lycesq's Journal

This weekend was my goddaughter's winebottling party so Alice and I set out Saturday morning for Fairfield.  She drove my Lexus (which will be her next car) because my wrists were still being rotten to me (how's that for anthropomorphizing body parts?)  I took my Humera first, because I wanted to be in decent shape for the party.  Even got out an ankle bandage so it wouldn't hurt so much to walk.

On the way up there, we decided Burger King sounded like a swell idea and it was.  We scarfed them down.  Fairfield is about l l/2 hours from my house so we had plenty of time to digest.  

About half-way there, I realized the elasticized ankle support was just not going to work - too restrictive.  I really needed a decent Ace bandage but we wanted to get to the party.  I decided I would just not walk too much.

There were about sixty people there (including kids) and most of them I have known for years.  Some of the women in their thirties, I knew as children because they were Shauna's friends.

Her almost-four year old was ready for us - he asked if we had a surprise for him.  Duh, we always have something for him.  This time it was a froggy chair he logged around the huge backyard.  Shauna and Carlo have a beautiful two story house in Green Valley, sort of a very exclusive suburb of Fairfield. It's everything they wanted.  Carlo is working on the baby's room (baby's due about Thanksgiving, but that's another story). The downstairs was perfect for the party.  We had children from l0 months old to twelve years so Alice and I appointed ourselves the kid watchers (Shauna had hired two teenagers as babysitters, but there were a lot of kids and Alice and I knew them well). I had one of Shauna's friends cut the brownies (Chocolate Lover's brownies - everyone loves them but they are embarassingly easy) and cut the dippers to brush with garlic butter for the Everybody Loves This Dip Dip.  We baked it for two hours and it was ready for the party (we got there early because of the food prep).

Carlo poured Chardonnay for me (I had my Chardonnay rhinestone shirt on) and pinot grigio for Alice.  It was party time. We took turns with the kids and talked to the various adults.  Had a wonderful time.  One of Shauna's childhood friends wanted to know how I have "such great skin";  she wanted to know the secret.  Well, let's see, I fried myself in the sun as a kid and since I've been an adult I just drink a lot of water, wash with water and use Albolene to get any old makeup off. She wanted to know if I got weekly facials.  I was embarassed to tell her I have never had one. Well, it's the truth. Later in the party, Lisle got somewhat drunk and her themes were you did so much for us when we were kids and we worry so much about you and Alice. I assured her that Alice and I are doing great - we take care of each other and probably have a better diet than most people at the party - and anything we did when they were kids, we did because we enjoyed doing it.

The food was great.  Shauna's husband, Carlo, is a gourmet cook who also knows how to do downhome and people brought a lot of appetizer and side dishes so we had everything from the classic deviled eggs to chicken salad stuff tomatoes, jalapeno artichoke dip, veggies and fruit with dips, two kinds of mac and cheese, macaroni salad, a wonderful green salad, barbequed ribs, pasta, pizza, you name it. And, tons of desserts.  It was a great party.

Alice and I stayed at a local Staybridge (I think) Suites - it had a living room, kitchen, and two bedrooms with baths - one with a king size bed and one with two queens.  I claimed the king and Alice took one of queens because that's what she's used to. We went to bed at a reasonable hour, then got up in the morning because we were supposed to go to the country club for brunch. The plan was to meet at Shauna and Carlo's house at 9:30, then have a caravan to the club.  One problem - I couldn't do it.  I hurt so bad that I had to take my meds, wait a half hour, decide I needed vicodin, then called Shauna to say we were going to try to make it, but didn't know when we would get there. I tried to get Alice to go without me but she wouldn't.   Alice ran to the local drugstore to get me an Ace bandage for my foot since I couldn't walk on it and that was the perfect solution. I have wrapped my ankles so many times that I'm a pro at it and it worked great!.  By about l0:30, I could move and we figured they probably were just getting served, so we headed over to the club, calling Shauna on the way.  They had our breakfast ready when we got there and we had a great time talking about weekend plans and the party. Lisa, Carlo's sister, always works my office Christmas party and wanted to hear all the details. Carlo headed out in a golf cart with Ryan, his son, and Connor, his nephew, who is a few years older.  They were going to motor home.

There was a wedding going on at the club.  A dog handler was walking a medium sized black poodle who appeared very well trained - I think that dog might have been the ring-bearer since I saw the dog later in the wedding party pictures.  I accidentally walked in on the bride and photographer and found out where to go for the brunch (Alice was parking the car).  Everyone was really nice.

After brunch, Alice and I planned to head out to the Cache Creek Casino (about 45 minutes away), so we hugged everyone.  I was really touched that Carlo's niece (who's l8) kissed me on the cheek;  I had been talking to her and her boyfriend at the party and I think she was just feeling close to me. My memory of her was at Shauna's wedding shower when she and her sister were "accidentally" kicking me.  Well, they were just little kids at the time.

On to the casino - oh my!  We checked our bags with the bell captain, I gave the desk my credit card to secure the room (which wasn't ready) and then headed to the slots. We would stop  periodically for snacks, to hydrate (they do bring water, soft drinks and coffee and tea on the floor but seemed short-staffed).  About l0 pm, we decided we really should check on our room.  It was ready and we were a little tired, but still had some energy, so back to the casino floor.

About l:30, we both were dead and headed to our room.  We crashed immediately and slept through the night. I woke about eight (late for me) and took my usual meds and vicodin, but Alice was still sleeping so I just tried to be quiet.  About nine am, I tried to wake her gently, but she was dead to the world.  About then, I gave up going back to work in the afternoon.  I finally was able to wake her up about l0 am.  This wasn't about alcohol (we had a glass with dinner each), it was about being tired and she was. Sometimes, I forget she is 65 and we are both slowing down.

We got going and were back in the casino about ll:30.  We stayed there until about six.  I found that the women's restroom in the handicapped stall had a wall-mounted Sharps container - I had never seen that before. I use that stall if it is available because the rails make it easier for me to get up.

We had already packed our bags and checked them with the bell captain so it was easy to recover them and get the car. We headed home and got there about 2 hours later.  Alex was crashed and the animals hadn't been fed so they were really happy to see me.  We did the usual routine. It's so nice to be home and having my very own bed tonight.  I do enjoy traveling but there is nothing like home. Alice was eager to get to her house and catch up with her cat, Callie.   We're only home for tomorrow and tomorrow night, then head to the California State Bar Association annual meeting on Wednesday.  I get unpacked, then pack up again. Really different clothes, though!

It's almost ten and I'm tired.  Think I'll read for a little while, then go to sleep with the cats with me and Buttercup snoring in her big bed. It's a peaceful sound.

Hope you all have a good night and great day tomorrow. 

Lynne