Bucket List: Completing a 200 mile running relay (ragnar)

You would think I would run out of bucket list ideas, but the answer is “no.” There are just so many cool things to do and experience in this world.   I tend to do a couple little things every year, but there is always that ONE thing that requires planning and is my special quest of the year.  Two years ago it was a volunteering on a surgical mission, last year it was cycling across Ireland...and this year.... it's something a little crazy.

For 2012, the one thing I really wanted to cross off my bucket list was “Complete a Ragnar.”
 

WHAT’S A RAGNAR?

Some of you are probably wondering what a Ragnar is.  It’s basically a running relay where a team of 12 runs 200 miles all night long.  Yes, that’s right…200 miles. 

Here's how it work: There are two vans per team with 6 people in each van.  When it’s your turn, you run the miles for that leg. The van drives to the exchange and when you get there, you pass the relay band to your team mate. Then you try to rest until it’s your turn to run again.

Sound fun?  Um…yeah…none of my friends thought it sounded fun either, which is why I had to do it solo or not do it at all.

 HOW TO GO SOLO WHEN YOU NEED A TEAM

There’s just one problem with going solo on a ragnar: you need 11 other people.  Turns out, finding a team is easier than you think. 

STEP 1: The first thing I did was choose the ragnar I wanted to run in by visiting:  http://www.ragnarrelay.com

They have a bunch of them throughout the year. Yes, I know it's hard to believe, but there are many crazy people like me that do these.  

You can run from San Francisco to Napa or run through Key West or run through scenic Cape Cod.  They are even doing their first ragnar in Canada in 2013.  It will be around the Niagara Falls area in June.  Gorgeous.

 I decided I was going to the Vegas ragnar where you run through the desert and end up in Vegas as your final destination.  Can’t beat feeling beat in Sin City!

STEP 2: Now I needed to find a team looking for a runner. 

So I did what every social media person does -- I went on Facebook and tried to find an event page for the Vegas Ragnar.  When I found it, I posted my name saying I was willing to run.

 Then I learned there was a much easier way.  On the ragnarrelay.com site, there was a spot where you could post your name as a runner looking for a team. Yay! 

Within 20 minutes I had my first email back.  My team was found.  I was assigned as Runner 9. Whoohoo!

STEP 3: Find the van in Nevada on race day and run like the wind – again and again and again.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

My entire team was from Utah so I didn’t know any of them when I met them at the starting point.  Thankfully, two other people were ragnar virgins too, which helped alleviate some of the stress.  Plus, I admit my three legs of the race weren’t bad. 

Leg 1 -- 3 miles all up hill

Leg 2 --  4 miles flat - but at 1:30 in the morning in the freezing cold.

Leg 3 -- 9.9 miles – killer, but I saw my first wild tarantula. He was as big as my palm and was crawling across the desert trail I was running on by Lake Mead.

While I knew I could pull off the running without a problem, what was hard for me was the cold temperature -- and the lack of sleep. 

I really didn’t expect it to be near freezing at night and it was not much warmer during the day.   While you warmed up a bit when running, you were then sweaty and wearing wet clothes – and you had to sleep in the van as we ran all night. No sleeping in a comfy bed after a hot shower.  Nope, I slept with my running shoes on and my jacket.  

Freezing my butt off, sleeping in a van and eating Lunchables and squished peanut butter sandwiches: For a city girl like me, this was as close to camping as I had come in years.  It was a blast!

Our team started running at 9 a.m. Friday morning and we were finished the final mile around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.  We ended up coming in 52nd out of over 500 teams (yes, we totally rocked). We were tired and starting to feel sore, but we did it.  Plus, my average pace on my final leg was 8:11 a mile which is better than the 8:30 a mile I usually do - Whoohoo!!

Cross another one off the list!

Facing my fears on a Scorpion Hunt

I’m not sure if I was getting to know my enemy or facing my fears, but when I heard White Tank Mountain Regional Park was doing their last scorpion hunt of the year after the sun went down on Friday, I had to check it out.  Not only did it sound cool - I mean, what's cooler than seeking out scorpions in the middle of the desert at night, but I would be learning something.  Plus, the event was only $6 - so can't beat that.

Since I moved to Phoenix, people have been freaking me out with their scorpion horror stories,  such as how they like to hide in your shoes and how you can’t put your dirty clothes on the floor as they will hide in there.  Others have told me how they stepped on one getting up at night and going to the bathroom and a woman at my hair salon said she found one in her bed. Ugh!!

I’ve heard that you shouldn’t squish them (not that I had planned to do that) as their babies will squirt out and then you’ll have a scorpion infestation in your home.  And I’ve heard that they are immune to bug spray, but they don’t climb.

My co-worker, who moved here from Texas and is new to the whole scorpion thing too, is convinced they are bees without wings – which you know must  be the premise of some sci-fi series somewhere or maybe Spider Man’s next villain.  He won't go anywhere near a place that could have scorpions (or bees). Of course, in Arizona scorpions are everywhere.

Now that I was totally paranoid and dumping out my shoes every morning, it was time to see what scorpions were all about.  Plus, it gave me an excuse to buy a black light flashlight, because apparently that’s what you need to see them at night.

What did I learn on my scorpion hunt? Lots of cool stuff like:

1.       Scorpions glow under black light, but it’s not the purple glow like they show on the flashlight package.  Instead, they glow whitish-green – like glow in the dark T-shirts.

2.       They can climb – at least the bark scorpions can.  These are the smaller scorpions that are brown.  These guys are usually hanging out in trees and hang upside down so they can sting their prey as they go under them. (Yes, I was itchy the whole time and no longer run or hangout under trees).

3.       They are fast, but not as fast as roaches.  This is good news as that means I can catch them or get something to trap them with.

4.       Their sting won’t kill you – unless you happen to be allergic or elderly.  They say less than 5 percent of people stung require medical attention, which is good to know. The larger black scorpions (Desert Hairy Scorpion) that tend to hang around under bushes and rocks have a sting that will hurt as much as a bee sting.  The little bark scorpions will hurt more.

So did I see any scorpions on my hunt?  Yup.  I saw over 30 in just a quarter of a mile.  I had no idea there would be so many and will never be able hike in Arizona without knowing they are there – and watching me from the bushes, trees and rocks.

Links:
Events at White Tank Mountain: http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/white_tank/EventsDetailPublishers.aspx
 

Arizona Ostrich Farm: Best $5 I’ve ever spent

I’m not really one for crowds so try to avoid amusement parks, cheesy tourist attractions and fairs.  I’ll even forgo wine festivals – however, I will keep track of the wineries and restaurants participating and will go check them out when they are less busy.

But I have been known to randomly drive by something touristy and check it out just because it’s there. 

And the Ostrich Farm I drove by on the weekend was there…AND it had real live ostriches. How could I not stop? I mean, I've never driven by that before.

FIVE DOLLARS FOR ALL THEY CAN EAT    

O.M.G…you need to stop by this place if you need a quick pick me up.  I had no idea what to expect and it turned out to be amazing – and cheap.  Just so you know, it’s not fancy and it won’t take you long to go through the grounds, but it’s super fun.

Here’s how it works: You go through the gates and pay $5. This gives you a bucket full of green food bits, a gold coin and a container full of syrup.

I must have had the “now what?” look on my face as the cashier laughed and asked if I was a first timer. Um…yeah. I was an ostrich farm virgin.

PHOTOS: Ostrich Farm

Turns out the farm has more than ostriches and you get to feed all the animals from the yummies in your $5 bucket. 

First up were the donkeys.   As a wandered up to their fence they all lined up in row down it - waiting as patiently as donkeys can.  Again, I had the “now what” look, but thankfully they had a sign.  It read: Put one piece of food in your hand and hold your palm flat.

Really? Won’t they eat me? 

Nope. I followed the directions and one by one the donkeys gently ate the food out of my hand.  Cool.

But that was just the beginning. I did the same thing with the deer who were even more fun than the donkeys (and a little more slobbery).  They didn’t just line up in a row, but once you finished giving them their treat, they ran to the end of the line to get seconds!

Then there were the goats.  I LOVED the goats, because these aren’t just any old goats. These are “goats in the wall.”

What? You don't know what "Goat in the wall" are? Don't worry. I wasn’t sure what this was either, but it’s hilarious.  As you walk around the grounds, you’ll see this wall with round holes in it.  The holes are just big enough for the goats to pop their heads through.

While this is funny enough as you have a dozen goat heads looking at you, what pushes it to hysterical is that the goats make kissy lips at you in an effort for you to give them treats.  Hee hee hee hee!!

Of course, I was talking to all the animals like some sort of crazy person. Good thing there was no one else around.

Then it was time for the ostriches, which  I admit were kind of scary. 

After dealing with all these friendly kissing animals, it was strange to see these tall birds. There was no friendly sign saying, hold your palm flat. Instead their sign read: Yes, ostriches bite. We're not responsible for accidents.

Yeah, I’m just going to toss you the food from a safe distance - and keep my fingers safe.

Finally, they had Lorikeets.  While the goats were my absolute favorite, the birds were amazing too.   They are located in a little hut off to the side.

You go through the door and it’s peaceful - except for the chirping.  Looking lost, the woman inside told me to pick a place in the room, hold out my hand and open up the syrup in the container.  The birds would fly over to me.

And they did. 

In seconds I had 3 Lorikeets sitting on my arm with their cute little claws wrapped around my thumb and fingers (by the way, their claws feel warm).  They licked they syrup out of the container with their little bird tongues and I almost wished I had more to give them.

It was a fantastic, impromptu trip. Totally recommend it.

If you want to find it online, it's the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Farm (I didn't see any roosters there).

Crawling over Flatiron Mountain (also known as "Ow...my legs")

I have one word for Flatiron Mountain: KILLER. 

Flatiron Mountain is about an hour out of Phoenix by Mesa.  I had heard about this place from my long-time friend Dave who works at the TV station I was at in Sacramento. He had climbed it in the past and when he learned I was moving to Phoenix told me I had to check it out if I got the chance.  He also told me it was hard. Naturally, I didn't believe him.  I assumed he thought I was wimpy or something.

Little did I know he was right and my legs would hate me for three days after climbing the thing.

So here's the scoop in case you want to try it yourself -- because you know, misery loves company and right now I'm needing the company.

The Siphon Draw Trail at Flatiron starts at Lost Dutchman State Park and it is 6 miles long  – which sounds like nothing until you actually do it.  This is because, the higher you climb, the harder it gets – and my friend and I also went when it was 106 degrees.  Yes, it was hot.  Way too hot to be climbing a mountain, but whatever.

If you go, at first you are going to think I’m a wuss because the first mile of the trail is easy.  It’s well-maintained and marked.  But keep going.  The farther you walk up the trail, the more rugged the path gets. 

Soon the dirt path disappears and is replaced with small loose rocks and the higher you climb, the more narrow and rough the path gets.   There are giant boulders to climb over and a large smooth stone basin which probably has water in it part of the year, but was completely dry when we went in September. By the time you get to the basin area, you've already reached a 1,000 foot elevation gain.

From there, the trail (if you could call it that), leads towards Flatiron, which is the flat plateau on the top of the Superstition Mountain. It's another 2,000 foot elevation from the basin to the top and the brochure recommends that only experienced hikers in good shape should attempt it.

I was considering to do this mountain alone, but was glad I went with a friend.  The path is kind of marked (you have to look for faded blue spray painted marks on the boulders), but even with that, we got lost and made up our own route for part of the way. 

Then there’s the climbing. This is what was challenging for me. I’ve hiked, but never actually had to climb and pull myself over giant rocks before.  Of course, I’m wearing normal sneakers and not hiking shoes as I had no idea the climb would be so intense.   And then just when you think you’re done and can see the top, there is a 12-foot vertical rock wall. 

I admit, I didn't get that far. I had to wimp out about 10 minutes before reaching the top. 

This is because just before giant vertical wall was a slightly smaller (yet, still too big for me) boulder area and I couldn’t pull myself over it.  Yes, the mountain defeated me and if they hidden cameras in the area, I would totally be on the blooper reel as I am not a graceful climber.  I'm more like the people on that show "Wipe Out" with arms flailing everywhere and hanging on any which way possible.

But what I really needed to make it to the top was two people: One to pull my arms and someone behind me to push my butt up from behind -- or maybe catch me as I slid back down.

My friend (who went on ahead) tells me that if I would have been able to scale the 12-foot rock wall, I would have been at the top of the mountain. Sigh...so close, but not close enough.

I don’t have any regrets though. I was exhausted just getting to where I got to, and going down was just as hard as going up. 

You see, going up you can use your hands to claw and clutch your way up, but going down, there is no clutching.  There is only scary sliding down on your butt and hoping your feet find a little hook in the rock to stop you. I swear, I crab-crawled my way down the mountain and was glad I had my biking gloves with me or else my hands would have been shredded.

So will I do it again? Yes. But here’s what I would do differently:

        

-- Bring more water

        

-- Start earlier and not at 11 a.m. when it’s super hot

  
-    -- Do more upper body training so I can make it over the rock wall

- Buy some sort of repellent to deter the giant wasps that live up there.

   If you want to go, Flatiron Mountain is in Maricopa County in the state of Arizona (AZ). It climbs to 1,693 feet (516.03 meters) above sea level and is located at latitude - longitude coordinates of N 33.570037 and W -112.832399.

Climb every mountain – in the Phoenix area

I’m not exactly Maria from the “Sound of Music,” but lately I feel like I’ve been climbing every mountain I can find around Phoenix.

Part of the reason is because I am totally loving the Arizona landscape. Who would have thought it would be so beautiful here? Before I moved to the area, all people told me was that it was hot and desert-like.
 

Yes, it’s hot. Extremely hot, but the desert is interesting.

But I digress. The real reason I’m climbing the mountains in the area is because they are there.

CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS HERE

PINNACLE PEAK - SO CLOSE TO HOME

My first one and the one that got me hooked was Pinnacle Peak.

This little guy is located just outside of Phoenix and I did it twice in one day. The first time I ran/walked up and then because it was so beautiful, I did it again, but the second time I brought my iPhone so I could take photos on the way.

It’s absolutely gorgeous and one of my favorite ones in the area so far. The hike is only 1.75 miles (one way) and you climb approximately 1,300 feet with the highest point of the trail at 2,889 feet. It’s not a loop trail so you go down the same way you go up.

These photos were taken in the fall after the heat of the summer, but one of the reasons I love this trail so much is that the landscape changes so much throughout the year.  I did this one almost every week so was able to see the spring flowers bloom in March/April, the green of the cactus during May and June and then the browns of the fall.

One of the pluses of this trail is that it’s well-marked so you won’t get lost. They also have guides that walk up the path an hour before they close (at sunset) to make sure everyone is off the peak – so no chance of being left behind.

The only downside of Pinnacle Peak is that it can be crowded on the weekend.

I tried it one Sunday morning and even at 6:30 a.m., it was crazy busy. It’s less busy during the week.

Want to go for a hike? It’s located at 26802 N. 102nd Way in Scottsdale.





CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN

Every day on my way to work, I drive past this amazing red mountain. Turns out this is the infamous Camelback Mountain. It's really only famous in Phoenix as people always want to know if you've climbed it.

I have climbed it but only the Cholla Trail side.  There is a reason for this.  I was going to climb the Echo Canyon side which they say is shorter, but steeper, however, the week before my set date to climb a bunch of killer bees attacked a group of hikers and one of them died.  He fell off the side of the mountain. His buddies were just badly stung.

Now I know I hung out with the Bee Whisperer this summer in Carmel Valley, but those were honey bees. These were African “killer” bees. I wasn’t sure I was ready to mess those big boys.

So I did the Cholla side, which some say is a little harder because you don’t have any ropes to pull yourself up. You have to hoist yourself up over the rocks.  In fact, the last 1/8 of a mile to the summit is all rock scrambling.

So here’s the scoop with this hike. You have to go early. Really early. Like just as the sun is getting up early.  Otherwise you are not going to get parking in the area and you’ll not only be crawling over rocks, but people in your quest to get to the top.

What is fun though is that while I think this climb is harder than Pinnacle Peak, dogs can make it up to the top.

 If you want to try it, the Cholla Trailhead is located at the end of Cholla Lane, which is off of Invergordon Street (N. 64th Street).  It’s 3.5 miles round trip from trailhead to the top and back.

Red Rocks and Drumming in Sedona (Vortex Tours)

Rahelio - I had to steal this from his
website as my camera didn't work.

If you visit Phoenix, then you have to take a daytrip to Sedona.  It’s gorgeous – and very red. 

The rocks are red, the dirt is red and even the buildings are red. People told me about the redness before I went, but you need to see them to believe it -- especially at sunrise or sunset. It's breathtaking.

But what Sedona is really famous for is their spiritual vortexes which are supposed to enlighten, renew and empower you. 

When I found out about the Sedona vortexes, I did a little bit of research (because you know I had to check them out as they sounded very "Dr. Who-ish") and there are number of tour groups that will take you there.  One of the most popular ones are these pink jeeps.  But here's my question:  why take a pink jeep when you can have a shamanic guide, who also does Sedona sweat lodge sessions, take you to the vortex location?

Yup, that’s right.  You know me. I can’t do the normal tour.  I have to do the weird one….and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

HE HAD ME AT “HELLO”

I found Rahelio and his  mystic tour by random chance on the internet.  He doesn’t have a fancy website (http://rahelio.homestead.com), but on the site he said his Sedona Vortex tours were for those “who might be awakening in consciousness or who are on a spiritual quest.”  On the tour, he said people may experience a powerfully transformative encounter with the mystical presence of a sacred land.

Am I on a spiritual quest? I don’t know. Maybe?

So I called him up, and instead of answering with a fancy company name, he answered with a simple “hello.”

I was sold.

DRUMMING AND FLIP FLOPS

When I called up Rahelio, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  He told me to meet him outside this organic grocery story around 3:30 p.m. because he was doing a sweat lodge session in Sedona the night before and needed to sleep in. 

I hung up thinking this guy is really sounding like my type of tour guide -- not fancy and likes to sleep in. Works for me.  Plus, I figured this way I could take my time getting there.  In my mind I imagined us and our little group hiking through red rock country for two hours in search of the sacred vortexes.  I would get this fantastic workout AND be spiritually enlightened. The ultimate in multi-tasking -- and you know how I love to multi-task.

Rahelio drove up exactly at 3:30 and he was in shorts and flip flops.  It was then I realized, we would not be hiking very far.  But what would we be doing? The answer: drumming. Yes, drumming – and it was more cool than I could have imagined, and something I had never done before. 

GETTING INTIMATE WITH THE SPIRITUAL VORTEXES

Rahelio drove our little group of 5 up the mountain to one of the vortex areas.  He grabbed mats from the back of his truck, his drum and ceremonial flute and then led us to this gorgeous area overlooking the red rocks.  I have no pictures of this as my iphone crapped out on me that day, so you’ll have to take my word that it was amazing.

He laid out the mats in a row and told us to sit or lie down on them. He then let us experience the energy of the vortex as he drummed, chanted and sung about Mother Earth, Mayan prophecy and the shamanic teachings he’s learned over the years. 

It was a relaxing and inspiring journey that I never expected. Laying on earth, the experience with the vortexes was much more intimate that it would have been on a jeep tour. I'm not sure how enlightened I was, but I’m glad it turned out the way it did and that I met Rahelio.

I could go hiking any time, but how often would I get to hang with a shamanic guide and listen to drumming as the sun set over the Sedona mountains?

I’m already thinking that next time, I may try his sweat lodge encounter the next time I go to Sedona.

Playboy Bunnies and Fast Cars

I think the guy in the middle was from Playboy

It's not just guys who want to attend a Playboy party.  It's been on my bucket list for years.  The problem is these things always seem to be reserved for celebrities and VIPs.  But it turns out, getting on the VIP list can happen for every day people -- like me.

CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS HERE

The invite arrived in my email and I almost deleted it without opening as I didn't recognize the name of the sender, but I'm glad I kept it -- because it was my opportunity to attend the  Jaguar and Playboy party at Pebble Beach.

It only took me 30 seconds to rearrange my schedule and call them up with my "Yes, yes, yes, yes!!! I'll be there. What do I wear?" response.

So how did I score this amazing invite? By fluke really (and maybe good karma).

Earlier this year, I had bought an expensive luxury car tour through World Class Drivers that I didn't get to go on as the person I bought it for decided to go with someone else.  But because I spent so much money on this gift, I'm on the World Class Drivers VIP list.  Bonus.

I admit, that while I would have loved to drive a Bentley and Lamborghini for a day, hanging out at a Playboy party is a one-of-kind experience that I would never be able to duplicate.  So totally worth it.

HANGING WITH THE BUNNIES

As mentioned, the party wasn't at the Playboy mansion.  Instead, it was at this gorgeous house overlooking the water at Pebble Beach, and it was incredible.

Imagine 500 well-dressed people, amazing cars, celebrities like Adrien Brody, Christina Hendericks and Wyclef Jean, and a bunch of Playboy bunnies dressed up in scrimpy black bunny costumes and white tails.

Me with the Playboy Bunnies at the Jaguar VIP party

I pulled up to the mansion in my car behind a couple Mercedes and Porsches and handed my keys to valet. I bet my car was the only Honda Fit they parked that night - LOL!

As I walked up the steps to the outside patio, I was handed a glass of champagne and from there the night was magic. The food was great, the music was wonderful and the people were friendly and fun to talk to.  I even made a couple new girlfriends who will be me calling the next time they are in Phoenix.

Naturally, I had to get my photo taken with the Playboy girls....and with the star attraction: the Jaguar XJL

THE JAGUAR XJL ULTIMATE




That's my champagne on the tray - LOL

If a Ferrari is sex on wheels, then this car is the g-spot of luxury vehicles.

The XJL Ultimate is a special edition Jaguar. Only 30 will be sold in the US, all finished in Black Amethyst.  

No, I didn't sign up and buy one, but I did get up close and personal.  I sat in it and touched everything. My fingerprints are on the steering wheel, the radio controls, the sunroof, and the champagne chiller in the back seat -- yes, there really was one.

And here's a tip...if you ever want to be mistaken for someone famous, come to a party dressed to kill, sit in an expensive car and have someone take your photo.  Apparently, people thought I was some Hollywood actress because I had done this.  In fact, a bunch of other people also took my photo. Too funny.

The party was fantastic, but just like Cinderella's coach turning into a pumpkin, my night ended with my jaguar turning back into a Honda.  

PS: I do love my Honda. It's suffered through cross country trips, extreme heat, icy snow storms while going over the mountains  and accidental off-roading experiences. It's the little car that could, but the jag was nice.  Really nice.

Enjoying my last weekend in California

The view at Paradise Ridge

It's my last weekend in California...and all through the house, not a creature was stirring...not even a mouse...

 Just kidding. I didn't spend my last weekend in California before moving to Arizona with mice.  I spent it taking advantage of what California has to offer – which is breathtaking vineyards and great wine!

So before I go on, I guess I should fill you in in case you haven't read all my blog posts. I've accepted a new job. This time it's in Phoenix, and the job itself is a little different.  Instead of working for local news, I'll be working for a national entertainment news show called "The List."

Not only is it a new genre for me, but the show is also new. In fact, it's still in the concept phrase. How exciting is that?

Of course, if the show gets cancelled, I'll be out of job -- but I'll worry about that later. Right now I'm celebrating -- and I'm celebrating with Wine.

One of the bonuses of living in Sacramento is that Napa is only 45 minutes to an hour away, and the Santa Rosa wine area is only 1.5 hours. Both are amazing, but because this weekend was so gorgeous, I knew Napa would be packed with tourists and I wanted something a little more relaxing – and less expensive. Plus, I hadn’t been to Santa Rosa, yet.

It turned out to be worth the drive. The winery I checked out was Paradise Ridge, mainly because when I went on their website, I noticed they did a wine and cheese pairing for $20. That’s five tastings of wine and 5 different cheeses – yum!

Sitting on their patio, I sipped, tasted and relaxed while staring out over the vineyard. It was the perfect way to spend my last weekend in the state.



Wine and Cheese tasting at Paradise Ridge

Here’s what I got:

-- Sparkling Brut Cuvee paired with Parmigiana Reggiano topped with a fresh raspberry and a cilantro lime almond.

-- 2011 Chardonnay paired with Toma Italian Cheese served with chardonnay onion and a rosemary cashew. 

-- 2009 Estate Zinfandel paired with Valley Ford Old Style Fonina Cheese served with fig preserve and topped with a chipotle pecan nut.

-- 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Valley Ford Estero Gold Cheese served with Cabernet Sauvignon onion topped with dry Italian Salami

I also tried a red wine made in 2009 called The Posse which was incredible. If it wasn’t $54 a bottle and I wasn’t going to driving in 100 degree heat to Phoenix, I would have got it.

I’m still dreaming about it.

Obviously, it's not the the wine in the photo to the left. That's the brut which I did buy.

Packing, packing, packing....again

Packing, packing, packing…Yes, I’m moving again.  I’m leaving tree-filled Sacramento for the land of cacti and mountains.  I’ve just accepted a position in Phoenix.

This one is a little different than my other positions.  First of all it’s not in local news, but for a national entertainment/pop culture show called “The List.” And secondly, it’s not just that the content area will be new for me, but that the entire show is new.  In fact, when I went for the interview they were still in the concept phase.  Yup, I’m coming in on the start-up team.

Of course, if the show bombs, I’ll be out of a job, but let’s not think about that.

The show is set to premiere on September 17.  I start on August 20 – so that gives me a month to get the website and social media platforms up and running – and create enough momentum to get people to watch.  Very exciting. I can’t wait!!

So in honor of my new job on The List, here’s a list of my favorite things in Sacramento:

1. Running laps around McKinley Park

1. 2. Cycling the American River Trail
3. 3. Living so close to Napa and San Francisco. I heart both of you
5. 4. The Alexan Midtown and the freshly baked cookies they make every day for tenants
7. 5. My amazing web team at News10, Mark G – who gets my digital mind, and the fabulous friends I met at the station

And because I’m a foodie, I can’t forget my top 5 food places

1)      Pancakes at Orphan

2)      Chocolates from Ginger Elizabeth

3)      Cocktails from The Porch and Red Rabbit

4)      Dinner at Tuli’s Bistro

5)      Sellands and their amazing wine guy

Of course, I’m going to miss all my friends, but I’m sure they’ll be visiting.

Meeting the Bee Whisperer

Me in the bee suit.

Ever want to don a full bodysuit to invade a colony of 60,000 Italian honeybees and extract honey from their hive?

Spending a day on bee farm is something I’ve always wanted to do. Maybe it’s because you get to wear a cool suit. Maybe it’s because bees are slowly disappearing and I want to support them in someway. Maybe it’s because I’m totally afraid of them and need to get that out of my system.

Whatever, the reason, when I learned you could do a bee excursion at Carmel Valley Ranch for $50, I had to go.

FROM A TO BEE AT CARMEL VALLEY RANCH

My day with the bees was really more of a morning with the bees, but I was okay with that. Mainly because it was a hundred degrees outside so wearing the suit for longer than that would have been killer.



John Russo...aka the Bee Whisperer

The bee-dude, John Russo, was amazing. He owns a lavender farm in the area and has thousands of Italian honey bees.

But here's the cool thing....he not only knows bees, but he really, really gets what’s going on in their little bee heads.

For example, when my little group (I think there were eight of us in total) gathered by the hive, the bees were everywhere. I swear, the buzzing was ominous and they were swarming around us. I could tell I wasn’t the only one nervous. The whole group was tense and hoping there were no holes in our suits so the bees couldn’t get in.

John told us the reason the bees were swarming was because we were in their way.  We were blocking the route to the hive. We took a few steps back and slowly walked to the other side of the hive (away from the door) and the result was mind blowing.  The bees instantly stopped flying around us and flew directly into the hive.  The whole area went from loud buzzing to peaceful.

It was then I realized John was the Bee Whisperer.

BEING ONE WITH THE BEES
Now that the bees were back to working, we could actually take the time to look at them.  John removed the lids of the hive and pulled out one of the honeycomb sheets.  Hundreds of bees were crawling all over it, doing their bee stuff.

Then he passed it to me to hold.



Tasting honey fresh from the bees

Normally, I would have freaked being that close to bees, but with the Bee Whisperer there, I knew I would be safe.  Besides, there were some little kids in the group so I sucked up all bravery I had and held onto the tray while bees climbed on my gloved hands. 

It turns out, bees aren’t that bad.  Although, you know those times when you are convinced they are stalking you at a park?  Apparently, they may be.  John says bees seem to know which person annoyed them or swatted at them and will follow them around, flying up by their eyes just to freak the person out.  Yup, bees hold grudges.

I also learned that bees don’t sting except as a last resort.  The Bee Whisperer told us he once watched two guard bees knock a moth off the hive and then drop pebbles on its wings so it couldn’t get up.  Now that’s pretty smart.

THE SHE-BEE WHISPERER?
Just when I started to get to know the bees, it was time to go.  They are kind of cute with their little furry bodies and busy little lives. This was one of the best days of my life.  It was scary, enlightening and just amazing.

In fact, I loved it so much, I may even get my own hive one day.

More bee photos are on my blog.

Is that you Watson?

Millions of Sherlock Holmes fans worldwide will take part in a week of celebration of the world's mostfamous detective in the first annual Sherlock Holmes Week from 30th July - 5th August. 

Will I be there?  Um...no.   I'm a poor starving student (or about to be), but now that I know about this, I'm adding it to my bucket list.

I thought I would post it for fellow Sherlock Holmes fans in case they want to go and send me photos to rub it in.

Shelock Holmes has had a resurgence in the last two years with two major Hollywood motion pictures and the success of BBC Sherlock. The week is backed by the main societies and organisations in the world.

http://www.sherlockholmesweek.com is the website where fans can register their local events and take part in competitions.

I admit the competitions aren't that fabulous sounding yet, but every year the event gets better.

In the meantime, I'm going to watch the TV version with Lucy Liu and very sexy Johnny Lee Miller.

Saying Goodbye to Foie Gras in California

Foie gras from Mulvaney's in Sacramento

I didn’t get to partake in my decadent foie gras meal in San Francisco at Fifth Floor Restaurant like I planned. But I wasn't too disappointed. I have to admit a full five course meal of the stuff might have been overkill and a little gluttonous for my body to handle.

However, that’s not to say I didn’t get my fill of foie elsewhere…because you know, there was no way I was going to miss out on my last opportunity to have it in California.

After doing some research, I learned that Mulvaney’s in Sacramento was serving it as a small plate on their menu until the July 1 deadline – and they were serving it just the way I like it…. lightly sauted and served with bread and a little roasted pear on the side. Paired with a little sauternes and I was in heaven.

Yummy dessert from Mulvaney's

Plus, because I decided to eat at their cozy bar that night, I had the chance to talk to a couple other foie lovers who were doing the same thing I was and enjoying it for a final time in their home town. It was an evening filled with good food and good food conversation.

Naturally I had to stay a while and have dessert just because I didn't want the night to end.



A FOIE FAUX PAS

After enjoying my amazing meal at Mulvaney’s, I did have another foie encounter a few days later. This one was much less satisfying.  

Foie in a jar (far right)

I happened to be at the Conservatory at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay for a late lunch and noticed they had canard in a jar. Let me say that foie should never be in a jar. It was awful.

Word of advice, if you’re going to have a delicacy, have it made fresh. That way you won’t be disappointed.

Foie in a jar? What were they thinking!