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As awesome as it is that Reid blogs avidly more than even I do, I think we’ve encountered an unforeseen issue: Who gets blogging dibs on our mutual activities? Do we Rock-Paper-Scissor-Lizard-Spock it? Or does Reid yield to me, as he should if he knows what’s good for him? In this case, he’s beaten me to the punch :(

Spent the Fourth of July weekend with a couple of friends in a cute pink and green cottage (with it’s own backyard vineyard!) in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, CA—the heart of California wine country—and it was gorgeous.

I like pictures to speak for themselves, so I will use this one from Reid’s stash:

1) Wine for Dummies. We went wine-tasting at Ferrari-Carano, Sbragia, Francis Ford Cappola, Clos du Bois, and Seghesio. I don’t know the first thing about wine. Well, okay—up until last year when I started traveling for work and eating really well in D.C., I didn’t know a thing about wine. I’m learning though!

2) Wine. We drank some of it and bought even more of it. The Seghesio Pinot Grigio and Clos du Bois Fleur Late Harvest Riesling were probably my favorite!

3) Ice pack. I tried road biking for the first time this weekend. When I learned that we would be biking, I imagined myself on a banana yellow beach cruiser bike, maybe with tassels and a bell—brrring-ring!—but no. I got a road bike because I was told I would have an easier time… LIES. We went for 33—THIRTY-THREE—miles. I also tried to bike up a 6-mile incline to Sonoma Lake. I’m in pain. But vineyard views were beautiful while biking by, and it’s a totally different experience than seeing them through a car window. Also, I went down a hill at 25 mph, so that was kind of awesome. (An aside: What’s with all these summer activities that require uphill climbs? Hiking, backpacking, biking—I can’t wait ’til winter; snowboarding is ALL downhill.)

4) Pajammas. Lots of relaxing, cooking, reading, and playing Bananagrams, Uno, and other card and board games. Good stuff :)

Started off the weekend very nicely with an amazing Moroccan-Mediterranean Californian fusion dinner at Aziza in SF! The piquillo-almond spread on flatbread was especially delicious, and I can see why the lamb shank comes so highly recommended.

Headed to Local Kitchen & Wine Merchant shortly after dinner to meet Kim and company, and then to Kate O’Brien’s, where the entire bar busted out singing along with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” - all kinds of awesome!

On Saturday, I attended (for FOURTEEN HOURS) the 17th Annual Chinese Martial Arts Tournament. As always, I regret not participating in the competition. But I wouldn’t have been able to compete anyway, since I haven’t trained since the the 16th CMAT last year and have virtually quit since then, due to changes in priorities and the frustration associated with the lack of drive and thus, the lack of improvement. Perhaps if I can pick up Wushu recreationally and just constantly remind myself that I can train without the competitive edge and simply for appreciation of the art.

In any case, Linda performed really well. I am amazed that she was able to recover from a torn ACL two years ago and train to compete again! Eric did very well, too; solid performances all around, and especially impressive in the advanced division of staff and broadsword - respectively, 2nd and 3rd place winner! WINNARRR!

Friends have really improved in the past year, and I was especially impressed with Evelyn, gold medal winner in Intermediate Female Changquan, and Ashley, who medaled in the Intermediate Female jianshu (straightsword) event!

In any case, tournament and afterparty were fun for the most part, nice to be reunited and it feeeeeels so gooood with lots of old faces! (Cookie for the person that can identify title and artist of that song!)