Merry Christmas!...there, I said it and it feels good!

2016 is just about over.  This has been a great year filled with many great memories, many of which involve the people who read our blog...our friends.  We are fully into the swing of retirement...what day is it?  Really, what day is it? 😃  People ask if we miss work?  I guess that is a reasonable question.  No, we do not miss work.  We miss the people we worked with and have come to know over the years.  We keep in touch with many of them which is good, but it is difficult to replace the day to day relationships that work offers.  We do not miss getting up at 3 am in order to get a run in before work.  We do miss the self righteousness that goes along with getting up that early.  "Oh, you did not run this morning at 3 am?", "How sad"....  We now run, bike and hike at more reasonable hours, like 5-6 am so that we can beat the heat of summer, oh, and still proclaim, "yes, we ran this morning before our other workouts".  Somethings will never change!

The 2016 election year seemed to go on forever!  I think it was probably better or more easily tolerated for those of you who work, otherwise you would be looking at news on line all the time.  Oh, I forgot you do that anyway in between shopping at Amazon and looking at animal videos on YouTube!  I found myself constantly checking the news on my phone for the latest media attack on a particular candidate who seemed to draw a lot of media ire over every comment, tweet or facial expression of which he had many.  Well, all that is over, everyone is happy, resolved to the outcome and finally getting along.  Oh wait, not even close!  I can tell you from personal experience that the 4-8 years goes by fast and holding your nose helps.

2017 is going to be a busy year for Dave, Julie and Pete.  We are planning a ski trip to Park City in March, lounging by the pool in Rancho Mirage in May as well as various trips to Napa for wine pickups throughout the year.  In April we have a reunion with my brothers in Philadelphia (City of Brotherly Love, ironic).  We are also going on a bike trip with Western Spirit Cycling Adventures in June which will take us through the Black Hills of South Dakota.  Here is the link if you want to check it out, or come along!  It is a fairly easy ride compared to the Moab ride of 2016.
Western Spirit - Black Hills South Dakota

We are going to run a half marathon with Pete in July in Sonoma!  Yes, Pete is beginning to run!  69 years old and finally running and not just to the toilet at night.  We are starting him off slowly with run/walks...ok, mostly walks, but that is how all of us start.  He is doing great and should any of you consider this elder abuse, he is going under his own free will...sort of.  He can't tell his Julie no.

For fun we are planning to hike the Grand Canyon, Rim to Rim, most likely in October, hike Mt. Whitney in August (highest peak in the lower 48 states for you products of the California School system), perhaps do Half Dome again because we REALLY want Pete to go to the very top.  We may do Half Dome and Whitney back to back to avoid another drive to California.  We may also climb Mount Shasta in June so we can check it off the list. If any of you are interested in joining us, please let us know after you consult your physician and complete your will.

Last thing, we have been practicing our dance moves for months and have put together this Christmas greeting for all of you.  Yes, that is Cookie, Pete, Julie and Dave all dressed up as elves for your entertainment.  If you pay close attention you will note an unknown individual who had to step in when Dave twisted his ankle in rehearsals.  Please have a most wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Vacation from retirement....no not work!

You would not think that retirement is so taxing that it would require a vacation, but sometimes a break in routine is needed.  We traveled for Thanksgiving this year.  It was a wonderful trip in spite of the airport hassles, traffic and the plague so generously given by my beautiful grandchildren.  Ok, maybe it was not the actual plague also know as "black death", but I was pretty miserable for a week. Now Pete has it!  I do not think I can take credit for giving it to him since he got it the day after we got home and it would have taken some time to incubate.  Pete also traveled by plane, the filthiest environment known to mankind and has no hesitancy to pick up and eat a Pringle that has bounced off his tray onto his seat and then onto the floor.  Still, he blames me for his illness.  Oh well...

We were only home a few days when it was time to run off to California for our wine pick up.  What is that you ask?  A wine pick up occurs several times a year and involves driving to Northern California to visit the numerous wine clubs to which we belong.  This is tedious work that in addition to the 11 hour drive involves wine tasting at our favorite wineries as well as new ones we just have to join.  Why would anyone do that?  I ask myself that some question a few times a year as the "deal" we get as wine club members is dwarfed (is it ok to still use that term?) by the fuel costs, food, and lodging.  The problem is that the state of Utah, in its infinite wisdom has found alcohol to be so dangerous that it has to regulate it and only sell it in state operated stores.  That would be ok, except that the selection is minimal. Now I enjoy boxed wine just as much as the next guy, but that is not acceptable for Julie, hence the trek to Napa/Sonoma on a regular basis.

We purchased the largest SUV known to mankind in order to facilitate these pick ups.  When entering Utah with wine that is purchased out of state, you have to be VERY careful not to get pulled over.  We have heard stories of police pulling over cars at the state line and upon spotting alcohol in boxes, unceremoniously dumping the booze right there on the side of the road.  In order for us not to watch our cargo go down the drain we follow these rules...
1.  Set the cruise control to 69 MPH a minimum of 5 miles before the border.
2.  Turn the radio to Fox News and play it as loud as possible.
3.  Make sure all wine boxes are labeled as "Automatic Weapons". "Ammunition" or "Bibles".  That way if we are stopped, they will see that we have nothing dangerous to hide and will be waved through without incident.

Now I love telling this story about labeling our wine cases as "Automatic Weapons". "Ammunition" or "Bibles" in order to get them across the border, but if you have something as funny or offensive, I will be glad to add it to my repertoire. Let me know.

Back of SUV.  55 bottles in all!

The fall colors this time of year in the vineyards are simply amazing. We posted the following picture on Instagram with the following comment... Love the fall colors in Napa, especially the Reds and Whites. 🍷

Within minutes we received a comment from Cookie... "Not seeing any red and white".  I was shocked she did not get the wine reference, but in her defense, it was early in her day...1:30 PM. I then began to worry, did others get it?  Yes, everyone else got it!

On the second, or third day of wine tasting...I forget, we met up with Kathy.  We met her at our first stop and then took our vehicle with the plan of dropping her back at her car and the end of a very productive day of wine tasting.  Well, we had a great time.  We continued to add new wineries to our list and by the time we got back to our first stop the gates to the winery were closed and locked with her car safely tucked away.  It was okay since Kathy was not up to the drive home at that point.  As the adult in the group I had stopped tasting several wineries ago.  She ended up sleeping over on the hide a bed.  

Going...

Going...

GONE!!!

Just a few more pictures and a near death experience....

We love trying on hats..  Julie always looks beautiful..

Julie in a "Flapper" hat

Gorgeous scenery!  Oh and the winery was nice too.

Ok, near death experience...  On the way home we were on Highway 58 in CA at the light just outside of Boron.  As we approached the light was flashing red.  I mentioned to Julie that I thought it was strange.  The intersection was busy.  When it was our turn to go, a car just to the right of us jumped ahead into the intersection just as we heard sirens.  I paused for a second to see where they were coming from when a small white sedan came careening from the right just missing the car that had barely made it through the intersection.  The speeding car turned left in front of us just missing the bumper and was quickly followed by 3 screeching police cars with sirens wailing, all just missing our front bumper by inches.  It turns out the 5 occupants in the white car were part of a gang related drive by shooting and high speed chase lasting 45 minutes and ending just past where they almost hit us.  One civilian vehicle was hit during the chase.  So glad it was not us!  There would have been wine everywhere!!!  

One last thing, who names these restaurants?!!!

Ok, two more things....  Thought you might like this wine glass drying towel we spotted in Sonoma.

I'm sure you can think of someone who deserves this for Christmas!

If you are looking for Christmas ideas for Julie and me, this painting is available at the Cliff Lede Winery for only $50,000.  Just in case you need gift ideas!

Happy Holidays!