The cutest little wedding in the heart of wine country

Sometimes the best events are those where you don’t know anyone at all – at least that was the case this weekend when I attended a wedding in the heart of wine country.

As the emergency back-up date for my friend, I got the chance to attend Gloria and Jack’s wedding. Did I know Gloria or Jack? Well, no…but after spending an evening with 40 of their closest friends I now feel like I do.

I swear everything about this wedding was cute. Really cute.

It started with the location. It was held in a farmer’s market in Occidental, CA. So now I know what you are thinking because I was thinking the same. A farmer’s market for a wedding? How’s that going to work?

Believe me, it worked. The ceremony really was in the middle of the farmer’s market. Their wedding helpers (the guests that had arrived early) transformed a parking lot/alleyway into this romantic spot filled with checkered table cloths, wild flowers and food.

“We had our first vacation together in Occidental and we loved the farmer’s market,” said Gloria. “We decided the perfect place for our wedding would be in a place where we had great memories.”

If you haven’t been to Occidental, let me fill in. This place is darling. It’s about 2 hours from Sacramento (on a day when there is no traffic, but it's much longer in reality as there is ALWAYS traffic) and located in Sonoma County on the Bohemian Highway which is rated as one of the most scenic highways in North America. I’m not just saying that because it’s curvy and is lined with vineyards, trees and little town. There are sites on Google that agree with me.

“The coastline is also nice,” said Jack. “You just turn at the corner and drive about 10 minutes to the water.”

I never got around to doing that as the fog rolls in around 9 p.m. and while those winding roads are fun to drive during the day, they are a little scary to drive at night. I don’t know about you, but fog, winding roads and darkness always bring back memories of “American Werewolf in London.” I’m sure at any moment some giant black wolf is going to leap onto my car, smash through my windshield and rip out my neck - which would totally not be a good thing.

So while I’ll be saving the beach trip for another weekend when the sun is out, the wedding was worth the 2-hour trip. Not only was it cute, but the food was to die for. This did not come as a surprise to any of the guests, but little did I know I know Gloria was an award winning cook and is known for her food.

So what did they have? Well, keeping in with the whole farmer’s market theme they started off with fresh loaves of mushroom bread at the table. This bread was so fresh, it was still warm when we broke it open – and remember, we were in the middle of a parking lot. There were no microwaves to warm it up No, this bread was fresh from an Occidental bakery - and again, just like the farmer's market, the bread had meaning for the couple.

"Jack loves this bread. When he says he's craving some fresh bread, I know he's not talking about going to the bakery down the street in San Francisco. He's talking about this bread," said Gloria.

Next on the menu was this Spanish cheese with quince jelly. It sounds so simple, but that was the beauty of it. Again, it was fabulous and I had to hold back from totally pigging out on it, because a) that’s a little rude and b) because there was more food to come and I needed to save some space in my tummy.

Then came the shrimp and garlic. A little messy to eat, but by now we were all family and what’s a little shrimp juice among friends?

After the shrimp, it was time for the good stuff. The stuff I had been watching simmer since I arrive. The stuff that was making my mouth water just from the smell.

The stuff known as paella.

I’m just going to say, this was the best paella I had ever had. They had a seafood and chicken one for people like me and then a chicken and sausage one for the meat eaters. My friend tried both versions.

“We loved the paella from the farmer’s market, so we had to share it with everyone,” said Gloria.

I'm glad they did. I may have to make a trip up there just to get some more.
 

So now that I told you about the food, let me tell you about the ceremony, which was just as amazing.

Gloria and Jack wrote everything themselves -- from the readings to the vows. They told the group how they met, how they made each other feel when they were together and their hopes and dreams for the future. Gloria even told everyone that Jack was the most amazing kisser --which I must say is a good trait in the man you will be kissing for the rest of your life.

Needless to say, there were many tears shed and the cloth handkerchiefs they handed out came in handy.

I may not have known Gloria and Jack when I drove into Occidental, but I'm now proud to be one of their friends.

To the newlyweds...wishing you all the happiness in the world - today and for always!

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Toogood Winery is too good to Resist

For months I’ve been hearing how Fairplay is the new Napa. And you know what? I checked it out this week and is – except it’s much cheaper and cuter. I know you are saying that's impossible as Napa is pretty darn cute...plus, it's famous.

I say Napa, Schnapa...If you are looking for an intimate wine experience, then I definitely suggest taking a drive to the Fairfield/Somerset area. It’s about an hour away from Sacramento and hidden in the midst of rolling hills. In fact, the drive there is kind of nice and relaxing. I took this winding route from Buckeye Flat (yes, it really is called that) to Diamond Springs, and then onto Mount Aukum Road. It’s scenic, fun to drive and a nice change from the generic highway stuff you see if going to Napa or Sonoma.

But here’s the thing…because it’s so scenic you might start feeling that you’re lost. At least, I did. There are no signs that grapes and wine would even be growing in the area as it all trees and hills. I wasn’t even sure I was going in the right direction until I was two miles from my destination – which was the amazing Toogood Winery.

TOO GOOD WINE IS TOO GOOD TO RESIST

I found out about the Toogood winery from the News Director at News10. Tim Geraghty has been talking about this place for months and because I know he has good taste in wine (and food), I had to check it out. And I wasn’t disappointed.

I went on a Monday afternoon and had the entire place to myself, which is the way I like it because then I can chat up everyone and get a really good tour of the place. And you may want to do this too, because for your $5 tasting fee, you get to taste about six different types of bottled wine, two barrel tastings and a couple of their ports – from the barrel and from the bottle. Plus you get to keep your tasting glass as a souvenir. Bonus!

Sadly even though I love the stuff, I'm a wine lightweight and had to do the sip and spit thing towards the end.  There were just so many wines to taste for me. Yes, it's embarrassing, but I'm sure you'll do better than I did and won't waste a drop.

Oh and did I mention that this particular winery is located inside a cave? Yup, Toogood Winery is cool figuratively and literally.

“The cave keeps the barrels at an optimal temperature naturally. There is no air conditioning in here. The earth keeps it consistent,” said Joel, my wine guide.

BARREL TASTING IS FUN…AND WEIRD

Now I’ve been to a lot of vineyards in the US, Canada, France, Germany…and well, the list can go on. I love wine, I love the whole experience of seeing where it comes from and I love talking to the wine makers. It’s like talking artists about their work and sharing a common passion.

But, in all these years of visiting vineyards, I’ve never had a barrel tasting and wasn’t even sure what it was. It turns out a barrel tasting is exactly what it sounds like – you drink from the barrel. The thing is wine from a barrel tastes completely different from drinking from a bottle.

First of all, the wine is not quite done – so it can taste a little of what I like to call “green”. You get a sense of what it may taste like when it's done a few months from now, but it’s not quite as smooth as the finished product.

“The wines you’ll be sampling will be bottled in late August/early September,” said Joel. “You’ll also sample a couple of our ports that will ready in late November.”

Tasting the wine from the barrel was interesting and if you are wine lover I recommend you give it a try. It's almost like you get to experience how the master winemaker monitors the wine as it matures. In fact, you may even notice that the nuances of the wine are a little more pronounced. Depending on the wine, you may actually taste the fruity flavors, the peppery tastes and the other flavors those famous wine guys always talk about. One of the wines I tasted definitely had a green pepper after taste which was kind of interesting, but my absolute favorite tastings were the ports.

Toogood is currently aging this citrus port that would make an excellent addition to holiday dinners and their traditional tawny port had this caramel after taste that was to die for. Yum!!

Also, there is another bonus to the checking out the barrel wines and ports. If you like them and order them now, you can get them at a discounted rate when they actually mature.  The catch is you have to order six or twelve bottles. Tempting. Very tempting.

AND THEN THERE WAS DINNER

Needless to say, my wine experience was fabulous, but if you go to Fairplay, you must go on Monday and you must go to Bocconato’s.

You see, Monday is their no menu and no corkage night, and for $20 you get two courses of incredible Italian food. Don’t worry if you are a picky eater, they let you choose from a bunch of different things, but I recommend experimenting.

I had risotto with a mascarpone cheese sauce as my appetizer, followed by this scrumptious blueberry lasagna. Who would have thought blueberries would go with lasagna, but believe me, when I tell you it was excellent. In fact, I would drive all the way there again just for this Monday night meal.

But while the food was worth the drive, what makes Monday nights really special is the company. Many of the vineyard owners and wine lovers in the area show up and sit at the community table (so sit there). They each bring their own bottles of wine and the conversation begins.

You know how I love to talk to vineyard owners and farmers about their work? Well, sharing a bottle of vino with them is even more fun. Now you don’t get that if you go to Napa.

So what vineyards do the locals recommend I try on my next trip? Charles Mitchell, Oakstone and Sierra Oaks were a few that came up.  But really, they said you can't go wrong at any of them.

So am I banning Napa forever? Not exactly.  I still like checking out that region and will still bring my out-out-town guests there if they want to go. But for the times when I want a more intimate experience, I'll take the drive to Fairplay.

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Returning to my 'Happy Place'

Don't bother denying it, because we all have one whether we admit it or not.  What I'm talking about is a “happy” place. It’s that place where you go to forget about everything and take the time to simply be in the moment.

My brother’s happy place is his ice fishing shack on the lake. It’s basically a couple of plywood boards hinged together into the shape of a box that he places in the middle of the frozen lake. If the fish aren’t biting in that particular area, he gets in his pickup truck and pushes it to another location.

It’s dark, cozy, and for him, the best way to spend a weekend. I think it’s torture.

My California happy place is the Ritz at Half Moon Bay – and my brother wouldn’t be caught dead there as it's too frou-frou and girlie. But I don’t care. I love it. It’s got a great view of the ocean, the food is good, it’s pretty and people leave you to yourself (maybe it’s their happy place too). And today, I totally deserve to be there.

You see, yesterday I finally did my first triathlon and I rocked. Really. I did. I ran, cycled and kayaked my heart out coming in at 2 hours and 31 minutes and placing 16th in my ironwoman division. Pretty darn good for a newbie.

But now, 24 hours later, I hurt. No, let me rephrase that – I hurt A LOT.

I swear, after the race, I felt great. I was on an adrenaline high and ready to do it all again. Today, I have bruises on the side of my knees from the kayak, bruises on my forearms from who knows what, my quads hurt, my gluts ache and my shins feel like someone hit them with a stick. Even my ankles hurt – but that’s probably not because of the race, but because I was wearing heels last night during our post-race celebration. Did I mention I was on an adrenaline high?

MY HAPPY PLACE ON A BUDGET

So what better place to recover from a race than at the Ritz? But here’s the thing. While I LOVE it there, I really can’t afford the $400 to stay the night during the high season. Instead, I cheat by spending the day and then driving back in the evening.

Some of you are probably wondering why I would drive two hours to a hotel and then not stay the night. I mean, isn’t that the point of going to a hotel? But let me tell you, this isn’t just any hotel. This is a Ritz Carlton and there’s nothing like it.

I usually arrive around 1:00 in the afteroon and leave my car with the valet. Then I take a walk along the shoreline and look at the waves. I admit I’m all about the water and can stare at the surf for hours. It completely relaxes me and puts me in my mellow zone. You can ask people who have been there with me. I'm in my own little world where no one else exists -- which kind of sucks for them, but oh well.

By mid-afternoon I figure it’s time to walk back to the hotel for a late lunch at their Conservatory Restaurant – where the food is fabulous. And, it’s not as expensive as you may think. My lunch bill (including my glass of wine) is usually around the $20 mark. I also get my parking validated so it’s a double bonus. Not bad for a nice relaxing day.

Oh and here's a tip: If you do happen to go with someone and want to be cheap like me (oops, I mean 'thirfty'), order the turkey club. It's gigantic and you can easily share it which makes it a super good deal for $14

SHARING MORE HAPPINESS

While I’m happy just looking out at the surf and sipping a glass of wine, there are more things to do at the Ritz – especially if you decide to stay until the evening.

Thursday is Burgers and Jazz night. It’s $19 per person, but you get the chef’s selection of burgers (and these are not bland McDonald’s style burgers, but the good stuff), a number of different brews to choose from and you get to listen to live jazz from local musicians – and you know if they are playing at the Ritz, they are top notch.

And you can't forget the wine, because hey, this is Northern California and I'm learning it's all about the wine.  Anyway, the hotel also does these incredible wine flights between 4 and 6 p.m. in their ENO wine bar. These are around $20 per person too. They serve them with great bread and nuts.

And if you are really into luxury, you can check out what they call ENO-Versity. I haven’t done this yet as I would not be able to drive home after, but from 4 to 6 p.m. every Saturday, you can do a wine/food tasting for $45. This includes six to 10 wines, appetizers and interactive wine instruction. They limit it to 12 people so it’s very intimate.

HONEY, I’M HOME

Like I mentioned, this particular weekend I couldn’t stay the night, but I have stayed at the hotel before in the fall when the prices are a little lower. It’s heaven. Really. There are fireplaces in the rooms, the beds are super comfortable and if you want, they will even draw you a bath (not with crayons, but the old English way).

But while the Ritz is beautiful, it’s the feeling of being taken of when I’m there that has me coming back. I mean, I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels over the years, but this place is special.

It all starts with the complimentary glass of wine you get when you check in, followed by slipping into the cushy slippers in your room and the plush bathrobe.

I swear, every step of the way, the stress of the real world slips farther and farther away and you enter this alternate universe where e-mail and deadlines no longer matter. In fact, the only decision you have to make is...do you want turndown service or not. Now that’s nice.

No more Texas chick. I'm a Cali girl now

It’s always a little sad whenever it’s time for me to change my license plates over to a new state. Don’t get me wrong: I LOVE living in California. The weather is great and I’m loving the scenery (and the vineyards). I’ve even embraced the whole California lifestyle by buying a road bike and riding through the countryside.

Of course, it's not like I'm leisurely biking and smelling the flowers along the way. I cycle like I'm in some imaginery race and I have Lance Armstrong behind me, but whatever. I'm having fun.

Yup, life in Sacramento is good. But I admit taking off my Texas plates is like saying a goodbye to an old friend - or like finally throwing out an ex-lover's toothbrush.

It's over. I’m no longer Texan, but officially a California Girl.

I'VE LEFT MY HEART - EVERYWHERE

Everywhere I go, I leave a little piece of my heart behind -- and believe me, I've lived in a lot of places. In fact, in the last four years I’ve lived in three very distinctive cities and I have a soft spot for each of them.

In Memphis, I miss the vibe of the city. If you haven’t been, you need to check it out. The whole place has this gritty charm you won't find anywhere else, and once you embrace it, you love it.

And how can you not? The blues on Beale Street are always incredible and so is running along the Mississippi River on Mud Island (which must be  followed up with a treat from Miss Cordelia’s) .

Then there’s Gus’s Fried Chicken which comes complete with the slice of white bread to soak up the oil. I know, it doesn’t sound yummy, but this hole in wall dive really does serve the best fried chicken in the US –maybe all of North America.

Yeah, Memphis is the south at its best, but I’m warning you -- between the fried chicken, the sweet potato pancakes from Arcade Restaurant and the award-winning BBQ, you better come hungry and leave your diet at home. Because, just like they told me when I asked if they had anything not fried, “you’s in the south now, Sugar” and that’s the way it is.

Tampa was my next destination, and it too had its own charm. But instead of feeling like you're living in city filled with history, it’s all about the beach, flip flops and eating light. I mean, there is no way a sushi/pool hall like The Rack off Howard would ever survive in a fried-food haven like Memphis. But in Tampa, this was one of THE places to hang.

But the little piece of my heart that is still there is with the palm trees and blue water. There was nothing like running along Bayshore Blvd. early in the morning and seeing dolphins jump in the gulf beside you. Pure heaven.

And yes, that pastel yellow building in the photo above was my home during my stay in Tampa. I admit I was lucky girl to find this place. Believe me, no matter what they say, you never get tired of watching the boats sail by.


THEN THERE WAS TEXAS

I confess I wasn’t sure if I was going to like Houston, but there is something to be said about Texas-pride. That whole “don’t mess with Texas” motto kind of grows on you, and the longer you live there, the more you’re proud to be a part of the state – especially after you live through Hurricane Ike hell and see what troopers these people are .

I mean, Texans are tough. First you have the headstrong ones that decided they were going down with their house during the storm like the captain of a ship. And then you've got the people that left and came back to nothing. Their entire houses had washed away. Really. All they had left was a couple of posts in the ground.

I had a lot of "firsts" in Houston. I went to my first rodeo, my first country music concert (didn't know one song), rode my first mechanical bull, had my first ride in a lambourghini on a race track (that was fast) and interviewed a lot of celebrities including Beyonce and Gloria Gaynor.

I never could get away with saying “y’all” or “do what” or “hunker”, but I did love showing off my Texas ID in California bars -- because, you know, they just don't mess with you.

Sadly, now I have to take off my Texas plates and put on my Cali ones, and I’m feeling a little nostalgic. So in honor of my last day of being a Texas-chick, I'm going to play some Sugar Land when I get home and do a little two-step.

EMBRACING CALI

But don’t worry. I'm doing a lot of "firsts" here in California, too. I just attended my first Zombie Walk last weekend and am doing my first triathlon on July 17. I've already got plans to climb Mount Whitney in the fall and am trying white water rafting later this month.

I've already bonded with California and am not planning on going anywhere for a little while.

Besides, all this moving around isn't good for my heart. I have to stop leaving it places:-)

It’s time to panic. Only eight days until race day



Me on my bike.

 In college, were you one of those people who used to cram before exams? I was.

I wasn't a bad student. I would actually attend every class and take notes, but here's a secret you shouldn't tell my professors...I really didn’t do any work until it came time for exams. I know...that's bad.

Instead, the day before the test I would boil a pot of Earl Gray tea, pop a big bowl of popcorn and stay up all night cramming as much information into my head as possible. Surprisingly, I always got good grades and was an honor student so I never really worried. Yes, my friends used to hate me for this, but whatever.

So why am I in panic-mode today? Well, apparently my bad study skills have morphed into my curent life because today I realized that I’m doing the exact same thing with my triathlon training. Aaah!!
 
Don’t get me wrong. Just like I used to go to class every day in school, I do workout – but I’m only doing the stuff I did before I decided to Eppies Great Race as an iron person. I do my three days of weights and then run or bike on the other three days. I’ve also done a couple of kayaking classes to make sure I can make it through the rapids.

Yeah, on paper this sounds like a lot, but it’s not really because basically I’m only working out 30 to 60 minutes a day – which is what I normally do. Okay, I have done a couple of long 50 mile bike rides, but that was more fun than working out so it doesn’t count.

In reality I should be doing more if I want to actually survive the triathlon, especially after I talked to a couple other people training for the race. Do you think they are only working out 30 minutes a day?  Nope, nope, nope..they are working out like real athletes. They are running 6 miles every other day, cycling like crazy and using professional triathlon coaches to get them results.

Yeah… I’m feeling like maybe I’ve been taking this challenge a little too lightly, but it’s too late to get into the groove now. The race is only eight days away. I know - IT'S PANIC TIME.

So now I’m cramming. I’m running 6 miles every second day this week and on the weekend I’m going to try to do the run, followed by a 12 mile bike ride. I only hope my body will respond as easily as my mind did during college.

Wish me luck!

PS. I did complete the Eppies Great Race on July 17 in 1 hour and 31 minutes -- coming in 16th for my ironwoman division. Yay!!!

A night of ghosts and romance in the Old City Cemetery

In honor of the latest Twilight movie, I decided to do something a little supernatural and checked out "Spirits with the Spirits" tour at Sacramento's Old City Cemetery. It was pretty cool and not a bad deal for $15.  I mean, where else can you listen to ghost stories in a moonlit cemetery while drinking wine?

 I wasn't the only one who thought this. Hundreds of history buffs and ghost lovers gathered at the graveyard on Saturday night -- but sadly, this was a one time thing.


“This is the first time we’ve done a tour like this in June,” said Dr. Bob LaPerriere, Director of the Old City Cemetery Committee. “We usually do daytime ones every second Saturday of the month.”

Too bad, because I would recommend it. Not only did we get wine (which I love), but along the way, we encountered actors dressed up in period costumes who shared their stories about how their characters  lived their lives…and how they died.

There was Simon, who was shot back during the gold rush days, a woman who ran the temperance movement, an alleged prostitute from British Columbia who blew pepper in a woman’s face and was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, and a bartender who got hammered –literally. He was killed when a couple of thugs hit him in the back of the head with a blacksmith’s hammer. Now that had to hurt.

NOT EVERYONE LEAVES THEIR HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO

I'm not really a romantic. In fact, roses and candles are completely wasted on me, but I do like a good love story -- and the finale of the "Spirits with the Spirits" tour was just that.

The final guest of the night was Maria. Dressed in a long gown complete with a little parasol, Maria told her tale while standing by her gravestone.  She was a 25-year-old woman who was killed by another man just two months before her wedding.

While that's pretty tragic in itself, the most romantic part of the story has to do with her fiancé. Apparently, he never got over losing the love of his life.  According to Maria's story, he lived in San Francisco and died a few years after her murder. Upon his death, he donated all of his body parts to science – except for his heart.  This was buried beside Maria in the Sacramento cemetery so that they could be united in death. Aww...so sweet.

Of course, the moral of the story was that he truly did not leave his heart in San Francisco.

MORE TOURS FOR THE GHOST LOVERS

Establishment in 1849, the Old City Cemetery is the resting place of many Sacramento mayors, California governors and other historical figures. If you check it out, you'll see the grounds are immaculately landscaped, but according to LaPerriere, they weren’t always like this.

“Back in 1971, it was all weeds and twigs,” said LaPerriere. “I first came with a group who were looking for physicians of the past. Back then, it was in disarray.”

LaPerriere, along with a number of concerned citizens, stared the Old City Cemetery Committee to restore the site to its original glory in 1987. They love giving tours and sharing the history of the place with people.

“Our next tour will be this tour held on July 17 at 10 a.m. and will be about baseball and beer,” said LaPerrier. “It will feature baseball players who played ball on the West Coast and back East in the Major Leagues.”

For more information, visit http://www.oldcitycemetery.com/PlayBall.htm

Good people come with kayaks

If you've been following my blog, then you know I'm desperately trying to train for my first triathlon.  I've already got the running down (well, maybe not down, but at least I can run the 6 miles without dying). The biking portion is also kind of under control. That just left the dreaded kayaking -- and making it alive through the San Juan rapids on the American River.

You see...even though I surf, snorkle and do a bunch of water related things, I'm not really a strong swimmer so facing rough water while cruising down a river in a tippy boat was something I wasn't looking forward to.

But then my guardian angel came along and hooked me up with the nicest people in the area.

A GIFT FROM ABOVE...AND IT WAS FREE

For the last three years, Sherri Reese and Steve Holmes have dedicated almost every weekend from May until July teaching new kayakers how to navigate down the American River and safely through the San Juan rapids.

They specifically work with people like me who plan on competing in Eppies Great Race, and believe me these people know what it takes to complete the race. Steve has competed in the Eppies for the last 27 years and Sherri has done it nearly 10 times. But they don't just race, they want to share the fun.

"We love the race. So Steve wrote to Eppies one year and told them we were willing to show people how to kayak," Sherri said. "But even though it's been three years, not that many people know about us yet."

When she told me that, I was baffled.  I mean, the kayak clinics they hold are incredible. They take you down the race route, show you the secrets of getting through the rapids and also the pitfalls of choosing some of calmer water.

But here's the best part. The kayak clinics Sherri and Steve conduct are free of charge and all the equipment is included. They provide the kayak, the lifejackets and the skill to show people of all ages how to paddle safely - and what to do if the boat does happen to capsize. They have 13 kayaks and borrow more from friends if they happen to need them.

And if you are like me and like to perfect things, you can attend more than one clinic, and regardless of how many times you go down the river with Sherri and Steve, there is never any cost. I've attended 3 so far and plan on hanging out with them two more weekends before race day. They are so fabulous and their attitude is "the more; the merrier". They love it when people come out -- especially us newbies.

"We had at least 10 people the first time we did it. For most people who come out, it's their first time on the water. There are a few that have kayaked before, but most haven't. Actually this year, we only had one person who had kayaked before," said Sherri.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PASSION

I admit I feel a little guilty taking all these lessons, but when I asked Sherri and Steve why they do it for free, they said it's because they want to share their passion with others. They don't own a sporting goods store, nor do they sell kayaks. In fact, Sherri works as an infection control nurse at UC Davis and Steve is a high school teacher at Hiram W. Johnson. They say they don't want to charge for the lessons because they don't want money to be the reason people don't learn how to kayak safely.

"The race itself costs money. If you had to rent a kayak and then pay someone to teach you how to do it, it adds up," said Steve.

Sherri says one of the reasons they started giving the free lessons was because she was hit a few times on the water during the race in the middle of the San Juan rapids. She says some of the racers don't know how to steer their boats or they are unfamiliar with the course. They often end up ramming into other racers, capsizing on the river or putting others in danger.

"It's hard to believe people would do the kayaking portion of the race without any practice, but it does seem when I get out there, there are some people who have no idea what they are doing. They just get in the kayak and go," Sherri said.

While the couple won't accept payment for their lessons, they are being rewarded in other ways. They say there is nothing like seeing the look on people's faces when they find out they can kayak -especially when they make it through the rapids the first time.

"People always say they've heard about how scary and how awful and rough the San Juan rapids are. We show them how they can get through them. They just need skirt around the left side and it's no big deal," said Steve. "The best part is when people realize they can do it and the rapids aren't going to stop them."

NOTHING LIKE SHARING A LITTE JOY

Sherri agrees. She sees the free lessons they give as a gift. It's a way for them to share the good times they have on the river with others.

"During the race it's so fun to hear someone calling your name from across the river. Sometimes when I'm paddling, I'll catch up with some of our students. It is so nice to see them doing it and succeeding," Sherri said.

Sherri 's teaching doesn't stop with her students. If she sees someone struggling during the race, she'll give them some hints to help them out.

"They always seem so appreciative. Certainly I am passing them as I give them the hint. It is a race," she said, laughing.

Sherri and Steve are planning to hold clinics the weekends of June 27 and July 11. To sign up for one of their free kayak clinics or to find out more, email Sherri and Steve at kfitness01@yahoo.com.
For more information on Eppies Great Race, visit http://www.thegreatrace.org/.

Humbled by the superhumans in California

I bow down to the fitness fiends in California. I mean, I’m a little nuts when it comes to working out and will go on a 50 mile bike ride, run 6 miles and then go dancing that night, but what I do is nothing compared to the people I meet here.
I swear, these people look like everyday individuals and then when you start talking to them you find out they are superhuman.

First there was the marketing director at News10. We get to talking and it turns out she just finished the 100 mile bike ride up the mountain in Tahoe over the weekend. Can you say "wow!!" My car has to go into overdrive going up that elevation. I can't imagine doing it on a bike.

Then I run into another girl who just finished the 178 mile Reno-Tahoe Odyssey Relay – yes, that’s right – I said it -- one-hundred-and-seventy-eight miles.

But that’s not all.

While having margueritas at Chevy’s, I learned about the Whitney Mountain hike. It sounds fabulous and it's now on my California "to-do" list. But get this...the couple I was with had done it not once, but four times.

"The first time Sarah got elevation sickness and couldn't get to the top," said the husband.

Elevation sickness? Hmmm...that's high. I may have to train a little for that one.

They have also done the Badwater Ultramarathon – which is 135 mile run across Death Valley in July. They told me if I do it, I should run along the white line on the road because it’s cooler.

So now I’m feeling a little inadequate with my measly 6 mile runs. I may just have to bring it up a notch.

A 14-year-old girl and a pig named O'Malley

Some people blow me away with their amazingness (yes, I know that's not a real word) and 14-year-old Sydney Morrow is one of them. Unlike a lot of people, instead of just talking about something, she took the initiative to start making her dreams come true.

You see, a couple of weeks ago, Sydney wrote News10 and sent us the cutest picture of her and the pig she was rasising for Future Farmers of America.  She wanted the station to come out and meet her pig, O'Malley, and maybe buy him at the El Dorado County Fair auction. 

I know writing a letter is just a small thing, but that's all it took to get my attention. While I wasn't able to buy the pig, I just had to meet this teen that made things happen -- and of course, her pig named O'Malley.

"I knew I was going to join FFA for a while. I was looking forward to it even before I got to high school," said Sydney.

Sydney is a freshman at Ponderosa High School and it turns out that the photo she sent in was the first time she had raised a pig. But she is definitely a girl with a plan. She told me her plan was to raise a market hog for the next four years, auction it off and put the money towards her college education.

She says raising O'Malley, who she named after a character in Grey's Anatomy, was both rewarding and challenging, but no matter how hard it was, she would raise pigs again. Her daily, year-long course involved taking care of O'Malley from the time he was weened until fair day. She says the whole process taught her valuable lessons such as how patience and dedication can pay off.

"I didn't expect the pig to be so hard to train. I have to clean him, feed him and do all this stuff to get him ready for the fair," said Sydney. "The hardest part was getting him to walk in the arena. The first time I tried, he wouldn't even go down. He gets grumpy sometimes and then there is nothing you can do."

Getting the animal ready for the judging at the fair is important and all 30 kids in her class were faced the same struggles. Not only did Sydney have to make sure O'Malley was well-exercised and toned in the right areas, she would have to get them in front of the judges or else he will be disqualified. She also had to make sure her pig was groomed -which means Sydney needed to bath O'Malley.

But Sydney isn't the only Ponderosa teen with a passion for animals and agriculture. There are 30 students in her class and some of them are from farming families.

"My family has been farming for six generations," said Rachel Bacchi. Rachel is raising three lambs and one goat this year.

Sean Golden, 16, also comes from a farming family. This year is his third time raising cattle.

"Cattle is a long process," said Sean. "Right now I have a three. I'm going to auction the steer this year and then breed the other two to get another calf."

Ponderosa high school started their Future Farmers of America (FFA) program in 1964 and it's never waned in popularity.

"We always have quite a lot of kids that want to get involved," said 16-year-old Sara Arsenault, regional FFA reporter. "We have an officer team that starts recruitment at middle schools to raise awareness and get students interested."

The program helps students learn the process of farming and the work involved. In the 2009-2010 school year, 210 students signed up for the Ponderosa FFA/Ag Department. Classes included everything from Agricultural Science, Ag Biology and Animal Science to Floral Design and Animal Health (pre-vet training). Many of the teens who take the program end up in agricultural fields or working with animals, which is why Sydney took the class.

"I really want to be a marine biologist or zoologist as I've always been in love with animals. My dream school is in Monterey because I heard they have a really good marine biology school," Sydney said.

The El Dorado County Fair is less than a week away. Sydney is nearly ready, but the hardest part is still to come. Her pig O'Malley is now about 200 pounds, and after watching him grow from a piglet to maturity, she knows it's going to be hard to auction him off and say goodbye.

"I'm probably going to end up crying," said Sydney. "It's going to be hard knowing I won't see him again."

Isn't she amazing?

Journalism: You've got to love it to work in it

It takes a certain type of person to be a journalist. You have to be dedicated, creative, a great listener, persistent, but most of all you have to be passionate…and maybe just a little bit crazy.

Last night was election night in California, which means it was a busy day for all of us at News10. Pumped full of caffeine and cookies, we were prepared to cover the races all night long –and then, after you had gone off to bed, we were still running around making sure we got the stories and raw interviews on the website, the tapes ingested for the morning team and memorable sound bites ready for follow up packages.

It sounds nuts, but let me tell you, it’s one electrifying experience.

Many of us (like me) started at 9 a.m. and at midnight were still there typing away as others shouted off final race results. Lesha on the news desk kept the rest of us in the loop all night with comments like: “NBA game over in 2 minutes. Lakers up. George on standby.” It’s one of those times where you can see how well our team works together, because even though it’s fast-paced, loud and constantly changing, it just feels right.

But our night wasn’t over yet.

At 12:30, just when the last of us were about to call it a day, a fire broke out at Broadway and 5th destroying the building beside the landmark Hong Kong Café.

We took one look at the massive flames and suddenly, got an extra burst of energy. Damien grabbed his video camera, I grabbed the digital camera to get photos and my notebook. Within a minute we were off and running.

Like I said, it takes a certain type of person to be a journalist.

Tres Hermanas: Holy mole!

All you Taco Bell lovers are about to hate me because I am a Mexican food snob. But it’s not my fault. I'm blaming it all on the great state of Texas.

Yup…when they say “don’t mess with Texas,” they don’t just mean the people; they mean everything and that includes the incredible Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine you can get there. I swear, before I had tasted the real stuff, I was happy with the bland Americanized versions you get at fast food places and non-authentic restaurants.

THE SEARCH FOR THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD

When I moved to California I was excited, because I know you can get some pretty good stuff here. So for the last few months, I’ve been scouring Sacramento in search of the best Mexican food – and finally, on Saturday I found it.

The name of the restaurant is Tres Hermanas (2416 K Street in Midtown) and their food is to die for.

So what did I get that was so mouth-watering good? The mole of course! Anybody can make a sizzling fajita platter, but getting a good mole is hard to come by. Believe me. I know. I’ve ordered it in many Sacramento Mexican restaurants and so far onlyTres Hermanas has me coming back for more.

It’s the perfect blend of warm spices, chocolate, peanuts, chicken and sesame. It’s spicy enough to make you feel it, but not enough to leave your nose running. Man…it’s so good. Just thinking of it now has me craving it.

THE BOTTOM LINE

But here’s the scoop: If you are looking for a trendy date place -- go to Zocalo because it’s pretty - and they make a good marguerita . If you are looking for great drinks, check out Azul’s. BUT…if you are looking for simply good Mexican food and don’t care about décor, being squished or the service, then come to Tres Hermanas.

Because let's face it, when it comes to good Mexican cuisine, who cares about all that stuff? For me, it’s all about the mole.

All Aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train

Yes, it’s true. There really is a Napa Valley wine train. I should know. I rode it this weekend and it was pretty cool.

The antique train takes passengers on 36 mile round trip through the Napa valley. While it’s chugging along you get to feast on either a gourmet lunch or a dinner AND you get to tour a vineyard. See…I told you it was cool.

Just in case you need more convincing, the train has two engines, three kitchens on board and a collection of early 20th century rail cars that are pure Americana. It offers guests great regional food and fabulous, hard-to-find wines. Plus, for the three hour ride, the price isn’t that bad - just over $100 a person.

What makes this trip different from visiting Napa Valley in your car is that you are seeing the vineyards in an actual piece of history. Yeah, that's right. You aren't riding in some modern day train, but something that authentic from days gone by. The dining cars are circa 1915 to 1917 and the domed viewing cars are from 1952.

During the trip, you’ll pass by five towns: Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena, and numerous wineries. If you happen to go on the same tour I did, you'll see where Robin Williams had a home and where some of best wine in Napa is grown.

WHERE IS THIS INFAMOUS NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN?

The Napa Valley Wine Train begins its journey at the McKinstry Street Station in Napa. The train then travels north to St. Helena, where the locomotive disconnects from the north facing side of the train and reconnects to the south facing side of the train in preparation for the return journey.

Depending on the day of the week, the Napa Valley Wine Train makes two stops. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, guests who have purchased the Domaine Chandon Tour will disembark at Yountville during the southbound leg of the trip. On weekdays (Monday through Friday), guests who have purchased the Grgich Hills Tour will disembark at Grgich Hills Winery on the northbound leg of the trip, and be picked up by the Wine Train as the train travels southbound.

I did the Grgich Hills Tour and loved it. The tour guide on our 1 hour private tour was hilarious and we tasted at least three different wines which were included in our train ticket price. We also got to keep our tasting glasses as souvenirs – which is always a nice touch.

NAPA WINE TRAIN PRICES AND ROMANTIC NIGHTS

The prices for the train ride and wine tour range from $119 to $184.00. The Grgich Hills tour is the cheapest one, but they also do seasonal tours.

They actually have a Moonlight Escape on July 25, 2010 coming up that looks really romantic. It’s on the date of the full moon during the time of year when thunder storms are most frequent. There is nothing better than looking at the moon with a good glass of wine.

But don’t wait too long to book if you’re interested. They only accept 24 couples for this particular trip.