyards.  We actually did the "black label tasting".  I think in total there we tasted approximately 15 wines, to include their higher end "black label" wines.  I believe this is what we tasted: October Harvest, Chardonnay Reserve, Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Blue Crab Blanc, Blue Crab Blush, Blue Crab Red, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot Reserve, Sweet Virginia Rose, Sangiovese, and a couple of others that I just can’t remember   Of those, I really liked the Merlot.   It was very good, smelled wonderful too.  I did actually walk away with a bottle of that.  I also liked the Chardonnay Reserve, October Harvest and Sweet Virginia Rose.  The latter two being very sweet dessert wines that were just incredible.  I guess I’m a sucker for the sweet/dessert wines too.  We did actually take the tour and it was very interesting to see the process it all goes through and how many things can effect the wine’s taste and aroma, etc.

The last vineyard was the one at the campground: Belle Mount Vineyard.  Much smaller in comparison to the last one, but also much newer.  The owner was extremely friendly and talkative.  The campground predates the vineyard, and is apparently a fairly popular campground.  There were some guys who were there camping/fishing for the weekend from way at the other side of the state. They told us it was approximately a 10 hr drive for them and that they go there for the fishing…this was as they were fileting the 30 catfish (at least).  That was interesting to watch.  This was quite the interesting dichotomy from the vineyard side of the campground.  They only had 5 wines for us to taste: Workboat Red, Lighthouse Rouge, Vidal Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and one more that I can’t remember.  They were okay. I think I liked the Workboat Red the most.

All in all, it really was just a nice day and weekend…and much needed break away from all the computers and technology of life. 

I realized that my last couple of posts were kind of downers and I don’t want this blog to be all "doom and gloom!"  Here’s the non gloom/doom part of my life…

So, went out last Thursday night to some bar in Fairfax called PJ Skidoos with a guy I’d met at a bar called Jimmy’s Tavern in Herndon the previous Friday night.  He picked me up, and we were going to see a band that a coworker of his plays in.  The band while I didn’t catch their name was pretty good.  Female duet backed up by just a guitar.  His coworker really had a great voice.  They sang a very wide variety of cover songs, from Heart, Foreigner and Red Hot Chili Peppers to Pearl Jam.  Now. I have no idea if this was a date or not.  It turned out that two other of his coworkers were there, so we sat with them.  He did pay for everything, and when we left for the evening, he did open the car door for me (And yes guys, I DID reach over to unlock his door).  He was a complete gentleman all night. When he dropped me off, he gave me a hug.  He said he had a great time, and he’d give me a call to do something in a couple of days.  Unfortunately, I think it’s all in the "just friends" category as he wasn’t very flirtatious.   Oh well.  It was a fun evening anyway   He’s a really nice guy.

On a similar but yet not really related note, I thankfully have stopped hearing from this other guy I had gone out on a date with.  He was instant messaging me morning, noon and night, literally.  It was kind of driving me up a wall.  Okay, more than just kind of.  One date, and he was already turning out to be MASSIVELY clingy.   He was a nice guy, but too geeky and way too clingy for me.

This week is National Police Week.  This is a week to honor the nation’s Finest that made the ultimate sacrifice.  There are various activities to commemorate this week, from the Law Ride (motorcycle cops from everywhere ride), the Police Unity Tour (bicycle ride from NJ to DC), the ceremony with Presidential address on the East Front lawn of the Capitol, to the Candlelight Vigil and reading of the names that were added for the previous year.  There are officer’s from everywhere in this nation.

Tonight was the the Candlelight Vigil.  Unfortunately….I didn’t realize it until after it was over.  There were 145 men and women who died in the line of duty last year.  Protecting you and me.  I don’t care what you think about cops, but these are the people who will RUN INTO the dangerous situation that normal people run away from.  They do this, without second thought, without hesitation, without a consideration as to what the person they are "saving" thinks of cops.  They don’t care in that situation, if you are one that would spit in their face, or take them to IAD because you don’t like the ticket the cop gave you.  They only care about one thing, preserving life.

"In valor, there is hope" 

So, someone I knew from a former "life" apparently has been diagnosed with cancer of the liver.  His story can be found here: Dave Cho. I am amazed at just how quickly and agressive his cancer has turned out to be.  Basically, they discovered it a couple of months ago (approximately), and at this point, there is nothing that can be done, but hospice care.  He has been given approximately two months.  The most tragic part of this all, is that they have 4 really young kids…with another due mid-June.  Wow.  Complete and total suckage in ways that words just can not accurately describe.

Selfishly, I am kind of glad I am not in a position where I would see his wife….that sounds harsh, but it’s because I really have no idea what I would EVER say to her.  I have so many questions that are just not appropriate to be asked of them.  She’s been a stay at home mom, and he’s worked for the church.  And even if she did go back to work, she’s about to have a kid, so I imagine it’d be difficult to find a job right now.  Besides, who could look for a job instead of spending every waking moment with your husband until he’s gone?  I just can’t imagine what I would ever do in her situation.  I just hope there are plans in place to help her after.  Thankfully, hospice will be a huge help to them, and will also discuss with them the issue of "Advanced Medical Directives" or "Do Not Resuscitate" orders.  It’s rare that someone in hospice care doesn’t have a DNR…resuscitation is actually a pretty cruel thing to someone who is terminally ill.  It’s not exactly a "gentle" medical procedure.  I can’t imagine being 8 months pregnant and dealing with this.

And yes…my mind works in really weird ways, from thinking about the financial/sustenance aspect to the medical aspect.

If by some weird coincidence his wife sees this, or someone that knows her sees this (the latter is actually probability), please don’t take offense to any of that. I truly do feel absolutely awful for them.  I in no way can imagine what any of them are dealing with, and I hope I never do.  I also sincerely hope that Dave lives long enough to see his fifth child, and that all goes well with mom and baby during that.  I almost feel overwhelmed at all of it FOR them.

So, today was very interesting…

I got dressed up in a sundress and sandals to spend the day at the Virginia Gold Cup. In short, a bunch of hoity toity people get all dressed up (women in their sexiest/flirtiest sundress, sandals and a big hat; men in khakis and a polo or button down shirt).  And have their version of a tailgate party while watching a bunch of horses run around a grass track, or obstacle course.  They day actually starts out with Jack Russell Terriers racing first.  Most everyone is drinking champaigne, mimosas, sangria and/or wine.  Most every spread of food seemed to include ham and then varied from shrimp to chicken.

It was basically, a huge picnic.

And it would have been a great time, except for:

• The weather.  It was rainy, and cold, and no sunshine whatsoever.  I had nothing but a very light sundress and sandals.  It was so incredibly cold for a good portion of the day.
• The two drunks that were part of my group who couldn’t comprehend what in the hell was wrong with the idea of them drinking a beer while I’m driving down the highway.  OPEN CONTAINER anyone?!

That last part actually made what could have been a great day the worst.  They could not comprehend or understand or RESPECT NOT drinking in the car.  And after I’d asked them not to, they "snuck" it anyway.  Then I’d brought a bottle of Grey Goose and a bottle of Chambord…which ended up not opened at all during the day.  They actually tried to steal it.  And I mean they were actually trying to scheme it too.  They’d made a comment at one point during the ride back that the vodka was gone, it must have been all used, can’t find it at all.  And then kept whispering to each other.  When I’d caught them with the open bottles of beer, I’d noticed that the bag my liquor was in (the bag that I knew had the vodka completely unopened), had made it’s way up from the back of my SUV into the backseat with the drunks.  I’d had one of them put it in the back, and then they were whispering trying to figure out where it was.  So I just said, "He’s trying to tell you it’s in the back".   It was such a long ride back to drop them off at the metro.  And then they were like "we are going to take those two bottles of alcohol since we paid for so and so’s ticket"  "Um. no, you’re not.  I bought it."  Finally they backed off and left.    GAH!

Oh!  AND the backseat of my truck now smells like nasty cheap ass beer.  FANtastic.