When it says "Right turn only" it doesn't mean "Go Straight"!!

On our last night in Sonoma, we treated ourselves to a nice dinner at "The girl and the fig". Drinks were flowing, food was delicious, company was fun, it was the makings of a memorable night with good friends! We didn't even have to pull straws to pick our designated driver since Lorri was pregnant during this girls trip!

Here's Lorri, being a good sport & designated driver ALL weekend long in Sonoma!



Lorri was a good sport about it too, even though she had to drive someone else's car she was unfamiliar with in a town she didn't know well. We were all pretty boisterous, each one of us ready to give direction to poor Lorri in the driver's seat. The road sign DID clearly state "Right turn only" but our hotel was not in that direction. Somehow we quickly convinced Lorri to go straight. Bad idea! Not only did we narrowly miss getting hit by a car, there was a cop car right behind it! His headlights came on immediately! Thank goodness we had a sober one behind the wheel...but that didn't help Lorri, because she had 4 giddy friends in the passenger seats!


We tried to contain ourselves the best we could as the officer approached the car. Lorri did a pretty good job of playing up the "I'm from out of town" & the "I'm pregnant" card but boy, he was quick! He asked where she was from, and when she replied "Sacramento", he said "What, they don't have Right turn only signs where you're from?!"


He then struck us a deal! He said that while he went to run her license, we had better think of a GOOD clean joke....and if the joke was deemed worthy, he'd let us go without a ticket as long as her record came back clean. Pandemoinum breaks out in the car as soon as he walks away...us, tell a clean joke? Are you kidding?! Our kids tell us clean jokes all day long, do you think we could remember one under pressure!!? It was too much!


Finally, Dina takes control of the chaos & comes up with the ringer. "Ok ladies, let's hear it" he says as he's handing Lorri back her license. Di, lays it on 'em : "What do you call a pirate's favorite Country?" The silence lingers for a few seconds that feel like forever & then in unison we clamor in our best pirate voices, AAAARRRRGGEEENNNNTINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He looks at us in disgust, tells us to go back to our hotel & walks away. As he's leaving , he pulls up next to us & tells us that ours was the worst clean joke he's ever heard & drives away!





On a more serious side:

We were lucky to have a sober driver but we still managed to almost get hit by our carelessness to not follow the traffic signs correctly. Please be sure to always plan to have a designated driver before you head out for a night involving alcohol. Also, there are many great organizations, many born from tragedies, that offer free rides home if you are too drunk to drive. Here's one that is close to my heart. If you find yourself needing a ride in Southern California, this group will help you stay alive!

http://www.4asaferidehome.com/

Sonoma Girls trip Summer 2008

Sonoma is where it all began...our annual girl's trip about 9 years ago. Each summer, my closest high school friends manage to carve out a small bit of time away from our families, jobs, and other life obligations to meet up. Our first trip to Sonoma was fun but to be truthful, none of us really knew much about wine! I was content with "Franzia in a box" ( I know, sinful!)!

Aside from catching up with Karri, Lorri, Julie, and Dina, I was really excited to explore the wineries with a little bit more knoweldge under my belt! I KNOW what I like & I know what I DON'T like but I couldn't tell you why! So, I don't pretend to taste all the different fruits and spices within each taste but I can tell you I like one over another. So, I keep tasting until I can figure it out!

Each trip, a different girl plans our lodging and this year was Julie's turn. We were very impressed with our first glimpse of "The Lodge in Sonoma". It did in fact look a lodge you would imagine at the edge of the woods. It had great flowers all around the property as well as gardens for their herbs and vegetables that they used in their restaurant.

Our only initial disapointement was our first room, which was facing the busy street below and had street noise so the spacious balcony couldn't be enjoyed. Not to worry though, Julie to the rescue! She quickly called the front desk and secured us a "Casita" in the back of the property! We scored! It was sooo quaint and much more roomy than the hotel style room we just gave up...this was our own little apartment with a ground patio space w/ just enough furniture for us 5 ladies to relax on. It was also within walking distanc to the pool, which is always important on a girls trip!



Here are the girls enjoying some patio time before we head to the relaxing pool!


As for the wine tasting, we hit quite a few but the most memorable was The Ledson Winery In Kenwood on Sonoma hwy.( http://www.ledsonwinery.com/winery ). Not only was the property impeccable but the "castle" on the estate was breathtaking! The people were super friendly and the wine was the best that we tasted over the two days.




We had such an enjoyable couple of days here in Sonoma & you really can't go wrong no matter where you stay or where you taste, it's all good!