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Topic: 5 Kindsa Sideways -- PLUS!

These are the pics from our day of wine tasting tour arranged by the wonderful Diana Cox in wine country California!

So, our limo turned out to be an "Executive Coach" since a limo is much too small to hold all of Diana's friends and family.

We arrived at the first winery, Bien Vista (?), to a nice surprise. My angelette and Dr. Ungson Sistah, Lori, had decorated our picnic spot for our arrival. Some of us went inside for tasting, while others of us enjoyed the picnic lunch Diana brought for us. The first place was a bit stodgy and formal and didn't want all us rowdies in there at the same time.

Our lovely picnic:

Mine, BC's and hubby's turn tasting (yeh, hubby just took pics and we drank most of his wine hehe!):

The next winery (Ironhorse) was much less formal and more fun. They had the tasting outside right next to their grape fields and we could mingle about at will. They gave you as much wine as you wanted! Needless to say, we bought more wine from THEM!

We were all 5 KINDSA SIDEWAYS by the time we left there!!:

The bus ride to dinner in San Fransisco after that tasting was much more ...er....exuberant (well, for SOME of us anyhow -- *cough*cough*Kel*)!!!:

Hey, didja know that if you point a camera at a drunk person and flip them a bird they'll likely flip you one back?!?!! haha!!

So, anyway, supposedly we crossed some big famous bridge into the city to get to our restaurant, but I don't remember much of that. Good thing we got some photos!:

Luckily there was a beautiful view of this bridge from the lovely restaurant Charles and Diana took us to for some scrumptious, fresh seafood!

Thank you, Diana! We'll love you forever for making this amazing experience possible for us!!!

valgroce Mason, OH Rita AndersonDuodenal Switch (10/31/05) Member Since: 11/05/04 [Latest Posts] Post Date: 8/3/08 8:18 pm Uhh, where was I in the photos?Cheers! Valerie (at goal ) There is room on this earth for all of God's creatures -- right next to the mashed potatoes! Baby Catcher East Coast, FL Member Since: 12/11/04 [Latest Posts] Post Date: 8/3/08 10:42 pm On August 3, 2008 at 8:18 PM Pacific Time, valgroce wrote:Uhh, where was I in the photos?Gee, Val... It's hardly OUR fault that you are so reticent and introverted. Damn, if you weren't so fuckin' camera shy, there would BE more pictures of you in California! I'll look through my stash of pics and see if I can find any more of you. I distinctly remember seeing you in the pool at Dianna's... and I'm pretty sure I've got a pic or two of you on the boardwalk... BabyCatcher Destined to be an old woman with no regrets! You laugh because I'm difFerEnt, I laugh because you're all the same. RnengadeRenagadeRenagadeRenagade RenagadeRenagadeRenagadeRawHide!!! plumbgal Milford, PA Pradeep K. ChowbeyRNY (02/20/08) Member Since: 03/28/08 [Latest Posts] Post Date: 8/4/08 4:52 am bwahahahahaaaaa! Val-in-a-box! Baby Catcher East Coast, FL Member Since: 12/11/04 [Latest Posts] Post Date: 8/3/08 11:19 pm Hey Val, remember getting soaked on the log ride? (I sure remember your hair blowin' back in my face!)

Pinot Grigio
Pinot Noir
Merlot
Chardonnay
Cabernet

Equals Counselor Cox gets FACED!!!!

L-R: GoodKel, BabyCatcher, Counselor Cox, Me, Elizabeth N.  (I'm glad Diana doesn't care about her repution!)

Link to thread: Topic: Thinking of Carolyn and Calamari

So, Carolyn, since you said NOT to (and because we get off on doing just the opposite of what you tell us!) we ALL tried the calamari at the Gilroy Garlic Festival! RAVE: Garlic Calamari -- tasted great to me -- as did the Scampi, Garlic Bread, Pesto Ziti, Hot Fudge Brownie Strawberry Sundae, the Deep Fried Artichoke Hearts, and the Icecream (BC got my CHERRY!). NO, we didn't stand in line for an hour in the hot sun to sample the garlic icecream-YUK! Nevertheless, we managed to have a great time stuffing our gobs, trying on hats, and EN even got a killer henna tattoo! GoodKel wandered off by herself to shop at all the booths and managed to thus escape the camera, but she was there, too!

Link to Thread:  Topic:  White Knuckling It!!

These are the pics from our day at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk Amusement Park located on the Pacific Ocean Beach. I had to put a toe in the Pacific!

We got our LAFF BANDS so we were ready to RIDE!!!!

But, FIRST, we must stuff our gullets with all manner of fair fare: Corndogs, fried twinkies, corn on the cob, fried artichokes, cotton candy, etc.

Check out how SERIOUSLY TERRIFIED my hubby looks in the pic taken on this coaster. How hilarious! Diana's hubby, Charles, said, "The California governor said no 'girlie men' allowed in the state -- so better not let him see that photo!" LOL!!

Aw.....How Romantic! Me and hubby:

GoodKel and BabyCatcher:

!!!!!!! hehehe!! I think they decided they weren't gay for each other after that little taste -- NOT that there's anything wrong with that! LOL!

Topic: COX DOES NOT SUCK!!

Diana Cox that is!  I've known this gift to the DS community for years, and I'm finally going to meet her in the flesh!  TOMORROW!  She was denied her own DS by her insurance carrier Aetna almost 5 years ago, but being the attorney she is, she fought their evil, bogus denial and PREVAILED.  When I came to these boards in 2003, I latched onto Diana and she helped me with all my appeals and lawsuit against BC/BS of AL for coverage of my DS.  Well, I WON that lawsuit!!!  It took a couple years and I had already gone to Mexico and self-paid by that time, and BC/BS was gonna APPEAL the decision -- but I WON!  The lawsuit was then settled out of court for a non-disclosed amount.

Anyhow, Diana Cox has been a godsend to these forums with all her knowledge, experience and expertise.  She has invited several of us "militant" DSers to her abode in San Jose, California for a few days of spending time with each other and getting to know each other IN REAL LIFE.  I am SO STOKED!  I can't believe I'm about to meet the DS QUEEN!!!  The other Renegades that will also be meeting up there are BabyCatcher, GoodKel, Elizabeth N. (of F.O.A.D. fame! YAY!), Vickie in a Clam Shell, Maya (regular on this board), Laurie D., Dr. Larra, Stefanie P., Janell (regular on this board), and maybe some other locals!  (Trudy was planning to go, but is still have difficulties from her revision surgery back in Dec.  :(... )

Check out this Itinerary!

Tomorrow:  Fly out

Thurs:  Hang by Diana's pool, booze and schmooze -- locals stop by.

Fri:  Santa Cruz and a Blue Oyster Cult Concert!  

Sat:  Sonoma Wine Tasting Tour (complete with limo rental!)

Sun:  Gilroy Garlic Festival.

Mon:  Hanging out close to San Jose--Winchester Mystery House and such

Tues:  Fly home

Nope.  Cox definitely does NOT SUCK!!!  She RULZ!!!!